My last week of unemployment.

During my 2 and a half months of job searching, I've had to be creative in the ways I fill my time. Exercising, cleaning, writing, reading, crafting, visiting friends on campus, running errands, just totally vegging, and of course, writing cover letter after resume after job application. On repeat.

My mom and I were talking on the phone one day though, and realized that it was the perfect time for her to come down to Utah and visit! No more school and no work yet would mean we could play all day! With timing that could not have been better, my mom flew in on the evening of what happened to be the day I received an offer from my dream job, and I got almost a full week of hanging out with my mom hiking, eating, playing, and reveling in the fact that I no longer had to scour the internet for jobs. SUCH A RELIEF. There are no words. It was so fun to relax and spend time with my mom all day, then do stuff all together when Ryan got home from work.

The week included the following:

• Introducing my mom to Ticket To Ride. We have passed on the addiction. 
• Sugar cookies from Swig
• Art City Trolley
• BYU Creamery & Graham Canyon ice cream
• Morning runs
• Hiking
• Hiking again
• Buying an iPhone 5S for myself, as well as a new couch for our new apartment (yeee!)
• In-N-Out (Mom's request.)
• Walking around campus
• Ticket To Ride some more
• Getting background checks and drug screenings for my job (so fun.)
• Packing for our move(!!!)
• Copious amounts of homemade chocolate chip cookies

The highlight of the week was definitely the hikes we did. First was Bell Canyon, just a few minutes from my new office! It was a cold cold day, and we weren't able to get all the way to the end due to snow, but what we were able to do was absolutely beautiful and a great workout.

Second was Big Baldy, the little mountain that stands below Timp. THIS hike was KILLER. Dang. We hit snow again at the top, but luckily it was hard enough to walk on. The views were incredible. We took the shortcut on the way to the summit, which was literally straight up, then took the regular trail down. Apparently Utah doesn't believe in switchbacks. My calves were feeling this one for days.

At the top! Victorious. And exhausted.

This week was the best. My mom is the perfect mix of everything. She's up for anything, whether it be shopping, couch-testing, interior designing, playing games, and anything else (though usually hiking trumps everything), and she knows pretty much everything so we can talk about birds, geology, books, movies, people, and everything else there is to talk about. I didn't want her week in Provo to end. It was just so FUN to spend so much time together. I'm so thankful for her! I love you Mom!