Texas here we come

We had to say good-bye to our very first apartment. We decided not to keep it this summer like we did last year because since Brad will be going to Peru in the fall, and I'll be living with my parents, it just would not be worth it. It was a sad day, and we'll miss that house, and our landlords who became our good friends! I started packing about a week and a half before we needed to move out because I knew we had a lot going on with babysitting, and Kylee and Brody coming. We finally got everything all packed up on Monday morning when our awesome helpers (Ryan Bundy, my parents, and Brad's parents) came to help us move it all. It was so nice that Bryce and Ann kept their big truck that they drive for their weekend job so that we could move everything down in one trip. Also, we're very happy that Brooke and Elgin (Brad's sister & brother-in-law) offered to let us put all of our stuff in their basement that they don't use. We gladly accepted so we didn't have to pay for a storage unit. 

The drive to Texas was so long! Being stuck in a car for over 24 hours is NO fun! So we decided to break it up and take 3 days to get there. My car project was to make a blanket. I got pretty close to finishing, but I ran out of yarn. Our first stop was Kylee and Brody's house! :) Then we drove down and stayed the night in a hotel in Lubbock, TX. That is where Stacy (one of the wives last year) is this summer so we stopped and said hi to her. It was fun to talk and catch up with her, but unfortunately her girls were sleeping.

Fort Collins was so much fun and we had a blast with Kylee and Brody. We got there on Tuesday night and Ky made us a yummy dinner. Then we went on a little walk to to get some frozen yogurt and then played some rook. Brad and Brody stayed up late playing on the x-box.

Wednesday, Kylee had to work and Brody had to study for his finals so we were on our own. We went to a yummy crepe place for breakfast and then went on a bike ride to this cool park place. My tire went flat on the way home so we had to walk home. Luckily we were only about a mile away from their house. We came home and Brad took a nap, and then we went to see some boutique shops near their house. When Ky and Brod got home, we went to Big Al's for the best hamburgers and to walk around the town. We saw a taco bell on the way there that looks like a house. I thought it was pretty funny! When we got home, we played some more rook, and then the boys played some more x-box. We left Thursday morning. I am so glad we were able to spend 2 nights with them on the way to Texas.

 We got to our apartments in Austin on Friday at about 3 so we had time to unpack and relax before Brad had to work on Saturday. We walked around our apartment complex and there is so much to do here. There are 3 different pools, 2 hot tubs (although one is cold), a park, volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini-golf, and a nice work out gym. And the best part about it all is our apartment is right next to everything! I'm loving it! Our apartments are nice, although I'm not loving the tile floors in the front room. We had been told that everyone's apartments were 3 stories, but ours is only one, so that is kind of a bummer. But, less stairs for us to walk up/down, so that's ok with me. I'm also loving that we have a garage... but not loving that Brad takes the car everyday.

We had a BBQ with the team on Sunday at the pool. It was fun to meet everyone, and the boys enjoyed playing basketball together.

Weekend with the Hatch's, and Hess'

BABY ANIMAL DAYS:

We babysat the Hess kids again for 5 days. We took them to baby animal days. It was so much fun.. I had not been forever! We got to see baby ducks, chicks, lambs, rabbits, goats, calves, and ponies. The kids loved all the animals, but the train ride was probably their favorite. My favorite were the bunnies! 

HATCH VISIT: 

Kylee and Brody were able to visit for the weekend last week. Unfortunately it was the same weekend we were babysitting, but we just brought the kids with us to hang out with them lots. The Bundy's were also able to join in on all of the fun as well. While they were here we played games, had a yummy  dinner, and we had everyone over to the Hess' house for dessert and games. I just love those Bundy girls so much!

We also all walked over to the park on Sunday night for an adult recess (we also did this the week before with the Bundy's, which is why we're in different clothes in some of the pictures). It was so much fun! We played on the new playground that they have, had relay races, played basketball, tether ball, and took some family pictures. Probably one of the funniest parts of the night is when we'd put Lydia on the thing that spins around (and makes you really dizzy) and then watching her try to walk after. Or when Lucy and Lydia were playing tether ball together and the ball kept hitting them in the head and they were both just laughing so hard! Good times!

 I love the picture with all the boys walking back from playing basketball together. That was not staged at all! And also the poses that Lydia does when the camera is out. Love her!

JENKINS:
We also had an overnighter babysitting the 6 month old twin boys that I nanny while they took the older two to Lagoon. I love these two and am so sad that they'll be so big when I see them next. I tried to get a good picture of them both smiling at the same time, but it didn't exactly work so well. I love their 6 month photo's that they just got taken.

NERD HERD:
Brad's group of friends from High School named themselves the Nerd Herd. 3 of them are married, the other 3 are not. Bryce and Laura are moving to New York for a few years for Dental School, Brett is going to DC for an internship this summer, Jason is going to school in Salt Lake and we're going to Texas to sell this summer so they decided to take some pictures before we all parted ways. They are a fun group of guys and I love the other two wives. We'll miss them!

BRAXTEN'S BLESSING:
After a couple of weeks of Braxten being sick with RSV, he was finally able to be blessed! We had a little lunch after outside at Ben and Katie's apartment. I made sure to hold him a lot since I won't see him till he is almost 7 months.. he'll be so big! I even got him to smile at me, so cute! I love my sweet nephew!

On a little side note: Brad is done with school! Yipee!! Well, not technically because he still has to do an international internship in the fall, but he is done with classes. I'm so proud of him. He finished his last semester with grades of B+ and higher, even with all his senioritis. I'm also proud of him because he applied to go to Peru with the SEED program for his internship and they only let 2 people to go out from USU, and he got it! He will be leaving for Peru just about 2 weeks after we get home from Texas. Unfortunately I won't be going with him the whole time, but I will go out the whole month of November. We'll go to Machu Picchu the last week we're there then fly home together the first week of December. I'm really looking forward to it!