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!

Jazz/Easter/Shower/Flowrider

Brad and I won tickets during our Vivint Christmas party. Our friends, Nick and Mikell won some as well, but unfortunately our seats were not by each other. We went down before the game and went to the new City Creek Mall. I finally used my Nordstrum gift card that I had gotten at a Vivint party over a year ago. We were on the 6th row at the Jazz game so it was pretty cool to be down so close.

I colored Easter Eggs with the cute family that I nanny. It had been a while since I had done it! And, I finally got a picture of one of the twins smiling.. now I just gotta get them together! 

This year for Easter, we were kind of lame and went shopping together. It was nice though, cause we got exactly what we wanted (which was just some treats that we don't normally buy, and a church outfit for me and some shorts, shampoo, and gel for Brad). 

One day, we decided to go pick up a pizza and take it up Green Canyon to eat it. We walked around a little bit as well. It was fun for something different! 

My friend, Kelsey, and I planned a ward baby shower for our friend, Lindsey Coy. We had it at my parents house and it worked out perfect. We were busy the night before making cookies, deviled eggs, and chicken salad sandwiches. We ate, then opened presents and played a few games. We had a good turn out and she got some good stuff.  I made her a cute little baby stuffed with diapers. (the football one) I'm so excited for her little guy to come! Too bad I'll be in Texas when that happens. 

After the shower, we went with my family to the Flowrider. We love that place and I'm hoping we can make it a tradition every spring. 

Spring Break and more

Brad spent his spring break in Austin, Texas selling. He had fun sneaking into the Texas Longhorn stadium and getting to know the area we'll be in this summer.  

What did I do while he was gone all week long? Just a few little crafts that I had been wanting to do, most of which were found from pinterest. I got the cute holiday banner idea from my mom and sister. I'm excited to hang them up, once I finish them up. 

We only got to go skiing once this season. Luckily, we didn't buy season passes this year, but it was a good year not to, with such little snow! Brad did go snowmobiling about 7-8 times. One time when he went, he found some deer antlers buried in the snow. They ended up being pretty big, and he was excited. They are currently sitting in the back of his truck since I won't allow them in our house. 

Brad's sister was four months pregnant when she lost her sweet baby boy, Elijah. We went down to provo on Saturday for his memorial service. Brad's dad made his beautiful casket. We're so sorry for their loss, and he will be greatly missed.  

Today, I had the crazy idea to ride our bikes up to Aggie Ice Cream. My family and I used to do it all the time, and I didn't really think about how big of a hill we had to ride up. We made it though, and the ride home sure was nice! (sorry for the low-quality picture.. it's from Brad's phone)

Brad's Birthday

I'm so embarrassed that this post is so late. But Brad turned 25 on February 27!! The day before, we went to my parents for dinner, presents and games. Then on his actual birthday, I took him to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, and then home for a scavenger hunt. I sent him all around the house with clues and presents along the way. On each clue, there was a reason why I love him. There were 25 clues. All he wanted for his birthday was a Sunto Watch, so that's what he got. (He is wearing it in the second picture.) I also got him a few other little things, so it wouldn't be so boring. 

 It was not hard to come up with 25 reasons why I love Brad so much. He is such an easy person to get along with and I am so happy I chose to marry him. He brings me much happiness every day, comforts me when I'm sad, and supports me in every possible way. He is a hard worker, has an awesome testimony, loves his family, has a good sense of humor, and is so good with kids. I love that we have so many similar interests and that we can do so many things together. Happy late Birthday Brad. I love you so much, and could not have asked for a better companion in life!

Valentine's Day/Clue Party

VALENTINES DAY:

This year for Valentines day, we went out to eat at Firehouse. We actually went the day before since we wanted to join my family for a heart-shaped pizza and out for ice cream at Twizzleberry on Valentines day. But it was actually probably better that way, because it was not so crowded. 

Brad was so sweet and got up in the middle of the night so I could wake up to this. Love him!

I made some heart-shaped toast/egg and gave him a red tie and some candy.

CLUE PARTY:

Our friends planned an awesome clue party last friday. I was Miss. Scarlet and Brad was Mr. Green. We had a little scavenger hunt around town looking for clues and then came back to use our clues to figure out who was the 'killer'. We played minute-to-win it games on our turn to get more clues. In the end, I was the killer... dun dun dun. I had to go outside and then they sprayed me with silly string. I wish I would have taken more pictures. It was a fun night. 

I'm an Aunt! :)

 Well, I'm sure this will not come as a surprise to any of you... if you know me at all. This post is going to be all about babies! :) I nanny 2 days a week for my old cheer coach who has a 5 year old girl, 3 year old boy and 4 month old twin boys. As you can imagine, I love every second of it. I've been doing it ever since the babies were born. One day I walked in to see them both sleeping in the exact same position. It made me laugh. I got to be with them on Valentine's Day and they looked so cute!


We still babysit the Hess' a lot. We babysat them for a whole week the beginning of February. The kids sure do love Brad, and love for him to spin them. Ruby is a 'daddy's' girl and Lucy's a 'mommy's' girl.

I made some cute little leg-warmers so I decided to have a little photo session with the girls.

And last, but certainly not least.... I'M AN AUNT!!! I've been waiting for this day for a long time now and the day finally came early in the morning on February 11th. Poor Katie was in labor for about 17 hours. He weighed 7 lbs 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. I was sad that we could not be there the day he was born since we were babysitting the Hess', but we headed down the day after. He is just the cutest little thing ever. They named him Braxten Taylor Wheelwright.