Life is good

I have a good life.

Really, when I sit back and think about it, I can't help but feel an utmost amount of gratitude and happiness. Besides not having a puppy and 16 horses of my own, I have everything that I could have ever dreamed of in life. I live in a beautiful place the suits me just right, I have a husband the loves me at all times (that I love just as much back, I live in a beautiful home and have so many opportunities to do fun things! It's safe to say that I am very happy. 

Last weekend, was May Long! So, Travis was able to get the day off of work to spend time with me! We were lucky enough to go up to Mountainview (close to Waterton) to go on a trail ride. Most trail rides I've been somewhat boring because the horses they put you on don't do anything but walk, slowly. However, the horse that I got to ride on this trip was a peppy little 4-year-old named Rusty. Not to mention, the area where we were riding was stunning. I have some pictures, but they truly don't do it justice. It was an amazing day! I still can't stop thinking about it. 

Last week, I was able to fly up to Grande Prairie to spend some time with Meaghan and her sweet family. It was a pain in the butt to get there, but once I got there it was pure bliss. I had so much fun and it was so lovely to see the kids. I hadn't seen them for a year! Which made me so sad. In the picture, we have Claire and little Jacob eating a hotdog at Costco. I loved getting to know Jake. He is through and through a boy! I loved it. He's such a doll!

These two are the cutest! The little boy is Claire's cousin, Hinton. He is honestly the cutest little boy and they are like best friends. I'm sad I didn't get any pictures of Olivia! She is as cute as a button with the sweetest little voice. I loved my trip to GP! 

Meg was lovely and did my nails with that gel/shellac stuff! Excuse my fat fingers, each one has probably been sprained or broken throughout the years. I love having my nails painted, but the minute it chips I have to take it all off. With this stuff, it's supposed to stay on for a long time. I love fun colors, but lately I've loved just nude or light pink on my nails. Makes me hands feel clean :)

We have this place here in the Bridge called Cora's.  It's only open for breakfast and lunch and lemme tell ya... Amazing! Your food comes with this incredible arrangement of fresh fruit. It's so good and I almost feel bad eating it because it's so pretty (okay, maybe I don't feel that bad). It's so yummy. We've been twice since I've been home and I plan on paying Cora many more visits. 

The other night was Ethan's grad and Travis and I got to chaperone. Besides the fact that I was feeling quite sick, it was so awesome to see! This was LCI's grad and they put on quite the event. So, the kids have a choice between Safe Grad(aka. get bused out to a field that no one knows the location of, write your address on your wrist band incase you pass out, stand the whole time because if you sit they will send you home and just drink all night long... doesn't that sound fun?) OR go to DRY GRAD! What they do is rent out the entire facility at the University of Lethbridge, so the kids can go swimming, rock climbing, play on astro jumps, karaoke, food ALL night long, prizes, dancing, games.... like anything you could think of. It was SO cool! Our first assignment was to chaperone the astro jumps (which was hilarious, by the way) and a bunch of girls ran in and they all said "this is the best night of my life!" So cute. It was amazing though! There were about 100 kids and about 40% of them were not members of the church. It's great because it gives kids another option if they don't want to go and drink their guts out. I bet my life that if my school put something on like this, a lot of kids wouldn't go to after grad to drink until they are sick. 

Well.. until next time! 

The homestead

We've been home for a few weeks now and our place is slowly but surely coming together. Moving in and making our house our home is so much fun. However, I want to do it fast and have it all done right now!! But, here is the thing... it can get expensive AND guess what? We are newlyweds. So, all in due time, our place will be homey as ever. On top of that, I don't want everything to look thrown together. It takes time! I have some thrifty plans and projects to do to make this process not so hard on the ol' wallet.

Here are the parts of the house that have come the farthest along:

Thanks to the Mylonakis' for the table!! It's our first kitchen table, ever. 

Still waiting on the dishwasher to get installed, but I love my kitchen. 

Still lots to do! But, it's so fun looking for stuff and thinking up ideas. I am very, very blessed!! So happy to be home. 

I love him. He is so busy! I hardly see him. His company has a lot of work right now and then once he is done work at 5:30, he is off to do landscaping work with his dad and brother. I'm grateful for his work ethic... but sometimes I just miss him.

I'm still finishing up some classes online, which hasn't been too bad. I am also looking after a little girl everyday for about an hour and a half. Her name is Hailey and she has cerebral palsy. I pick her up from school and just chill with her until her mom gets back from work. She is so sweet and loves Taylor Swift. It has been a really good experience for me and I've really loved getting to know her sweet spirit. 

Look at this guy. So tough. 

Next time that I think that I might be bored... I'm going to read this because it is SO true. 

Graduation

   It is beyond weird to say that I am home, for good. Last weekend I graduated from BYU and drove home the day after. It was definitely a difficult thing to say goodbye to some of my very best friends, but it was also very nice to cross that Canadian border and know that I would be staying.

I did it! Well.. I have a few more classes to finish up online, but I did it. It is so crazy to think of how fast 4 years went by. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world. 

I was so happy that I was able to enjoy my day with the people I love. My mom, grandma, Travis and his parents all came! 

Grandma Barb

My guy

My really good friend, Morgan, got me a little going away gift! So thoughtful! I love this shirt. 

I'm going to miss these lovely ladies!! On and off the court!! Had a lot of good laughs with them! 

And a shout out to this freak! Congrats on graduating, Alesis!! So proud of this girl, after all she's been through. I'm going to miss her and her family... well pretty much my family, so much! 

Now that we have our own place, we have been going through all of Travis' stuff at his parent's house. We found his old letterman jacket, so of course I had to try it on! In my personal opinion, green and yellow are awful colors. But, I'm sure my hubby pulled it off well :) 

   I'm so happy to be home and to be moved into our cute little house. I absolutely love our home!!! There is lots left to do, but it is so nice to think that it is our home and that we get to be together everyday!! I am very blessed. Once everything has come together, I will put pictures up :) 

It's been a while..

  I haven't blogged in, I don't know, forever? I honestly wouldn't know where to begin and what's happened in my life since I last was on here. I guess I will just have to start with what's happened most recently...
   This is so weird to even say, but I am done basketball forever. It is sad in so many ways and it is crazy to think that it is all over after so many years of playing. However, I am so excited to see what life, without the game, has in store for me.

I had a good run and a successful career. I will miss what it is like to be on a team, there is really nothing like it. I love all the girls that I played with and they will forever be some of my very best friends. With all that being said, I am excited for real life and having a job. I am excited to actually get ready for a day and not just putting on sweats because I'm too tired for anything else. I am excited to support my husband just as he has for the past year. I am excited to start a family, whenever that may be. Flat out, I am excited to start the next chapter in my life.

This past week, I decided to drive home for a few days. I hadn't seen Travis for about 2 weeks and I was feeling lonely. It was so nice to be home for conference and to spend time with my guy and his fam. I also got to see this little butterball! I haven't seen her since Christmas, when she was born, and she has grown so much! She is so lovely. She wasn't really sure what to think of me, but soon enough I will be able to prove to her that I am cool! 

The drive from Utah to Canada has gotten a little old! My poor husband has done this every month for the past 8 months!! There are parts of the drive that are beautiful and enjoyable, don't get me wrong. It's just so long!! 

Remember this cute house that Travis built? Well, we get to live here when we move back! It's so cute and I can't wait to decorate it and make it our home. I'm getting really sick of our basement apartment here in Provo. It's cold and it just doesn't feel like home at all. I'm very excited!!! I will post some pictures once we make the move :) 

Is 2012 really over?

The year 2012 treated me very, very well. I'm surprised how quickly it went by! I am so excited to see what 2013 holds!

Here's to 2012...

 

I got engaged to my best friend!! February 10th 2012. I was and still am the luckiest girl in the world! 

Had incredible experiences with some amazing girls! A wicked record, a conference championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. 

Amazing and happy times with my families! I am so blessed to have the families that I do and I am so grateful for all of the memories I have with them.

WE GOT MARRIED!!!!

June 29th 2012 

I fall more and more in love with him everyday!!

Our first of many Christmases together!

Embracing the true north!! We love our home!! 

Little Miss Hazel! Who isn't very little anymore, I might add! But still SO adorable! 

Two new nieces!!! Such joy!

Baby Lauryn!! Born on December 19th 2012!! 

Safe to say that I had a pretty incredible year spent with my most favorite people!!! Can't wait to see what 2013 will bring us! 

Mad World

   This morning I got in my car to drive to practice. Since December 1st, I've had my car radio set on a station that plays Christmas music all day long. Songs were played that brought such loving memories from when I was a little girl. I remember feeling so safe and not having a worry in the world.
  When I got home, I turned on the TV to find all the channels fixated on yet another tragedy. I was sickened to learn that 20 innocent children and 7 adults in Connecticut lost their lives in a shooting. The world is sadly unfamiliar. I pray that these families can feel comforted and know that they will see their beloved children again. I hope this pushes us to hold our loved ones close and to remember how fragile life can be.

"Through the revelations of God to His prophets, came the doctrine and authority under which families are sealed together not only for this life, but for all eternity."

                                                                              - Gordon B. Hinckley 

The Children

    I just need to post and maybe brag a little bit about all my nieces and nephews. I love them all so much and really miss them all! I love calling my sisters and listening to funny stories about what all the kids are up to. They are all at such fun ages and I can't help but feel I'm missing it! Which makes me sad, but soon enough I will get to see more of them.

Miss B. This is the oldest grandchild of the family! Little Miss Brook is such a sweetheart! She is so kind and so smart. I love this little girl so much. She is going to be 8 in July... which seems so odd!

Cohen Charles! I live the closest to Mackenzie and don't see her or her cute kids enough!! Cohen is hilarious! He makes me laugh so hard. How could you not love that dimple!!?

Claire bear!! I have a strong bond with this one.... she and I share an obsession for horses! She is Meaghan's oldest. I was talking to Meaghan the other day and she told me that Claire watches horse videos on youtube and just cries because she wants a horse so bad. I know how she feels and I told Meaghan, that she's not going to grow out of it! Sorry! 

Sassy miss mae! This is Mackenzie's little girl! She is beyond cute!! She loves babies and she loves clothes. She's definitely a girl! She's really a sassy little thing. I love her! 

Georgia Kate... where to being with this one. This is Caitlin's second little girl and a feisty one at that! I wish that I could post a video of her dancing at Mackenzie's wedding... that video perfectly depicts what this girl is all about. Crazy! 

Livie Lou! This is Meaghan's second, Olivia. We always used to joke and call her Miserable Mabel because she was always in a bad mood! She's grown out of that but is still a shy little thing. She is precious and has the sweetest little voice. 

Jacobus! This is Meaghan's little boy. He is definitely is daddy's little boy! Meaghan has caught him trying to jump from the top of the stairs, throwing footballs at the wall or trying to cut down the newel post with a toy saw. He is so dang cute! 

Hazel Dee!! My newest niece!! This is Trav's brother, Tyler's, little girl! She has grown SO much since I have last saw her. But, I get to see her and give her loves at Christmas! She is so cute! Uncle Trav and I miss her so much!

AND..... Caitlin will be having her 3rd GIRL in January! She is referred to as No-Name because Cait has no idea what they are going to name her. But, I'm very excited to meet her!! Aren't I lucky to be surrounded by the cutest kids in the world!!?