Talent Show/High School Graduation

A few days after we got to NC we got to go to a middle school talent show. My little sister Allie has done a fun act every year so far and this one definitely topped them all. I will say that I am VERY grateful none of my siblings ever showed any interest in being in a band.  Let's just say my ears were ringing after a few of the acts.

Later that week my little brother Zack graduated magna cum laude from his high school. He is also my fellow BYU Cougar! So proud of my Zacky! 

Last trip to St. George for a little while...

Just thinking about that title makes me sad.  At the end of April, Bruce and I decided to move to North Carolina.  On the way home from a conference in Salt Lake, Bruce got the impression that we should move to NC.  He came home and told me what he had felt. After I got over the disbelief, I immediately began having mixed feelings.  I have always been close with my family, and ever since I left to go to BYU it's been hard being away from them. Part of my heart yearns to be closer to them, while the other part loves Utah and my family out there too.  I wonder if the day will ever come when I won't have to be torn? (Actually, I know a day will come when we can all be together, but I would love for that time to come while we are still on this earth. *wink wink*) Bruce and I both feel like the Lord wants us in NC right now.  We don't know His plan for us but we know He has one and we are both excited to see how it unfolds.

Since Bruce and I knew we would be moving soon, we decided to take one last trip down to St. George to visit his parents and their new house. We came down on a Thursday night so that we could get three full days there.  When we got there Grammy had a huge stuffed bear waiting for us and Madi absolutely LOVED it! She cuddled with it all weekend. She started to get little possessive of it so we had to teach her to share. haha.

Friday we just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  This was Bruce's office for the day. Pretty sweet huh? :) 

Madi also read books with Grammy and helped her vacuum.

Saturday was a fun filled day. We just so happened to be there during Cotton Days, so we started the day off with a little bit of the parade and breakfast at Veteran's Park.  Then we walked around at the different vendor booths. They also had a fun little petting "zoo" that Madi loved. 

Then Grammy and Papo watched Madi while Bruce and I went to the St. George temple. It was my first time going in the St. George temple and it just so happened to be where Bruce received his endowments, so it was a special and much needed trip to the temple.  Thanks Grammy and Papo!

After church on Sunday, we took the Sidekick out for a little drive. There are a lot of sweet trails in St. George and there is one right beside Kari and Lance's new house!  Bruce and Lance had been the day before and saw some cool stuff, so Bruce wanted to take me and Kari up.  One thing they found was part of a golf course up on a ledge. 

We also found some sand dunes.

It was so beautiful when we finally got to the top.  You could see everything. The picture on the left is of Sand Hollow Reservoir and in the picture on the right you can see(if you squint) the St. George temple and the big D on the mountain. 

When we got back and Madi woke up from her nap, we all headed to a park in downtown St. George.  It has a little man-made stream running through it.  Last time we were here Madi didn't really want to get in the water because it was too cold, but this time she loved it.  When it was time to go she kept signing "more" because she didn't want to stop playing.  

Then the time we had been dreading came. It was time to say goodbye.  I wasn't prepared for it at all and it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.  I was at least able to hold back my tears until we got in the car though. :) Here are some pics of Madi giving Grammy and Papo kisses goodbye. 

We had so much fun on this trip and just writing about it makes me want to go back so bad. But it also makes me super excited for Thanksgiving when we get to go back. :)

Insta-family

At the beginning of May we got to watch my two cute little cousins while my aunt and uncle went to Hawaii. We had so much fun being a family of five, staying in a nice house with a garage and fun backyard, driving a Honda mini van around, going to soccer games, having play dates, dropping kids off at school, getting snow cones, and having picnics at the park.  It was like our own little insta-family and we loved it.  The fact that the kids we watched are little angels was just icing on the cake.  Seriously, they were so obedient and so great with Madi.  Madi especially loved having friends to play with everyday and they loved playing with her just as much.

To say that we miss these kids and their parents would be an understatement. Their family has seriously done so much for us over the years. We love and respect them so much.  Not to mention my uncle has totally been my BFF since I was like...1 or something. :)

The weather was gorgeous so we decided to have dinner in the backyard.

Madi with her cousin Zoe.

Gettin' Old

So I'm ignoring my blog absence and picking up where I left off, which just so happens to be my birthday. On April 24 I turned 24.  It feels kind of weird, especially since being home in NC. I'm really starting to feel the old in OLDest child. There are several reason for this.  This obvious one being that I am the only one married with a kid in my family. I'm used to being with Bruce's side of the family where I'm the youngest and all of his siblings are married with kids. Another thing that makes me feel old is when we are seniors in high school my mom always hangs our senior picture up on the wall. Well my mom just put my brother Zack's picture up and I was looking at mine noticing how outdated it's starting to look. Sad! I am also having a terrible time remembering how old I am.  Ever since 22 it seems like my subconscious has stopped keeping count.

Moving along from my little rant, my birthday was absolutely superb! My aunt and uncle were kind enough to watch Madi while Bruce and I went out to dinner. We ate at La Jolla Groves; a cute, romantic restaurant in Provo. As soon as you walk in there are real lemon trees that smell SO good.  This inside of the restaurant feels like you are in a lemon grove and the food is so yummy. Their salmon is a-ma-zing! I could seriously eat it every day.  

They also gave us a free desert since it was my birthday.  It looked pretty legit and it tasted as good as it looked. 

 After dinner we walked around outside and looked at all the shops. We decided to stop by Provo Beach Resort and explore. It was sa-weet! I never knew there was so much to do there.  There were arcade games, play grounds, a merry-go-round, bowling, mini crockett, a ropes course, virtual golf, and indoor surfing. Bruce and I decided to do the ropes course. It was pretty kid friendly but still fun and different.

It was a really great day and I especially enjoyed spending some alone time with Bruce.  Having a baby makes you really appreciate any time you get to spend alone with each other.  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!! XO

Deserted...

My poor blog!!!! Oh how I have deserted you so.  Much apologies. Life is crazy. Updates to come soon I promise. XOXO

Cute Videos

Madi has inherited mine and my mothers "dance if you love what your eating" trait. It's pretty cute, I'm not going to lie. 

She has also learned how to say the word "tickle" or "tigull". It's so cute.  

Madi loves doing tricks with Daddy. 

St. George/Conference Weekend

Last weekend we decided to make a short trip to St. George to visit Grammy and Papo.  Aunt Malaena and our cousin Sadie were there also so it was fun to see them too. And we definitely enjoyed the warm sunny weather. The fact that Provo was getting snow while we were in St. George made it all the more enjoyable! hehe.

Saturday morning we went to see Grammy finishing her triathlon.  She did awesome! She placed 3rd in her division and definitely inspired me to do something like it.  I think I'll start slowly though, like maybe a 5K. haha. After the first session of conference we went to see their potential new house, did a little off-roading in the Sidekick, and then came home for some ice cream and more conference.

Eating some yummy chocolate ice cream!

Then later that evening we went to eat at a yummy Hawaiian place. It was so good. Especially the shaved ice with vanilla ice cream in the bottom. Definitely a first for me. And hopefully not the last.  Maybe one day I will have some Hawaiian food IN Hawaii... ;)  

Bruce with his huge-o shaved ice and Madi with Grammy. 

Madi really enjoyed playing with her cousin Sadie while we were there. It was so cute to see them together. I could tell that Madi looked up to Sadie(10 mo older) and Sadie was so sweet to Madi too. She called Madi her "little buddy".

Sunday between conference sessions we went to a little park down town. The park has a fun little stream of water for the kids to play in. Madi wasn't too interested though and stuck close to mommy and daddy. The warm sun and the smell of sun screen made me itching for summer for sure! If it snows one more time I think I might lose my sanity! But on a lighter note, we definitely had fun in St. George and it was the perfect little getaway.