Texas Forever, 2015

Texas beckons, and I answer.

Maybe not so much just Texas itself, but the people there who I love so much and can't go too long without seeing. And actually, McKinney has my heart in many ways too after 15+ visits in the last 8 years. 

This summer I couldn't pass up the opportunity to introduce Matty to our future home... well thats my big hope and dream anyway, that some day in the next 5 years we will move there. As many may remember, before I started dating Matt I had solid plans to move to Texas to start my big girl life, but falling in love and getting married changed that course for the time being :)! But oh man, going back there again, something inside me just clicks and it all feels so right. Plus its rated by many sources as the best city in the United States as far as raising children, careers and income, general cost of living, etc. SO... fingers crossed.

We had a fabulous time visiting with Kirstin and Tyler and the kids over 4th of July weekend!

Foursquare in the street in front of the house (once the sun goes down a bit of course). I hadn't played foursquare since elementary school and i'd forgotten how fun it is! Also these kids are so good at it. The competition is real. I got my butt kicked more than once.

Pool day! We didn't let any wind and rain stop us. We enjoyed having the pool all to ourselves for the afternoon!

For the 4th of July we kept it simple. Kirstin, Matt, and I killed ourselves that morning with a long run, then lazed most of the morning and afternoon away. We all headed to the soccer fields for fireworks later that night. 

Notice anything different? :)

Unfortunately Matt was only there for a couple of days and had to leave us on Sunday to go back to work. We were all sad to see him go!

In addition to Matt leaving, Ty and Brayden left early monday morning for scout camp. So for a few days we had a girl party! Bagels and shopping and nail painting!

My last day we went to the pool again. It wasn't that sunny, we weren't going to be there for long, and I foolishly chose to neglect my sunblock. So when I talked about how summer is the time for getting tan... in reality this is actually what usually happens to me.

 Texas changed Matt in more than one way! For one thing, he said to me, "Yeah I could live here" (!!!!!!YES!!!!!!). And for another, he shaved the ginger beard. I loved that thing, and my husband was a stranger to me for a few days after it was gone. But he's still my handsome Matty and I love him no matter what!

TEXAS FOREVER.

Summer: Hiking with some goats and puppies

It's funny, even though I finished school over a year go, I still start to get that end of summer impending doom feeling right around this time. I'm all like oh no, summer is over!? Back to the stressful difficult school grind?! But honestly not too much changes for me anymore. Sure, Matt will be back at UVU for the year and still working which means less time to play with me (boo) but I'll still go to work several days a week, working as a nurse which I love, come home without homework... and then get paid every once in a while for doing it. Graduating and having a job is the best! Don't worry friends (and dearest sister) I know many of you are almost there too! :)

This was my first full working summer, and while that can be a major bummer sometimes because there is no real full long break and sometimes having to miss out on things, there is still a different feel about this time of year. Its a time for bocce ball and fun vacations and reading Harry Potter and playing in the sun and weddings and getting a tan!

I have far too many pictures for just one post, so we'll take it a few steps at a time. Lets start with the very few times we've been cool enough to venture down to Provo and hang out with other cool people. Coupled wiiiiith... puppies and goats of course.

Early in the summer we did a monday night FHE hike to Stewart Falls with Rachel and Lee.... who are basically our favorite couple on the planet. 

Millions of peaches!

Then theres these girls. I can't believe its been two years since we met as counselors at BYU Sports Camp and became the best of gal pals. I love them like crazy, but it takes a serious miracle for us all to be available at the same time on the same day. But we finally made it happen for one whole hour, and what a glorious time it was!

Matt's parents' goats had baby goats! So tiny and hilarious, we had some fun playing with them when they were only one day old.
|| that beard though... more to come on that in a later post ||

PUPPY BARN! We dedicated a date night to go to a place in American Fork where you can just hold tiny little adorable puppies waiting to be adopted. This was so good for my soul.

 

Too hilarious of a face not to share!

Summer, to be continued...

Mini-Miracle Flowers

Last week while I was at work, one of my co-workers' significant other had flowers delivered to her just because. It sparked a discussion between those of us working about different times we have been given flowers. I shamelessly bragged about my cute Matty having bought me flowers several times over the course of our relationship just to say I love you or just because it was a Tuesday :) Then it dawned on me... huh, that actually hasn't happened since we got married. Dang. I mean honestly not that big of a deal, just something I hadn't noticed until that moment. When I walked in the door from work that evening, there they were. A vase of super springy pretty yellow and purple flowers perched in a vase on the kitchen table. He must have been reading my mind from afar that day. It was a little mini-miracle that brightened my day. And I am so blessed to have a husband who brightens my whole life every single day!

Pretty Payson!

We were blessed to go to the Payson temple open house yesterday. It is so incredibly beautiful on the inside and out! If you weren't able to make it, there's a beautiful virtual tour for you here! As we drove home, we counted the temples we passed by. Payson, Provo City Center, Provo, Timpanogos, Draper, Oquirrh Mountain, and Jordan River. SEVEN. Seven temples in a one hour drive. Utah is so cool like that! We are excited to attend the Payson temple again once it has been dedicated and enjoy it's beauty in a whole new way. And maybe, just maybe I see an entire Utah temple tour weekend in our summer's future! 

Yeah, couldn't keep my eyes open to save my life.

I also see more regular blog posts in our future. So be excited.

We Ate Pancakes

Yes thats right, our first post as married hooligans = pancakes. 

Believe it.

Because last week it was National Pancake Day, which is clearly one of the most monumental and historically significant days of celebration in this here United States. So we went to town on a good ol' Pinterest recipe for cinnamon roll swirl pancakes. And I tell no lie: one of the most delectable creations to ever touch my tongue. The sugary goodness of the cinnamon swirl, icing, and berries just put it all over the top.

I mean really, who needs a nasty free ihop flapjack when you can create something so much more marveous in your own kitchen? National pancake day done right ✓

Oh and ps guys, this is my handsome husband ☟

They disappeared all too quickly :( But believe you me, we'll be ready when National Pancake Day rolls around again next year! And you can be too: here.