Little Brother

Well we dropped off this not so little anymore guy at the MTC. I am so excited and proud of him for choosing to serve the Lord. He will be awesome. Our week leading up to the event was full of fun.

   
Blaine flew up to Spokane to spend a week with me before he left. It was a good vacation for him and I think he enjoyed himself. The week was full of boating, canoeing, eating, and outdoor movie adventures. We spent one night sleeping under the stars after watching the first Lord of the Rings outside with a projector and sheet, complete with everyone's mattresses. I slept awesomely so we decided to try it again the next night, with Nathan's parents joining us. Well...that night ended at about 2 in the morning when the sprinklers went off and soaked everyone and their beds. Everyone was a little grumpy the next day. Gotta love those fun adventures.

After the week was over, Blaine, Elizabeth and I drove up to Utah to drop Elizabeth off at the BYU track and field camp for pole vaulting. She was a fantastic assistant driver in the front seat. She would unwrap my Kit Kats for me and everything.

Elizabeth making art with her pretzels

Nathan flew up a couple days later just in time for Chance's baptism. He was so adorable and so ready to be baptized. It has been a while since I felt the spirit as strong as I did when I watched my youngest sibling make the choice to be baptized. I am so glad I have the two little ones in my life. Our family would be sadly incomplete without them. Chance was a good sport the whole time even though he hates being the center of attention. He inherited that trait from his oldest sister ;)

I loved Chance's "little man" pants. So cute.

Blaine's mission farewell was a resounding success. He gave an incredible talk on family and made me, my mom and Erin cry like babies. He had so many people there to support him and it was a great day spent with our awesome family.

Monday night we got to go to the Spanish Fork rodeo. That is my favorite summer activity and I was so excited to take Nathan and Elizabeth to their first rodeo. I think overall they enjoyed it. The weather could have been a little cooler but it was still an entertaining night.

On Wednesday we packed up for the drive back to Washington. Luckily my awesome husband was there this time so I didn't have to drive the whole 11 hours. We also brought Erin back with us to spend a little time away from Utah. And we had to say a whole lot of sad goodbyes to Blaine. But I am so proud of him and wouldn't want him to be anywhere else. Look out Fort Worth, Texas, Elder McMurray is going to change your world!

Family Life

Lately I have been thinking about how incredibly blessed Nathan and I are to have such awesome families. There is so much love and support from everyone that sometimes I don't know how I got so lucky to be born into a great family and marry into an equally great family. So here comes a post of the awesome things we have been doing with our awesome families. (Can you tell I love my family?)

Nathan and my dad building a fire pit so the family can enjoy nightly bonfires with steak, hamburgers, and of course s'mores.

Enjoying the outdoors with our 3 dogs. It's so nice to be able to come home from school or work and hang out in the sun, jumping on the tramp, or just watching the dogs.

Making cakes to answer Blaine's date for Preference. "I'd be 'hoppy' to go with you!" We decided to keep in the Easter theme because she had asked with a basket of eggs and a stuffed duck saying "I'd be a lucky duck if you went with me."

Supporting brothers while they get set apart and ordained as elders. Nathan was able to fly out to Washington for Connor's farewell talk and I stayed home for Blaine's ordination. We both cried at our respective events.

Hanging out with Connor during his last few days before entering the MTC. We were able to go up and do a session in the Salt Lake Temple and then enjoyed a requested "last" dinner of Sushi.

Saying goodbye to Connor as he heads off to be an amazing missionary in the Baltic Mission. He has 9 weeks in the MTC to learn Latvian. As much as I would like to pretend I won't, I'm gonna miss that kid. I couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law.

Enjoying the traditional yearly Easter Egg Hunt at my Grandma Roberts' house. The food is delicious and the company excellent.

Heading down to Saint George for Conference weekend. There was a lot of swimming, eating, resting, and playing on red rocks. This was one of those vacations that made me more tired when I got home than I was when I left.

Watching my little brother open his mission call. He reports to the MTC on July 24th for the Texas, Fort Worth Mission!! We are so excited and so immensely proud of him for his choice to serve the Lord as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Now I am just trying to survive the last little bit of school. It is finally starting to hit me that I will never have to set foot in class again. And I cannot wait. So that's it for now...until graduation!!

Disneyland...Round 2

So a couple weeks ago we went to Disneyland....again...within 3 months of the last time we went. Obsessed much? But Nathan loved it so much that when my parents planned for their last visit back before their annual passes expired, he insisted we tag along. So we went and enjoyed a much less crowded version of the park than the experience we had over Thanksgiving. And then I could tell Nathan, this is the Disneyland that I love. When you can walk and spread your arms out without hitting at least 10 people in the process. And when you ride more than 3 rides a day because you aren't in line for a million hours.

The weather was so. much. nicer this time. Except that one day that Anaheim decided to have a record high of 90 degrees on the 1st day of March. We pretty much spent that day sitting on the ground by the waterfall of Grizzly Peak so we could feel its cool mist. Or riding Splash Mountain over and over and over. We also made it our mission to weird out the other people in our log.....hence the awesome faces you can see.

We also got to spend Blaine's birthday there, so being the awesome big sister I am, pretty much forcibly put an "It's My Birthday!" pin on him so that every Disney cast member had to wish him a happy birthday, along with multiple high school girls who just couldn't pass up the opportunity to say something to such a studly young man. In fact, while in line for Splash Mountain Erin and & I had the privilege of watching a group of about ten high school girls who were there for a choir competition ask if they could sing him happy birthday. It was very entertaining; the girls were talented and we got to watch Blaine's face progressively turn darker shades of red.

We FINALLY talked Chance into riding California Screamin. He actually rode it twice, which I'm completely surprised by because after having ridden it with him the second time, I'm not sure how he ever agreed to get back on. I wish we had gotten a recording of him because he truly understood the meaning of California Screamin. He did not take a breath the ENTIRE time. All the people on the roller coaster were laughing at him because you could probably hear his scream all over Anaheim. And I mean a high pitched, blood curdling scream. I don't even remember riding the roller coaster because I was laughing so hard. A cry inducing laugh. Nathan, on the other hand is still a wimp and wouldn't even ride it after a little boy showed him up.

Also, side story that no one else will find as funny as my family but Danika pretty much knocked a trash can over. Nathan was teasing her, as usual, so when he warned her to "watch out!" she assumed he was threatening her or something. But really he was just being a protective older brother and wanted to warn her about the big garbage can coming her way. She didn't listen and instead turned around with a vengeance and ran right into the garbage. So hard that her head almost went inside of it. The best part was Chance's reaction. He didn't even watch it happen but when we told him about it he laughed for ten minutes.

All in all, it was a great break from life. I'm hesitant to say vacation because every time we get back from Disneyland I am more tired than I was when I left. However, it was a vacation in the fact that my husband drained our bank account. Something about Disneyland brings out the little kid in him (okay, who am I kidding? Everything brings out the kid in him) and he thinks he needs to buy toys, toys, toys. But the tiredness and lack of money are worth it because we had a great time together as a family.

Riding the Teacups. I hate, hate, hate that ride but Nathan begged me to ride it. I think this is my "right before I throw up" face.

Oh and if you remember my reference to Nathan's creepy Yoda backback in this post. Well Chance decided Nathan is so cool and he wants to be just like him (Nah, not really. He just wanted a cool backpack) that he would buy one too. So here he is. We woke up to him tucked in on the couch in our hotel. That kid loves his backpack.

And to keep in tradition of our dogs doing something bad while we are gone, Charlie decided he would rip up the carpet upstairs. My mom is still refusing to go and look at the damage. All I can say is its a good thing my mom loves him to death or he would be finding a new home.

Life Lately

Lately we have been doing lots of playing. Mostly sledding and enjoying the life of a family with two (three if you count my parent's) puppies.

Sleeping on Chance. This boy has two best friends.

Akaya sleeps. A lot. Poor dog has become accustomed to apartment living. Now she is outside running all day. By the end of the day she plops down where ever she can. 

I was extremely excited when it finally snowed and I could use all my awesome snow clothes that I bought two years ago. Leave it to Utah to not snow when I finally invest money in warm sledding clothes.

Yup, we are those people. Sweaters for all our dogs.

We are both loving all the time we get to spend with my siblings. If you are ever having a bad day, go see Danika. Her laugh is absolutely contagious and its impossible to stay mad/sad/angry when you hear it. And she laughs at everything. So pretty much no one stays mad longer than five minutes at our house.

I also tied my first bow tie. Blaine had a 1920's themed senior dinner dance. He planned his whole outfit and haircut. But I tied the bow tie. Pretty sure my job was more important.

So lately, life has been fun. I wish I would have figured out that more play = a happier life during my freshman year. But maybe I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have if I had figured it out. Oh well, I suppose that's what my last semester is for.

First Timer

Over Thanksgiving break I took my husband to the Happiest Place on Earth for his 1st time. My parents and siblings bought an annual pass last March and so we decided to tag along on this trip. I was nervous about taking Nathan because his family trips usually consist of something involving the outdoors. And he loves that. Our family vacations however consist of pretty much just Disneyland. So I had been counting down the days until I got to go back to my very favorite place for months. I told Nathan that whether or not he liked Disneyland would basically determine the future of our marriage  Haha no, I was just kidding....but maybe not entirely ;)

BUT the verdict is....Nathan loved it! He said we can definitely go back so I'm looking forward to many more Disneyland vacations with my hubby and family :)

This trip was full of fun memories. The biggest being that Disneyland during the holidays is absolutely beautiful! The place is magical enough on a regular basis but when you add in all the lights, fireworks, and fake Disneyland snow, you just can't help but feel that Disney magic.

Rather than bore anyone with details of waiting in massive lines, (because that's pretty much all we did. I've never seen that place so crowded!) I'll just tell you the highlights and post pics. You can imagine the rest.

• Nathan cried on Tower of Terror. Okay, not really. I've gotten in trouble for telling this lie. But he might as well have. I thought he was going to die when I made him ride it a second time. Who would have thought that he would be scared of my favorite ride. I consider it payback for all the terrifyingly scary movies he makes me watch.

• Cars Land is my new favorite part of California Adventure. It looks just like the movie!
• Nathan, who was completely convinced before we left that he wouldn't want any stupid Disneyland souvenirs spend a hefty sum on a freakishly real looking Yoda backpack. Everyone kept staring and asking to take pictures. It looks like a baby is riding on his back...an ugly baby anyway.

• This is the first time EVER that we have left every night before the park completely closed. In fact, we were outta their by about 9 or 10 every night. I'll blame it on the little kids but in reality, none of us could handle the park the whole day. We just don't have the Disneyland energy we used to have.
• I cried during the Pocahontas part of World of Color. I LOVE THAT MOVIE! And I love being reminded of my childhood Disney memories. 
• My dad laughed so hard he cried when my mom got soaking wet on Grizzly River Run. I have honestly never seen him laugh so hard in my entire life. Crying, red faced laughter. Best moment hands down.

• I popped my jaw out of its socket while eating a caramel apple. Caramel apples are one of my favorite past times of Disneyland. I will probably never eat another one again because I get chills just thinking about how gross it felt to have my jaw move somewhere it should not be.
• Danika is the bravest little girl I know. She rides everything! Her favorite is California Screamin. We probably rode it more than all the other rides combined.

• Chance is more conniving than I would have ever thought. He told me he was scared to go on the swings so I bribed him with an ice cream sandwich. Come to find out from my dad, the swings are actually his favorite ride. The little turd conned me!
• Blaine became dubbed "Insane Blaine" by Crush the talking sea turtle. But then Crush later told him his name should be not-insane Blaine because he swims too slow. Haha
• Nathan's favorite ride is Space Mountain. Chance...not so much. He pulls the best faces on rides

These two are becoming best buds. 

Enjoying the Tiki Room

The best part of our trip: getting home and hearing about how Erin locked herself our of the house with the dogs locked inside the house. I wish I had pictures of the results. If you have met our dog Akaya you know she still has all that happy, puppy energy. So when Erin didn't show up to yell at her for awhile she decided to have a party in my parent's house. She drank a leftover Pepsi (probably fueled her 5 hour rampage), ate an entire bag of dog treats, ate two cans of opened dog food from the kitchen counter, dug through the trash and splattered marinara sauce all over the kitchen, and Blaine's favorite part: left her business right in the middle of his bedroom. The only thing we could all think of the whole situation was, "Poor Charlie." Charlie is my family's more human than dog pet that never does anything bad in fear of my mother's wrath. I'm sure he was running around after Akaya for the whole 5 hours, begging her to stop before the humans got home.