2018- A New Year

   I think this has been one of the most exciting New Year's Day I've ever had! In the past I haven't paid too much attention to the New Year. However, this year came with all sorts of feels. There are so many changes happening and about to happen. First, Jackson and I will be moving here soon. We're going up to Herriman to live with my mom and Uipo for a little while. They offered it to us so that we could save up a down payment for a house. As you can imagine, it makes it difficult to save up when we're paying for school, rent, etc. Needless to say, we're excited to work hard and get a down payment saved up!

   Next, we're both graduating from school. There is so much excitement that comes with graduating from school. Even though some days (most days to tell the truth) I find myself wishing this time would pass sooner rather than later so Jackson and I can get on to "living life" ... as it comes to an end I realize that even through the hardest times, there is something so beautiful and happy about this stage of life as crazy as it may be. It's always so hard to see a chapter of your life close. Jack and I have talked about how we just have to enjoy where we are. Appreciate the chapters that have closed but be excited for the ones that are about to open. Each stage of life has something so unique to offer. It's a crazy feeling though... because since I was born I've been told go to school, go on a mission, get married, get a degree, etc. As of right now, it seems like we're about to come to an end of that trail. What lies ahead is so unknown and really can be molded into anything we want it to be.

   Also, Jackson and I are both trying to be more healthy. The stresses of life since we got married have caused us to not be as healthy as we'd want to be. Now that this stage of life is wrapping up, it feels like we're more able to focus on our health. I am so excited to see all that we can accomplish this year. All I have to say is, BRING ON THE NEW YEAR! We got all our Christmas decorations taken down today and put away. We have goals set and are ready to go. Here's to 2018!!! This is our year.💗

My cute new planner for this year. :) 

An Eventful Saturday

We had lots of fun this Saturday. It started out with Jackson's annual Christmas party for ASA Insurance at the Little America Hotel. They always hold a breakfast there and then have a fun game/gift exchange afterwards. Each couple brings a wrapped good gift and a gag gift. Everyone puts them in the center and then you roll dice (you have to get a 7 or an 11) to pick a present. Once everyone has a gift, everyone opens them. Once you know what everything is, you start a 5 min. timer. Once again you roll the dice... and if you get a 7 or an 11 you can steal anyone's present you want. At the end of the 5 min. you have to keep whatever present you end up with. I opened an Amazon gift card and had it stolen from me 4 times! Ha ha. I got it back each time but with only 11 seconds left, Sisco (Jackson's co-worker) snagged it one last time and we ran out of time before I could roll again. It was too fun! Jackson and I ended up with a $25 gift card to Texas Roadhouse (that we brought, ha ha) and a Mt. Dew. They gifted Jackson a Samsung tablet for his Christmas bonus and $50 in gold coins. We're so excited to try it out! 

 After the Christmas party, we headed to the Festival of Trees. It was such a special experience this year because Amy and her sisters decorated a tree for Jackson's grandma Sandra that passed last year. As we stood and looked at the tree, we couldn't help but both get choked up. It brought me right back to all the memories I had of her. It reminded me of the warm hello she'd always greet us with. It reminded me of how much fun she was and how she always seemed to bring so much life to the party. As we stood there, I could honestly feel her spirit right there with us. Although we lost her after a battle with cancer, I know that she is still here so close. It was so so heartwarming to see her tree and the tree of so many others that people had put together in memory of their loved ones. 

 When we were done looking at all the trees at the festival, we drove down to my sister Heather's house in Clinton. We hung out with her, Eric, and the twins. I can't believe they are almost two years old! They are seriously the cutest little things ever. I got a cute picture of Hadley... but Easton was being a mama's boy and didn't want anyone but Heather so I wasn't able to get one of him in his cute little sweats, ha ha. I am so lucky to be an aunt to such cute kids! Tyson is getting so big as well. He's starting to look more and more like David. (When he was born, he was a CARBON COPY of Megan.) They bought him this giant teddy bear. It was too cute! I think while we were at Heather and Eric's we watched (or at least started) Boss Baby three times. Hadley kept saying, "Baby, baby, baby!" She LOVES her shows! Ha ha. It's always so fun to hang out with them. I'd say overall, it was a crazy busy crazy fun Saturday. My only complaint is... why can't the weekends last longer?

A gingerbread version of the "Death Star" from Star Wars. Jackson was in heaven, ha ha!

Heather sent me this when we were headed up to Clinton. Ha ha ha!

The Best Surprise

I got home and grabbed a snack tonight and waited for Jackson to get home. He was about 20 min. later than usual and it made me a little worried. I tried to stay calm though because he had told me there was a lot of traffic. It was getting later and later and I was just about to call him again when all of the sudden I heard the front door open. I jumped up to go and give him a hug and ask how his day was. As I turned the corner, I saw what he was holding. I won't lie, it made me tear up a little. In his hands was the cutest little arrangement of flowers. He knew I had been having a rough couple of days and wanted to surprise me. Jack looked at me and then looked at the flowers and said, "This is the traffic I was stuck in, ha ha." Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve him. He is so so sweet to me. Thanks Jack! Love you. 

Tonight we also got to go to Bahama Bucks with David, Megan, and their cute little guy. It was a good time! I didn't get a picture of all of us... so I used this one Megan took, ha ha. His face... what a dork. 

Megan Leavey

I know you're all going to think we're movie junkies... and to honest, you're totally right! This summer Jack and I have DEFINITELY taken advantage of $5 Tuesdays at the Cine mark Theaters. Tonight we went and saw the movie Megan Leavey. Any of you who know me know I love dogs more than most other things in life and this movie definitely pulled on those heart strings. It's... "Based on the true life story of a young Marine Corporal whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq." Jackson really liked it as well. It's always a fun night out with him. 

Mulligan's

This last week, Jackson was invited to go and play golf with some of his co-workers. He's feeling a bit rusty since he hasn't been in a while, so we headed to Mulligan's so he could hit a bucket of balls. It was a bit chilly but a lot of fun. He got his swing back in no time. I on the other hand, am TERRIBLE. It's pretty amusing. I love this goofy guy of mine. 😏 Oh! We also got our new fit bits in the mail today. I am so excited!

Baby Cuddles

I know I'm always blowing up my blog with pictures of my niece and nephews.... but they are just so freakin' cute! We got to go and see little baby Tyson again today. I just got to cuddle him for a little while. Such a cute little guy! He's finally out of his preemie clothes and into new born size. 

Baseball and Pizza

This morning we headed to see Keaton play baseball. He was playing out in Lehi. It was such good weather and so nice to get a little sun. My legs are still so pasty right now, ha ha! He did really well and his team ended up winning both games that day. It's so funny to see how much he moves like Jackson when he plays. 

After the game, we stopped by to see Hayden at the Oakley's store. He's working there for the summer before he heads on his mission. I know that he has started his papers and I am so excited to know where he'll go but I'm glad he's still got more time at home. 

From the Oakley's store we drove down to Heather's to see them for a bit. Jackson and I fed Hadley and Easton lunch while Heather was getting ready and we were waiting for Eric to get home from school. Heather told us we could give them an oreo after their lunch and they LOVED it... if you can't tell by the oreo all over their faces. 

We ended up going to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner after Eric got home. Easton ate pretty good but Hadley was spitting out EVERYTHING. Even the OREO desert pizza. I couldn't believe it, ha ha! They are so darn cute.