So Long Lovely Logan

For the past 5 years Brian and I have lived in this beautiful valley:

Attended this wonderful university:

Had a few monumental events:

And been lucky enough to have these wonderful people by our side:

Bre & Derek - We love you. Thank you for you generosity, understanding and willingness to help in ANY situation. We honestly know the best of the best.

They sure produced a beautiful friend for our little Thad!

Haley was there from Day 1: Best roommate, best ever. Dan the man came later, and he's made the journey lots of fun!

The Madsens: There's too much to say and too little space. Logan would have been a very different place without the 3 of you. We love and miss you already.

I get choked up thinking about these 2 not getting to see each other on a regular basis. 

Bre brought this beautiful woman into my life:

Taryn (who is an inspiration, strength and example to everyone she meets), who got me a job at the USU Bookstore and brought these greats into my life:

 

Em, Lee and Kate are great friends and w/o the bookstore we wouldn't have had the privilege of getting to know them. We love you guys and wish you all the happiness in the world!

Managing the apartments the past year has been stressful at times, but we would not have survived w/o it.

Bob and Dave were incredible to work for and we are so grateful for their understanding and generosity over the course of the year. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I honestly don't think we could say it too many times.

This girl also made the past year much more manageable. Kelli is the best aunt, babysitter, friend and sister we could ever ask for. 

The list of people could honestly go on forever. Brian has had so many friends, faculty and co-workers that have been so instrumental in our experience in Logan. We have had incredible ward members and made many friends through callings and visiting/home teaching. Heidi introduced me to some of the most amazing mothers I will ever know through an institute class I took this year. Experiencing motherhood for the first time can be challenging and I will forever be grateful for the discussions, advice and examples that took place during that time. My job at the Sport's Academy was short-lived, but I meet some greats there. Natalie, you're amazing and I thank you for the confidence you always had in me.

Logan has been good to us and it's time to move on. We are excited for this next phase in our life and know it will be an adventure. Thank you everyone. We love you.

May in a Nutshell...

So the month of May got really crazy and I didn't post much. I posted about my Houston trip, but there were a lot of fun things that happened this month w/ the Monsen Clan, so I better document:)

The first day of the month was a very special day. We got pictures as a family:

And later that afternoon we were able to attend the sealing of Russ and Teresa (Brian's mom and stepdad). It has been a long time coming and it was so wonderful to participate in that beautiful day with them.

They are such a great couple and wonderful in-laws. After the sealing we had Cafe Rio catered at their home and had an enjoyable evening w/ family and friends.

Leah's 1st birthday was the next day and we had a fun party at her house. She was so fun and LOVED her cupcake as you can see. Thad wouldn't even think about putting his cake/frosting in his mouth. She is such a doll and we love being w/ her and her family!

Sadie and Thad have been getting in all the lover time they can before we move. Sadie is such a great girlfriend....she knows the way to a man's heart is through his stomach;-)

This amazing man graduated from Utah State with is Masters of Accounting! We are so proud of him and all his accomplishments over his past 5 years of schooling. Logan has been good to our family and we have so many wonderful memories and friends here that will influence the rest of our lives. We are excited to go to CT and have so many great experiences because of this incredible accomplishment.

We were able to celebrate these beautiful women on Mother's Day and it was so fun!

We love our moms and don't know what we would do without them. Thank you for all you do for us!

My Houston trip...the highlight of my month:)

Angie, Emily and I threw a lingerie shower for this beautiful bride, Rachel who gets married in 2 DAYS!!! IT was so much fun and we got to see a lot of fun people. I am so excited for this girl and so glad that I can be a part of her wedding. Her friendship is so important and I wish her all the happiness in the world!

This woman threw the best Lost Finale party EVER! We had wild boar and tropical fruit for dinner and a Dharma decorated bonanza!

We all love Lost a lot and were sad to see it go, but this was the perfect farewell party for the amazing crew.

We finally put Thad's bike together that he got for his birthday and he loves it...especially combined w/ Baby Einsteins:)

We had a spectacular Memorial Day weekend. I headed down to WJ w/ Thad and we hung out with the fams Friday and Saturday and then Sunday Brian headed down and we went to Fairview where my Dad's parents are buried and went to my Aunt's cabin for dinner which was so fun too! I headed back to Logan on Sunday night and Brian head to Kanosh and Holden to visit w/ both parents' families. We had a blast and love spending time w/ family especially before we move. 

Hip Hoppin' Houston and the Best 4 Years!

So I haven't posted in almost a month, but we just got crazy busy up here in Logan. We had the 2009-2010 students move out and though it was nuts it was absolute bliss when our parking lot was empty at the end of finals week! We (mostly Brian and the other hired help) cleaned and got the apartments in order the week after, so Brian was constantly doing some odd job around the complex. I felt really bad, so I headed to Houston so I wouldn't have to feel so bad;-)

In February or March I told Brian that for my birthday and Mother's Day (though he spoiled me anyways on both of those days) that I wanted a ticket to Houston to go and visit my good friend Kim and her little family. Brian, being the amazing husband he is, did not object and the tickets were purchased. I had been looking forward to going forever and the trip finally came. It was  the best present I could have ever thought of!

So the closer the trip got the more nervous I got about taking Thad on my flight w/ me. I bought my tickets through the bidding system on Priceline.com and so I wasn't able to choose my flight times or if I would have a layover or not. So what I got was a 6:00am flight the day I left for Houston and a 7:15pm flight the day I came back home with a layover in Dallas Fort Worth. So we woke up at 4:00am and headed to the airport w/ my huge suitcase, a carry-on, a stroller, a car seat and of course, Thad. My mom was worried about me hauling everything to check-in, so she parked and thankfully helped me in w/ all my stuff. If she wouldn't have I probably wouldn't have made my flight because I was the last person on and they took off w/in 5 minutes of me boarding! I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was because Thad was a CHAMP!!! He sat on my lap, read books, watched movies on his DVD player and colored. We only had about 30 minutes between flights so we booked it pretty fast to our Dallas-Houston flight because Dallas Fort Worth airport is GIGANTIC! We made it though and arrived safe and sound with a sane mother and well behaved child. What did I do to deserve this kid? He is so amazing!

Thad on his very first flight!

The first night we got there we went to the Children's Museum in downtown Houston. 

On Friday we went to Froberg's and it has yummy fresh produce and a strawberry patch in the back where you can pick your own strawberries. So fun!

Thad wasn't too good at following, so Lincoln did his best to try and keep Thad focused:)

It was crazy rainy on Saturday so we headed to the mall in downtown and it was insane BIG! This was a candy shop and we got some ice cream there. It was loads of fun and we were able to shop a bit and buy some fun things.

On Suday we went to Brazo's Bend. It's a national park and it had a swampy lake w/ gators!

This is the closest we got to one, but that was totally fine w/ me!

When we first got there some people told us to be careful by the dock because there were 2 gators snapping at people. So they weren't there anymore, but Kim and I were obviously a little worried. Christian wanted them to come out and play so he decided to start throwing rocks at them! I got a picture of him on my way back up to the playground because I didn't want the gators anywhere near Thad and me!

On Monday we went to the Johnson Space Center and it was AWESOME! The first day I got there we were trying to think of obvious tourist attractions and we couldn't think of anything. DUH! On Sunday we thought of this and just laughed that we didn't think of it sooner:)

Yeah, we're cool.

Monday night we went to BJ's w/ Kim's friends (they are all so awesome) while Christian watched the boys. The food was delicious and they had yummy P'Zookies for dessert.

On Tuesday morning we headed to Surfside beach about 45 minutes from Kim's house. The weather was not too muggy and the boys loved digging in the sand.

Thad didn't love the water, but he was a good sport when I made him go play by it:)

Since I came for my birthday, Kim gave me a cute Houston t-shirt for Thad and a good book she just read, These is My Words. I'm so excited to read it and she is so sweet for thinking of me.

We were so sad to leave, but as you can see it was an AMAZING, event-filled trip! Kim was an amazing hostess and I'm so glad I could go spend time w/ her. Kim dragged her boys everywhere and juggled everything like a champion. She wasn't even phased and never got stressed. She is an amazing mother and it gave me hope that I can handle 2 kids someday.

 Here are some of my favorite things that make me miss seeing Kim and her family more often:

1. If Lincoln is doing something he's not supposed to, Kim tells him it's "Spooky." For example: He didn't hold her hand to cross the parking lot, so it's spooky. I can't even think of the best ones, but I heard that word several times and laughed each time:)

2. A rat died in the ceiling of Dean and Lincoln's room and created a HORRID stench and Kim just started referring to the dead rat as Rat Man. She told Lincoln that he would have to stay w/ Rat Man if he wasn't being good. Christian finally found it on my last night and threw him in the gutter. The next day Lincoln said he was going to miss Rat Man.

3. Lincoln referred to me as "Lady" pretty much the entire trip. 

4. Kim can make crazy noises w/ her mouth to get the kids' attention. How does she figure that out?

5. Dean is the sweetest baby I have ever met and smiled every time I said his name.

6. Kim is a great friend and great to talk to.

Thad on the flight home. What a sweetie!

Yesterday Brian and I celebrated our 4th anniversary and it's just crazy how time flies! We have now known each other for 9 years, but the past 4 have been the best ever! We have done a lot of fun things in the past 4 years and our love continues to grow with each passing year. 

4 years ago

Today:)

We went to a fun little Italian restaurant in Logan. It was very authentic and DELICIOUS!!!

After dinner we hung out w/ Heidi and Jason for a bit because they watched Thad and then came back to the apartments and got in the hot tub and it was so fun because no one was living here and it was just peace and quiet!

Funnin' and Runnin'

So April is always a good month for me. We had a ton of fun at Easter and then my birthday always comes right after, so I get to celebrate for quite a while:) Brian spoiled me for my birthday this year and first of all let me buy a round-trip plane ticket to Houston to go and visit Kim and her boys in May. I am so excited and can't wait to see them! So I wasn't expecting much because I bought the ticket, but on on the 12th Brian took me on a date and we went to eat at Elements, a fancy new restaurant in town. I give it 5 stars because the food was soooo yummy! If you live in Logan and haven't eaten there, I highly recommend it. It's a little pricey, but worth every penny!

Brian and I at dinner

Brian got the New Yorker

Before we sat down, Brian told me I could get whatever I wanted...so of course I ended w/ dessert! 

Brian's little sis, Kelli, was so sweet and watched Thad all night while we went to dinner and then went and saw Date Night after. The night was so perfect for me because dinner and a movie is one of our favorite things to do and we don't do it as much anymore for obvious reasons and it was just a blast!

On my actual birthday, the 14th, I had a really great day too! Brigitte came up and surprised me the night before and her and Leah spent the night w/ us:)

It's kinda sad, but this is the only pic I got of her. (Thanks for Thad's haricut Brig!)

Thad is obsessed w/ Baby Einsteins. I let him do this on my b-day because I just wanted to get ready w/o him whining at me the whole time. He would sit and do this all day if I let  him...I think I over use it sometimes. Am I a bad mom?

In the afternoon we got sack lunches from Old Grist Mill and spent some time at the park. It was a B-E-A-Utiful day!

Wahoo!

Swingin' Dad and Thad

That night, Bre was so amazing and threw me a little birthday bash. The Madsens and The Hills came and we just BBQ'd it up. Bre made some yummy chicken and everyone else brought the fixin's:)

Before we ate, we had to go outside and play on the tramp! Haley was the only adult who would get on. She is such a sweetie!

Sadie and Thad sittin' on the tramp

I don't know what i would do w/o these ladies in my life. Love you all!

The Boys (and Sadie;-)

My friends are so sweet and got me some really great things. Heidi got me a great book called A Mother's Book of Secrets, Haley got me some great storage containers for my baking stuff and Bre got me a GREAT purse from Down East...I have the greatest friends!

So the weekend after my birthday was the SLC Half Marathon. Heidi and I have been training for it since February and we finally got 'er done!

Heidi and I on Trax at 5:30am...we woke up at 4:30, give us a break for our tired eyes

There was a big group of us that trained....The other gals are Brian's cousins and cousin-in-laws and it was so fun to meet up that morning and experience everything together.

Brian's other cousins, aunt and mom walked the 5k that morning

Thad loves seeing Grandma T...

He also loves giving kisses as you can see in both of the above pictures:)

Heidi and I w/ the kiddles after the race. We were exhausted, but it was so fun to be done and w/ our families

We freaking rock! Seriously though. We just ran 13.1 miles w/o stopping. That's far.

I love my family! Todd and Kelsie are so awesome and came out to cheer me on. Kelli, thanks for being Brian's road trip partner:)

The half marathon was a great experience and I will for sure do one again, but it will also for sure be a while. The training and the end result was very rewarding and I would highly suggest the challenge to anyone.

That afternoon, my mom and sister came and got a pedicure w/ me, which was heaven, and then we had a little belated b-day party for me w/ both sides of the fam:)

The Dads

Grandma and Leah

Don't ask me what I wished, I won't tell!

More presents!

My family is seriously so amazing and I'm so glad I could celebrate w/ them. I'm glad they had a party for me, but I'm just glad there was an excuse to all get together. I love being w/ everyone and I am so excited for the day that I can live closer to them (July 2011), not that I'm counting the months or anything;-) Thank you to everyone and I'm sorry if I seemed a little groggy at my party...I wouldn't suggest running and half marathon and having a party on the same day.