Moved In

Apparently we’re all moved in to our new place. I only had slight anxiety at relinquishing control and letting Brandon and his Dad handle the move. When we moved from Las Vegas to Lansing I spend three months bubble wrapping, organizing, and bossing. They managed to move us in 4 days (without me there bossing)! Brandon said my desk is in the kitchen so I’m a little nervous about what I’ll find when I show up there for the first time in a few weeks. I am SO grateful that they flew to Detroit, took the Flyer, worked their butts off, and for everyone that helped. So grateful.

I’m really going to miss our loft; it’s one of my favorite places we ever lived. I won’t miss the neighborhood, management, or rent. I think the new place is going to be good. We’re on an awesome bus route that drops off in front of the law school (no more earlier morning driving through blizzards), we’ll live by lots of people that can entertain me during the day, and we’ll be saving a bundle.

Summer is dang near over for us. I have one and a half more weeks of work, we go to the beach for week, and then it’s back to school!

Family Pic

I love these guys...

Now I'm on the hunt for an old window frame, I saw someone turn one into a picture frame and I'm obsessed with it's cuteness, and with finding one!

Beach Bums

Even though the humidity gives me a fro, I could totally live at the beach. We went to Oceanside for a whole week and it was relaxing, amazing, just warm enough, just cool enough, and just plain fun. My schedule consisted of sleeping until whenever, lying on the beach, eating, and lying on the beach some more. I have to give a shout out to my dad for funding the excursion.

Our beach house was sooo cute! Love the red front door.

Brandon chillin' on the front porch.


We had dinner in our "backyard" on the sand.

The pier.

The view of Oceanside from the pier.

Sunset.


Have you read Seriously So Blessed? This is my sisters version of a frown smile, so funny.

My little sister that just graduated from high school took some family pics of us which turned out really cute. Family pictures are always DRAMA with my family. With 4 girls (5 including my mom) it's inevitable that someone will hate their hair or their outfit or in the case Kenzie is a perfectionist photographer and hated the lighting. Luckily she is an amazing editor so I can't wait to post them as soon as she is done.

Catching Up

I hate that I'm so behind. Life moves so much faster here than in East Lansing! I refuse to skip blog worthy events, so here we have this post.

Work is absolutely crazy. It's what I do pretty much all day everyday and for some reason I unconsciously don't blog about it- probably because it's my Dad's company. But seriously, we have all of the characters from The Office, plus a few. I have to say I'm grateful to have a job and maybe one day I'll share some of the stories (like how Brandon put a fake camera in a lady's office and rumor spread that management was "watching" and how the cops came and arrested one of my co-workers for an EBay scam.) One day.

Today is my parents anniversary. I feel so blessed to have grown up in a home with parents that love each other.

Happy Anniversary!

Last week we celebrated my mom's 50th at Carrabba's. It was pretty low key since we just got back from a week at the beach, which obviously deserves it's own post. She does not even look close to 50, right? It's cause we keep her young, ha ha.

She really deserves her own post- cause I don't know what I would do without her. Unfortunately this will have to do.

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It's crazy to think we've been here for 2 months and we're going back to MI in August. Brandon is flying back in two weeks to move us into our new house. We're leaving our pimp loft that I love SO much to save $600.00 a month in rent. It's bitter sweet. But we're getting some pretty awesome new neighbors and I'm sure they'll help me forget I ever had heated underground parking.

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Now it's back to work!

Welcome Home!

Brandon's little bro served a 2 year mission in Tallahassee, FL and came home last week. It’s been so good to see him. I was in charge of the banner and I don’t mess around with banner making. I KNEW that my cheerleading skills would come in handy one day (it even sparkled with silver glitter!).

His mom was a tad on the excited side so the whole fam ended up holding the ginormous banner for 1.5 hours in the middle of McCarran.

It was worth it though…


Yay! Welcome home Colton!

Oh, ya know I love to show off, I made these for his little homecoming party…


Oreo Truffles, delish!

No More Homework, No More Books...

My baby sister graduated! So weird that we're all big kids now. It doesn't feel like it! I made her senior ad for her yearbook, and I don't want to brag (but I will anyway), hers blew them all away...

My Aunt Becky took some amazing pictures of her that we used for her graduation announcements...

And I took a few shots of her in her cap and gown...

The highlight was the party and these amazingly festive tissue balls we made. I'm pretty much obsessed with how cute they turned out...

Congratulations Mac!

We made it!

I have no idea why I abandoned my blog, but we did make it to Las Vegas! It only took 28 hours and I was an angel. Only because Brandon said I could get a pedicure when we got here if I was good. We only stopped 15 or so times, good right? The trip was actually pretty fun; Omaha was awesome believe it or not. A few pics…

I pre-judged Omaha to be a small town with some corn fields, sorry Omaha, I heart you now.

Denver was probably one of the biggest cities I’ve ever been in, seriously huge. Oh, I have a story! We had no plan for this trip, we just drove. I decided it would be fun to stop in Denver so while we were driving I got on the internet looking for a hotel. I decided to try Priceline and ended up with King Room at the Hyatt Grand Regency for $60.00- so pimp.

Finally some good Mexican food! We waited the entire school year for this!

The Rockies and Colorado River were breath taking. These pics don’t even kind of do justice, just go there!

But mostly we saw this…


Brandon’s internship is going great, luckily he loves it- so I’m the only one in pain over the fact that he’s working for free. I just have to remind myself that working for a federal judge will be great resume builder so it doesn’t hurt as bad. He has to wear a suit everyday which is a huge ironing and laundry commitment, not to mention $. I sorta miss the shorts, tees and flip flops that he wore to school.

We seem to be a lot busier here. There are so many family members to fill our time- it’s been fun. My baby sister graduated (weird) and we had a big party. I was in charge of the décor and it turned out so cute! Tons of pics coming next post!

Kay, I’m back for reals!

1 Year Down

This is the face of a boy that just finished his first year of law school. Yay!

My thoughts on the matter:

It went by fast, way, way fast.

It was easier and harder then I expected. Harder: $, we STILL have not sold our house. Ugh. Easier: adjusting to life in MI, making friends, being so far from home.

I thought I would never see Brandon, but because I’m working from home we get to spend a lot of time to together, that was a pleasant surprise.

Those guys in the picture up there? They are awesome. I’m so grateful for the friends Brandon has made. He has an amazing support system.

It feels like a big accomplishment. All you law wives know, everyone says the second year is so much easier. I can’t believe it’s just around the corner.

What’s next? A summer internship, maybe some classes (we’re still undecided), some good quality time with our family and Vegas friends, a move into a new apartment (that deserves it's own bitter post) and this LONG drive home:

Ever wondered what a trip accross the midwest looks like? Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Sis

This is so late, today was crazy, but here we go...

I don’t even know where to start- my sister is such a great friend. We can talk about anything, laugh about anything, cry and yell at each other, and the love will never ever die. I feel closer to her than ever before in our lives, and I think the older we get, the closer we will get. I’m honored she trusts me with so much of her life.

Holly you are so talented, so passionate, so hilarious, so beautiful, so smart, such a blessing in my life. I love you!!

I hope you get everything you wish for and all that you deserve this year...

My Mom

If there was ever a day to blog it’s today. I have to tell my mom how much I love her. When we were little she read us stories almost every night, always did our hair perfectly and never dressed in character shoes or outfits. She would put our towels in the dryer so they would be warm when we got out of the bath. This is the woman that was willing to wake up at 5:00 a.m., maybe earlier, to whip out a treat to take to seminary. She drove me back and forth to school sometimes 4 or 6 times a day when I was cheerleader. She makes homemade dinner almost every single night. Now that I’m a wife (and I only have two people to cook for) I know what a task that is. She has signature recipes that remind me of home. She can decorate, fold laundry perfectly, keep a house like only wish I could. She’s smart and opinionated, but she usually chooses to keep peace. She always knows what to do- I can call her with any problem and when I’m done talking to her I know everything is going to be okay. She is spiritual and an amazing example. She is responsible for who I’ve become, for me teaching me about the temple and eternal families and I know that I have my own eternal family because of what she taught me. I talk to her at least once a day, usually more often, and she is always doing something for someone else; driving someone somewhere, making someone something to eat, helping with a school project. She puts her family before herself and she has made me want to be a mother- I honestly don’t know if I’ll be able to do what she has done, but I’ll try my hardest. I don’t know what I would do without you. Happy Mothers Day!