Weekend Fun

On Saturday, Kyle and I spent the whole day together! It was so much fun! Usually our weekends are filled up with studying and cleaning, so this was a very welcome change. We went out to lunch at PF Changs. It was delicious! We even splurged and got dessert. We got these fried bananas with fruit and caramel and coconut flavored ice cream. It was amazing!

Next we headed down to the Provo mall to pick up some pants that Kyle had gotten hemmed. We walked around the mall for a while, and I even bought another maternity shirt (it's been hard making the transition to maternity stuff. I still fit in my jeans, but definitely not my shirts. And I even call the maternity places "Fat Kid Stores"). Anywho, I got a really cute shirt. And it was on sale. Win!

As we were walking through the mall, Kyle decided that we both had a desperate need to see the new Harry Potter movie. So we bought tickets for a later showing and headed home. We spent the rest of the time up until the movie just hanging out at home. Snuggling, searching online for apartments, watching TV. Just bein' lazy!

The movie that night was so much fun! I really don't remember anything from the book, and Kyle's never read it, so we thought it was pretty good. Good humor, lots of suspense. We never go to the movies, so it was fun to sit in a theater together and watch a new movie that neither of us had seen. The only damper on the weekend was that when we walked out to our car, it was snowing. And for some reason the snow is still here. Gross. Good thing we are heading to sunny California for Thanksgiving TOMORROW!!!

24 weeks

Twenty Four Weeks!
Sixteen to go!

Yesterday, I had my twenty four week checkup. Everything is looking really good so far. The doctors were really behind yesterday because of an emergency at the hospital, so I met with an NP (I didn't mind. It's good to know that if something happened to me that my doctor would leave his other appointments to help me). Everything looks really good though, and she said that Baby Boy Carson has a really strong heartbeat. Just what every mother wants to hear! Next time I go in, I have the gestational diabetes test and then will start having appointments every two weeks. It is crazy to think that I am that close to the third trimester!

Updates since the 20 week ultrasound:

1. I have gained about 13 pounds altogether. It is shocking to see the numbers on the scale go up (I have never been above the 130 mark, so it's a little weird). Also, I still don't look very big, so it was surprising to know how much I have gained. I don't mind gaining weight though. It's all about a healthy baby!

2. I have been feeling GREAT the last couple of weeks. Fewer headaches, more energy. However, I occasionally still am bothered by certain smells (usually meat) and occasionally get sick. About a week and a half ago, Kyle and I tried out this new wings place in Orem... Throwing up Chipotle and Chili Garlic wings is probably the worst thing I have ever experienced.

3. I still fit into my clothes... Most of them. Some of my shirts are not long enough to compensate for my bump, but maternity clothes still hang on me. Also, I still wear my regular jeans. With the zipper and buttons fastened. It is fabulous!

4. We have not finalized a name yet. We do have one that we both love and agree on, but I kind of want to see my baby and make sure the name fits his personality before we finalize anything...

5. No, we have not started shopping for baby items yet. I want to; it's tempting, but I figured that I would wait until after baby showers and such. That way I can buy whatever extra essentials we need.

6. Baby is active all the time! He has definite cycles of activity and sleep, but he is not strong enough yet to keep me up all night or make me uncomfortable. I tell Kyle he is practicing his fight moves. Kyle is able to feel him now, and we both love that he is getting more involved in the pregnancy. It is becoming more real to him, and we are both so excited.

Halloween Festivities

We are not the most festive people, nor is Halloween our favorite holiday. However, we do carve pumpkins every year. Look how excited Kyle is to pull out his pumpkin guts!

The finished product! Kyle's pumpkin is scary!!

My happy face pumpkin!

At work, we had a little Halloween party. Kyle dressed up as a gangster with all his mission stuff from the ghetto.

I dressed up like a cave woman. Don't be deceived- my stomach is not really that big. The dress accentuates that part a lot. :)

Baby Kicks and Nudges

Tonight, Kyle felt the baby kick for the first time. It was so exciting! Kyle was amazed at how much our little guy likes to move. Kyle got all giggly and excited, especially when Baby slid his foot across Kyle's hand. It was super cute. I think it is getting more and more real for him- heartbeat, ultrasound, now movement. I love it! It makes me so happy to see him so excited about our little bundle.

I know this is a short post and that there aren't any cool pictures with this one, but this post is for me. I want to remember this feeling forever. That feeling where you feel so much love that you feel like you're going to burst. I feel so incredibly blessed that Heavenly Father is sending His precious little baby to be apart of our family. It is amazing to me how much love I already have for this little boy that I have yet to meet. I am so blessed and so excited to become a mom! :)

Bump!

My lovely baby bump... Check it out! 22 weeks prego and things are finally cooking. I am small for how far along I am, but Baby Boy is measuring at his correct size.I can almost pass as pregnant all the time now. I am pretty sure I get progressively bigger as the day goes on. I am at that terrible stage where my clothes are beginning to not fit, but maternity clothes just hang on me...

Front shot! Hugs for my baby boy!

BYU vs SDSU

Last Saturday, Kyle and I were able to get free tickets from some friends for the BYU football game. I was really excited because it was Kyle's first BYU football game. We played Sand Diego State, and Kyle and I had a lot of fun. These pictures are not in any order, but we did remember to take a camera to document the game.

Everyone getting ready for the team to come out. There were a ton of people at the game because it was homecoming.

Cosmo the Cougar, our school mascot. He was doing back flips and round-offs before the game. I was amazed he could do them with that bulky costume on.

Our seats were at the south goal line. So half of the game was really awesome to watch and the other half we had to watch the big screen. Look how many people are in the stands!

Us! :) I look really sleepy, but that is kind of how I feel all the time. We ended up winning the game 24-21. We were really happy to see our team win. They have had a really rough season with lots of injuries and new players trying to figure out how to work together, so it really boosted our morale to have another win under our belts.

Monday???

My ultrasound is on Monday... that's four days. Four long, painfully slow days until I get to find out the sex of my sweet baby and see that he/she is growing normally. I never thought I would say this but come on, Monday! I'm waiting for you!!!!

Pregnancy Q & A

Now that it is widely known that I am expecting, I keep getting asked all the typical pregnancy questions. So I figured that I would post about my progress so that everyone can be up to date on the big changes in our lives.

1. How did I find out I was pregnant? I feel like this is kind of a dumb question, but I get asked about it all the time. Answer: I took a pregnancy test. Two of them. Scariest thing I have ever done.
2. How did I tell Kyle? I left my pee stick on the bathroom counter. Gross, I know. But I was a little emotional at this point. He found it, and then came into our room and I started crying and said "Happy Father's Day." He just laughed. And yes, we found out on Father's Day. Ironic, I know.
3. Was it planned? Ok, so no one has actually asked me this, but I feel like they want to. No, we were not planning it. Somehow, my stallion broke through two methods of birth control. We are not upset though. Even though it is not what we were planning, we are very excited and becoming more and more aware of how involved Heavenly Father is in our lives.
   
4. How did I tell my family? Another dumb question. I called them. Duh. It was really weird and kind of difficult to tell them. Don't get me wrong, they are all very excited and supportive. It's just something I have never had to do before and it was weird.
   
5. Have I been sick? Not really. I consider myself very lucky. Yes, I have thrown up. Yes, I have a super duper sniffer and can pick up on the most random smells. However, I know girls that throw up several times a day for the entire 9 months, and I am so grateful that is not me. I think I have thrown an average of about once every two weeks. Usually it is right before my Biomechanics class. I guess Baby hates that class as much as I do.
   
6. Do I have cravings? Not really. For the first trimester I had major food aversions to food. Nothing sounded good to eat, so I wouldn't eat, then I would feel sick and start crying because I felt sick. The second trimester is so much better. I like food now. I guess the main craving I've had is for fruit. I will eat a whole cantaloupe by myself. I just can't get enough of it. And I have had this on again, off again relationship with eggs.
   
7. How far along am I? I am 20 weeks tomorrow! Half way, yay! (Due date is Feb. 21st!)
8. Halfway done? Why am I just finding out? Well, we (mostly me) wanted to make sure everything was going okay before the whole world found out. We had some questionable test results in the beginning and my doctor ordered some additional tests for me, so we waited until everything was clear before spreading the word. Don't worry, everything is okay, and we will be able to see Baby in the ultrasound to see his/her progress.
   
9. Can I feel the baby move? Yes. It is still very little so the movements are very light. Definitely not enough that someone else could feel them. And it's not really kicks. It doesn't feel like a jab. More like swimming movements.
   
10. Are we going to find out the sex? Yes. The ultrasound is on Oct. 11th. Since I am due in the middle of the semester, we are planning on being as prepared as possible before Baby comes. Also, it makes it easier for people to buy gifts. This is the first grandbaby for my parents and Kyle's, so I am sure we will get tons of baby gifts.
11. Do I have a preference as to the gender? Kyle wants a boy, of course. My mind changes everyday. Sometimes I imagine a cute little girl with painted toes and piggy tails. Other days I hope for a crazy little boy with Jordans and a BYU cap. Mostly I just hope Baby is healthy and growing correctly.
    
12. Am I going to stay in school? Yes. For some reason this one always surprises people. I am a senior and I feel it would be a waste of some much time, effort, and money to drop out when I am so close. I haven't decided how many classes I am going to take next semester, but I am going to discuss it with my academic adviser and my doctor. I am hoping to graduate in August.
13. Where are we going to live? For now, our plan is to finish out our contract in our current apartment. It is one bedroom and only 550 sq. ft., but our contract ends at the end of April. We figure that Baby will probably be sleeping in our room then anyway, so the extra room can wait.
    

That is pretty much all I can think of right now. Now that I am leaving the fat stage and entering the pregnant stage, I will begin to post pictures.

Priceless

Vegas Trip

Gas: $100
Lunch at the Cabana Club: $13
Tickets for NY, NY roller coaster: $28
White chocolate French toast breakfast: $8
Finding out there are actually three of us in this picture...
PRICELESS!

Baby Carson is in the slow cooker! Junior will be joining us around Feb. 22nd!
We are very excited that our family is growing!

The Beginning of a New School Year

Kyle and I began a new year at BYU this August. We were definitely not ready for the summer fun to end and the studying and hard work to begin. Kyle started the Accounting Jr. Core and I am taking all major classes this semester. Needless to say, both of us have an extremely challenging and busy semester ahead of us.

The first week was the worst. I was not used to not spending plenty of time with my husband everyday, so that first week when he was on campus from 8 am to 5 pm, came home to eat, then headed into the bedroom to do more homework before work at 8 pm, I was very lonely and not too happy. I had several breakdowns that week.

Since then, my classes have been picking up and I am finding myself almost as busy as Kyle. Our apartment is a testament to how busy we have been. Stacks of mail on the floor, dishes on the counter because they won't fit in the sink, clothes all over the floor... Needless to say, I am always grateful for the weekend so I have time to clean my house. Kyle and I both have our first midterm exams of the semester this coming week- wish us luck!!

One Year Anniversary

For our first anniversary, Kyle and I headed up to Salt Lake for the day. The weather was very hot that day, so we didn't spend too much time walking around Temple Square before the session began. Not as much as we normally would. I had never done a live session before so I was very excited for this new experience. The interior of the Salt Lake temple is absolutely breathtaking! Even though much of it has been restored, I was completely blown away by what beautiful work the pioneers created. It looked the same as a lot of work done today by architects with expensive tools. I loved the paintings on the walls too. You could actually see the brush strokes on the walls. Amazing!! And attending a live session was fun, too. It was much easier to pay attention, and I was able to learn a lot of new things. It seemed to go a lot faster than a regular session...

After the temple, we drove to Murray for dinner at....

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!! One of my favorite restaurants. Kyle got the Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp and I got the Thai Chicken Pasta. Both were super delicious. The serving sizes were huge, too. We both took home leftovers. We even splurged and shared a piece of raspberry white chocolate mousse cheesecake. Delish!

On Sunday, our actual anniversary, Kyle and I made dinner together. Garlic mashed potatoes, salad, and bacon wrapped scallops. Yum! We had chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. We spent the rest of the day looking at our wedding pictures, reminiscing over our first year, taking walks, and playing cards together.

This year has been the best year of my life. The best part of being married in the temple is knowing that even though we have a year under our belts, eternity minus one year is still an eternity of years to come! I love you, Kyle. Happy anniversary!

My Baby Brother

Today my baby brother as ordained as a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. He is such a good looking boy isn't he? This picture of taken at my wedding last year,m and I just think he is adorable. Although I was not able to go home for the ordination because of work this week, I am really proud of Michael and the good example he is to me and to our family. Being the youngest of five kids (4 older sisters) has got to be challenging sometimes, but he is such a sweet kid and we just love him to death! Again, I am just so proud of my baby brother and the good person that he chooses to be. I love you, buddy!

Where did summer go?

So I was looking at the calendar today and I realized that school starts up in three weeks. THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY!! What the heck? Where did summer go? I am amazed at how fast time has flown... and I am deeply concerned that classes are starting up so soon. I thought that summer was a time to relax and recover from the previous school year. Well forgive me, but I do not feel ready for classes at all. First of all, Kyle is starting the Junior Core and I will never see him anymore. I told him that I feel like I am being demoted from dearest wifey to housekeeper. Second, one look at my schedule is enough to send me into therapy. Physics, microbiology, exercise physiology... WHA???? To say the least I am very intimidated by the schedule I will soon be facing. I wish that it could be summer all year round!

How Great Thou Art

Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,
How great thou art.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,

How great thou art!

And when I think
That God, His son, not sparing;
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross,
my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,
How great thou art.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,
How great thou art!

When Christ shall come,
With shout of acclamation,
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow,
In humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,
How great thou art.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art,
How great thou art!

Bentley Family Annual Lake Powell Trip

Kyle cliff jumping. This cliff is about 30 feet high, although it looks much higher in the pictures.
Macho girls showing off their huge guns! Woo!
All of the little kids loved playing with Kyle. Here they are buried in the sand. They were giggling and laughing the whole time. He just left them their and they had to dig themselves out. From left to right: Michael, Zach, Hadley, and Bentley.
Mama Duck and her babies... When we saw them there were five babies, but by the end of the week there were only four... Mother Nature can be so cruel.
Kyle and I went for a wave runner ride up the canyon and found this little cove. We stopped and played for a little bit. The water was so warm!
Tubing is a major Bentley family reunion. I love Kelsey's crazy ponytail in this one. Megan (left) actually did two back flips off of the tube and into the water... from about 15 ft in the air!
My sister Janessa wake boarding. She couldn't decide which foot felt better forward, it was really funny. I guess she is just twice as talented as the rest of us... Go Nessa!
Megan and Kelsey resting on the back of the boat... Pretty girls! It runs in the family. :)
Everyone's favorite cousin, Kira. Although she is only a year and a half, she is quite the talker. We taught her a song by P!nk that she sings all the time now. Her version goes like this: "na na na na Ima sart a sight." Some of our favorite phrases from the week include "Alright, alright, alright" (when she really wants something), and "You're welcome, baby." On our last day, she found a bug and yelled out "Mommy, it's the eensy weensy spider!" Ha ha, we sure loved spending time with her.
Extreme knee boarding... try to stand up on the knee board. Trust me, it's hard.
Kyle doing 360s on the knee board.
Kyle and the boys caught a lot of fish this week. They sure loved spending time with him and had quite a few laughs. This is his catfish.
Aunt Kristin started up a new game for the family to play for FHE. You start with a dab of whipped cream on the back of your hand, then use your other arm to launch it into the air and catch it in your mouth. Sometimes you miss and it gets everywhere! Of course, it was not surprising that a simple game turned into a messy whipped cream fight.
All of the air mattresses lined up on top of the houseboat. We squish 40 people on a 75 foot boat. Yes, it is squished, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
Overall, some of my favorite things about the trip were spending time on the lake, nightly devotionals and family prayer, and seeing my family. This is a favorite family tradition and we had an amazing time together!

Hermana Tawny Nadine Dunn

On Saturday, I got my first letter from Hermana Dunn. Boy, it was a great surprise! Tawny and I have been friends since middle school, and it is so exciting to be apart of this new adventure she has started!

Tawny is doing really well. She has such a positive attitude and a great outlook for her mission. I was touched by her testimony and the Spirit I felt as I read her letter. Tawny has always been a faithful, obedient member, but in the role of a special witness of the Savior Jesus Christ, she is totally shining. I know that she will be a great missionary and that she will touch a lot of hearts in Argentina.

Oh, side note. Tawny did mention that one of her Spanish teachers is really cute. This is funny because in my first letter to her I told her that she will find a husband on her mission. Haha! Love you, Tawn!

Independence Day Weekend

On Saturday, the 3rd of July, Kyle and I went up to Thanksgiving Point with our friends Skyler and Rachel to watch the fireworks and celebrate together. When we got there, Rachel's sister had a ton of delicious food ready for us. Hamburgers, chips, salad, and some super yummy homemade apple pie. It was amazing.

On Monday, Kyle and I went and watched the Provo parade with Skyler while we waited for Rachel to drive up from Springville. When Rach got here, we headed out to lunch at Iggy's (surprisingly good food, we had never eaten there before). After lunch, we decided to go walk off our food babies in the University Mall. After, we headed over to the theater to watch Toy Story 3 in 3-D. It was a super cute movie, and we all had a ton of fun together.

We are so grateful that we had good friends to hang out with this weekend. Also, a special shout out to Rachel. Her PET scan this week revealed that her cancer is almost completely gone! Only 3 more chemo treatments to go! Congrats, Rach!

Vegas Baby!!

To celebrate the end of Spring term, Kyle and I went on a weekend getaway to Las Vegas. We were so happy to be able to get out of Provo for a while.
Below is our hotel room. It was amazing. Full kitchen with stove, microwave, toaster, blender, dishes, everything! It also had a full living room, bedroom and huge bathroom. This hotel room is the same size as our apartment in Provo. Ha!
Huge bathtub in the bathroom. Amazing. My favorite part. There was even a second TV in the bathroom that you could watch from the tub.
Me at my first slot machine. Crossing my fingers for luck. Surprise, I lost. :)
My favorite game in Vegas, Roulette. We played Roulette for over an hour and a half on $3. We got up to $65 and then Kyle lost it all in four turns. But it entertained us all evening. Our cheapest night in Vegas.
The roller coaster at New York New York. It was not cheap- $14 a person- but totally worth it. I was really scared but it was sooo fun!
Walking through Excalibur.
Stained glass window inside of Excalibur.
Candy display inside of the MGM Grand.
Spiral staircase inside of the Venetian.

On the way home, our exhaust pipe broke in half. It was so loud that we put in ear plugs to help drown out the noise. We drove all the way to Cedar City like that when we saw a custom muffler shop on the side of the rode. Eight bucks and a half hour later, we were back on the rode. This is our car in the shop after they lifted it.

That was our fun-filled weekend. Thank you, Kyle, for the amazing time!

waiting...

Just wanted to announce that after 3 months of rigorous effort and hard work that I have submitted my nursing application. *gasp* yes, it is in and now we wait.... and wait.... and wait.... until June 30 when the admissions committee meets. And then I wait some more.... and I will have news sometime in July.... Keep your fingers crossed! I'm feeling good about it, so let's keep this feeling going!!

Surprise Dinner Guest

On Thursday, Kyle and I decided to go out to eat. I picked him up from his class at 6:30 and in an effort to be cheap, we decided to go out to Carl's Jr. At the restaurant, we placed our order, filled up our drinks and found a table. We then noticed this man and his wife sitting at the table next to us...

This is how it happened…

Kyle (pointing): Lindsey! Elder Holland is in here!

Me: What?! Are you serious!

There was a partition blocking my side of the table, so I couldn’t see him yet. I walked up to the counter to “get a lid for my drink” and looked at the table Kyle mentioned. It was him! My jaw dropped! As I walked back to my seat, Elder Holland looked up and met my eyes. I smiled at him, and he smiled back! Back at the table…

Me: Oh my gosh!!

Kyle: Go talk to him!

Me: No, not by myself. Come with me!

Right then, Elder Holland and his wife got up to leave. We didn’t get to talk to them, but it sure was cool to see an apostle of the Lord in a real life setting. It was interesting to see him as a real person with a wife and family. Also, it made me feel a lot better about not cooking that night seeing Elder Holland and his wife eating a big fatty burger at Carl’s Jr.

Congratulations Kyle!

This post is dedicated to my dear husband Kyle. Yesterday, Kyle was accepted to the Accounting Program here at BYU. We are so excited for this opportunity. It is a very rich blessing. We know that Heavenly Father has been watching out for us, and the prospect of someday having a REAL job is very exciting. Congratulations Kyle, and thanks for all of your hard work! You are awesome!

Busy Busy...

I haven't posted in forever... because we have been so stinkin' busy! First of all, finals were a killer! We were so busy with school. It was a crazy week with finals, papers, and presentations galore! Nice... not. Anywho, we are grateful that finals are over! Kyle submitted his accounting application last week, so we will find out if he is accepted in the next 30 to 60 days... He will get in though. He is so stinkin' smart.

Also, my dear sister Kelsey came to visit. From Hawaii (school in Hawaii... her life is soo hard, haha). She stayed with us for a week, and it was so much fun having her. She is the first of my immediate family that I have seen since we got married last summer. So it was great to see her and spend time together. Shopping, food, late nights, sister talks, comedy shows, cousin visits. It was great!

Finally... we are moving! Just over a street, but we are so excited! I am totally ready for a new place and some good changes. We are moving on Saturday, so hopefully the weather will cooperate. Our living room is full of boxes right now. I don't mind the mess. I just wanna go! I am excited to move, get some new furniture, and decorate a new place.

So that's what's going on with us. We are excited for summer. The warm weather and some well deserved trips are on the way!

Easter Thoughts...

This is my favorite Easter song. I think it beautifully describes my feelings about the Savior. You can find the lyrics, recordings and sheet music at http://www.defordmusic.com/gethsemane.htm

Gethsemane lay still and dark

Creation watched in silent awe

As Jesus suffered His Father's will

To satisfy unyielding law

He knelt in earnest prayer alone

His friends, o'ercome with sorrow, slept

Beneath the burden of grief He groaned

Beneath the weight of sin He wept

And with His blood so freely spent

He bought my soul, He paid my debt

What work of love was wrought for me

In the stillness of Gethsemane

"This bitter cup wilt thou remove?

Yet not my will, but thine be done."

Behold His anguish and weep anew

For love of Christ, the sinless one

With His wounds my own are healed

My every pain o'ercome in His

My shame, my weakness, my grief untold

Find ransom in His priceless gift

For with His blood so freely spent

He bought my soul, He paid my debt

What work of love was wrought for me

In the stillness of Gethsemane.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He loves us each individually, and is the only means by which we can attain salvation. I know that the Atonement is real and that Christ trully knows of not only our sorrows, weaknesses and pain, but that He also knows of our joys and happiness. I am grateful for the Gospel and for my membership in His church. I hope you all had a Happy Easter and were able to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on this special day.

My husband is better than yours...

Today, dear husband and I went to the mall for some shopping. We had so much fun. I found some really cute little summer dresses and Kyle got some t-shirts, a church shirt, and a new belt. We also looked at some new dress shoes for him since the ones he has are from his mish. They are completely trashed, but we didn't get any today. He wants to shop around to find some that he really likes.

Kyle's friend Nathan works in the mall in a health/supplements shop. We stopped to talk to him for a minute and bought him a pretzel on the way out of the mall because he was starving. It was Kyle's idea, but it felt so good to do something nice for someone. I love how much my husband likes to do nice things for other people. It's cute.

Anyway, after shopping we went out to dinner at Red Robin. It was delish, but I always eat way too much when we go there. At home, we had a little fashion show with our purchases. My dress is so cute! I am ready for the weather to get warmer so I can wear it!

Anywho! This post is kinda random, but I love my husband and the fun dates that he plans for us. Sometimes it is really hard having Kyle work nights. I get so lonely and miss celebrating the arrival of the weekend on Friday night with him. However, I am very grateful that he has a job that works with his school schedule. And he always puts a lot of effort in to planning fun activities for us. Today was a great day. Thanks, Kyle! I love you!

My sister is coming to visit!!

I love my family! I love my sisters and all of our crazy jokes and silly memories. Not to mention, I have an absolutely amazing little brother who is the sweetest boy ever! And he is an awesome athlete! Anyway, since being married I have not seen any of my family at all. It has been really hard, but I have learned how to be creative in keeping in touch.
This week, my sister Kelsey bought a plane ticket to come see me. She will be here April 14- 19! Kelsey is finishing up her freshman year of college at BYU-H and is making a little pit stop here on the way home. I am SO excited to see her. Kelsey and I are only 18 mos. apart in age, so we are very close! Aside from being my bestest friend, she has been my partner in crime and someone in whom I can confide for over 19 years. It will be great to see her again. :)
This is a picture of me and dear sister at a Gonzaga basketball game almost two years ago! I can't wait to take more pictures together and to go on some adventures together. I have been busy planning some fun things to do together while she is here-- pedicures, movies, ice cream, visiting family, and shopping!
I can't wait to see you Kelsey! I love you, little sister.

Provo Housing...

I hate Provo Housing. Even more, I hate Provo MARRIED housing. Kyle and I have had the worst luck ever finding newer, close to campus, AFFORDABLE housing. Last April, when we were looking for our first place, we found a perfect little complex, went through the application process, signed a contract, and did all the details before we went home for the summer... The day after we got home from our honeymoon and were finishing packing up to leave, we got a call from the "perfect" complex saying that they had double booked our apartment and they didn't have a place for us. And after looking at our contract, we realized that we had been screwed... Oh, this was three days before school started. In the end, we had to take the first place we could find. That was the start of our basement days...

This spring, we decided to put our charming little basement on Craigslist just to see if anyone would respond. Twelve hours later, we had 15 emails about it and about 4 couples wanting to come look at it. We ended up selling it by the end of the week, and began our search for a new place! Our basement days are almost over!!

So, the next horror begins... Kyle and I found the most amazing apartment that met all of our requirements and had a lot of extras... So we hurried to get our deposit and first month of rent to the owner. Everything was good, until this morning. Kyle got a message on his phone saying that the owners were selling the condo and that we would not be able to live there. Gah! (Why would someone post the place online if they already had a buyer that wanted to buy?!?!) Anywho, we got our money back today and instead signed with our second choice complex. It is a lot smaller than the condo, but is a fairly new complex and is a lot newer than what we are currently living in... Some advantages to this new place...

1. Heat/AC - we currently do not have control of either of those in

our basement.

2. Dishwasher- for the past six months, I have been the dishwasher.

3. Big bathroom- currently, we can't fit in our bathroom at the

same time. Ya, it's that small.

4. Big kitchen with lots of storage. In our basement, most of our

kitchen stuff is in a closet in our living room. Also, our stove

and fridge are tiny. Like the little kind from when our parents

were young.

5. Windows without duct tape over them that don't leak air. Nuff said.

6. New carpet!! The basement has wood and tile, so cold on the

feet! Our room has carpet, but it is really icky.

7. Well maintained... Our house was made in 1938. We GoogleEarthed

it.

8. No longer living with 7 single guys above us. Hallelujah!

9. New ward = new friends

10. Closer to campus. Right across the street from the BYU tennis

courts.

11. His and her closets- we have that here and it is now

a necessity.

12. People can't look through your windows when you walk by. We

will be on the third floor.

Finally, SOMETHING has pulled through for us. And as excited as I am to move, I will miss our little basement. We have put so much thought and effort into making it a home. And it's our first place together. Lots of sentimental value. Oh, the above pictures are of our cute little basement. :)