"Go Go"

Guess what!

We moved about a month ago!

There are still no pictures of our apartment because it is never clean during the daylight hours, which is truly a shame because we get some great natural light here.

One morning I will be proactive before Joshua wakes up and destroys my hard work and take pictures of our new home.

In the midst of moving and unpacking we decided to take a 24 hour trip up to Idaho to see our niece get baptized.

Despite being completely exhausted from leaving at 4:30 in the morning to make it on time (if but barely) we had a blast!

Garett and I are in love with Idaho and going back is always a treat. 

Getting to see family was the icing on the cake and getting to play in the river was the sprinkles on top of it all.

Joshua warmed up to all his cousins and aunts effortlessly (probably uncles too but I wasn't always paying attention) and of course his grandparents. He found out one of his cousins would carry him around and take him outside so I think they are probably best friends now.

Then to top it all off we got to play in a river!

I thought Joshua was going to die of happiness from splashing around and throwing the biggest rocks he could find. (Note the HUGE diaper full of water and rock in his hand. We didn't bring any pool diapers so he got to enjoy an incredibly heavy diaper full of water, it was almost as big as him by time we changed him)

It was a nice, but a fast trip. The weather was perfect and the company was wonderful.

Since then we have been working on settling into our new routine. Garett works evenings which is an adjustment, but probably for the best. We all kind of get grumpy in the evenings, but when it is just Joshua and I we handle being grumpy a little better together. 

Though since we've been here Joshua has become even more of an angel 

(I didn't think it was possible!)

The pictures are from this past week where Garett has been teaching Joshua (and me) how to long board. Apparently I ride goofy (meaning I ride with my right foot forward). Garett rides normal, but kicks mongo (meaning he pushes off with his front foot instead of his back which is much harder and awkward) 

It is Joshua's new favorite thing and he would make Garett ride around the parking lot all day if he could. Sadly daddy gets tired after awhile, but we have lots of fun when we can.

Having settled in I have decided children are a lot like fish. They need the proper sized living quarters for their energy and growth.

We just came from being with family that has a nice sized house, to a 2 bedroom apartment.

This means our small fry goes a bit stir crazy when there isn't enough to explore. 

We have 2 options to help with this.

The 1st is we have a balcony which is lovely and easy to access (only downfall right now are the bars are not as close together as I would like, but we are getting some netting for my peace of mind).

The 2nd is taking walks to the playground or the nice big lawn over by the church (depending on the heat and mommy's energy levels).

The other day we took his cart with us on our walk which ended up with him pushing for the 1st block and then me carrying him and his cart the rest of the time. Oh well, it was still fun.

Joshua is learning lots of new words lately.

His favorites are Eye Brow

"I" which means yes (we have decided he is a pirate)

"Go go" from the Dr. Suess Cat in the Hat show

"Dog dog"

"Ding ding" from trolley on Daniel Tiger 

and "bye bye"

He also said his first sentence yesterday which was "Go bye bye" when we had to leave the play ground and he kept saying it as we walked away. 

To be fair we were at the play ground for a long time and it was nearing bedtime.

Overall this move has been great for us. Joshua has been better behaved, mornings are now family cuddle time while we watch cartoons together and snuggles are frequent. 

Joshua is learning to help more around the house including turning his sound machine and night light on and off at the beginning and end of each nap/bedtime/morning which actually makes putting him to bed much easier.

We still don't have everything down perfectly, but we're getting there one day at a time.

I'll leave you with a fun video of Joshua and Garett riding the long

board together.

-Megan

Spring Brings Showers with May Flowers

I proudly present my SPRING UPDATE!

Maybe I should only make the promise of blogging quarterly. That seems reasonable right?

I'll make that deal and then hope that I happen to blog a little more often than that.

So spring is great right????

Here in Utah we've been getting a great deal of rain surprisingly.

I love and dislike rain. 

Personally I find it soothing and wonderful, but as a mom it means keeping Joshua indoors most of the time.

So Garett and I found the best $20 deal ever at Ikea!

This tent has already proven its worth a thousand times over.

Joshua loves it and the tunnel that attaches to it and I love that they fold up easily for storage.

That's a win win, am I right?

Joshua is almost a year and a half old and growing like a weed.

He knows tons of words, but only says a few of them.

He loves playing chase and hide-and-go-seek.

Grandpa recently refinished my childhood dresser for Joshua.

It now matches his crib and changing table and looks amazing!

I wish I had a before picture to show you the wear and water damage, but you will just have to take me word for it that it looks MUCH better! (Thank you dad!)

Joshua dances and smiles and makes everyone he meets swoon in his cuteness.

April started out right with a mission reunion for Garett.

We only went once 3 years ago and it felt right to go again.

It was great to see old friends and especially Elder Dube, Garett's mission president.

Even better was that weekend they announced that a temple would be built in Zimbabwe, where Garett served his church mission for 2 years.

I would like to hope that we will get to see everyone again next year, but there are no promises as life gets busy.

I keep waiting for life to slow down, but I think I am only just starting to hit the part where life speeds up and doesn't stop for at least the next 30 years.

Along with April came new glasses.

A few months ago we were at Sunday dinner with family and I decided for the fun of it to try on Aaron's glasses. Little did I realize that there was stuff I couldn't see before and now could see more clearly!

Now these aren't a strong prescription by any means. They are meant for seeing things a bit sharper. Tiny words are in focus or detail in wood, a little more distinction in trees. I can choose when to wear them, but I try to wear them most of the time. 

I'm told I look like a librarian in them. Any truth to that?

(Also a side note that that is a compliment since my sister is a librarian!)

I may have recently bought Joshua and Garett matching shirts. It is my favorite. 

Buying matching clothes....that means I'm legit-ly a mom right? I feel like that is a mom thing to do.

Spring has also brought about going out to the park often.

Don't be fooled by the sunshine. It wasn't that warm, hence my hoodie.

Garett is just crazy and is always warm. 

This family picture was brought to you buy Taco Bell's Strawberry Starburst Freeze

 (The only way we could lure Joshua to sit with us for said picture).

Around Garett's birthday we decided to meet up with his sister in Salt Lake.

To make it more fun we took the Train and Trax (Thanks UTA!)

Joshua was in awe and waved to everything that passed by out the window.

(Not pictured) We found out every Saturday at 10am they let you feed the fish at City Creek Mall.

Joshua loves throwing things so throwing food to the fishies was a real winner in his book.

We got to go across the sky bridge and wave to people walking by.

Garett rescued a butterfly from running into the glass over and over.

Then we went to the splash pad in the mall.

It's a small water area where kids can run through.

Joshua about died of joy!

Hr didn't want to leave, but eventually had to, because he was soaked and cold.

About a week later my sister and her family flew in from Michigan!

Joshua and Miri are about 7 weeks apart and are finally at the age where they can play together, or at least follow each other around.

We had a blast having them there, especially for Aaron's wedding where Joshua along with his cousins were all troopers. 

He got a bit tired towards the end, but held on fairly well.

We decided to take Niko, Miri and Joshua on the train, because what is better than trains to little kids?

Not much I tell you!

Miri and Joshua decided to try and hide in the cupboard. 

What sillies!

They left to go home on Tuesday which is sad, but they are going to start a great new adventure in Moldova this fall and I am excited for them.

Finally we are caught up to the present! Huzzah!

Garett just started work on Monday as a Pathologists Lab Technician!

This is his post-bachelors/pre-graduate dream job!

I have never seen anyone more excited about cutting up pieces of organs to look for cancer and things of that nature.

If you get a chance, ask him about it. His face lights up and he gets this boyish grin on his face that melts my heart. Seeing him so excited just makes me all the happier. It helps me  to put my mind at ease knowing he is going to work everyday and loving it. (Also he calls it his big boy job because the work he is doing is very important. Once slip up and that's a misdiagnoses...no biggie right?)

Because of said work, we are planning on moving closer to his work down in Murray. 

We are excited for this new development and moving forward with our lives.

As for me I have been on a reading hype. 

I have been huge into Terry Brooks recently and have decided to take on his entire Shannara series. 

Below is what I have read so far since the end of March I believe.

We own ALL of his Shannara and Pre-Shannara books, minus The Sorceress's Daughter which came out on Tuesday.

I am averaging about a book a week and I am hoping to be done with this series by mid August.

No pressure...

But in all seriousness I am loving it. 

I have found a daily pace that I can live with and still have plenty of time to play with Joshua and get everything done that I need to.

Speaking of which I have started working out regularly! 

This is the 2nd time in my life that I have ever been consistent at working out. The last time was 4 years ago when Garett and I were dating/engaged and it was my off track.

This isn't meant to be a bragging post, because there is not much to brag about it.

This is for me, to help hold me accountable.

I realized after I had Joshua that my body went through some changes. Mostly they are changes only I could see, but it made me realize that I needed to start putting in more effort. 

This is for me, to help me feel good about myself. Mainly it is about having energy to keep up with Joshua. I noticed I was tired all the time and I didn't like that so I have decided to make a change. I like the energy I have after starting my day with a good workout. I am happier and and all around better I think.

Life is funny, it is a series of ups and downs, slowings and speeding ups.

The last few months have been incredibly slow, but now things are picking up.

I can mark the changes and growing to our lives and I love it. I hate feeling stagnate. 

What is life if not for constantly growing and improving?

So here's to fresh starts, growing and improving. 

Or in Joshua's case learning to snuggle in bed.

I know it's the middle of the year already, but don't let that deter you from making changes in your life. I didn't really start until April and that is alright. You always have to start somewhere right?

I love you all and hope to post again in the next few months.

-Megan