College memories & best friend's upcoming wedding

College days with those ladies above were some of the funnest of my life!

I'm so grateful I was able to attend BYU-Idaho...I experienced so much personal growth (both spiritually and academically) and I was introduced to Adam, thanks to his sister Sharla! :) But before that sweet man came into life, it's where I met and became life-long friends and sisters with some of the most incredible girls I know! I went knowing my room-roommate, a friend from home, Shauna...she's pretty much the sweetest person with a heart of gold, lovely inside and out. And we happened to room with two awesome girls in the dorm, one of whom was Alyssa, this gorgeous and hilarious girl from Connecticut. She quickly became another sister. With them I scored the roommate jackpot. :) We shared clothes, went to dances together, took mini-road trips, stayed up late watching Fresh Prince of Belair while eating countless bowls of cold cereal, we "studied" together, met boys together, and shared so many laughs and hilarious moments that when summer came I don't know why I didn't go on strike and say I'm living there with those girls forever. Haha! But the next year managed to be just as awesome. Shauna, Lyss, and I lived off-campus in an apartment with 3 other girls...one of which was Kersie who had lived a few doors down from us in the dorms, and who happened to have grown up in Vancouver with Shauna and I but we had never really met. Kersie has the most giving heart, and always knows how to have a good time! Shoon, Lyss, and Kers made my college experience what it was. I'll treasure the memories we made f o r e v e r.

And while I am heading to Washington to spend time with Corrie before she leaves on her mission, I'm also going to see Kersie marry her best friend!! His name is Kyle and she says he is incredible and has such a good heart. I canNOT wait to meet him. :)  And before the wedding this weekend Shauna is throwing her a bachelorette party for her and to say I'm giddy about it is an understatement. We'll miss Alyssa though (living in Boston)!

The moral of the story is those girls have blessed my life...and I'm so glad we've all found such wonderful men! So, when are we going to plan that couples-campout ladies?? (teehee!)

Flashback Friday!

Can't believe that first picture up there is of my little 1-year old Brooks last summer, goodness what a little ball of sweetness! And now he's my big-boy Brooks...with a head full of curls that I wasn't sure he would still have. 

Oh how I love that boy.

Well, today we went to our favorite splash pad with Kira, Grant, and Avery (our other favorite Aves). First time this summer, and what a great afternoon! Ava was a trooper, just smiling away and ended up falling asleep in my arms. Brooks was uneasy at first about doing more than watching the water splash on the concrete and on all the little kids running around in their cute swim suits. He mainly just wanted to play on the playground nearby...but it was oh-so hot and I was glad he eventually remembered how much he loved the cool water, and the only way I got him to leave was bribing him with his beloved, err, my iphone. ;)

And before my little sweet pea fell asleep...

I snatched a pic of her big grin and chunky-monkey thighs. LOVE.

Happy Weekend everyone!!

little photos of little moments

In no particular order...those were little photos of little moments from the past few weeks that have made life pretty wonderful. Not perfect, but definitely wonderful.

Mama to-be Lindsey

Saturday afternoon Ava and I went to the most lovely baby shower for a sweet friend of mine.  Gorgeous Lindsey is expecting a baby boy at the end of July and I am SO happy for her!  She and her husband Jed, a childhood friend of Adam's, are two of our favorite people...yet we don't see them nearly enough, and I think we need to change that. Maybe another Texas Roadhouse and deep dish cookie a la mode night soon. :)  We absolutely know they are going to be awesome parents. 

After enjoying delicious food, fun shower games, and watching Lindsey open up presents (goodness I can't get enough of darling baby boys clothes!) I picked Brooks up from spending some time with Daddy at work, and we headed home. As soon as we walked in the door, Brooks wanted to help me get little, crying Ava out of her carseat...and he loved on her 'til she was all smiles! I about melted into a puddle on the floor. And it's little moments like that that get me over-the-moon excited for Lindsey to become a mother. <3

10 things that have been making me incredibly happy as of late

1. Zoo trips with sweet friends including a picnic lunch, a [traumatic] carousel ride, ice-cream cones that fixed said carousel ride, and of course plenty of incredible animals! Brooks got pretty excited about the sea lions. :)

2. Morning runs...or run. ;) First one this morning in about a year!

3. Scoring a bold, green maxi dress with a lovely floral print, on clearance. I may have done a happy dance out of the store.

4. Making and sharing a raspberry-lemonade coconut smoothie with Brooks. The brain freeze that followed was totally worth it.

5. Adam bringing home Nielsen's Frozen Custard...caramel cashew, our favorite.

6. While eating the frozen custard, we watched the lovely Regina Spektor be interviewed on the Colbert Report, and then sing. I adore her.

7. Laughing when sweet Brooks tried to feed Grandma Stum (my mom) goldfish crackers through the laptop screen while video chatting.

8. Taking baths with Ava. Love my little mermaid.

9. Watermelon. With fresh lime squeezed over a juicy slice. Mmmmmmm.

10. Accidentally typing "love" in the contact spot when I was writing a text to Adam...and it automatically filled it in with his info.  Apparently I address him as "love" a lot in my texts.  :) :) :)

What's been making you incredibly happy??