Soda...a four letter word?

For me, I have a love/hate relationship with it. There are days when I feel like I have to have my coke (or vanilla coke...depends on the day). But yet, there are times when I feel like I've had enough and it just doesn't taste good anymore. 

Currently Brandon and I are deciding we've been having too much soda. I don't know what it is about summer, but I love me a good coke/vanilla coke come summer time...Unfortunately we've had a lot this summer. Why isn't water as quenching?

Don't get me wrong, this morning water is tasting delicious! I probably just need to flush my body out of all the sugar that is in it. 

So what are your thoughts on soda?

Smarty Pants

Is it smarty pants or smartie pants? Either way, please meet Mr. Good Looking Smarty Pants!

Man oh man I got lucky with this one!

In May Brandon went up to the U of U (I know I heard a few gasps, but it's true) and took a MLA Spanish test. There are three parts to this test (listening, speaking and written), and depending how well he scores he can receive up to 16 credits. This test costs $75. 

We knew he was going to take it but didn't know when he would have the time, and after he lost his job we figured why not? Anyway...So it has been awhile and he has been checking his transcripts to see if any scores have been sent to SLCC. Today he received an email letting him know that something was added to his transcript....

Brandon had an extra 16 credits added to his transcript today! I am so proud of him for getting all of the 16 credits! He is truly such a great example that through hard work, great rewards can happen. Good job sweetheart! I am so proud of you and love you so much!

Adventure is out there!

Our little Holyoak family will be starting a new adventure come July. Brandon has accepted a job offer in Logan, UT! I couldn't be more proud and happy for him. He has relentlessly worked his tail off to find a job, and I know that he will not only be great, but that he will really love it as well! Congratulations sweetheart!

I'll be completely honest, this has been a bittersweet decision for the both of us. We love our family that is close, our neighbors and friends, but we have been praying long and hard and know that this is what we are supposed to be doing at this time.

One of the benefits is that I do not have to work away from home anymore! My last day at MATC is next Thursday, June 28th! I will still keep my at home position, but I will not have to worry about day care anymore for my little man! I have learned so much being a working Mom and I have sooo much respect for Mothers that have to work, it is by far one of the hardest things to leave my son every morning. I am excited to be a stay at home Mom!

Today Brandon and Connor are headed up to Logan to search for a home for us! We will just be renting for the next few years, because we've decided we will not buy another house until Brandon has his degree. We have a few options, and I'm sad I can't look with him.

We are excited, scared, nervous, anxious, and happy! It'll be fun to live so close to Brandon's family and build those relationships more. Thank you all for your love, support, and many prayers said. I know we have felt them in our lives and I am just so grateful that we have the best family and friends that have been there for us!

Blog vs Hand Written Journal

As most of you know I am not the best blogger. I tend to not like to write about the hard times, and then I feel like I don't have enough time during the good times. I'm trying to be better.

What are your thoughts on blogging vs hand written journals?

I don't mind blogging. I like being able to tell fun stories about our family. I love reading others blogs that I'm not the best at keeping in touch with. {P.S. People need to write more! I love reading blogs}. There are somethings in my life that I feel are to personal to put up on a blog. Maybe I'm worried about others judging me, which I'm sure could be a possibility, or maybe I feel they are too personal at this time.

Either way, a few weeks ago I've felt impressed to start writing in my journal for my children, and as a family history to them. Have I done it yet...YES! Just this morning, so...I'm working on it! It was definitely weird, I woke up early {which hasn't happened since Brandon was working}, and I felt this biggest urge to just write down what is going on in our family. Lets just say, I tried to push it off for a bit, however I wasn't able to fall back asleep.

Starting this journal entry was different. Instead of just trying to back track, and catch everyone up to speed, I started out the journal to Connor. For some reason as I was writing, it was so much easier to write to him, then to just come up with what was happening with our life. Even though I can't have these conversations with him now, I feel like I was writing it down, so he could know about it later. I finally felt like this journal finally had a purpose. It's for Connor, and eventually his future siblings. It was a neat experience, I hope I can continue.

On a completely different note, Brandon received a job offer. We're excited, that things are finally starting to move forward, however he asked if he could have a few days to think it over. We both feel that he will have another offer or two by the end of the week, so we'll have to make some pretty big decisions soon. We're both excited, and happy. I'm so proud of Brandon, he is so amazing and he deserves the best! Lets just hope we can get it!

100th post and a baby shower!

This is my 100th post! I should write 100 neat things about me...Just kidding! How boring. Let's talk about the shower for my sister in law (Lauren), that I was able to throw with my other sister in laws, and mother in law. 

Lauren is having a girl, and we are just so excited for her! The shower was this last Saturday, and it was really chill. We ate food with family, and played two games. The guess how long of a string goes around her belly, and the memory candy bar game. I got a really cute necklace/earrings for the prize of the string game, which our Aunt Holly got (she was just cm away from Lauren's size!). Then the candy bar memory game is awesome, we played it at one of the showers for me, and I've played it at a few others and it never gets old. Basically you have a poster board with lots of numbers, you pick two and if they match you get a candy bar that goes along with that word. So 'conception' would be Skor, or 'preemie' was Runts, my favorite, that I found was 'pregnancy' - airhead, definitely true! 

Anyway, Lauren got a TON of cute clothes and gifts, and I was so excited to present her with the quilt I had made. Also as a last minute we found some BYU onesies, so that was considered the gift from Brandon. 

Cute outfit from her sister in law Michelle (Jake's sister).

 Cute outfit from Hilary our sister in law.

 I can't remember who gave her this cute outfit, but the ruffles are the best!

 This is when she started to open our gift and saw the onesies!

 I love how animated and beautiful Lauren is! Her daughter is going to be just the same!

 First sight of the quilt.

 Did you really make this?

 She loved it! Which is good, because I had a blast making it for her!

 At the end of the shower we took a picture of all the beautiful ladies in our family!
(Left to right: {top row} Emmee, Mom (Jean), Chelsey, Me, Hilary, {bottom row} Aubrey, Lauren and Meagan)

I'm so blessed to be part of this BIG beautiful family! It's growing so fast, and becoming more fun!

Sometimes...

Sometimes days just suck. 

I've been trying to stay positive in my postings...but lets be honest, there are just those days when I don't know if we'll be okay. 

Recently I've been having really good high's or really bad lows, and no inbetweeners...not good. I would really like to balance out my emotions, but I don't think that will happen until things turn out a bit better, and I feel more secure. 

At least I made cookies to cheer me up this afternoon.

(Connor is pulling himself up/climbing the dishwasher to see the cookies. He is not that tall yet!)