Friday Five

Now that Summer is officially over (cue tears) I am excited to get back into the swing of things--including this little blog. Here's the Friday Five:

1. Will. what a little boy (I feel like i can't call him a baby anymore). I swear I can see him growing right in front of my eyes. He learns new words and remembers them day to day. It is crazy...I know every parent must think this, but I swear the kid is a genius. He is like a little sponge and soaks up all the knowledge he can get (he must be Mike's son). He is a crazy good talker these days. He can repeat any word you say and must know over 100 words. He can sing all of "I am a Child of God" and "Golden Slumbers" (the jennifer hudson version of course 💁). He is VERY independent--almost to a fault because he has to do everything himself. Still loves to clean (hoping this stage lasts forever).  He is very active and likes me to play with him always. The most hilarious thing he says is "No talking" when Mike and I are getting to chatty with each other during dinner and leave him out of the conversation. Last week he learned how to crawl out of his crib and it has been a LITERAL NIGHTMARE trying to get him to stay in his bed all night. But... I pulled out his old sleep sack and that seems to be doing the trick for right now. Until he learns how to unzip it 😭😳.  We feel so lucky to call him ours and are constantly in awe of his little personality. He is a force of nature, that one. love him so.

Making Will's favorite breakfast...OMLETS!

Mike bought him a mini pan set and he is obsessed

2. I am the new gospel doctrine teacher in our ward 😱 Now i know what you're thinking... aren't you a little young? and, well... a blonde female? and while yes, it's true I don't fit the stereotype and yes, my co-teacher is a former mission president😳 it has become the sweetest blessing to serve in this calling. Scarier than heck...but really humbling and I've already learned so much! Mike recently got called as the young mens president so he is a busy bee lately too! We are really starting to feel like we fit in with our new neighborhood and ward--which is such a nice feeling.

perhaps the goofiest Sunday pic we've ever taken....but I love it 😁

3. A couple weeks ago we escaped to Bear Lake with some of my cute friends from...well from way back! We went to elementary school together, all went to different jr. high's but kept in contact (and all played volleyball against each other on different school teams 😂) and eventually found each other again in high school. We all went to different colleges and now we are all in different stages of life! We have still remained friends all these years and it was SO nice to get together with them. We were missing 2 of my other cute friends, but hopefully we will get together again soon! We had a blast boating, talking, reminiscing, and just being together. It was so comforting to be with people who know me and love me for who I am. Who accept my flaws and make me feel so great! They are such great friends and even though we only get together about twice a year, we are able to pick back up like it was yesterday. They make me want to be a better friend.  It's such a nice feeling to be with good friends. I've had a hard time reaching outside my comfort zone lately and being myself...making friends is hard sometimes and I get down on myself. BUT, I'm committed to try harder and really put myself out there. I have another friend that is such a good example to me of this...she is always making friends wherever she goes and always goes the extra mile to invite people to do stuff and help them feel included. She has taught me so much about what it means to be a good friend. I'm trying 👊

4. Last weekend we had our end-of-summer "stay-cation" with my side of the family. We had an outdoor movie party, a sleepover in tents in the backyard, went hiking, went to church together, went to the zoo, laughed till we cried and had an all-around great time being with one another. I love spending time with these cute people and sure missed my brother Logan (who is serving a mission!) I can't wait until next summer when he is back and we are all together again. It was the perfect farewell to summer. Usually I am itching for fall to come..but this year I will REALLY miss summer. Will and I had the perfect summer together and I never want it to end. BUT...I am slowly getting over summer and ready to say---bring it on fall!

5. Mike's grandmother turned ONE HUNDRED years old this week. We affectionately call her "Mommy Allo" and she is such a gem. The woman is unstoppable. She held 2 parties...one for family and one for friends. Her family party was held down town at an old mansion (and was oh so beautiful) and her friend party was held on the roof of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was amazing to see the outpouring of love for this dear woman. People of all walks of life showed up at the reception to wish her happy birthday and thank her for a century 😱 of good works. I hope when I am 100 years old I get my nails done once a week like her💅 She is an amazing example of living life to its fullest and I love her dearly.

I also started dance lessons again this week!! So happy to be starting up a new season and I'm doing a few new projects this year that I am really excited about! I have quite a few new students and I can't wait to instill in them a love for dance. I am always nervous to start, but I love what I do. It is a dream come true for me and sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am💛