Spring Break

We got to kick off our Spring Break with a wonderful Easter weekend, lots of family time, and great weather. We were so ready for this break! We enjoyed a good mix of lazy days and relaxing, and a few fun adventures thrown in.

We went to the Hattiesburg Zoo with some of our friends one day. It was a great little place and the kids had so much fun together.

We also spent a day at Dauphin Island where we soaked up the sun and wore ourselves out! We are so grateful for lots of wonderful friends and beautiful places that are so close to us! The week was just what we needed to get us through our last month of school before summer vacation. We can't wait!

March

March was busy and has flown by so quickly! The kids had a break from school for Mardi Gras, Joseph was gone for 10 days, and I ran a half marathon, plus all the other stuff in between! It definitely feels like spring here, and is getting warmer and warmer every day.

We just realized there are less than two months of school left! We are starting to make some plans for the summer and can't wait to have a bit more free time!

I have really enjoyed running through the winter here in the south. I decided after my 10k in January to just keep training and do a half marathon. It was handy that there was one close by in Bay St. Louis this month, and it has been really convenient to be able to run while the kids are in school so it didn't take up family time. My last half marathon was almost exactly 6 years ago, and it felt really good to push myself and do it again. The course was beautiful and I felt well trained and healthy - but it was still really hard!!!! :) My friend pushed me through the last few miles and I finished strong with a time of 2:08:11. It was a great experience and now I think I'm good for another 6 years... ha!

We've got some fun things coming up in the spring and summer and I can't believe we have been in Mississippi for almost one year! Happy Spring!!

Dominican Republic

Joseph got to spend 10 days in the Dominican Republic on a humanitarian aid trip. They went to Azua and had the chance to provide free health care and dental work to hundreds of people from the area. They worked hard and were really busy while they were there.

They had a couple of days off to see the sights and markets in Santo Domingo and the surrounding area. There were lots of cool historical buildings and architecture, and he came home with beautiful handmade wood boxes and bowls from the market.

 
They got to help clean up a local park and took a quick trip to the beach. He said the food was really good and fresh and they enjoyed a night of music and dancing before they headed home. It was a great opportunity for him and we are glad he got to go - and happy to have him home! :)


 

February

February has been pretty great! It has felt really slow and relaxing, and it helps that it is not freezing cold! I finished up January with running a 10k, and I'm training for a half marathon in March. It has been great to get outside a lot!

We had a fun, simple Valentine's Day. The kids were sweet and excited, and Joseph and I got to go out on a date! I love this family of mine.

Things are starting to bloom, we planted a few flowers, and we built this awesome clubhouse for the kids that they haven't used since. :) Ha ha!

And last but not least, I got braces! So exciting, and so sore! :) It is just to make some quick fixes, so I know I can handle anything for six months, right?? Happy February!

January

This new year is off to a good start! I'm excited about my goals for the new year, and I've felt so motivated and inspired by so many good things lately.


Going along with my goal for January, I've gone through every nook and cranny in our house and cleaned, organized, and cleared out things we don't need. I know we don't accumulate much anyway, since we move often and de-clutter regularly, but it feels so good to know that everything is in it's place!


We've enjoyed lots of time with friends and ward members, and love having people over to our home as often as we can. We are busy, but try to carve out unscheduled time whenever we can and just enjoy free time together.

The weather here has been wonderful, so we try to get outside often. We have to enjoy it before it gets too hot! January seems like it has lasted for about 8 weeks, but we have filled it with so many good things, and I can't wait to see what February brings.

Christmas in Utah

We were so excited to spend Christmas in Utah for the first time in five years! It was wonderful to be with family and friends and enjoy some of our favorite traditions together.

We got to spend a few days in the mountains of Nevada, enjoying beautiful scenery and family time with no distractions. It was a bit of an elevation adjustment for those of us coming from sea level, but we loved it out there!

Matthew & Anna woke up early on Christmas and we had a wonderful morning playing with gifts and attending church. We loved getting to see all of our family members over those few days of Christmas. Cousins really are the best kind of friends!!

We ended our trip with a visit to Temple Square and seeing a production of "Savior of the World" in the Conference Center. It was spectacular and the perfect ending to our Christmas season. We feel so grateful to have such wonderful, supportive families and we loved every minute of being with them. Merry Christmas!