I have nothing of importance to say.

I just wanted to publicly declare that we all love the house that we are now living in.

Jeff and I ended up having to move every single thing we own by ourselves [gag]. But in hindsight, it was kind of empowering. (you know, besides the colds we caught). But on another plus side, we had far less scratches and damages to our furniture than in the past when other people have helped us move.

In the past, we have always lived in basement apartments. (and we have hated them.) But they were cheap, and so we moved from one basement apartment to another, (6 times in 3 years). So I can honestly say, we could not love or appreciate this house any more than we already do.

Today we went to the store and picked out paint samples. Jeff went to work, and I unpacked a few boxes while cleaning the house and watching maddie scream in joy at the freedom of banging pots and pans as loudly as she pleased.

The night before, I put maddie down for bed, went to bed myself, and woke up at 7:00 am to a happy baby who had slept through the entire night! All she needed was her own room.

It was a pretty boring day, and I loved it. I feel like I'm finally being the mom I wanted to be. I finally feel in control. I know where my life is headed, and things are finally back on track.

Grad school is just around the corner, and I know that things won't be boring for much longer, so I'm really trying to soak everything in. When maddie's awake, we're playing in the backyard, or crawling through the house together, or reading lots of books. Never mind the mountain of boxes. They'll have to wait. I'm playing with my baby right now.

Why are we getting so excited over a house we don't even own? Because for the first time in a long time, we feel like we have our own home. We're finally setting down roots. And we don't plan on moving for quite a while.
(or until I'm accepted into a doctorate program. but let's not think about that right now.) 

Our front yard. Two little old ladies live on either side of us, and they are both hilarious.

kitchen. check out that giant refrigerator!

Maddie in her elephant costume on the first day there. (living room)

After moving everything in the first night, we really only had enough energy to put a mattress on the floor and have a "sleepover" in the living room. Maddie didn't seem to mind. 

Our bathroom has a soaker tub. Maddie might love it almost as much as I do. 

I know it seems random, but I love this window. It sees in from the kitchen into the dining room. It's one of those random things that allows us to say that the house has "character."

Take me to saint Louie, louie!

One of a few things I have learned since being here:

the tornado sirens go off constantly, and people consider it no big deal. They are very loud, and eerie.  The only time I have ever heard a siren before is in apocalyptic movies, possibly involving aliens. So while no one freaks out, I start yelling around squeaking,"jeff? Jeff?! JEFF!!! WE NEED TO GET TO A SHELTER RIGHT NOW!!!" almost weekly.

fun stuff!

3rd anniversary!

us at the beginning of the day

For our third anniversary, Jeff surprised me with a day at six flags. It's been an ongoing joke between us: both of us LOVE rollercoasters, but we've never been on one together. So we arrived ready to go on the absolute highest, scariest rides we could fit in one day. (my sister-in law susie watched maddie so that we could spend the day together.)

Now let me premise by saying that our anniversaries are cursed.

1. Our honeymoon - I caught swine flu (back when everyone was panicked about it) and had to be quarantined

2. First anniversary - I was stung/speared by a sting ray and had to go to urgent care. 

3. We moved from Provo to West Jordan. Of course, this was our own fault, but still. we'll count it.

So when we arrived at six flags, we were ready to have the best time ever and really make the most of our anniversary. 

fast forward to our second roller-coaster experience together, when I threw out my neck, and Jeff started retching like he was going to throw up.

It turns out that once you become parents, you become allergic to anything reckless and fun.

Luckily the other half of the park is a water park, and Jeff had packed our swim suits, so we suited up and floated in the lazy river for the majority of the day. It was boring and lame and absolutely perfect. :) 

And then we lived in Missouri.

1,400 miles and 30 hours driving later and here we are.

The uhaul all loaded up and ready for us to go. This was at 4 am!

the dog and the baby chilled out in the car while we packed up. 

Our last view of the mountains

end of day one. everyone was pooped.

Jeff and maddie fell asleep snuggling

day two off to a great start. Maddie slept most of the day! 

just a visual of how cramped it was in the uhaul. Buddy was pissed. 

quick rest stop in kansas

on day two, maddie developed a new addiction - sucking on empty bottles. We did anything we could to keep her happy and sleeping. 

end of day two! 

we were all happy to be out of the stuffy uhaul and in bed. 

the awesome view from our hotel

Buddy was confused by how small all the cars were. 

Eventually I stopped taking pictures on day 3. I was too tired and excited to get to Saint Louis and unpack everything. But we made it! and I promise to put up more posts about everything we've done since we've gotten here (now that I've found the cord for the camera and can actually upload pictures.) 

we survived! although, maddie's face expresses how we REALLY felt about the road trip.

End of Chapter one.

It all began four years ago to the day... 

when I graduated from here

And Moved here. 

I lived with these girls for a while... 

Before meeting this one.

And we were crazy. 

 Then I met this guy. and happened to take this picture on our first date. 

And we happened to take this picture the date we officially become boyfriend and girlfriend.

 and then we were engaged here, at this bridge. 

 and we got married. 

Our first apartment together was here

 we had our first christmas here with a pathetic little tree

rescued this poor dog here 

 Saw John Mayer here

had an awesome halloween here 

2nd Christmas here... with the same pathetic tree.

Jeff worked here 

we also lived here

We ran a 5k here

Graduated here

moved to west jordan and made awesome new friends here

had a bump here

had our 3rd Christmas here... with a real, giant tree... and a real, giant belly.  

had a giant belly here and here.

 had a miracle here.

and now... we're moving here.

4 years in Utah.

3 years of school. 

3 years of marriage. 

4 different homes.

1 dog. 

1 baby. 

countless friends, countless memories.

If our life was a book, this would be the end of the first chapter. Thanks to everyone who helped us write it! We love you, and we'll miss you.