How Could I Forget!?

Did I mention there's only 47 days left until this handsome and amazing missionary gets home??!!!

I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!!

SUMMER UPDATE!!

One of MANY nights of fireworks

You would think with it being summer that I'd have more time on my hands to do things such as catch up on my blog, right? Yeah, I would think so too but yet I've just kept finding other things to do with my time.

Considering I hate when I go to check on all the blogs I frequently stalk and come to find no updates, I really have no room to talk. I figured it was about time I do some updating!

Now I could go into great, lengthy details and write a whole bunch about my summer...but then again, who wants to read that? Nor do I really want to spend the time writing it all when I could be outside enjoying this beautiful, sunny Saturday! What do do instead? How about I just post some pictures :) It's what everyone ends up scrolling down to anyway, right?!

These are just a few of the fun and fabulous summer moments I've had...

Family barbecues...this picture was only intended in hopes of trying to get "Snaggle" to smile, which didn't even work :(

Birthday dinners at Fred's

Riding the train from Bob's to SLC to meet Matt

This was my first time riding the "fast train"

The kids LOVE the train!

It took a friend from Salt Lake to get me, a native of Cache Valley, to FINALLY hike the Wind Caves

It was awesome!

Brookelyn absolutely ADORES her new Aunt Amber and Uncle Brody!

Family day at the pool!

Brody and Amber finally got married :) (more pictures to come of the special day!)

Like I said, these are just a few of the fun and fabulous summer times I've had. But I figure a sneak peek is better than nothing :) I am so lucky to have such an amazing family and am truly blessed to be a part of so many loving people's lives! I LOVE my family and couldn't ask for better!!

I'll try to be a better blogger I promise :) Plus, I'll have to fill you all in on my big SURPRISE sometime sooner or later....:)

Almost there...

The countdown hasn't felt like much of a countdown until now! This special guy comes home in just about 4 months. That's right people. Elder Mason Hanks Cardon will be back before we know it! The thought is just a little nerve-racking!

Pretty crazy right? I swear it feels like I just hit the year mark and was so excited to be on the downhill. I don't know how it all of a sudden creeped up on me because if you would have asked me anytime before now, I would say that the time has gone by pretty darn slow! 

Just today I was texting his sweet mom and come to find out, they received his flight plans to come home last week. Now that, just blows my mind! But is pretty exciting I'd say!! 

What an experience it's been to be able to go through this amazing journey with him. He's such a wonderful example to me and I am so grateful to have him in my life!! 

Now given we still have 4 months to go, but hey, compared to 24 months I'd say that's nothin. I just have to contain my excitement to myself for a little while longer (and maybe his family too :)) because he refuses to talk about coming home, it makes him too sad. 

Hey, he's a missionary-that's how it should be right! So I'll take 4 more months of emails, letters, and waiting to be able to see where this next part of life will take us! What an exciting time that will be :) Until then..summer is here and I'm full on ready to enjoy every moment of it!!

Now that I'll actually have time, I'll try my hardest to post more! There will be posts of my exciting California adventures and Easter time fun to come soon :)

Aunty Bla

As much as I sometimes complain about always having to babysit, I can't help but love the little kiddos. Sure I get dumped on a lot for being the "go-to" babysitter, but I can't help but love it! And although I really only have 2 nieces and a nephew, I love the fact that it feels as if I have 3 nieces and 2 nephews. 

Growing up, it's been as if I've had 3 sisters and not just one. Brody might be the only one to complain about getting more than he bargained for..sorry Brod!, but in the end, I  know we all love just how close we are. Plus, it's always fun to see who people think belongs to who when we all look so much alike. Not many people can claim their cousins as their siblings but I wouldn't trade the special relationship we all have any day.   

Although our kids don't get the experience of looking so much alike, they do, however, get the opportunity to develop that special, close relationship we all have.  At least that's what I've noticed with Bobbie and Annie's kids and assume will continue with Kelsey's, Brody's, and my own children some day. 

With that being said..sure the kids are a handful, but they sure are adorably fun! Here are the latest pictures of our fun play day last week plus a few other random ones...you can't help but love them :)

Tub Time! (one of the cutest pictures!)

Silly faces!

Cousinly love :)

Yes, I got her that shirt :)

What a stud!

Brooke & her "chipmunk" smile...

She definitely takes after me as a thumb sucker :)

Shopping with my aunty!

Playing Mommy

This post is basically just a journal posting for my own sake and there's no fun pictures of the kids, so sorry!...

This past weekend I was able to stay with one of our family-friends kids while the their lucky parents got to 

 fly off to Hawaii for a little vacation.

I wish I had my own, real picture...

Their grandparents had been staying with them Wednesday-Friday until I got there around 6 pm. I had only tended them once before and with the way I've been feeling with my infection, I wasn't exactly sure how the weekend was going to play out.  Turns out, all three of them turned out to be adorable and really good for me so it made me and my endless, painful infection not too bad!

Addison:  is 11 years old and in 5th grade, and an absolute, great helper! She had an answer to just about all  my questions and was so willing to help me out with anything. She's a little bit of their "anxiety child" (I can use that term because her mom does :) ). She's a great little cheerleader on the High Point Gymnastics team and was supposed to have a competition on Saturday in Copper Hills.  Since we had an enormous and, in my opinion, a very disrupting snow storm, her team didn't end up going considering they were supposed to leave at 7 that morning and there was no way anyone wanted to drive on those roads!

Boy, was this good news for us! Addison had already had a little bit of a break down when she realized her parents wouldn't be able to be there or help her get ready for it and of course I was willing to help, but I wasn't going to be able to have gone either since I had to stay back with other two. What a relief! I always hated going to dance competitions without my mom so I completely understood where she was coming from!

Jaden: is 7 years old and in 2nd grade and has about the biggest heart a little boy can have. He honestly is one of the sweetest little guys I know and probably one of the best big and little brother to any girl out there. He absolutely loves football (and baseball too) and I'm pretty sure I didn't go a day without being reminded that his birthday was one day after Payton Mannings. Not to mention, the kid has about 750 sports trading cards (or somewhere around there). 

He was always on the go, playing with his friends or outside riding his skateboard.  Pretty sure, the kid never stops! You would think with having so much energy he would be a handful to keep up with and take care of, but he was just the opposite. Jaden is always looking out for his sisters and I can tell, just from the 5 days that I was there, that he will always be both of the girls protective soldier no matter what.

Brynlee: is 3 years old and an absolute busy body! She always wants to be playing or reading a story and gosh, that girl loves apples! I'm used to my niece and nephew when they ask for a treat, it's a treat. Maybe a cookie or candy bar, but not for Bryn. When she asked me for a treat, it was for an apple or some cottage cheese. Seriously!? Is she really a 3 year old? Her mother's trained her right! 

Now, me and Miss Bryn Bryn became quite the pair. Since the older two had school and got to play with their friends, Bryn and I sure spent a lot of time together; which I didn't mind one bit. This little girl became just like a little niece to me. She even came to church, well Sacrament, with me on Sunday and I couldn't believe what a little angel she was. She just sat next to me the whole time and the only little peep she made was near the end of the last speaker when she leaned over and told me, "Bear, I'm ready to go now." And even though she was ready to go then, she stuck it out through the rest of his talk, the hymn, and the prayer. I can only keep my fingers crossed that someday my children are that pleasant to have in church.

Now I was in no means, trying to be these 3's mom, or in anyway trying to replace her. But I do feel as if I created a special bond with these 3 kiddo's in a big sister or favorite aunt kind of way (or I at least hope they feel the same).

 Friday night I got to spend the night out with the girls by going to one of my ultimate favorites, Fredrico's, while Jaden was at a friend's and didn't want to intrude on our girls-only dinner. With the snow storm that hit, after running to my house real quick after dinner, the time that it took for us to get home, dinner was about all we had time to do that night.

After getting the kids ready and into bed, it was time for me to do the same. This was when the night only began for me. I had been told that Brynlee had a hard time sleeping as it was, and with her parents gone, she slept even worse. The night consisted of her crying out about every hour and me laying by her 'til she fell back asleep just in time to do it all over again. I would have just put her in bed with me, but my niece, Brooke, was fast asleep in my bed since she had come to dinner with us and got to have a sleepover to be able to play with Bryn the next day. Let's just say it was a LONG night for the two of us!

After a restless night's sleep for me, Saturday morning came bright and early. Everyone was up by 8 and immediately wanted breakfast. Luckily, that wasn't hard, waffles it was for everyone! Then the Saturday cleaning began. The kids had jobs of their own to do (the older two that is) so they began their duties and after cleaning up breakfast, I figured I'd lend a hand to Shelly and Scott and do their Saturday cleaning for them. No one likes to come home from vacation to a dirty house anyway. Plus, I'm a bit of a clean freak as it is, so I really didn't mind. 

Brynlee and Brookelyn immediately went off to play and spent the day having a blast with each other. Brooke was so excited to have a new friend to play with and it seemed as though Bryn loved it just as much! After Jaden and Addison finished their jobs they both went over to their friends house to play and I continued cleaning. As we got into the afternoon and the kids were all still playing and I had finally finished cleaning, it was time for me to exercise.

I knew to keep me sane, I'd have to fit it in my exercise for the day somewhere. Since the older two were still off at their friends, I gave them a call to make sure they were okay and to check to see if they were good to stay a bit longer while I ran home with the younger two for a little while. Once I got the okay, I packed Bryn & Brooke in the car and off to my house we went. I figured they could play at my house for a little bit while I got on the elliptical. 

This was when Bryn got to meet the rest of my family and since Brooke and Cole called my mom, Grandma, I guess she figured she would as well. Now she knows she has 2 grandmas and that it's not someones name, but that's what stuck. So whenever she saw my mom or asked her for something, it came out as, "Grandma, can I have one too?" or "Thanks Grandma."  Every time I heard that, it brought such a big smile to my face.

Bryn and I grabbed Wendy's for dinner on the way back home since Addison's and Jaden's friends were still over (there was no way the poor college student I am that I was buying all 4 friends plus the kids and me all dinner!). So it was frozen pizza and chicken sandwiches for the kids at home. I felt bad because I had told Jaden I'd take him and his friends to the Fun Park earlier, but considering they didn't get back to the house until around 6:30ish and we didn't get back 'til around 7:30ish, I had to break the little guys heart and tell him it was too late to go this time. Ah! I hate disappointing kids! We spent the rest of the night playing Just Dance, making Muddy Buddies, and just hanging out.

Since Sunday was the next day and the kids had church early in the morning, their friends went home early and we all went to bed pretty early. I was afraid Bryn and I were going to have another rough night, but once she fell asleep at about 10, she was out for the night and slept great! The older two went to their ward with a neighbor and Bryn got to chug along to my Sacrament with me. She had told me she didn't want to go to Primary today so when I told her that my ward didn't have a Primary because there were no little kids in my ward, she didn't mind just coming along to Sacrament. She was great too! I'm sure she didn't mind all the attention she got for being the only adorable, 3 year old there. I made spaghetti and french bread for lunch then later we had Taco's for dinner. I fit some homework in and other than watchin TV and hangin out, there went our Sunday. 

The kids got to talk to their parents this night and they all had a rough time getting to bed when they realized how much they missed them. We had a few tears that the older two tried to hide from me, but after they settled down, everyone got right to sleep. Oh how it broke my heart to see them cry because there was nothing I could really do. I'm no substitute for their parents and missing them...well you just have to let them miss them.

We had another good night until early in the morning when I just put Bryn in bed with me where she ended up sleeping until 8:45..soo good! Monday everyone had school so we were all up and adam and out the door. I dropped Bryn off at the neighbors who would get her to preschool and off to school I went. After what seemed like one of the longest days, I went to pick Bryn up and we headed back to my house for dinner and to hang out for a bit before we had to pick up Addison from cheer. Jaden went to a friend's house after school where he was going to spend the night so I didn't have to worry about him.

So glad to have a break from cooking, my mom kindly made us some delicious chicken fajitas that we scarfed down with the fam. Then we were off to pick Addison up from cheer. She had planned on sleeping over at a friends house that night too, so after picking her up some Chick-fil-A, I dropped her off at her friends. 

Just as I was getting Bryn in tub and ready for bed, my phone rang with Addison coming up as the caller. She asked if I'd come pick her up because she was a little nervous and would rather just sleep at home. Now Addison please don't hate me for telling the world this, because trust me, it's nothing to be ashamed of :). When I was younger, all the way up until about probably 8th grade, I hated sleeping at other people's houses. If I had sleepovers, they were practically always at my house. I'd attempt to sleepover at my friends, but I'd end up "getting sick" or calling my mom in the middle of the night to come and get me. I did not do well with sleeping at other people's houses one bit. So when Addison called, I didn't think anything of it rather than I was the exact same way.

I let the girls stay up a little bit later watching TV and they headed to bed at about 10:30. Making sure the house was straightened up since their parents were coming home in the morning, I sat down to watch my Monday night show...the Bachelor. A guilty addiction I know! Tuesday morning Addison got up and off to school and I got Bryn breakfast while she ate and watched her Barney. As I was making the beds and assuring the house looked clean, in walked Scott and Shelly and I knew my weekend of tending had come to an end. 

Those 5 short days really went by so fast and the kids definitely made it possible since they were so good and easy to watch. I'm sad I didn't get take any pictures, so next time of course I'll have to remember. I surely hope there will be a next that is because these kids have truly imprinted a place in my heart and I can only hope to spend more time with them again! Thank you Scott and Shelly for creating such adorable children and I hope the next time you take another wondrous vacation, you call me! :)

Looking Back

Warning: This is going to be a long post!

Lately I've done a lot of thinking and my mind keeps wandering back to old memories. Whether they be happy, sad, exciting, or awful times..they've all been replaying in my mind. 

The fact that it's been almost a complete 2 years since I graduated from high school is starting to make me feel old! Now now, I know I'm really not getting that old, but not being able to say, "Oh I just graduated," sure seems bitter sweet to me right now. 

I'm no longer the naive, high school graduate who's so happy to be done with high school and anxious to start college. I'm now the average, poor and working, college student striving to get by day by day.

I miss the days of thinking my life was hard when I had a 2-3 page paper due the next day along with having to cheer at a basketball game that night. Boy life was rough wasn't it? 

Now it's I have a 5-7 page paper due, two 20 page readings that I must understand and know what I just read, a journal entry, and maybe some online assignment due the next day on top of having to fit work and the school day into my schedule. Can't I go back to the easy days?

I'm not saying I want to reverse time and change my high school years or go back in time and relive them all again. No, that part of my life was great and I cherish all those times, but I've moved on, grown up a bit, and I do love my life now! There's just days I wish I had the easy load I did back then. When being busy meant nothing compared to what it does now. So bare with me as I relive some of those memories for just a moment :)

When dances were the biggest of our worries...

Being able to sit and enjoy a good soccer game...

When sitting on the couch, taking pictures was the highlight of our night :)

We had us some good times!

"OOHH" I've always thought this picture was hilarious! He still claims he was "just coughing"

Yummmm..Fredrico's.

These guys became my best friends

When there was time to actually goof off and take pictures in class...no need to pay attention right?

Aww the wonders of cheer camp :)