Abi got married and our 3rd Anniversary

Abi got married on May 9th. Eva and I left Morgan in Virginia and made the trek to Idaho for the week. I helped decorate and organize the food for the main event. It was so cute. Abi and her new hubby were so radiant and the whole event was just one big party. I will say however, that it was definitely not a vacation for me. Weddings are a LOT of work.

Eva sadly cut two new teeth while we were there. She had a fever for a couple days and was just not feeling that great the whole week long. She did however LOVE Dotty, our dog. She discovered that she would eat up the food she threw at her on our last day there and thought it was the most hilarious thing. She would toss her food and then giggle and giggle when Dotty would snatch it up.

It was so nice to see family and get to be in Idaho for a little bit, but we definitely missed Morgan and green Virginia. I almost cried once I saw the trees as we flew into the Charlottesville airport.

Speaking of airports, I have to say that Eva was the BEST traveler on our trip out west. She actually fell asleep on the flight out and back and she didn't cry at all. It was awesome.

We also got to see little Gracie girl and Aleisha on our way to Idaho. It was nice to see Aleisha and catch up and finally get to meet little Grace. She is such a doll.

Morgan and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary yesterday. We celebrated by going to a super nice French restaurant here in Charlottesville called C&O. They led us to a private table with a view and then gave us complimentary sparkling grapefruit juice in fancy glasses. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures, but it was delicious. Here's to year number 4!

Being a Law School Wife

Reflection time: I wasn't sure, 9 months ago, what it would be like to be a law school wife. Now that I have a whole year of experience (can't you just see me sniffing and pushing my glasses up my nose) I have been thinking about this first year journey and what I didn't know or expect before it all began.

I didn't quite expect, or understand, the full stress of law school. I knew it would happen, so I wasn't surprised, I guess looking back I just realize it has been harder than I thought. It's hard to feel completely helpless when you know your love is stressed and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Morgan has been so good when I admit to feeling this way, because he hugs me and says that I feed him and clean the house and take care of our beautiful girl and that is the best. It is so sweet of him, but I wish I could do more.

I didn't expect how homesick I would get, nope not at all. I was ready to move on, get out here to Virginia and start our adventure on the east coast. But man, here at the end of 9 months, even though we have seen our families multiple times, I miss them. I miss having them play with Eva. I miss seeing them face to face and visiting. I miss hugging and playing games with my siblings and in-laws. We sure love how beautiful and quaint Virginia is, but it sure would be the best place on earth if our families lived within a few hours driving distance.

I have learned that I can do hard things optimistically. Honestly, my life still isn't that hard, but I like knowing that Morgan and I can live on a nothing budget and feel like we are the richest people alive. I like knowing that no matter how much we make, how much debt we have, or if we don't have a job at all that we can still be happy. I have realized the importance of gratitude through law school. Gratitude for the small things is what bring me the most happiness and I'm glad I have figured that out a little better.

That's about all I can think to write about at the moment. I feel like when I write posts that wax philosophical, I often forget what I was writing about in the first place and then I look back on it a few months over and laugh and think…how naive I was. So, i'll stop now, while I feel like I'm still somewhat on point and leave it at that. It's been an interesting year and we are absolutely beyond excited to move out west for 10 weeks during the summer. More than that, I'm excited to have my husband back! Only 10 more days and he'll be free from the tyrant that is 1L year of law school.

Study Time means Party Time

Finals are consuming all Morgan's time right now. We only have about 10 days left to go. During this time of spouseless-ness, all the law school wives have banded together to party while our husbands study. We had a birthday party on Tuesday, a riverside picnic on Wednesday, girl's nights on Thursday and Friday and then today we had a fondue picnic lunch. Morgan says it is so sad that while he studies I just get to have all the fun. :(  Believe me when I say, I would definitely rather be spending all this time with my love, but a girl can't just sit around and do nothing while he is gone all the time.

Yesterdays girls night was a hot tub birthday party. We were so 'wild' (more like super loud, because come on…we're girls) we had the cops called on us. No worries though, the police couldn't enforce the curfew of the apartment complex in the first place. So, we were just kindly asked to leave…haha. We still hadn't sung happy birthday yet, so we gathered around plates of rice crispies with candles in them and whisper-sang Happy Birthday. It sounded like something out of a horror film and about halfway through we almost couldn't finish because we were laughing too hard. I believe the birthday wishes made were for all of our husbands to do well on their finals, that we'd all be millionaires one day and that we could then all go on a cruise together, just the girls. Good memories. I'm grateful that I have been able to find girlfriends out here to spend time with. Before law school, Morgan and I only had couple friends, but now we don't have time to do the couple thing as much. I've always had a hard time making girlfriends, but I think I actually do have a few here in Virginia, despite my lack of talent. It has been a life-saver. 

Singing creepy happy birthday. 

Nursery Makeover Plans

I'll admit it, I have never put ANY effort into little E's room. So, the time has come my friends! I have been gathering ideas for the last little while and finally put together a plan and idea board.

I also drew up a rough schematic of what the room should, kind of, look like after it is finished.

As part of this make-over I will be doing a few DIYs. Here are the pictures of what I hope to attempt:

I'm excited to get started. I'll of course post a before and after once I get it finished.

Easter Egg Hunt

Today was Eva's first Easter egg hunt. We put all our eggs in places she could find them and then let her pick them all up. We improvised an basket by using the holder for our bocce ball set. It worked pretty well actually. Eva was very thorough, she picked up ever egg, shook it (to make sure there was something inside) and then placed in the basket.

 Discovering what is actually inside the eggs. 

Needless to say, all she has wanted to eat today is chocolate. Whoops. :)

The Last 2 Months

Well it's been a while, blog world. I have been a hermit this winter in blogging and in socializing. Meanwhile winter finally arrived in Virginia. We had two snow days and lots of cancelled piano lessons. It has been quite eventful, but I am happy to say that spring is on it's way! We can almost taste it! The daffodils have bloomed and my tulips are growing nicely.

 Little E is as cute as ever. She still loves talking on the 'phone' (aka her elbow). She loves watching all the birds and squirrels outside our windows and talks/yells at the birds when she can hear them chirp. She is also walking like a champ. The last couple weeks have been rough for Eva because she has been getting her first molars in. She was such a great teether until these big teeth showed up to the party. Other new cute things with little girl are: she loves watching Despicable Me 2, Finding Nemo and Wreck it Ralph, and only those movies. She also got a new dollhouse from one of my piano students and it is the only toy that she plays with now. She absolutely loves it.

 In other news, Morgan is almost done with his first year of law school and we can both see the light at the end of this 1L tunnel! We will be moving to Colorado Springs for the summer to live with Morgan's family while Morgan does an internship with a judge. We are so excited for the summer and especially for Eva to be near a trampoline! She bounces on everything, including us (which is not so fun all the time).

Last bit of news, Abigail is getting married in May! We are so excited for her. It looks like she has definitely found a great guy and we are excited to welcome Logan into our family.

Now enjoy all the adorable pictures of Eva we took in the last two months. :)

 I love this face!

Christmas Break 2014

We made the long trek back west for Christmas this year. Flying with a Eva was crazy. She is just so wiggly now and we were thoroughly exhausted at the end of every flight we took. We spent 10 days in Idaho and 10 days in Colorado Springs this year. We had such a fun time with our families and miss them already!

UTAH
We did get a brief one and a half days in Utah. We didn't get to do much, but we did get to spend some time with my Grandma. She came and picked us up from the airport and let us stay at her house. While there, she gave Eva her first birthday present. She gave me the exact same thing on my first birthday and gave me the pictures to prove it.

The day after we landed, we got to see our friends the Laws and meet their little girl, Harper. She is such a doll and both Morgan and I couldn't get enough of her. Leave it up to McKell to put together a great day of activities even while recovering from labor. She is superwoman. We made gingerbread houses, ate ourselves silly and just talked and talked. It was a perfect day!

IDAHO
The annual Christensen Christmas Ball was a hit this year. We actually had about an even number of boys and girls which rarely happens. Some of my high school cousins put together big group dates for the ball so they could make sure they had dates, which is such a good idea.

Madi and Mom did the decorations and they were amazing. 

We woke up Christmas morning to a white Christmas!

Eva was obviously excited for her first Christmas. Our McConkie friends made Eva this adorable barrette. It matched her PJs and so of course we had to have her wear it Christmas morning!

Eva started off the festivities by opening the first present. She actually did an awesome job with it.

Eva also had her first birthday up in Idaho. We didn't do too much. But of course we gave her a chocolate cupcake to devour and snapped a million pictures of it.

 I love seeing those little teeth!

 They both had beards.

Also, Megan and Sam discovered that Eva has a new trick. She now loves to 'talk on the phone' and it is pretty adorable.

She will sit there with her arm like this and talk into it for a few minutes. Cutest thing ever!

All of my siblings, minus Max, were around for Christmas and it was so fun to see everyone.

COLORADO
For New Years we headed to the Springs to see Morgan's family. Aleisha and James were only overlapping our trip by three and a half days so we packed, Christmas, mine and Eva's birthdays, and a baby shower for Aleisha into that short amount of time.

We are SO excited to meet little baby McKean!

 Lots of people say Steph and Eva look a like. So, I had to snap a picture. 

Other activities in Colorado Springs included going sledding, playing SO many games, painting nails, visiting and doing puzzles. We also went to Into the Woods for my birthday and I LOVED IT! 

Now we are back to Ole Virginny. We are glad to be home, but miss the fun and family that live so far away. :( Thanks for a wonderful break!