I Got Bangs (And Other Life Updates)

Hello all! I've had so many things happen lately (who hasn't?) and life just gets away from you, ya know? I started a new job at America First Credit Union and I am loving it! It is so great. Its a much better environment than my last job, I'm very happy there:) Bryan is out of school for the summer and does the majority of the housework and I come home everyday from school at 9:30 and tear up because he always does what I had been planning on doing that day whether it be dishes or laundry. I definitely got so lucky with him. He's the very, very best. 

I cut bangs! I swore I'd never do it again because I hate it every single time but I decided to not go as drastic this time and I'm loving the change. We had a celebration for my grandma for her 75th Birthday Party. She's the cutest.

Bryan and I got to go up to our beloved Star Valley, Wyoming over the 4th of July weekend. We went fishing, did some sketchy four wheeling trails and had delicious fresh raspberry shakes. It was nice to get away for a minute.

And in another minute, we are heading to California! I am so freaking excited I can't even tell you. It's been almost two years since I was there and every time I think about seeing my kiddos, I get like, giddy and want to cry because I'm so excited! The best part? The kids don't know I'm coming so I get to surprise them. I can't wait to show Bryan around the city that I came to love so very much.

I hope everyone else's lives are as happy and wonderful as mine:)

^^ hahahah I'm an idiot

I Got Bangs (And Other Life Updates)

Hello all! I've had so many things happen lately (who hasn't?) and life just gets away from you, ya know? I started a new job at America First Credit Union and I am loving it! It is so great. Its a much better environment than my last job, I'm very happy there:) Bryan is out of school for the summer and does the majority of the housework and I come home everyday from school at 9:30 and tear up because he always does what I had been planning on doing that day whether it be dishes or laundry. I definitely got so lucky with him. He's the very, very best. 

I cut bangs! I swore I'd never do it again because I hate it every single time but I decided to not go as drastic this time and I'm loving the change. We had a celebration for my grandma for her 75th Birthday Party. She's the cutest.

Bryan and I got to go up to our beloved Star Valley, Wyoming over the 4th of July weekend. We went fishing, did some sketchy four wheeling trails and had delicious fresh raspberry shakes. It was nice to get away for a minute.

And in another minute, we are heading to California! I am so freaking excited I can't even tell you. It's been almost two years since I was there and every time I think about seeing my kiddos, I get like, giddy and want to cry because I'm so excited! The best part? The kids don't know I'm coming so I get to surprise them. I can't wait to show Bryan around the city that I came to love so very much.

I hope everyone else's lives are as happy and wonderful as mine:)

something devine

i've been following this little family for quite sometime through social media. in fact, before they were a family. she waited for her husband while he served an LDS mission, which gave me hope that it was possible. then they got married and have an adorable little girl and they travel everywhere and they are just wonderful, beautiful people.

anyways, they were recently in japan and made this video for their baby girl and i just couldn't help but share.

besides, there's been so much awful negativity in the world these days, who doesn't need something lovely and uplifting??

Something Devine

a happy list.

I've been a bit overwhelmed the last couple weeks, I don't know what's changed but I've just felt so busy. And on top of the business this week (it's only Tuesday, what?) I've been a bit grumpy. I remembered THIS by my all time favorite blogger. So I thought I'd make my own to remind myself that I have a great life that I should be more grateful for, also because we all know how much i love a good list.

10 Things That Make Me Terribly Happy:

1. When my husband randomly texts me that he loves me. Small reminders are the greatest.
2. Getting praised for the work that I put into my job.
3. When my hard work towards my health pays off.
4. Random texts from my dad.
5. Coming home from work to see an empty sink
6. When Bryan talks about our future
7. Looking through old pictures
8. Bengal Spice Tea
9. Parks and Rec (Totally cried in the series finale)
10. Emails from my sister

HERE  is a previous happy list. in case you were wondering what else makes me happy:)

happiness is...

- when i'm in the shower and just before i get out, bryan throws my towel in the dryer so i have a warm, fluffy towel to dry off in
- when i'm REALLY missing my sf kids, they happen to facetime me when i need it most
- when those kids tell you how much they miss you and wonder when you're coming back (which is also sad because i wish i could be there RIGHT NOW :( )
- when my nail art actually turns out the way i envisioned it
- when the new marcel the shell is released

(also here's ONE and TWO if you haven't seen them)

- taylor swift and her song release countdowns on instagram

- when i try to get out of bed in the morning to get ready but bryan grabs my arm because he wants to cuddle just a little bit longer

- the AMAZING colors of the trees right now

- and life itself. everything is happiness and we should all just take a minute to find something that makes us happy in our everyday lives. 

ONE MORE WEEK

i have one more week until i get to spend eternity with my best friend.

i'm not one with words but can i just say that i am ecstatic. i can't wait.

i can't wait to spend every second of my free time with him.

i can't wait to start our lives and family together.

i can't wait to wake up next to him everyday.

i even told him tonight that i can't wait to fold his laundry because that

means that we will be married.

i love him so much and i am one lucky girl :)

he totally popped the question!

okay ladies and gents, here it is. so a little background story, while bryan was on his mission, we passed a bucket list back and forth taking turns writing something in. one of us put "sneak out" before we were married... cause neither of us had (embarrassing?). so since he's been home, i've asked about it a few times and he's always kind of brushed it off and said "i don't know, soon". so last night we were at his house swimming and i asked again (he had a mini internal panic attack.. you'll know why later). again, he brushed it off. we swam forever then i went home, showered and went to bed. 

about 2:45 am, i wake up to a flashlight in my face and bryan standing over me saying "mia, come on. we're sneaking out" let me tell you, i was SO confused (i'm an extremely deep sleeper) so i asked a thousand (apparently loud) questions before i put some clothes on (mind you, i was in undies and a t shirt) my trusty shorty shorts were right on the floor so i shimmied into them under my covers, put a bra on while bryan grabbed my shoes. we went through the salon door snuck through the back yard and over to the street and into bryan's car. 

i said "where are we going?" and he said "where's that look out point?" (the place he first told me he loves me!!) so i led him there. and as we're driving i'm just blabbing about, still half asleep. in my classy shorts and wild, curly hair that i fell asleep on while it was wet and my retainer in. lookin fine.

we pull up and i see other cars, and i'm like "oh, there's other people here" then i notice his parents' jeep and just think 'oh crap. they caught us. how'd they find us?!' then i notice my family's car. so.. i start freaking out. "oh my gosh! what is happening? oh my gosh! is this real?" we get out of the car, camera's are everywhere, i start crying and bryan gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. and... i think you know what my answer was.

it was a perfect proposal with the most perfect ring and of course, the most perfect man.

porter didn't wake up for it so we got pics today. and he didn't think the right one was as funny as i did. 

also, a quick shout out to kimmy who got married on friday. congrats!

and last but not least, to my best friend who ALSO got engaged today.

SO MUCH HAPPINESS

it's independence day

I hope you all had a fantastic Fourth of July! and while you were enjoying $12 hot dogs, lame floats and spectacular pyrotechnics; I hope you took at least a few seconds to remember why we get to do and enjoy these things. we are so lucky to live where we do and have the opportunities we do. I'm not one to keep up on world news because it makes me terribly sad and scared but I've read bits and pieces and I can't help but thank all the men and women who have and still are fighting so that I can live the way I do and have the rights that i have.

also, it was pretty great to do 4th festivities with this fool by my side.

soaking it all in

today was my last sunday in san francisco. i can't fully wrap my head around it and every time someone or my brain tries to bring up the fact that i'm leaving i literally have to say  "stop, don't even talk about it". i've been soaking up every second of this city, we've crossed the city many times and back to check things off of our lists.

i'm also soaking up my time with this kiddies. my boss keeps apologizing that she's working me so much and i keep having to tell her i'd rather spend time with the kids than anything else. yesterday morning, me and 3yo were outside walking, it was very peaceful and quiet and he noticed and said, "mi, it's very quiet" and i said, "yeah buddy i know, it's kinda nice huh?" and he says "actually, it's really nice" it was the cutest thing. and it got me thinking, when i first got here, the only things he could say were mom, dad and ball. and now i can have a full conversation about how nice and peaceful the morning was. it's going to break my heart to leave that little boy. and the sassy little miss, and the smartest 9 year old i know. but especially that little one. he's seriously my best friend.

i know, i know "all mia ever talks about is how excited/ sad she is to leave and how much she's going to miss it" buuuuuut... it's kinda my life right now. to make up for my sappiness, here are a million more pictures from this weekend's exploring.

have a good week guys

no one tells you that part

okay so i have exactly 38 days left here (my stomach just dropped typing that.. i thought it was more). and coming out here i had SO MANY people telling me how much fun i would have and how much i would learn and how much i would love the city and that being a nanny is such a great experience.

but no one tells you the part about how hard it is to leave. on monday when i was out to lunch with my mom, we started talking about it and it started bawling. and i didn't really stop crying. then when i walked into the house and went in to say goodnight to that sweet little boy and he looks up at me and smiles and says "i missed you mia!" and i lost it again.

no one tells you how attached you get to the kids.
no one tells you how attached you get to your new home
or the runs on the beach
or late night Mel's runs
or the friends you make who will return to their own homes in other states
or the trips you make downtown by yourself
or your uncle who you wished you had spent more time with

i live in one of the biggest cities in america, people travel the world to visit where i LIVE and i feel like i don't have enough time. like i still have things i need to do before i leave. but i think no matter how long i stay here, it will never be enough time.

but leaving the city isn't even the hard part. every time that little boy tells me he loves me or when that little girl runs up to me and hugs me or when the other little boy tries and fails to scare me, my heart just breaks knowing that i'm just going to leave them. i cannot believe how much i love these kids. i didn't know that i was capable of loving other human beings the way i love these kids.

today's tender mercy

i'm HORRIBLE at reading my scriptures. i just put it off and put it off until i can't keep my eyes open then i tell myself that i'll FOR SURE read tomorrow etc... well today when i woke up, i got the kids out of the house then i came up to my room and i said a prayer and read my scriptures for a few minutes. no biggie. but then i was in an extremely good mood. so i'm thinking 'hey, i should do this everyday. read in the morning instead of at night'.

a while later, i had to walk to pick up my 3 year old from school. i walk an empty stroller a mile there and a mile back with a (very heavy) child. but my being out of shape is besides the point, today i was about a block away from the school when i get a phone call. i pick it up and a man tells me he found my purse outside where he was working and that i could pick it up on my way back.

i'm just gonna take it back to this quote again:

it's still a beautiful place and there are still good honest people in this world. and for that i am so grateful. yeah, i could have lived without my purse all that was in there was a $1 bill some lip gloss and my pepper spray. i had my card in there but i could have cancelled it. but no need because a man named matt decided to be a good person. we need more of those in this world and i hope that one day i can pay it forward. so thank you matt. and i hope that you can be blessed with a tender mercy the way i was when i answered your phone call this morning.