Living like Kings (for a week)

(First I just wanted to share a genius idea I had today. You know all those ANNOYING giveaways on Instagram that you really want to do but you don't want to crowd people's feed with? Well I started a second IG account today and just followed all the normal giveaway accounts, etc. So I will never crowd your feed with giveaways now and will just use my giveaway account for giveaways. So Smart)

Anywho- we were lucky enough in August to get spoiled for an entire week when my in-laws came out. Sadly, I am really horrible at taking pictures, so we have a few of some different activities, but you will mainly have to use your imagination.

We got to do lots of fun things and eat at lots of expensive restaurants that we don't normally get to eat at. Plus my in-laws make for a great time, so it was awesome. Really, I lucked out with my in-laws. I mean, sure, people like their in-laws, but I am as comfortable with my in-laws as my own family. They are super funny and so easy to be around, and I think they like me to so it all works out.

We went down to the Keys for a few days, which was so fun!! My in-laws bought us snorkeling gear so we could explore the waters that weekend, but it turns out the beaches in the keys are just kind of so-so, and the only good snorkeling you have to pay for. But, since we are spoiled, we got to go to this way cool reef and go snorkeling. It was kind of choppy that day, but it was still BEAUTIFUL. Since it was choppy though, you couldn't really see way far in front of you, and I got stung by a jelly fish. Don't worry, I didn't have to pee on myself. They had vinegar on the boat for these kinds of incidents. And it didn't even hurt that bad, really.

We walked on this cool bridge that was the old road to the Keys (there is just a loooong road over the water to get down there... it's pretty cool), and watched the sunset one night.






It was my birthday the week they were here too, so I got extra spoiled. They took us to Cheesecake Factory (who doesn't love that), bought me lots of fun things at the mall, and we went for a night on the town to this play called Slava's Snow Show (think blue man group meets The Artist). It was so awesome. And we ate at this way fancy restaurant at the Opera House that was WAY WAY more than Dylan and I could afford so it was a really fancy night out. I would've taken pictures, but it's not the kind of place you get your iPhone out and start snapping pictures of your food, you know?

Other than that, our A/C was out for a whole week while they were here, and it was Hell.

And then a picture of Barkley because she really knows how to kick back and relax.

We're (Dol)Phin-Atics!

Get it? Fin-atics? It was all over shirts and paraphernalia in the gift shop, and I thought it was pretty clever. So, one of the bonuses in living in a big city is we get to do lots of fun things, like go to NFL (pre-season) games for cheap. Like $7 cheap. The only thing that sucked was the $25 parking, but we drove with 2 other couples so we split it 3 ways. We are so thrifty.

Long story, but Dylan was really mad at me when I didn't buy Dolphins tickets last year during pre-season since that is the only time we can afford them, and then I dropped the ball again and didn't buy pre-season tickets for the Heat either. Whoops. So, this was my attempt to make up for it. We went with like 10 or so friends (really popular), and had a blast. The only thing I bought at the game was an $11 soda and a bag of popcorn. The soda didn't have to be that expensive, but it was a refillable souvenir cup, and I knew I was going to want to keep the cool cup and drink at least 3 diet cokes. It paid itself off.

And, now for what we read blogs for, the pictures:
(Please note I am the only one wearing a shirt that supports the team)

Callings and other sappy Church Stuff

So, I know I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog, and since I don’t want the era of blogs to die, I’ll do it. But it’ll be slow, and I’m going to do it backwards because it’s way easier to remember what happened yesterday. I’ll continue to go through my photos and then either make up cool stories about it or tell you what actually happened.

So, first thing is first. Dylan and I just moved (again) to a different place in Florida. We just moved to this little beach town called Sunny Isles. It’s heaven. It’s closer to Dylan’s school, literally 5 minutes from the beach walking, and we live near all our friends. It’s so fun, and we love it. I’ll write more on that later. But, with a move came a new ward. I was just recently the Young Women’s President in our last ward, and let’s face it, “high profile” callings are a lot of work. So, I was kind of hoping to lay low and maybe not even get a calling in the new ward for a little bit, or at least get something awesome like ward greeter. Dylan and I were in our new ward for a total of 3 days, and then I got called to be in Young Womens and Dylan in Young Mens. So, here we are again. It’s actually been awesome with Dylan working with the youth too because now we do all the activities and stuff together. It makes it so much more fun.

Yesterday we were lucky enough to go to the temple with the cutest kids ever. I really cannot say enough about the kids in this ward. A lot of them are converts or don’t have active parents, and they are solid. They come to church on their own, ask amazing questions about the church, and are just awesome. I sometimes wonder why I’m the leader because they are way better examples to me than I am to them. Heavenly Father is funny sometimes.

Though it’s challenging and time consuming and crazy at times, I’m so so so grateful to be working with the girls right now (and Dylan the boys). It has been one of the sweetest blessings and I am constantly reminded of how exciting the gospel is and how much happiness it can bring us.

Ok, enough churchy testimony stuff, here’s some pictures.