D is for Dallas-H is for Happiness

In Provo, we had our set friends group, we all hung out weekly or twice a week or whenever we wanted for that matter. We had the good life. We spent most of our time at the Richards or the Olsens.

Erica and Matson Tanner 

Nicole married to Tyler Richards (Ya cool dude, has his own website)

Tyler Richards and Erica Tanner-bro and sis

Kevin and Heather Myers

Heather's parents (Olsens) live in Provo, we spent SO much time at their house.

Erica and Tyler's parents live in Provo, SO much time at their house. 

This was our going away party. The boys spent all summer playing..tippin.

Don't ask.

It's a no girl game.

I know what you are thinking right now...

How come they all have their shirts off.

Well, we were swimming in their pool and playing bball too.

This is Tyler and Luke, I know what you are thinking..... Because of the red cup, and their expressions and shirtless bodies...but actually....I don't remember what we were drinking, but it was alcohol free. Cuz I had some too, and Miles is alcohol free.

So we sent off tangled lanterns...

Kevin put his right in a tree. Burning. Never saw somebody climb a tree so fast.

All the while, Heather (his wife) was saying, "KEVIN!"

Kevin and Heather are in Medical school as well-in Dallas. (Hence why we had to visit them)

They are of course our dear friends....I'm getting to our trip there, but I got distracted with talking about our friends in Provo...

Nicole and Tyler-perfect faces/perfect couple. 

Sometimes their perfection sickens me....(joke-love you guys) But, they were our dear friends in Provo, and now they are still there, and we are here.

Here's another charming pair. Luke and Christina. Luke is British and had to go back to England-long story don't ask. But I have been facebooking his mum all about it, because I was worried about his citizenship of course. And poor Christina is left all alone without him. But alas, they are still in Provo..

This is the worst ever picture of me...So swollen/fat, and everyone else looks perfect. Somehow all my friends manage perfection all the time, and I have yet to conquer that skill. I always have smeared make up-crappy-root showing hair, and they always just look great/skinny/tan/no smeared make up.

PS this is a 2 AM BETOS stop. (Girl in stripes in front of me is Chelsea Bleak-who we hung out a lot and found out she is my AUNT ROBIN's niece) (CRAZY COOL CONNECTION)

Watch this video to see what went on (at a dif location in Provo) at BETOS (used to be Betos now is Rancheritos) (I taught the owners son in Kindergarten.) (Okay I'm done doing side notes)

So Erica is right across from me, and she is greatly missed, anyway the point of telling you all of this friends details is because you need to know how cool they are, and you need to know them to fully understand how important this trip to Dallas was to me. (Brad loved it too, he is just less emotional about his friends) You see ALL OF THESE GIRLS' spouses and boyfriends went to Timpview High School with Brad. (Erica, Heather, and Chelsea all went to Timpview as well)

So we all became friends because of our husbands-boyfriends, and we were all a match made in heaven, and STILL ARE! I loved thinking that in 20 years we meet up with all our kids and even maybe some of our kids will date/marry each other-fun thought :)

Heather is only 5 hours away. Best ever. Piece of HOME. Love her and Kevin and Cohen.

She met Miles for the first time.

I still remember Heather when she found out I was pregnant-probably most excited out of anyone we told.

She loved him before he was even born.

I love this picture, shows how much she loves him.

Heather has this motherly ability, before she even had her own. Brad loves her baked goods. I love her sweetness to everyone. She has the softest heart.

We talked how we missed our Utah friends (posted above).

We so wish they could come visit us (HINT HINT)

Kevin had a test, and had to study all day Saturday, but we didn't let that stop us me.

I insisted to Brad we go, it was a weekend where Brad had just finished a test, and felt like he could. It was a good prep before our 12 hour drive to AZ for Thanksgiving. 

We visited the zoo.

Cohen was ADORABLE. He is so full of energy. He saw the monkey and said, "whooo whooo" And pounded his chest. If you looked the other way, he would be running away.

Miles was just enthralled with the whole experience. First time at a zoo=success.

I was always behind taking pictures or looking at the animals-all my pics are of Heather and Brad together. (Totally looked like they had 2 kids and were MARRIED-one time a guy even handed Brad Heather's purse when it dropped-awkward)

This zebra could have licked my face. I loved how close these animals were.

At one point we heard the lion roar exceptionally loud. -Never had that happen to me before.

Miles didn't wake up.

I don't think I have ever seen a Rhino this close either-dino spotting.

Hello shaggy bear. You looked like you wanted to jump the trench and eat Cohen.

Good thing we left before you did. You probably ended up eating the Bride of the wedding that the zoo closed early for.

This was my favorite.

Cohen loved this bird and feeding the bird with these sticks.

He was too perfect little boy  so excited and so brave/nervous.

Miles finally woke, and we got a great fam picture. :)

Go ahead and scroll up to my prego picture at Rancheritos....

Swollen face to normal face. Go ahead view the prego.

Bless Miles for being so worth it :)

If you are debating pregnancy you may be worried about all the symptoms.

That is what hindered me from getting pregnant. I was worried about these things, in order of worry.

#1 Stretch Marks-they would be horrendous if I ever had them.

#2 Getting fat- That would be ever so hard to just accept your fatness and not be able to stop it.

#3 Loss of normal breasts- this would be sad to have MILK come out of these, and horror stories about how your boobs are saggy disgusting milk leakers. Gross.

Just know, they are just not as bad. I look at those stretch marks and get all sad and depressed then I REMEMBER very quickly of what a sweet heart I have. Sweetie Heart, munchkin face, love pants-no name I call him is good enough for how much I love his little cheeks. 

When I look at that roll that isn't going away (YET) I think-wow I miss my before baby body-THEN I REMEMBER- This little guy is worth any roll or all rolls.

I feel my squishy not perky chest and I think-grossy. But then I REMEMBER!

So if you are worried about those symptoms, I'm not going to tell you they won't happen to you, but they just might-but I would sacrifice everything for Miles. Nobody knows how that truly feels until you see your baby for the first time. Then your heart collapses and you know they are your new everything.

So wow, I'm a preacher, but I just know I was VAIN and SELFISH-then Miles turned that around, and made me realize what really was important in this life. Not my silly body-my motherhood-my desire for him to return to heaven with us. That's my job folks. And that's more important than my silly body.

Although-I am not downplaying the importance of staying fit and healthy during and after pregnancy.

I am just saying-its nice to have a baby despite all my PRE BABY worries.

Its nicer than my body. WAY.

Now back to the zoo.

Best part of the zoo....

Gave us a little show...

Love the sound effects...

Heather is a great example of healthy and fit after PREGO and baby. 

She works so hard and is SUCH an example to me.

She probably thinks nobody notices,

But I am HERE to tell you. In cancun, she was so healthy eater, while I was gaining weight by the minute. Downin every stinkin calorie in sight. She has some serious self control.

And that you can tell by how skinny winney she is.

Monica and David Harker also live in Dallas and were our friends in Utah.

David is in Med school as well-different from Kevin.

But they came over to eat din din with us.

Sorry Kevin you look like you have a test the next day, but your son-Cohen has the best grin-camera face ever goin-and I had to show the world how stinkin cute it is.

So our trip to Dallas could not have been more of a success-I so wished and longed we lived there, but so many times I am reminded by my little conscience that I am supposed to be in Lubbock-to meet new friends and people and branch out. That does not mean however that my dear friends in Utah and around will not stay and be my friends forever.

So until we meet again Cohen-maybe next time you won't think taking Miles' binkie is so cool.

And maybe, just maybe you can lay in his boppy again and watch tv.

But until we meet again little Cohen-keep dumping out cheerios and putting them back in the container.

Love you Myers Fam.

Miss you Dallas..

We will drive again soon.

Miles can't wait.

'Most windmills ever on a trip' Award goes to.........

Lubbock drive to Dallas.

Holy Smokes.

See you soon windmills because I am already inside my head planning my next trip....