The best kind of news...

We could not be more excited to announce a new addition to our small family!

This baby is so loved already. :)

The Backyard

Our backyard is a serious work in progress. I am a complete beginner when it comes to lawn maintenance, gardening, etc. But Jord and I are determined to get this yard into shape.

It may take awhile. But it will happen. And we will be able to say we did it all by ourselves!

 That's scary, huh? Those bush/tree things were just growing in the middle of our yard! Jord was buff and ripped them out.

So there we go. The beginning of the yard journey. And let's be honest, the front has just as much work to do. I'll post pictures as it improves!

It's April

We're just going to pretend like it hasn't been 3 months since I've last blogged.

I've been trying to figure out where I stand as a blogger, and what I don't want my blog to become. I've decided my blog is my journal. It's written for family and friends who care to know what's going on in my life and it's written for me. I want to be able to have a journal that has pictures and stories and love notes and all my silly thoughts. I want it to be a place to look back on fond memories.

Okay, done with my rant.

Last Saturday, Jord and I decided to go on a bike ride. But we did it tandem style. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.

When we rented the bike the guy at the store told me that I should probably take the back seat. And that I should go outside and practice bailing.

"wait, seriously?"

"yeah. If you guys crash... he's a goner. But you could still make it."

Awesome. I felt super safe. His comment didn't even phase Jordan.

Anyways, we had so much fun. It felt awesome to get some exercise in that was actually fun too. :)

 This was the best picture we could get with us on the bike. ;)

We stopped for Subway and ate it at the park.

 It was just a fabulous day. :)

Hut Life

After I had fallen asleep the other night I was woken up by Jord saying, "Get up!!!! I have something to show you!"

As tired as I was I crawled out of bed and followed him out into the family room. Waiting for me was a massive fort! Made be the amazing Mr. McKee.

I was very pleased because this also meant I got to go back to bed. :)

We have slept in the fort for the last 3 days. And we may or may not sleep in it again tonight.

Its just really fun. Plus-- Jord has a mattress in it too, so its super comfy!

Anyway, I keep calling it our "hut." And every time I say "hut" Jord corrects me and tells me its a fort.

Whatever. Our hut rocks and we like feeling like little kids. :) he he he.

The Carribean

For Christmas this year my parents brought all of us kids on a Carribean cruise! Talk about spoiled. We had the time of our lives.

Unfortunately, I was having so much fun that I too often left my camera behind in our stateroom. So there will be more words than pictures in this post. :)

Day One: Great Stirrup Bay, Bahamas

I know, he's hot.

We spent the day on the beach! The water was amazingly blue and we rented a humongus tube on which we floated out into the ocean and looked at pretty little fish. I saw Dora! Oh, and we played a fantastic game of sand volleyball!

Day Two: At Sea

I basically ate 6 soft serve ice cream cones on this day. We played lots of games, went to Zumba, watched "Jurassic Park" and enjoyed each others company.

Oh, and I got all fancified for dinner.

 That hand thing must have passed on a generation. ;)

 Isn't she pretty!?

 Okay, okay. I looked real tan next to my mom. Now next to Jordo I look all white again.

 SELFIE!!

I loved every second spent with that sweet little boy. He is so kind and loving. I could just eat him all up!

Day Three: Ocho Rios, Jamaica

We spent the day at all an inclusive with the best water slides I've ever been on. I also got like three virgin pina coladas. We spent most of the day playing volleyball in the pool. My dad may or may not have beat ALL of us (jord, chels, jord, me, skyler, lauren, and matthew) with him and 6 other nine year olds. Whatever.

 That's our cruise ship behind us! Don't judge my arms. I don't know when they started looking all sad and flat like that.

I probably should not have drawn attention to that. ANYWAYS...

Cutie.

Day Four: Georgetown, Grand Cayman

This was my most favorite day, BY FAR! We took a small boat out to the Stingray City! Basically, its in the middle of the bay where the sand is raised and you can stand with the water to your waist. Orginally, it was where fisherman would clean their catch for the day. Over time, stingrays started going there to eat the droppings from the fisherman. Now, the stingrays go there to get food from all of the visitors. They let you pick them up and hold them!

A guy told us he would take pictures for us, so we didn't worry about it. Only to find out that he was going to charge us an absurd amount for them! Whatever. I still got to kiss a stingray. Just no picture to prove it.

Afterwards we went snorkeling. So so so so fun!

 LOOK AT THAT WATER!!

 Okay, my mom and matthew are the only ones that looks cute in this picture. Sorry, guys.

 Ooo la la.

Can you see the camouflage animal!?

Day Five: Cozumel, Mexico

Today we went to Tulum and saw amazing ruins!

 My camera even felt hot and humid!

On our way back a MASSIVE storm came in. We had to take a ferry back to the boat and it was the scariest experience of my life.

We took this picture only to make ourselves laugh for a few seconds. It was terrifying. But we made it back safely without tipping over and dying. Thankfully.

Day Six: At Sea.

When we got back in port we spent the day playing in Miami! We honestly had such a blast.

Our trip was so full of love and family.

Thanks mom and dad!!

Christmas

The week leading up to Christmas break was INSANE; to say the least. I cannot describe how good it felt to board a plane to California and leave every worry and stress behind as we did.

Quick shout out to the Provo Airport-- best experience ever. We arrived, there was no line to check in, we walked 4 steps to get to security, again, no line. Then we walked 15 more steps to our gate.

It rocked. Not to mention that flying out of Provo to California saved us hundreds of dollars!

Jord and I have only driven to California together, so it was such a treat to fly! We were picked up by Dad and Grandpa. The best welcome ever. :)

Our week in California was exactly what both Jord and I needed. We had so so much fun.

Can I tell you how lucky am I to have the in-laws that I do? I just love them. And I feel so at home in the McKee home. I'm a happy girl when I am there. :)

I loved getting to experience Christmas with Jords family this year. I have never had a Christmas away from home (don't judge... I'm kind of a home body, okay?) so I had no idea what to expect as far as tradition goes. But I had a perfectly wonderful time.

 This picture had to be taken to document my first experience at Jimboy's taco's. Jordan's favorite place to eat while growing up!

 I love Jord's moms face in this. :)

 The Sacramento Zoo is free on Christmas eve! We had so much fun!

 Shameless selfie.

We ended our perfect week by going to the BYU bowl game. My family flew in so it was one big party. Shhh. We will pretend like it wasn't a terrible game.

Post about our cruise to the Caribbean to come soon!

Graduated.

Hey guess what? This girl is a college grad!

I took my last test Wednesday. And things have been so insanely busy I didn't get to blog about it until now.

I am now celebrating by partying it up with the McKee's.

This guy and I are pretty happy about it.