So I guess I have accepted the fact that I am just going to be the once a month type of blogger. Haha. I guess I just don’t feel exciting enough to blog more than once a month about what’s going on. Maybe it will change, but then again, it probably won’t. Hah.

Well, we experienced our first Mardi Gras in the south! We were able to go to a Mardi Gras parade in Hattiesburg with a group of friends from our ward. We really enjoyed the parade and catching all of the beads and moon pies that were thrown our way. It took a while for someone to throw Cody a moon pie, but once they did it was all he could talk about. Haha.

 

 

Cody got a day off from school for, “Mardi Gras Break.” It is normally 2 days, but since we had a few snow days earlier this year, the students only got one day off.   You would think that because I work for the university that I would get the day off too, but nope! I very quickly learned that just because the students have the day off, doesn’t mean the staff does L Those days at work are the worst! Hardly anyone is on campus and not many calls come in because people assume we’re closed, so time just crawls by!

Spring Break was last week and I think Cody really enjoyed his time off! He still worked on his papers over the break, but made sure to give himself some Cody time (which I think was greatly needed.. haha) We actually took a trip to Destin, FL for a couple of days  to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful beaches! Destin is about 3 ½ hours away from Hattiesburg, so the drive wasn’t bad at all. We actually drove down with another couple and their daughter so that made time go by even faster J

Destin is absolutely beautiful. We spent all day Saturday at the beach soaking up the sun and enjoying the wonderful weather. The water was pretty chilly, but that didn’t hold us back! I wasn’t brave enough to completely submerge myself in the water, but I was pretty happy with waist deep. 

They had a pretty sweet sunscreen machine at the beach. Pay $1 for 45 seconds of SPF 30!

                            

                            

Being at the beach definitely made me miss my family! Our trip to Destin was the first beach trip I’ve been on that wasn’t to southern California. Whenever I think of the beach, I think of San Clemente. Waking up to the awesome view and smell of ocean air at Aunt Linda and Uncle Ed’s beach house, going to SC Café for breakfast and then making our way to the beach for the rest of the day. Of course it wouldn’t be a trip to the beach without getting pedicures at Mingee’s, and doing some shopping on Del Mar Street. I love San Clemente and all of the memories that are there! I get so jealous when I hear about my family taking trips to the beach together while I’m so far away, but hopefully at some point we’ll be able to join in on those trips back to San Clemente. J

The fam in San Clemente, 2006 maybe?

Living so far away from my family has really made me realize how blessed and fortunate I was to have everyone I love so close when I lived in Henderson. I still can’t believe me and my sisters all live in different states. It’s just weird! I guess I just never realized how spoiled I was having them so close. Hopefully someday we’ll all be able to live a little closer to each other!

We were also able to travel to Baton Rouge this month for our stake temple day. We had to be to the temple at 9am, so we had to wake up pretty early to get there on time. We left Hattiesburg around 6am and made the 2 ½ hour drive to Baton Rouge. Surprisingly, I stayed awake the whole drive to the temple and had some really good conversations with Cody and our friend Spencer. Usually I’m asleep once we hit the interstate, but I felt like I needed to be a good, “co-pilot” and keep Cody and Spencer company.  I always enjoy my time at the temple. It gives me the recharge I need for the month ahead. There is always such a sweet and calming spirit inside of the temple where I can feel the overwhelming love of my Heavenly Father and savior, Jesus Christ. The outside world melts away and I can focus on the eternal perspective of life and the true plan of happiness.

Well, I can’t believe it is almost the end of March! I took the TEAS test last month and did better than I expected! I had never been so nervous about a test in my entire life! It is safe to say that I cried tears of joy once I saw my score, I was so glad it was all over. Now that the test is over and my application is in, I just have to sit and wait. I probably won’t hear back until the end of April or beginning of May, so I’ll just continue to keep my fingers crossed J

Cody went on his first scout outing last weekend with the boy scouts in our ward. Cody is the scout master and was able to coordinate a campout for the 2^nd weekend of spring break while he was out of school. They were able to fish and cook a Dutch oven dinner of chicken and potatoes. Cody didn’t have much luck catching fish, but I quickly reminded him it was because he didn’t have the fish whisperer (me) with him. Haha. When we go home to Panguitch during the summer time me and Cody like to go stream fishing. I guess it’s safe to say that I have a bit more luck when it comes to catching fish J Anyways!  Cody said the boys had a good time at the campout and the food turned out, so that’s all that matters, right?

We are doing very well and are so happy to be here in Hattiesburg. We love all of our friends and couldn’t feel more blessed to be around such great people. We love our ward and serving in the church. I was called to be the 1^st counselor in the primary presidency at the beginning of the year and I love my calling! I love being in primary and having the opportunity to work with such great kids. I have been trying my best the past few weeks to learn about cub scouts! I have to say, growing up with all sisters and only one brother has not helped me much when it comes to scouting. I know Cam went through the cub scouting program, but I didn’t pay enough attention! My father-in-law has been a huge help. I call him the scouting guru, haha. He’s so sweet to give me advice and help where he can because honestly, I need all the help I can get!