Spring Time Updates

Greetings earthlings ✌

Since we last chatted I mentioned we were getting ready to move, so let's just pick up right where we left off!

FEBRUARY

The last two weeks of January going into the beginning of February was a little crazy. Marie Kondo has nothing on me because I'm pretty sure I got rid of just about anything that wasn't a necessity. Downsizing from 2600 sq ft to 1140 sq ft is serious business! Nonetheless, we were successful and we managed to move in with very little issues. There were some things that made us nervous at first (some repairs needed to be done and the apartment reeked of cigarette smoke, which we learned was coming from the neighbor thru the open living room window). 4 months later and we're quite cozy in this little home we've got. I enjoy only taking no more than an hour to clean the entire apartment, as opposed to the 3 hours it took by myself in the old house. I wish I had a little bit more room to spread out, but it's not uncomfortable so I can't really complain. Our ward has been super friendly, and is quite literally the opposite from what we came from! Our old ward was comprised mainly of young families with lots of kids and babies, where this ward has a trailer park and senior community in the boundary so most of the ward consists of grandma and grandpas! We've also learned that they LOVE music, and there is one musical number every single week (except fast Sunday). I usually stay under the radar for as long as possible--took the old ward nearly 3 years to find out I sing--this time it only took 2 weeks, and I've already sung a musical number and have been asked to sing in the adult session of Stake Conference. Meh. (Honestly it's fine, I just don't like to draw attention to myself at my place of worship since that's not what it's about). We also went and played in the SNOW. The weather this winter was crazy, being much colder than it usually is and we've been getting a lot of rain as well so that means snow! It even snowed in Cave Creek, which isn't that far out of the Valley! We drove up maybe an hour out of Phoenix and pulled off the road to the perfect fresh powder and had a blast! Max and Bri tagged along too!

MARCH

Work has been consistently INSANE officially since it's the middle of tax season and this season has been weird and stressful. I've been making all sorts of silly mistakes that have snowballed and honestly it's taken a toll on my confidence. I've gotten better and I'm hoping it stays that way?
Anyway, March was a bit of a blur--working long hours, going to friends' recitals, getting food poisoning from Olive Garden, and *finally* taking our anniversary photos. It was crazy but pretty good. {if you want to see my favorites (which are many), they are at the very end!!}

APRIL

The home stretch of tax season! Plus Ian's birthday. :) We went to dinner with his family and some of his friends at Texas Roadhouse! He even rode the saddle and loved every second of it. 😆
We also saw Wicked while it was at Gammage--I don't care who you are, if you don't like Wicked there is something wrong with you, and you should really get that checked out. It's incredible to watch every time. I haven't seen it since I was 18 (neither has Ian!), and it was so fun to watch it again but this time with my husband. I'm glad I married someone who will watch musicals with me, though I'm slowly starting him on operas...hehe We saw Silent Night at Arizona Opera and it is now one of my favorites, and Ian actually liked it! Soooo good. Slowly but surely he's coming to the dark side....

This year's Easter was an extra fun one--my brother Nathan and his 4 kids came to visit for a whole week! We got to roast hot dogs and marshmallows outside, watch movies, go to the zoo, and eat yummy food on Easter Sunday together. It had been a couple years since I'd seen them and it was too much fun. I wish they could move closer to AZ!

Ian left for the last two weeks of the month for job training in Austin, and that was a bummer (him leaving me alone for so long!). The only thing exciting to happen during that time was that Avengers Endgame came out--and that was life changing. UGH I love Marvel so much. 😭 I grieved Tony Stark's death for like two days hahaha {SPOILER SORRY if you haven't seen it by now then it's really your fault at this point} But seriously, what an incredible film!

MAY---today!

At last it was finally May, and as of May 1st, that means it's officially part 1 of slow season. There's quite literally nothing to do at work! Which is fine, considering how stressful and long tax season was/is. I've read two books in the last two weeks and I'm going to start another one today. The weather has also been surprisingly heavenly. It's gotten into the triple digits only a couple time so far this month and May is practically over. I don't mind the uncharacteristically good temperatures, and I will soak them up until the oven inevitably preheats come June for sure. In other news, I leave for Chicago in roughly 48 hours for 5 whole days! This will be my first solo trip to a destination where I will not be staying with family or be near family at all. I've traveled by myself lots of times, but I've always stayed with family so this will be a new and exhilarating experience! I'm going mainly for a vocal competition in which I advanced to the second round in my division in, but it's also going to be so fun! I've got a whole itinerary planned out (surprise surprise) and I can't believe it's finally here! I've known that I advance for nearly 3 months and waiting around for this has been driving me bonkers. I will definitely have a blog post dedicated for the trip, the details, and the pictures. 😉

Now the moment you've all been waiting for...these beautiful anniversary photos my friend Erin Watson took of us! Literally it's been like a month since I got them and I'm still swooning. I had an idea of what I was wanting and Erin majorly delivered. {Her photography page is Pretty Pixel Photography if you want to see more of her work} Here are my favs, which are basically all of them. Enjoy. 💕

Thanks for reading!

I think this is a new record...

HEYOOOOO this is a new record! It's been over 6 months since my last blog post. Wowza! Well much has happened since the beginning of August!! Let's dive in, shall we?

SCHOOL

Last semester was incredibly busy, trying, and amazing. I grew a lot over those few months, both as a human being and a singer. One of my highlights was being in the chorus for "The Bartered Bride"!! Honestly, I wasn't sure how much fun I was going to have at first but we hit the ground running and it was a fantastic run! I made SO many new friends and had an absolute blast!!

So many wonderful people all in one pic

My dance partner, Josh! SO glad we became friends! He made the show so much fun! He and I had a fun little "yodeling" bit during the circus scene. He learned the accordion just for the opera! I got to sing some high notes, so that's always a good time. haha


YOUNG WOMENS!

YW in Excellence

I really started to get my bearings in my calling over the last few months of the year. I've been in YWs for over a year now, and I can tell I have grown up a lot. We had a successful YW in Excellence, as well as New Beginnings (and when I say successful, I mean that we pulled it off without anything catching on fire LOL).

We helped with the ward Christmas party, had a Halloween party, had an etiquette dinner with the YM, have gone to the temple, and have gotten to know the girls  and I LOVE them SO! I love my calling! It's definitely hard and I'm being stretched, but it's a good kind of stretch. 

YW in Excellence

Ward Christmas Party Photo Booth

FAM BAM and FRIENDS!

I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by people who love me and support me just as much as I do them!! My mom and step-dad moved to Alabama tho in October, which kinda sucked a lot, but they've visited a lot since and they are coming down for my recital in a few weeks. ❤ One of my closest friends Taryn was Gilbert Days Rodeo queen and I got to go the rodeo for the first time since I was probably 12 and see her rock it as a real-life QWEEN!

she is too cool, guys 

We also do a lot of sangin' together, my friends and I. I kid you not, I'm drowning (in a good way) in talented people and I will never complain about it!

At the Gilbert Community Center singing for some crazy kids and their moms who are there for the free carbs

THE HUBS!

Ian and I celebrated our FOURTH anniversary in September! I would have loads of pictures BUT we didn't want to spend $20 on them because WE GOT TO SEE DOLPHINS for reeeaaalllsss It was magical!! Such beautiful and intelligent creatures! We got to get in the water, play with them and pet them. It was so cool. If we were rich I would have bought a whole album but alas, I am not. 

I have a hard time believing that we will hit the 5 year mark in 6 months! 6 months from today, to be exact! I don't feel old enough to celebrate that many years yet lol but here we are! Well, we will be. haha I love that human. He's the best one, in my opinion. 

Speaking of him, the Marine Corps Ball was great as per usual. We had some gorgeous pictures taken by Allie and had an overall good time. This was probably the most fun I've had at one yet!

 *swooooooons*

The rest of the year, including New Years and Christmas was wonderful as well. Since this year was technically my family's year to have us but they were in AL, we had Christmas Eve at Katie's house and then Christmas morning just the two of us at home. It was different, but a good kind of different. I made a yummy french toast bake that we ate after we exchanged gifts. It was a relaxing morning before heading down to Tucson to see Ian's extended family. My dad also came into town for a few days, which was fun! We shopped, went to the movies, and ate out (which all three things are such treats!). I love being able to have room for him to stay when he comes. Our New Years party was a hit, as always. We played games, enjoyed each other's company, and welcomed in what has been the best year yet!!

NOW! 2018!!

I've been in school for the past few months, frantically finishing learning my music/memorizing before my recital in 3 weeks! I was taking some online classes, which had me run ragged for the first 8 weeks of the semester, but thankfully those are over! I auditioned for grad school a few weekends back, and I nailed it!! I honestly have never walked out of an audition feeling to genuinely good about my performance before, and it was a good feeling. Cross your fingers ASU gives me money!😉 I also got a new job!! I work for a CPA/financial adviser in Mesa as an administrative assistant. I get paid to answer the phone, manage his schedule, and miscellaneous duties (especially during busy tax season!). It's a low stress job, which is a first for me haha, and my boss is super nice and very flexible with my schedule. I think I'll be sticking around for a while! I am learning so much about real-world stuff and so far this has been the best job I've ever had. Ian also started a new job this week working for a company that installs gates (all kinds!) and so far he likes it. Verizon was draining him of any motivation and drive left in him, and even though it was a little scary to have him quit without anything lined up, he's been much happier and that makes me happy. We've bonded a lot more since he's been happier and more relaxed---the person I married! 

Anyway, lots of good things in store for this McHardy clan. I can't wait for my recital, I can't wait to graduate, and I can't wait for the opportunities heading our way! Thanks for making it this far, lovelies!!! Till next time!