a quick rest of the summer recap......

so my parents planned this HUUUUUUUUUGE cross country trip that included visiting my grandparents in iowa (who i haven't seen in 4 years and who have never met grant), and visiting my sister and her family who lives in florida, and visiting normans mission! so although it would be the the longest trip of my life including 22 states and 6200 miles in a 5 person small SUV with 5 people and a huge carseat... we decided to accept the offer from my parents to join them!! it was lots of car time...but it was worth it! we did a lot and saw a lot. and luckily for us...grant was an ANGEL the whole trip.

 we took lots of pictures (well..."we" meaning my mom...) but here are only a few from everywhere we went....

^^^norman peaking into the mission office he served in^^^

^^^obligatory 4 generation picture^^^

^^^seaworld^^^

 ^^^notre dame campus/savannah georiga^^^

^^^lake michigan^^^ 

^^^siesta key beach in florida^^^

^^^my sister's graduation from her masters in nursing at university of south florida!^^^

we went to a lot more places that i didn't include here...but this is what took up a good portion of summer (3 ish plus week trip). I coach volleyball at hillcrest high school and the day after i got home from this lengthy trip VOLLEYBALL SEASON STARTED! so...that's really what i've been up to.

ALSO... my cute sister got married a couple weeks ago!!! she and jared had been dating for about a year and a half, i believe, and they finally tied the knot!! we were more than thrilled and happy for them. it was so special to be in the temple with all of my family! being the youngest, i never thought i would be able to attend the sealing of one of siblings, so this was pretty cool for me! i'm glad she has found someone to take care of her and her 4 girls the way they should be. he is a good man and a great step-dad. we love you, jared!! 

^^^the happy family!! (not pictured: jared's 3 cute kiddos that couldn't make it out for the wedding)^^^

so there ya have it! that's about as up to date as it's gonna get...can we believe it's october already, people???? i love it. best time of the year!

merry christmas eve

Merry Christmas Eve friends! i know we all say this every year but man….christmas came fast this year. norman and i didn't do christmas cards….cause, well, we never do. i think that's maybe a thing people start once they have children? or something? i don't know…but plan on one next year i guess ;)

we are so happy to be on christmas break over here, though! norman is done with finals and did awesome! such a relief to be done. and we have been enjoying our stress-free time together.

 we attended my friend from cosmetology school, brittney's, wedding out in Rockland…which was absolutely beautiful. 

i finally got around to cutting his hair. it was a mess. he looks like my handsome boy again.

we finally watched white christmas. an annual tradition. even if we slept through half of it…...

we finished up last minute christmas shopping {don't worry…still have one more thing to get today…oops}.

we visited one of my dear friends and old roommates, lindsay biddulph, and her cute little family. she just had a new baby boy 3 weeks ago and he is precious i tell you. so so precious. i kept holding him thinking….i can't believe i'm going to have one of these…what am i going to do with one of these???

and we had our annual simpson christmas party at my dad's old work {the institute building in poky}. we had food, visited with family, my sisters, mom and i sang a couple christmas songs as per request, we played ping pong {in which my cousin, mekelle and i were the reigning champs….AGAIN…i don't even know why they try…..and by the way..we had a picture of our victory but it was on my cousins phone…which right after our victorious win…she dropped in the toilet….dang….} and of course..santa came to visit and norman and him had a nice chat about all things fishing. 

so….so far so good. and all the good stuff starts now. christmas eve with normans family! christmas morning with mine! it's going to be epic. i know it. 

hope everyone has a very very merry christmas.

march 1st

march 1st was a big...big day for some of my closest friends.

first of all, two of my friends, chelsea southwick and tyeson mitton, got married in the idaho falls temple.

the ceremony was so great and the food afterward was even better :)

{by the way...their reception food was the best i've had by far....mexican food is the way to my heart...so thanks guys}

it was a lovely day and those two are so great together.

congratulations friends!

and while the  wedding celebrations were going on...one of my good friends, melissa, was in labor trying to meet her little bundle of joy!

he finally arrived at 11:51 pm weighing in at 7lbs 4oz and 20 inches long. which was small to me considering that the dad is about 6'5" ish? maybe taller? anyway....he is adorable and i'm so glad he's finally here!

Calvin Tyler Mckee.

so congrats to melissa and tyler for making such a beautiful human.

march 1st...what a fun day.

march 2nd was pretty fun, too.

we went to the reception for tye and chels and ate our hearts out. then went to a surprise birthday party for my friend, andrea. i should've taken pictures because it was the cutest little set up. we had a dance party {which i probably haven't done since high school dances} and it was a lot of fun. and of course....more delicious food.

an eventful weekend, it was.

what did everybody else do?

:)