This Girl

Means so much to me 

Not only a sister, but a best friend.

She has truly bloomed into such a lovely young lady.

A girl, who everyone should want as their best friend.

One who is so loyal, and stands up for what's right.

Someone who will always reach out and stick up for the underdogs.

I feel honored to be the big sister of such an incredible girl.

A girl who always thinks of others, and was always willing to accompany me to the nursing home.

The people at the assisted living are so lucky to get to have her every Saturday. Tell me how many teenagers you know spending their weekends at the local old folks home.

I can't believe little Colby isn't so little anymore and is a senior in high school.

Just the other day I was taking her to freshman orientation and her teacher asked if we were twins, and in May she will be graduating from high school. Where does the time go? 

Miss Colboa I love you so much and I am so proud of the lady you are becoming. You are such an inspiration to me and are constantly making me want to become a better person. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and will go far in life. Believe in yourself, and know that you are a beautiful daughter of God, you were sent to this Earth for a reason, so reach your full potential. You are my sunshine! Never stop being that ray of light, it affects more people than you know!  

Little Letters

Dear October,

 You really are just passing by so fast! Why don't you just slow down, just for a little bit? Or tell Washington to stop raining so I can go on a hayride to the pumpkin patch with the corn maze and have a bonfire. Half of my fall bucket list has not been completed yet! In fact, tonight we will be at a grand total of 3 things crossed off the list! Slackers over here in the Schmidt household. 

Dear Syracuse,

We traveled last weekend to meet you, and so far so good. We found the perfect place, a brand new apartment {never been lived in} for way cheaper than what we are paying here {score!} oh and did I mention it has a fireplace? {perfection}. We also got to go see our new ward which is way smaller than the one we are in now and I think we are really going to like it. Now I just have to prepare myself mentally for all that snow. {wish me luck!} Oh and please, help me meet people who don't have thick Northern accents, I just don't know how much of that I can handle.

Dear Washington,

 I am trying to find time to enjoy whats left of our time with you, this is technically my last weekend with you. You have been so nice to us, letting us have an extra long summer to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful outdoors. I am kind of sad to say goodbye to the place that we have grown to love. However, I look forward to the new adventures and opportunities that are waiting for us in Syracuse.

Dear November,

I would greatly appreciate it if everything would go smoothly this month. With a trip to Utah to see little Miss Zoe get blessed. Midterms. Packing up and moving across the country to Syracuse. Trip to Georgia to see my family that I've missed so much. Getting all settled and finding a job. Just please, be nice. 

Yours Truly

Brett

La Push

This past Saturday, there was no sleeping in for us. We woke up early {4:00 am to be exact} to get on the first ferry out to La Push. I had never been on a ferry ride or to La Push so I was pretty excited. I have been told that everyone who lives in Seattle has to experience a ferry ride once, and since we move in less than a month, it was crunch time. I however, was more excited for La Push since I had read the Twilight books and seen the movies. Love the books, somewhat like the movies. I'm not a crazy obsessed fan though. You know they were actually filmed in Oregon though. Anyways, getting off topic. 

We drove onto the ferry and went to the little restaurant on board to get some breakfast. We had some amazing cinnamon rolls, and some chocolate milk that was almost as good as my grandpa's. The ferry ride is actually really short, 30 minutes to be exact, so it felt like we got on, ate, then had to get right off. Then we had to drive 4 additional hours to actually get down to La Push.

The beaches of La Push are absolutely gorgeous but so different from they type of beaches I went to growing up. There are three different beaches in La Push too, and we managed to see all three in one day. For the last two we actually had to hike down to the beach. It was so different for me to have to hike through the woods to get to the beach but I think it added to the beauty of the beach in my opinion.

We love to go hiking and love the beach so it was definitely a win-win situation. We enjoyed a picnic on the beach and lots of time to just catch up and talk, and of course take pictures {Brad is such a good sport}. With school we are always so busy, so we always enjoy the little things and the time that we get to spend with one another.

 Happy Wednesday everyone, you've made it half way through the week! :)

the radio likes to make me cry

On Friday night we went to the temple. Honestly such perfect timing with it being General Conference this weekend. Feeling so blessed to be able to hear from our modern day prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and other church leaders. I always love going to the temple and the Seattle temple has a special place in my heart for many reasons. 

On the way home I promise the radio was determined to make me cry. I'll start with I always miss my family. How could I not?! We have been through so much together and the older we get the closer we grow. 

Anyways, anyone who knows me knows I am the biggest Mommas girl around. She is my best friend, my rock, my go to girl, she is the one I tell everything to, etc. All wrapped up in the prettiest package. She gets me, she understands me, she knows my wants, and knows what I am capable of. 

So when the radio played this song I pretty much lost it.

Most of you sit there and think oh but that song is so sweet and so good. That's exactly why it made my cry. Before I graduated high school my mom wrote me a note {fairly common, it's what we do} and said that this song reminded her of me, and that she wished all of that for me. This song will forever remind me of her, it reminds me of her love for me and that she just wants the best for me and she would do anything to make that happen. 

And because the radio thought I didn't shed enough tears it decided to play this song next.

Seriously?! I am newlywed. Haven't even been married for 3 months. I love my dad and all of these emotions are so fresh. I know that my dad loves me so much. He never loses faith in me and is always so proud of my accomplishments and he expresses it. Whenever I make a good grade I will tell my mom and always call him to tell him personally because I know it makes him proud. He was an example of what to look for in a husband and I think I did a pretty good job! :)

Anyways, so there you go. The radio likes to make me cry and that is okay. Because secretly after those songs came on the radio, I've listened to them about 5 more times each. I love being reminded of how I  came to be the person I am today and my parents play the biggest role in how I go to where I'm at and I hope they are pleased and feel as if I'm a job well done!

Hello October

I absolutely love that fall is finally here. The colors of leaves are changing and some of them have already fallen to the ground begging me to step on them for that satisfying crunch. I have already pulled out the sweaters, scarfs, boots, and boot socks. My house smells like creamy pumpkin and you can find a boo banner hanging in between the doors. I am so excited to get a few more Halloween DIY projects done, now that I have a place to decorate. Any suggestions or your favorite Halloween decor?

Last week I went to Utah to finally meet that darling niece of mine and catch up with Afton and my brother in law. Zoe is too cute for words. I had such a fun time cuddling with her, dressing her up, taking pictures with her, and having girl talk. She is seriously the perfect baby and loves when you tell her she is a pretty baby, she will smile so big. And just in case you want to be the 10 millionth person to ask me if I'm baby hungry the answer is NO. 

I also got to meet up with Miss Shae Audrey {and I have no picture to prove it, seriously I'm a slacker.} I seriously love that girl to pieces. We always have such a fun time. We went shopping and got Chickfila. Boy have I missed eating there. Since Washington doesn't have one near and neither will New York I will eat it whenever I get the chance {it's my comfort food}. We watched the weirdest show I have ever seen and chatted with her roomates. Girl got lucky in that department. They are all so fun and get along so well.

I came home on Thursday to a sicky husband who had the flu. Anyone who knows Brad knows he NEVER takes the day off, so I sure did enjoy my four day weekend with him even though he was sick. We spent it snuggling, watching movies, doing homework, and taking lots of naps! 

But after our long weekend it's back to the real world. Back to school work, work, cleaning, getting everything ready to move, and trying to cross things off our fall bucket list in between.