All Over the Place!

So this post is going to be a mash up of all of the things we've been up to for the last couple of months. Back in July Chris and I went to a really big car show in Dublin, OH. We really enjoyed it and afterwards we tried Steak 'n Shake, which we both really liked!

The Batmobile!

Chris and the Corvette ZR1

Dodge Charger

Nissan GTR

We then went "Back to the Future" when we saw this Delorean!

I thought the inside of this one was pretty sweet

This is for Rachel...or maybe Annabelle hahaha!

It's amazing to see how far we've come with cars!

Towards the end of July Chris and I celebrated our 4th anniversary! We went to eat at Outback Steakhouse (I LOVE their pumpernickel bread) and planned to go see HP #7.2. The movie fell through that evening, but we were able to go a few weeks later.

I can't believe it's been 4 years! That's all of high school!

This was after we saw HP. I wasn't happy we couldn't get a good picture!

The first week of August I was able to go to Arizona for Natalie's little boy's baby blessing. I had a lot of fun being with my sisters and mom and dad (we missed you Gordon)! I can never seem to get enough family in! And can I just say that Rylie and Jude are the cutest things ever? I love those 2 kids to death and can't wait to see them again! And thank you, David, for putting up with all of us and our endless demands! And Natalie, you are a beautiful mother and person!

Gpa and Rylie

Gma with her sun hat

Jude sleeping (what he does best)!

David, Natalie, Rachel, and Annabelle

Jude and his momma

Rylie and Jude

Rylie and Jude--so cute!

Rylie's pretty swimsuit

Natalie and her 2 kiddos

Trying to be like gma!

Rylie and Aunt Rachel

Rylie and Aunt Annabelle (her favorite)

Wake up, sleepy-head!

The Reheis Family

While I was in Arizona, Chris whiled away his time by going to an American Leman's race where fancy cars raced (Ferrari's, Porsche's, etc.). Chris was in automobile paradise, need I say more?

Ferrari Italia 458

Porsche GT3

For roughly 3 weeks, Chris's sister Jenny and her 3 kids were out in Ohio, along with Maria (back from BYU-Idaho) and DeDee. We had fun seeing them and catching up on all we've missed since we've been here in Ohio. We enjoy the fun times and are able to laugh off the rough times (due to tantrums and lack of naps) when the whole family gets together!

The other day Marysville had its annual hot air ballon festival. They've been holding it since 1976 and each year more and more hot air balloons are shown. We didn't pay to go in, but we could see the ballons flying over us and snapped a few shots. We kept waiting for the legendary Darth Vader hot air balloon, but I guess you have to go inside to see all the really cool ones! Around the time it gets dark they light up the balloons in sync with music and we could see a little of that too. I think next year we'll pay to go inside and give you a real blog post about Marysville's hot air balloon festival!

Lately, Chris has been uber busy with work. He says every day is challenging and he's been working LOTS of overtime to show it! I was recently called to help out in Activity Days and I am so excited to get to know all the girls! As summer begins to wind down, Chris is anxiously awaiting cooler weather and I am sad to see warm weather go. But as always, we'll just keep on keepin' on!

The Fourth and Furniture!

So I almost missed fireworks this year. Yeah, I know, that would've been awful. But things are done a little differently back here and I'd better learn the ropes or I'll probably miss out on a lot. Columbus does a really big fireworks show called "Red, White, and Boom" (clever, right?), but they had it on Friday, July 1st. Not clever. That seemed to be a pattern everywhere I turned; no city appeared to be having a fireworks show on the actual 4th of July. What is up with that?! Well, we planned on going to Chris's parents on Saturday to go boating and spend time with his family so an early fireworks show was in the books. However, things didn't work out to allow us to go and we missed the fireworks show in that area. I frantically searched city web pages for surrounding areas doing shows on the 4th and lo-and-behold Dublin (a city which Chris isn't very fond of) was going to fulfill my hopes. I was stoked!

We arrived about 90 minutes prior to the start of the fireworks and laid out our spot on the grass. We had to park really far away and literally hiked to get close enough to not be blocked by trees. As the fireworks started, Chris and I looked at each other in surprise because we were in a perfect spot--right below the fireworks. I could feel the pounding in my chest as each firework went off and I was in Independence Day heaven! I kept feeling bugs land on me and wondered why they were attacking me and hoped they didn't ruin the show I had worked so diligently to attend. And then Chris, being the wise man he is, stated that ash was raining down on us because we were so close to the fireworks! I didn't like it, but I was appreciative that it wasn't a bug infestation. A little girl behind us kept shrieking out that things were landing on her and I wanted to reassure her that it wasn't bugs, just ash, but I couldn't stop laughing everytime she burst out in cries of shock. They played music in time with the fireworks and the finale was awesome! You know when the finale comes and you're not quite sure if it is the finale? That was so not the case. Chris and I left the show in awe and amazement and will definitely be going to Dublin again next year for the 4th of July fireworks show.



In other news, Chris and I FINALLY have somewhere to sit! We bought couches for our apartment last weekend and they were delivered today. They look so nice and new I hesitated to sit on them! We are so glad and so grateful for the things that we have, but it is nice every once in a while to get something new!

Far and Away

So I know it's been FOREVER since I last posted, but so many things have happened in the last 6 months that posting just wasn't an option! After graduation I went down to Moab to stay with my family while Chris went out to Ohio for job interviews. After 6 weeks apart--yes, 6 weeks--Chris and I finally reunited after he secured a job working for Honda. We headed back up to Rexburg to get our stuff out of storage and move it out to Ohio but when we got there our storage unit was frozen shut. What a "welcome back" from the coldest place on earth! Chris worked his magic with a blow torch and we eventually got our stuff loaded up (thanks Rob and Kaylyn). We then headed out to Ohio travelling around 14 hours a day and I absolutely loathed it! We arrived in Ohio on Valentine's Day.

In March I was able to fly out west and be there when Gordon got home from his mission. I flew into Arizona and rode up and back with Krystle and Natalie. He looked so handsome and it was such a spiritual experience for me! I could tell right away that Gordon had matured in the gospel and had grown so much from his mission experience. I have to say, though, some things never change! All of the brotherly qualities Gordon had when he left were still present when he got home! I had so much fun and that trip was probably one of the best I've had with my family yet! It's a big change to live so far away from my family, and it's been hard for me, but the older I get the more I realize that I need to cherish those times because they will come fewer and farther between.

Once we got to Ohio we stayed with Chris's parents for a few months and we are so grateful to them for their hospitality and pateince in putting up with us! We are now living in Marysville so Chris can be close to work. After many episodes of experiencing life in Ohio (humid weather, LOTS of bugs, 4-wheeler accidents, etc.) we are finally adjusting. We like our ward and have met lots of friendly people and can foresee our life here.

All About Annabelle

On Saturday, Annabelle was able to participate in little cheer and we are all so proud of her for how well she did! Little cheer is something that the high school cheer squad puts on every year during basketball season. Girls sign up to learn cheers and a dance and then get to perform at halftime of a boys basketball game. Annabelle had been looking forward to this for a few weeks and the day before her performance she got sick. She had a sore throat, a cough, and a fever. She rested all night Friday night and all day Saturday until it was time to get ready to go. Even though she definitely wasn't feeling well, she was so adorable and is the cutest little cheerleader/dancer ever! So for your entertainment, here is the video of Annabelle's little cheer performance (she's the cute, tall one in the back)!


P.S. This post is about Annabelle, but I can't help mentioning that on Saturday Rachel had her best basketball game of the season with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals! You're awesome Rach!

All About Annabelle

On Saturday, Annabelle was able to participate in little cheer and we are all so proud of her for how well she did! Little cheer is something that the high school cheer squad puts on every year during basketball season. Girls sign up to learn cheers and a dance and then get to perform at halftime of a boys basketball game. Annabelle had been looking forward to this for a few weeks and the day before her performance she got sick. She had a sore throat, a cough, and a fever. She rested all night Friday night and all day Saturday until it was time to get ready to go. Even though she definitely wasn't feeling well, she was so adorable and is the cutest little cheerleader/dancer ever! So for your entertainment, here is the video of Annabelle's little cheer performance (she's the cute, tall one in the back)!


P.S. This post is about Annabelle, but I can't help mentioning that on Saturday Rachel had her best basketball game of the season with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals! You're awesome Rach!

All About Annabelle

Annabelle was able to participate in little cheer this year and we are all so proud of her

Graduation and the New Year

So...Chris and I are BYU-Idaho graduates! It's been a long, trying, stressful road, but it was oh-so worth it! Did I mention it's been long? Chris used to always joke that if I would've been graduated when we got married I could have been making money these last 3-and-a-half years! He knows I don't think it's funny. But we are official graduates now and are in the process of moving on. After graduation, we spent Christmas with Chris's sister Jenny and her family. It was fun to be around little kids again during this time and watch their excitement as they opened gifts.

After Christmas, Chris and I went our separate ways--me to Moab with my family and him to Ohio and Indiana for job interviews. He had his first in-person interview with Honda on Thursday and he thinks it went well. Hopefully we have good news in the next couple of weeks. I am so proud of him and his determination to find a job. He is the best husband and we are so excited to begin this new chapter in our lives!

P.S. These pictures came from my parents camera so there aren't any of Chris's side of the family. I will try to post those when I get them!

Mom Garrett, Nicole, Chris, Dad Garrett









We sure enjoyed getting to know the Robby Garrett family better while living in Rexburg

Nicole, Rachel, Annabelle

My dad has a picture just like this from his graduation, with him and his parents



Garrett Family

Chris receiving his diploma

Nicole receiving her diploma

Chris, Granna Duke, Nicole

So I know it's been quite some time since I last posted, but let me tell you why. Chris and I are graduating in 15 days! We've been so busy this semester that I'm surprised we're still sane (well, at least partly sane in my case). We are so excited to begin a new era in our lives. Chris is anxious to begin working and I am anxious to be done studying!

For Thanksgiving we went down to my family's in Moab. We were able to relax, watch lots of football and eat any 'ol time we wanted--it was great! Chris also went duck hunting for the first time with my dad. We also spent a few days with Jenny and David and their family. We sure do enjoy having family close by and we appreciate their letting us stay with them. Anywho, here are some pictures/videos for your entertainment.



















P.S. I think I'm more excited for graduation than I am for Christmas. Is that a bad thing?