ID to CO to UT

We have been in full moving mode lately! {Ugh.} And because I am somewhat of a sentimental person, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of our second home together before we headed out. I'll admit, I was teary eyed. We were saying goodbye to not only our apartment, but Rexburg! A place we have both called home for the past couple years of our lives. The place we met and made SO many memories together. It was bittersweet, definitely.

Once we left Rexburg, we made our way to Colorado and moved in with my family for about a month while Jason job searched. He put SO much time towards this. He even went to some LDS business classes while we were there. Our first day in the ward, Jason was approached eight times by different people about potential job opportunities for him. {Shout-out to my dad for his many connections.} We felt blessed, but kept our options open.

 One weekend the fam took a trip down to Utah to celebrate Jason's 26th birthday and my dad's 50th birthday {more on that found here}. The timing couldn't have been more perfect because Jason had a couple of interviews lined up in Utah that same week. He felt confident and excited after his interviews, and that same day he was offered a job for a company called Packsize. We drove back to Colorado for a week, packed everything up once again, and moved to Utah so Jason could start work that next Monday.

My parents and grandparents have been angels for letting us live with them for a little while we save up and search for a more permanent home. We've been living in Utah for a little over a month now and we really are enjoying every minute. Jason loves his job, and I start working at Discover Financial Services next month! Is it weird that I'm super excited to start working? I've never worked for such a big corporation, so I'm looking forward to the experience!

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There are still so many things I could go on about! These past couple months have been packed full of blog-worthy events. I want to at least mention some things, or else I will probably forget they ever happened. SO I promise I'll be brief.

We celebrated our first Christmas together in Rexburg with Jason's mom and siblings! This was my first Christmas away from my home, so it took some getting used to. We still had lots of fun playing games, eating good food, and enjoying each others company. Even with our tight budget at the time, I convinced Jason that we needed a tree for our apartment. I originally was going to make a DIY tree with branches and ornaments, but we ended up finding a super steal deal on one. Definitely worth it.

We spent New Years Eve in Colorado with my familia! Our late night was full of delicious appetizers {that lasted us weeks afterwards}, tenzi/golf tournaments, sparkling cider, rowdy noise makers, new years kisses, and party hats. It was such a fun time!

I took a trip to the Denver temple one evening with my parents. I get so excited going through different temples for the first time! Each one is so, so beautiful. This particular trip was for an elderly lady in the ward. She was going through for the first time to be sealed to her deceased husband and son. I don't think I've ever seen someone so happy before. The spirit was overwhelming and it was the sweetest.

Grandpa Syddall got a smart phone! I know it doesn't seem like much, but it was a pretty big deal around here {especially because he said he would never get one}. It had to be documented haha.

January and February are theee birthday months in this fam. We've attended eight birthday parties in the past two months. Eight! That's a lot of cake and ice cream. {We are dying to get gym memberships.} I've actually loved it, though. Family get togethers are my absolute fav.

Super bowl Sunday was spent partying at Robyn's house. And even though this is old news now, THE DENVER BRONCOS WON! We were all pretty proud in our Broncos jammies {via Christmas Eve 2014}.

Our social life here consists of family pretty much, but we love it! Game nights at Taylor and Lynnea's has got to be our favorite way to spend Saturday nights. We can play King of Tokyo for hours and hours and never get bored. They are the funnest to be around!

We went on a sibling date with Britta, Austin, Scarlett, Taylor, and Lynnea. We ate dinner at Cafe Rio and then went to the Provo City Center temple open house. It was so gorgeous! {It may actually be my favorite temple... I can't decide.} Scarlett was making us all laugh as she applauded and YAYed when the temple introduction movie was over. She is too cute.

This last weekend my aunt Angela called me up asking if Jason and I would mind "babysitting" her kids while her and Matt went out on a date. We obviously didn't mind at all, but she went out of her way to turn it into a date for us as well. When we got there, all the kids were already in bed and they had a tub of movie theater popcorn, pizza, and soda all ready for us. They even had us pick out a movie to rent on Vidangel {which I highly suggest looking into because it is the greatest thing ever}. It was one of my favorite dates!

Phew! I think that'll do for now. All in all, life is awesome.

G r a d u a t i o n

Now, to catch up with life. {Can it just slow down a bit?} Jase and I graduated from BYU-Idaho in December! Gosh, that seems like so long ago. My parents and grandparents were able to make the trip down for it, despite the nasty weather. I absolutely loved having them all there! We had a family slumber party that night in our little one-bedroom apartment haha. So fun! I feel so lucky that I was able to walk in graduation with my boy. It made the day much more special.

After graduation we went to Applebee's {along with the rest of Rexburg} and got cuddly waiting for a table. Our graduation party consisted of Mom, Dad, Mauri, Debi, Ryan, Alisha, Tierra, Grandma & Grandpa Syddall, Grandma & Grandpa Goldsberry, and Jason and I. We loved feeling loved. I can't help but laugh watching this video. We were so squished!

We said our goodbyes to my family the next morning, and started packing/cleaning/selling everything right away. We moved out of Rexburg a couple days after Christmas, so we were busy bees that whole week. Isn't moving just the worst? I'm so ready to be settled!

So long, BYU-Idaho! Thanks for the memories... and for introducing me to the love of my life.

Dear Heaven,

Recently you've welcomed two new faces-- Jana Brown and Brian Syddall. I'll admit, we're all a little jealous, and maybe even a little bitter, that they are there and not here with us. Our family is very close, you know. Since they've left things haven't been the same. There is a feeling of emptiness at every family gathering and I've never seen so many tears fall from loved ones eyes. I just wanted to reach out to let you know why you're lucky to have them and why we miss them so much down here.

Let me start with aunt J. Jana is the sweetest. I still have fond memories of her longgg piggy back rides she would give me and my siblings when we were kids. Or the times she would take us to the local supermarket so we could pick out our favorite drink to take with us to the park. She would spin us and spin us on the metal merry-go-round and play lava monster with us for hours it seemed. We all loved Aunt Jana. I remember thinking that she looked so beautiful on her wedding day. She wasn't one to dress up much {I can so relate}, so I loved seeing her all dolled up! Jana and Jon were married and sealed in the beautiful Bountiful temple-- just like Jason and I. I cannot even begin to explain how grateful I am that she was there to support me for my big day. I had no idea that would be the last time I would get to hug her and talk to her. She gave me compliment after compliment and now I only wish that I reciprocated those same words to her. Shortly after my wedding, Jana was diagnosed with breast cancer. I don't know all the details, but I do know that her health was declining fast. Her body was filled with infection and failing organs. On October 12th, Jana passed away. It was hard news that no one wanted to accept. I bawled, along with many others. I can only hope that she knows the impact she's made on our lives. She is so, so loved.

Now let me tell you about my uncle Brian. Brian is hilarious. He knows how to lighten the mood and put a smile on anyone's face. He's a smart man with a big heart and he was always willing to help where he could. Ever since I was little, I've loved going over to Brian's house for parties, football games, holidays, and family get-togethers {I even had my bridal shower over there}. Playing knock out with everyone in his backyard has got to be one of my all time favorite things. One of my more vivid memories with Brian was on a Lagoon trip with the family. Shilo and I wanted to go on the rattlesnake rapids ride over and over again. Some of the group opted out to avoid being uncomfortably wet afterwards, but Brian was more than willing to accompany us! I remember having the best time ever that day. That memory specifically has stuck with me for years. {Side note: I didn't realize until I saw some pictures that Jana was with us that same day at Lagoon! Kind of crazy considering Jana and Brian are on different sides of our family.} Brian and his family were also at my wedding, which I am so, so grateful for. The morning of November 30th, only seven weeks after Jana's passing, Brian was killed in a car accident while driving to work. It was so unexpected and hearing the news absolutely broke my heart. I was still grieving over the loss of Jana, and then, like cutting into an already open wound, I found myself hurting more than ever before. I bawled. We all did. We all still do.

You know, it's really hard having to experience the loss of someone close. Jana was a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt. Brian was a husband, a dad, a son, a brother, an uncle. We wish we had more days with them and we wish we were able to give them a proper good-bye, but we know that, in time, we will be able to see them again. Let them know that they are so loved, and give them the biggest hug from us all.

Sending so much love your way,

     Lexee

P.S. Can you let Brian know that Robyn received his anniversary flowers?

More posts {from my sweet mama's blog} about Jana and Brian are found here and here.