The Post Grad Life

Since graduating from BYU in June, I have transitioned into the world of work. I work as an academic advisor for the School of Family Life. I sit down with students interested in family life, sociology, gerontology, and help them plan out their life during BYU and after. Somehow I'm qualified to do this job, even though I have no idea what I want to do with my life! But I have my own office, plants, lunch breaks, this is real adulthood! 

Living the job life, I have many hours after work just to myself. Garrick is a very dedicated student and doesn't come home until late each night. So I have been left to discover new ways to pass the time that doesn't involve mindless Netflix watching. Paint by numbers has become my solution, my best friend. I love to create but often don't have the energy or ability to paint or draw freestyle. Paint by numbers is my creative outlet, and it's so easy! You wouldn't be able to tell from my picture but I have poured hours into this painting and I'm so proud of how it's coming along. It's so fulfilling! I've also read 3 books since working and have a long list of sewing projects to tackle. I'm fulling embracing this post grad life!

Labor Day

This summer Garrick has been more adamant about getting outdoors. He has been wanting to get into backpacking for a while now but it just never happened. He finally got to go with the UVU outdoors club a couple weeks ago and he feel in love. Immediately after that hike he wanted us to be a backpacking family! I, on the other hand, was a huge supporter of camping but very scared of backpacking. The idea of carrying all of your gear for miles just sounded miserable! But somehow he convinced me go, 22 weeks pregnant mind you! 

We went to REI at least 3 times in the last 2 weeks, making sure we were getting the right gear. Garrick made sure that I had good gear to ensure a positive experience! 

It actually turned out to be such a fun trip! We hiked a little over 6 miles and saw 9 lakes! It was beautiful and peaceful. We were able to talk and laugh, listen to music and just enjoy the beautiful scenery. The trees were beginning to change colors which got me so excited for fall! Garrick was an angel the entire trip, he made sure we took lots of breaks and thought of everything to make the trip enjoyable. For example, the evening and morning were super cold but Garrick was prepared; he brought me lots of warm layers to wear and even packed hot chocolate! I was so impressed at how thoughtful he was throughout the entire trip. Aside from the sleepless night we had it was the perfect trip! We've done a couple of camping trips this summer but I love it when we go alone-just the two of us. We've decided it will be a permanent tradition!

I love that Garrick nudges me out of my comfort zone and pushes me to do hard things. It always results in something incredible! I guess we can be a backpacking family. 

Birthday Boy

Garrick did such a good job with my birthday, I really wanted to make his special. I had been thinking about his birthday gifts for months, positive that he had no idea what was coming but knowing that he'd love them! Slowly but surely Garrick guessed all of his gifts one by one, I'm such a terrible liar that there was no way to deceive him. I was pretty disappointed that knew most of his presents but it turned out okay because he loved them! We spent the Saturday before his birthday hiking, eating free birthday meals including his favorite Red Lobster and ended the night at the movie theater watching Mission Impossible. I had other plans but they fell through, Garrick was a good sport and made me feel better about the day. I'm realizing more and more I am not a good planner!

Huhot which resulted in a food coma.

Hiking in Provo Canyon with our brand new hiking boots!

The very handsome birthday boy lovin on his gifts. 

Since his actual birthday was on Sunday it was a little harder to make it special. But I made him breakfast in bed, as well as homemade cafe rio for dinner, and then enojyed the night eating cake and playing games with family. 

A week later Garrick got to cash in on one of his birthday gifts for a 60 minute horseback riding lesson! He has been talking about riding horses for months! So I happily found a groupon deal that would get him on a horse! He looked so cute riding, it's been years since he was on one and had never ridden one freely so it was pretty fun. But now he's convinced that we need to buy horses....I may have created a monster. 

The other day I was on the phone with my mom and she jokingly said that Garrick helped raise me. I couldn't agree more! Looking back, I was such a baby when we met! He truly has helped me grow to be the person I am today. He has taught me so much about hard work, patience, selflessness, determination and so much more. He is the most incredible person and I hope that I can be more like him. I'm so so so grateful for him and all that he does for our little family. I'm incredibly lucky to have found my prince charming so early on. Happy birthday honey!! 26 looks so good on you!

Post Reunion

After the reunion mom and dad were able to stay for a couple more days before heading home to Iowa. We ate, talked, played outside, and had our game night

Dallas, Lauren, Kelsi and Garrick all have birthdays in August so my mom wanted everyone to take turns blowing out their early birthday cake. She's so thoughtful! It's always fun having the parents visit us, we were sad to see them go. Until next time!

Richardson Reunion

Richardson reunions have existed as long as I have been alive. It consists of a massive gathering of my mom's 10 siblings and their families. We haven't been able to make it to any reunions in a few years but this year they were honoring my mom so all of us Beck's made it a priority to come and support her. It was also Garrick's first experience with all of my extended family together. These reunions are legendary and have quite the rep, it was fun exposing that side of our family to him. What typically happens at these reunions is the Beck family gravitates towards each other-only because we love each other so much!

Carrie let me try on her baby carrier, Mary and I got up close and personal!

Hanging out in the parents bedroom

Aunt Amy rocked the planning of the reunion and created the theme of Olympics. So we were each assigned country and competed against one another in different events. To my surprise Garrick got really involved and was volunteering for nearly all of the events! Here he and Kayla are competing in the hula  hoop contest. 

During the events that Garrick wasn't participating in, the beck boys created their own challenges and competed against one another. 

This is a pretty epic picture of Garrick.

Garrick teamed up with little Jay for the balloon toss, they actually made it pretty far!

Here's the whole Richardson clan!

Garrick and I were on team Chile with Aunt Margie (the best team)

The Beck clan

My sweet mother couldn't pass up the opportunity to get an updated family picture!

The highlight of the reunion was the night dedicated to mom's life. Each family prepared a skit from an event of mom's life. Dad was in charge of our skit and we recreated his proposal story, it was adorable! Then each of mom's siblings and kids all prepared a little speech about how much we love it. It was so sweet and I was bawling through the whole thing. I have the best mom in the world. 

Here dad is proposing to mom for the second time!

I just love my family so much!