the day my heart grew three sizes more

The Gourley gang got together this last Saturday to do a service project in honor of our Gourley angel babies Lilly, Ryker, Graham and Jett. As grateful as I am for our angels, my heart can't help but sink at the fact that I just had to type four names following the words 'angel babies'. That's about four too many angels than anyone needs... ugh!

Anyway, the gang got together to put together baby kits to donate to the North Temple Clinic in Salt Lake. We ended up making 24 kits + extra items to donate! Hands down the best part was watching my nieces and nephews all help put them together. My grinch heart definitely grew three sizes that day -- all the feels were definitely felt! I love my Gourley gang! Our gang definitely has it's quirks (what family doesn't?!), but I just can't help but be sooo grateful I lucked out in the in-law department! You can always count on them to come through and always be there when you need them (as we've experienced so much over these last six months!). Gah, my heart might be growing even more as I type all this, so I better just leave a picture dump of all the photos I took that morning...

...annnd now I'm crying again. It probably didn't help that me and Chris dropped the kits off at the clinic today, either. 

This is the clinic that Chris used to work at. I remember Chris always coming home and telling me about the patients that would come in that hardly spoke any english, had no money or insurance, and a lot of times were homeless. When we dropped off the kits the ladies at the front desk were so happy and excited and said those kits would be gone soon for sure. Made my heart burst! 

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Graham and Jett + kick off the holiday season than this service project... I am SO ready for Thanksgiving this week! It feels so good to serve + remember that the world doesn't just revolve around me + realize everyone has their own trials. I hope a Gourley gang service project becomes an annual tradition and that I'll be better prepared next year with more tissues. 

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: GourleyDisney2015

If you follow me on Insta, you're probably sick of my vacation posts... sorry? But not sorry enough to  not blog about it.

If you've followed my blog for a while now (Michelle and Rachel) you already know what to expect after I go on vacation--the good, the bad, and the ugly. So let's just jump right into it, shall we? Because I have lots more pictures to dump and a blog is just the perfect place for that, right?

We're so happy + grateful that Martha had "Take whole family to Disneyland" on her bucket list! It let us escape the crazy that is our lives at the moment and just enjoy the crazy that is having the whole Gourley gang at Disneyland... just kidding! But really, trying to go on a ride all together as a group of 27 people is a little tricky...and loud...and "do you have so-and-so?!"  but we somehow made it work!

Anyway, enjoy the good, the bad, and the ugly from our #GourleyDisney2015 trip!

The Good:
-our flight NOT getting delayed
-the Dole whips (because, duh!)
-the beloved corn dogs ("curnies!" as Chris calls 'em) that could barely fit in my camera frame.
-Chris going on California Screamin' two times and NOT getting sick (I'm slowly converting him).
-the fireworks above the castle... HOLY FEELS!
-Fantasmic. Cue more feels.
-the Paint the Night parade! So freaking cool.
-showing Chris Cars Land for the first time (Cars is one of his favs) + being first in line for the Radiator Springs fast passes.
-having Chad and Michelle be the official tour guides (ha!)
-the pizza place we found across the street from Disneyland (cilantro, why you no on all pizzas?!)
-Martha's dream coming true of getting the whole family on Haunted Mansion.
-Chris not complaining about me dragging him to the Frozen show.
-Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain with the nieces and nephews AND Tom G!
-the beach + boogie boarding w/Chris + watching the nieces and nephews find the buried treasure

The Bad:
-my camera screen breaking
-Soarin' Over California, Space Mountain, and the Jedi Training being closed.
-Chris not dressing up as Darth Vader to make up for the lack of Jedi Training at Disneyland.
-the Matterhorn. Specifically when I was experiencing what I can only assume was a withdrawal headache from Dr. Pepper... that'll make you realize how bad the Matterhorn beats the hell out of you reaaaalll quick.
-Eating beef jerky + Cheezits all day everyday (I'm gagging just typing it).
-my breath from eating said beef jerky + Cheezits ^
-the aggressive birds at the beach that stole the fruit leather.
-not taking enough pictures at Disneyland

The Ugly:
-the throw up and poop accidents from the nieces and nephews...the risk you take when traveling with 15 grandkids I guess?
-our beach bods... we were motivated to to eat super healthy on our way back from the beach and then we ate at Outback for our anniversary dinner and were like, "mmmm, betta not..."
-the intensity of racing for a place to sit for the Fantasmic show--pushing, shoving, and running people over with the stroller. Obviously I'm not ready for that mom-life yet... do not put me in charge of your stroller! I repeat: Do not put me in charge of your stroller!
-me ugly crying at any and everything that made me feel all of the feels. Disneyland is so dangerous for me that way!
-coming back to reality... still trying to adjust.



I'm sure there's much more I could add to the lists, but I'll just keep it short and sweet--just like our vacation. Thank you Tom and Martha for the vacation to the happiest place on earth and making this whole trip possible! Me and Chris are definitely ready to help you keep crossing things off of your bucket lists ;)

The Big Reveal!

You know what's fun? Being told you're going to Disneyland. 

You know what's even more fun? Watching a bunch of grandkids be told that they're going to Disneyland (I may or may not have teared up during the announcement). 

That's exactly what happened on Sunday (Martha's Birthday!!). Martha has had "Take the family to Disneyland" on her bucket list for a while now, and now she'll be able to cross that off in November! 

Her vision of opening up a HUGE box full of balloons (one for each grandkid) and a Mickey Mouse balloon that had a countdown chain hanging from it was executed perfectly. It was so fun to watch the kids come in and try to resist the urge to touch/open the huge box sitting on the table. I guess it really is true what they say... good things come to those who wait! 

The only problem is, I'm not sure if I can handle waiting until November. If I think about it long enough, I start to tear up + salivate thinking about the Dole Whips waiting for me there. Ever since I went to Disneyland with my family last November (that you can read about here), I've had the biggest  craving to go back! I'm so excited!! Like, probably more excited than all of the grandkids. November can't come soon enough! 

I hope Disneyland is ready for the  Gourley Gang (and quite possibly for our matching shirts ha!) 

Thank you Martha for letting us be part of your bucket list and for having a birthday!!! We love you.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Vegas Edition!

How in the haaaaiilll is it already April?! It's only the 8th and I feel like so much has already happened. For one, I finished student student teaching (post to come on being a big girl + unemployed woes), started looking for jobs, and the cycle of "I really need to quit diet Dr. Pepper" has begun ( + "Ah, screw it!"). Oh! And we went to Vegas with our favorite roomies Tom G and Martha! Even though it seems like we weren't there long enough to even have a shotgun wedding, I still think our time there deserves a "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" post. So, let's just jump right into it.

Ready...set....scroll!

The Good:
-The mini tacos from the gas station somewhere outside of Fillmore (+ eating them at 9:30 am)
-Martha bringing a 24 pack of Almond Joy creamer and a 12 pack of soda because, Dirty Diet Dr. Peppers!
-Having Jason and Deanna join us in Vegas!
-Mandalay Bay Hotel
-the huge pool
-Tom G and Martha getting to the pool early and saving spots for everyone
-Convincing Chris to ride the New York New York roller coaster! Probably one of my greatest life accomplishments hearing Chris yell "Hold on to your nuuuuutttties!" while going down each dip.
-SHAKE SHACK!
-Michael Jackson One show! + getting upgraded seats for no reason!
-Martha sweet talking the usher lady to get upgraded seats as well
-Chris winning $20 gambling
-Having a TV in the bathroom so I could watch Friends while enjoying a hot bath and a dirty diet DP
-Watching the fountain show at The Bellagio
-Fangirling/meeting the Jabbawockeez!
-People watching! (I'm convinced that people watching was invented in Vegas)

The Bad:
-Martha not getting mini tacos from the gas station somewhere outside of Fillmore
-Jason and Deanna getting lost and ending up at Mandalay Bay apartment complex
-Having bad dreams/anxiety every night about being on the 28th floor
-the cold wind at the pool
-Tom G thinking the Michael Jackson hologram was a real person
-Chris gambling
-Not being able to escape the smell of cigarettes
-The service at Outback Steakhouse
-Nobody listening to Martha about the tram
-Not taking enough pictures (or getting a picture of boob lady-see below)
-Only spending 3 days in Vegas

The Ugly:
-Reaching full-blown meth addict status the night before leaving. Packing really brings out those meth addict tendencies in me like plucking/picking my face for hours + scrubbing and cleaning my house like a mad woman at 3am. Truth: I got more cleaning done that night than I have all semester.
-TMI: Not being on a regular pooping schedule--vacation mode is the worst
-BOOB LADY! This was one of those things you really just had to see it to believe it. Picture two watermelons down by your bellybutton and only slightly covered by a pink tube top and you have boob lady


I'm sure there's a lot more I could add to this list, but I'll just keep this like our trip--short and sweet.
Viva Las Vegas!

GGNO

I wish I could say that a girls night was much needed for me, but it wasn't. Mostly because I don't have kids, I have a student job on campus, and basically my biggest worry in life right now is shaving my legs. But those beautiful ladies next to me in the picture above without a doubt deserved a girls night out! They are all such hard working mamas who are always busy putting their family's needs ahead of their own, so I was so happy that we all got to go out on Saturday to dinner and then see Wicked. 

Ah... Wicked. Such a fun show! I had never seen it before so I didn't really know what to expect, but it definitely did not disappoint! I was teary-eyed before the curtain even went up! And don't even get me started on Defying Gravity--so many feels! I couldn't handle it! I still can't. To anyone considering going to the see it, I say, GO!! (exclamation points!!!). You will not regret it.

Oh, and to my Gourley sisters: Thank you for being awesome and willing to answer my questions about nursing bras and breast pumps and sneaking in treats to the show and sharing dessert with me and acting interested when I tell you stories about Chris- it did not go unnoticed ;)

Here's to many more Gourley Girls Night Outs!

Carnivalin'

After being at the American Fork carnival last night with my Gourley gang, I've come to this conclusion: Carnivals are the most magical/trashy/delicious-smelling/happiest/terrifying things. You know, kind of like Ke$ha (minus the delicious-smelling part). Oh, and that ferris wheels are terrifying and only worth going on for the pictures.

I thought going on the ferris wheel with Chris would be all cutesy and magical like Ryan and Marissa on The O.C. or even The Notebook, but it wasn't. Mostly because we didn't kiss at the top + Chris didn't climb it with his bare hands just to get my attention so I'd go out on a date with him. I wonder why Chris thinks my standards are too high?! Also, Chris takes no consideration into the huge letters behind the carts that say, "DANGER! DO NOT ROCK SEATS" and starts rocking the moment we sit in it. But, I will say that it is pretty cutesy and magical to watch Chris go on the rides with all the little kids-makes my heart melt like a popsicle on the 4th of July!

I think the best part of the night was when we took our nieces and nephews on the ride called "Gee Wizz." I was pretty impressed that they were willing to go on it because it was a huge step up from the little dragon roller coaster ride they had just went on minutes before. I think Chris was even a little nervous to go on it ha (he's much more of a water park kind of guy). I had never laughed so hard in my life watching my nieces and nephews on that ride! I had Morgan on my left giggling but also squeezing my hand a little tighter than usual, and then on my right was Abby who was showing no type of emotion whatsoever, like usual--so stinkin' funny. As I type this I realize this is probably one of those you just had to be there-moments, but trust me, it was funny! I love my Gourley girls.

I hope that the Steel Days carnival becomes a Gourley family tradition so that in a couple of years I'll be able to talk the kids into going on The Ring of Fire with me, but I could just as easily settle for getting together once a year strictly to eat funnel cake.