IT'S FULL ON SPRING HERE. I'LL TAKE IT.

I don't think it's ever not been spring here, at least since I got here. I can see why there are over two million people living here...the weather is always amazing (until summer, I'll hit ya back with an opinion then). 

Anyway, we've been busy discovering our new surroundings. Who knew there were so many awesome things around here?! Hoover Dam, for instance...pretty dang cool and pretty dang scary from that bridge up there. My knees were literally shaking and I couldn't look over the side for more than 3.2 seconds.

Emily got her mission call on February 7th to BOLIVIA! She's been planning on this for years and I couldn't be more excited for her! She leaves mid-May for a new adventure, I can't wait to have another missionary to write! ;)

That weekend we took a quick trip to San Diego where Thomas attended the concerts of Catfish and the Bottleman and Wild Party. The next day we stopped by Catalina Island (gorgeous!) and IKEA. 

After a month's planning and anticipation, we surprised Chris with a birthday surprise...a evening zip-lining off the Rio casino! I think the biggest surprise for Chris was the fact that I was doing it too! (He knows my fear of heights.) It was terrifyingly fun! I got to go with Thomas side by side. The bench was tiny and we were only held on by one seat belt across our laps...made it that much more frightening. But it was fun and I would totally do it again! (any takers?)

This last weekend a few members of my family came down to visit. I had been anxiously waiting weeks for them to come...and it did not disappoint. We showed them some of our favorite restaurants, stayed up late playing games and laughing, visited the Hoover Dam, walked part of the strip, played tennis, went to church, and hung out with friends. It was absolutely wonderful. I may or may not have shed a lot of tears the morning we all parted ways...

And then Monday we had the chance to see my awesome cousin Cortney play for Air Force at UNLV. Even though we live hundreds of more miles away from family, I've loved that they have come to visit this soon after our move. I've always known how important family is, but until I've lived here and experienced the realness of "home sickness", I've never loved them more.