Rachel is fired

So...in the last 4 months, Rachel's blog readers have only gotten 1 teaser update. I know Rachel is still reading your blogs, but hasn't been updating her own...that just doesn't seem fair! Here is an update on our lives the last few weeks:

-Brian went camping with all of Jake's groomsmen

-Brian turned 25, yay for lower auto insurance!!!

-Brian did a triathlon

-Brian's truck rolled over 90,000 miles last week (his 1st vehicle by the way)

-We had a big Ballard Family Easter gathering at Brian's grandma's house and the great-grandkids hunted Easter eggs

-We are still looking for a house

-Rachel had her first work trip (to a conference in Austin)

-Went to OKC for Clay and Lindsey's Wedding

Let's see how long it takes for Rachel to realize her blog has been updated. Shhhh!

P.S.-Rachel still has a job, she is just fired from blogging.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, etc, etc...

I've been a bad blogger recently, but my cousin, Katie, motivated me to at least get my feet wet again. It's too late for me to spend much more time on the computer, but look forward to these updates coming soon:

1) I'm now employed!

2) Brian started grad school!

3) My parents are turning 50 :)

4) We're looking to buy our first house!

God is truly blessing the Ballard's at the moment...

The Ballards Elfed

I tried to add the video to the blog, but I couldn't make it work.

Check it out on my Facebook page instead! Enjoy!

I've been tagged... Thanks, Loree!

8 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Law & Order (the original one)

2. The Biggest Loser

3. House (same time as #2, and no, we don't have DVR, so I have to watch it on the computer)

4. The Office

5. John & Kate Plus 8

6. CSI: Las Vegas (again, the original one)

7. Crossing Jordan

8. Without a Trace 

(and so many more... I watch way too much TV!)

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. McAlister's

2. El Fenix

3. Mi Cocina

4. Sonic (more for the drinks, but ya know..)

5. Fireside Subs

6. Chili's

7. Macaroni Grill

8. Subway

8 Things That Happened Today:

1. slept until 10am

2. took Mia out to potty

3. met Brian and his mom for lunch at Chuy's

4. went shopping at the Allen Outlet Mall

5. took Mia out to potty again (i do this a lot.. she must have a small bladder..)

6. did this blog

7. ate sushi with friends at Chaucer's

8. went to bed

8 Things I Am Looking forward To:

1. growing old with my husband

2. my 24th birthday tomorrow

3. sushi for dinner tonight

4. meeting with a personal trainer (I'm determined to get skinny!)

5. making money once I get a job

6. having kids one day (not anytime soon...)

7. Christmas

8. buying a house

8 Things On My Wish List:

1. an ivory pea coat

2. to get skinny

3. safety for my family and friends

4. a good job

5. for Brian to come home from work earlier

6. another dog (a vizsla, and only once we get a house)

7. healthy kids one day

8. to become a kinder person and better Christian

8 People I Tag:

1. Allison Ballard

2. Remy Webb

3. Dani Dillard

4. Lindsey Arita

5. Courtney Broaddus

6. Jenni Kriegel

7. Rachel Dunham

8. Erica Ladwig

I guess we'll see if any of these people check my blog...

Happy Thursday!

We are so smart...

For my graduation present this August, I asked my mom if she would pay to get my diplomas professionally framed. Of course she agreed, so I decided to pay to get Brian's framed to match mine. Aren't they pretty? Every time I look at them I think how fortunate we are that we have parents who love us and value education and a college experience. I also think about how I'm "smarter" than Brian. Haha! At least until he gets his masters in a couple years... 

Our Baylor Diploma's

Brian: Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Rachel: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders

My UTD Diploma: Master of Science in Communication Disorders

Halloween at the Porch's

I have the privilege of regularly babysitting for the sweet Porch family in Dallas. They have been so generous to Brian and I, and we feel blessed to consider them friends. Even though I'm looking forward to it one day, Brian and I are in no hurry to start a family... part of that I owe to growing up with a sibling 12 years younger than me and the other part I owe to the Porch family... because I feel like I get my "kid fix" by spending time with their three precious girls! 

Enjoy a few pics of them in their precious Halloween costumes!

Rebecca with the twins

Anderson and Emma Jane (20 mos.)

Anderson (Annie) and Todd

Miss Mollie (almost 5)

My Pumpkin Puppy

Last year for Halloween Mia was a cute little fairy with sheer pink wings. Needless to say, Brian was a little uncomfortable with the "feminine" costume choice. This year I tried to be a little more understanding of his feelings. So, Mia was a pumpkin. Good compromise, right? I think so too. Enjoy!

How cute is she? And so good to just sit there...

Okay, so she wasn't so sure about it at first....

In fact, she might have tried to get it off by rolling around...

But she was much happier once I took the little hat off...

Such a good dog.