what..the ballards are leaving us?

umm..no.

this can't be happening!

this is like a bad, bad dream.

coming true!

Okay, so am I being a little dramatic here?

not really!

I remember us meeting them like it was yesterday. Our ward just got split, and the new ward had decided to hold an ice cream social. We were debating whether to go or not, but decided to go because umm..ice cream? hello.

Then we laid eyes on them.

Wade turns to me and says, "we should go talk to them."

I don't really like talking to people I don't know.

Especially when there are like 4 of us. and two people are talking

so it basically forces me to have to say something too..because who wants to listen to two boys get to know each other.. {enter eyeroll here}

Sometimes, I'm like that. 

I don't remember a lot of the conversation, but I remember one part.

"oh, you guys like to run? We would like to get into running.."

hooked.

boom.

"come to our house and play games, and eat popcorn!"

And that's where it all started. The hashtag #theleavards was created {not that night, but it could have been}

we played 5 crowns, and talked about things. and I knew it was going to be a good thing because we all had iPhones.

We've been on vacations with these people, had sleepovers with them, been shopping, out to eat, made plenty of hamburgers/hotdogs/chickens/dutch oven/smores with them, major league baseball games,...we've played numerous games of frisbee golf, seen each other get mad at their spouse (settlers anyone?), they've met my grandparents & all of my siblings and parents, they've babysat Ivy, we've done a triathlon together, half-marathons,  swimming..heck we even bought the same car together BASICALLY. I mean, this stuff is the real deal.

and they're just up at leaving.

how can they even sleep at night?!

(well, we know how Nate sleeps. 8 hours a night, ever night. or else!)

I'm just kidding. We sure love those B-turds! I don't even know where that nickname came from, but its just stuck. and it's not going anywhere! ! I think Ivy will miss them those most! They first started out to her as "nic nic" and then it turned to "nee-tole, nate" which is both of their names...she is going to be the saddest! We are going to miss them, but will probably be in utah EVERY WEEKEND to see them! They are truly the best!!