Happy New Year!

I had a really great New Years Weekend.  One of the reasons was an extra day off of work.  I spent the weekend with great friends and lots of good food.  I spent New Year's Eve with close friends playing cards and eating.  We rang in the new year with noise makers, party hats and glow in the dark jewelry.  It was a good time the very conservative Mormon way.  On January 1st some girl friends and I took advantage of the day off of work and went to Solitude to stay in my bosses condo.  It was nice to get out of town but only be 45 minutes away. 

We watched a couple of movies, played some more games, read horoscopes, listed our resolutions, painted our nails, watch more movies, ate good food, ate more good food and headed back home.  It was a great weekend and I am very very excited for a brand new year!

A visit from BRAZIL

My last mission companion in my mission came to visit me for a week in July!  It was fun to have her here.  It has been 10 years since I served my mission, yikes!!  I feel lucky because Elite and I have stayed in touch with each other throughout the years.  This is the third time I have seen her since I have been home. It was her first time to Utah and I think it was an eye opening experience.  She couldn't get over all of the big cars.  It was actually quite funny, she just kept saying all of the cars here are gigantic.  We had a good time spending the week together.

We did a lot of shopping!! 

We went to Morgan and spent a night with my family!!

And we spent a lot of time eating!  

It really was great to have her here.  Things have change a little between us through the years.  Some of the things we believe and feel are very different.  We had a couple of challenging situations and conversations but I am still so happy she came to visit.  She was one of the people on this earth I can say my a fundamental difference in who I am today.  I will always love her and be grateful to her for the things she taught me and the love she showed me while we were serving our mission.  Te amo, Amiga!!

Les Miserable

I have always wanted to see Les Miserables on broadway.  It is one of my favorite stories ever written, ever!  I have seen the movie of Les Miserables with Liam Neeson and I highly recommend it.  My friend Aubrey got tickets for Les Miserables here in Salt Lake at the Capital Theater.  She invited me to go with and I was elated! Although I was tired and our seats weren't great, I had a fabulous time.  The music was amazing.  The stage and of course as I mentioned, I love the story.  It was a great night.  Thanks so much to Aubrey for the invite!

Huntington Beach

I spent Memorial Day Weekend in Huntington Beach California with a group of girls.  I knew some of them before we left and some of them I didn't.  What I have to say about it now is we will all be life long friends.  It was such a good time.

Gen, Kari, Cheryl and Cristina waiting for X2. 

They had fast passes so they didn't have to wait as long. 

We were trying to get Cristina's wrist band on Lyndsie's wrist. We totally failed. This picture is my favorite of the trip!  Lyndsie face is so strained. Who would think something more serious was happening. Hahaa!

Oooo La La at the Beach!

Kari and Julie in the car on the way to Magic Mountain. 

We made it! Yay!

My favorite ride on the earth...X2. Totally worth the 2.5 hour wait.. sigh!

Cute, sweet, girls!

Going on GOLIATH for the second time. Don't worry about the 225 foot drop into a black hole!! Yikes! Hold on tight....

Julie and I couldn't pass up trying on the hats.

Movie and Candy night.  Yes, all of the bowls on my body have a different kind of candy in them. 

Beautiful girls Lyndsie and Julie waiting for X2. I think this was about 2 hours into the wait. 

A quick pic while on Ninja.  We were a little excited!

Yes we are shopping by the beach!  I love this place!

Angie's Birthday Surprise

My friend Angie's husband contacted me a few months ago to help plan a birthday surprise for Angie.  Her birthday was on May 12th.  We planned the surprise to be at my place the night of May 11th.  I told Angie I had a gift for her and asked if she could stop by.  When she came over.... Ta da, a house full of people for the birthday surprise.

I hope that she had a good time and was surprised.  Her little girl got scared by all the shouts and noise.

 Me and Angie.

Angie and her husband Nathan.

 Can't have a birthday party without a cake!!

 Bri and Zane. 

Best Friends Emersyn and Charlie.  Angie and Nathan's little girl.

Tanning Trip #7

Brianna and I headed out over the weekend for our annual tanning trip to Mesquite.  This is the 7th year we have followed the tradition.  We have actually come up with a pretty stricked ritual.  We leave on Friday afternoon.  We drive to St. George and stop for In N Out hamburgers.  We finish the drive to Mesquite, check into the hotel, get in our pajamas and watch TV until we fall asleep.

Bri sitting pool side. 

On Saturday morning we go get a massage. It's heaven. Then we go to Walmart by all the slutty magazines, some treats and diet Pepsi.  Then we go lay out at the Casa Blanca Pool for the rest of the day. Around 4:00ish in the afternoon we pack up our pool bags and head back to the hotel.

I was so excited to wear my hat! Ha! :)

We shower and get semi-ready, meaning we don't wear any make-up or fancy clothes.  We take our selves out to dinner and then to see a movie.  This year we ate at Los Lupes.  Which was fabulous and I highly recommend and saw Water for Elephants as you can see in my post below.  Then on Sunday morning we wake up. Eat the free breakfast at the hotel and head for home.  It is one of the best weekends ever!!  I hope the tradition last forever!

Ole Ole Ole REAL Salt Lake

I liked watching soccer while I was in High School.  And then I served a mission in Brazil and learned to love soccer.  I've been a fan of REAL Salt Lake for years.  Wednesday night they played in the CCL Cup finals here in Salt Lake against Monterrey Mexico.  My friend Kelli came along for the fun. I was so excited for the game.  I love watching the REAL play but to be able to watch them in such an elite game was so exciting.  The stands were on fire.

Everyone wearing red and chanting.  This is a picture of Scott, my brother in law with his brother and sisters.  Way to represent, Little Fam!!!  Everyone was standing and screaming the entire time, we never took our seats.  I was glorious, full of energy and fun!  The result was not perfect as we didn't win but I am so proud of our boys!

They played good and hard.  There are always mistake and things people think they could have done better but what happens is what it is.  I love REAL Salt Lake and will always be a fan!!!

Dinner Party

I had a dinner party at my house last night and forgot to take any pictures.  The dinner was a success and I am so happy everyone was able to come.  Brock made Fillet Mignon.  Mari Lu brought a Strawberry Almond Green Salad.  I made fresh hummus and roasted red pepper dips with baked pita slices.  I also cooked some baked potato and roasted vegetables. For dessert we had triple chocolate cake with whip cream and strawberries.  I truly am so sad I didn't take any pictures.  Thanks Dustin, Gentry, Heidi, Aubrey, Brock, Mari Lu and Tricia for being my guests. It really was a great evening.

Baby Shower

I had a baby shower at my house in February for my friend Janeal.  Her baby boy is due now in April.  I have known Janeal since I was in college at Weber State living in the Falls apartments.  Janeal is one of the best girls I know.  She is sweet, kind, loyal, ambitious, smart, loving and beautiful.  She is going to be an amazing mom.  I am very excited for her.  Congratulations Janeal!!!

You can see we had plenty of Food!!

Some baby decorations.

Friends from the Falls.  

Left to Right: Janeal, Lauren Batchelder, Kate, Me, Aubrey, Angie and Emeryson.

Blongo Ball Tournament..Sigh!

We had a Blongo Ball tournament at work today. It was also Sports Day Friday. I wore my purple Jazz shirt for good luck!! I didn't win. :(


Brianna was the champion!! Do you think the Jazz shirt had anything to do with me losing? I'm sure it had absolutely nothing to do with my skills! Will just see who wins next time, Bri..better watch out, lady!

Cambridge and Harvard

The last day Kelli and I were in Boston we took the subway to Cambridge. The city of the famous Harvard University. We experienced the worst weather on this day. It was very cold and very rainy. Harvard was, I want to say majestic. Ha, Ha, that seems like such a funny thing to say but truly it was just like what you see in the movies. A courtyard full of tall trees. Large historical red brick buildings everywhere on campus. I could felt like a student just walking the street.

We stopped by the bookstore to browse. I bought a few used Christmas books.

We actually walked around for a while trying to find the front gates to the Harvard. We think this is it. Not 100% sure only because we that it might be bigger and have a large monument or sign indicating it was the front gates. This is the only gate we could find so it just figured it was the front gates. Ha Ha!

The organization of Harvard.

A small plaza with a fountain donated by the graduation class of 1887.

The courtyard with all the trees and red brick buildings.

The Cambridge Fire Department. Keeping with the theme of red brick buildings.

And Grendel's a darling little restaurant/pub we found to eat lunch. Of course we didn't take advantage of the pub part but the food was great and the atmosphere was amazing.

All in all, Boston, Cambridge, Harvard... great places to visits. It was a very fun trip. I look forward to going back in the summertime to see more sites and of course.. catch a Boston Red Sox Game!!!

Christmas Spectacular!

The purpose of the trip to Boston was to see my friend Staci, who served in the same mission as me, in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. It was so fun to get dressed up and go to the show.

The show was playing at the Want Theatre in the theatre district in Boston.

Kelli and I inside the theatre.

The inside of the theatre is amazing. Chandeliers, stone and marble everywhere.

There were so many parts of the show that I absolutely loved. The joy and happiness of Christmas. One of my favorite parts is the very last scene. The preform a live nativity. The actually have real camels, and lambs and a donkey. The costumes are absolutely beautiful. The live Nativity has been a part of the Christmas Spectacular since 1933. As the show ends and the curtain close you hear a reading of a testimony entitled....

"One Solitary Life"

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. The for three years He was itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place he was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. he did non of the things that usually accompany greatness. While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had - His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Two thousand years have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched and all of the navies that ever sailed and all parliaments that ever sat and all kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this "One Solitary Life"

We met up with Staci after the show. She is so amazing. It was so fun to see her and be in Boston. I can't even wait to do it again!!!

Weekend in Boston Continued...

After Kelli and I finished our tour of Boston's freedom trail, we took to the streets to see more of the city and do some shopping. Shopping in Boston was very fun and everyone was full of Christmas. Everywhere we turned some one was wearing a Santa Claus hat or an entire Santa Claus outfit. Music was playing. People were laughing. Carolers were singing. Lights were hanging everywhere. It was so easy to be happy and enjoy all the Christmas in the city.

Standing by the gigantic Christmas tree in the middle of the shopping center.

A picture at "Cheers" -- Where everybody knows your name!

This Statue was so funny to Kelli and I for some reason. I don't remember the guys name but he had something to do with the beginning of basketball or the Boston Celtics or something. We just thought it was a unique way to display a statue. Haha!

Another Christmas Tree in the city.

Once we had finished shopping for the day. We went back to the hotel and got ready to see Staci's performance in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Let me just tell you it was SPECTACULAR!! I'm being serious. Staci got us great seats and we sat on like the 6th row. The costumes, the dancing, the singing was all amazing. I didn't ever want it to end. It definitely should be on everyone's list to do for Christmas.