Audi Here

One of the things that I did not mention on my last post was we got rid of my favorite car ever...My Audi TT Roadster. I loved that car so much! So sad to see it go! It was one of the best cars a single girl could have. I attribute finding a husband to this car. Thanks to my older brother, Brock, who suggested it, I bought it, and have enjoyed driving around with the top down ever since.

Well, being the mature adults that we are, Brian and I decided we needed a 4-door car. Brian also has a 2 door car and we were really in need of a bigger car. So we started looking. We posted the Audi on Craigs List on a Sunday night, and that Thursday, the car was sold! WOW!

Our search for a new car began. We actually sold the Audi before we had another car. But we found one that we really like...and maybe even love.

This is our Subaru Legacy. I can't believe I own a Subaru. I always had some preconceived notions about Subaru buyers.


I figured if you owned a Subaru, you must either be a tree hugger or a lesbian. And since I don't fall into either of those catergories, I never thought I would own one. But, oh, have my thoughts changed about Subarus. This car is awesome. It has a turbo engine, just like my Audi. Love the heated leather seats, the sunroof, and the sports shift. I can still pretend like I am driving my Audi with the sports shifting.


Brian and I can't wait until it really snows here. Then we can test out the All Wheel Drive. Or we hope to go on a road trip of some sort to test it out, too. So, if anyone knows of a place we can visit to test it out, let us know!!!

Slacker

So, I know have been a total slacker. It has been almost 9 months since my last post. I will try to give you all (the few that are out there) a quick review on our life in the last 9 months.

In January we purchased a house and moved in to it in March. Here is a picture the night we purchased it and another picture of it prior to our hard work of landscaping. And please forgive the garage door being opened. Brian didn't think it would be tacky leaving the door open. But alas, we have not taken a new one of it.

We love our new house. We have had fun decorating it and making it our own. We love our new ward, too. The people have been very friendly and welcoming to us.

Our spring consisted of working hard on our house. Then we had to prepare for our summer. This summer we spent 5 weeks in the Dominican Republic providing medical clinics for people in a small village. We worked hard, but loved the people and the creatures we met.

Here is a tarantula we found in our room one night! It was crazy. We couldn't even wake the host family we were staying with to kill it. They just kept on sleeping....

Here are some of the kids we hung out with. Our absolute favorite is the boy in the lower right hand corner in the blue striped shirt. His name is Junior Mercedes Brito. He was the sweetest boy. He cried and cried the day we left. I would be lying if I said we were able to hold up without any tears when we said goodbye as well. He really left an impression on us. We really hope to one day bring him the United States to visit us. We would be honored to have him visit us.

I could post pictures all day and write so many things about our trip to the DR. However, I won't. I will try to add a link with all of our picture is people are interested.

A few weeks before we left for the DR, my dad's dad passed away. He was a great man. We all went up to Idaho for his funeral. It was a very neat funeral. He was a veteran and had the gun salute at the burial. What a cool thing that is!

One impressive thing about my grandpa was that he had his life all in order right before he died. He had gone and done his home teaching the week before he died, visited friends, and even had the music laid out on the piano for the family to have prior to his death. We truly believe he knew it was his time to go. But what a testimony to us about home teaching and visiting teaching. He truly was a good example.

This is a picture of my nephew, Parker, wearing my grandpa's hat from WWII. It was such a cute picture. I couldn't resist taking it!

Seeing our family was great, while in Idaho. We also had a chance to meet up with an old bishop Brian had while attending BYU-I. It was nice to just be with family and friends. We also got to see the new Rexburg Temple. It is beautiful. Next time we are there, we hope to be able to go in and do a session while we are there.

Isn't it pretty????

After we got home from the DR, it was back to work, and back to working on our house more. We have been busy!

So, there is our summer in a nut shell. I will get more pictures uploaded and start working on what we have been doing this fall!

Again, I apologize for being a slacker. I will be better. Now that we are back, and things are calming down a bit more, I should have more time for blogging. But if I start slacking, send me a message to get back to it!

So Funny

So I found this on my cousin's blog and I died laughing. I thought it was one of the funniest things I have seen. This guy is BRAVE! Enjoy the laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTegy6sBQVA

Baby, It's Cold Outside..An Ode to Josh

So today was one of the coldest days Omaha has had all year. And it had to be one of my least favorite days, too! I was about ready to strangle my car and the weather! Let me explain....

So, I was headed back from the Winter Quarters Bookstore, in good ol' North Omaha, which just happened to NOT be opened on Mondays. At first I was slightly irritated by that. But I got over it. I'm driving along and I hear a thump-thump, thump-thump. I pull over on the interstate, put my flashers on, and get out of my car. My tires look fine, so I get back in the car and start driving again. Again, I hear the thump-thump. I am so ticked off! I call my dad first. I didn't want to bother Brian, as he has been studying for his finals. My dad is unable to do anything for me at this point, as he did not drive his car into work. So, I call my mom. And of course, I'm so mad, that I start crying. Lucky for me her driver for the flower store was out in the area I was stuck. So, someone came and picked me up. We drove to my house, where I picked up Brian's car (as I had dropped him off to study group earlier in the day) and then I went and picked up Brian from study group.

We got to my car, and mind you, it is seriously 1 degree outside, and I'm not talking Celcius! With the wind chill, it is at least 11 below zero! Since I have a small car, my trunk is FULL of stuff. So, I empty out my trunk into my front seat of my car. We pull out the spare tire, and try figuring out how to get my tire off. It isn't cuz we are stupid-my car is slightly different than other normal cars-darn Germans! By this point, I am so cold I can barely move! Brian tells me to get into his car and warm up for a bit. As I am doing so, low and behold someone pulled over to help us! It was our friend, Josh.

Brian and Josh end up putting on the spare tire of my car. No, my tire was not flat. Instead, it was totally shredded on the inside! That takes talent to do that! I don't know how they did it while it was miserably cold outside. But thank you so much guys! I appreciate it so much.

I then drive my car on the interstate with the donut, unable to go faster than 50mph. I make it to the tire place, to find out that one tire is going to cost me $200! So much for having a fun car! I guess that's what you get. And to make things worse-I had just purchased two new tires less than a year ago...and it already had to be replaced.

To make matters all worse, I left my purse in Brian's car. So, all day I have been without a purse. But I guess when you spend $200 on a tire, you really shouldn't be spending much money on anything else.

So, after cursing the cold weather and expensive tires, I am all better! I am just grateful for friends who don't mind pulling over and helping out in negative degree weather! We really appreciate you Josh! Anything we can do for you, let us know. We owe you HUGE!!!! Thanks again!

Halloween

Er..so, I know this is a little late. Ok, a lot late. But I thought I would post some pictures of our Halloween costumes. We went to a costume party, and we are pleased to announce that we won first place. If you can't tell exactly what we are....Brian was a pirate and I was his treasure chest. Or should I say, my chest was his treasure chest. And for all of you that may think this was my idea...think again! It was entirely Brian's idea. I guess my naughtiness is rubbing off on him. It's good for him! I hope you enjoy the pictures. Hopefully I will be posting some more soon! And for all of you who have not responded to my last post, I am still waiting for sizes so I can make your slippers. Ha ha!

Christmas on a Budget

Dear Family and Friends:

I am somewhat embarrassing to admit, I'm not working much, so Christmas is tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes.

You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:

* You need four maxi pads to make a pair.

* Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
* The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.

* Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part. Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing), etc.

These slippers are:

* Soft and Hygienic

* Non-slip grip strips on the soles

* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh

* No more bending over to mop up spills

* Disposable and biodegradable

* Environmentally safe

* Three convenient sizes: (1) Regular, (2) Light and (3) Get Out the Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself....

Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you!

My Four Boys!

Last week, my most favorite boys in the whole wide world came and spent 10 days with my family. I had the opportunity to meet the youngest of the four boys, whom I have never met. He was born the day before I got married. And needless to say, even though he was born in California, where I was married, he was born in Southern Cali, and I got married in Northern. His name is Sawyer, and he is such a good baby. I really enjoyed meeting him. (Sorry, no picture at this time...but I will have some soon!)

I also had a wonderful time with the 3 older boys. There names are Tyler (age 6), Parker (age 3 on October 21), and Hunter (age 2 on November 8). They were so much fun, and at such fun ages too. We got to go the zoo, Vala's Pumpkin Patch, and just hang out and play. They even got to stay the night at my house one night! The picture to the left and above is Parker, Hunter, and Tyler watching a movie. They kept asking if they could spend another night at my house, cuz they had so much fun. But who wouldn't have fun with an awesome aunt that let them have Happy Meals, stay up late watching movies, let them eat popcorn and breakfast in bed, and drink caffeinated beverages for breakfast? (Not that I condone any of these activities if they were my kids...but come on, that's the joy of being an aunt, right? The picture below is a picture of Hunter on the stairs with his Diet Coke.

I love being an aunt! You get to do fun things with them that their parents wouldn't!

These boys crack me up! Below are a few more pictures of things they did while they were here that were just so funny. I was helping the boys pop the seeds off the impatience flowers and Parker fell right in the middle of my mom's flower bed. I had to get a picture.
Then another night, I found Tyler and Parker asleep in my mom's linen closet. The door was originally closed, but we did open it. Tyler has his leg hanging out. If you look closely, Parker is in the back of the closet sleeping on his stomach.

I had such a wonderful time with these boys of mine. I miss them so much already. I can't wait to see them again!