Vegas

When Luis' parents were here for his graduation, we both had the weekend off and so we had nothing to do but play! Luis' mom was kind enough to book a condo for the weekend just 20 minutes away from the Vegas strip so we could celebrate Luis' (and my future) gradution. I was very surprised at just how many attractions came up when we were looking into what there was to do there besides gambling! I was hoping we could get it all done in the day and a half that we had. But it turns out, that was probably the best amount of time. We did feel a bit rushed trying to get to everything, but I think we got to do it all. Isabel treated us to everything...including tickets to see the Blue Man Group. I was pretty impressed with the music they made and the cool colors they used. Oh, and in every single building there is a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, and a bar. And the casinos had no exit signs (tricky, tricky)...

The first sign...

 When we first got there, we went to the stratosphere which is the tallest building in Vegas. It was so cool to be so high and see the entire city before we did anything else.

We went to the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. It was a big aquarium we got to walk through and see sharks, jelly fish, turtles, and other cool sea creatures. One my my best pictures...a stingray that was smiling at us!!

 And the weather was just about as good as it could get...80s with well conditioned buildings in between...

 They have EVERYTHING in Vegas...like an M&M world.

 And really cool shows...

 And the eifle tower...

 And the Statue of Liberty...

 And bathroom signs that say "Dolls" instead of "Womens"

I am so glad we had the opportunity to be splurged on (haha). It was so fun to do all the touristy things that Luis and I would not have done had we gone, just the two of us. Lots of memories were made that will not be forgotten. Thank you Isabel and Dorbi fora great vacation!!

Luis gradutes, again!

Luis is officially gruaduated from his masters program!!!!!

He has a Masters of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. Sounds smart, huh?! I am so proud of him in all that he has accomplished. He has such a strong work ethic and I am so fortunate that I married a man who wants to do everything he can to provide for his family. What's next? Well...stay tuned...we should have everything figured out in the next week or so...

Here we are...



 My parents, his mom and step dad were all able to come and support Luis and I in this ending of a chapter. We were able to show his parents around Temple Square for the first time. I knew his mom would love the flowers there, and she did! She kept commenting on how they were arranged so beautifully. I am so happy we live so close to such a beautiful place that even non-members can enjoy.

This picture for some reason really brings out how small my parents are...just look at them! So cute!

 I loved how proud his mom was of him. Someday I hope to know just how amazing it feels to go through so much sacrifice for your children and then be able to see them accomplish such a great thing.

Through all of the long days (and nights...) of studying, the many headaches, the pages and pages of typing, the canceled fun things planned, the joyful moments of getting an A, the sacrifice of giving up "the finer things in life", the monotanous "quick and easy" "dinners", the no-fun allowed weekends, the joy of finishing another semester, the inflexibility of being able to get away, the difficulty it is to see family, the missed workouts together, the canceled sunday evening walks, the sunny days spent inside with no windows, and the mirage of a light at the end of a tunnel...makes me so proud of US for getting though this together.

 And we still like each other (I think).

Missing the love of my life...

1 week down, 5 more to go...

An Early Christmas

We are so excited for this season!!! Hope to someday have a fireplace to hang these over instead of a dead spot on the wall...
Our kind of sad looking Christmas tree...with a brown bear (Luis' ornament from my mom)Luis opening his favorite present: An indoor basketball hoop with a backboard...he demanded that we stop opening presents, "this HAS to be set up right now". Guess standing in line during black Friday was worth it.
Since Luis and I are flying home for Christmas, we decided it would be easier to open most of our presents to each other rather than to take them on the plane both ways. So.....my favorite gift that Luis got for me was.................a GPS watch!! I have wanted one of these for many years now, ever since I started running in high school. And now my dreams have come true ;) I am so happy!!! It has some pretty neat features, like calories burned, distance ran (or biked, or hiked), heart rate, lap times, and a program on the computer that I can log all of my workouts onto. It even has a function where I can find my way back home if I get lost (who...me????). I can track my progress by comparing my past workouts to my current one, and race against myself...

I am signing up for a Spartan Race which is basically an 8 mile race with lots of obstacle courses that you have to get through in order to finish the race...I AM SO EXCITED!!! But I probably wont take my watch because I don't want it to get dirty. The only thing this watch needs is a camera so I can take pictures of all of the pretty things I get to see on my runs...Next Christmas I will wish for a running buddy (aka a puppy, since Luis wouldn't dare take me on!!). Excited to go visit home in just a few short days...to warmer (and probably wetter) weather...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Holiday Cheer

This is what all of you are missing out on! We went to see the lights at Temple Square tonight and they were as beautiful as ever. It helped us get into the Christmas spirit being able to hear people on horse carriages singing Christmas carols and see an awesome display of Christ's birth with a narration. It's kinda neat to see Temple Square so busy with people speaking so many different languages at this time of year.

This picture is a street that takes you straight to the temple...about 3 blocks from our apt. (Bonus: no trying to find parking...just walking!!)
Here is a really cool nativity that shows Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus floating in the water, with shepherds and lambs surrounding them on the grass with the North Star on the top of the tree...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We will spend our holiday at home with some family. Luis and I have a few more weeks of school stuff, then we are HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!
And to all a good night.

Thanksgiving

We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with My brother Chad and his wife Angela and their family. We got to see this girl!!! Unfortunately we didn't get a group picture, but jsut know we had the BEST food and the BEST company.So even though it was 55 degrees when we left SLC, it was around 30 degrees just 1.5 hours north in Logan! But that didn't stop hardcore Angela from going snow shoeing and she brought me with her and her friends. It was a first for the both of us, and we both really liked it. It was really fun to get outdoors and get a workout. And the best part is that I think I could talk Luis into this activity...maybe someday on a regular basis. So...this picture shows a mountain that we went STRAIGHT UP. It wasn't easy at all! It was steep enough to where we had to use our hands to help us climb up it and not fall straight backwards (not an exaggeration at all).
Us hot and sweaty...and happy...and hungry!
The views were to die for! So pretty to see the canyon at all different views...
This was NO Turkey Trot!! We went 3+ miles and 2.5 hours of climbing mountains, hiking snow trails, and crossing water (with iced logs...little scary). When all was said and done I was so excited to eat as much as I wanted in a warm house...love the holidays. Hopefully Luis and I can get out to do this some time next semester...he will LOVE it...

Trip to University Place (haha)

I was able to take a trip to my brothers to get some dental work done and had the chance to spend some time with family. It was the one of the FEW times in my life that I was excited to go to the dentist! My brother and his wife Summer were able to show me a BEAUTIFUL park they live next to. It is HUGE and even has water with islands in it. There is also a train that goes through it, which made one little boy very happy. My nephew Cash LOVES trains, and anything to do with them. Here he is below waiting for the train to come.
Us smiling...
And I couldn't resist posting this one...He is just so cute!
My teeth are always a work in progress, and I am excited to visit them again at Christmas time to get more work done, and to meet their new baby!!

Summer and I were also able to drive down to Vancouver and surprise my mom with a visit for a few hours. I rarely do anything without planning it ahead of time, and am grateful Summer brought out that spontaneous side of me. It was so much fun even though half the time was spent in the car. There is no place like home.