Where have I been?

OMG, really? 2 months..that is uncalled for..patetico..really I have no excuse..well I kinda do, but I dunno, whatev, (don't worry..not prego) I'm just happy I'm FINALLY blogging!! Its such a breathe of fresh air! Let me tell ya, it feels just as if you have had dishes piled up for days and you keep eyeing the dishes because they keep eyeing you and you're so stressed about doing them because you know it will take years to get through them, but you finally just suck it up and do them!! (Not that I would ever leave my dishes dirty for days) ha! Anyway, there really has been a lot that has happened in the past couple of months so I'm just going to perform word vomit and spit it out..wait, don't I always do that?

OK, first of all, back in the day, sometime in February, we started up a couples ballroom class..now it wasn't one of those formal, become as good as the BYU dance team or anything, but it was sooo much fun! We only had classes for 6 weeks in the row and we learned such dances as: cha cha, west coast and east coast swing, the waltz, the buchata (very seductive dance, watch out), marengue, and maybe one other one I don't remember but they were all so amazing and so fun! I had learned a bunch of them in a BYU class that I took, but I really wanted Randall to learn them too so we signed up and danced the night away! I actually learned a bunch of new things as well and will always have that class in my heart. I'm really sad i didn't take any pics but what do ya do..ya smile.

yeah...so I didn't get a pic of us dancing in our class.but I figured this is what the pic would have looked like except different clothes obvio, this pic just makes you want to dance, no?!!

Next on the list...hmm...OH yeah, so in the final days of Jimmer (I know this news is sooo old) we got sooo into BYU Basketball and were hoping they would at least make it to the elite 8, but at least they made it as far as they did and we were proud...Here are some pics of us REALLY getting into the game one night at our house..GREAT times.

Us supporting the Jimmer!

Blue and Sammy are sooo into it

Ben and Karin and Jackie..Jackie should have looked at the camera

Look at this Jimmer ma-ham!

Speaking of basketball, Randall played his last and final year on the team "Da Ducks." They were an excellent team and have been playing together for 4 years! They're all friends and all LOVE playing basketball. It was fun supporting them at the games. Sadly, I didn't go to the last game because I felt so sick and Randall was out of town, BUT I'm going to show the picture below because its the pic he WOULD HAVE been in if he had been there, I kinda wanna photo shop him in the pic but I don't know how...anyone know? ;) Haha, but good job Ducks! You guys did super bueno!

This is the pic Randall needs to be photo shopped into..someday, it will be done

I've started reading Harry Potter...I know, sad, right? I'm just NOW reading Harry Potter!! I've seen all the movies but they just don't even compare to the oasis I've been going to every time I pick up one of those little, actually humongous, books and go into my Harry Potter Land. I seriously don't know why I never read them before, really? omg, what was I thinking?! I think I figured, that at the time, I was already so behind on reading them that i would just enjoy the movies and that would be that...but oh how wrong i was. Seriously, anyone that hasn't read them (u hum..Natty) should get their butt going on reading them. OH and not only do I read them, but I read a book and then watch the movie!! I think what has gotten me soo excited is that we're going to Harry Potter Land in May!! OMG, so ecstatic! AND the last movie comes out in July!! What's not to anticipate here people? SO, any kind of free time I get..pretty much goes to Harry Potter..some days I wish they made a Harry Potter--The College Years and I could be the lead Hermione!...that would work, right? Oh how I wish....

Oh...Harry Potter..whats not to love?

Next on the list...General Conference. What an amazing general conference, no? If you didn't have an opportunity to watch it, go here, the prophet, apostles, and all those that spoke were all very inspiring and I even had the opportunity to speak on one of the talks today in Sacrament Meeting! I talked on"The Atonement Covers all Pain." It was a marvelous talk and I'm glad I got to study it out a little more and then present on it. I actually don't mind public speaking once I'm actually up at the pulpit..its the preparing and anticipation of it that worries me...me? Worried? never! ;) OH and I cried when I gave my talk...gosh, why do I do that every time?!? I wish when people told you that you gave a good job on your talk, you could really tell if they were being honest like they really thought you did good on your talk, OR they were just saying you did a good job to be nice....Oh well...Anyway, for general conference, we had the chance to go to Royce and Heather's house and spend most of the weekend there. My bro Rhetty poo even came down! What a stud with that handle bar mustache....SO we watched conference, then when the guys went to priesthood, mom and I were able to work on some more scrap booking pages-they were seriously ADOR, let me tell you--we were able to work on the pages of me and bros at my wedding..I just love scrap booking, it just takes me a while to do it since I'm a perfectionist at it..weird since I'm not really a perfectionist in other things..hmmm...weird. While we worked on scrap booking, Heather watched this ooooold show with people dancing and singing wearing these hilarious outfits from the 50's..maybe older? don't remember. This one guy even looked like the Ken doll. When the guys got back, we went and ate at Rumbi...mmm...delicious, and then played some games, and went to bed. The next morning we had yummy cinnamon roles, watched wonderful conference, played some more games, and then went home and said bye to the rents. Overall it was a superb weekend and enjoyed the time with fam. See pics below :)

Chillin with bunner during conference

Yum..Rumbi

Rhett does kinda look Mexican here

House on the haunted hill!! Or it's called something like that..its SO FUN!

Yes..my brother DOES have a handle bar mustache..all the ladies love him

Lets talk about whats been taking all my time now. Late last year I was asked to team teach a Hispanic Chronic Conditions Class. I went through a training and started teaching at the beginning of March and I finished this past week. It has been an amazing experience and has allowed me to use my Spanish as well as my public health degree that I received a year ago. it truly has been a blessing as I've taught and been able to see how these people have learned what they need to do so they don't suffer, but have the willingness to go on and be fervent in living a healthy life while living with their chronic illness. I also got to teach with a great Chilean friend of mine that was such a treat since she's the ONLY Chilean at my work! Absolutely loved it! Go Chile!

Next on the agenda. Time out for Women. SO last weekend, we went to Time out for Women in Fresno, California. It's pretty much this little conference that Sherry Dew puts on and has ladies and a few gents speak at. They're amazing speakers and the spirit was sooo strong throughout the whole conference. I really enjoyed it and I got some good notes! Here are some of my favorite things they said:

John Bytheway "Character is the ability to follow through with goals you've made long after the mood you were in when you made them."

Kris Belcher "Christ doesn't always cure us, but he always heals us."

Deann Flyn "Home is where the heart is, not where the microwave is."

"" "We should overlook greater proficiency with greater priority." (in regards to making your home a heaven on earth)

Laurel Christensen "We must ask if the good things we're praying for are the things he wants us to praying for. Our Father does want to give us good things but it has to be at the right time and we need to ask to know if its ok to pray for those specific things."

"" "Don't ever be the one thing standing in your way." (power of thoughts to never hold you back)

Mary Ellen Edmonds "What lies behind us or what lies in front of us is not as important as what lies within us."

Us at the beginning of the conference..ahh mother and daughters

We got a pic with John Bytheway! He's so famous..

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Mom with Michael Mclain! she apparently went to seminary with him and he still remembers her...my mom will tell you the story..she loves telling it

Us on the Saturday session

I don't know why I felt the need to get a pic of this sign..but whatev

OH!! BONUS PART OF MINI VACA!! SO every time a Wicked play has a showing in any city, they do a raffle before hand to the community for 10 people to win tickets for $25 and each person can bring someone else. Natty, me and Mom all entered and my mom won!! We could not believe it!! It was a miracle!! SO mom and I got to go to Wicked!! AND We had 2nd row seats!! It was truly a spectacular play, probably one of the best ones I've ever seen and I was SOO grateful I had that opportunity to go..I seriously recommend anyone that reads this to go see it!! And try the raffle thing b/c it is DANG expensive to see this play..your chances are pretty good, there were only like 50-60 people in the raffle! Go Wicked!

Where my mom won!! We got little buttons that said "You've won the wicked lottery" haha

I had to get this pic

I shot a pic of the curtain b/c it was amazing..I then found out I wasn't suppose to take any pics..oops!

So, I think thats about all that has happened int he past couple of months. I can't believe time has flown and that Randall will be graduating this Friday!! Ahhh!! craziness, but we're all very proud and happy for him and I think he is such a bunner for graduating! It will be way exciting with family in town to celebrate this marvelous event! I wish I would have lost like 10 pounds to look good in all the memorable pics, but whatev, that's another story. SO, yay for my honey and I love him soo much for all the very hard work he has put into accomplishing this great thing. Once we know our secure future plans, I'll blog about it..but right now..its still in the air. We might be going to Jersey though! AHHH! But ya never know what could happen.

Oh, this is just a random show of us with Katie, Andrew, little Edin, Russell, and us. We went to spark and got yummy drinks!! It looks like I'm drunk holding a baby but I promise..these drinks are non-alcoholic

On a side note, one of my closest friends is having twins!! I can post that because no one knows who I'm talking about..hahahaha, but they're going to have the cutest babies and I can't wait to see them and hold the preshies. Natty will have her baby in about a month and half and I'm pretty sure that brings the number of friends I have that are married and don't have babies down to like 3 or 4 or something like that and don't worry..I do have more than 4 friends....but I am happy for everyone and one of our whole purposes here on earth is to multiply and replenish the earth so... I get it :) Well I will be blogging soon about graduation...thats all for now :) Peace in the middle east.

Vegas baby!

SO...as most of you know..or maybe as most of you don't know..we went to Vegas last weekend!! It was fabuloso let me tell you! I lost all my money, but it was well worth the trip, ha! yeah right! I won money! But maybe I shouldn't be posting this on my blog b/c most Mormons are against gambling and since that's pretty much 98% of my viewers....uh oh..but whatev, I won like a dollar and bet like a dollar so stop calling my bishop. OH, but it was loads of fun aside from winning a dollar. (on the penny slots I might add). SO we start driving to Vegas on Friday afternoon and lo and behold my Patty (aka Natty Patty) surprises me by being in Vegas and staying at the same hotel we were at! Fancy pants! BUT it kinda wasn't a surprise b/c I figured it out..but its all good because I didn't find out until we were actually in the car driving down I-15 south. We (both couples and Hyrum) stayed at the Strat, it was wondrous! I don't think thats a word.. oh..wait, it is, anyway, we stayed at the Strat and I really liked it..it probably wasn't as entertaining on the bottom floor..but as soon as I went to the top floor--I was thrilled beyond air (I'll go into that later) Plus the rooms were really nice! 3 stars baby!

When we got in that night, of course there was an hour long check-in..not really, but it was long--duh--President's Day Weekend, but as soon as we got in, Natty Patty called and wanted to know if we would go to the fountain show at the Bellaaaaaaaaaaaagio, it's way more fun to say the Bellagio like that. So we went and saw the fountains and the first song was waaay better than the next but don't ask me what the first song was..it was just good, and then the 2nd song was Elton John...soo...yeah, but then we walked around the Bellagio Gardens inside and they were also celebrating Chinese New Year and the year of the rabbit!! It was way nifty and glad we got to see it. When we got back to the strat, we went up to the top of the building..naturally..when we got there, there was a few wackos that were bungee jumping off the top of the frieking building!! I know (rolling my eyes) So that was pretty amazing, and then we went to the even higher look out point outside and we just about died! Seriously, it was so windy up there we almost got blown off the tower and I am not exaggerating. When I realized how windy it was.. my answer for going on the rides was negatory. I think its funny that sometimes they have to close down rides when its too windy and they actually open up the ride when it's "not as windy" not windy my butt! It was so scary that when the people were going on the X Scream and they were screaming, i was screaming for their life along with them because I thought they were going to die!! SO..no gracias, but it was pretty cool to see people risk their lives.

Ahhh...Patty and her Hi-Guy(Hyrum)

Beautiful show-I'm sure most have seen it

Yay for the fountain show!

Ahhh..look at them girls

Some day that Eifel Tower will be real in the pic.

Randall's practicing being a daddy

Year of the bunner! haha

The next day we got up and got a yummy breakfast with of course--hashbrowns, ahh, gotta love hashbrowns, and then we went and visited my girl Kelly! I just love that girl and her fab family. She has the cutest kids and I was so happy to see them since it had been about a year and a half since I saw them last. We chatted it up...naturally..and then we were on our way to do lunch with Natty, John, and Hyrum. We ate a yummy Mexican place in Planet Hollywood..not too bad but I'm pretty sure I've had better...thas right...es la verdad

I got a bug bite on my face among the mist of our busy schedule! What up with that?!

Love my girl Kelly!

Us at the Mexican Restaurant that was just "ok"

Natty and John headed back to California after lunch and we headed back to the Strat. We went back up on the tower and it was even MORE windy! We wanted to see Vegas from the tower in the day time so we did just that! We then headed over to the amazing Luxor Hotel so we could see the Titanic Exhibit! If any of you haven't seen this, this is definitely something that deserves a once in a lifetime trip. As soon as I got into the exhibit, I felt like I was one of the passengers! Good thing when the boat sank, i survived. No, but for reals, it was so impressive. They had artifacts and a piece of the actual ship! They gave you a detailed description of what actually went down.. when the ship went down, ha ha, but yeah, it was really interesting. At the end of the exhibit, the person you were given at the beginning on a piece of paper, was either on a list of those that lived or those that didn't. Both of our people lived. I had Rose and Randall had Jack. Oh wait..Jack didn't live.

As you can tell, the wind is blowing our hair around on the top of the Strat..I look like a diva and Randall looks like Frankenstein!

Amazing Titanic Exhibit!

Once we left the Luxor, we headed over to the Rio!! We went and saw Penn and Teller! They were hilar and were pretty magical...they made this guy's cell phone disappear! It was stupendous. I don't really like that word..they were "beyond belief"..there we go..afterward we got pics with them! I'm famous! Well..I'm not really, but they are and it was exciting.

Penn and Teller!

At the beginning of the show we had to go up and look inside this wooden box that opened on one side. We made sure there was no trap doors but what do we know? Teller of course came out of it once the show started..don't worry, I have my theory of how he did it..I had a theory on almost every trick of how they did it...hahaha, We also had to sign a piece of paper that was used later in the act

Us enjoying the pre-show jazz

Teller and I!!

Penn and us!! He's so tall!

Anyway, I know this is the never ending story, but I just have to add the last tid bitty. SO after the show we were really hungry because it had been like 10 hours since we ate so we went to the Mirage and checked out this place called BLT Burger! We didn't think much of it but after we debated a little, we decided upon Fried Oreos....omg...words cannot explain the yumminess..the deliciousness..the party in your mouth kind of flavor that fried oreos brought to my soul. Soul sounds kinda deep but these oreos were deeP! Deeply set into my arteries..but it was a true fantabulous moment and I just hope that every single person I meet in this life gets to try this new favorite dessert of mine..if not this life, maybe the next...well my heaven will have chocolate anyway so there ya go. But back to the fact that you can't find fried oreos anywhere but maybe thats a good thing so I don't have a heart attack before i turn 30...Anyway, BLT Burger Mirage.. don't forget.

The delicious heaven in my mouth that probably almost gave us a heart attack

We left the next day. Made it home safely. Such a fun trip! The end :)

FAB FEB Weekend

Wow, what a fun weekend!(last weekend..I'm just now getting around to blogging about it the Saturday after the fact..surprise..surprise) It was very eventful and I was left very tired on Sunday night after the weekend fiasco! Friday night..we went to Randall's Facility and Property Management Formal at the Hinkley Center! His major is so small, so they have fun activities for the students and their fams! It was a nice night filled with pictures, socializing, dinner, and dancing!

Winter Formal Pic..fancy pants

Um...this pic looks a little like an awkward high school dance pic b/c of the soft hand hold but the photographer lady didn't really position us. We had to do it on our own so pshhh, we didn't know what to do.

Socializing with our awesome table buddies and eating yummy food

Um...usually I'm a more crazy dancer but the dress wouldn't really allow it..don't you worry, I promise I'm a better dancer than what this pic portrays..

I think this was the electric slide..maybe?

Boot scootin boogy all the way baby..wow that girl in the blue was getting way into it

So..I don't really know who this person is but my facial expression is..I'm speechless

Ahh...............................presh

The next day we got jimmered!!! haahah, twenty years from now I'll look at this post and be like..what the--?? But then again I'll probably say that about half of my blog posts. Anyway, it has been Jimmermania here in Provo for the past month or so and we definitely had to go to the game! We of course won and had a blast going with friends, I even got a pic of the Jimmer Big head which cracks me up every time I see it..especially when Cosmo steals it away b/c Cosmo can do anything..wow am I really blogging about my alma mater's mascot??...

Jimmer!

Jimmer Face! That thing is bigger than me..literally..

All the true fans were at the game! Yah..totally caught the glare on my glasses

Yay!! Go Us!

SO that night we went to my brother's Chinese New Year Party at his Kung Fu gym and it was pretty amazing. We ate some junk food..ya know..what people do at parties..then someone tried to kill someone else using there kung fu skills..ya know, the usual, ok, that last part didn't really happen..but i really did want to see someone beat someone else up using kung fu or wing chung skills..Heather and I thought that pretty much would have been amazing..but of course it didn't happen..OH and they did a lion dance--ya know like the dragon one they do in China but unfortunately we got there too late which was sad times but overall it was happy times because we THEN got a lesson taught to us by the seefu (that's probably not how you spell it but he is the master, head hauncho..ya know) and his lesson was VERY interesting. He first taught a Chinese lesson which i don't really remember what it was called because it was in Chinese thus making me forget..BUT it was great. It was about how we shouldn't just enjoy life once we've completed goals but that we should enjoy life always..even in the process of making those goals happen. I'm sure someone else could explain it better, but that's the main gist I got from it sooo yeah..OH but then he gave another life lesson (I love life lessons taught to me) and this one was on how each of us has a checking and savings account and how to use your energy wisely in your checking's account so you don't have to withdraw from your savings..it may sound confusing b/c I'm not explaining it well but it makes really clear sense. Anyway, hopefully I'm allowed to talk about this on my blog b/c if not, I'll have to erase it and I'll be really sad. The night was fab and then they had a pick up sticks contest that we def weren't going to stay for b/c it was like 10:30 pm when we left.

Look at that doorway!

Chinese decorations!

Year of the rabbit!! Bunner is a rabbit! Hahaha, that is pretty funny

The next day we had stake conference and Richard Hinckley came and talked to us! He's pretty much amazing of course. The rest of the stake leadership also talked to us and I very much enjoyed it. They stressed the importance of temple work and Johnny Lingo....LOVED it.

Later that day we had Russell over and ate lots of yum snacks :) What a fab Feb weekend.

In other news, Barb is engaged!--Yay! Katie had her baby!-- Yay! I'm prego! Yay! Ha, JK, I'm pretty sure I would post that news on Facebook before I posted it on my blog..but I dunno..that's a good question...hmmm.. but we're definitely not prego yet :) Hopefully most of you would know that news before I posted it on a blog or Facebook anyway. But then again..I probably only have 10 viewers of this blog anyway. We're going to Vegas next weekend!! Woo hoo!!