Summary of our Summer

My sister's visited for the summer from Georgia, we were so excited to catch up. Nia is sooooo tall, she's 6'0 and 108 lbs...and I thought it was hard to find a guy to marry that was taller than me, good luck Nia!


Jenny's wedding, we met in Panama. I had to take an emergency trip there when I lived in Costa Rica so that I could renew my Visa (some guideline they have for foreigners that stay in the country over 150 days). Jenny and her family let me stay and visit for a whole week. I loved it there, the shopping was amazing. I'm still biased toward Costa Rica, Costa Rica is a more beautiful country.
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Our first annual camp trip was by far the highlight of our summer. It was the first time we ever rode 4 wheelers. We camped at a secluded camp site in Manti, it was only a 3-day trip but next year we plan to camp out longer. We laughed so much during that trip, when we were 4 wheeling Simi was adventurous and got stuck in some standing water, gross! Doesn't the snapshot of his feet look like something from CSI? We spent one of the days on a lake where my sisters got so frustrated with my little brother that they jumped off the boat and walked around the whole lake! Next year we plan to have more family so we're so excited.




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Celebration of our 1st year being MARRIED!


I can' t believe it's already been a year! I've heard from several people that the first year of marriage is the hardest, that wasn't the case for me (Derek agrees). It was by far the best year in my life, I'm happy, in love and blessed to have such a great husband.
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For most of the summer we just hung out with my family. The benefits of hanging out with my fam is free laundry (or we can spend 25 cents for every 6 minutes for the dryer at our apartment), free food, free activities and fun times with our nephews.





We're pretty much do the standard, if we're not with family we're at the Gateway window shopping, we're watching movies or walking our puppy Skofeild...teaching new tricks to Skofeild...cooking Skofeild meals, we really do need to get out more.

Life with Skofeild

I've managed to read Puppies for Dummies, How to raise a good Dog, The Ultimate Guides for Dogs. My dog Skofeild is a good dog... mostly when he knows that there is something in it for him such as treats. So far he can sit, shake, lay down and he is almost leash trained, he can also fetch a ball. It's exciting to see him learning so much. However, there are some things that books can't really help you figure out. I'm embarrassed to admit that Skofeild still pee's all over our carpet (he especially gets a kick out of it right after I bring him in from a walk!)...he also eats his own Dung if we don't pick up after him as soon as he eliminates. GROSS! I know but most books say that it's animal nature to do so, especially if he lacks nutrition. So yes, he especially enjoys eating the dung of other dogs. We've done our research and have learned that commercial dog food isn't good for dogs. We decided to make home cooked meals...yes, I know what you all are thinking..., its time consuming just to cook for ourselves and our families. Hopefully the food will be so good that he never wants to eat dung again. Skofeild is our family (guarantee things will change once a baby comes though, you can count on that!
Overall it's nice to have a happy animal around the apartment. I admit, I was skeptical about getting a dog because I didn't really grow up with pets but Skofeild has grown on me. I guess service does that right? After cooking and cleaning up after him, I've accepted him. Not to mention he is one good looking puppy.

Audric's Birthday Party

I pretty much live my life vicariously through those who have children. When my sister-in-law asked for my help to plan Audric's birthday I was quiet excited. We started out with the Pinata last weekend. It took hours, but it was fun to conversate while we worked on it. Next was the cake, Stacy envisioned it, designed it on paper and worked most of the day Friday. As much as I would like to take credit for making such a beautiful cake I only helped put the fondant and grass around the edges. It turned out so beautiful and delicious too.




Audric has a fun personality, it's impossible to be upset around him because he's usually always happy. In the pictures above he got a little tired from his blow up pool slide. He fell asleep in his towel on his chair. When he awoke it was time to blow out the candles on his cake. He was obviously more into his sucker.
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Most of my 1st cousins attended the party. It was fun reminiscing with them. We're all very close in age and we grew up spending every holiday and most weekends together (with Bob Marley always playing in the backround). My mom has 6 siblings but she was closed to her brother who had 8 children, lucky for us we always had someone to play with. We plan to meet more often.




I have some good looking cousins. I didn't get a chance to take pictures with all the little ones. This is Cindy's Daughter Lota, she looks just like her mommy when she was her age. Pina is Mele's daughter, in the picture with the waterslide.

Tag I'm it!

Okay, well I have been tagged, so here it goes!

*3 Joys:
My Husband & Family: I’m blessed I get to wake up to my handsome husband each day (except when he’s on call.)

The Gospel: Hearing about the progress of the people I taught on my mission makes my day! The latest, Marcos Funez is preparing to go on his mission, he was baptized at 12 and has just turned 16. We found Marcos through a member referral, he accepted the gosple although his parents wanted nothing to do with it. To this day he attends church every Sunday by himself.

Traveling (not the flying part) I enjoy learning about diverse cultures.

*3 Fears:
Molesters, rapists and murderes: I watch too much Law and Order, CSI, “To catch a predator” Dateline NBC and Murder cases on Dateline NBC. I double check the locks before bedtime and I’ve considered carrying mace when I run. I figure it would take too much time to pull out the mace if someone did attack me, my husband taught me that the mouth is the strongest muscle, and so my mouth and my nails are my weapons. My nails will capture the DNA evidence necessary to catch the perpetrator and my bite marks on his body will also help.

Fire: All my precious journals/pictures would be destroyed. I triple check the stove before we leave. I guess you can also call it OCD.

Health Problems: My random illnesses that doctors can’t seem to diagnose will cause my premature death.
I know all these fears are pretty deep but it’s the truth…if you didn’t know me now you do!

*3 Goals:
Exercise Daily/Plan healthy meals
Be patient and nice to Skofeild
Keep finances in check

*3 Obsessions: My skin…I’ve been breaking out so bad that I look like I’m 17 years old again.

Budgeting: My husband can’t ever spend a dime with out me knowing, thanks to online banking.

Bustos Media Spanish Radio: I love Salsa! I also love listening to Dr. Laura

*3 Random Facts:
I was in the clinic/hospital 8 times my Freshman year in college.

Derek is the first and only man I’ve said “I love you” to. I was waiting to say it the man I knew would take me to the temple and become my husband. Lucky him, Lucky me.

I’m insecure about my hair and I’m thankful my children will be fortunate enough to(Hopefully) not have to deal with such thick, course, puffiness.

*3 PEOPLE TO TAG!:
Mele
Nia
Rach & Brad

STUPID DRIVERS Watch OUT!

I’ve started up my running routine again, thanks to Skofeild, he wakes up every morning at 5:55 am. I went from running 80 miles a month to being lucky if I ran 20….I guess that’s what marriage does to you... well at least that is my super lame excuse. Yesterday I went for a long in the morning (it’s to dang hot to run any other time). It’s surprising to see very many cars at 6:00am but traffic begins to build up around 6:50am. I’d like to say I’m a pretty noticeable person, not only am I drenched in sweat but my hair expands and it’s just BIG. So imagine me, running across the street with my thick pony tail swishing around. What are the odds of seeing a brown girl running…in my 8 years of running, its quiet rare but then again I am in Utah. As I was crossing the intersection, a Lexus SUV heads my direction turning left although she wasn’t given the green arrow to do so. Who do we typically see behind the wheel of a Lexus and who do we label as the worst drivers? I hate to throw out stereotypes but I can’t help it if it’s the truth (in some occations)! I slow down and wave and she keeps driving, I jump and wave and she still keeps coming. She barely noticed me when she was a couple feet away and swerves away nearly missing my legs! I was ticked! I would have given her the bird and a few choice words but I know the only thing that saved me that morning was that I specifically prayed for protection before I went out for my run. QUE BENDICION!

Happy Pioneer's Day

Today I couldn't wake up for the life of me so I didn't get to run my favorite race of the year. I love running the Salt Lake race because random people cheer for you and it’s very motivational to me. Last time I ran it someone stood in the road and tried to convince the runners to take a cinnamon roll. I thought I should ration my breath to finish the race rather than take a roll, as tempting as it was.

I spent the day with some of my favorite “goo factories” (what my husband calls children). My sister-in-law and my nephews went to the parade. I got a great work out charring Audric on my shoulders. It was such a hot day and the floats were entertaining for the boys for about a ½ hour. We later went to the Tracy Aviary and looked at the birds, it’s more fun with kids around, and they say and do the funniest things. Braxton didn’t hesitate to say “Mom it stinks in here, lets go now!” On the way out we randomly ran into my dad and Christina. They had been at the park the whole day as well. Audric is so attached to his grandpa







We spent the rest of the day in my nice air-conditioned apartment. I babysat my friend’s daughter Hazel, she is a calm, quiet little girl. She had so much fun playing with my nephews and Skofeild.

mm...mmm GOOD!

My husband loved my cake!