Happy Anniversary Mom & Pop!

Last night was Jim and Kathy's 32nd Anniversary! Johnny and I are broke so we just decided to make a tasty dinner to celebrate. Our little nephew, Preston, wanted to do the fancy napkins so those were all his! He also set the table to make it look nice with the "two bowls on the ends and the platter in the middle." I tried to get a picture of the happy couple but they weren't having it. So Happy Anniversary Mom & Pop Velasquez...and Happy "15th" Birthday Kathy! When we got to the house Kathy had decided to move their family room all around (including the big projection TV) so that was some excitement to start the night off. I found out where Johnny got his argument style: he got BOTH of his parents tactics....Oy!
We took these pictures while making dinner. I'm totally bummed that the first was fuzzy cause it is MUCH better than the second. But Johnny is giggling in the second and very cute so you get both! His g's are hanging out a bit...I think his wardrobe was sluttier than mine! HA!
We have been so so busy at work today and its wearing me down...going home to watch movies and eat popcorn!! Hopefully the New Yorker will be slow tonight so I won't be doing so alone.

Karate Chop

I've been saying it for a year: after the wedding, I'm cutting my hair! So tuesday my lovely blue bridesmaid Jannali took care of the mess that was my hair and left me with this lovely 'do. I gave her two rules: Shorter and cute....and a sub rule of nothing that would make my face look fat.
I had gotten to the point where it was put in a low bun everyday cause it took long to do anything with and my ends were not cute... It's shorter than I expected but I love it! Especially curly cause now that all the weight is gone my natural curl comes out so much better. I'm still getting used to it....Johnny is getting used to it even more so. Granted I did kind of spring it on him. He's a good husband for telling me he liked it and thinks its cute even though I know he liked my long hair.


Homemaking news: We finally have a microwave!!! After 3 months I can re-heat leftovers without the stove or oven. As we were leaving the store Johnny said it had been nice not having a microwave...I would have responded but I was too busy weeping for joy over our new appliance. Until last night: I took the microwave for her maiden voyage of two-minute reheat of lasagna...with 30seconds left the stupid thing died. Johnny took it back to the store while I was at my softball game and was told that he had just returned the third of that microwave for that shift. So we just got a refund and bought something else at another store. It has so far lasted through4 hotdogs...so I think it just might work!

Rewind!

I have to play catch-up a little. I've had these pictures on my camera haunting me. Johnny hid the cord and didn't tell me so I couldn't upload them, and I didn't want to post about the events sans pictures so here we go: (NOT in chronological order)I made a diaper cake! I was so proud of myself and my entirely Mormon shower gift for my sister! The little butterfly guy on the top makes sounds and giggles and lights up when you move the wings. The giggle is pretty creepy but the little guy at the shower was quite entertained so I guess it might work. I was so proud that I got it to stand stable given that the center is supported by bottles that are masking-taped together...that is it was stable until I had to drive it out to West Jordan. It, much like my wedding cake, couldn't handle how cute it was and the top toppled. I think I've learned my lesson and the next one will be much better and far sturdier. The diapers were newborn size so that they don't hurt little Tristan's umbilical cord...but the only go up to 10lbs. so that boy better be smaller than his mama was. (I think he's going to be a tall boy...about 8lbs.)

Yes this is the best picture of this shot. We tried about 4 times: the first one was zoomed in, the second one was too too bright, this is the third, and Johnny is talking in the fourth. I'm smiling but its not as cute so I picked the one with my cute husband. This is by the Mississippi River covered in Lilypads 2 days before our wedding in Nauvoo.
We got to Nauvoo a few hours before my parents with Brittany and Chad so we got to spend some time walking around one of my very most favorite places. These are just a couple shots of the Nauvoo temple. It is so beautiful and the spirit is unavoidable in this place. I have heard some really cool stories from people who have worked in the temple or helped in its construction, and I have a few of my own cool experiences. Our last trip though definitely took top prize when Johnny and I received our endowments and were sealed as husband and wife for all eternity! Forget a fancy reception hall, I can't imagine a more beautiful place for a wedding! This is my favorite part of the Nauvoo temple. Every LDS temple has this inscription over the entrance, the significance in this plaque is the second to last line: Commenced April 6, 1941. The first time I saw that I broke down in tears. The early members of the church began building this temple before they were once again chased out of their home and across to Utah. The building was never finished, it was looted, burned, and eventually finished off by a tornado. After that there were only a few cornerstones left and a dent in the earth from the foundation. The temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002. I love it! The saints finally finished their temple...161 years later.This sculpture depicts Joseph and Hyrum Smith as they rode toward Carthage where they were eventually martyred. They paused to look out over the City Beautiful where they had met joy and prosperity, if for only a short while. The sculpture's detail is hidden by the sunset but I still love this picture!
This is Johnny's favorite sculpture in the Relief Society Gardens. Not gonna lie, I got a little choked up while we were there, knowing that in two days we would be beginning our own family. We are so excited to start expanding our little family when the time is right and can't wait to act out this same moment in our lives.
It was a long and crazy engagement but I am so glad we waited. Going through the temple with Johnny was the best moment of my life so far. I love temples, most especially the Nauvoo temple. What happens inside those walls is so amazing and I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was that day and how happy it makes me knowing what it means in our lives. And I love Nauvoo! I'm so happy Johnny agreed to get married in Illinois! I hope to have more rewind pictures coming soon but for now enjoy a current: I decorated our table with our plates and fall colored napkins and I think it looks so cute! Now all we need is chairs!

NOklahoma

So they filled Johnny's position at the resort in Oklahoma on Monday. He had the HR department take his resume over to the chef anyway to see if they could use him in some other facet but we haven't heard anything. We are a little bummed but it has definitely opened our eyes. We have realized that we are a little more ready and wanting to move than we thought. We've started looking at other jobs but we are taking our time. I told my boss that we were starting to look. I didn't want to spring my notice on her when we finally find something. We've had people giving notice left and right around here and so I promised it wouldn't be before the middle of October. She told me that that was the reason I didn't get the promotion in August. She was afraid that 3 months after training me in the position of executive secretary that I would be running off the midwest. Its funny that not getting the promotion has made me want to move a little sooner...I think I'm finally starting to get a little burned out. Everything is catching up with me and my body so I think I will go home and nap and everything will be better in the morning.

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A....OK?

Johnny got done early last night so we got to spend some wonderful and unexpected time together. We watched Kitchen Nightmares and ate some mac'n'cheese before we headed over to Bed Bath and BEYOND to grab a present for Danny and Jenny and a pot for us (to cook in...not piss in.) Right after we blessed our dinner (in which Johnny asked for guidance in our careers) my mom called. My phone was still on vibrate so I heard her leave message. I had just talked to her and she knew Johnny and I were spending some time together so I thought...hmm. She said she'd been reading the newspaper from two days ago and found an interesting listing. About 45 minutes from where my parents live and brand new Vegas-style casino and resort just opened and is looking for a Sous Chef to be over two of their 5 restaurants...native american preference. It has free benefits including medical, dental, vision, a matching 401K and paid Holidays. We haven't decided on anything...its a little too big of a decision to make in 5 minutes...but we are contemplating it. It would be a BIG deal. We would be packing up and moving across country...so they would have to make it worth it. But we had planned on going back to the midwest eventually...like in a couple years. Johnny says if they tell us to move tomorrow we're nto going.
Here are my pro's:
We'd be closer to my family...and OUT of Utah
Johnny would be AWESOME at that job...and would only have to work 1 job!
Cost of Living is much lower...as is the cost of Housing!
Found out the Restaurant I worked at there is also hiring Managers....possibility?
Johnny DESERVES this kind of position.
It's just starting out so if he can be a part of this who knows what kind of opportunities lie in this.
I Could say Forget you Uof U and Finish my stinkin' degree already!
I would get to see Holly once a year!!

Of Course there are Con's:
We would be moving...hello hugeness!
We don't have much in the way of savings to get out there.
It would mean a big upheaval in our lives...apartment, jobs, friends....
I would miss spending lots of time with baby Tristan (though if we were settled and making good money we could afford our own little baby a little sooner...hello pro!)
....I can't think of any more right now"

I'm trying not to get excited about it and treat this like a mature and responsible adult. But I can't help but get a little excited at the sheer possibility. Much fasting and prayer will go into this decision...and it may turn out Johnny doesn't even want to apply...or that they don't want us. For the record though, I think it's a great opportunity and we should at least apply...who knows.....?

I Need to do Thank You Notes!

I have not even started...oi!

It only rained Sunday and a little bit Monday morning but the resulting crisp, fall-like weather has been FABULOUS! I love fall...it just makes me want to bundle up and go cheer for the football team. I still don't know how I ended up with the guy who hates to go watch football....oh well. OH! and go pick apples and make tasty apple treats!...man I love Autumn!

We had a nice date night last evening. We went and saw Hancock at the dollar theatre a couple blocks from our house. We were going to stay and see Kung Fu Panda but the hubster had a headache so we called it a night a little earlier. He is a hoss. He went and worked a full shift at the bakery, ran to the chinese market for his boss, came home and did yardwork until I got home at almost 6 and then went upstairs and put the baseboards on in the kitchen and bathroom in the upstairs apartment. He didn't even get a chance to eat dinner before the movie. His dinner was popcorn and reeses pieces and soy milk...no wonder he had a headache. I'm trying really hard to be a good wife...I guess I kind of dropped the ball on that one last night.

Work has been pretty frustrating these last few days. We're really short staffed for all of September. It means I get some much needed overtime moneys but it makes it crazy busy, especially when we have people call out. I'm one of the team leaders and we end up having to be Nazi's and that's just not fun for anyone. I absolutely hate being the bad guy! We've hired several new people and we're workign on getting them trained so I'm sure it will get better in the not too distant future. For now I'll just blow off some steam playing softball after work!

Rain Rain Come and Stay!

I absolutely LOVE the rain. Most especially thunderstorms. I think thunderstorms may just be what I miss most about Missouri. Missouri has the BEST freaking thunderstorms!

Yesterday was probably the best Sunday Johnny and I have had for a while. We were a little late to church (we're still adjusting to the 9:00am time) but we had our records read into the ward and got to see a baby blessing. I think baby blessings are my favorite! We came home and had an awesome brunch. I kind of snarfed a few of the pancakes but I ate those ones so it was okay. Then we both laid down and took about a 6 hour nap. I can't tell you how much I have been needing sleep lately. We got up and had dinner, watched a movie, and went back to bed. Sleep is good!!

I had to work today so I left the hubby with a honey-do list including laundry and caulking the kitchen baseboards in the upstairs apartment. It has been pretty slow because of the holiday and I am not complaining. It stopped raining for a bit but I hope it picks back up so I have another night of snuggles and movies.

I love the rain!!