Lights! CAMERA! Action!

So, one day last week our camera broke.  I don't know what happened.  I pushed the ON button and it basically dissolved in my hand.  Life with no camera has been very sad.  Not that we have life-changing events taking place, but I do like to document the mundane, and there has been plenty of that.

We went shopping for a camera early in the week, but apparently we were a bit picky.  So, we did some research and went out again on Saturday.  We still don't really know much about cameras, so hopefully we got a good one! 

It came down to silver vs plum.  Luis let me get plum.

Opening the box.

Figuring out what to do first.  Chapter one was a life-saver.

The sleek, shiny, PLUM camera.

First Pics.

You may find yourself wondering, how did they take pictures of their new camera when their other camera had disintegrated?  I will tell you.  We borrowed a camera from the Mohlmans.  Thanks, Mohlmans. 

Also, we do have other friends besides the Mohlmans.

Post-also:  We are going to Texas next week!

My First Baby Shower...

No, not MY baby shower.  My first baby shower for someone else.  And, I threw it all by myself, which was a bit intimidating and scary.  (Okay, I did have some phone help from my ma and sistas)  Thankfully, the mommy I threw it for was really chill and a lot like me. 
NO GAMES PLEASE!

Apparantly, I'm still novice when it comes to finding inspiration on the web.  Everyone finds great ideas via google, but I'll tell you what... googling baby shower cupcakes turned up impossibly adorable (professional) creations; googling homemade baby shower cupcakes resulted in impossibly horrid ones. 

However, I finally found one cute, easy idea, which the sister missionaries helped me create. 

Here's the finished look. Can you tell what they are? No, not lollipops - they're BABY RATTLES!

Then, I had some fun trying out some tips in my decorating kit. I'm not trying to toot my own whistle or anything, but for a first timer, I think they look pretty good (toot toot!).

The shower commenced...

...and here are some probably not super interesting pictures of people sitting at the shower.

My Brandi Friend

Congrats, Brandi! 
We can't wait to meet little C!

Click here if you think I did a good job.



(If you just clicked on here, you have my thanks.)

Blogging Video

My camera is broken.  Actually, it's Luis's camera, but it is still broken.  Because of this I can't document anything like is going on around here like giving my first REAL haircut, showing you my incredible bulletin board work at the school, or putting up pictures of our BBQ in the dark.  So, I came across this the other day and thought it was incredible.  Therefore and henceforth, I decided to post it (for lack of anything else to post).  Being a blogger, I especially enjoyed the blogging part.  See for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOIhKBXXNbo&feature=relmfu

Home Last Week

Luis had finals last week since two of his classes ended (bizarre right?).  I love finals week because that means he has no classes and gets to stay home ALL DAY studying.  So, even though I can't chat with him much, I still just love that there is another person in the room.  Luis and I find out some strange things about each other when we're together so much.  For example, I found out that Luis is deathly afraid of GRIFFINS (which are entirely fictional eagle-lion monsters)

Me?  Well, Luis found out that I have too much time on my hands.  One day, as he was standing near the kitchen counter, he noticed a little rainbow being reflected upon the wall.  He questioned aloud, "I wonder where that rainbow is coming from?"  Without hesitation I replied, "Oh that's from the PEEPHOLE in our front door."  He thought I was kidding until I stepped in front of the peephole and the rainbow disappeared.  Awed, he asked, "How did you know that was where it came from?"  I then had to inform him the sad truth that I've seen that rainbow many times and have spent some time tracking it down... "This is what I do when you're at school, honey."

And now you know too.

Lately I've also been spending some time being paid to type up a Spanish workbook for a committee Luis is part of at Western.  I have been learning more Spanish than ever!  So, when Luis looks deep in my eyes and says, "Darling...you have the most beautiful eyes," I reply in my rolling hispanic accent, "And I just LOVE your muñecas" (wrists).

Cupid Didn't Disappoint

Tradition in my family means that on Valentine's Day, Cupid comes and leaves a candy trail leading from your bed to your seat at the kitchen table where another special "treat" awaits you.  It was always magical to me as a child...and still is!  Partly, I'm still a child, and partly because Cupid STILL leaves a trail for me (and Luis)!  I don't know how Lu always gets in on the action, but he does.

Cupid snuck this picture of Luis and caught him drifting over to my trail to get all the good stuff.  Luis is S-O-O-O busted!

Cupid was less sneaky with my picture.

For dinner, we made our own YUMMY version of Papa Murphey's chicken, bacon, artichoke pizza.  It was delish!  Now we have a nearly full can of artichoke hearts that I'm sure we won't find a use for.  Anyone need some artichoke hearts?

I didn't really plan a dessert, so after naming off some ingredients with potential, mom helped me come up with this.  It is a combination of oreo cookie filling and brownies.   We then put vanilla ice cream on top because it wasn't quite "hip-loving" enough for me.

For some reason, Cupid forgot to leave special gifts at the end of our trails, but we did find them a day later in a Target sack...strange. 

Isn't this gift perfect?  The best part was when we found this shirt at the store, all the larger sizes were taken.  I guess skinny guys don't love twinkies like they should.  My guy knows how to love a twinkie.  In fact, it's all we've got in our 72-hour kits.  TWINKIES never go bad and I've heard they give you wonderful nutrition.  Even smooshed beyond recognition, you can still lick them off the wrapper and find complete satisfaction.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

"Superbowl" Party

Neither Luis or I care about the Superbowl. 

I dislike football and Luis is used to NOT watching it since his stake in Texas ALWAYS held a priesthood meeting during the Superbowl and he was a good little boy who went.  Despite our non-interest, we still wanted an excuse for a party.  So, we had our own "Superbowl" Party...a picnic and a movie. 

Luis picked the movie.  If only the brothers-in-law knew...

 

We had such a fun time.  This is one of the reasons I LOVE being here in California.  As much as I miss my family, I realize that being without them means we find ways to celebrate together...just Luis and I.  I can see how much closer we are becoming and I am so grateful for this time we have together.  I love Luis so much.  He's my best friend.  And even when he's studying on the couch and I'm a couch potato next to him, I find myself completely content.

Shelves are for people who have a lot of stuff.

Being the good student wife that I am, I decided to come up with all sorts of projects to do while Luis spent Saturday studying.  One of these projects included putting up a shelf.  Because of the good Mormom wife that I also am, I needed more shelving for my hoarding.  I bought the shelf weeks ago, but it took this long to get around to it.  And also, I had no drill until the Mailmans let us borrow theirs.  Thus, "project put up shelf" was finally a go.

Tools:  Check

Power Drill:  Check

Instructions:  Check

Markings on the Wall:  Check

My Husband: 

What the?  What's he doing here?  Oops:)  I guess I'm still not a great student wife.

I can't tell if he's concentrating here or if he's picturing me on the wall he's pounding.

Look!  Ain't she a beauty?

If only I had one more shelf...