New Year... New Job

Steak anyone?

I think Tiffany started a great tradition.

When you get a new job

you should celebrate with steak.

So we did.

I just got hired to work with a new company

and start on Jan. 6th

It's going to be bitter sweet

I love my job now and those I work with

Its been my second home for the past 5 1/2 years
Its going to be hard to leave

and I'll probably cry

But with a new job comes better pay

much better

And that will be sweet

Wish me luck!

Thank You Melissa and Sam

Dear Melissa and Sam,

Thank you for selling me this wonderful bike just 4 years ago for the generous price of only $10.

I have loved this bike and used it often.

It got me through that time when my car died and I rode it to work for a few weeks in the cold winter.

I rode that bike to friend's houses and on plenty of casual rides through the neighborhoods.

My first kiss with Ben when we were dating was after a ride on this bike you sold me.

And now the tires are worn, and need to be pumped before each time we take it for a ride.

The seat shows of sun damage, and the chain is a bit rusty.

It's time to say goodbye.

This thank you goes more out to Melissa for not knowing the real worth of this bike and for not consulting your husband before selling it to me just 4 years ago.

Because today I sold this bike to a nice gentleman for $80

I loved this bike and the memories I have with it are priceless.

Merry Christmas Melissa and Sam!

Happy Birthday to ME!

This past Monday the 9th was my birthday. My present to myself was a day off of work... and I did absolutly nothing... it was perfect. I didn't have a care in the world. Ben had school but on his break he took me out to lunch.

Wed was Veterans Day so we had the day to spend together. Ben tried to surprize me but I was too good at guessing... not that it made the day any less fun cause it was AWESOME. We drove up to Out of Africa wildlife park.

Here's two of my favorite pictures of the day...

 Warning... I took a lot of pictures that day so be prepared to scroll down through a lot more pics.

This giraffe love the smell of my hair so much he wanted to eat it.

Does this picture make anyone else want some gum?

This bear and tiger's tummies say "I'm Hungry"

(as Sophie would say)

And this last picture is of the TIGER SPLASH

(the video wouldn't upload)

Traditions

Apparently there's this tradition of cutting into the top layer of your wedding cake on your first anniversary. My mom took the liberty of freezing ours and we cut into it the other day (about a week late)

It was discusting.

There IS Fall in Arizona!

You just have to find it.

Our anniversary surprise #2 was heading up to Sedona for some hiking and camping. The camping part kind of leaked out when I was telling Ben a story but I had to tell him eventually so he could help pack and make sure we had all the right stuff (even though we still forgot a bunch of stuff). I just didn't tell him where we were headed.

When we got into Sedona it was SO crowded. I've never seen that many people in such a small area. We tried to just keep driving until there was less people but it was very difficult. I had forgotten that it was the end of Fall Break for everyone... plus it was a Saturday

Sedona is so amazingly beautiful in the Fall. The weather is perfect and the colors are so pretty and Fall-like. We found a hike to go on but then didn't end up staying on the trail. Ben and I are more of explorers than trail followers... plus we don't like to follow other people on trails or feel like we're being followed. So instead we explored the creek and hopped on rocks.

I'm laughing really hard in this picture because we had to put the camera on a timer to get both of us in the shot. I sat on the rock while Ben got the camera ready and on his way over to me he slipped in the water and disappeared for a few seconds behind a different large rock.

After exploring the canyon we needed to go find a place to camp and knew of only one area close by that didn't make us pay a fee. It was just past Jarome on the top of Mingus Mountain. It was dark when we set up so we didn't realize how awesome it was until the morning.

From our campsite we only had to walk a little ways to see off the side of the mountain. Then we were driving out and got a little lost but ended up finding this launch pad for hang gliders.

All in all I'd say it was a great weekend... just not nearly long enough

One Year Celebrations!

Today Ben and I have been married for one year. It seems weird to me that this year already came and went but we enjoyed every second of it. I told Ben that I would plan our first anniversary and wanted it to be a total surprize.

I think he's been surprized so far...

We made it home safe and now we're off to do some hiking and camping.

Amazing Dates... I mean Jakes

A few months ago Ben and I decided that we would switch off each month planning a special date night doing something that we don't normally do. Last night was the first night that it actually happened because in July and August things kept comming up that prevented us from doing it. Last night we went to Amazing Jakes... here's why.

A few years ago I was taking a break from work and as I got in my car and turned the radio on I heard "Be caller 10 right now". I used to always try my luck at those things and that afternoon I was the lucky winner... although I honestly had no idea of what I was trying to win. Turns out it was a Tim McGraw CD and a $50 gift card to Amazing Jakes... that card had been sitting in my wallet form maybe 3 years and almost forgotten about until we used it last night. It got us a dinner buffet, 3 hours of unlimited rides and attractions, and $14 worth of token games.

I would never actually spend my own hard earned money at this place but knowing that it was all free made for a fun night. Next months date night...

1 year anniversary

This is Quincy

We were kitten sitting for this cute slash crazy thing all week.

(and yes Ben and I do own this orange couch... jealous?)

Abbie was busy in the hospital this week making this dimpled chin baby
Meet Samuel Jay

Congrats Abbie and Jake on yet another amazing baby... this one comes complete with dolphin noises. He's perfect

You Don't Wan Breafas?

Going in late to work plus making breakfast with my husband equals awesome



These French Crepes did not disappoint

Swine Flu?

This last week Ben and I traveled down to Mexico with Danny, Lindsi and Ellie who graciously let us stay at their time share with them... (we did not where masks nor were we infected by the swine flu). We could only stay for a couple of days but it was well worth it. The resort was fancy, the beach was deserted and the water was nice... very nice.

We spent our 2 days there swimming in the ocean, building sand castles, skim boarding, eating fish tacos, laying out, and hanging out. It was a relaxing few days to celebrate the end of another semester of school... for Ben.

Thank you Danny and Lindsi for allowing us to accompany you on this amazing trip.

The drive home was delayed for 2 hours just as we crossed the border because of a roll over accident. We distracted ourselves by eating oreos and milk, playing about 10 games of Uno, and almost a full game of Yatzee.
It also rain slash hailed on us in our delay. The 4 hour car ride turned into 6 hours but we made it fun.

Spring Break 09

This is the first Spring Break in a very long time that I did not go to Mexico. Since most of my siblings did not go and we are trying to save money, Ben and I decided to make our own fun.

Monday we spray painted a desk I bought the Saturday before for $5. We turned it from wood color to black and it looks awesome. We also went to IKEA and did other random errands.

Tuesday we went to the zoo

(Ben looks silly in this pic but hey there's an elephant in it)

Wednesday we had Mexico Day

• we ate mexican pastries, drank soda out of glass bottles, flew kites, and ate burritos at some run down, very small, authentic, could have been straight from Mexico restaurant... And it may have been the best burrito I've ever had

Thursday we relaxed and gave our blood to the United Blood Services

Friday to Saturday we went camping in Payson
It was a good spring break





Also, Ben's birthday was the week before so we went on an adventurous hike. HAPPY 24h!

Open to the Public

My blog is officially not on private anymore. I went through and deleted any incriminating posts that had gotten me in trouble with my work a few years ago. I learned my lesson and its time to move on with life.

In other news, Ben and I are in the market to buy a new truck... and by new I don't really mean new... just new to us. The truck he is driving right now belongs to his parents and will soon be driven by his little brother Sam who returns from his mission at the end of April. If you know of any good deals please let us know.

Sorry Grandad...

Sorry that I never blog anymore and that you have to harass me through e-mail to get me motivated again. And sorry to the other 4 and a half people that look at my blog randomly. Ben and I don't have a computer or the internet so we don't get on much and plus I feel like my life is pretty boring and unblogworthy right now.

Ben and I have been married for 4 months now and its been pretty fun. I've learned a lot more about him in this past little while being married than when we were dating. Like the fact that Ben has this amazing talent of falling asleep ridiculously fast. He always falls asleep before me which is fine but the other night we were talking in bed and he seriously fell asleep mid word. When I started laughing he woke up and realized what had happened. I think we were talking about stuff that happened when we were dating and he wanted to say "Remember when..." but ended up saying "Remememmm.........."

How's that for talent?

I'm Graduated

You're looking at the newest graduate of Arizona State University.

Thank you. Thank you.