Spring Time in Buffalo

So it is April! Lets brainstorm. April is spring time, right?! When I think of April and Spring, I think of sunny days, heat from the sun, excitement for summer, flowers blooming, maybe some rain showers, things like that. I am definately thinking of that right now, which is pure torture because here in Buffalo April brings 20 degree weather and snow. And I was getting ready to plant my garden, no way. Winter is back! I may be exaggerating a little, i think it is just supposed to last a few days but still. . . I put away the snow shovel and boots, what was I thinking. I wish all you arizona people would come out here to visit to experience the joys that Buffalo brings!!

It doesn't look that bad, i know, but it was snowing all day, and windy and cold but it was not sticking to the ground!
A few days this week, we are house sitting and dog sitting, for our old bishop in our ward. Their dog is very cute, her name is Dutchess. We enjoy not only watching their dog but living in a house, a big house compared to what we are used too.

Meet Dutchess!

Meet our new house!!
And an update with the car situation! Well, you might not be aware with out troubled Civic, ever since we had the automatic car starter put in, every once in a while, which feels like every day the civic won't start. And it happens to be whenever it is wet, rainy or snowy! Circuit City checked it out, and it is fine with them, so know we need to take it in! I feel so bad for John he is the one who drives it, and half the time, he has to bum off of someone for a ride, because I am working. Frustrating!!
Last night, you should have seen us! The Civic has been stuck there because it wouldn't start. So, we are at the bishops house, which has a long inclined driveway. So the plan was at 9 o clock at night in 10 degree weather, while snow is coming down, is to push the civic off the road, up the driveway, and into the garage, to the covered garage, in hopes that it could start once it dried off a little. So I get in the maxima, which is behind the civic, John is sitting on the hood of the maxi, and his legs on the back of the civic, and slowly driving and pushing it up the driveway and into the garage! WoW! We did it! Good team work, now we just need to get to the shop to get it fixed!
The boys are just about ready to dive into finals for their final semester in the first year, so it was just the right time for a girls lunch!! Today I had friends, Alanna, Kristen, Missy, and Stephanie over to my house for some delicious food and even better chatting. It was definately a nice afternoon just to sit and talk with all us girls going through this together! I was the only one without a baby or pregnant! Stephanie is due Monday, so any day she will have her cute baby boy outside her belly! And the other babies, which are all boys are getting cuter and bigger each time I see them!! I made some chicken salad crossiants, carrot cake mini cupcakes, and a fruit bouqet! Check em out!






I hope everyone has a great easter weekend!

Welcome April!

Happy April Fools Day Everyone!! I totally forgot it was April fools day today, so I have no pranks up my sleeve to share, I have never really been a big prankster anyway.

But I did have an enjoyable week, and weekend. I will start with the week.
*Work went well this week, I have to work on easter so that does stink, so John and I will celebrate Easter on Saturday. I guess that is what I get for being low on the todem pole. As for the rest of the holidays for the year, yeah, they are gone too, probably working every one of them.
*Anyway, on another sad note, on Friday, a young 2 year old girl passed on. This was my first experience with death since I began working. She was not my patient, but I have gotten to know her since I started working, she had been there a while. She had neuroblastoma, along with lymphoma, and was the cutest little girl, it was a sad time, but she passed so peacefully. I am not even a mother yet, but I am sure you mothers understand even more how sad that would be.
* John took two tests this week, some hard core studying took place, since he did not study over spring break. He successfully got an A on one, and on the other, we are still waiting. he is doing so well. And I am proud of him, for working so hard, and still being a great husband!

This can be used as a source of late night energy when boys get together and study!
*Girls night on Thurday-Kristen and I ( and baby Chase) enjoyed a nice dinner out to the Pancake House, enjoying yummy crepes and the Dutch baby. Then meeting up with all the girls at Alanna's house to dye some easter eggs, I am not proud of mine at all, the art work and creativity were not flowing that night. But is was fun to get together and talk with the girls, while the boys studied.

* My birthday is coming up in May, and I have decided that I would love a kitchenaid mixer, with all the baking and cooking that I do, one would think I would have one already, but I don't. Just a crappy hand mixer that can't handle anything, I end up stirring the mix with a spoon because it dies half way through mixing!

* I have been looking forward to this weekend, because I had Saturday and Sunday off, it had been awhile since I had both days off, and boy was it nice. It started off, Friday night with yummy Wegmans subs and a night of LOST with my hubby! We crashed in front of the TV, hooked to Jack, Locke and the others!

Saturday, John went out early to play some basketball with other dental students and members of the ward, and we enjoyed watching general conference in the comfort of our own home on the internet. I love technology. . . sometimes. It was such a relaxing day, we wanted to get out and maybe do some shopping but that did not happen, we just relaxed. Saturday night after John got back from priesthood, we went over to our friends, Aaron and Kristen's house, and hung out. We chatted, and watched some Basketball, and saturday night live. It is always fun to spend time with friends. Sunday John and I slept in, like til 10!! I can't remember the last time I did that. We sure needed it! We enjoyed a nice breakfast, and two sessions of conference. It was a very nice weekend, and I feel well rested for the upcoming week.

It was quite an unusal weekend, with no studying, no worries, just hanging out with each other. With nothing to do, we enjoyed chatting about things going on, and spending time with each other, which is not often with dental school being so crazy!
* I can't believe it is April, already, time keeps on flying by! And I can't believe that it is suppose to snow this week, I already put away the snow shovel thinking it was done for the spring! Wrong on that one!

Spring Break Update

So the long awaited week has come and gone.
Our trip back to good old AZ was way to short, John was able to stay from last saturday to sunday, and myself just Tuesday to Friday, but am grateful for each day I had.
Arizona was beautiful! To say the least.
It was such a nice break, to go back home is torture because eventually we will have to come back here, i know I am making it sound so bad here, it is really not, but it is hard going home.
A few highlights of our trip to AZ!
Body World Three at the Phoenix musuem was absolutely amazing, it was really cool to see real human bodies like that. I had to keep reminding myself that I was not looking a a statue or manican, but a real body, just like mine. Crazy!!


Favorite Restaurant visits including Oreganos, Guedos, and Cafe Rio.
My mother and I getting pampered and the local salon, with spa pedicures, so sad but no time for a massage!
I did make and take dinners with my mom, such a great idea! Freezer to oven, so easy!
Relax, watch movies, games, and chat with the fam!
Out to dinner and watched the Suns game with all our AZ friends!! Such a great chance to catch up!

John with Crew, a new baby of Wyatt and Jenny.

John spending time helping, preparing, and carrying out his brother's eagle project, they painted 220 fire hydrants!!


Hanging out with the newest member of the fam, Johns brother got a new cute little puppy!! Baxter!


Now back to school and back to work! Reality! But we are so looking forward to the summer where other fun vacations will take place, hopefully!!!!

Post vacation!
On Sunday, I had to do sharing time all by myself, since my second half stayed in AZ to help with the eagle project. Lets just say I survived and its over. Trying to control a class of sunbeams, and teach a lesson to the rest of primary, while trying to involve the kids can be a little difficult, by yourself!! Here a glipse of what went down. Six keys to prepare you to enter the temple.



Yes you are looking at a cardboard temple, which the kids would enter following each key.
Monday night we had the missionaries over for dinner. I tried this new recipe thanks to rachel ray, it was delicious, and will keep it again to make in the future, tomatillo and chicken tostadas, very interesting recipe, has zucchini in it, but so good!!Right before spring break, I recieved my first gift from a patient, a yummy box of chocolates! My patients are so great, and nice!


Sorry for such a long post, but I gotta keep you updated!!

Marriage Expert

Oh, no not I. But this comes from Lucille Johnson who is a popular marriage and family expert, who gave a CES fireside. My dad sent this to John and I and we enjoyed discussing this for FHE. Take a look, and discuss it with your husband, have fun with it. We all need times to sit down and discuss our needs, and ways to improve etc. Do you agree or disagree????

Top 5 needs of a Woman
1- Affection
2- Pillow talk, just listen, dont try to fix it
3- Fidelity and trust
4- Financial support
5- Spiritual Leadership


Top 5 needs of a Man
1- Physical Intimacy
2- Do something with husband that he enjoys
3- Needs to be praised and admired
4- Be happy to see him when he gets home
5- Moderate organization in the home

Just something to think about!

Our Weekend in the Heat!!

The heat you may be thinking, are they still in Buffalo??? Yes, and it has gotten quite hot here, or at least for this place, I know its 80 in AZ, but here being in the high 30's over the weekend was quite a heat wave. Wow, I was not freezing when I would walk outside. Anyway, the snow is starting to melt, and I am hoping spring is coming, and this is not just a teaze.

Anyway, on Friday, John and I were looking forward to attending the temple On Friday night, with his cousin Adam, so off we were, well the the way, the thought came to me to check Johns recommend, and yes good thing we did, his recommend was indeed expired. i was totally bummed. I was looking forward to going with my husband, but instead he was our chauffer to and from the temple. It was a great experience like always, but so sad that John could not enter. Next time, for sure!
Saturday was my friend's stephanie's shower, unfortunately I could not attend, but I heard it was great fun.
( Dont worry, this is not now, notice no snow and sunny skies, I wish. . . )

Sunday was a special day for my sister and for our family. In provo utah, she blessed her little baby Jackson. I was so sad that John and I had to stay here in Buffalo, but it was a great day for them.

Also Kristen and I decided to do some visiting teaching, this new year, we are trying to VT every month, its March, but we are going to do better. It is always fun to meet other women in the ward.

Speaking of other women in the ward, we had enrichment last week, where I made some FHE file folder games. They are really cute. I am not finished but here is the idea.



John has been so good lately, helping out on days that I work, coming home and starting dinner, so when I come home, we can sit down and eat quicker and I have been so impressed. It helps out a ton!! He looks great in my new apron, doesn't he??



The Countdown begins!! Less than one week, until Spring Break from Dental School, John goes home to AZ on Saturday, and me a week from today on Tuesday!! Yeah, a nice little visit back home will be so nice!

Remembering Slider

I will tell you a little about Slider. She was born september 3rd, a long time ago, and died March 6th 2007. I remember talking my mom into letting us have this dog, she wasn't too excited. But we finally got this dog. SHe was a lhasa apso. My sister and I were so excited, we spent the first three nights we had her out in the hallway, having a sleepover with the dog. My dad named her Slider, because it was his favorite pitch in baseball, she was a girl, and he has two daughters and a wife so we let him choose the name. During her long life, we took her to obedience lessons in the park, had dog birthday parties for her, took her swimming, camping, gave her baths. Dressing her up in doogie jackets, and clothes, teaching her how to sit shake, dance, and lay. One year, our family vacation was cancelled due to her few thousand dollar speciality eye surgery. As her life went on I watched her get ran over by a car, and rushing her into the doggie ER, watch her get weak(arthritis), have heart problems, and have seizures. Eventually her suffering was too great, not being able to go up or down stairs, and struggling to even lay down, so my parents sadly took to her the vet yesterday to say goodbye. We will always remember slider. Love you!!

On a more happy note. John's new favorite addiction, it is a website called steep and cheap. Although he has bought a few things, most where for me, one a nice red nixon watch.($25 originally like 80) I love it and wear it often.

Another is a black special blend sweatshirt, it was getting bad, with it being freezing here I only had two sweatshirts and they were really old, so I love that also.

John also bought three ski googles, he needed a pair, and the others he plans on selling on ebay for a profit. Lets cross our fingers. The website has some great deals, but no more we have decided, it can be quite addicting, and we end up buying all this random stuff!!

Just because. . . . John brought me home a newly shined and polished silver tooth, that he waxed up at school. May not sound too exciting but it is. And it was added to my keychain that I will always have to remind me of my wonderful husband in dental school.


Also I have gotten a few things. I have been wanting some tall candle holders and saw some at walmart on clearance so I bought them. I love em, they look great with our decor downstairs, and the candles smell so good.

Also I bought some beautiful bright gerber daisies to go in my vase, it really makes me want spring now, but I will have to just look at them, while it remains -10 with windchill outside!!



Tonight I am off to enrichment, we are learning and doing some Family Home Evening activities and crafts. Fun, Fun with the girls. I am looking forward to Friday, John and I are going on a date to the temple, and I am looking forward to it. Tomorrow I have another fun day at work, I must say it has been nice with these last two days off, but back to real life!!!

Happy Birthday to the other man in my life!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful father!!!


March 6th, 2007, Celebrating a half century today, his halfway point!
A little bit about my dad. . . He grew up in McGill Nevada, with 4 brothers, he gave my mom a friendship ring in the 5th grade. Played sports, and motorcross growing up. Went to UNLV for business school and played baseball. Got drafted to Cleveland Indians triple A Team, and married my mother. Got baptized into the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, and welcomed my sister and I enter the world. Worked for nextel communications for several years, and now is an investment representative for Edward Jones. He always put family first, sacrificing, and making time for what was most important. He was and is the greatest example of how a father and husband should be.

Thinking of you today as it is your special day, I love you and happy birthday!!

Work and Fun

Must make time for both. Work and fun, or for John study and fun! If only they were split 50% 50%. Maybe one day!
John successfully survived last week, with 3 tests in only five days of school called for lots of cramming and late nights, but hopefully all went well, and he is getting started on the two tests next weeki! The joys of mid terms.

Anyway, Saturday I worked and it was my last day on orientation, which means, so far I have always had a partner, just teamed with another nurse, now starting tomorrow, I will be on my own!! Yeah, a big girl, in my first real job, and a little excited and a little scared.

Saturday John studyed during the day, while I worked, he is enjoying that thought so much, me being his sugar mama, I tell him to enjoy it while it lasts buddy! That night he went stag to our friends house, or a delicious dinner and company. I joined him after work, it had been a while since we spent the night with friends, it always ends up the girls talking in one room, and the boys in the other. Funny!

Sunday we enjoyed a nice testimony meeting, and primary. Our little sunbeams were a little rowdy today, but cute and fun. We learned about being thankful for water, and brought in snow, to watch it melt from outside ( I guess something good about the snow). After church, our friends Josh and Alanna blessed their cute baby Cohen, we enjoyed the blessing, and the company of good friends again, and we chatted and ate!

A little bit of everything. . . .

I know its been awhile. I am sorry i will do my best to let you know what is new with us out here in good ol' buffalo.

I must rewind to tell you about my friend Alanna who recently celebrated her 21st birthday, along with the birth of her new son Cohen. ( don't worry not on the same day). He is so cute with a full head of black hair. We got together and celebrated her birthday and got to meet the newest member of their family!




My other friend Stephanie is due in the beginning of April, so a shower is in the making for her boy coming soon! I am so bummed that I have to work the day of her shower, but I will tell you more about the joys of working in a few. you might be wondering when John jr or sarah jr is coming along, and I wonder that too, but John not so much !! just kidding. It was one of my new years resolutions to be pregnant by the end of the year, who knows, we might announce the news on December 31st! But we are just enjoying life with the two of us, and love hanging around with everyone else's new babies.

John is keeping busy studying all the time, mid terms are in full swing, with two-four tests a week!!!! yeah, He spends more time with his computer than with me, like times 2!! He studies late and is up early for more. I try to be supportive, I know he is trying his best. I still try to have a date night each week, when we can hang out together, and not think about school or work. Even though he is busy studying we try to have fun, and he still has time to bring back to Blue Steel from Zoolander in his spare moments!!


Well, Work is going great. I have one more day of orientation then i am cut loose, on my own. I am excited and feel semi- ready. I work with good people. I only thing that is hard, is getting up in thte morning, once I am there the day goes by super fast. I am learning so much and it's definately nice getting a little reward($)! Its something new in our lives for sure!! I like knowing that I only work three days a week, some sundays which is not fun, but I have more days off then I work so it gives me plenty of time to relax, and do the fun stuff (clean, shop, etc).

John and I are enjoying our callings as the sunbeam teachers. well, some days are better than others. Trying to control 8 three year olds can be a handful, especially if I work, and John is on his own. I have this chart that I use to try to get them to behave that I made, earn stars for good behavior get a prize type thing. And I don't know yet how well it is working, but we will see. They are so cute, and its fun to work together!


Tuesday night we had the missionaries over for dinner. We always enjoy them in our house, the spirit they have is amazing when they were their testimonies, it is so strong, and we love that brought into our home. It always get me excited for missionary work once they leave. hopefully some day JOhn and I can serve a mission, long after denistry has died down, and can teach and serve, but for now, I have to look for missionary experiences around me!! We enjoyed some yummy shredded pork sandwiches, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and salad!

As for the weather, the snow has come and not quite gone, who knows how long it will be some days it snows all day, other times in dumps at night, and a few days or maybe one in the past 4 months its been sunny!!! I try to look at the positive side, but when I have to drive in it at 6 in the morning its hard. But here I am in the wee hours of the morning out in my PJ's enjoying the huge white flakes coming down!!



Speaking about weather, John is going down to AZ for a whole week over spring break, and I luckily got a few days off to go down too. I most excited about the sunny days, and I will be leaving buffalo to go lay out by the pool!! Oh, that makes me miss home so bad! But it will be fun spending time with family and friends, its been awhile since John had a break and a vacation so this will be nice!!

Enough about us! I will write more often so you don't have to get so bored reading this!