1 year older and wiser too!

May 17th, is a special day! It is my birthday. Yeah, I had a great day. Let's not try to guess my age, it is 23! Wow, I feel like I just graduated high school! On my wish list was the infamous Kitchenaid mixer. And as you can see in the pics, it came true. I also got a cool nixon watch! The huge professional 600 seris, dark silver, mixer. I love it!! I spent all day looking at it, putting in together, looking through the book it came with. I am so very excited to use it.



We got together with our friends in the morning, and John whipped up some yummy smoothies, in our Vita mix, while we all chatted, and enjoyed hanging out together.
After school John and I got to spend the night together. I was craving some mexican food, and I know we are out here in Buffalo NY, which is lacking in real mexican food, but we went to a place named La Tolteca, and I enjoyed it. We enjoyed our meals, our yummy pina colada, and my beautiful sombero!!

John was making the birthday girl laugh. All ready to go out on the town!!


After dinner, we hung out together, in our fun fort we built, and relaxed and watched LOST!!
What a great birthday!! Thanks for everyone who helped make my day special, and those who helped get me my new love, the kitchenaid!!! ( I have the whole weekend off, so my birthday will continue)

A few other fun things that have happened.
A friend from work Rebekah, is getting married in June, so we had a shower for her Wednesday night at Casa di Pizza. It was fun getting together with people from work. Everyone I work with is so nice and fun. Congrats to her!!

John's summer school session is a lot of time in the lab, drilling and prepping teeth, lots of fun stuff. Much better than studying and listening to lectures all day. John spends some time with his new friend, his rubber, plastic head, in which he uses his teeth to practice on!! Looks like a real dentist, huh! Those glasses and everything!!


Monday night we served the missionaries, breakfast for dinner, yummy crepes, french toast, eggs, fruit!! And a little FHE with Dave and Briste. We need to start getting together for fun FHE's again!!

Need I say more?!

Thought this was cute!

Sometimes, I feel like that is the story of my life. Sometimes, I feel like I am a great cook. . . .

A few reasons why Buffalo is pretty cool!!!

We are twenty minutes from a beach!! I spent the day at the beach today, and it was not 4 or 7 hours away (as in AZ), but twenty minutes. Mind you it is not an ocean beach but a lake! Hey, out here that is all they have. But boy was it nice to relax, on the sand, with the sun beaming down on me, and a nice view. It was in the 80's today. I cannot remember the last time i felt the suns ray's on my skin, it felt so good. I went to beaver island beach on grand island. It was in a beautiful state park. I want to bring John back soon. I went with some other ladies in our ward. It was actually playgroup, and even though I am childless at the moment, I got an invite and definately accepted. It was tons of fun!




Another reason why Buffalo is pretty cool and why I think our house and place we live is so nice, Are the cute little cotton tail bunnies that hop wildly through our yard. It's so nice to look outside and see a cute little rabbit, hoping along! Not something you see out west.


So just a few things, that I am grateful for today.

Celebration Time!!

So John successfully completed his first year on Thursday, so this weekend was full of fun times together and celebrations!! On Thursday night, John and I went out to Dollar Bowling, with several other members in his class. It was fun to bowl, it had been such a long time, since I bowled, but my skills were not too bad!! John on the other hand. . . .

JOhn hopes the one pant thing might bring him luck!

Friends, Dave and Briste!

Briste and Me bowling!

Dick and I enjoy being with John!!
Friday I worked, and John slept in to 11am!! I was so glad, he needed to catch up. He also organized/got rid of his school work and papers from the past year. On friday at work I had a special delivery from my mother. She had a box of these cute cookies sent to me and all of my fellow nurses I work with. So cute, and everyone loved them! It was in honors of Nurses week!

That night John and I took advantage of our time together, had a nice dinner, just layed down together and talked and talked, and watched LOST! So fun, so stress free!!
Saturday John had a big Golf tournament along with 100 other guys in UB dental school. He had such a great time, mostly driving crazy in the golf cart, I am sure he was crazy dangerous, so I am glad I was not in the cart. While the boys had a great day playing golf, and having a nice steak dinner, and award show the girls had to go out. Briste, Kristen and I hung out during the day. We went to Target, and Pier One, then met up with Missy and Rachel, with the kiddies of course, and had a nice Mexican dinner( it was cinco de mayo). Dinner was so fun and delicious, they were doing a live radio show from the restaurant! It was quite an experience! Mucho Bueno! That night after dinner, Briste and I went for a little dessert, at none other than Cold stone creamery, It was delicious, my favorite!! Saturday night John came home, with a nice prize he had won, not from his golf playing skills, it was just a raffle. He won a nice golf bag! That is way nice, now all he wants are new clubs!



Sunday we went to the buffalo ward for the first time, our friends Dave and Stephanie blessed their baby, he is so cute. He still looks like such a newborn. Then back to our ward for fun Primary, our kids were so good today. We have such a good time with our little kids. Today was such a nice day. John and I look a nice walk. down to a park near our home, that has a beautiful waterfall, we played koosh ball, and just sat and talked. Such a nice day with the sun shining!


John starts his next little spring extension semester, but we have heard it is not too bad. It can't be as bad as these last few weeks of crazy finals. So he is back to school, but we should still have lots more time to hang out and do fun things!
A few other things I got to do this week: Plant my fun garden- basil, carrots, tomatoes, green onions etc, and pretty flowers,
I know it doesn't look to good now, but hopefully when things start to grow, it will be awesome, my very own garden!!

and make some yummy flower cupcakes!

Such a great weekend!!

Boys Vs. Girls

The guys got together to do some late minute late night studying!! Fun and laughter, while cramming their brains!!


The girls got together for a nice lunch date at the Olive Garden, you can't beat the soup, salad, and breadsticks!! Yum Yum!!

The girls definately win! No one complaining about studying, and enjoying yummy food!!!

Countdown!!

Well, this past week has been busy, well, busy for JOhn in school for sure. He has 11 finals, and is about half way down. So he is studying all the time, with hardly any sleep, and a brain that is crammed with STUFF, he still manages to pull through and get good grades, with a pretty positive attitude! I would have gone crazy by now! So he is half way down, this is his last week!! Then PARTY! Or sleep for him, I am looking forward to him having a break. So this thursday he is offically done with his first year of dental school! They have a spring extension semester through the middle of June, so he will still have school, but we hear that it is not too bad. The good thing is that even though he has been studying all the time, he has been doing it at home, so although we don't talk or touch its nice to be together, in the same room ( as long as I am pretty quiet).
Work for me has been great. Each day I feel more and more comfortable, like I know what I am doing a little bit more. I enjoy it. I am really happy at my job and enjoy the people I work with, and my schedule for the most part. The four days off a week are nice, but then I pay for it, by working holidays and sundays. Yesterday I gott to go to church and I feel so distant, I hate not being able to go to church each week. But I guess, that comes with the job.
On my days off, I keep busy by doing the neccessities around the house, clean, cook, shop( groceries) I haven't shopped for clothes in way too long! Don't get me started! I always love getting together with the girls whenever we do, it is always a fun time. And if you don't already know we do not have TV, well we have a TV, but no channels, we have borrowed bunny ears, from our dear friends, and so we get two channels, fuzzy but watchable. I have been enjoying the shows, rachel ray, martha stewart, and ellen. I also am trying to make a rug, a few baby blankets, a recipe calendar of favorites! I love to keep busy, but as you can see maybe I have a few too many things going on!? I love getting new ideas of things to cook, and make (crafts) and try to remember them so one day I can do them, when I have time.( right, like never!) I am getting anxious for a few little vacations we have planned this summer, In June we are going to Idaho, for some white water rafting, in August we are going to san diego for a week on the beach, in September my mom, dad, and grandma are coming to visit, and in OCtober I am going to AZ for a week, hopefully we can get John's family out here over the summer!! John and I also want to do tons of little trips here locally to take advantage of this time to be out here in buffalo, kid free!!

I am also getting ready to plant a little garden out in back of our home. I am excited to have pretty flowers and fresh veggies and herbs! On saturday night, my friend Missy and her husband Gary are moving to Chicago over the summer for Gary to attend Orthodontic school( he is done and moving on), that will be us in just three years, graduated!!! But she had some people over for a free yard sale, getting rid of everything she had collected and not interested in bringing with them to Chicago! She had tons of baby clothes, which I grabbed a ton, since. . . . . Ha Ha. Not really. I passed on those. as it will be a little while, but I came home with a rice cooker and a cookie cookbook! pretty cool! I have been wanting a rice cooker, so it worked out great. We will miss Gary and Missy a ton, but will definately come and visit!!


I also watched my friend Alanna's baby Cohen for an hour or so one day this week, I was having so much fun with him, and he was making the cutest faces, I had to snap a pic!

Life is good out here is buffalo, finals are almost done, and summer is hopefully just around the corner!!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, John bought some volcom jeans from steap and cheap, and they don't fit him quite right!
We got quite a laugh at them!
He must be emo!! ( with the tight "look like girl" pants)

Oh, yeah and I forgot something else. You know that beautiful mobile home we bought back in the fall. Well, we are so sad to see it go. We have washed our hands of the home, for 500 hundred!!! Yeah !!! Shopping spree!

Sunny in Buff Buff!!

You might be wondering what the big deal is. I have all these pictures of the sky, water, us girls in the park with sunglasses on! Well, let me just tell you about cold ol buffalo! This past weekend it has been warm, sunny, and in the 70's !!! It's only been 6 months, it has felt like my whole life since the sun went down and the warm weather disappeared. So, needless to say I took advantage of it. I walked to the gym, not only did I get double cardio, but I got some Vit D from the rays. One day I walked to Wegmans ( the best and my favorite grocery store ever) three times, why, just for someplace to walk to outside, and to walk around the store, Doesn't sound exciting but if any of you visit out here you will love Wegmans too!! In the pictures, Myself, and my friends, Erica (ella), Missy (bryker), Alanna(cohen), and Kristen(chase) went out to Niwanda Park, it was so fun. We packed up our babies, while everyone did but me, and enjoyed an afternoon at the park. It was so nice, we walked on the path they had, and rested on blankets, while we soaked up the sun and chatted! The water was amazing, it had huge ice chunks floating in it! I can't wait to have more of these days hopefully in the summer without too much humidity, cross our fingers!! This week its supposed to be overcast, rainy and in the 50's, so not as nice for sure!
John is busy busy busy with finals, having 4 or 5 tests in one week is crazy. He is doing well, getting through school, and still taking of me and himself! I cannot wait for summer, so he can have a break, and we can take advantage of our time together!!

Going out on the town!

First of all, congrats to Dave and Stephanie and their little son Crew!! Born late Thursday night, he is such a cute little boy, yeah little, only 6lbs, 14 oz!! They are all doing great. A few of us girls went to see her on friday and she looks so good, and both are healthy!!

This weekend was one to look forward to. First reason, a three day weekend, not for John but for me, No work on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. What a nice break. The second reason is that a bunch of our friends had a dinner date at Texas Roadhouse, yeah 14 of us, including a baby with every couple but two!! It was hilarious, everyone was wondering what a bunch of young people where doing together with a bunch of babies. Texas Roadhouse was delicious, no surprise there, and we did not have to wait. With call ahead seating, the whole group got to sit with hardly any wait. It was enjoyable to talk with everyone, and chow down!


After dinner, John and I came home, and watched the episode of LOST from wednesday, and it was pure torture, after the episode we just stop and look at each other, shaking our heads. They just leave you hanging so so bad, and it stinks having to wait to find out what is going to happen. Also we were in the movie watching mood, and since we would rather stay in and watch a movie, then go to the theaters and spend $20 we did. ( by the way, I can't remember the last time we went to the theaters, I think it was on Christmas, we have done the dollar movies or three dollar movies), anyway, we watched Meet Joe Black, I had never seen it, and it had been a while for John, so I did not complain, any movie with Brad Pitt I am willing to watch. It was enjoyable, I feel asleep part way through(surprising), so I finished it today. It is a long movie, but I enjoyed it. Today I have been completing tasks on my never ending list, avoiding some, and accomplishing others. Today was actually a nice day out, with a little sunshine! John took advantage of that, and him and a few friends went out and hit a bucket of balls. Here is John, very proud of his sweet baby blue thrift store golf bag!!


Tonight the girls are getting together and letting the guys study. The spirit of finals is here, so we like to get together while the boys do their thing!! I am sure it will be fun!!

Ok, so where should I live!

For those of you who are interested in what the website Findyourspot.com told me, well here are my top five. John and I did it separately, and we actually had a lot of similar places so that is good news!!! (sometimes I get worried because I think he kinda likes this cold, snowy stuff). I think living in any of these places would make me happy, so here are the top five!!

1- Las Vegas Nevada- Kinda cool, i was acutally born in Vegas, yeah, that might explain my wild party side, ha ha. But I think I could live here, not like on the strip, but they have beautiful suburbs in Vegas.

2- Honolulu, Hawaii- I am not complaining, I have never been to Honolulu, but Maui was awesome so I am sure Honolulu would not be bad. Beach, surfing, hot chicks! I am sure the boys perked up on that one, ha ha. Sounds like the life!

3- Albuquerque, New Mexico- Now on our eight day journey out to Buffalo we drove through Albuquerque, and I was not too impressed, but that was just a short visit, I am sure it is nice, but not my first choice!!

4- Portland, Oregon- Never been to Oregon, don't know to much about it. Besides having the reputation of having tree huggers, hippies, large gay populations, and libral views. I am not saying anything about that. I know, probably not true, and actually I think portland would be a nice place to live!

5- Phoenix , Arizona- Surprise! I think not, its just meant to be! Its number five but number one to me! The results were not skewed at all, and believe it or not, Phoenix was John's number one! So need I say more, this is our home!!!

Beautiful sunset in AZ!

Life would be rough, having sunny days everyday, laying out by the pool in AZ!

Where should you live?!

John informed me of this cool site, where you take a quiz and it matches you up to certain cites in the US where you should live, based on your answers to questions about weather, communtiy resources, economy etc. and other important things. It is kinda fun to take, you and your husband can take it separately to see if you want to end up in the same place, its really a cool litle thing. Try it out when you have a minute.

the website is: www.findyourspot.com

( sorry I tried to do the link thing, but I can't figure it out, I will have to have one of my better blogger friends help me figure it out!!)

Easter Time

Happy Easter to Everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day. I will share about our easter. First of all, ours came a little early. We celebrated easter on Saturday due to my wonderful work schedule which I had to work today. Saturday morning we woke up to the journey of finding our easter baskets. Late friday night, we took string and mazed it through the house, leading to the baskets. John had the family room and basement, and I had our guest room and kitchen! So saturday morning, following the string through the house until we found our baskets!! I know kinda a bit much since it is just John and I, but we like to go all out and start traditions now!! I found my basket in the basement, and John's was under the kitchen sink.


Starting our search following the string!!

After the baskets, were explored, it was time for breakfast, which I made omelets and some homemade sweet orange rolls which were delicious!! I tried a new recipe and we were not disappointed at all!!

Yummy Yummy!!
That morning it was a primary activity day, and John had a role of playing the blind man that Jesus healed, so I went for moral support, and to make sure his costume remained intact!

Later in the day, we finshed off the easter traditions with the easter egg hunt. JOhn hid some for me, and I for John. John says he is not a HUGE fan of the easter egg hunt, because it reminds him of when he is looking for his lost keys which is way too often. Anyway, the hunt was successful and no hard boiled eggs went missing, so that is a good thing!


( No fair, I can't even reach that!!)
Easter dinner was a success as well, John set up the romantic table setting, and I in the kitchen prepared the following easter menu- Ritas holiday baked ham, homemade creamy au gratin potatoes, spinach and strawberry salad, steamed asparagus, warm rolls. And some yummy carrot cake, which stayed on the platter because we were too full!! Such a great night!
We sat and shared our thoughts on Easter, looking through a book I have entitled He Lives which is full of beautiful pictures of the Savior by Simon Dewey, and I gave a fun easter lesson explaining the easter story ( with 12 eggs with an object in each one describing something that happened in Jesus' life.) It was a great day to spend together!
Today which really was Easter, did not even feel like it, kinda sad I know, but being at work, I didn't realize it. The easter bunny came by, and even delivered a stuffed bunny to me! It was a slow day which is nice since it was easter. John was lucky enough to have two easter dinners, because our friends, Tyler and Rachel invited him over. I love holidays, and we had a great easter. Now onto hopefully some sunshine and summertime, that will be a cause for celebration!!