Goodbye to Utah.

After "This is the Place" we went and saw a movie together, The Network. We picked something out that Aaron wanted to see as he seemed pretty bored with the day thus far. It was quite a sad movie I thought...it just shows that fame, riches, and full time obsession with work/computers does not bring happiness.

The next day we went to church and there was an awesome talk regarding pride. I realized that is something that I seriously need to study again, as I am a very proud person.

The whole trip was nice, and I was surprised by my feelings when I left. I really missed Utah or rather I missed a lot of the experiences I had in Utah. I missed having really good friends that I have close relationships with and the meaningful conversations that I have with them. I miss the outdoors and the thought that there is always something to hike so close by that is not mosquito-filled, humid, and flat. I miss being close to the church center, as that is so much of who I am.

I still don't think I could live in Utah full time. But in ways look forward to my next visit.

Lame Halloween

Our Halloween this year is a little like this pumpkin...rotten! Well, more like lame. We didn't even carve a pumpkin, no less buy one.  We didn't bother getting out our Halloween decorations. We had debated about throwing a party, but then with Halloween on Sunday we weren't sure how to go about a party. I was gone the week before Halloween and both of us have been working so much that it made it hard to actually plan anything. Today is Halloween and unlike some states, when it is on Sunday trick-or-treating doesn't switch to another day.

Last minute our ward decided to do a trunk-or-treat just so the kids could have a way to go around and get candy not on a Sunday. I am not sure how it went as I didn't get off work last night until 8 PM and it probably was over before I would have made it over there.  We are going to get together for dinner with friend's of ours and maybe some trick-or-treaters will come by making it feel like the holiday that I really do enjoy.

Sarah's Wedding

One of my bestest friends Sarah Squires got married last week to a Blackwell. I was so happy that I could make it out to the wedding. We had 2 nights prior to the big leap to spend together just as girls. I must admit that I thought I was almost losing my friend once it all was over. I'm sure that is not so, it is just different as I met her husband for the first time, and usually I knew a lot of the guys she had dated in the past.

The day before the wedding we went and ran errands for the big day, and I helped her pick out her outfit for the family dinner that evening. We even had a chance to eat some lunch at this delicious place called Dodo's. We shared a salad and appetizer.

The Bride had much to talk about on the phone to get things in order

These Roasted Tomato Polenta Cakes were to die for!

The family dinner was lovely and I rode with the bride and groom. We got lost following a GPS that took us to this construction site with a drop off of over 100 feet...that was quite the adventure, but I was with the right people, they couldn't start without the guests of honor!

I don't think I slept much the night before the big day as Sarah was nervous...let's just say I didn't sleep much at all the whole week with my flight and everything. She made it though. The morning of the big day, I went with her to do all of her stuff, make-up and hair. How fun!

Something borrowed, was my veil. I am so glad that someone could get a use out of it!

Her cousin did her hair. It looked so romantic!

One of the girl's from her single's ward did her make-up

The final spray to make it all stay

Isn't she gorgeous?!

I went with Sarah's family who I know pretty well to the temple. Scary enough, both Sarah's dad and sister forgot their recommends. Thank goodness the Temple was able to call the Bishop to confirm that their recommends were up to date.

She was married in the Salt Lake City Temple which was really neat to see a sealing in a temple other than Orlando, as well as to see the sealing rooms in SLC.

Pictures were taken and we even had time to go and get lunch at Cafe Rio (oh how delicious) before heading back to the house to get things prepped for the reception. I went with Sarah's mom to the reception location, this beautiful barn/garden place. It was absolutely gorgeous. I was so happy that they put me to work. I helped decorate, was in charge of making sure the food, drinks, etc. stayed full. Sarah and Dave (the groom) looked like they had a great time.

So in love!

Coming out of the temple!

Katherine from BYU also flew out for the event!

leaving the house for the temple!

A final bite to eat before the big "I do"

When they left for their honeymoon to Vail, Colorado, I went and stayed with my in-laws.

This is the Place!

Grace and Omar's littles brother Aaron. It was so hard to get him to be in a picture

Omar's mom, Grace, picked me up from the reception and I spent the night there. The next day was supposed to be whatever Grace wanted to do. She is always thinking of others, and I wanted to do something for her. This was my first time every spending time with my in-laws without Omar around.

We went and got luch at In-and-Out as it is right near their house. I had it once before in California when I went there for a trip in college. However, I was not really impressed. Everyone talks about it like it is the best place on earth so I thought I should try it again, but do it the way that the regulars do..."animal style!"

I ordered some frieds too. I must say they were quite disgusting. They are supposedly freshly cut daily, but man there was literally no potato inside that fried, dehydrated tasting casket. Grace and my brother-in-law, Aaron's response was "yeah we knew they were gross, but didn't want to tell you."

Of course, Grace only wanted to do what I wanted to do, but she gave the idea of going to "This is the Place". I had never been there, so I thought. I mean I hiked one time in college the location where Brigham Young said, "This is the Place!" as he looked across the SLC valley after pioneering for like 2,000 miles, but I didn't realize it was really the same location. It looked way different from what I remembered. They have all these statues and monuments there and even a whole little city that you can visit.

We went sort of later in the day so there was one train ride left that we could purchase around the city, but all the building were closed. I figured it would only be worth it when the buildings were open. It was really neat visiting the museum there regarding the Mormon Battalion too.

Nikki Time

I left Jacksonville at 5 AM for Utah getting me there by 10 AM. Nikki North picked me up and I was so happy that we were going to be able to spend a whole day together before she dropped me off at the bride-to-be's house. I spent a brief period with her 2 cuties and her husband joined us for lunch at a thai restaraunt. He then took over as parent while Nikki and I went and had girl time!

First up was pedicures, a belated birthday present for Nikki as she is always so thoughtful for all the holidays in sending me gifts and I never send her anything.

Then it was browsing and of course we found some super cheap clothes on sale that we couldn't pass up entirely.

Then we went off to Temple Square to hunt down Audrey Barritero who I remembered is serving on Temple Square. You would be shocked to know we found her within 10 minutes of searching by just walking around. She and her companion were teaching this young couple from Europe and we joined them as they took them on a tour of the old church house, the tabernacle and then over to the Christus. Super cool to see her working by the Spirit and testifying! It was fun visiting with her a little while and hearing about her mission works. It made me really miss my mission, especially teaching. I felt for a short while what it was like to teach again by listening to them. Audrey totally has the missionary voice though, it is GREAT!

After Temple Square we went and ate at the Red Iguana. Nikki had been wanting to go as she heard great things about it, and I had actually read about it in the newspaper at home the week before as the place to eat while in SLC,  Utah. It was pretty good, best of all they had free refills on horchata!!! I must say Utah must have at least as many Mexican places, if not more than Texas and California. I seriously would see at least one or 2 on every street and corner. Mormons love that Mexican food.

I was sad to see Nikki go, as it was so refreshing having some wonderful conversations. I wish she lived closer to me!

Omar's 29th Birthday

Omar's Birthday was on Tuesday, September 28. I took off that day and we went Ice Skating. I got a Groupon for it and 2 other people and so Brandon and Brianna came with us. It was a lot of fun. I haven't been ice skating since on the mission and Omar hadn't been for like 10 years.

Brianna and I

The Birthday Boy!

We then went for burgers and shakes at Steak-N-Shake.

For dinner we went over to a Brazilian Steakhouse called Espeto's. It was good, but not the best one either of us had been too. Next time we will try a different one. We definitely ate enough that day...just how Omar likes it.

This is the view we had

My Husband the Amazing!

My husband is now 29 years old! He is just amazing to me. I seriously feel so blessed to have someone who is so loving and caring. I'm not a very mushy person so for me to write this is a little weird. But recently I have just been thinking about all the wonderful things he does for me.
*He does a lot of the cooking and cleaning around the house.
*He does an awesome job on the lawn, our grass looks amazing!
*He is always helping someone and never looks for attention from it. People will come up to me and thank me for letting him come and help him move, for him getting them tickets to go to something and other random things that I had NO idea that he was doing.
*He is such a hard worker
*I love the way he is always helping my parents and enjoys spending time with them even if I am not around

I couldn't ask for someone more supportive in everything that I want to do! I love you BABE!

Titanic: The Exhibit

I am really into finding things to do through Groupon. I bought a Groupon to go to Titanic: The Exhibit in Orlando FL. It has been fun trying to do things in Orlando that we have never done before.

We attended our Stake's Millenial Day at the temple and completed work for my ancestors including an endowment session and temple sealings. It was awesome. Omar and I hadn't completed sealings since we were sealed to each other in 2008! It was also really neat doing the sealings fo my family, especially for the person I was named after Kate Candace! So cool.

After the work there in the morning we met my parents to go to the Titanic exhibit in the heart of tourist town, I-Drive. It was pretty cool. I have a love for Titanic due to my History Fair Video I did on it back in Middle School before the Motion Picture Film came out for it.

You go on a tour as to what it was like on the Titanic and actually experience how cold it was. You are a real live person on the ship so you can see what happened to your person.

a real teak chair from the Titanic

This was the character that I played - she was so cool that she had a whole part of the exhibit regarding her

Sunday School Class Party

2 of my students - Madison and Gretchen - aren't they so cute!

The girls have so much spunk I got Allison to come help me out.

We made cinnamon rolls - can you see how much brown sugar is on there - Allison kept saying, I think it needs more - a bag and a half later!

I threw a party for my 11 year old Sunday School Class. Allison helped me with it so I wouldn't be all by myself with the girls, not that there are many of them or anything. We ate pizza, played rock band, board games, baked cinnamon rolls and talked. It was fun. The girls were mesmorized by all the remotes and intercoms in our house. It was a very fun evening.