Holiday Season

I had the best December in 2011.  I got the Christmas spirit and it just lasted and lasted.  I think it helped because we walk Zino every night which turned into Christmas light looking every night!  It was my absolute favorite thing to do all month.  And we got a Christmas tree first thing which we didn't have the past two years while I was stressed out with dental hygiene finals in December.  The nice thing was that there was a Christmas tree farm right next door to our apartment complex, so we just walked over and carried a tree back... ok, Josh carried it back and I opened doors :)

This is a pic we took of Zino and his friend Baxter when we went light looking in gorgeous Naples.

 

I got to see Jenn and Joni at the LBDHS meeting, and I get to work with them every friday starting this week which I'm excited about!

 

This was my favorite place to hand out after our walks and watch a movie

 

This was at our office Christmas Party.  They took us all out to a dinner show in Anaheim and then we did a gift exchange, so fun! Have I mentioned I love them?

We were also able to make a trip us to San Luis and see Jenny and Phil's new baby, Brielle.  She was absolutley precious, and we were excited that Jenny was tired only because that meant we got to take a shift watching our darling niece. 

We made it to the LA temple to see their fabulous light display.  It's amazing that people volunteer their time every year to set up and take down all those lights!

It was an awesome December and I already can't wait for the next!

Thanksgiving Trip to Utah

This past Thanksgiving we drove up to Utah to see Josh's family.  We drove through the night and got there around 7am on Thursday, I think I slept for an hour maybe an haour and a half and Josh didn't sleep at all!  We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and spent some quality time with Josh's folks as well and Brandon and Marnie's families.

Thursday night we decided to stay up for the Black Friday sales since they were starting at midnight this year.  Leandra drove us and we made stops at Target, Shopko, JC Pennies, and Walmart. And we didn't get back til about 4:30 am.... ya, still no sleep, but our new TV is worth it :) 

Leandra, Jewel, and Aspen accompanied us to this Museum in Provo where they had tons of real animals that had been preserved and different facts about them all. 

Saturday afternoon we met up with Meagan and James.  We brought Zino so he could finally meet his cousin Coda.  They did some crazy dog playing and then spent the rest of the night ignoring each other :) We go some good pictures behind Meg n James' place...

Then Meagan had planned for us to go to the Gardner's Village.  They had a bunch of cute shops and elf workshops to view.  Just don't ask me how many overpriced fake M&Ms Josh bought only to discover he hated them! lol... (that was for Meagan.) We ended the night with some Olive Garden, can't go wrong there.

We had a nice family filled four day weekend.  We love any time we can get with them!

Missing You

I just realized today that I miss a lot of people.  And I mean a lot.  If you are reading this there is a good chance that I miss you.  I feel like every time we see anyone it has been too long since the last time we saw them... is that normal?  I guess that is not one of the perks of moving away from the place you are from.  Josh and I feel like we are in such a dilemma because we love living in southern cali but we pretty much have no hope of ever having family down here :/  I will be recruiting people from here on out, you have been warned.

My Loves

November 4th was the day I got to reunite with my favorites.  Our lives are all so different now, we are in such different life phases, and yet it's still the same.  We have the kind of friendship that you kind of just know will always work and will always be there.  That's why even though we always wait too long, longer than any of us like, it doesn't matter.  I love catching up with these girls and I love who they both are.

I. Love. Us.

Halloween Weekend and Soccer Soccer Soccer

On Halloween weekend Josh and I met some friends in Belmont Shore to watch the LA Galaxy play and more importantly to eat some food :)  We also lucked out because a dog costume parade just happened to be going on and who hasn't always wanted to see that?

LA GALAXY has had a really good year apparently and it's a big deal because the finals are set to be in LA which doesn't happen very often... at least I think that's what Josh said.  So he has been going to all the games and I even went to one that I kinda liked... weird, I know. And they just won the western conference finals so that means just one more match to go against the east coast and they could win the MLS cup.  Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Cause I almost feel like I do.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Last weekend Josh and I took Zino for a walk at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach.  We had really been wanting to go there and found out there are walking paths that dogs are allowed on.  We parked by these really awesome new homes that overlook the ocean and this made me very jealous.  The walk was so pretty and even got most of Zino's energy out which is quite a task.

Towards the end of our walk the sun was going down and we were veering off the beaten path a little to try and get back to the car faster.  That's when Josh noticed a coyote.  It was totally stalking Zino and it was very creepy.  This was one well fed coyote too, it was probably the size of a lab...even more creepy.  I ended up carrying Zino and Josh ended up chasing after the coyote despite my frantic cries of how it was going to attack him! We made it out alive though and here's proof:

Zino Loses His Manhood

On Friday, October 21st, I took Zino back to the Downey Shelter to get neutered.  We had had this appointment since we bought him two months ago and it seemed so far away.  His manhood was ruining pictures of him and it was not cute.  We were ready for this, although I did feel bad leaving Zino at that Shelter again :(

This is him after I brought him home.  He was a little out of it for a couple days.

We don't know why but surgery made him snugly... he couldn't get enough snuggles, which is ok with us!

Zino had to wear the cone collar while we slept and worked to make sure he didn't lick his stitches.  He didn't mind it much actually, but it made me laugh every time he had it on.  For your viewing pleasure:

The worst part about his surgery was that he wasn't supposed to exercise for 7-10 days and Zino has A LOT of energy.  I felt bad for him but also for us because we found out that the walks are as much for us as they are for him.  We go on lots of long walks with him throughout the week and it had become a nice bonding time for us where we kind of relax, talk, unwind and get a little exercise in.  We really missed it.  At the one week mark, yesterday, we started the walks again.  We feel better already and so does Zino :)

King's Game

Josh got a couple tickets from AAA to a Kings Game on October 18th.  We went to the game with Allen and Mercedes (Allen works with Josh).  Hockey is one of the few sports I like to watch... but only live.  This game was especially fun because AAA paid for the tickets and the parking :)  We got to sit up in the VIP box and enjoy the Kings clobbering the Blues.  Check out the score, 5-0... that made it fun too.

Megan & Ryan Return

On October 14, Megan and Ryan came back down to Southern Cali after moving to Atascadero a few months back.  They came down for a wedding Megan was working in San Clemente and stayed with us all weekend.  We have definitely missed our game nights and movie nights with these two. 

We pretty much had only one day together so we spent it well.  We went to the Crab Pot, which I heard was amazing, and I'm not gonna lie, it really wasn't amazing.  It was borderline gross even.  Sorry guys, my bad idea :/  But it was a cool experience and we got to wear some cool bibs.

We also went to the farmers market and bought some hats and some cheese and olives which we later stuffed ourselves with.  That was some good cheese.  Then we watched a movie which turned into a nap for me, whoops.  It was gone too soon, but we snuck in some good memories.  We miss you already, come back soon!

Quick Visit with Meagan and James

Meagan and James came down to celebrate their anniversary at their favorite place, Disney Land!  They cam over to Long Beach on October 9th, just in time to pick Josh up from his flight returning from Utah... have I mentioned we have been crazy busy? 

I absolutely love when Meagan, James, Josh, and I get to spend time together.  We have had a few times together over the years and while they are always too short they are packed with laughs and good times.  I only wish they lived closer because we sure do love them and there is nothing like a sister :) 

Meagan and Zino bonding

Delicious Elephant Bar, which is not a steakhouse by the way ;)

Can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving!

Kelsie Date

Friday, October 7th, my long lost Kelsie came over for brunch.  She got to meet my Zino, who loved her... as you can see, he jumped right on her lap

We went to Schooner or Later, right on the water in Long Beach, one of my favorites

It was so good to catch up with one of my oldest friends, I sure did miss her.  We were so sad that Lauren, the other part of our threesome, had to work like a grown up.  I am too excited to meet up with the complete group in less than one week!

Grill Friends Reunion

On October 6th I got to meet up with my "Grill Friends", otherwise known as the girls I went to dental hygiene school with :)  It was sooo nice to get together again.  I was used to seeing these girls every single day for two years... we were beyond close, and now everyone is off doing their own thing.  We knew this would happen but it's still kinda sad.

We fell right back into how things used to be and talked and talked for the next few hours over some Olive Garden and Starbucks, just like old times.  We are going to try to meet up more regularly and I sure hope we do cuz I miss these girls!

Jackie, Melissa, Me, Joni, & Jenn

Las Vegas

Jamie had never been to Las Vegas before so it was my job to show him around a little.  AAA put us up in the Palazzo which turned out to be amazing.  The room was super nice and we had an awesome view of the pool and the strip. 

I took Jamie to walk the strip the first night.  We got to see the main sites and my personal favorite, the Bellagio fountains.  We also stopped by Serendipity to get a frozen hot chocolate, which I've always wanted to try.  I got the original, aka the Fro Ho, and Jamie tried the white hot chocolate, aka Vanilla Chilla.  These became our nicknames from here on out ;)

The next day we went to the Sugar Factory which is kind of amazing.  There is still a whole lot of stuff I want to try from this place.

We also stopped by the Coca Cola store and tried their cokes from around the world.  There are about 16 to try, 4 of which are pure disgustingness, a couple were really good, and the rest fall somewhere in between. 

Then we went to the M&M store where I made Jamie watch a free 10 minute M&M 3D movie, haha.  But it was a cool place to sit for free and take a break from the heat outside :)

That night we went to see Mystere, a Cirque Du Soleil show, at Treasure Island.  It was a pretty cool show. It was funny, awe evoking, and creepy... very well rounded :)

We even had time to go to Fremont Street to watch the light show in the sky and eat a shrimp cocktail.

It turned out to be a nice trip.  I'm glad that I got some one on one time with Jamie... that almost never happens.  He has grown into such a great guy.  He is more mature than I ever realized and had such a big heart.  I am lucky to have him as a brother.  Love you Jame!