Improvising

When you leave your dogs leash at your Mom's and he needs to go out and pee you gotta do what ya gotta do, use a belt! My husband is so smart!

Dad is 50!! OVER THE HILL!

My Dad did NOT want a celebration that he would be a half a century young. We wanted to do a big surprise party and everything, but he was very CLEAR that he did not want one. But we had to do something fun! So we decided to throw a party, but kids and grandkids only. We decorated with streamers and balloons that were black..and bright colors. We plastered the OVER THE HILL banners throughout the house..with the intention that Dad would really feel old haha. We bbq'd chicken, hot dogs, and steak. We had Mom's famous potato salad, corn on the cob, Brittanie's famous deviled eggs, and one of Jenn's famous, from scratch, baking creations--Cream cheese cake. We filled a jar full of memories that each of us have of our Dad. It was funny and nice to see all the good our Dad has done in our lives, regardless of whether we have had our own issues with him at one point or another. Love family get togethers. Happy 50th birthday Dad!

Together

A day at the Redlands, CA temple with my hubby. It was an awesome day! Peaceful. Calming. Carefree. Just what we needed. Evs has been working nonstop completing his clinical work and now he is about to start school on Wednesday and continue his clinical work. Busy guy! We were glad to have this Happy Friday to spend with each other. We went to Marie Calendar's for lunch too. A fun date just me and my hubby! Love this guy!

We have been married 20 months today!

The HEAT

It is flippin HOT outside. This 3-digit weather needs to go away and cool down already. Its seriously so hot that its hard to breathe. Its like being in a sauna but not half as relaxing! I have been hiding away in my air conditioned apartment only going outside to walk Sage or leave for work. Please God make it rain and cool this desert off!

4-Day Forecast for ZIP Code 92503

Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
108° F | 70° F	108° F | 67° F	97° F | 61° F	88° F | 58° F

2 years ago..

Two years ago today, my then boyfriend of 5 months, picked me up from the Honolulu, Hawaii airport with a single rose in hand and hugged me so tight because he missed me so much. He then held my hand and helped me with my bags. Then he loaded my bags in the car and he opened my door for me. We headed to At&t to fix some account information and get that all in order. Then we went to the Ala Moana shopping mall and went to our favorite restaurant, Tanaka of Tokyo (we went here on our first date, we went here after we were offically a couple, and the he took me there to ask me a special question). While we were in the restaurant we ordered our usual shrimp, chicken and steak. It was delicious. I was just so excited to see Evan! I was grinning so wide. I had missed being with him all summer while I went home to California for 2 months, seemed like an eternity. After we ate dinner, we were waiting for our dessert to come and Evan asked to see this sterling silver band I was wearing on my left ring finger (my pretend engagement ring that I bought so people would stop asking where my ring was if I was engaged). He "accidently" dropped the ring on the floor, leaned down to get it and next thing I know there's Evan on his knee with a ring in his hand, a real ring, one he saved up all summer to buy me, one with diamonds! It was then that my sweet boyfriend became my fiance. When he asked me to marry him, I was so happy! I laughed. Not the kind of laugh thats insulting, like yah right dude who do you think you are, but the kind of laugh that was a joyful kind, it was a F-I-N-A-L-L-Y laugh. (We had pretty much the entire wedding planned, flights booked, even the temple date set and scheduled.) Thats why I gave a F-I-N-A-L-L-Y laugh. Oh what a day I will always remember.(Evan thought I would have my camera, but I didn't, so we didn't get any pictures of the actual proposal, but my memory of that day is so vivid) My sweet husband has brought so much joy and laughter and fun to my life. I cant thank him enough for asking me to marry him. How did I get so lucky?!?!? I am so blessed to have Evan in my life. He is my best friend and eternal heaven buddy. We are linked together as ONE. I cant wait to see what life has in store for us! I love you Evy!

Pictures taken August 23, 2008

Speaking in Church

So Evan and I were asked to speak in church today, but not in our ward (congregation) but in the American Sign Language branch. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew someone would be translating for us, but I guess I just didn't know how it would be. I can say this. It was quiet. I could hear kids laughing and screaming every so often, but I suppose that was okay because no one else could hear them. The music..well there was none.Per se. The chorister signed the words and the congregation signed along (we sang out loud--acapella--except for the last song; I didn't quite know the tune so I decided to try and sign the song by watching the chorister haha). It was a really cool experience. What I loved most about it was that you could feel the Spirit so strong. It became very clear to me that the Spirit of God dwells where it feels invited. It doesn't matter what language is spoken, whether there are actual words even spoken (ASL). Truth is truth. And the Spirit is the testifier of truth. I am grateful for this experience I was able to have to learn this important message and learn the language of the Spirit.

"Proficiency in the language of the Spirit permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart.Rarely does the Spirit communicate by flashing sign or loud voice; rather, the language of the Spirit is gentle, quiet, and uplifting to the heart."

80's Surprise Party

We have a good family friend that turned the BIG 50 this month. Today was her surprise party. It was themed "the 80's". Evs and I went to Josh and Britts house to visit them before the party to hang out. Britt and I busted out the crimper and went searching for something bright and ugly. It was fun to dress up! Evs only stipulation for his outfit was that "it didn't look like an old man died in it." What do you know?? thats the only thing I could find! Even though we didn't get to wash our clothes before wearing them (they smelt like thrift store-p-eww) We had a ton of fun! And I know Jaci Taylor did too! She was super surprised and it was good for her. She is a hard worker and the last couple years have been hard. I am glad we were able to be there to celebrate with her!

Auntie Darcy let Ru have the lipstick to play with, she loved it.

The crowd that dressed up!

My husband is hott!

Ben and Amanda's Wedding

My twin cousin (he was born 2 days before me) Benjamin Alexander Sebreros was sealed to his bride, Amanda Jacobson, today in the San Diego Temple. It was a beautiful sealing. My Mom and I went down there together and enjoyed a nice family day. There were so many beautiful words said pertaining to everyone in the room, but of course directed at the newly married couple. I remember the sealer saying, "marriage is a lot of patience and long suffering for the women and perseverance for the men. " He also said, " when its all said and done, at the end of this life, what will you be able to say about your relationship with your spouse? Was it Good? Special? Just there?" Being in the sealing room , I was reminded of when Evan and I were sealed for eternity and how the sealer looked at us and said, " You will be happy. I can see it, you will be happy." What a fun day! I am so proud and excited for Ben and Amanda. We had such a fun day with them and all the family. They had a very small get together at the Marriot Hotel in La Jolla, CA. They had good food and it was so cute to hear Ben sing to his new wife and song called Lemonade by Passion while playing the ukulele. It was so incredibly sweet, I should have recorded it!

She's my sunshine in the rain
My Tylenol when I'm in pain yeah
Let me tell you what she means to me,
Like a tall glass of lemonade
When it's burnin' hot on summer days
She's exactly what I need

[Chorus]
She's soothing like,
The ocean rushing on the sand
She takes care of me baby
And she helps me be a better man
She's so beautiful,
Sometimes I stop to close my eyes
She's exactly what I need

(Verse two)
She's my smile when I'm feelin' blue
She's my good night sleep
When the day is through yeah
Let me tell you what she means to me
(Yeah, she's kinda like this)
Kinda like the feelin' after your first kiss
Except that Everyday she makes me feel like this
Cuz she's exactly what I need
Oh yeah, oh yeah

[Chorus] X3
She's soothing like,
The ocean rushing on the sand
She takes care of me baby
And she helps me be a better man
She's so beautiful,
Sometimes I stop to close my eyes
She's exactly what I need

My Mom and I had a lot of fun visiting with family and friends. Its always very refreshing to get together with the people you love and catch up and kick back. I love those times they are alot of fun.

My Mum and me

G&G Ballantyne made it too.

Ben and Amanda Sebreros

Morgan, Mum, Me, Cassandra, Baby Easten, and Amy

Cousins! Ben, Me, Sarah, and Courtney

Ben was thirsty. Who drinks a Rootbeer outside the temple?

Amazing Race...

Relief Society style... PLAN-PREPARE-PRESERVE. My ward had an activity where we split up into teams of about 6 ladies. We received clue #1 but then had to find all the other 6 clues. It was so much fun! Since Evan and I just moved here I haven't had a chance to really get to know many women, so this activity was a perfect opportunity. These clues were good. The first clue we had took us to the Albertsons parking lot. We had to decode a combo and unlock a lock box that had the next clue. Basically we had to find out the # of spaces and then decode those numbers. Well after 20 minutes we finally figured out that we had to count the number of parking spaces and that was our "# of spaces". We ended up counting it twice, and couldn't get it right and didn't want to run around the parking lot again. So we took our emergency clue and proceeded on. We had such a good time. The clues were great and really got us thinking! We had to siphon water into a water bottle, bandage up an injured friend, make a shelter using supplies we could find, and we had to find a cup to use for our dehydrated friend. It was good fun! We didn't win the race, but it was pretty funny running around like crazy people..I felt like I was really in Amazing Race!