Guess who's back?

Per request of multiple individuals (I didn’t even think people read my blog, but I guess you do), this is my first blog post in almost 2 months. Whoops. I guess I just forget to take pictures and that sort of stuff. Which, I did. AND we only have a fancy schmancy camera now because both of our normal ones are broken, and it’s kind of weird to bust out a big camera to take a snapshot at a restaurant. My phone camera sucks, and Dylan busted his phone (which is touchscreen now and doesn’t work at all. Literally cracked every little part of the screen and now it looks like a spider web is on it permanently) when we went to Cliff’s (Amusement park in Albuquerque). So, I may be a loser when it comes to blogging, but I’ll work on it.

So, first and foremost, an update of what’s going on in our lives. Dylan is applying to Medical Schools right now (and still considering Podiatry). We were banking on UNM for the past 2 years, but some stupid advisor at UNM steered Dylan wrong, and he wouldn’t be able to graduate until after summer school this year. UNM Med school starts in July, so that won’t work because he HAS to be finished with all classes before the start date of Med School. We are torn right now between deferring another year (I do NOT want to do that) while Dylan could just work and then start UNM in Fall of 2013. It seems like too far off to me, and though I’d love to stay here, I just am not sure we are willing to wait another year. We’re still seeing what can happen on that end, plus he has to get in to UNM to even go down that road. So, more than likely we are moving in the next year. There are some pretty cool options, Tennessee, Arizona, Miami, NEW YORK CITY, and even lovely Iowa. We’ll see where this adventure takes us, but no matter what, I know we’ll be fine. I’m not happy about moving, well unless we move to NYC, then I’ll be one happy girl J

Other than that, I’m still working and Dylan is at school. The new job is fantastic. Love my life, can’t even describe it. I go home every day for lunch to eat and play with Barkley, it only takes me 5 minutes to get to and from work, and I get every other Friday off. It is the most amazing thing ever to have so many 3 day weekends. I can’t even describe how nice it is. Part of my job is event planning for the technologists that I work with (Party Planning to the max), so last week I got to go to Santa Fe to look at hotels. For work. Really? It's amazing. We’ve been doing a lot of studying for the MCAT lately, which leads to me painting rooms and buying things we don’t need. (pictures of the paint job will be up shortly).

For now, these next pictures will have to hold you over. One Sunday afternoon when Dylan and I were coming home from church, we noticed a bird was just sitting in our front yard on top of a bunch of pine needles (which we get letters from our HOA to clean up ALL the time). The bird would not move, she was just sitting there. So, I threw a rock at her. She flew away super fast, and then we saw that she was sitting on 2 little baby birds. She didn’t even make a nest. We are so lazy at yard work, that she just used the pine needles that were laying around to make her little home. So, we had a little mama bird with her babies living in our yard for a week or so. They never got big enough to fly away because our stupid neighbors called Animal Control to come pick them up. It may not have been the most sanitary thing for us to be out there playing with the birds all the time, but it was our yard, so they had no business turning us in. Either they turned us in, or they stole the birds to make soup (not to be offensive, but they are Korean).

My girls

I'm in Young Women's, and I know, most people say how wonderful and fun and amazing it is. But, it is. It is truly the best calling I could've ever been asked to do. I'm the Second Counselor in the YW Presidency (I know most people who read my blog know about the church, but just in case). That means I get to be with all of the Beehive girls who are 12 and 13 years old. It's crazy, like really crazy. Especially since there are 16 girls who are that age, and they all come to church. Like I said, it's crazy. It's so crazy that they had to get me a second advisor to act as "crowd control" when the troops get out of line (which is all the time).

Really though, I work with the most amazing girls. When I first got into YW over a year ago, I was overwhelmed with thinking about how I could teach them what they needed to know and how I could help them. Through this past year, I have realized that they don't really need me that much; but I need them. I have learned so much from these girls, which sounds silly since they are half my age. But they are so smart, and so strong, and they deal with way bigger issues than I have to. I look up to them, and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for this amazing opportunity I've been given.

Ok, enough with the sappy stuff though. I got to go to Girl's Camp for a night at the beginning of June to hang out and have fun. It was great. The girls are so fun, and of course, I made them take some pics with me.

Top 3 Best Things about my new Job

1. Every other Friday off
2. FREE tampons in the bathroom
3. Every other Friday off

I've been a little busy lately with all these Fridays off (lots of little baby road trips), so I haven't had time to blog. Just know that life is gooood and I'll be blogging about my road trippin life soon.

Girls' Night Out

Lesly and I..... love this lady. She is so funny.

Chels, Mee, Katy, and Me

I went on a girls' date last week with the other leaders from Young Women's. While I was away for the night, Dylan went on a man date with one of the other husbands (oh, how cute).

The ladies spent the night eating dinner at a popular Mexican restaurant, El Pinto. The food is so-so, but the atmosphere is a-may-zing!! It is this cute, old, Spanish hacienda type building (kind of like where I had my wedding reception).

These women are some of the most amazing ladies I've ever know. I love each of them so much, and I'm so lucky to get to work with them.

It's weird getting older and being in a ward for a while. We like have real friends who are actual adults....it's weird. It's been so fun being in a ward for longer than a year. We finally feel like we actually fit in and are the regulars at church now (not just the newbies).

My week of Unemployment

Don't be fooled by the title of this post, the previous post is still legit. I do have a new job, I just have this entire week off before my adult life starts again.

I will say, I don't know how stay-at-home moms do it. I don't even have kids, and I have found things to occupy my time everyday this week. I took Barkley to get her annual immunizations today, just like any good mom, and I could barely handle getting her in the car and into the vet. How do moms do it with children? I do not know, but props to all you out there.

My week so far has been filled with cleaning (lots of cleaning), gardening, hanging out with Barkley in the backyard while eating a bowl of cherries, pedicures with my mom, going to the vet, getting my hair did, nap time, redoing a dresser, and making breakfast, lunch and dinner (all at home, that is a record). It's only been 2 days, and I still have a million things on my To-Do list, but it sure feels good to actually get some stuff done around the house.

So, this one is to unemployment, just for a week. I think that my wallet will be much happier when I go back to work. (Does anyone else notice how much more money you spend when you are off work doing craft projects around the house? geesh.)

Another chapter closed

Friday was my last day at Hewlett Packard. I hadn't publically posted that on the blog yet, because I wanted to wait until my 2 weeks was up. I got a new job at Sandia Labs that I am SUPER excited about. I will be working approximately 4 minutes from home (compared to my previous 45 minute commute to and from my previous job), working in the same building as my dad and sister (can you say free lunch multiple times per week??), and doing something I will really enjoy (more business/marketing). Needless to say, I'm excited. I've been looking for a new job for months now, and with the economy we are in, it seemed almost impossible. I can't explain how blessed I've been in my whole job search. I've had multiple interviews at other companies, but nothing else seemed like it was right. I didn't want to leave one job for another job that I'd hate in a few months. So, I waited. I was patient, way more patient than I ever thought I could be, and then this job just kind of happened.

I put my 2 weeks in at HP, and couldn't wait for my last day there. Once you are checked out of a job, it's really hard to go to work. But, on Friday, I almost didn't want my last day to end there. HP was my first professional job after college. It was the job that allowed Dylan and I to make real adult purchases like fun vacations, lots of clothes, and even a car. It was the job that made my resume more than just a "recent college grad". I have met some of my closest friends there, and if you work in an office, you understand just how close you can be to the people you work with. One in particular, my BFF Amanda (AKA Manders Martin-ez). Amanda and I started on the same day, and we have been together every minute at work since. Amanda and I are complete opposites. I'm married, Mormon, vanilla (Mander's nickname for people of the Caucasian classification). Amanda has a healthy dating life, Catholic, and Mocha.

Over the past year and a half, I have spent more time with Amanda during the week than I've spent with my own husband. I knew it was going to be hard leaving, but as we stood at her desk on my last few minutes in the building, I never imagined myself crying. Yes, crying, like a little baby. Amanda and I stood there, in the middle of a building with 1,200 workers, hugging and crying. It was a bittersweet moment as I closed this chapter in my life. I have loved the people I've met in this job, and though I've decided another path will be better career-wise for me, I am glad to have had the experience I had there. Not to be sappy, but everything we go through changes us in some way.

I am excited to start my new chapter, but sad to be leaving all the good friends and memories I have made. If you watch The Office, you kind of get what it's like to work where I work. It's crazy, super stereotypical, boring, borderline HR issues non-stop, and more entertaining than the actual show itself.

I have the next week off work before I start my new job, so I will be relaxing, cleaning, and of course shopping. Love my life :)

Food Poison

Not literally, but Dylan and I have a big problem when it comes to food. It is impossible for us to eat at home. I go to the store, buy groceries, and then we eat out. We are so lame. I don't think we've gone an entire week of not eating out the entire time we've lived in Albuquerque. I love the grocery store, and especially COSTCO!!! I could name at least 10 things I love about Costco off the top of my head, yet I buy the food and then don't' eat it. We throw away a lot of groceries too, which makes me realize even more that we have a serious problem. We're wasters.

So, this is my pledge. In May (give me the rest of the week to ween ourselves) we will try to eat at home for 5 days in a row, M-F of every week. I'm not going to like it, but my wallet and belt will thank me for it.

Night with Nat (and Russ and Dylan)

The highlight of the month of April lasted for only 12 hours. I got to have Natalie and her brother Russ stay at our house when they were driving through Albuquerque. I'm so glad the Albuquerque is in the middle of 2 major highways, then people HAVE to stay at my house.

We started the night off with Dions pizza, of course. Then finished the night off with some Dunkin Donuts. It was the perfect night.

Natalie loved Barkley, so I hope she comes back to visit soon. It is so fun to catch up with old friends, and it's the best when it feels like you didn't even miss a beat. Natters is one of my dearest friends, and I love haging out with her. We started our love (or more like hate) for running together, love weight watchers, and love any and everything with desserts. I wish I lived closer to my BFF's, but then I probably would never want to hang out with my husband (no hard feelings Dylster).

The Lewis family is seriously one of the best families. I'm so lucky to have been an Eastsida with them (inside joke). And, I get to see more of the Lewis family in a few weeks when Russ and Camille drive through. I love having a guest bedroom.... hint hint (anyone, please come visit).

You've had a birthday, shout Ruff Ruff

It was Barkley's 2nd Birthday a few weeks ago. She's getting so big. We can't believe she is already 2 years old. She's hardly a toddler anymore. She's almost an adult dog which we can feed adult dog food too (there are all kinds of dog foods, it's ridiculous).

For her birthday we got her a birthday cake from this adorable dog bakery called 3 Dog Bakery. I got a groupon (holla) to spend $15 there for only $7. (love groupon). We got her a birthday cake, an eclair, and a cupcake. She was in doggy heaven. We had a little birthday party with her friend Sadie.

I'm the Baby, gotta love ME!!

(For Katie, this is our little townhome. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, way too much space for spoiled newlyweds)

Aren’t parents the best? Seriously. My parents live up to this reputation at all times, and so do their parents. This weekend was wonderful. We went to lunch at this super tasty burger joint, 5 Star Burgers, complementary of my Grandpa Lew, to find some wonderful news. Remember my dilemma below? Well, my parents are going to take over my sister’s house for her for the next few years until she is done with her PhD and let Dylan and I continue to live there for super cheap. Can you even believe these words are for real? My parents spoil me too much. We get to stay in the same house, with the same ward, and pay the same amount in rent J We are so lucky. Seriously. I was really stressing about finding a new place to live, and it’s amazing how things just always work out. We’ve been really lucky to be back in New Mexico close to our families. We love it here, and we love our families (yes, I’m cheesy). Now that we have the living situation figured out, I just need a job closer to home to save on gas money. That will be our new dilemma, any suggestions?