Watch out Eagle Mountain.... HERE WE COME!

Well it's not completely official and well its not completely done but.... WE'RE MOVING IN!! We've been so busy packing and getting things all done so I've had no time to post. But, just an update.... we'll be in this week, I'll post more pictures later.

Zira, doin what she does best

FREAKING OUT!! Good night. Poor Zira was neglected and didn't get brushed as much as she should of the past month (or 8!) and she got so matted we had to take her to get shaved. This has happened to her a few times so by now she doesn't seem to mind it as much. What she does mind though, getting her picture taken! I tried for no joke 10 minutes and these were the best ones!



Honestly, she would sit there so perfect looking at the camera, and my camera takes SO long to take one picture, by the time it took the picture she would hurry and look away! Plus, I really wanted to capture the ridiculousness of the bows in her hair before Chris comes home and makes me take them out. They just crack me up, and I didn't even have to ask for them!


I also just could not resist putting on this video, Zira and I went for a walk, and it was pretty cold today and since she lost about 5 pounds of fur ( hey, the vet said she needed to loose 5 pounds, he didn't specify where!) I made her wear her sweater outside, which she HATES so she won't freeze. And this is her, trying to in combination, get the bows off her ears and some how manage to get off the sweater in the process.

Our house.... in the middle of the street......

Well, our house isn't really in the middle of the street but it sounded good right? Well there have been some good things happening in our house the past couple weeks. We're not done yet, but it suddenly seems a whole lot closer....

This picture ended up being kind of weird dust in the air or something, but you can see our new countertops are in, the fridge and freezer (hiding behind the plastic so they won't get scratched, and my favorite, the black chandelier. I've always wanted one and Chris hasn't always been too jazzed about the idea, but he let me get one because he knew I loved it!


Just wanted to add a picture of the railing/banister that Chris built. I think it looks great, it's not quite done but I really like it. He did such a great job!

Here is our master bathroom with the new counter top, snks and faucets. It looks so nice, I'm glad in the end we decided to do it this way. I love the vessel sinks


Wow, this is a really not so good picture, but this is a really cool light fixture that we got for the front entry. We had our eye on this one for months but we had already got our fixture. Finally we broke down and returned the other one and got this one last minute and I am so glad we did.

Well, thats all I have for now, but seriously we hope to be in within the next couple weeks. Carpet is supposed to go in probably next week or so, so after that were HOME FREE!

The Zira Chronicles Volume 3: Zira and the Fur Coat

Well the picture pretty much says it all.... I can understand why Zira simply could not resist the awesomeness of this coat....
It all started when my brother, Telden, and I went to Savers to go find things for our Halloween Costumes. We wandered around the store for quite some time and we both found things that would be ok. The original plan was that I was going to be Cher and Chris was going to be Sonny Bono. I found a dress that was pretty ridiculously good but I needed to find something to go over it, so we went to the coat section. As we both walked up we instantly starting laughing so hard at the fur coat. Telden begged and begged for me to get it and I couldn't really pass up a gem like this baby.
We continued to laugh about all of the many possibilities for use that the coat might have as we got to the checkout line. As I was getting rung up, the lady who was ringing up my items couldn't get over how nice of a coat it was and she thought for sure it must be a really fur coat, Telden and I laughed about it and for $15 neither of us thought it could be real. We finished up at the store and I went home.
Upon arriving home I did the same thing I always do with bags, I just set them on the floor, Zira knows to leave things alone (most of the time). I pet her for a minute then turned around to go into the kitchen, which really is only a few steps away in our apartment, to wash my hands. As I was walking into the kitchen I could hear the bad rustling as usual. But, when I came around the corner I found Zira in the huge Savers bag, clawing, biting and attacking the fur coat! By the time I ran, which I couldn't run very fast because of my laughter, and grabbed her out of the bag, she had a big piece of fur in her mouth. I was laughing so hard, she continued to stalk it. I had to take it upstairs and hide it from her. Throughout the day Zira would continue to run upstairs and try to jump and grab it off the top of the bookcase. The attacks and stalking of the fur coat continued all night and the next day. When I finally decided to look at the tag to see if it was real fur and if that was why Zira was going crazy, I found a tag that in fact put truth to the matter that the "fur" coat, was really real rabbit fur.
I guess we know what would really happen if Zira caught a bunny......

October

Well, I really meant to post alot more this month, but its been a very odd month. Chris and I are doing well though. Chris is still busy working on the house as usual and right now I'm not working. Its nice in one aspect to not be working I guess, I've had time to kind of relax and me and the Gilmore Girls have really strengthened our relationship.
All in all, were doing good!

September

I can't believe the month is already almost over! I haven't hardly had any time this month to post.
Nothing new really has been going on in our lives. Chris has been busy working on getting the house done. Its so close these days, were just trying to get closed so we can finish it up. Closing takes so long and is such an annoying process! We've trying to be patient but I don't know how much longer I can last!
It is looking good though, there really is only a few finishing touches to finish it off. I'm so proud of Chris and all his amazing hard work, sweat, time and pain (there really hasn't been many injuries since the nail in the hand, thank goodness). I think at this point we're all ready to be done with it.
I've been quite busy with work. September we had 2 Orientation classes going which I was involved with both on almost any given day. Orientation is when we have new students that are starting school for the first time and when we have a group of students "graduating" to the next "class". I think I am just as glad if not more glad than the students are that it finally finished Friday.
Good news for me at work this month, I got a promotion which I have been working towards for a while. I'm the Director of Marketing at the school I work at called Acaydia. I'm really excited and its been really fun the little bit of time that I have been able to spend working on marketing.
I hope I'll have more time next month to post and hopefully I'll be able to put up pictures of the house up with us all moved in by the end of the month! (Keep your fingers crossed!)

Gardening

Chris has really been trying to make an effort to help out around the house lately because I have been so crazy busy with work. The other night he even decided to go out and do some gardening, he really did such a nice job.

Thanks honey it looks great.

Kangen Water

Yesterday a friend and I spent pretty much the whole day in Midway at a conference for Kangen Water. Basically what Kangen water is is Ionized water. It's something that I have been very interested in getting a machine lately.

The water is run through the machine and is charged by titanium plates that seperate water into alkaline and acidic water. They say that the Alkaline water can contain antioxidants which can fight against free radical damage- therefore prolonging aging. It makes sense how it would work, I definately don't think I'll stay looking 21 forever though.

I'm really interseted in getting the machine because you can create several different "types" of water at different pH's. Such as, you can create "drinking water" which is a perfectly balanced pH of 7.0. You can also create "acid water" which can be used to disinfect and santize surfaces and clean.

The president of the company is actually from Okinawa Japan, which is also very interesting because people from Okinawa have the longest life span of anyone in the world. Basically they contribute alot of that to the fact that the water the people consume is alkaline which helps prolong their lifespan.

Of course there is alot of conflicting evidence saying that consuming too much alkaline water can actually be harmful to your body because most of your organs have different pH levels and range on different levels of acidity.

I really want to get one but Chris isn't very convinced about it, so I have to look into it more. If you're interested check out the website to find out more about it:

http://www.kangenwaterusa.com/

Flaming Grapes

If you haven't seen the show Food Detectives on Food Network, watch it! Its kind of like Mythbusters but with food. It's one of our favorite shows and we always TiVo it.
Well on last weeks episode they did a story about what foods you should not put in a microwave. Among raw eggs, carrots, water in a brand new glass or mug, there was grapes.
Apparently the electrolytes in grapes create alot of electricity. When a grape is placed in the microwave that has been cut in half, then in half again, making sure to not completely cut the outer skin, it starts on fire. For real. The skin causes there to be sparks to travel between the two pieces of the grape that have been almost completely cut. It is something that is not really explained completely as to why it happens but it just does.
Well Chris seeing this, decided we needed to try it. (Note: I was not so happy about starting a fire in a microwave and ruining my in-laws microwave) But, I was interested in seeing it for my self. Here is one of the several times we did it. Luckily no microwaves were sacrificed in the making of this video.

Zira and the Sock

Well, Zira spends alot of time alone during the day while Chris and I are away at work. She usually occupies her time with: eating tissues, sleeping, chewing on her toys or any shoes left out, sleeping, ruffling up blankets, barking at dogs walking by, chasing flies in the house and collecting socks.
She usually likes to gather up any socks that happen to fall out of our hampers. On Wednesday night I apparently dropped a sock. Thursday when I came home from work Zira greeted me so happily with the sock she had found. Whenever she does this, which is quite often, she refuses to go anywhere without the sock. She is usually ready to go outside to go to the bathroom when I get home, so I got her leash and everything else I needed and got ready to go on a walk. Of course, Zira frantically searched for her sock and brought it outside. She was less than interested on going to the bathroom or a walk, she just wanted to bury her sock. After I wouldn't let her she darted back inside.
She carried that sock around for hours, trying to find the perfect place to put it. Needless to say, its Sunday and she still won't let go of that sock. Anytime I try to sneakily take it away from her and put it in the laundry she runs to it and runs off with it. She leaves it out in the middle of the room and sometimes I find them shoved under a pillow somewhere.
She has so many toys that we've bought for her and at the end of the day, she loves that dang sock.

Chris the Tile Machine

Well, we're getting close. Chris just finished the tile on the tub deck and in the shower this week in our master bathroom and it looks so good. For not really having much experience or guidance in how to tile, it looks amazing! I just wanted to post pictures of Chris' handywork.

Last Day

Friday was the last day of class for my Master students, I can't believe they are done already! They are my first class that I have actually taught for the whole Masters program, so I must admit I do feel a little attached to them. I feel like a proud mother who's children are going out into the world for the first time.

I thought they are all probably ready to just get away from me especially after spending almost everyday with me for the past 4 months. But, I guess they will miss me as much as I'll miss them. They totally suprised me by bringing me flowers at the end of the day. It was such a great suprise.

So, thank you girls I really appreciate it. Congratulations on getting through it. I know it was hard and at times you hated it (and probably me) but I'm glad you 4 stuck through it.

Natalie, Laney, Katie and Whitney, I love you guys and best of luck to you all in your new career. I'm sure you will all do so well. And, don't forget to update me on what you are up to every once and a while, you know where to find me!

Day 507

After all this time, I can't believe we're only a few weeks away from our house being done. It felt like it would never come. Everything is coming along quite well lately and it really looks like we'll be done soon!The cabinets in house got installed yesterday. It seems like a real house now. The cabinets look great and I'm so excited that they are finally in.

Zira seems to be getting accustomed to life in the new house. It hadn't been more than 5 minutes since we had walked in the door when Zira decided to mark her territory on the new floors. All we can hope is that she doesn't get used to that! Its awfully hard to love her when their is a huge pee spot on the brand new floors! I'm pretty sure that if it leaves any sort of mark on the travertine, chris will probably freak out. If she keeps this up, she definately won't be getting a new friend to play with!

Were starting a Rock Band

It started out as an innocent night of getting together with friends and ended with..... this.

Thanks to Ashley, all sorts of 80's rocker gear made its way out and well one thing led to another and then that.

It was a fun night playing Rock Band at Brad, Ashley and Magnums house.

I don't think Magnum cared for the loud music and laughter too much but we all still had fun! We all manage alot of fun when we get together!

House Update

The exterior is done! It looks really good. Everything has been moving along really quickly the past couple of weeks. The exterior got done about a week ago. Chris is done painting and is now laying the Travertine, its so pretty and Chris is doing such an amazing job and it's his first time ever laying Travertine. Its a pretty dark brown with cream and some grey running through it.

Chris is just coming right along on the travertine and so the cabinets should get put in next week! I can't believe we really will be moving in soon, maybe even by the end of the month! Chris has done such a phenomenal job on the whole house, it's amazing.

The Healing Food Pyramid

This week at school in my Basics class we have been talking about Nutrition. It's so interesting to me and it's been a fun chapter for me and my students to learn more about what composes a good diet.
A few weeks ago, we had a guest speaker come in and discuss health and how important water is for us. I've been looking into it alot lately and I have found it so interesting how much good water is for us and the impact a well balanced diet can do for our bodies, skin, energy etc.
I really like the concept of this new food pyramid that has been studied at University of Michigan.
I thought I would share it with you all, its a great website with so much excellent info on eating a better "healing" diet.

www.med.umich.edu/umim

Amish Friendship Bread

So if you haven't heard about this, its really good. I got my first start about 3 weeks ago from one of my students. Its kind of a crazy concept though because you can't make it unless you get a start from someone else.
Basically, when someone else makes the bread they have to take out 3 cups of their batter and put them into three different bags and then keep one cup of the batter for themselves. The other 3 bags they give away to their friends. I don't really understand it because there seems to be no way to make it unless you get the start from someone.
Once you do finally get your hands on a start it takes 10 days to make it! It sits on your counter for 10 days, everyday you squeeze it and let the air out, on the 6 day you add flour, sugar and milk and let it sit for another 4 days. It's just hilarious to me, but its some good bread!
Chris and our roommate made fun of me the whole 10 days wondering wheather it would be worth the wait. They've practically devoured the whole thing!
Its really good and if anyone wants a start, there seems to be a big supply at the school because everyone keeps exchanging them with eachother! And, if you ever get the chance to make it, it's definately worth the wait!

Christmas in July?

Ode to the Santa Head Coookie........

From your red sprinkled cap, your marshmallow pom pom, chocoloate chip eyes, and your rosy red hot nose. A coconut beard and a white frosting face..... oh how we love you.

So, let me explain.... A family tradition in my family ever since I can possibly remember, every December everyone in the family would get together and make Santa Head Cookies. We have seriously done this every year since I can remember. We would make a little assembly line with all the different candies and goodies and would turn out easily a 100 of these cookies every year. My mom would make the sugar cookies and frost them, and the rest of us would decorate. Only rule in the cookie making process.... "Don't lick your fingers!". All the leftover cookies we'd make would get put in the freezer to enjoy all month.
We've all grown and some of us have even moved away, but without fail every year, we still make those cookies. In recent years the cookie making has usually included more whining from all of us, many more laughs, and quickly turns into a freak show of sorts, seeing who can make the cookie that resembles Santa the least. Three eyes, Gangster Santa, Cyclops and whatever else we could possibly come up with, there have even been cookies knownto hold a close resemblance to my dad.

Well we have made fun of my mom for years saying, I swear we'd make so many of those cookies that we'd have them in our lunch till Valentines Day! (seriously though, I'm positive I did) Last year, as usual, we made a ridiculous amount of cookies, most of them got stuck in the freezer to bring out through the month. Well some of those cookies didnt get eaten last year, instead they got pushed to the back of the freezer until LAST WEEK! And my mom, thought it would be so
hilarious to give us a plate of cookies for our anniversary gift. I showed up to my parents house to discover the gift from my mom was the cookies! Mom has really outdone her self this year, we're eating Santa Heads in July!
So, Thanks for the laughs mom and we're all looking forward to making them again in 4 months!

House Update

The house is coming along. The exterior is almost up and Chris said he should be painting this week. The end is finally getting near!

Zira + Dirt Trails = What were we thinking?!?!?

For our Anniversary we thought it would be fun to go up the canyon and go for a walk. Being completely normal dog seperation anxiety parents we are, we decided to bring Zira along. I stocked the car with towels, baby wipes to wipe her down, a bag to throw them away in and water.

We decided we were going to go up the canyon to Bridal Veil Falls and go for a nice little walk, we thought Zira would probably have a blast too. Well, when we got to the canyon, there was a big fire right up by Bridal Veil so they weren't letting anyone up there. So we decided to go up to Vivian Park, well that was closed to.

As we were driving we could see the helicopter that was bringing water up to the fire, it was so crazy it came down to the river like right next to us and was sucking up water to go dump on the fire, we all thought that was pretty cool.

Well, we finally decided we would just go drive up the Alpine Loop, after about an hour of driving trying to find somewhere to get out and walk around, we were all antsy to get out. Being the smart people we are we decided to get out and go walk on a dirt trail, in a matter of seconds Zira was covered in dirt and LOVING it! Needless to say, the walk lasted about 3 minutes before we headed back to the car. There was no amount of baby wipes that could save her..... But she did throughly enjoy her dirty mess she had made all the way home.

2 years still going strong......

Well, I can't believe its been two years already! Yesterday we celebrated our 2 year anniversary. It seems like just yesterday we were getting married and were standing in the 102 degree heat getting our pictures taken. (Note to anyone who wants to get married in July... DON'T its like a million degrees) It's been an amazing two years and I can't wait for all the years to come.

Home Sweet Home....

Well not quite, but soon it will be! Here is our new house! Its been over a year in the making and its finally almost done and we can't wait. Its been a long journey but were only a couple months away. Chris has done such an amazing job and has worked so hard. He has done most of the work all by himself, I'm very proud!!

It is in Eagle Mountain and its a beautiful house and the location is great. I was hesitant at first to be moving there but ever since I saw the "Wal-Mart Coming Soon!" sign about 5 minutes away from our house, I was sold!

This is the outside of the house, Chris says the exterior
is going to get put on this week!! It's going to be a cool
green color YAY!















Here is the Family Room, Nook and Kitchen area. In the far end of the picture will be the family room. I didn't get any good pictures of the kitchen, but I cant wait for my island!!
















This is our new master bedroom! I love all of the big windows! I can't wait to not have to share walls with my neighbor anymore!
















Master closet, the picture does it no justice! More than 30 feet of hanging space, more than 25 shelves and enough space I could put my bed in their and sleep! I hope all my purses fit.....
















Zira checking out the back yard. I'm so excited for her to have a place to run and play.

And.... we're back

It's been a rough start for our little blog, but I hope that we can get it up and running. It's definately not the cutest but we will get there I am sure.
Well it's been a busy last couple months, between work, the house and just life their hasn't been a lot of time for me to get on. Unfortunately I lost the cable for my digital camera so I can't load pictures, but I hopefully can go get one soon. It's good to be back......

We have arrived......

Well, we're not the most blog savvy couple around but we decided to make a little page of our own so that people can see us and what we've been up to. I promise to get pictures soon, but for now, thanks for visiting.