8 things...

i've been tagged. i think it's the first tag since i've started blogging, and i've secretly felt out of the loop because i had never been tagged.

so, here it is.

8 things i am passionate about...
1.family
2.the gospel
3.education
4.my job
5.travel
6.going green
7.drinking water
8.journal writing/photographs

8 words or phrases i say often...
1.hey
2.i love you
3.i'm sorry (i don't know why i say this so much)
4.i don't want to go to work today (haha)
5.Marley!
6.babe
7.what's up?
8.i can do this

8 things i want to do before i die...
1.get married in the temple
2.have children
3.have a dream house
4.go on a honeymoon
5.travel more
6.retire
7.own an audi
8.go to grad school

8 things i've learned from the past...
1.there is nothing greater in life than being with those you love
2.you shouldn't sacrifice anything to gain friends/popularity
3.you have to accept yourself before you can really be happy
4.the gospel is the thing i am most grateful for
5.always be kind to others and help when and however you can
6.i really am my mother's daughter, and i'm so grateful for that
7.listen to your elders. they are wise.
8.don't let your dreams be dreams, or you will always wonder, what if?

8 places i want to see...
1.alaska
2.hawaii
3.russia
4.iguazu falls
5.greece
6.african safari
7.lewiston, idaho-where steve went to college
8.mayan riviera

8 things i curently want or need...
1.money for the house remodel
2.money for the wedding/honeymoon
3.money for school
4.a vacation
5.new furniture for the house
6.outdoor goodies-winter boots, new snowboard, bindings, etc. for steve and me, atv for steve
7.money to pay off debt
8.money for savings (can you tell i want and need money?! haha)

8 people i tag...
1.jessica
2.tenille
3.teddy
4.alexandra
5.linsey
6.shana
7.brooke
8.whoever else wants to!

natural blonde?

i'm not naturally a blonde, though i do wonder sometimes why i'm not? i am applying to grad school for fall and somehow thought the application deadline was april 1st. but it's not. it's january 15th! oh man! how could i mix that up? now i have to bust my butt to get everything done in time. wish me luck!

homeowners!!!

holy crap. we are homeowners! we closed on a house in taylorsville, utah just the other day. we have both been so busy working, we haven't had a chance to get over there and be in our new home. it's a great place though, in a great neighborhood, with so much we can do to it. i am so excited at the prospects and to make this house our home.
steve will move in right away and get to work doing some things to fix it up for us. then i will move in after the wedding. for those of you that know me, you know this is my dream! for years i have perused pottery barn, crate and barrel, williams-sonoma catalogs picking out furniture for my "someday" house. and now i have it. and now i get to realize just how much my "someday" house will cost. holy moly house stuff is expensive! but nonetheless, i look forward to all the memories steve and i will make there.
as soon as we can get over there, i will attach some pictures of the new place. and of course, as we fix it up, there will be some before and after shots. let the chaos begin!

bummer!

i just found out the temple steve and i were planning to get married in will be closed for "winter cleaning" on the date we want to get married.

so...now we have to decide if we want to change the date and get married in newport, or keep the same date, and choose another temple to get married in. san diego or LA...

some catching up...

brace yourselves folks, this might be a long one. i feel like it has been a really long time since i have posted anything. i was just getting into this blogging thing, and then time just seemed to fly by and i hadn't posted.
the holiday season is here and with that comes a lot of chaos. but fun chaos. i love this time of year, so much. it's so fun to be with family, and reflect on all the blessings we have in life. not to mention the change of seasons and the snow fall. it's so beautiful. but let's not forget the frantic nature that comes with this season.
i have never been good at getting my christmas shopping done in a timely matter. i'm usually the one at the malls 2 days before christmas trying to buy something for everyone. and then add to it this year, trying to plan a wedding, oh yeah, and buy a house. it's madness! but i love it. it makes me so excited for the times ahead.
i am so excited for christmas. for decorating, baking. for spending time with family and friends. for reflecting on all the blessings in my life, and how grateful i am for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. for the Atonement, the sacrifice He made for me, for all of us. I can hardly comprehend it. for how grateful i am to be a member of His church.
i am so excited to see all the christmas trees and lights decorating the houses. i can't wait for some good snowfall, to play in the snow, to go up to snowbird and take in those beautiful mountains we have in our backyards.
i am so excited to start the new year, with my love. and to start a family when we are finally married! i am excited to buy a house and make it our home. i just can't wait! 91 days for those of you who are counting... :)
so, to catch up on what's been going on in life...
i have decided to go back to grad school. it's something i have always thought i would do. i just didn't know which degree to get or when i would go. but in thinking about it, it seems like a pretty ideal time to go. i have been working for a couple of years, have some good experience under my belt. i don't have kids yet, but want them in the next few years, so i figure it would be good to be done with school before that time comes. this spring, i am taking a couple prerequisite classes, and then, if all goes well, i will start the program in the fall of 2009. i am planning to do the DNP program at the U. and then, someday, i will be able to make more money. woo hoo!
the wedding planning is coming along. looks like we have chosen february 28th for the big day. now if only i can plan the wedding by then, all will be well! i am so excited to be married to him. i feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be with him and to be able to spend forever with him.
thanksgiving was great. my mom has been in town to celebrate with us. my sister made an awesome feast for us all. it was so good, and i felt like i never want to eat again.
the house search is taxing, but i think we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. we have found a few places that might just work for us. it will be so nice when we do find a place and i know we will have a place to live after the wedding.
other than that, nothing new going on. life is good. stressful, but good. i'm loving every minute of it. i really have so much to be grateful for. i look forward to the rest of the holiday season so much and i hope everyone else enjoys it as much as i do.
and i promise to make more time to keep you all updated on what is going on in life. stay tuned!

these guys have a special bond.
dinner at melting pot for steve's birthday. sooo yummy!
coldplay concert with my sister. they sure put on a good show.
some baking we did. the giant cookie was an experiment, but very yummy. sorry, i can't figure out how to rotate the picture :(
all bundled up and loving the season!

sorry

it seems like it's been forever since i've posted. i really want to blog, really. but it seems like i have had ZERO time! there really hasn't been much of anything going on in life. just trying to get ready for the holidays, plan a wedding, and decide if i should go to grad school, or not. so yeah, i've been super busy, but i promise i will make time soon to post some pictures of what's been going on in life. i promise! but in the meantime, i love reading all of your blogs out there.

go utes!

tonight was a big night. the utes played tcu and they WON!!! that means, they have been undefeated so far this season, and will hopefully stay that way. this game was even more exciting than the others because i got to go and watch it from the stands. and in good seats at that.
there is something awesome about a college football game on a fall evening. i just love bundling up, wearing the school colors, and cheering for my team. not to mention the crazy people around and the yummy food you get away with at sporting events. the bonding with your neighbors and the 2 days of a hoarse voice after the game is over...it's just so much fun.
i haven't been able to go to any games yet this season, with work, and whatnot. but my friend was able to hook steve and me up with some pretty sweet tickets to watch the game. and boy did i have fun. the game was awesome, well, especially the last few minutes of it. it was down to the wire, but the utes came out on top! and boy did the fans enjoy it. they stormed the field like mad, taking down the uprights, and mingling with the players. there was such a camaraderie among everyone at that game. it was awesome to be a part of it. that's the thing about the people of salt lake. they are so supportive of the university and it's fun to see the huge turnouts at university functions.
so now with the "W" from this game, we move on...to byu. our next big challenge. GO UTES!

black outfans storming the field after the winhappy faces after the utes won!

happy birthday babe

today is steve's birthday. i wanted to take a minute to tell him how much i love him and how grateful i am to have him in my life. i never thought i would be lucky enough to find someone who treated me so well and who i could be so madly in love with. i can't wait to spend eternity with this guy! he's turning 32 today, so here is a list of 32 things i LOVE about this man.
1.he's 6'3". i love myself a tall man.
2.he has the most beautiful baby blues.
3.he's super athletic. he gets me out there and keeps me active.
4.he loves to get mani/pedi's with me.
5.he's a california boy.
6.he rubs my feet after a long night at work.
7. he is the most loving man i have ever met.
8. he knows how to and does protect me. he's a cop after all, it's his job.
9. he teaches me new things.
10. he loves to travel and explore new places.
11. he's spontaneous.
12. he loves my family, including my stinky, slobbery dog, marley.
13. he supports me in all i do.
14. he's not afraid to tell me his opinion.
15. he's loyal and stands up for what he knows is right.
16. he sings along to songs even though he has no idea what the words are.
17. he has a rough and tough exterior, but he's such a lover.
18. he can retain information he hears or learns somewhere and keep it in his mind forever. it's amazing! i so wish i could learn that way.
19.he loves to cuddle with me.
20. he makes me feel like i am the most important thing in his life.
21. he is a "fix it" guy. totally handy around the house and knows how to do things.
22. he's not afraid to ask for directions or admit when he doesn't know something.
23. he isn't a father yet, but he is so good with his niece and nephews. i can't wait to start a family with him. he's going to be an amazing dad.
24. he is such a great communicator. i don't know that we have ever been upset with each other for more than all of 5 minutes.
25. he leaves me love notes in my purse, pocket, wallet, etc. so i find them later.
26. he buys me flowers just because.
27. he still opens my car door for me.
28.he is so thoughtful and considerate of others.
29. he is romantic, chivalrous, and always tells me how much he loves me.
30. he does things he may not like, for no other reason, than because he knows i like them.
31. he considers me in making decisions.
32. he wants to marry me and be with me FOREVER!

there are so many more things that make me absolutely ADORE this man. if you know him, you know what i mean. so on this day, i hope you know how much i love you 55. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

guilty pleasure

so i totally busted out the christmas music today. i know it's too early, but the month after thanksgiving and before christmas is simply not enough time to get my fill of that good stuff.

happy halloween!

halloween is one of my favorite holidays. maybe because it marks the beginning of the holiday season. or maybe it's the pumpkin carving and pumpkin flavored treats. all the kids dressed up as their fascination of the moment, going door to door, giddy with anticipation of the loot they will get. i think it's a combination of all of the above.
so tonight, my sister got her kids all dressed up in their costumes and we tried to sneak a few pictures before they started their trick-or-treating time. it's a much more difficult task than it sounds, as the kids were just crawling out of their skin to run up to the first house. the last thing they wanted to do was pose nice and still for a picture...or 10.
finally, the time had come, and they left on their way. i was left at the house to be the designated candy-giver-outer, a job i love. it gives me a chance to sit in the front room, with candles lit, a blanket, a hot chocolate, and watch all the little kids come up and get candy. man are those kids adorable! and boy there sure are a lot of them! my sister lives in kaysville. a cute town full of families with young children. so all night, for about 3 hours straight, the doorbell kept going off. here is a picutre of the candy bowl before the madness...
and here is a picture of the end result...
amazing. in california, we lived in an area that was lucky to get 3 trick-or-treaters all night. so this is super fun for me.
the kids with all their loot...
i hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween. and LET THE HOLIDAY SEASON BEGIN!

addendum:we had a few stragglers after i posted this blog and the cauldron ended up getting emptied completely!

body worlds...and new hair

so i have been wanting to see body worlds for so long. i wanted to see it in LA when i lived in california. i even went to vegas to try and see it this summer. my luck, it was "in between" hotels and wasn't open. so when it came to salt lake, i was super stoked.
the other night, steve and i, along with my awesome sister, went to see the exhibit downtown. man, oh man, was it amazing! the human body is so extraordinary. i work with the human body everyday at work, but seeing the outside, is so different than seeing the inside. when you think of all the organs, vessels, tissues, bones, that make the human body do the simplest of things, it just amazes me. i feel so lucky to know what i know about the human body, and to get to work with it everyday. i also feel so blessed for my own body. it's human nature to criticize ourselves...i mean, who couldn't stand to lose a few pounds, or tone some muscle, right? but i am so thankful for the body i was given, and after seeing that exhibit, it just reminded me how amazing it is and how much i need to treasure it and take care of it.
and on that note, after the exhibit, we went to a yummy, and way too fattening dinner for that matter, at buca di beppo. sooo much food, but soooo yummy. side note, did you know buca di beppo translates to "joe's basement"? steve told me this and i was sure he was lying. but i asked the waiter, and sure enough...that's what it means!
oh yeah...and i got my hair changed for winter. it's dark. i usually have dark hair. i went blonde for summer. but i think i got really used to the blonde, and now the dark, i'm not so sure about. i'll give it some time to get used to it, but who knows...maybe blondes do have more fun.

halloween house

last night, steve and i went down to his brother's house to spend time with his niece, nephews, and mom. we had a great night of games and sweets, and fun with the kids. on our way home, we stopped by a house that is all decked out for halloween. it was super cool, and it reminded me of how much i LOVE the holidays. it's funny how much i like halloween, because growing up, my mom never really liked it and so she didn't really celebrate it all that much. but since i've been an adult, i just love it! anyway, here are some pictures of the decorations from the halloween house...enjoy!


i'm not sure i will ever love halloween so much that i will decorate as much as these people did, but i sure enjoy seeing it. HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

date night

what an awesome night! i had such a great afternoon/evening with my awesome man, and just had to share it. after sleeping most of the day since i worked last night, i woke up and had a date with steve. it was so much fun to just spend time with him and enjoy a beautiful evening. us ladies loooove to get pampered. massages, mani/pedis, facials. but i think we forget, that men like those things just as much as we do.

soooo, to start out our date, steve and i went and got mani/pedis. we spent an hour in those fabulous massage chairs and got pampered like crazy. it was awesome. then we headed over to nordstrom rack and got steve some nice church clothes. he's going to look quite handsome next sunday if i do say so myself.

here is the aftermath of the pedicures. notice the festive colors steve chose.

then we did one of my favorite things and got hot chocolate and looked around in barnes and noble. it's such a perfect activity for a cool fall evening. and what date would be complete without a fabulous dinner. we went to stoneground and had a fabulous meal while watching game 1 of the world series. we practically had to roll ourselves out to the car because we were so stuffed! but it was sure yummy.
i know it wasn't some spectacular night of unusual events, but spending it with my "fiance" made it so special. i treasure nights like this and i have to thank him for being who he is and putting up with me. because, let's face it folks, i'm not the easiest to deal with all the time.

octoberfest

what a wonderful past few days! a little recap...

• A NEW PHONE! i have had the same phone, which i have totally loved, for the past few years. as much as i hated to admit it, it was getting a bit archaic and it was time for an upgrade. so i headed down to the sprint store and got myself, what i think, is a pretty fancy phone. i'm still getting used to it and all the features. for the first time in my life, i feel like an "old" person because i don't know how to use my phone and it takes me 10 minutes to send a text message. but nontheless, i am loving it. it's super sleek, and will no doubt be outdated in a year, or less.


• A NEW CAR! i wasn't one of those kids who got a new, or any car for that matter, when i turned 16. i always have shared cars, or had used ones. my PT cruiser was absolutely adorable (at least i thought so) and i loved it for the last 3 years. but let's face it folks, it's by no means an "all season" car. and that's what i need now that i'm living in a 4 season environment. it held up pretty well last winter, (only spinning out on me a few times) though i didn't even attempt to take it up the canyons. betty zip, as i liked to call her, was getting to the point where she needed some tune ups, and some pretty pricey ones at that. i started thinking if it was really worth putting all that money into a car i probably couldn't keep that much longer. so....i opted to put that money into a new car. living in utah, i figured i would join the club and get myself a nice subaru. i am the proud owner of a new 2009 outback! i am super in love with it. i love everything about it, especially that it's safe and that it will handle the winter well. here are a couple pics of the new beauty. now i just need a name for it...


• HUNTING! that's right. you heard me, hunting, for deer. well, not so much me in camo, with a shotgun, but me riding along in the backseat while steve, his brother, and 2 of his nephews went hunting. what an adventure! beautiful scenery, and some major off roading. it is so pretty up there and marley had a blast with all the new smells in the great outdoors. i've attached a few pictures of that trip. we saw plenty of deer, but they were all doe's, and the boys only have buck tags, so no luck there. the season isn't quite over yet, so hopefully they will get a few more chances to claim their prize. but i don't think i will be going along for the ride next time.

so that's about it for me. other than that i have just been working and LOVING fall in my time off. i'm a little sad that my red sox came to an end of their season, but at least they claimed the division series, and there's always next year for the rest of the shebang.

no more birthday surprise

steve's birthday is coming up next month and i wanted to get him something i knew he would like. he's been wanting a softshell jacket for the winter and he found one at rei that he really liked. but i knew he wouldn't spend the money on himself, so that's what i decided to get him. i bought it and was SO excited to give it to him on his birthday. he's a really hard one to keep surprises because he's always guessing his gifts and it drives me nuts! so i was trying so hard to keep this under wraps and have it be an awesome surprise for him.
but the other day, when we were out shopping, it was so stinkin cold, he found a jacket he really liked at another store and said "okay, i think i'm going to buy it". what?! i did all i could to deter him from buying it, but nooooo. so i had to tell him his birthday surprise. i felt so bad...not as bad as he did though. he knew how excited i was to give him his birthday present and how disappointed i was to have to tell him the surprise early.
at the end of the day though, he got an awesome jacket that will keep him super warm this winter in all the snow, and up on the slopes. and he looks pretty handsome in it to boot!
but now, i need new ideas for an awesome birthday surprise. help!

L-O-V-E

last night was possibly the best night of my life. why you ask? well, i got to spend it out with my sweetie, just him and me. i love those times. times when we don't have a million things to get done, or work to be at, and we can just do whatever we want, or nothing at all.
we have a favorite look out place in bountiful. you have to do a little "off roading" to get there, which only adds to the fun. the sunsets have been so gorgeous lately, we decided to go up there to watch the sunset. well yesterday was a bit chilly and the sky was more full of clouds than sunset, but it was still gorgeous.
as we were sitting there, in the bed of his truck, trying to keep each other warm, steve knelt down in front of me to block the wind. i just kept thinking, how chivalrous of him to try and keep me warm. he told me how much he loved me and how happy i made him. all of which i thought was really really sweet. but then he just kept saying it over and over again, and kind of started pacing around the truck, knealing down, then standing up and sitting next to me, then keanling down again. i kind of started wondering what was up with him. he just seemed nervous. "but maybe it's the cold" i thought. but it wasn't...finally, he simply ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM! holy crap. i was like "WHAT??! ARE YOU SERIOUS???" he said yes, and then pulled out the little blue box. my heart melted, and i started crying. that kid is seriously the best. and he makes me so happy. i am so excited that we get to be married and spend eternity together. i couldn't ask for a better partner to go through life with. here are a few pictures from the night. enjoy!

so i know you can't really see the ring. it's a thin band with a single diamond in the middle. perfect for me and my work. i absolutely LOVE IT! i should have done my nails though.

welcome fall!

i can't tell you how glad i am fall is here. i have been looking forward to it for awhile now, and it's nice to say it's officially "here". sadly, it's almost gone, with winter fast approaching. fall has hugely surpassed any other season as "my favorite". there is just something about it that is invigorating, and just plain old lovely. maybe i appreciate it more now, living in a place with 4 distinct seasons. whatever the reason, I LOVE IT!
here are a few things i love about fall and look forward to this season...
-changing leaves. the reds, oranges, greens, yellows.
-crispness in the air.
-pumpkin bread, candles, carving, and pumpkins in general!
-decorating with all the fall colors.
-wearing scarves, jackets, and sweaters. my fall clothes are so much cuter than summer clothes.
-hot drinks on cold nights
-nights by the fireplace, candles burning, and a cozy blanket.
-all my favorite shows back on the air.
-going on walks at dusk.
-baking pies, and big feasts, spending time with family. fall is the start of the HOLIDAY SEASON!
HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!

going for the kill

HAPPY ELK HUNTING!!!

for those of you like me, you have no idea when hunting season is or what it's all about. but in the last few months, i have come to learn so much about this thing they call hunting. steve is an avid hunter, and he looks forward to hunting season all year. this year, he's hunting elk. going for the big stuff. he's gotten his tags, packed all his guns and camo gear, and is hitting the road for 2 weeks up in the mountains. he would love nothing more than to come home with a huge elk (and then have to buy a freezer to keep it in, but we'll worry about that later). it may not be my scene, but i love him, and thus, i love hunting. and i hope he gets a big one.

so here's to you babe. good luck out there. and i hope you get a good one!

moving...again

oh how i hate moving. but i'm doing it yet again. this time, to save money. i know it's the smartest thing to do, but it sure isn't a fun process. i'm moving from salt lake out to kaysville to live with my sister.

it is actually a pretty good situation. i get free rent, and she gets a free babysitter. she started nursing school this year, so i will be around to help take care of the kids so she can get study time in and all that.

the commute won't be fun, but it sure won't cost as much as my rent has been costing me! and now i will have all that extra money to shop...or pay off debt.

all i know is the next time i move, it better be into a place i will be staying put at for at least a few years. somewhere like this...

see, nothing extravaggant. just a simple place, with lots of windows. a place i can xeriscape, and place with a porch so i can have a hammock. oh yes, and on a nice, quiet, tree lined street. is that too much to ask for?

be attitudes

there is no doubt that as we get older, life gets busier and more chaotic. it seems there are a million things that need to get done and so little time to get them done. or i start to think of all the things i DON'T have instead of all the things i DO have. i start with the "if only i had this...then i would be set". at times, i find myself so caught up in the stresses of life, i forget about all of the things i have to be grateful for.
in the scriptures we read about the "be attitudes" and pres. hinckley also focused on those attitudes and the important role they play in leading a more christ like life. gratitude was one of those attitudes and i really agree that it is so important to remember those things to keep us heading the right direction.
with the holiday season fast approaching, i find myself thinking so much about all the things i have to be grateful for in my life. and when i think about it, life is pretty dang good. i don't think i can complain about a thing!
here are some of the things that bring me joy (and stress at times) and make me so thankful for this life i'm living.
living in salt lake city. i grew up at the beach and still think it is an awesome place, but these mountains that surround us are just amazing.
experiencing the 4 seasons.
family who loves me
friends that make me laugh
my dog marley
my job
my education
traveling and seeing the wonders of this world
freedom of choice
imagination
hopes for the future
a safe roof over my head
...and so many more. i just hope that when the stresses of life begin to overtake us, that we can remember just how many blessings we have and how truly lucky we are. here's a challenge...write down some of the things you are most grateful for and share them with me in my comments. i would love to hear them!

lucky hound

for the last 2 years i have been the proud mama of a boxer named marley. i adopted marley from a boxer rescue when he was around 2ish years old. i don't really know the story of his first 2 years, other than he was found wandering the streets of watts, underweight, malnourished, and no home. a teacher found him and turned him into the rescue. a few months later, he was mine! as his "mom", i of course think he is the greatest thing in the world. he has been my constant companion for the last 2 years and you know what they say about dogs being (wo)man's best friend...so true. all he wants is love and he will be by your side no matter what.

with that being said, he is not the brightest dog there ever was, the sharpest tool in the drawer, however you want to say it. he has his fair share of "issues". i find them endearing most of the time, other times, he's just plain old stupid and thick headed...literally. he runs into walls and tables with his head all the time and doesn't even skip a beat.

i live in a house on a fairly busy street and no fenced in yard. marley has actually done pretty well with not running off, but when marley sees something he wants, he has an eye single to the glory and nothing and no one can get between him and "the goal". i have tried to train him not to run in the street, but it's hit or miss if he decides to listen. a few days ago, while watching out the screen door, he saw a guy walking a dog across the screen. marley took off after the dog (our screen door wasn't latched), not seeing the busy street that lie between him and the dog. along came a truck, the same time as marley, and BAM! guess who won? now i didn't see this happen, so this is all second hand. but the story goes, the truck side swiped my poor, stupid boy, ripping his collar off, knocking him to the ground, leaving him with some nice road rash, a hurt leg, and a majorly chipped tooth. but don't think that left marley down for the count. oh no, he was right back up chasing after the dog as soon as the truck passed.

here are some of the pictures of the damage...

road rash on his leg and chin...

the chipped canine tooth. notice the dark spot on the tooth. that is the exposed root. the reason the tooth had to come out.

look how docile and sad he looks. poor guy.

the vet cleaned up the road rash and a couple days later, the leg didn't seem to tender, but that chipped tooth was a problem. it fractured down beneath the gums and the root was exposed, which equals major possibility for infection! verdict was, the tooth had to come out. for those of you who know my dog, or boxers for that matter, they don't have a lot of teeth to begin with, and this was one of his 4 canine teeth. poor guy, has to loose one of the few teeth he has.

yesterday was the day. i dropped marley off at the vet at 7am, and didn't seem him until after 7pm. it was a loooong day, for both of us. i was a little teary dropping him off (he's my kid, give me a break!), and my sister picked him up because i had to work. she was nice enough to come by my work so i could see him and see that he was okay. he seemed fine. maybe a little drugged from the anesthesia, but for the most part, his same old self, minus a tooth.

here is an after pick of the tooth surgery...

notice the lack of a tooth there in his mouth. now the poor kid has only 3 of his canine teeth.

so all in all, he's still my boy, minus a tooth, and oh, about $700+! get dog insurance people, i highly recommend it! and now that i know he's going to survive, i want to give him a serious beating for being so naughty. i hope he learned his lesson not to run in the street, but sadly, i doubt it.

californ-i-a!

last week i took a week off of work and headed home to california for a visit. i hadn't been home since christmas and i was missing the beach so stinking much. i had an awesome time enjoying the sun (even though it was sooooo humid!), seeing friends and family, and just being on vacation. the beach is an awesome place and i truly love my hometown. i feel so lucky to have been raised there. but i must say, i don't miss living there. if anything, this trip home made me realize how much i love salt lake. i mean, it's gorgeous! we have it all, at least i think so. the mountains, lakes, the seasons, and the great outdoors in our backyard. i'm loving living here and i feel so grateful for the beauty that surrounds me.
a few pictures from the trip...
all the years i grew up in southern california, i never made it to dodger stadium...until now. dodgers vs. padres, dodgers won! it was a great time, and of course, great food.
...not to mention, a great view of an amazing sunset!
we went to lunch at this restaurant in newport and everytime i go there, there are hundreds of jellyfish in the water. it looks so cool!my future yacht in the background...maybe?

so now it's back to work, until i can plan the next trip! where to go, where to go???