Cake Pops

This Saturday, I was on a baking spree, or a little one. I made these things called Cake Pops!
They are so cute. My friend made some for her husband and sons birthday back in November and I have been wanting to make them since. They were a huge hit at the party and they were so yummy! Well, it took me about 3 to 4 hours on Saturday, but I could have probably had them done in 2 hours. They really don't take that long and the few people I gave them to at work today, we only had 3 left this morning, loved them. I am making more this weekend to give to the rest of my co-workers for a happy holidays gift. I will post better pictures of my second batch. I'm sure they will look even better!

This is the website if you want to check it out
http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/04/make-your-cupcakes-pop.html

Christmas

This Christmas was a simple but good. Being away from family is always hard, but we have a family of friends. We were well fed as you will read. Christmas eve, we went to one of my co-workers house who lives with her family. It was a full house because they had company in town, but we had good laughs and stayed late hanging out. Christmas morning, we were surprised by a call from family in Japan. It was nice, they were getting ready for bed, because it was midnight in Japan and saw that I was online and called. I woke David up and was so happy to talk to his cousin. We had a wonderful turkey and ham for lunch at David's co-workers house and awesome brisket at one of my co-workers house for dinner! We are blessed to have so many friends.

Merry Christmas!

Cake

David's mom got me a cake decorating kit for my birthday. I love it! I've already made on cake...as you can see below, and I'm making a cake for a friend tomorrow. I'm putting it to good use already!

Christmas Party

My friend Katie and I



My Friend Leslie & I with our husbands



David the Nutcracker



Me on our way to the party


We had it at a VFW - so we got our sodas free
We had yummy food, good music, and good company.
I had a lot of fun with my date and friends!

Birthday

A few weeks ago it was my birthday. We had gone out the previous weekend to PF Changs and had great food! I love that place. On my birthday, a few friends came over and had cake with us.


Also that day, my friends from work took me out for lunch at Olive Garden. It was a blast and we got back to work late...the server forgot our soup, and it was just perfect!

Festivities

It's that time of year again, christmas trees, christmas lights, presents, and the best...baking!

Today, we put up our christmas tree and re-organized the front room.



We also did some baking. We made some bark.




I got an early birthday present



And the dogs even got along today!

Peeping Tom

We have our own little peeping tom.

Marine Corp Ball

Every year, David and I go to the Marine Corp Ball. This year, his work only has 12 active duty marines and 1 navy corpsman. But they have 90 reservist who were also required to come. The past couple of years, due to his large commands, it was only his work. This year, it was nice to see a lot of retired marines to come and their families. David and I were able to sit with our good friends, eat horrible food, and due to exhaustion, leave before the dancing even started! i think we were asleep before 11 pm that night! Some of my highlights for the day:
1. Got my toes done
2. Got ready with my good friend Thaomee
3. Thought my 2 friends and I looked the best. We didn't look like hookers like half of the wives/girlfriends did.

It was nice because David wasn't in the ceremony so we were able to sit next to each other.

Here is a picture of my friend Thaomee and I.


Thank you Jeni for making me such a beautiful custom dress! I love you! And Thaomee also made her way awesome dress!

Restless Sleeping

Friday night, I was extremely exhausted. After a long day at work, even coming home a half hour early, and the hockey game and dinner, I was so tired. I fell asleep on the couch around 9 - 10 pm. I woke up and the back door was open (which we keep open when home for Stella to go in and out as needed) but, for some odd reason, I freaked out. I was mad at David when I woke up because I couldn't find him. He was in the bathroom. Well, I laid down in the bed because I was upset when I couldn't find David. Moose and Stella snuggled right up next to me. I don't remember David coming to bed that night because I was so exhausted. I think I was out in .2 seconds.

The next morning I woke at the foot of the beed to have David tell me about my adventures of the previous night. Apparently, around 2 or 3 am I spread all the way out, in my sleep, and yelled at David to get off my bed. David decided not to fight me and put a movie on the tv and moved to the floor. When he turned the tv on I started snoring. David would turn the tv up a little, my snoring would increase a little. He would turn up the tv some more, my snoring would get louder. David called it my competition to be louder than the tv. I do remember waking up at one point saying, I'm hot! I remember throwing the covers and sitting up, but I don't remember laying back down. And that is how I woke up at the end of the bed rather then the head of the bed.

The funny thing is, that Saturday morning I asked David what time it was (since I couldn't see the clock and wanted to go into work that day) and he said it was almost 8am. I got up and went downstairs for some time,came upstairs took a long shower, got out, got dressed and looked at the clock and noticed it wasn't even 8 yet! David got me back!

Sorry David for a bad night of sleep for you!

Free Ticket

Last night, David & I got free tickets from a friend of a friend to see a special advance screening of Changeling, the movie. I'm not a huge Angelina Jolie fan, but she was amazing in this movie. I hadn't read much about the movie, all I knew was her son was kidnapped and the police brought back a different boy and said he was her son. It had different twists and it was just good. We had a good time going together.

We ended up not staying for the hockey game because we couldn't sit together. But after the color guard David took me out to dinner and he was in his blues. It was fun going out and having EVERYONE stare at David.

Home

David and I are home after a week in Utah visiting my sister in her time of trial. I feel I have learned so much from her this week and she probably doesn't even know it. I always knew she was strong, but I never realized how strong she is. She is one of the most amazing and talented people I know. I hope I can became more like her each day. I love you!

Our neighbor who watched the dogs for us told us that Moose barked the entire week. We had left suddenly and Moose had sensed that something was wrong and then knew for sure when we left. When we came home, Moose & Stella couldn't keep off of us. It was so cute and they are still being super loves. They are also enjoying being able to play again outside. It is funny though, Stella looks more puppy like then when we left. She is such a teenager right now. I couldn't have asked for 2 better dogs.

Tonight, David has a color-guard for a hockey game. I am going up and meeting him and we are going to watch it together. It will be my first game and I'm a bit excited. I hope we have fun!

A Link

I have put in my nephews obituary. All of the sisters helped my sister write it including her husbands sisters. We laughed for an hour and a half straight with memories of Calvin. We loved him and he was loved all throughout the town. The second link is the Deseret News and all his friends leaving comments. They are so sweet and we know how much he will be missed.

http://ads.heraldextra.com/articles/2008/10/19/obituaries/332432.txt

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705255860,00.html

Calvin

Grandap and Calvin
Originally uploaded by dons5

David and I are in Utah this week for my dearly loved oldest nephews funeral. It was highly unexpected and our family is in shock. We loved Calvin for his wonderful sweet spirit and we will miss him. Please pray for our family in this time of trial.

Our Week in a Nutshell

David and I tried twice this week to go to the balloon festival for the night glows, but thursday night we left to late and got stuck in traffic and then on friday, we got to the park early and it was cancelled due to the winds. I was sad they cancelled it but glad they were being safe. Earlier on Friday during the mass ascension, a hot air balloon caught on fire and then got twisted in utility wires and one person died and another was seriously injured. It was slightly upsetting hearing about it.

On Saturday, David and I took the dogs to the dog park. It had been a while since we had taken them and moose is getting a little out of shape because he isn't running as much. They had a lot of fun and ran and ran. We are going to start trying to take them 2 to 3 times a week.

My accounting class is going good. I have only about 1 1/2 weeks left and then I start my second class. I can't believe 7 1/2 weeks went so fast. I have a 103% right now and hope to keep it up at high. I'm very hard on myself when it comes to grading and stuff.

This weekend, david and I bought a WII. We are so excited. We are both sore today from playing last night. David enjoys his boxing while I enjoy the tennis.

I am hoping to get a WII fit for my birthday. But even without it, I'm getting a good workout at home with it.

Other than that, our week has been normal, nothing to exciting, just staying afloat with lots of fun!

balloon fiesta

balloon fiesta
Originally uploaded by denverallens

This past weekend my 2nd oldest sister and her family came to visit. We had so much fun. First I got off work early for family! That just made me weekend to start off. Then us adults went out to Rudy's...way good BB-Q. Unfortunantely, David had drill weekend this past weekend, but he got off at 4-4:30 everyday! On Saturday morning, Jeni and her family and I went to the Hot Air Balloon festival. Amazing! Over 700 hot air balloons took off in an hour and we could walk through them. They had tons of different shapes and styles. We got to sample free spam, eat roasted almonds...yummy, and see lots of different things. Then we went up and met David at his work for lunch and a picnic.
That evening us adults went out to Old Town and had some really, really yummy mexican. We were serenade by a guitarist and then David played his guitar.
On Sunday morning, the kids, Jeni, and I went up Sandia Tramway. At the top of the mountain we ate at High Finance, which I thought would be super expensive, but thankfully the lunch menu isn't. It was only 30 degrees at the top, it was cloudy so we couldn't see anything, and we had snow and ice. It wasn't a lot, but now I've seen my first thing of snow and ice. That evening we had our friends the Meyers over for dinner with us, carne asada tacos...that we made ourselves, played guitar hero and sand sing star.
I was sad to see my sister and her family to go, but we had so much fun. I can't wait for next year for us to do it again. This weekend David and I are going to the Balloon Festival again and will take lots of pictures to post!

Fiesta

This weekend my sister Jeni and her kids and hubby are coming into town. I'm so excited and David is way jealous because he has drill all weekend. We are planning on going to the balloon festival and just having tons of fun! I can't believe it's october all ready. Where has this year gone to? I can't believe also that I have lived in Albuquerque for almost a whole year. It's way crazy!

10 million things

Tagged
10 years ago I ...
1- Was in middle school - horrible years
2- Living with mom and dad in bloomington
3- slept with Strider at nights
4- was super insecure of myself
5- was boy crazy!

5 Things on my "to do" list today ...
1- Eat dinner
2- Clean up the kitchen
3- Clean the bathrooms (maybe just the master)
4- sleep
5- sleep some more

5 Snacks that I enjoy ...
1- Chocolate
2- Diet Soda
3- Cookies
4- Brownies
5- Mallow Popcorn

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire ...
1- Pay all debt off
2- Buy a house on the beach for vacations
3- quit my job
4- travel the world..for sure africa and the down under
5- invest

5 Places I have lived ...
1- Cedar Rapids, IA
2- Bloomington & Terre Haute, IN
3- Rexburg, ID
4- Harrogate England
5- Jacksonville, NC
6- Denver, CO
7- Albuquerque, NM (I know it was more than 5!)

5 Jobs I have had ...
1- Server
2- Telephone survey person
3- Power Hour Coordinator
4- Travel Agent
5- Legal Secretary/ Paralegal Assistant

Concert Time

Tuesday Night David and I went to an awesome concert! We saw Augustana, County Crows and Maroon 5!



All three bands were completely awesome and we had a blast! Augustana is really good and they played my favorite song Boston. It's such a good song. The County Crows are just amazing, and they have been around forever, it was great to hear them.



Maroon five was jst so good. I loved it and the set was so simple yet so entertaining. Overall, we had a ton of fun, until we had to leave and deal with people who don't know how to drive.

Back to School

Yesterday I started school again. It's that time again. New school and new teachers. I am pretty excited for this. I am only taking two classes, one after the other. The are both 7 1/2 weeks. I am excited and a little nervous with how fast paced they are going to be. I am sure I'm going to be just fine. Wish me luck!

Hot Air Balloons

Everyday I look out my bathroom window and our upstairs window and see hot air balloons. Then, on my way to work I see more hot air balloons. Everyday, I try to count how many hot air balloons I see everyday. I feel silly for doing it, but I think the hot air balloons are so pretty. Some days I only see 1, some days 5 and some days 16 or more.

Sometimes on the weekends. I come downstairs to let Moose & Stella out back and I lay down on the couch with the back door open. Sometimes, I can hear the hot air balloons right outside the house putting more and more hot air into the balloons. It's really crazy sounding, but so cool. I always run out back or front to see the hot air balloons. I just think it's amazing see all these hot air balloons all the time.

I can't wait for
1. The hot air balloon festival in October with lots and lots of pics
&
2. To go in my own hot air balloon ride!

A Little Game

This is a pretty fun game, participate if you want! Add a comment on my blog. Leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Denver

Well, we made it to Denver and having lots of fun. We got in town on Saturday around 2pm. We went to a movie with Jeni and the kids at Cinema Grill. Best idea, dinner and a movie! We then just hung out that night at the house with the kids and played American Idol on the playstation. Wow! My nieces and nephew can sing! It was so cute. While we were doing that Jeni too Craig to a doctors office and he was diagnosed with strep throat. But they got him on meds and he missed a day of work and now he's back. Sunday, we went to church. It was good seeing my friends from when I stayed with Jeni and Craig while David was in Iraq. We then ran an errand after church to fill Craig's prescription and David needed a few things for the conference he's attending so we went to Target.

This morning I took David to his conference that is downtown and after I pick him up we are going to Elitch Gardens which use to be Six Flags. It's just going to be us on a date and it should be a lot of fun.

David works until Thursday, and then we are going to Vail with the YM & YW in Jeni's ward and they are all going biking down the mountains while Jeni, someone else from her ward, and I are the cooks. It should be a TON of fun. I will take lots of pictures. Just wanted to let everyone know we are having a good time on my vacation...not really a vacation for David. But he's having a good time also.

Egg Rolls

This past weekend, I hung out with my friend Thaomee. On Friday night, we made egg rolls. I hadn't made homemade egg rolls for either a really long time or never. It was sooooo good. Now I know how to make homemade egg rolls too. We then watched a movie and then I went home.
On Saturday we went shopping at Kohl's, ate Rudy's, hung out at my house and watched a movie. Then with David we went back to her house, so she could put her Son down for the night and finished eating the egg rolls and watched another movie. It was so much fun and just relaxing. I needed a weekend like that.
This Friday we are going to Denver after David and I get off work. David has a conference in Denver and I took time off to be with him also. After he is done with his conference on Thursday we are going to Vail and we are going to go camping. David might go on the bike ride, but it should be a ton of fun. Anyway, that's what is going on right now.

Fun Weekend

This 4th of July weekend David's parents were in town. It has been a lot of fun. They came into town on Thursday. We went out to dinner at Rudy's, that's a Texas BB-Q place. On the 4th of July we grilled carne asada and our friend Thaomee made green chili stew. Yummy! We watched movies, relaxed, and watched the fireworks from our house. We also set off some of our own fireworks...which I hadn't done before.
On Saturday we went to Old Town and walked around. We ate at a Mexican Restaurant and it was SO yummy. On Sunday we went on the tram to the top of Sandia Peak. Here are a few pictures at all views. The Tram is the worlds longest tram and we go up almost 10,300 feet.



Then after we went on the tram we went to Dion's pizza (the best pizza in Albuquerque) and had a yummy lunch. Then we went to base and gave a small tour and david got a haircut.
Monday I had to work a full day and David only worked only a half day so he hung out with his mom. That night I came home and they had made dinner and desert and I didn't have to do a thing. It was totally awesome!
Overall, it was an excellent visit and always love to have family in town.
Next week, to Denver!

Maroon 5

David and I are going to Maroon 5 in September. Also playing at the concert are County Crows and Augustana.
We are super excited!

Quick Weekend

This past weekend was a lot of fun. It went way to fast and didn't last long enough. David and I had a lot of fun hanging out with our friends and enjoying our house. This weekend I have a co-workers baby shower to go to and next weekend I'm hosting a Tastefully Simple party. I love that food. Anyway, nothing really has happened recently, so I'm just going to post some pictures.
This one is of David and I at the Isotopes game a few weeks ago.

This one is of Thaomee, Katie, and I after climbing the La Luz trail.

This one is of David carrying Isaiah (Katie's son) on the La Luz trail.

Doing it Right

Today at work we had our monthly office meeting. We all get together and are talked to by the owner of what's going on, the statistics of how the office overall is doing, employees of the month, best productivity... You get the idea. Well I try not to think all high and mighty of myself but an equally hard working employee. Well, for the month of April I had the 3rd highest productivity out of all the employees in the office. That really surprised me because, yes I know I work hard, but I just figure everyone works hard. I was really surprised by that.
Each month we have 3 employees of the month. I was also an employee of the month for April. I think it's awesome that I got to be one of them, but I didn't realize that I was doing that good of a job. It made my day a little bit to know that they recognize my hard work. Each day I come home feeling like I left 10 hours worth of work left on my desk and that I'm never going to get caught up, or I'm not doing a good enough job. So it was a nice change to know that it's normal to always have work left and that I'm not going to be fully caught up, but it's ok as long as I'm doing best.

Anyway, two weekends ago David, Katie, and I went to an Isotopes baseball game. It was fun and then we went back and ate at Katie's house. We've been becoming really good friends and enjoy hanging out with each other a lot. David & I both love her son Isiah and love her family so it's always fun to go to her house.

Memorial day was nice also. We went to a Memorial day Celebration, actually David was in it, and Senator McCain spoke and multiple people from Congress did also. It was slow and just a political campaign in the long run, but then we went to a friends house and BBQ and then played garage band. That is always fun.

I'm looking forward to this weekend because I'm going to another Tastefully Simple party. I love the food! Otherwise I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend of catching up on some laundry and cleaning house with David and watching movies. We decided we wanted to stay in and play with the dogs.

Long Hike

Last Saturday David, Katie, Tommy, Dirk, Gavin, Isaiah, and I (Gavin & Isaiah are babies) decided to hike up the La Luz Trail. Well, actually we decided to climb up the mountain to the Tram in Albuquerque. Well, silly me didn't think that hiking up to the tram meant hiking up a mountain. Well, we parked at the tram parking lot and started out on a trail to the La Luz trail. Well, I injured my knee back in Jan and it hasn't fully healed at this time. Well we had gone about 2 1/2 miles and I was already hurting pretty bad. But we all decided to continue on. Finally at 3 miles we get on the La Luz Tail.
We also thought that the total amount of hiking was 7-9 miles. We decide to stop for lunch after about 4 miles. We took a nice long lunch and then started back out on the trail. We thought we were halfway done. We started really climbing the trail and people coming down are telling us to be careful because snow is still in the mountains. We didn't think much about it and kept on. Well we had walked about another 2 miles, and we are starting to get really tired (well at least us girls), and we are starting to wonder when we are going to get up to the top. We are looking up and it seems forever away. Well we ask someone who is walking down and he tells us we still have a ways and we have to get through the rock slides. Then another person tells us the tram, which we were planning on taking down the mountain, was closed due to wind. Now we are getting worried because we have gone about 7 to 8 miles at this time and we don't know if we should turn around or keep going. We decided to keep going.

This is a picture of the rock slides (which we spent at least 2 hours on) and was so scary at times. Places were covered in snow up to the knee. We made it up the mountain, the tram was running, and we had a long 8 hour hike up a mountain. The next time I hear hard trail, count me out. But the view was amazingly beautiful.

Here are a couple views from the trail:




Here is a picture of the tram.



When we bought our tickets to ride down the tram the man who took our money was impressed that we climbed the mountain. A long day but I think it was well worth it for the views.

Note fore next time:
Bring clothes for changing altitudes
Bring plenty of water
Bring plenty of food
Hydrate the day beforehand

That will help prepare me next time I decide to take a hike.

Sister's Weekend

Sister's Weekend
Originally uploaded by DanMcLean

Two weekends ago all my sisters and I got together for a weekend in Vegas. It was a ton of fun. We got pedicures, ate out, shopped, relaxed, and just enjoyed each others company. I wish we all lived closer to each other so we could see each other more often, but at least we all live within a plane ride to each other. This picture is on Sunday before we all left. Donna is holding Sally's baby Chas. Love you guys!

Falling Stars

Some of the reasons why I love New Mexico:

1. Clear skies
2. Falling Stars
3. Lots of physical activies
4. Friendly People
5. Warm days without humidity

Deposits

What is up with deposits? Why do we have to pay them? Especially if you have good credit. But they don't even check you credit, they just want you to pay tons of deposits.
For water we have to pay a $90 deposit
For gas we have to pay a $220 deposit
and for Electric we have to pay a $75 deposit.

Who has a random $385 to pay in deposits and then another $45 of fees for reconnecting everything!? It's super crazy.

Sorry, just a little stressed. We would normally be fine but also moving out of the apartment and moving into the house brings on more fees of breaking a lease and paying one full month ahead also for the house. It's just been a stressful week. Anyway, sorry for worrying about finances on the blog, I just think it's silly to have to pay over $400 to start your services. My bills are each about $15 each for the month though, so hopefully it won't be bad once we have the utilities without the deposits.

Anyway, my countdown to vegas has begun. I am leaving May 1st which is a week away! I can't wait!

Tumbleweed!

My Ode to Tumbleweed:

Oh Tumbleweed,
Why do you like to make my commute so long?

Oh tumbleweed,
Why do you roll down the road with such ease?

Oh Tumbleweed,
Why do you like to scratch the cars?

Oh Tumbleweed,
I thought you were only in cartoons!



So, that huge tumbleweed that is above is about the size of tons of tumbleweed all over the city. I have never seen tumbleweed like that or new that it was real. I drive by wal-mart and see them stacked against the fence. Or driving down the road and everyone slows down to about 30 mph because it's on the side of the road. It's really annoying, but it's so cool to see such big tumbleweed!

Flea Market take 2

So, this weekend was another drill weekend...which means it's a boring weekend for the wives. Well three of us got together and went to the flea market. The first time David had drill my friend Dom and I went, but it was way cold so their were only about 15 vendors. Well, it was in the 70's this past weekend and Dom, Tommy, and I went to the flea market and they had over 100 vendors! It was so much fun! Well I got some real good finds...and SO cheap! I LOVE bargains. My 1st and most favorite thing is Kokopelli.
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You can google Kokopelli and learn all about him, but he's way cool and we got three of them. One medium size one, and two small ones that face each other. We are going to put them off in the front room.
My second find was super cheap and super yummy and ripe fruit.

It pretty much looks like that and I paid like $3. I love flea/farmers markets. My last find is one of David's favorites. In New Mexico, green chili is a must! We got fresh roasted green chili. It may look so disgusting, but you pop it into the microwave and put some salt on it and it's soooo yummy.

It's a huge success and if anyone wants to visit we will show you some of our favorite things.
Our favorite pizza place, Dion's, has the BEST pizza and our favorite way is pepperoni with green chili.

It's so yummy. It's the new mexican thing to put green chili on everything. You can get here at McDonald's a double cheeseburger with green chili. Who would have thought!? But so, the new mexican way of life is pretty good, as long as you don't get me talking about their driving!