Christmas 2013

  Gary and I had the opportunity to visit my family for Christmas again this year. Because Gary's company is part of the stock market, they cannot be closed for two or more consecutive days, so unfortunately he had to be back at work the next day. But he did enjoy the time off while he had it!

 We traveled to Bakersfield Christmas Eve and stayed the night. The next morning, the both of us got up early to shower and get ready, then enjoy a nice breakfast before opening gifts. I was able to get some really nice maternity clothes and cute sweaters, while Gary also got some nice clothes, books, and games. 

 After a nice nap and a small lunch, my brother Devonn, his wife Carla, and their kids came over to visit and open more presents. Gary and I opened our present from them and were nearly in tears from the gift (from laughing). Inside was a pretty sweet Target gift card (and not an actual animal-style water bottle and trough, though they did toss a water bottle in there).

Anyway, after a delicious dinner, we headed home for the night. It was definitely nice being able to visit family and be in the Christmas spirit! I'm looking forward to next year's Christmas when we have a little active 7 month old! :)

Gary's Work Christmas Party

Oh, how I love the holiday season! It's been busy, fun, and I'm definitely enjoying the second pregnancy trimester over the first! :)

Gary's work had a beautiful Christmas party last Saturday on the 7th of December. It was located at the Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica and the party theme was Hollywood. It was right on the ocean and next to the Santa Monica pier. Everything was paid for and covered, and we definitely had a blast.

Gary in his navy suit before we left

Me in my navy gown before leaving. You can see my bump much better from the side ;) Hey, if you need a midsection slimming dress...

Us while at the hotel 

When we arrived at the hotel, we had valet parking already set up for us, so we went inside where I met his direct supervisor and a few other of his co-workers. We were there about 15-20 minutes before the actual dinner, so we hung out at the fancy bar area with them and chatted.

When we went into the banquet/dinner hall, I was able to meet the CEO and many of his employees and their spouses. We had an icebreaker game where we had to go around and ask questions to each other while filling out the answers on the paper sheets we were given. It was a nice way to break the ice for sure! We turned our papers in and sat down for dinner.

Dinner area and quartet (while everyone was still in the other room with the icebreaker game)

The dinner was delicious! Not only did we have a string quartet accompany us during it with Hollywood themed music, it was a four-course meal (we chose our foods a week prior to this). I got the Parmesan Risotto with wild mushroom sauce while Gary had the wild mushroom Agnolotti, herbs, and crumbled goat cheese (I had to Google some of the fancy menu items). After our appetizer, the CEO pulled out a random paper from our game earlier and read some of the answers- then gave a prize to the person's paper he pulled out.

For the salad, I had a Caesar salad with romaine, croutons, and anchovy dressing (it was much better than it sounds), while Gary had the mozzarella di Buffa (buffalo mozzarella) with cherry tomatoes and pesto.

After the salad, the CEO once again stood up, told us to look under our name tags (we had assigned seating), and see what color we had on them. He picked a color (we'll say blue), and the game was a trivia game. He'd ask a Hollywood related trivia question, and the first person who had a blue and raised their hand had an opportunity to answer. If they answered correctly, they received a blue-ray copy of the movie or an option of different movies from the actor or actress who was the correct answer. He did a few colors, then we went on with our main meal.

For the main course, I had Polenta with Portobello mushrooms, grilled asparagus, roasted peppers, and yellow squash. It was delicious! Seriously, I LOVE roasted vegetables and the meal was spot on. Everyone else at the table, including Gary, had lobster tail and filet Mignon, mashed potatoes, and french green beans. Salmon was another dinner option, but the lobster seemed the most popular.

After the main course, the color trivia game was finished. There was some extra blue-ray DVDs leftover, so he randomly drew a few numbers (our name tags also had numbers on them), and gave those away. Gary's number was chosen, so he picked Avatar since neither of us had seen it. Yay for a prize!

Then we enjoyed dessert, where we both had the warm chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut Gelato and chocolate sauce. I haven't really been craving chocolate since being pregnant, but it was yum! The other option was fruit cobbler and I'm not a cobbler fan, though it looked pretty delicious too.

After dessert, each employee was handed an envelope. Inside, there was a picture of three things- a movie, a famous actor, and a famous actress. Then there was an event kind of like the academy awards, where the option of "best movie", "best effects", "best actor", "best actress", etc was drawn. The drawing was random, so if anyone on your pictures was drawn, you'd win a gift to unwrap. Gary and I unfortunately weren't winners, but there were some amazing prizes given away- including a Samsung Smart TV, Xbox 360, a high def sound system, a Kindle Fire, a tablet (I think it was the Microsoft Surface or something, but I could be wrong), gift certificates, and other awesome things. Pretty neat! We were pretty excited to have a new movie though, which we enjoyed watching the next night.

Anyway, we had a blast! Everyone was SO friendly and kind and I just love his co-workers! They were also giving out free candy, so we filled a couple of candy bags. Yum! 

In other quick news...

Little Updates

Hey, everyone!

Things have been going pretty well in our home. Gary and I are always trying to find ways to spend more time with one another, which can be kind of hard sometimes, especially on the weekdays since he comes home late. But we manage! At least we have the blessing of having the weekends together, which is always a plus.

Our new shopping center opened up Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese BBQ restaurant, so we decided to check it out. It was great! It worked well with my unique appetite too.

 We got to pick out our own meats and vegetables, and cook them at our table. The food was pretty delish and surprisingly light on the tummy.

Sometimes on the weekends, we like going out of town to do some shopping. We'll sometimes hit up some outlets, or we'll just find a mall somewhere and walk around. Good exercise, right? Other weekends we stay in and do nothing or keep it local, which is nice too.

We also decided we're probably going to move to the Studio City/Toluca Lake area. It's close to his job, close to a big city (Burbank), and has good neighborhoods. Now we just have to drive down there and check out apartments! I can't believe we'll be moving in just a few months already. One area we really like is Los Feliz, but a 3 bedroom home for 2.2 million is just a little over our budget ;) .

I'm also looking forward to permanently leaving my work so I can raise the little one after the birth. It's pretty neat how my due date falls around the last day of school. I plan on taking maternity leave, then using up all my vacation and sick days. I'm excited! The extra salary really has been great though. We've been able to throw money into our savings and it's building up rather quickly. Such a blessing.

As for my work, it's going well. I have a new schedule and a new permanent role. My hours are now 7:45-2:15, which is great. I love being off early and coming home to have the rest of the day to get things done (or nap, LOL). I'm also looking forward to getting the week of Thanksgiving off and two weeks of winter off. Yay! I'm definitely looking forward to the holidays- and this new weather is great!

Besides planning a move and planning for baby, there's not much else going on! Things area pretty awesome around here. 

Oh Yeah! The Big News!

Hey, everyone! All has been pretty well here in the Pollock home.

Megan reminded me of something last post- I totally forgot to update the big news!! I was so used to it being on my other blog and public other places that it seemed to have slipped my mind to mention it here.

So, as all you probably already know, Gary and I are expecting #1! We found out over the summer and we're definitely excited to be first time parents! So far it's been a little rough for me on the nausea and morning sickness aspect, but I'm still pretty happy about the little growing baby inside of me. I think the sickness is worse because of my job and commute everyday- usually the weekends are much easier because I get to sleep more hours and go around the town with Gary.

Anyway, there's that! We are due in May.

We're also going to be moving in January, which will be hard- but it's what's best for us and easiest on Gary. Where are we going? Yup, we're still not sure. We want to be closer to his job (which will be staying in LA, not moving closer like we thought it may have been), and not worry too much about being close to mine since I'll be leaving my job permanently before the little munchkin is born. We're also open to the idea of living walking distance from a subway station so he can do that.

I am also looking forward to the holiday season! Not only do I get 2 weeks off, it'll just be a nice time for us. First, we'll have Gary's work Christmas party in Santa Monica in a super beautiful hotel on the beach. Then a couple of days later, we'll hopefully find out the gender of the baby, depending on the participation. I'm also hoping by then the morning sickness will be gone so we can visit family without too many problems.

Yesterday, Gary took me out shopping in Sherman Oaks and also here in Valencia for my Christmas party attire. It's a dressy event, so he's going to be wearing a nice navy suit (or he might buy a tux if he changes his mind), and I'm going to be wearing a gorgeous navy gown. It's so beautiful! Gary actually found it while we were browsing and he was sure it was going to work on me. And it did! It will also work well with a bump.

We also went to DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) and bought some gorgeous heels to go with it. Another thing Gary picked out. He was just right on the dot yesterday! He was also being smart about the heels not being too high or too narrow because, "you're going to be more pregnant, your balance might be a little different, and your feet might be a little swollen". Good thinking! He did a good job because they look great on me and go well with the gown. Lastly, we hit up Brighton where he bought me a beautiful necklace and earrings to go with the outfit. I'm so spoiled ;) . I picked out the jewelry (we had the dress with us, so the sales associate was great with suggestions), but Gary was a big help too ;) .

Anyway, I'm excited!

Well, it's time to get ready for church and visit our new ward. We recently had a ward boundary change, so we're no longer in V2 (Valencia 2nd), we're in the Stevenson Ranch ward.

Bye folks!

Update on Us

I've gotta say- this is the first time I've updated a blog while eating whipped cream out of the can. Mmm. Okay, I should put this away now. But I'm definitely enjoying this beautiful cooler fall weather! I made some homemade pumpkin pie over the weekend (except I over-spiced it a bit), and there has been lots of reading and snuggling. When I'm not working, of course. But yay for fall!

I just want to mention how grateful I am for my family- my sweet husband especially! I can't believe this December will be our 7th wedding anniversary. Things can't be any better! Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly for us.

As for work, it's meh. Driving an hour and back to work everyday is tough. I'm no longer working at the behavioral academy as mentioned. So, I'm currently working at a few different schools, but mainly at an adult program (PALS- Pasadena Adult Learning Skills) which teaches higher functioning adults how to live independently. It's been fun. And no violence. We get to cook, take community trips so they can work jobs, and learn other adult skills.

Gary's job is going well too. The commute is hard on him too, so the move out of Santa Clarita is highly likely. Though, there's a high possibility his company will be moving much closer- so that would be awesome!

Anyway, Gary and I need more adventure. When we find it, we'll post it!

Now it's time for a nap. But I figured since it's been over a month since an update, I'd post something.

PS- Gary has trimmed his beard big time. He looks SO handsome, especially with all the weight he's lost- including his beard ;)

Some Days I'm Crazy; But I'm Still Alive

Hey, all. So some more updates. First of all, I apologize for the text background. I really don't know what's going on, but just go with it. You'll be okay. I promise.

My job can definitely be stressful at times. Most days are good, but others I'm dying to go home and forget about it. My biggest challenge? Going home and forgetting about it.
I recently read a book written by a special education teacher called "What Do I Do With These Kids? How to Teach Emotionally Disturbed and Behaviorally Disordered Students".  One of the key points mentioned in the book is having the ability to leave work at work. It's also important we don't treat our families like we treat our students (constantly using interventions, working on behaviors, etc).

When I learn the stories of these kids and talk to them about their trials, it's difficult to not think about it when I get home. When I see a student have a mental breakdown and find out the next day they're being institutionalized, it's hard not to think about it. When a kid comes to me crying because their drug-addicted parents never showed an ounce of interest in visiting them in the group home, it's hard to go home and forget about it. Some of these kids have lived in the streets, starving. Some of them have family members who have died in gang-related violence. They all have severe behavioral disturbances- but for some, it's just that. For others, it's mental illness that only medication and maybe therapy can help. Some days I feel useless, other days I feel like I had at least a little success.

On an average day, I hear screaming in the hallways as kids are being restrained and dragged to a room in the back of the building. Fights are a regular thing, sometimes big, sometimes small. Luckily I haven't had the chance to jump in and restrain. We're talking big high school boys here. Have I had to restrain? Yes. But never alone, and I've never been hurt.

Anyway, I've been switched to a different classroom and the students are much more behaved than the first classroom I was in. The teacher had requested a BI in his classroom, so I volunteered. The first time I was asked, I turned it down because I was enjoying my current students at the time. However, I eventually agreed and moved. Some of the kids from the previous class were actually upset with me, but after a long talk with them about my job and how I'm open to help all kids, not just the ones in my new classroom, they forgave me. So we're good.

I ran into my supervisor in the hallway last week, who mentioned the possibility of me making a decision to stay or go district-wide. She didn't force a response out of me, just casually mentioned we might talk about it. I sat down that evening and thought, "should I stay or go?" Yesterday, she ran into me again and told me I don't have too much longer at the school (I'm thinking next week is my last), and we have a major meeting this upcoming Monday where I will possibly receive my actual assignment.

However, I still had to sit down and think. Do I really want to stay? A part of me doesn't- heck, the job can be pretty stressful sometimes (I've been called every name in the book, insulted, sexually harassed, verbally attacked, and threatened on an average day), but at the same time, I'm learning so much- plus, let's not forget the bonds and bridges I've already built just in these first few weeks. Just for the record, I learned it's important to never take attacks personally. Most kids in this situation have been betrayed by an authoritative figure- so when they attack me, they're not making it personal. They're attacking my authority. That's why it's also important I not be a pushover. Anyway, that's a different topic.

Let's also not forget my experience revolves around developmentally disabled- not emotionally disturbed. I can use my skills being district-wide, all the skills I've learned in this field. Sometimes I feel helpless at this school and feel I can't fully do my "job". But again...

I over-analyze way too much. I think too much. I do my best to keep my emotions out of it (I'm doing a good job), but it's hard to just- forget about them. Can I actually make a difference and help? Or is it hopeless for these guys? I'm a white girl who grew up with a good, strong family, so it's also hard to relate. But again, that's on a personal level. I work with them on a professional level.

Okay, I'm done. I just thought I'd throw it out there. Now I can actually forget about it. The day is over, I can move on and worry about it later. When Gary comes home in a bit, I can talk about other things than my job.

Other things than my job: beach day tomorrow! We're going to Zuma with the ward. Should be fun! Speaking of fun, my new calling is going well (got called as the Primary secretary a couple months back). Lots of things to do, but it's all good. Gary and I are also getting over colds/something/whatever-the-heck-hit-us. Not fun. But good it's leaving our bodies!

Too lazy/tired to keep going. More uplifting post next time, promise! Bye!

Job Update and My Clumsiness

I survived the first week! So, how did it go? Here's the update/details.


Tuesday I went to an orientation/training day. There are 5 days of district training to teach us the ropes of how we operate within the district. We are also required to attend all 5 days of training. However, I started on the last day of training, meaning I still have 4 days I need to take.

My supervisor, who will be doing another 5-day training session, is waiting until a few more staff members are cleared through the district to start working (took me a week to clear- fingerprints, medical tests, etc). Then I am to attend the first 4 days since I already went to the 5th. Until then, I'm on a temporary assignment at an indoor educational academy in Altadena.

It's been- interesting, but not bad. I'm currently working with high school boys. The academy is a place for the severely emotionally disturbed and teaches elementary through high school. Most of these children come from group homes and have pretty traumatic lives/pasts. My goal during the week was to build a good rapport with the kids without too much intervention just yet. It takes time. But I have developed a good standing with them and I actually enjoy being around them. The teacher for the classroom is great.  Gary has expressed concerned for my safety (the first day a boy smashed a glass vase over his arm and the ambulance had to come), but I'm not concerned at all. There are many male aides and some male workers from the mental health department who regularly hang out and assist. I have another interventionist in the classroom with me as well. So nothing to worry about. I occasionally take the boys out of the classroom and chat with them (never completely alone- there are always people around), just to see how they are doing. This especially happens when they're feeling stressed and/or upset and need a break. But this assignment is definitely a new thing as my experience mostly revolves around developmental disorders, primarily autism- not so much ED (emotionally disturbed). I did have a regular ED case with my respite job, but he's young and it's mild since he has an amazing life with a great family, so it's not as bad.

Anyway, I have been assigned as a district-wide interventionist. This means that once the permanent staff to work at the academy are cleared to work and I finish the other 4 days of training, I'll be sent out to work at different schools. I will have 2-3 students at each school, and will provide 30-45 minute sessions with each student- including group exercises, 1:1 social building skills, consulting, Discrete Trial Training, etc-as well as tons of data collection. Between the travel and data collecting, I'll be filling in my 6 hours each day. Even if I don't fill in the 6 hours, I still get paid salary. Which is nice.

So, that's basically it for now, and it really has been great. Traffic to Altadena hasn't been all that bad- it only gets a little congested when there's been an accident. Otherwise, it takes me 30-40 minutes to get there.

Any more updates? Gary and I still haven't made a decision about where to move, but Glendale and Burbank are high on the list, including Studio City.  Also, Gary's job has still been going well and I'm super proud of all he does!

We also had a mini vacation and took a trip recently to Orange County. We visited Knotts Berry Farm, went to the Pirate's Dinner Adventure, and a couple weeks before took a trip to the Getty Villa. But that's a different post. Until then, enjoy this photo of my head injury. I was swimming in a friend's pool with a large rock waterfall/slide. Anyway, some of the rocks hover over the pool, forming a little cave. I had been swimming under them (didn't know I was that close), then came up for air- and SLAM. Luckily I didn't knock myself out, though I do believe I'm suffering from a minor concussion.

Change of Plans

 Remember on my last post how I mentioned there was basically no reason NOT to move to OC? Funny things really happen sometimes.

After we made that decision, we prayed together we would receive confirmation this was the correct choice- and that we'd receive a sign. Well, that week, a school district in Pasadena had contacted me, asking if I'd be interested in a personal interview. I didn't get back to them right away because I didn't know what to think. But I decided I'd see what would happen and went ahead with the interview.

Here's the back story: several weeks ago, or months I'd say, I applied for a position within a school district in Pasadena. Every now and then I'd miss working for the schools and would see what was available. That's when I came across this specific one. It seemed out of my reach, considering the salary, the benefits, and qualifications- more money than I've ever made, and the qualifications were more strict. But I thought, "why not?" and applied anyway. This happened shortly after I had been suddenly removed from a case I had been working on for almost a year- and I was seeking stability within normal school hours. 

Some weeks later, the district contacted me via e-mail, inviting me to take the written exam at the district building. So, I went. My appointment was the earliest available, which was around 9 am. There were tons of people in the exam room. Not only that, the instructor said we were only the first group- there were going to be several more groups throughout the day and the next. A couple of girls at my table mentioned this was their 2nd or 3rd attempt taking the exam over the course of months/years for the position. The instructor also mentioned that only the top scorers would move on.

So, I took the exam and went on my way. Another few weeks passed and I received another e-mail from the district, inviting me to an oral exam. They would tape record me answering random questions about my qualifications. So, I went. Then I discovered once again there were many other people who were there for that exam. I got it over with and moved on.

Many more weeks passed, and I moved on. Since I hadn't heard anything, I assumed they had made their selection and had basically forgotten about it.

Then the phone call came, that very week Gary and I had prayed for a sign about where to move. I didn't know if I wanted to go through with the interview since I had my heart set on OC. I prayed, then decided just to see what would happen. So, I went with the personal interview. The interviewer said I would hear back in a few weeks on whether I got the position or not, then I went along my way.

The next day was the call. I contacted Gary to tell him the news, then immediately prayed about it. I was still feeling hesitant. Not only that, they wanted me to start in a month- meaning I'd have to give notice to my current job about leaving my cases. But, after receiving comfort, I contacted my employers, my families I work with, and the district about moving on to do the fingerprinting, medical stuff, etc. Everyone was thrilled for me and that made me feel a little better. Now, I'm not leaving my current company. The school position is 9 months, so I'll have backup during the summer if necessary.

Now? Still nervous about the decision in ways, but mostly because of where we're going to move. I wasn't ever sure about Pasadena, but I was told if we stay south of the 210, we'd find really beautiful, safe neighborhoods and places to live. The school districts worry me, but when we have kids, we'll worry about that. In honesty, you really can't beat Santa Clarita. So, now it looks like we'll be moving to South Pasadena or somewhere around that area. It's really close to Gary's job, and we'll be next to my new job.

Now about the job. The position title is Behavioral Interventionist. It's a salaried, 6-hour per day position, Mon-Fri. Just like any school position, I get paid holidays and vacations including 2 weeks off for winter, spring break, etc. I will basically be having DTT  (Discrete Trial Training-Google it) sessions with students throughout a regular day. They send me a student, I give them a session, and move on to the next. There's much more in the job description, so I'll figure it all out as I go. I'm not certain yet which school I will be sent to- I haven't received the site information just yet. It could be a high school, Jr. high, or elementary school. I'll figure that out today.

Anyway, that's the news and that's the update! The more we pray, the more comfortable we feel. I received a fortune on Saturday from a fortune cookie: "You will move to a wonderful new home within the year." Let's hope it's wonderful.

Moving Away

 Hey, everyone. Yes, a blog post!

 Gary and I have been attempting to escape the heat on the weekends. Last weekend, we hit the outlets in Camarillo- which was nice! The weather was in the 80's, which was way better than the 105 degree weather going on back home. We did some shopping where I purchased some jeans (name brand size 6 Levi's- awesome), some chocolate and candies (yum!), and some shirts at Aero for $5 a piece. Love their stuff!

After our shopping trip, we hit Ventura where we did more shopping, then stopped at the harbor for some delicious lunch overlooking the ocean. I had a delicious shrimp and avocado salad while Gary had fish and chips. Then we added on some ice cream at the end while strolling around. I was pretty stuffed. But it was good! Parking was crazy! We got lucky though when someone up front was pulling out- we made it there first and got the spot. But good grief was it busy! But good. 

Fourth of July was fun as well- relaxing, too! We pigged out- like a lot, on ribs, cookies, and other deliciousness. Then we watched the Town Center fireworks show from our complex- great view.

And then this past weekend- let's just say it may have made an impact on our future.

As you know, Gary works in downtown LA. He leaves at 6:30am and gets home close to 9pm. This includes "his" time at the gym for a couple-few hours. It wears the poor guy out. We've had our eyes on places closer to his job, but haven't fallen in love with anything yet. Everything's so- LA and apartment city, know what I mean? Nothing very family-oriented.

Well, his birthday was on Saturday and we went to Medieval Times in Buena Park, something we had been planning for awhile. It was a lot of fun! It was my first time there and although it's something super awesome for kids- I still enjoyed myself. And our team won. :)

Anyway, we were driving around Buena Park/Orange/Anaheim area and doing shopping at their massive outlet center in Orange. I mean big! And gorgeous. We noticed how clean the air was, how family-oriented it was, and how beautiful the homes and neighborhoods were. Then I said, "Too bad we can't move here." Then it hit me- how far were we from his job? I pulled out the map app on my phone and noticed we were only 20 miles away from his work. Valencia is 40 miles away. I told him, "Hey, we're actually pretty close! You'd only have to take the 5."

It gave us something to think about, so we did some research. Here are the perks:

• It's out of Los Angeles County and in Orange County
• Only 20 miles from his job
• 15 miles from the ocean
• Cleaner air
• Cleaner environment/city- just beautiful- the sky is so clear and blue
• It has tons of shopping and things to do, including some of our favorite places we have to travel out of town to visit
• It's next to Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland
• The apartments are way more affordable, mainly because it's a family oriented city and not a young couple/apartment city where the demand is high
• The homes are about the same price as the homes in Santa Clarita/Valencia- which is more affordable than homes in LA.
• The crime is way low
• My brother lived in OC for a couple of years and is absolutely in love with the area, highly recommending it

In the end, we couldn't find any reasons NOT to move there. So, we decided. That is going to be our next place to live. We're excited!

Sometime next month we're going to spend a weekend there and get to know the areas more. Now, of course the downside would be my job- I'd have to leave my current cases and pick up new ones over there (my company provides services all through Southern Cali, including San Diego, so I'm good).  But it's a bummer because I LOVE the families I work for- well, 2 of them at least ;).

Anyway, that's the update! Things to do today- bye!

Quick Stuff

I wish I had something super exciting to post about, but I don't. But anyway, here are a few things:

Gary's job is going well. The commute and his 14 hour days are getting to him a bit, but he's hanging in there. He really does enjoy spending time at the gym after work with his trainers though. He turns off his phone and calls it "his time"- which I don't blame the guy. Let him unwind and get that workout in! He's looking absolutely great. We recently had to go clothes shopping for him because nothing fits anymore. As for me, you can read a few updates in my fitness blog.

We recently went to the best ramen place ever in Studio City called Jinya Ramen. Delicious! Studio City is likely going to be our next city to live in. It's a nice residential area and much closer to his work. It's a pretty area as well. Toluca Lake is another option.

Let's see, what else? We recently went to a fun wedding last Saturday and watched Jamie and her new husband Joshua tie the knot. Jamie is a long-time friend I've known for years. The wedding itself was nice, and the reception was a lot of fun. It was nice to have the whole gang from high school together again.

 We stopped by my parents house first to hang out before the reception, so this is us before we took off. As for reception pictures, they'll come later. Plus, I was so dumb and forgot to get a picture of the high school gang! Dang!

I definitely had a lot of fun hitting up the dance floor though! We all joked it was like going to the Mormon dances all over again- old, fun times!

Besides that, Gary and I are definitely enjoying the weekends where we actually get to spend time with one another! What a blessing it is to be with him. I especially love when we have no plans- just us and the weekend. Super nice!

Anyway, that was a quick, short update. When I can think of other things, I'll keep you posted! 

Auction, Muscles, Sewing, Etc.

 I love how much my title makes sense.

Anyway, here are some updates.

First of all, Saturday night, Gary and I had a fantastic time at a dinner and auction to raise money for the young women in the ward to go to camp. It. was. FUN!

There were $5 taco plates for dinner, tons of items to buy, and tons of items to bid on. Not only that, it was a lip sync event as well, so in between auctions, we had performances by various people in the ward. Definitely cute and entertaining.

So, what did we get? We won a couple of bids in the auction. First of all, a table! It's solid oak- and it's handcrafted! One of the girls in the Relief Society worked with a professional craftsman and built it. It's beautiful. So, we bid on it and won.

 It also comes with a leaf to extend it to 6'. It's so cute and we love it! It's sitting right there because I just finished putting it together earlier (I'm going to feel that workout tomorrow). 

We also won this super nice spa gift set with high quality shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, and really nice bath towels. We were told it cost way more than the $50 we spent to win it- so definitely nice.

The downside of the event was the next day- apparently tons of people in the ward were sick. It could have been the meat was out too long, or someone introduced something. I had to leave church early. I called in sick on Monday, but ended up working anyway.

So there was that!

Next: As you read in the previous post, Gary has joined the gym next to his workplace (Gold's Gym), and has a personal trainer. His butt has been getting kicked. He's been loading up on the protein and is currently soaking in a bath to soothe his poor muscles. I'm so proud of him though! He goes everyday and results are already showing. It helps him unwind and come home refreshed after a day at work (he showers there).  I also received a 21 day pass, so I've hit up our local one a couple of times. It's only half a mile away, so I just walk there, workout, then come home. My goal now is to really strengthen and tone up. I still run of course, but not as much. It's time for weights over here!

I also mentioned I'm taking sewing classes. I figured since Gary got me that really nice machine, I outta put it to use. So, I signed up for classes and it's been great so far. I'm glad I'm finally learning this stuff because I avoided it like the plague. I never found an interest in crafty things- probably because it was too "housewifey" for me. But mainly it was because I grew up with friends who sewed and often gave off that "better than you" vibe because they could do it. You know, they'd be "better moms".  They were obsessed with the idea of popping out children every chance they got while being a housewife all day- and it really pushed me far away from anything housewife related, including sewing. ANYway, that's a different subject and blog post altogether. And yes, thoughts have changed. I'm still not obsessed with the idea, but then again many women aren't until they start having kids- then it changes. And I get it.

But anyway, I have an early day tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I was going to post about other things (you know, the etc. part of the title), but my brain is in "ready for bed" mode. Which pretty much means derp.

Have a goodnight!

Liebster

 I was nominated by Megan  for a Liebster blogging award. So here I go:

 11 Random Facts About Myself:

1. I'm taking sewing classes. Just started last week, but I'm excited to learn. I discovered my sewing teacher is LDS, and my "classmate" is also LDS!
2. I could see myself becoming a bird-watcher. Really! Some people would find it boring, but if you're a fan of the outdoors like myself, you may understand. I can sit in the early morning sun and watch nature for hours.
3. I've never had my wisdom teeth pulled- that's what I get for having a big mouth.  
4. I can't stand snot or anything related. Blood, sure. Watching people perform open surgeries, no problem. Mucus? I'm out. 
5. Speaking of...the first bone I broke (out of...6? 5?) was my big toe. I can't remember if it was my left or right, but I was in elementary school showing off on a swing, doing flips. I landed on my stomach and hit my toe real hard. Did I cry? Nope, I stood right up and kept playing. My mom noticed it swelling later and me slightly limping, so she took me for an x-ray. Yup, it was broken. Pain is nothing as a kid.
6. I don't drink anything but water. Sometimes I may have some lemonade or flavored water, but I prefer water. And it's not about health reasons. I just simply don't like anything else.
7. This one is about Gary: He just joined a nice gym that's walking distance from his job in LA. He works out after work to avoid traffic, then comes home. The best part? He has a personal trainer who has been kicking his butt. It's fantastic.
8. My parents had a terrifying experience when I was 3 months old. I was having serious seizures during the middle of the night that would not stop. They rushed me to the hospital- again, they would not stop and the doctor said it was bad news. The missionaries showed up and gave me a blessing. They stopped.
9. I'm the one who catches the bugs and spiders and puts them back outside, not Gary. Even larger critters like giant moths, praying mantis, bees that may fly in, and even grasshoppers (though the giant ones creep me out a bit).
10. I love science and I'm a total science geek. I'm subscribed to and regularly read National Geographic, Smithsonian, Astronomy Magazine, Popular Science, and Discover. 
11. Gary and I are considering taking Blacksmithing classes and getting certifications. There's a blacksmith in the Pasadena area and the classes are pretty popular. So why would we take classes? Because why the heck not?

And for the questions Megan has picked out:

1. What is the best thing you've ever eaten? This one is hard because as you know, I love food. Cheesecake is a favorite, but I'll picks something. One thing I used to really really love but won't eat anymore (there isn't one here anyway, so thank goodness) is John's Burgers Chicken Salad. It was huge! I think it was the ranch, which made it horrible for me, but it was amazing! Anything John's Burgers, really. But I'll go with the chicken salad. 

     2. What is one thing you want to do before you die? There are a lot of things I want to do before I die, so I'll just pick one random: Finish my story. I know, I know. But I love writing and I have a big imagination. I just haven't had the time to gather up my current story and write it out.  I've been thinking about this one since I was a teenager. I've written bits and pieces, pages and pages of it, but I haven't bundled it together and drawn bridges. I just need that patience. 

     3. If you had $1 million to give to a charity, which charity would you give to? Geez, this one is tough. There are so many charities out there, so I'll just pick one: Medical Teams International: 97% of money donated goes to programs. You can read more about it on the link, and also here: Wikipedia description. I've come across it a few times and have always felt a need to donate toward them, so I chose it.

     4. What is your all time favorite movie and why? Well, this one is easy: Beauty and the Beast. I watched it so many times as a kid. I don't know why I chose it as my favorite, but maybe it had to do with the fact I felt like I related to Belle and her love of books. While I was a girl, a lot of the kids would be in the living room watching TV or a movie, and I'd be in my room wrapped up in books. Besides, who doesn't love Beauty and the Beast?

     5. Where in the world would you most likely travel to? Okavango Delta, Botswana. It may not be a paradise island, but I would LOVE to visit and see all the many different wildlife. There are many different tours and safaris and the adventure would be amazing.

 6. If you could magically develop any talent over night, what would it be? Sword fighting. Oh, come on- that would be awesome. Can you imagine me chasing after an attacker or burglar with a sword? That would change his/her mind quickly. Nobody wants to approach a crazy lady with a sword.

7. What was your favorite toy when you were a child? That would be my ducky. Couldn't do anything or go anywhere without it. I left it at my parents' cabin once and would not sleep. My uncle drove the one hour drive there to retrieve it for me.

Other brother and me with our stuffed animals

When I got a bit older, it was this Simba (oh, the stories of the looooong car rides while Quinn and I spoke in baby voices playing with Simba and Nala, driving the others to insanity):

8. If you could see any band or musician in concert (whether they're still together/alive or not), who would it be? This guy:

9. If you were to be cast in any reality TV show, which show would you want to be on? Hmm. Probably The Amazing Race. Don't hate- I've never seen the show. I've seen parts and I understand enough these people get to travel the world and have adventures for competition. That just sounds awesome. 

10.  You stumble upon a magic lamp and *poof*, out comes a genie. What are your three wishes? Well, there's the obvious stopping world hunger, getting rid of corrupt leaders and reorganizing specific societies, but I'll take a different approach.

• 1- To make everybody's pets spayed and neutered 
• 2- To pay off all of my parents' debts
• 3- To gain the knowledge of a physicist. You mean I have to work hard for that ability? Nah...

11. What is a picture that literally makes you laugh out loud when you see it?

The Rules of the Liebster Award

1.Share 11 random facts about yourself

2. Answer the questions from the person who nominated you

3. Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and ask them 11 questions

(I don't have 11, so I'll do what I can and pick regular bloggers)

Devonn and Carla

Tiffany

Mum and Pops

The Heywoods

The Jones Family

The Albee Family

Questions:
1. If you could teleport 3 times today, which 3 places would you visit?

2. Where is your favorite place to go with no technology?

3. If you could bring a video game or movie to life, which would you choose?

4. If you had the ability to gain all knowledge from one book just by touching it, which would it be?

5. If you could eat one food or dessert all you what when you want without the negative consequences, what would it be?

6. If you could be a master at any athletic sport, which would you choose?

7. Vacation home on the beach or in the mountains and why?

8. If you had the ability to solve one world problem, which would you choose?

9. What is your favorite childhood memory?

10. If you could go into the past and remake one choice, what would it be?

11. What is your favorite thing about yourself and why?

Have fun! This thing took me forever ;)

Spring is Here!

      I'm so happy spring is here. The warmer weather is amazing and I'm finally able to open the doors and windows.
 
      Spring also means cleaning. Yes, lots of cleaning. This woman has been busy.

      Remember how I mentioned Gary and I were taking Saturdays to tackle specific rooms and areas? Well, we managed to clean out the walk-in closet in the bedroom, the deck, and the storage closet on the deck. After that, we stopped doing the deep Saturday cleanings- just kind of forgot, really. Well, I've had some spare time on my hands since I've reduced my work hours, so I've been getting busy myself!

     Friday, I decided to start in the bedroom itself. I really should have taken before pictures, but whatever. The biggest project was the bookshelf- which was cluttered. It's become a habit to toss other things on there. But I cleared it out, alphabetized the books by author and also separated them by subject. I cleaned out all the junk in the bedroom and made it look fresh and brand new. This included a lot of garbage bags- it's amazing how much junk can pile up. 

Now you can see my books- some are really old! And some I plan to get rid of and add to the Goodwill bag soon.

     From there, I moved my way down the hall and stopped at the bathroom. I deep cleaned the floor, walls, shower, medicine cabinet, toilet (though I clean that almost daily) and cleared out and organized any storage areas. Spotless! My next big task was the hallway closet. Oh, boy. That's where we really put junk. This task took the longest of all, filling up 4-5 garbage bags and 2 piles of boxes. It was crazy. But, in the end, it was done and organized. Phew! I moved on to the living room and clean/organized it as well. I decided to stop from there since the entire cleaning process took 5 hours. 

Cleaner living area

Cleaned up the video game area- though he keeps his games really organized and clean, so there wasn't much to be done here- just cleaning up some cords and such.

     Saturday, I discovered a family I work for needed me to help them out for several hours- starting pretty darn early in the day. So, I went. I came home around 2, and Gary was waiting at home with a bunch of purple tulips for me as a thank you for all my cleaning. I freshened up, and he took me to The Cheesecake Factory in Woodland Hills. Oh, so nice of him!! I needed that. And yes, I enjoyed a slice of cheesecake.

Love!! My orchids are next to them. I love the tulips, though! They were doing their "leaning" thing (when they drink too much), but they've been going back up today since I fixed it last night (cold water).

     Yesterday, it was the kitchen's turn. We had so many old appliances, cookware, etc- it needed serious cleaning. I first went to Target where I bought organizers for the junk drawer, new cookware, and a few other things (including new bathroom decorations). The kitchen cleaning? 3 hours and 6 garbage bags. This is because I tossed out so many pots, pans, bake-ware, etc. Oh, but it looks marvelous. We made a goal to make sure nothing sits on the kitchen island or the fridge (or on top of the cabinets).  The cabinets were wiped down, the fridge was wiped down and cleaned- you've cleaned a kitchen before, you know what I mean. But- it's done.

That looks a little better!

       The apartment is done! Woo hoo! This will make moving much easier now. I can't believe there was so much stuff just for one apartment! Geesh. Because yes, this is our last year here. Then we'll be moving out of Santa Clarita to be closer to Gary's job. Where? Not sure yet. Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley is one huge consideration though. Gary also likes Studio City, and a few friends have recommended Burbank and some of the areas around there. But I'm really liking Pasadena (so is Gary). So, we'll see. More research is to be done. But it may be our permanent residence and where we raise kids, so we want to be picky- we're looking forward to buying! We're also ready to leave this place and move up! It hasn't been bad though. We do love it in this quiet neighborhood. Rent is insanely high, but we've been staying here because there's been no reason to move- plus, we've been able to save money, which is nice. And now with the new job, we can really start saving!

     Gary starts his new job on Monday! This is his final week at his current job. Is he sad? Yes. But he's excited to be moving forward. His company was really sad to hear he's leaving- but he's gotta do what he's gotta do- and this new job will be great for him! This is definitely a big step in a new direction.

     Anyway, time to do things for the day before work. To end, I want to say how much I LOVED conference and all the many talks! It definitely brought the spirit into our home and Gary and I really bonded during the talk on marriage. Super love!! It was just fantastic. I love my family!! And my husband!! And I really enjoyed spending time with all of them during Easter, which we spent in Bakersfield. So, here are photos from Easter.

Me and Sammy (I really tried to put Gary's picture first, but Blogger decided mine should come first). 

My awesome hot husband with that beard! I can't believe it's so big! FYI- his shirt was too big and it was quite funny. Luckily he was able to downsize after.