So I need to do an update on Mark and I's little "getaway" last weekend, because it was so much fun. And I need to write it down for my poor memory's sake.

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary this year by doing an overnighter in Salt Lake. So last Saturday (the 23rd), we headed up I-15 to have our FIRST official lunch at Chipotle in Utah. And man, was it amazing. It had been since last Christmas, so both of us just relished it. We also discovered that Paradise Bakery and Cafe (another Colorado treat not previously seen over here) is in the same complex! So...sometime on a free Saturday again, we will need to head up there. After our lunch, we headed down into the city to check in to the Hotel Monaco. It was very nice, though the room was a bit small. But still - down comforter and pillows in a hotel are always good in my book. After we checked in, we walked over to Temple Square to see the new Joseph Smith movie at the memorial building. It was really nice, I'm glad we had the chance to do that. We also perused around Temple Square for a bit, but it didn't last long, as it's been ridiculously hot out here (with no end in sight *sigh*).

We headed down to the Gateway mall for a little bit too, to buy me a copy of Elite Beat Agents for my shiny new PINK Nintendo DS. It's so cute! I even made some vinyl stickers for it at work, so it has little flowers on it. We figured I needed to get my own DS, as we are going out to PAX (an incredibly awesome gaming event in Seattle) in August, and...2 people sharing 1 DS just wouldn't work. We both want to play! So we bought it through RC Willey with 90 day no interest, which comes out to like, 40 bucks a month. I can handle that. Anyways...enough geek talk for now ;)

After the gateway, we headed back to the hotel, and...played Elite Beat Agents with each other on our respective DSs (I was lying on the geek talk being over, but what can I say. That's what we are.). For dinner, we went to the Melting Pot - oh my, do I love that place. For those of you who have never been, it's an all fondue restaurant. So you start with cheese fondue, then have a small salad, then have a main course, where you cook your meat in the fondue pot, then of course...chocolate fondue for dessert. It's seriously, one of my favorite places to go. Unfortunately, it's also very pricey...so it's definitely for special occasions. Dinner there always takes a while, so that pretty much wrapped up our night.

The next morning, after checking out, we went and had breakfast at the Original Pancake House. Once again, with the culinary delights. They have the best breakfast, hands down. I'm SO glad they opened one in Utah. I got an omelette with sourdough pancakes. Mmmm....

We then decided to check out the new IKEA store on our way home. Wow, is that place enormous. And amazing. The whole upper floor is a "showroom" where they have rooms all furnished and set up with their stuff. Mark and I are planning on getting some new bookshelves soonish from there.

And...that pretty much wraps it up. Once again, I was pretty lame about getting pictures. But I just needed to write this down so I don't forget!

Oh, one other discovery on our trip. Mark and I stumbled across a Scottish imports store that actually carries IRN BRU, which Mark has been searching for for FOREVER. It's a soda that somewhat resembles cream soda, and seriously - he has not been able to find it anywhere before now, where you don't have to pay ridiculous amounts of shipping dollars. So...needless to say it just about made his day.

The end.

I totally forgot to include this in my ramblings the other night, but I've got big news.

CHIPOTLE HAS OFFICIALLY LANDED IN UTAH.

You don't know much joy this stirs in my little heart. It's in Bountiful, which is a good 45 minute drive from here...but still, 45 min > 5 hours minimum.

Mark and I may have to make a trip up there soon.

Once Utahns have been infected with the sweet, sweet love of Chipotle burritos...hopefully they will build one closer to Provo. Or even IN Provo.

Mark took off for Toronto this morning - he gets back Saturday late afternoon/early evening-ish. I tell you what, though I am very grateful for Mark's job, and the many comforts it brings to our family (and for how much he enjoys doing it), these week-long trips he is taking every month is kinda tough. Hopefully it won't be too much longer...I just miss having him at home.

But at least this week, I have my parents in town. My mom has been here for several days already, and my dad gets here on Wednesday. They both go home on the 30th. I love when they come to visit!

The baby bunnies are doing famously. They are definitely getting to that "ridiculously cute" stage. I'll have to post some updated pictures soon. A few of them are slightly dehydrated, so we have to give them Pedialyte - apparently it's the universal hydrator.

The twins Collin and Connor are also, ridiculously cute. They are both just over 5 lbs. now - so teeny! I am so glad that the boys and mom (my sister Liz) are doing really well (:

Mark and I have bought plane tickets, made hotel reservations, and bought our passes to attend the ultimate weekend of geekage - PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo. I am seriously so excited to go, it's like waiting for my Birthday.

Alrighty...I think that's about it for my stream of thoughts right now (: Just felt like making a quick post.

Just a quick note to say that my sister Liz had her baby boys tonight! Woohoo!! Mark and I just got back from the hospital. She had a C-section, I would say shortly after 10 PM. One was 5 lbs, 2 oz and 18 in. long; the other 5 lbs, 4 oz. and 19 in. long. Mom and babies are doing really well so far. (:

They are pretty decided on the names Colin Brewer and Connor Eliot, just not sure which is which yet (and I'm not too sure on the spelling either...) ;)

So anyways, it's been a very exciting night. (:

I know I have been a lame poster as of late, for which I apologize. Work seems to be sucking the life out of me or something, and when I get home, I usually don't want to hop back on a computer - rather, just veg out and play a game, or play with Toffee or something.

But anyways, I figured Toffee having 6 babies was definitely needing to be posted (Mark even posted about it!) It happened this morning, and needless to say, Mark and I are both quite the concerned "Grandparents." Mark has been especially good/fun to watch in his care and concern of both Toffee and the babies. Right now they are just little and pink, but I'm pretty excited to see how fast they grow (:

We are pretty definitely that we will be keeping one - and if anyone around here would like one, comment to let me know! We will be keeping them all until they are 7-8 weeks, and then either give them to friends/family, and any that aren't taken we will be giving back to Mark's coworker (who gave us Toffee).

And now a picture.

Nope, this isn't a pregnancy announcement ;) That's still a ways off.

These are pictures of our bunny, Toffee. Mark got her from a coworker of his. She's still getting used to her new setting, but I am definitely smitten with her. She's so pretty! We are so excited that we can have a pet. My sister is our landlord, and she definitely doesn't want a dog or cat in the house - but she was ok with a bunny, so long as when we let her out, we keep her pretty much contained to the kitchen area, where there's no carpet. She definitely likes to explore everything - more than once.






Anyways, just thought I would share! Sorry for the lack of update lately, I've been pretty burned out with work, and being on a computer there all day, I typically don't spend a whole lot of time on at home. Hopefully things will even out pretty soon.

Oh, and by the way, thanks for your nice comments on my "Self-Evaluation" post...I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to respond to each of you who commented individually, but your words really did mean a lot to me. Sorry to have been on such a downer, but I really am glad that I posted it. I've been feeling better, and trying to look on the brighter side of things. (: I have such great friends, and I know that I can be a great friend too! (:

In just a little over an hour, we will be in the car, on our way to airport. I've been nervous all morning, but doing my best to calm myself, and tell myself that explosive decompression REALLY isn't that common on airplanes.

Truly though, I am way excited to be going to Florida. It's a fast trip, but who could pass up an opportunity to go to Disney World? Not this girl.

My iPod shuffle is reloaded and charged, I've got my book, The DS is charged, and bringing along some good games, and camera batteries are charged. Hopefully I can keep myself distracted enough for the 4 hour flight time.

I'll update when we get back! Woohoo!

So I am facing 2 of my fears this week: dentists and flying.

Going to the dentist has always made me nervous.  Growing up I went to the same doctor, and he definitely made it less scary.  But now that I am living out in Utah, I had to find someone else.  And that was scary.  Especially give that last year, I hadn't had a checkup in oh...2 or 3 years?  Maybe longer?  So Mark and I found someone through our insurance, and went in.  He seems to be an ok dentist, and it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I was expecting my mouth to be full of decay, or gum disease or something.  Last year, he did find a very small spot that could develop into a cavity, that he said we just needed to keep an eye on - not to the point of needing a filling or anything, but a spot that could develop into one.  Kinda scary to me, but it was ok.  I just really hate dental work of any kind - the whole needles in your mouth, drilling, etc....HATE it.  And it causes some serious anxiousness on my part.

Fast forward a year.  I used to go to the dentist every, but neglected to make an appointment 6 months later, and it had now been a full year since my last visit.  Needless to say, the last couple of months I have started to have some serious anxiety about this "watch" spot, thinking it may very well be a gaping hole of decay by now.  I've been driving Mark batty to try and nail a time down in his schedule, to schedule appointments for both of us.  But it's a busy time of year for him, so that has not been successful so far.  Finally yesterday, after a recent bout of paranoia about the deal, I buckled down and made an appointment just for myself, at 8 AM this morning (I was impressed they could get me in so soon!).  I wanted to get it done with, so I quit worrying about "what's happening."

So I went, expecting him to say that that little spot of possible decay?  Yeah, gaping chasm now.  But to my great surprise...it hasn't changed at all.  It still isn't enough to be considered a cavity, and basically has not changed since last year.  Needless to say, I felt a great deal of relief upon hearing that.  I also couldn't help feeling proud of myself for practicing such good hygiene this past year.  Maybe regular flossing really CAN pay off!

So yeah, I've been fretting over nothing.  At least for now...

I did see a guy getting a shot of novacaine today, that totally gave me the willies.  GAH I hate dental work.  And the only work I've really had is cavities (aside from wisdom teeth, braces, and an expander when I was little).  I haven't had the joys of root canals and the like yet.  I can only hope that that is a long way off, or in an ideal world, never even happens.

Ok, enough rambling about the dentist, now to flying.

Mark and I are going to Florida on Thursday.  I am REALLY excited.  Except for actually getting there and back.  Although I know flying is the "safest way to travel" and all that jazz, it still makes me nervous as all get out.  Seriously, sleeping on an airplane?  Doesn't happen for me.  I'm too busy getting pangs of fear on every bump of turbulance, and hoping we take off and land safely.  My fear is more pronounced the longer I go in between flights, and this will be the longest flight for me in a while.  My recent flights have only been to Colorado, and that takes a little longer than an hour.  This will be like, 4 hours.  *sigh*

I'm sure everything will be fine, but yeah...the nerves are already setting in.  I don't know why I get so nervous - I mean when I was 17, I flew by myself to Germany.  Over ocean.  And I was totally fine.  But 17 year old self can't convince current self that there's nothing to worry about.  I'm just glad mark will be there with me.

Alright, this post was totally rambly and random.  But maybe by getting my fears out in writing, I will feel better about them.

Or...maybe not.  *shrug*

I better get my iPod charged, and some serious distraction tactics (book, Nintendo DS) ready for Thursday.

Man, for some reason today I am having some serious homesickness for Colorado.  Although I really don't mind living in Utah, and there are many good things about living here - Colorado will always be "home" to me.

I really wish it wasn't so expensive to live there - both Mark and I would love to go back there someday.  But we both have good jobs here right now, and really can't justify a move out of state right now. 

I just love the environment and atmosphere there.  Denver is a great metro city to live nearby - small enough to not be a huge sprawling mass of...city...but it has a great culture, and a lot of fun things to do.  And it was only 15-20 minutes from Golden (where I lived).  I like Salt Lake, but sometimes a 40 minute drive seems kinda long if you just want to go to dinner or something.

Anyways, not to put Colorado on some majestic pedestal or anything - I just love it there.  And miss it.  Mark and I will have to try and visit sometime soon...hopefully this summer.  I got spoiled with our week+ long visit there over Christmas ;)

Also, sorry for not posting in a couple weeks.  Admittedly, I think I've just been lazy.  I'll think about something to blog, but then never get around to it.  And forget. 

Mark is in Toronto until Friday.  He was telling me last night that the wind chill factor was -40 degrees.  That's insane.  I hope he stays warm.

Hmmm....anything else right now?  Nope, don't think so.  All of my blogging thoughts flee my brain when I actually get down to it.

Valentine's Day was so much fun this year.  I just felt really carefree yesterday, and mark and I were laughing and talking and having so much fun the entire night.
( VD Stuff )

It was such a nice evening.  It was so nice to just be relaxed.  I hope all of you had a great day as well, whether you were celebrating with a significant other, and/or having fun with friends or family!

So I'm sitting here at work, and the door opens...and it's Mark.  Holding a bouquet of roses, and a box of chocolate covered strawberries. :D

He surprised me today for an "early valentine," because he has a really busy day of training tomorrow at work, and wouldn't have time.  So we went to lunch (I had already had a little bit, but I wasn't about to pass up on a surprise valentine's lunch with my husband!) at Quizno's, and it was so nice!  I've been kinda down today, and feeling really tired, and this was just the sort of pick me up I needed.

Hooray for Mark!  He's the best husband I could ask for.  Tomorrow night, we're going to have dinner at Guru's, and just kick back and watch a movie at home.  He has definitely made Valentine's Day a happy day for me.

Anyways...just had to share. (: 

6 randomly weird things about me:

1. I LOVE the smell of tires.  My dad's family owned a tire business for many years, and my dad has a warehouse for his antique cars down at the former corporate offices in Colorado.  There's a warehouse behind his full of truck tires.  I seriously love to go back there and inhale the smell.  And walking into a place like Discount Tire is so heavenly and nostalgic for me.

2. Meat in "canned" items like soups and such totally sketches me out.  I've never gotten sick from it or anything, and I'm quite confident I never would...but it still grosses me out.  I avoid it if possible.  Chicken is the worst.  Oddly enough, I'm totally fine with canned chili.

3. I have never felt "comfortable in my own skin" - literally.  I hate my skin.  All my life, I have had extremely dry skin.  I have to lotion my entire body after I shower, and anytime my body gets wet, otherwise it will feel like it's stretching tight against me.  It's not a pleasant feeling.  I have always struggled with excema too.  On the same token, my skin is also oily, so I always have zits not only on my face, but on my arms and upper chest as well.  Needless to say...I hate my skin.  Curse you!

4. Soggy wet leaves gross me out.

5. Even though I have played piano for going on 16 years, I still always get nervous when playing around people.  I am ok around family, and a few friends, but other than that, it can be quite anxiety producing.  For example, this past weekend I played for my niece's baptism and nephew's eagle court of honor, and you would think I was back in high school on stage, playing a solo.  And this was literally, just accompanying out of the hymn book - no one really listens that closely.  I also have a habit, when I make a mistake, of verbally expressing it - not good if you want it to go unnoticed.  However, when I have served as like, Relief Society pianist - that didn't bother me.

6. When I was little, my mom had a pot that emited a fairly high pitched whistle - I think it was some sort of pressure cooker?  That pot SCARED ME TO DEATH.  I would cry whenever she would cook with it, and I could hear it.  I called it "the Melting."


6 random things that make me happy right now:

1. playing Zelda on our Wii
2. Watching movies with Mark
3. really, just hanging out with Mark - we have a lot of fun together
4. "checking in" with my mom everyday.  I feel like there is so little I can do to help her right now, since I don't live near them, but I know that talking to her, and checking up on her is something I CAN do.
5. having a closer relationship with my 2 oldest sisters.  They weren't at home very long while I was growing because there is a 16-18 year gap between us.  But since moving here, I get to see them and their kids often, and it's been so much fun getting to know them better, and to have nieces and nephews around.
6. a fun upcoming week - dinner tonight with my friend Heather, Valentine's day Wednesday, Book Club Thursday, Night of Fun at Jessie's on Friday, seeing another friend Heather on Saturday...just a lot to look forward to. (:

I'm supposed to tag people, but I say, do it if you want :D

I feel an obligation to share this product. I've never been a regular flosser. I hate the time it took, I hated feeling like a masochist who enjoyed flaying my gums on a nightly basis. Yet the more time in between I went, the worse it was (duh.). So begrudgingly, I've been trying earnestly to get into the habit. I was improving. It even came time that I flossed my way through my free trial from the dentist I got like, a year ago. (Yes, I'm that bad). So, I bought some at the store, not knowing the revolution that was awaiting me.

Gentle Gum Care, what wonders you have done. Your woven strands are so much more gentle on my gums, and glide so quickly. I've started flossing on an almost daily basis - it's a miracle.

So if any of you have had trials in being a regular flosser - I highly recommend trying this kind. This is a completely shameless, no monetary compensation involved endorsement.

In other news, just had a dinner date with my husband at Brick Oven, and it was delicious. I think we may go play some Lego Star Wars now.

That is all.

So...I'm kinda backing out of a "catch-up" post. Suffice it to say, our time in Colorado was awesome. We just missed the first snowstorm (thank goodness we drove, otherwise we may not have actually made it for Christmas), got to experience the second big one, and had an awesome time seeing family and friends. We were able to spend about 10 days there, which is the longest amount of time we've been able to spend there at one time, well...probably since we got married. But amazingly, it still went just as fast. I really want to be back there sometimes...however, it just wouldn't be wise on our part to do that right now. Mark's job is FANTASTIC, I am having a fun time seeing my work develop and grow, and financially, it's so much more expensive to live there. But maybe someday...

Just for fun, here's some photos of my parent's house as a result of the first storm: ( OH SNOES! )

Alrighty, I've just had some delicious, rich chocolate Ovaltine, and considering it is Monday tomorrow, which means going to the gym at 5:30AM...I better head to bed. Plus, I'm right at the very end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (re-reading them all - I love those books!), so I think I will go finish!

Just a quick post - apologies for not updating since we left town for Christmas. I've been going pretty crazy since then - from relaxing and getting snowed in in CO, to some big changes going on at my work, I have been neglecting writing in my blogs. So, I will be updating with a pathetic "catch-up" post soon, and will try to be at least a "once a week" blogger. I mean, we have this nice shiny Mac at home - I can definitely give it a little more love! It's so easy to upoad pictures to as well! So what excuse do I have, really, besides laziness?

Hope everyone is having a good new year so far!

Man, December always seems to go by so fast. And I really need to get some pictures up on here soon, dang it.

As I am at work (again), this will be a really quick update, for those of you who want to know the latest with my mom. She got the results from her PET Scan back, and thank goodness, her cancer is really just localized to that one area - it hasn't spread anywhere else. She will be doing intraveinous chemotherapy, but the one she will be taking has comparitively minimal side effects, which will definitely be a help. We are so grateful that it will be easily treatable, and that it isn't anywhere else in her body. Good news for sure!

Other than that, just preparing to go to CO on Saturday. Mark and I are driving over, and we get to stay for a little more than a week! WOOHOO! Unless the weather gets crazy, then we can cut it short a couple of days. I am really looking forward to going "home." Colorado still feels like home to me. It will be so nice to see both of our families, and old friends.

Alright, back to work!

PS - Thanks for all of your encouraging comments on my previous entry, about my mom. It really means a lot to me, and I'm sorry for not having replied to each of you individually. I will try to be better at doing so in the future, but I wanted you guys to know how much it means to me (:

So....unfortunately it isn't good news.

She has cancer again. We all just can't believe it. She will go in for a PET scan, *hopefully* before they come over for my cousin's wedding this upcoming Wednesday. That would be ideal - but if not, as soon as possible. They just need to see if it has spread anywhere else - which we all pray it hasn't. That's the next big thing that we are all hoping for. Her other next step will be getting what's called a port surgically put in. Basically, it's this little device that goes in on her chest to make drawing blood and administering intraveinous chemotherapy easier for her and her doctors. She had one the first time she had cancer, and it will be especially needed now. Since she had lymph nodes removed when she had surgery in 2004, which has caused a condition for her called lymphadema(?). She can't have any blood drawn from that side of her body, and her arm has swelled up quite a bit. They think it may be affecting the other side too, so they don't want to take any chances. Plus, my mom has seriously small veins - she's always had problems with needles. I fear I have the same veins >_<

I've just been really depressed about this whole thing. It just doesn't seem fair. But, I know we all have our trials, and if anyone has the guts to take this on again, my mom does. I just really hope it all goes ok for her. And I want to try really hard to give her all the support that I can, even though I live far away. That's one of the hardest things for me - knowing that I can't be there helping her through this. But I am all the more grateful now that Mark and I will be able to take a little more time at Christmas to be there.

I've just gotta do my best to stay positive, and hope that things will turn out ok. I really appreciate all of your comments - I apologize for not having responded individually. (: