En Espanish, por favor

Today was our first day in the 5th Branch here in Visalia. Our family was called by the stake president to go on a "mission" to the 5th branch for at least a year. I am now the Executive Secretary to the branch president, my first administrative calling in the church. I went to Office Depot yesterday thinking about what kind of supplies I needed. And now that I've been through my first set of early morning 3 hour meetings (7 am every Sunday), I have a better idea what I need. I have so much to learn in this calling, all while trying to remember Spanish from my mission. It's been 16 years since I returned from my mission.

WOW. Is that right? Ay Caramba!

It will be a challenge for our whole family. I really hope we don't lose our 3rd ward friends. Maybe we should start a dinner club or something. Hmmm...

Our Newest Family Addition

A Piano! We have a piano! Krista is breaking it in as I type this. I guess I'm going to have to take up piano again.

I Finished It!

So I finally finished Breaking Dawn yesterday! I didn't think it would take me 2 days to finish about 50 pages. It ended as I thought it would end. Can't wait for the movie!

Mystery Car

So heading out of Arizona (just miles from Mike's mom's house), in Surprise, AZ we saw this car. Do you know what kind it is? It is a test car that has been masked so as to not reveal the make of it. Mike and I think it is either a Ford, Honda, or Kia. It had Michigan plates and we think it was headed to a test track. We passed a Hyundai/Kia test track on the way home. What's your guess?

Bummer!

So we left for Arizona last Tuesday morning. I had a lot to pack to get ready to go...me, 2 kids, food for the drive, and all the baby essentials that Katie would need, set up the DVD player in the car, pack music and DVDs, baby stuff for my sister-in-law (whom we were visiting along with Mike's mom), etc, etc, etc.

Early Tuesday morning as we headed out of town I was going over my mental list to make sure we had everything...yep we had everything. We were driving along 99, just out of Bakersfield and I was thinking to myself that I still needed to finish my book for bookclub (which I had packed). Wait! Book for bookclub...book...Breaking Dawn book! Alas! I had forgotten my Breaking Dawn book of which I just had been reading the night before and could not finish the last 56 pages. I put in on the shelf on my nightstand like I always do thinking that I would just take it with me to Arizona and finish it there (I get carsick so I couldn't read it in the car). In all the packing madness, not to mention the early morning rise and drive, I had forgotten my Breaking Dawn book. I spent the last week in Arizona so mad at myself! I couldn't wait to get home so I could finish it.

We got home last night, and at about 10pm finally had some time to myself to read it. Needless to say that I didn't even get through a chapter. No time today to read (unpack, laundry, picked up dog from kennel, took dog to get groomed, grocery shopping, kids...). So I am determined to finish it tonight! I am probably the last person in the world to still be reading it.

Hair Show

So I have had enough of my long, unmanagable mane. I went to my stylist today and hacked it off! By the time she was finished 7 inches of my hair was gone...and good ridance. I don't know why I didn't do it earlier in the summer!! I love, love, love my short hair. The only other time I had it this short was back when I was at BYU in '98. I can't wait to spend less than 15 minutes doing my hair now. Mike thinks it looks "sassy." So here are some pics of my new hairdo.

It has not disappointed...

So I am almost finished with Breaking Dawn. It has been a great read. I love books that I can just fly through and that keeps my interest. I have about 100 pages left and hope to finish them this weekend. If you have not picked up this book...do yourself a service and get it!!

Facebook Mania

So my best friend from college, Jeff, sent me a facebook invite. I'd thought about joining before, but never had a good enough reason to. I also recently realized that next year will be 20 years since I graduated high school. Feeling a little nostalgic, I decided that I'd take Jeff up on his invite and sign up. Well, in the past three days I've "made friends" with 20 folks, mostly people that I haven't kept up with lately. Like Albert, my best friend from age 2 (according to my Grandma Lula) until we graduated Oakland High School together. And then? Yeah, I went to BYU and totally lost contact with him.

There's no excuse in this age of hyper communication for me not to keep track of old friends like that. Now I get to update everybody about what I've been doing during the past 2-20 years. I'm actually looking forward to it.

Thanksgiving at Tahoe

Mike and I are looking to rent out his family's timeshare condo at South Lake Tahoe. It is right on the Heavenly ski slopes, and overlooks the Carson Valley...beautiful views!! We have stayed there and it is wonderful! We would use it this year, but we will be in Arizona that week...so our loss, your gain! The dates are Nov. 15-22 (Sat.-Sat.)...which is the 1st week of ski season. The condo has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, living room, laundry...everything is there...all you have to do is pack your clothes and show up. It sleeps 6, but there is also plenty of floor space. Let me know if you are interested and I can tell you about the details.