Caution Tape

taken from the KPSP local 2 website

Just when I warned you my life was boring my parents neighbors decided to have a gun fight. My parents live no where near the ghetto, but have become very familiar with the sheriffs department patrolling their cul de sac. See the house in the middle of the bottom photo? (cutest one on the block, I think) Total criminals! I am pretty sure they are drug dealers but I cant confirm. Anyway, after many a drug busts and crashing into 3 cars in the middle of the night (including mine!), they still shock the neighborhood. I dont know how we didnt hear all the commotion, but basically the woman was shot by a man, the man shot himself, when he didnt die he fled the scene, she went to the ER, he drove himself to the ER. I think everyones okay. I hope this means their moving.

PS: Our cars made all the pictures & we were on the news for .5 seconds. Andrew really wishes he had put his 'Picasso Pools & Landscape' sign on the passenger side door. He says "free advertising!". I really wanted to give my rendition of 'hide your kids, hide your wife' but I never got the chance.

Our Baby

I realized a very important part of our blog is missing. Her name is Chance and she is the lovee of our lives. We adopted her from my parents when she was 3 but I feel like shes always been our baby. She is a Golden Retriever/Chow which makes for an interesting personality. She is such a lover and cuddler but she is also quite stubborn and bossy. In public we hear lots of 'awes' followed by 'your so handsome!'. I still havent figured out how to inform someone its she without sounding snooty. My favorite is when people call her "Chancy". I never in my life thought of that nickname but for some reason everyone says it. My MIL loves her alot and sent her a gift card to Petsmart so do you know what I bought today? Pink bows. I decided we needed to put an end to this gender confusion at the dog park. This picture is for you Momma J :)

Day 30

A photograph of yourself + three good things that have happened in the past:

Having fun while Andrew figures out the water feature

1. Finding and marrying my soulmate!
2. Having my dream of going to Africa become a reality. From that, God has shown me my purpose and passion in life and I feel so blessed to know what it is. It's even better that my husband shares that same passion!
3. Getting into the RN program. Again, one of Gods promises for my life that has become a reality and I couldnt be more thankful.

So now the blog challenge is over and I have been debating on whether I needed another challenge or if I can continue updates on my own. This kind of feels like taking the training wheels off. Maybe if I give you a fair warning that my life is kind of boring and routine-y then my attempt at a post will surpass all expecations.

I sound so dramatic, see you tomorrow ;)

Day 29

Something you could never get tired of doing:

Dodger Proposal '09

Hugging my man! If you know him then you know he gives the best hugs. This hug was especially great because it was in front of 50,000+ people. Its #2 on our list of 2 most important hugs.

Day 28

Your favorite movie:

I could watch this movie everday its that good. For those of you who read it over Christmas break, bravo. I have tried but I am still only halfway through. My favorite part is: when the movie starts. I lovee the music and how I am instantly relaxed. Its no secret we love this movie in our family. You know when someone is feeling a little overwhelmed when Pride & Prejudice is on. I really want to finish the book because all the background info makes the movie even more enjoyable. Like why there is a quick camera shot of Kitty looking all googly eyed at Mr. Collins. For the longest time I wondered why they just had to have that shot. Anyway :)

Happy Friday!

Day 27

A picture of you last year and now and how you have changed since then:

above: wedding hair trial run, below: romantic weekend getaway because we can because we're married :)

How have I changed this past year? Since we are in our 1st year of marriage it would be safe to assume I have had to adjust to the big 'shift' with becoming a wife, but to be honest, the big shift was kind of anticlimatic. I think because we both knew early in our relationship that we were meant for eachother, and being engaged for a full year, that we were being prepared for marriage for a long time. Especially the whole 'leaving your parents and cleaving to your husband' thing. My heart naturally looked towards Andrew for support and comfort before we were married so finally when we were, there wasnt a noticeable shift. I will say though, our outside circumstances have definately been changing and changing us. In less than a year I have gone from comfortable homemaker with a 4 unit school load to becoming a health insurance broker and preparing to be a full time RN student in the fall. I am so thankful for how we were able to spend our first half of marriage because it allowed us to become independent from our parents and how to take care of a home and really just how to enjoy the bliss of marriage. As we're coming to the end of our first year of marriage I will say it has been a totally different experience, but also one to be thankful for. We have become very responsible and savvy shoppers :) We love to see our savings grow and its kind of addicting. Sometimes we say "weekend away or $400 richer?" lol. I think the excitement of being responsible with money comes from God preparing us for what difficulties the coming months might bring. God has been super faithful when it comes to Andrews client-scene but we know that there are dry seasons too and we have to prepare for that.

Overall I feel like the same person I was a year ago, but I definately feel different than the person I was 2 years ago. To put it simply, I just dont understand how married women have best friends (more specifically, unmarried best friends). I used to tell Andrew all the time that I needed more friends, but then I started to wonder why I felt that I 'needed' that. I really didnt, I have just been told thats what I needed. Dont get me wrong, I think Andrew and I definately need to be surrounded by other young married couples (PS If there are any young married couple small groups out there, come out from hiding! We have been looking for you!). My main thing is: How do you confide in a best friend and your husband? How do you meet a friends expectations if they are not your first priority or avoid the backlash if you cant? Sometimes I feel doomed because most women that are not married dont understand that 'shift' of priority. Maybe I am alone in this, but maybe if you are married you understand? I think this balance is the hardest and if you have found it maybe you should write a book and share.

Day 26

A photo of somewhere you've been to:

How awesome is this picture? I know this has nothing to do with todays post but I'm bending the rules a little because I have already posted photos from places we've been. I took this on the plane coming home from Texas one summer and literally went the whole plane ride without noticing until we were about to land. As you can see everyone was looking out their window so it was perfect timing for me to take a photo. I have so many questions coming to mind just looking at this. Does he know his melon doesnt even have prize winning proportions? Did he have to purchase an extra ticket? How awkward was it when he asked the stewardess if he could buckle up his melon in the seat next to him? Did they play rock paper scissors to decide who gets the window seat?

I will try to stay on subject with tomorrow's post :)

Day 25

What's in your purse?

Nothing too outrageous. Most of the time I leave the house without a purse (which im told is bad).

Day 24

A photo of something that means a lot to you:

I love my photobooks. They started when we were dating (not pictured) because I didnt want to forget anything and now its become such a fun creative outlet.

Day 23

15 facts about you:

1. I dont have a middle name.
2. When Andrew and I met it was love at first sight (fact!).
3. I have baby fever.
4. I have always wanted to be in a Pop-Tart commercial (do you remember those? so f.u.n.)
5. I have been to Africa.
6. I am a total dreamer. With the help of Andrew, we have an entire folder with tons of details about our future home, where we'll live...etc. Actually, I am the dreamer he is the planner. Its nerdy but whatever.
7. I wash my face everyday when I wake up and before I go to bed.
8. I dont like to wash my hair everyday.
9. I wear the same 5 outfits every week. Lately, if I like something I buy it in every color. You have no idea how excited I am that I will be wearing scrubs for the rest of my life.
10. To be honest, I really dont like to watch sports. A ballgame in person is great, but anything else bores me.
11. I hate flying, but I cant wait til Andrew gets his pilots license! I think its weird that im okay with that too, but the idea of being more in control is a total game changer.
12. I am a control freak.
13. I like tuna sandwiches.
14. I was proposed to at a Dodgers game on the kiss cam!
15. On my left hand I cant bend my thumb without bending my index finger!

That was so hard! Your turn

Pool Day

A ton of photos from our day at the pool. We had so much fun! Loving this summer, fancy drinks, and cute babies.

Day 21

A photo of something that makes you happy:

Our honeymoon. Maybe I am bias, but I think we had the best honeymoon everever. If the airport in San Juan had an air conditioner we would probably go back.

Today

from Andrews Iphone, isnt that amazing?

Day 19

Another picture of yourself:

This weekend we bought new sheets. I lovelove white bedding (white pillows, white sheets, white duvet...). It's kind of a staple when we pick our hotels, too. A little known fact about me: I love routine. Example: I could eat the same breakfast every morning and buy the same style bedding for the rest of my life and be happy. Andrew on the other hand likes to mix it up every now and then. So this weekend, when looking for new sheets, he suggested we buy some with color. I dont think he had pink shabby chic in mind, but its a small victory :)

Day 18

Something you crave alot:

Day 17

A photo of you and your family:

Our little family

Our big family

Day 16

Your celebrity crush:

Wow I felt so lame googling these photos! I told Andrew we had to pick ones before we met so there would be no hard feelings (married couple rules). Clive Owen was totally my crush. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who knows who he is. I think everyone knows who that girl is up there, that was Andrews crush (circa Elf). After hearing all of his celebrity crushes from through the years we decided he had 'charachter crushes' (i.e. felicity, padme, elf girl).

Okay, silliness is over :)

Day 15

Something you dont leave the house without:

My wedding ring! I loveee my ring, everything from the clarity to the cushion shape. But what I love most is that it was made just for me, just like my sweet husband!

Something to celebrate

Outside Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Cheesecake Factory

Photos from the celebration dinner with my parents. We were treated to a delicious dinner at Cheesecake with chocolate treats from RMCF for dessert. We also fantasized about our second honeymoons while sipping on a pineapple mojito.

Today