Family Pictures!

They turned out pretty cute!! Check out this link. Hint... you have to click on the picture to start the slideshow. And keep watching because it doesn't repeat, even though it looks like it sometimes! Let me know what you think!

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=3084080&alb=0

Sorry... no pictures. YET.

I've waited too long to update and now I'm going to forget things. I was hoping for some more pictures to post from this weekend. Unfortunately my camera died, and waiting for other people to send me pictures is like waiting for rain in a drought! Maybe in a few days I'll get some of them.

This past week/weekend was a fun one. Zach "accidently" had almost the whole week off of work. He's had some real trouble getting to work by 6 AM, only because he can't fall asleep early enough to get any rest. The first day he didn't wake up until around the time he was supposed to be leaving. He decided to just call in sick. When he went to work the next day, they told him they didn't want him spreading his germs and sent him home for his fake illness. The following day they had changed his schedule and he wasn't allowed to login when he wasn't scheduled so he got sent home again. It was sort of fun to have some down time, and he's making up all the hours he missed so it worked out. It was kind of funny though.

All the sushi lovers of Utah might be excited to know that there is a sushi place on Center Street in Provo called DeMae (I don't really know how to say that) but on Tuesdays and Thursdays it's only $3.50. So last Thursday night we went for dinner and that was fun, and cheap. Only my second time ever having sushi but I finished my whole roll AND ate it with chopsticks which I've never been able to do! Add that to my list of accomplishments!

Early Friday evening, Zach's parents flew into town. Zach's niece and nephew have birthdays a couple months apart so they are celebrated together in March with a joint party for the family. Friday night we all had fun playing Wii Fit at Tashina's house, even the kids. (We had to help them out a bit, and everytime the Miis would get sad faces after doing poorly in a game, the kids got so sad. It was funny but I felt bad)

Saturday morning we had family pictures with a photographer in Layton. We were instructed to all wear black, and the girls should have a splash of color. I couldn't figure out what to do so I ended up wearing a pink flower clip in my hair, and I think it turned out cute. (Thanks to Mauri for her detailed instructions on how to do a curly side pony with the clip!) We took some pictures of the whole family, and then some of Zach's parents, the two of us, Tom/Tashina/the kids, and Mashaela by herself (poor girl in a family of married couples). Finally the photographer did some singles of the kids and they were so cute. Hallie can't get enough of the camera, she is such a little ham, posing and smiling every which way. Chase knew how to turn on the smile for the camera but turned it right off as soon as pictures were done. They were so funny to watch! I'm excited to see the pictures, we are supposed to see them online by this weekend. If I can post any I will.

We went to lunch at Paradise cafe, and that evening we had Costco pizza, cake and presents for Chase and Hallie. They were so spoiled, got so many new toys, and even new bikes for both of them. Their reactions were so funny, they were so excited about everything. This is the part where I wish I had pictures!

Sunday we all had a delicious dinner together and then it was time for the in-laws to head out. A short trip but a fun one! Back to real life on Monday, my first day at Teleperformance, where Zach works. Granted I won't be there for long but we thought an extra paycheck or two wouldn't hurt, so I am just sitting through training every day. We got to eat lunch together the past couple days which is a good way to break up the work day.

So... c'est la vie! Now we are just waiting for conference weekend and,

of course,

Florida.

Alanis Morrisette had it right: Life does have a funny way.

I'm on a mini-spiritual high right now and just thought I should say that I am so grateful for church. Zach is finally done with his training for work and got his new schedule, and while we don't have to stay up until ridiculous hours anymore he now has to work every Sunday. I was really bummed, it's been hard enough for us to get to church the past few months already and now I have the added weight of having to go by myself! I was really dreading having to go by myself each week to a ward that I swear only counts in even numbers. But of course I went and one of the brothers in our ward bore his testimony just for me. His cute wife and kids are out of town and he talked about how he has realized that without them he has nothing. He talked about how hard it is when your spouse can't make it to church and how it's discouraging to go alone, but that we should because we know it's where we need to be. Sunday School again was just for me... D&C section 25 to Emma Smith. Gosh I just needed to hear everything. I'm so glad I can feel the Spirit so strong at church especially when I haven't been able to feel it as much in my personal life lately. Thank you thank you thank you!

On another note :o) We found out this week that we are going to Ft. Myers Florida for the summer! And leaving April 1st... what?! I know. It has totally snuck up on us and all of a sudden we have to figure out what we are doing with our apartment for the summer and where we will be when we get back and now we have to clean so we can take pictures to post on craiglist and we have to pack and and and... oh life has a funny way of catching me off guard. I am really excited to get out there though, for obvious reasons (warm weather and a beach 10 minutes away... hello!) but also for a change of scenery and a chance to not feel like we are stretching each paycheck to the max. Zach has a goal of selling 350 accounts this summer which let's just say will be more than enough for us! But on top of that I will be working in the office each day 3 PM to 10 PM. (That's actually nice because Zach probably won't get done until around 9 anyway and it gives me a chance to hit the beach or pool before I go to work.) It sounds pretty good right? I hope I can stay this optomistic once we get out there!

That velvet white sand is actually imported from... somewhere. I can't remember. I still don't get how it doesn't just wash away... but I plan on spending plenty of time here.

Another bonus is that my sister-in-law and niece and nephew will be out there as well so I'll have somebody to hang out with. Un-bonus: we have to hang out with everybody we know here in Utah before we leave in 3 weeks! If you're here... please call us. We'll miss you. I hope you'll still be our friends in August when we get back.