Boring Time

As I sat down to write this week's post, We have nothing to write about. Our week was very normal and boring. Marqrues' school is going well, and he is staying as on top of it as he usually does, lol. If you know him, you know what I mean.Work for me is good. This week was pretty calm. I have a good team and hopefully they will all stay for a while. Marques started outdoor soccer. It was fun to watch him, and he was told he changed the dynamic of the game. Way to go honey!! Saturday we went to the ward chili cook-off. We helped set-up and I made a white chili for it. Didn't win, but it was really fun. After we played games with a couple in the ward. We are still doing all our regular things: FHE, institute, gym time, walks, etc. Toward the end of the week, we got news that one of Marques' old friends had passed away. It was sad to hear, but nice to catch up with some of the old crew. Other than that our week has been boring. We will keep in touch and hope that this week will hold more excitment.

Valentine's Celebrations

My cheesecake and cupid cups for Marques!

The House

Headed to Dinner

Made him Chorizo and eggs for Breakfast! with Pink Milk!!

After Dinner at home

My Flowers!

His slice of cake on our Love plate

Baby Cupid Cups for my co-workers.

The house...

To start the week off we went dancing last weekend that I failed to tell you. We used to go dancing in Utah, Country and Hip Hop. So we decided to go here with my co-workers. It was fun, but least to say they dance so different here. Their country is not country. It is called two step and all you do is walk around in a circle sideways for every song fast and slow.. It was fun cuz of the people I went with, but we told them we didn't want to go back to that place, cuz it was kinda lame. Anyways, this week wasn't bad. Sunday we got in a water fight, yes in the house. It was my fault becuz Marques was mouthing off, and I took the sprayer thing and squirted him. Least to say, we both ended with wet shirts, lol. Besides that nothing happened until Thursday. Valentine's was so fun!! I made Marques breakfast then after he left, I decorated the house and made two fun dessert. I left a fun suprise for after dinner as well. Marques planned to hide flowers and choc. covered strawberries at my work, and then took me to dinner. He also bought me new workout pants!!! The pictures will show you what it all looked like. We didn't do much the rest of the days.We fed the missionaries both Friday and Saturday. And I was paid a great compliment by them. We had the new missionary, Elder Brito, here for the first time for dinner. We were discussing the dinner menu, and Elder Ulu said, "Oh Sister Varela, you know you know how to cook." I replied, "Well I try so Thanks, I appreciate it." Then Elder Brito said, "No, that was one of the first things I heard from here, was that Sister Varela can cook." I was very excited and told Marques that that was huge for me. I always wonder if my food is really good, and I think I am a good cook, but you never really know, but It was so nice to hear that it is going around the mission that here you are fed by me, and it is good!! Put a smile on my face anyhow. Well we had stake conference broadcast through Salt Lake today. Pres. Eyring, Elder Scott, and two other authorities spoke with us. It was neat. Oh and we've been really good at going to the gym three times a week. We'll see if it helps lol. Anyways enjoy the pictures and have a good week. We love you all.

Valentine's Week is Here

Hiding under mommy's lamination, I know I'm invisible now! Just want some of that dinner is all. Dusty thinks you can't see him under it!!

The spilled milk clean-up crew!!

Becoming a buffalo right here in my back yard, enjoying the one day of sun this week.

I've taken over mommy's work bag, yes I am a ute fan too! But you can't see me remember!

Hey everyone. This week has been rather boring I must say compared to last week. We had quite the week with the animals though. I cleaned the house Saturday and obviously I didn't mop well enough because Monday Rio stepped in his own poo and came in the house with it. "How devastating it was that my mommy put me in the tub!! And she cleaned my paws...Oh that death bath, and daddy was mopping when I came out with that death mop!" Oh life was close to over for him, lol or so he thought. And then Tuesday night I was getting milk out for me, and the little one decided he needed some. Being the nice mom I am I poured Dusty a little in his kitty bowl, but that wasn't good enough! I turned my back for one second and he had helped himself to my glass by dumping it all over the floor and counter. It has become annoying becuz he doesn't even drink it after he spills for more than a sip, then he is all done. But anyways Rio helped too, and the floor got it's third mop. Wednesday we went to breakfast with the missionaries, as one of them was being transfered out. We have found this little home rundown mexican place that I have fallen in love with. It is my new taco bell, for those who know about that fetish. I would eat there every meal if I could, and the thing is is it is cheap!! Wow that sentence has a lot of is' in it..sorry. Then in Marques' words I became a diaster that night. I was fine and all the sudden was super sick and throwing up. In the middle I ran out of toilet paper and went to stand to get some and knocked my head really good on the cupboard door. The husband came to the rescue and held me as I cried about my tummy and my head. He then got me in bed and called my mom, lol. There is one advantage to living by my mom, She takes care of me anyways!! Miss that, as I must admit Marques has a point that I am kinda a diaster a lot, sadly to my dismay. Saturday wasn't as bad, we got up and went to the gym. At the end we played badmitton! I love badmitton, and it was a blast to play. I was actually better than Marques for once, Yes! Sunday I taught in relief society. The lesson went really well. Upon return from church, we went and fed the turtles and ducks. There were a few out but still not many like in warm weather. Well, that sums our week. Now seeing it, it doesn't seem so boring, but I guess in the sense of regular work and school it was. Anywho, Enjoy this special love week and we'll talk to you all soon.

February Rushes In

This week we did our normal school and work stuff. Monday was a little rough for me starting work. I discovered some unpleasant things that my supervisor was diretctly involved in that I had to work through Tuesday. It ended in my favor, but sure gave me a worry of what was going to happen most Monday and Tuesday, but like I said it worked out in the end with many prayers and support sent towards heaven in my behalf from my family. I am quickly learning that there are many politics in any profession, but that education has two types of people: Ones like me, with a passion and dream for teaching, and those who need a back up and wanted an easy degree with no knowledge or love for what education holds. And now seeing what a joke the adminstration of it is now suffering for lack of good leaders and knowlege and/or standards for those you work with, the actual job, or the programs we are in.  Luckily I have a strong, experienced dad who can talk me through some of this worldly sorrow and mess! Thanks dad, and all those who prayed for me this week. And I must not forget Heavenly Father for answering my prayers and giving me comfort when I wasn't sure where to turn or how to handle what I was facing. Anyways on I move, Tuesday we started an eternal marriage class at the institute. It was really fun and we are going to attend every Tuesday now until the course ends. It is for married couples from 18-30, and gives us a chance to meet some new couples with our same standards.The end of the regular week was kinda boring to be honest, just the normal day to day stuff. This weekend we ended with cleaning the house, homework, sewing, working out, and of coarse the Super Bowl. We had the missionaries for dinner this weekend as well. We love to serve them! I must admit I cooked some good meals this week too. Guess that migth be some of our weight problem...hey what can I say, we seem to always love snacking and don't know when to not be eating something, lol! I also have to mention that I am sooooo grateful for modern technology, mainly facetime. I have been struggling a bit with missing my family, and honestly I wouldn't be making it here if it weren't for the times each week that I can not only talk to my family, but that I can see them. It makes it go much smoother, thanks family love you all--Well that is about it for now.. Have a wonderful week! Sorry this blog is a bit choppy, I guess it reflects my feelings this week, oh well, keep trying with your head up!!

January coming to a close

Well, not a ton has changed since Last week. We are still busy with school and work. Marques hasn't said much change for school, just the same homework and reading. As for work, it is also the same. I am worried this week though, as I am losing an employee with no replacement for him, so that means I get to be the teacher which usually is fine, but with my little friend that is going to be a problem. But we'll see how it goes, wish me luck! This weekend was boring. We didn't do much except yard work and errands. We fed the missionaries Sunday and watched "God's Army" with them. I don't think I had seen it all the way through, not to bad. Rio also got the shock of his life yesterday. Our plug outlets are loose, so when something is plugged in, it hangs out a little. The vaccumm was plugged in in the hallway and Rio decided to push it with his nose and we think licked it. All we know is the cord was hanging and he was yelping and crouching from it. Luckily he doesn't have damage to his mouth or fur!! He knew all along that vaccumm was a death machine! The weather has gone back to rain, but it comes and goes the past few days. Oh and I encountered a cockroach at work. Those little things creep me out so bad!!! Anywho that is all for now. Enjoy your week!!!

Back to Routine

A few Pictures from Christmas and Spending time with Family.
Poolside

Polar Express- Christmas Eve

Bernard's Christmas

BalBoa Bars!!!

Rio's Christmas!! It lasted about three to five Minutes this year.

Our Lake

Hockey!! The Aero's

We caught Rio slepping in the sun and utilizing the pillows from the bed. Yes he did it all by himself!

Well again I have slacked at getting on this blog and updating things. I do apologize. We have seemed to always have something going on this past few weeks. Marques is back in school and has his schedule worked out now. The books are coming in regularly again, to add to our library lol. He really likes his classes so far. It is crazy that we are into the second half of the year already. I am back at work full-time for the regular program. It has seemed to be a little crazy though. I have little one who has seemed to become my partner all the time or seems to be taking his anger out on another child. Yes, I have been the victim a few times as well. Luckily nothing to serious, a few scratches and punches to the face or stomach, but no bruises. I know it sounds serious, but really that is good for us!! I also was placed on a Technology team for our curriculum. At first I was worried, but now that I have done it and seen the curriculum, I love it. We trained our first set of staff this week and it went so well. So that has taken up many of my mornings and evenings. I think Marques is starting to wonder if he still has a wife. That's about all besides the weather here. It rained for 5 days straight, litereally all day and night, which left a lake and river in our yard of about a foot of water. We, of course, have feed the missionaries each week a few times, and I had last semesters staff from work come over Monday for dinner and games. Most importantly, I got my birthday present- Gong to an AHL Hockey game: The Houston Aero's. It was so fun. We both miss our Grizzles so much!! Least to say we are staying busy with everything, and sorry again that I haven't kept  up as well as I should!! I will post more pictures next week too, Last time I tried and the system wasn't working so cross your fingers and hope it works. Love you all-

A Year Over and a New One Just Beginning

  Where to Begin to past month of our lives...We got to go to California twice in December. The first time it was really sudden. One of our grandmother's pasted on, and we felt it best to attend the funeral. Thanks to my sister, Christine, we had a chauffeur and place to eat and stay right by the funeral home.Upon return, we were here for four days, re-packing, cleaning the messy house we left, feeding the missionaries, and finishing up Christmas shopping! Then aboard a plane again. While in Cali the second time, we were able to attend Marques' dad's side Christmas party. It was so fun. We all prepared a skit or game for everyone to watch or be involved in. We did a "Minute to Win It" game, what a blast watching everyone young and old play together. We also got to spend time with my two siblings (and their families) and my parents who flew down. Christmas was wonderful. Spent as my sister Lindsey's and loving the family dinner that night. We went to Balboa Island to enjoy a Balboa ice cream bar one afternoon!! What a treat. Lindsey also was gracious to open her home so we had Marques dad and girlfriend come over a few times and enjoy dinner with us all. Weather was not so great on the way home so all flights were delayed which meant I got another day with the husband there before he left for home a few day before me. My parent's were also delayed so we got extra time with them!! We spent a lot of time playing games, building Lego's and forts, playing/walking Bernard, eating, looking for the pickle, and just loving the time together once again, which is rare now. Least to say we had a full two weeks. I flew into Austin New Year's Eve. Marques took me to a fun restaurant for dinner and we spent til wee hours of the night dancing and loving the parties in downtown Austin!! Watching fireworks over the river and hearing the ricochet off the sky scrappers was one of my favorite parts of the night. We slept in til two the next day as we drove back from Austin after the parties ended. The next week was spent cleaning Christmas up, and getting back into the groove of normality. Work has started back for me and Marques is still off, but starting to prepare to go back to school soon. By the way he got outstanding grades last semester, I am so proud of him. Anyways, sorry to make this so long, but thought that you all might be wondering we had gone. Hope  you enjoy the pictures!! Talk to you soon.