Changes

These past months have come with some big decisions! We are so excited to announce we are moving to Colorado! As my dear friend Kathryn said it best... ski slopes or BUST!!!

How did this all come to happen?
Well Rodrigo and I both love the state, it's one of few that we both like! And when my sister Becca decided to move there instead of Virginia, Rodrigo and I really wanted to join the Van Leuven crew.  Rodrigo started applying for internships out of Las Vegas because he was afraid if he got a good internship here we would never get out.  I began applying for jobs in the Denver area as well.  I took a quick trip out a couple weeks ago for some interviews.  This past week I was offered jobs and finally chose and accepted one today! Rodrigo was offered the internship that he really wanted as well which we are hopeful will turn into a full time position.  Things fell into place, we found a place to live, our friends are taking over our contract here in Las Vegas, and somehow we are going o get everything done within the week!

A bittersweet time...
We are thrilled about our new adventure, but there are so many bittersweet moments.  We have amazing friends in Las Vegas and I am so sad to leave them.  We have an amazing ward and I have formed bonds I couldn't have even imagined with the girls I work with.
One of the hardest parts for me is telling my families that I work with that I am leaving.  I love and adore my kiddos and their families.  This last week I have come home just exhausted and depressed from telling my families.
However, we know that this change is best for us, and we can't wait to get out of the desert! I can't wait to see snow and Rodrigo is just itching to go snowboarding again since he hasn't been able to...practically since we met! We are both so excited to be by Becca and Sam, we haven't been close to family in far too long! And on top of all that we are both very anxious to start our new jobs!

We will have a short break for Christmas in Texas and then we are on to new adventures!

Fancy Pants

I wanted to get more pictures of these babies before I posted but we are seriously crunched for time in this household lately.  Here is a teaser and hopefully I will get more pictures with these pants... because they are my favorite!

Just a Dash of Color

I love Sundays, mostly because I get to put together nicer outfits, AND I get to spend all day with Rodrigo which only happens on Sundays.  Here's today's outfit:  

Where it all came from:  Shirt: Forever 21, Skirt: Marshalls, Tights: Target, Shoes: H&M, Necklace: Wet Seal, Watch: KOHLS 

 

I love the dash of color in this shirt!

Pumpkin Patch... Even in the Desert

Yesterday Rodrigo and I went to a pumpkin patch with some of our friends.  We went to the same patch last year.  We wanted to try a new place but as it turns out there are not many real pumpkin patches in Las Vegas.  As a matter of fact, I'm not sure how there is even one.  The pumpkins seem to just pop out of the dry sand. 

I suppose growing up in Wisconsin made me a little spoiled when it comes to farms, gardens, and fresh crops.  I remember going to the apple orchard with hundreds of trees, fields of pumpkins, hay mazes, and barns with apple cider.  Now I drive down a busy street and right in the middle of buildings there's a sign that says "pumpkin patch."  It has some pumpkins sitting on hay, carnival rides, blow up slides, and bungee jumping on trampolines.  I simply cannot justify how that is in any way a "pumpkin patch."  So we found the best place we could when it came to getting some pumpkins.

And here is what we came out with...

 It doesn't even feel like fall in this 85 degree weather, but HAPPY FALL, my favorite time of year!

Something New

As many of my closest friends know, I LOVE certain fashion bloggers.  I love the girls who have real lives, real families, real photos and cute, affordable clothes.  Basically, I want to be as cool at Sydney and Cara so I decided to start taking pictures of some of my favorite outfits.  Unfortunately, my photographer/husband is busy 25 hours a day 8 days a week so I can't update as much as I'd like to, but I'll do my best to keep it up.  

Here's to something new! 

And here's where it all came from: shirt and vest: KOHLS, hat: Target, pants: Ross Boots: Windsor, see what I mean, affordable?  That's how it's done!

And here is my super hottie photographer...

Summer Lovin'

We have had so much fun this summer! Both of us are still working hard but we have been able to do so many fun things!

My parents came to visit the beginning of August.  We took a tour at the Hoover Dam, saw some cactus gardens, went to Madame Toussaude's wax museum, and even took them on a tour of the strip!   (I'm not sure my parents quite fit in to the sin city lifestyle)

We were able to take a couple quick trips to see our best friends in California! One time Rod and his buddies climbed Mt. Whitney.. The highest peak in the continental US.  They had quite the experience!  I don't think the whole trip was enjoyable, but they made it!

 

 

 

 

 

We've had a few visitors including our friends Christine and Todd.  We went to Circus Circus.  Rod won me a big bear and win himself a minion... He was pretty excited about that!

 

 

We have gone on some fun dates as well.  Our favorite dates either include going to the temple or trying a new restaurant!

 

 

 

 

Happenings

Despite the hundred degree weather, we are fairing pretty well here in Las Vegas.  While Mom and Dad are still shoveling snow, we are blasting our air conditioning--I am going to have to learn to cook without turning on the oven this summer.

In March Rod and I both turned a year older.  Rod turned 23 and myself, 22.  We are trying to stay as young as possible--jobs, callings, and marriage sometimes makes me feel old.  I am getting used to being called "Sister Gonzalez" although I still cringe a little.



Rod and his carrot cake :)

 

CPK for my Birthday!

Another big event happened in March.  I ran my first half marathon! I ran the 6 Tunnels to Hoover Dam half marathon.  It was along Lake Mead, alongside a small mountain providing some much appreciated shade during the course.  We also ran through the tunnels used by trains to carry in tools to make the Hoover Dam.  It was probably a pretty easy course for some, but it was tough for me--running 13 miles on gravel was a little different than my usual treadmill workouts.  My only goal was to run the whole course (no walking) and I accomplished that so I consider it a success! But I probably won't be doing it again for a long time...

After I finished!

I know this is gross but my whole body was covered in dirt--you can see the difference.

 

While running, Rod went into the casino and sat in a massage chair...

 

I am loving my job still and see miracles happen for the little ones I work with, it is truly the best job ever!   Rod is still enjoying his work at Winder Farms.  We have worked the past couple weekends at festivals and farmers markets which have been pretty fun, but I'm glad it's not my job!  Rod also finished another semester of school in April! Only a couple more to go! I'm not sure how he stays motivated to do online classes, but he does it and never complains!



Our lovely booth at the Children's Fest

 

At Our Big Easter Seals Event

Girl Vacation!!! My mom, my sisters, and I all met up in Salt Lake City for a weekend of girl bliss.  It consisted of shopping, chocolates, a very funny play, hotel, talking, and laughing.  I wish we could do it every weekend, we had a blast!  

Park City

Sisters



All the Girls!

Perhaps my favorite picture from the whole weekend...

At the theater

 

Rod and I got to go to Salt Lake for conference in April.  We went to Rod's mission reunion, saw some friends, stayed with Becca and Sam, and visited family (another GREAT weekend!)

At the Conference Center

 

New callings are all the talk in our little family.  I am now a Webelos leader in our ward.  We only have a couple boys and I'm not sure how much I can teach them about tying knots and building fires, but I'm sure I will learn something if they don't.  Although I know very little about ten-year-old boys, I am pretty excited about my calling and I love hanging out with the boys.  Rod also got a new calling--Primary teacher for CTR 5.  He was all sorts of excited about it until the first day  (He doesn't have a co-teacher yet so I am helping out until they get one).  There was 1 boy in class the first day and we couldn't really handle him with the 2 of us so it's going to be interesting! 

I'm trying to learn to cook as well as my mom and I don't think I'll ever get there but I have made a roast and a ham which I was pretty proud of so I'm getting better!

 

Will You Be MY Valentine?

Valentines day is a little lot more exciting when you are married and have someone you really love to share it with.  This valentines day made me so grateful to have an amazing husband.  He is seriously the best.  I am not easy to live with and he puts up with me so patiently.  I am so in love with him, it's the greatest! I realize that I'm still on cloud 9, but I am planning on staying there forever because it's a good place to be.

Rod had never had puppy chow so I made it festive for Valentines Day 

We made a very fancy (for us) dinner

 

And chocolate covered strawberries...










What's Valentine's Day without your favorite chocolate?

Our ward threw a Valentines dance on the 19th which was our 2 month anniversary!