American Girl

Yesterday for work I went to American Girl Place at The Grove shopping center. I had no idea what kind of treat I was in for. When I was little I would always get the American Girl catalogs and look at the different dolls but I never remember really wanting one or ever being into dolls period. But had know what kind of a jewel an American Girl store could be it would have been at the top of every Christmas and Birthday wish list. I wanted to spend all day in this store just look at all of the wonderful clothing, accessories, and every doll trinket you can imagine. It was so fun to watch the faces on these little girls carrying around there Kirsten, Felicity and Molly dolls. The mothers and grandmothers in the store were having just as much fun. There is a salon for your doll, a doll theatre, a cafe, bookstore and every other thing that is magical when you are a little girl. I can not wait until I have a daughter and we will be able to visit an American Girl Place (hopefully in NY or Chicago). My daughter will defiantly be an American Girl.

He's Alive

I got my first phone call from Morris yesterday morning. We were finally able to get his phone card to work. We didn't get to talk long but he did tell me that he didn't feel the earthquake and the possible tsunamis should not be a problem. I didn't realize how much I was missing him until I had to hang up the phone, I am so ready for him to come home.

All week I have been finding these little post it notes all around the house, in my bath robe, in our lesson manual for Church, in the box of cereal. All of these notes have cute little sayings on them from me-yes that is right from me. Morris totally is reusing these very same post it notes I left for him in his luggage when he went on a cruise two years ago. This boy saves everything. Even though they are love reminders from me to me it is still cute and I still get excited when I find one of these little lavender notes pop up in an unexpected place.

Happy Birthday Brother

Today is my brother Ben's Birthday. Today is his golden birthday-he is turning 27 on the 27th. I have always had a very special relationship with my brother Ben. He has always been my protector, he kept me from dating looser guys in high school (mostly because they were too scared to get near me because of my big buff brother) and kept me out of trouble because he threatened to hurt me as well if I ever did anything stupid. As we have grown older Ben our friendship has grown stronger and we have become good friends. Ben and I love each other spouses and look forward to the times we all get to spend with one another. I am so proud of Ben and his accomplishments and his dedication to his schooling. Happy Birthday Ben, I hope you have a wonderful birthday today.

Failure to Communicate

This is the email I got from Morris today.

Hey Honey,

Hello from tomorrowI need to tell you to the forcast is for rainy skys and bet on the Bruins to win tonight. i(jstI cannont type at all b/c this keyboard is weird.@@I am@joking- it is Sunday morning about 8F‚O‚OD@We are in Osaka Japan, the 2nd largest city, i Osaka Japan, the 2nd largest city, it is down in the south. We‚Ž‚” wen‚”@‚Q@‚ ‚`@‚“‚•‚‚@‚‚‚”‚ƒ‚ˆ@‚Œ‚‚“‚”@‚Ž‚‰‚‡‚ˆ‚”@‚‚Ž‚„@‚‰‚”@‚—‚‚“@‚’‚…‚‚Œ‚Œ‚™@‚ƒ‚‚‚ŒC@‚‰@‚„‚‚ŽF‚”@‚ˆ‚‚–‚…@‚‚™@computer@‚“‚@‚—‚…@‚ƒ‚‚Ž‚”@‚‰‚@‚’‚‰‚‡‚ˆ‚”@‚Ž‚‚—D@@
Love you
Morris
p.sBRespond if your on right now

We have not been able to talk on the phone yet. The phone card we bought him in the states is not working. Good thing we spent $30 dollars on it. I received one email from him before this that I was able to read. Not sure what the boxes mean but I think they mean he is having a good time. His first day there he ate raw horse and octopus. A bit different from the food I am preparing in our home. I told him I am glad I am not there because I would be starving.

I miss you Morris. Come home, and no more cute animals for dinner. I love you!

Move Over Betty Crocker

With Morris's departure for Japan I have been obsessed with finding things to occupy my time while he is away. I have been to the library and Barnes and Noble everyday for the last week stocking up on best sellers and audio books. I have also added all chick flicks to the top of the queue with Netflix. Last week I started browsing the classes offered at the local community college. I took a fresh floral arrangements class a few months ago and I had a great time learning a new skill. I have decided I am now going to take a cake decorating class. Morris and I love to watch Ace of Cakes on the Food Network and Duff has inspired to see what I can create with a little fondant and gum paste. There is a cake and candy supply store just down the street from our house that offers an 8 week course. Although I had a good experience at the community college I decided the longer course at the cake shop may be a bit more of what I am looking for.

St. Patties Day

On Saturday morning Morris and I went for a bike ride. It had been a while since the bikes had been taken out and the sun was shining and the perfect day for a ride. We rode to Santa Monica in hopes we would find a Farmers Market at the end of our rainbow today. We had heard from a friend the Farmers Market at the Santa Monica Airport moved the Ocean Park. When we got to the park there was no Farmers Market but there was a t-ball game going on as well as a group of people doing yoga. I decided I want to ride my bike there every Saturday and do yoga in the park. As we were getting ready to leave we noticed the park was named Clover Park. How perfect for this day of green. Hope you all had a Happy St. Patricks Day.

Upcoming Events

I can't stand to look at that ugly toe anymore. I had to post, I have nothing to post about so I will post about things that will be happening in the future for us. The first couple months of this year have flown by. On my way to work I started thinking about all of the trips Morris and I have planned over the next couple months. I knew once March hit we were going to be very busy until June. Here's the rundown.

March 22nd--Morris heads to Japan for two weeks. I have the neighborhood to myself.

March 29--I go to Portland with my sister Brooke (hopefully) to see my other sister Holly and her cute family.

April 6--I go to Hawaii for work. Well I guess it is not considered work when you are relaxing poolside at the Four Seasons but we will just say I am going for work to make it easier.

April 20--Morris and I go to Reno to see my Bro and Sis in Law (Ben and Heidi) and see Brian Regan Live.

May 17-20--The two of us head to Seattle for the AAO conference. We will be going with some school friends the Lee's and also seeing Morris's parents at the conference as well. We also hope to see our friends the Olsen's and there new baby.

June--Dedicate some serious time to Morris's Orthodontic residency applications.

June 24--Hopefully my hubby has planned a cool surprise getaway for our second anniversary. hint hint.

June 30--YEAH! I get to go to Boise for my little bro's wedding. Show my sister-in-law Heidi all of the goods Boise has to offer so she can't wait to move there.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLL

Morris played soccer yesterday with the elders quorum. Morris scored goals while I was the designated babysitter on the side lines. After the game was over I noticed he was limping a bit. When we got home he took of his shoe to discover he had broken his pinkie toe. This morning he woke up and found that the discoloration of the toe is moving down onto his foot. We hope he has not broken a bone in his foot and it is only his pinkie toe. When I asked Morris if he thinks we should go to the doctor he said, "who needs a pinkie toe?"

Any ?'s

In case you had any question where I get my crazy genes. This is my dad.

Big Red

This is my new ipod. It is cute. I bought it with birthday money, my old ipod was on the fritz. It is named Big Red.

Blast from the Past

I love bagels. I have for as long as I can remember. I once got 3 days of suspension in high school when I left campus with some friends during break to get a bagel. My junior and senior year of high school our "lunch bunch" (my friends I went to lunch with each day) would go to Bruegger's Bagels each Wednesday for bagel sandwiches. Shortly after I graduated from high school my beloved Bruegger's Bagels became Rocky Mountain Bagel and went way down hill. Then I moved to Utah and discovered Einsteins Bros. Bagels and I was able to enjoy delicious bagels once again. After 4 years I had to leave Utah and Einstens Bros. Bagels. I moved to California and discovered they do not have bagel shops here. All bagel shops have been replaced by donut shops--there are donut shops on every corner here. Morris and I have now found that we do enjoy Noah's Bagels but they are hard to come by around here. Now let me get to the point, yesterday, I was in Laguna Beach and on my way home I decided to stop at TJ Maxx for my sister and I am so glad I did. To my surprise next door was my Bruegger's Bagels. Yes just like it was in high school all of those years earlier. I never thought I would again be reunited with the sweetness of Bruegger's Bagels. What a special day.

Gym Rats

For the last couple months I have been going to the gym with my good friend Debi Lee. We have been attempting to go 3 times a week (we have been lucky the last couple weeks to get in 2 visits). Lucky for Debi and I her husband has a degree in exercise science and has been our off site personal trainer. Each week he has a new list of work outs for us. This Saturday we went to the gym hoping to try out the Pilates class because our "trainer" was out of town. The instructor for the class never showed up so we were left to the treadmills. It is so nice to have someone to go to the gym with and to have someone to enter the weight training area with. After our work out on Saturday we went to Robeks for a smoothie. I had brought my camera along so I could post about our gym time. This picture took us several attempts with the self timer as well and I am sure many laughs from the employees of Robeks.

All For Jake

On Friday night we went to dinner at Red Robin to celebrate Jake's 29th Birthday. Jake is one of Morris's good friends from dental school. This is a picture of the Jake Cragun family minus Chase in his car seat. Jake would rather have me post of picture of his new flat screen TV he got for his birthday but I liked the family photo better. There was about 20 of us in our party and many under the age of 4 so it was wonderful chaos. It was fun to get together and spend some time celebrating with this old man.