Random Thoughts 8.20.08

Phelpsian Feat has been coined.

Diego lets me watch the Olympics every night even though he could care less and he hasn't seen The Simpsons in FOREVER!

I'm a lucky girl...

We bought Diego's family a web cam and we've been have a blast video chatting with them.

One more payment and my camera equipment is paid off. That just leaves my student loans (which, *cross your fingers*, should only take about a year and a half). WOO HOO!

I'm about to start Spanish class again and Diego is taking a Management and Leadership class.

We moved into the new chapel last Sunday. I'm in Young Womens when Relief Society meets so I miss the only time I actually got to meet with the sisters (remember I'm in a Spanish branch connected to a regular ward).

Every week someone else is brave enough to speak English to me (see above)! Obviously, no real connections.

I'm working on the soundtrack and the recipe book for the HOV trip with the girls in October. Very excited to be creative again... Here's a sneak peek at the cover.

Grandpa Reads

I stole this picture from my dad's blog. My parents recently, July, went to visit my sister somewhere in the Indiana, Ohio, Illinois area (not being specific cause I don't know "who" reads this blog). My sister and her 2 boys the only ones that Diego hasn't met yet. Bryce is 6 and Cole is 4. I can't wait until we can have some sort of family reunion sometime...

Going Down Memory Lane

I stole this idea from a friend of a friend's blog. Do it. It's fun. And, hey, there is a reward - you get the same treatment on your blog!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Argentina 2008

We returned from our 3-week stint in Argentina. I LOVE his family! The best part for me was to see Diego surrounded by the people and places that he knew and loved. The new niece is so adorable and Diego wants to have one just like her - calm. I should remind him that in a few months she's not going to be the same as she now... Anyway. The family and friends were super friendly and sometimes they would take the time to speak slow enough, clear enough and with simply enough words for me to understand. Most of the time there was like 20 people speaking really fast and all at the same time. At those moments, I don't know if I should be ashamed to admit, I just shut off. I did pick up some new words though and I realized just how small my vocabulary is and waning. Anyway. We went dancing one night. Diego tried to warn me that the night life was much different. It starts at about 2am and goes until maybe 7 or 8. We made it from about 1-4:30am. He's been promising to take me dancing since January! Everyone wanted to cook for us. Typically it was asado (or barbecue) but they don't grill burgers and franks, this is full on meat people! I'd been prepared though. We've been having these types of get togethers with our Argentine friends here in Arizona for forever. Everyone there has some sort of dedicated, bricked-in grilling area - EVERYONE. It's like having a garage or a garbage disposal. The city he grew up in left a little to be desired... It was dirty and it seemed like every single wall was tagged with graffiti. Maybe I'm a little spoiled too. I've traveled some and when Diego pointed out the buildings and such I took note but in my head I was thinking, "They have that in New York AND in New Orleans." Of course, I've traveled enough to know that all places are the same. It's the people that make it different. And as I have noted, I LOVE his family!

Just to be fair

Just to be fair to Diego, my Evil Padre scanned these pictures of me when I was maybe a year old. See what a chunker I've always been! See how white I've always been! See what 70's groovy-ness I grew up in! No wonder I'm so weird now... (I bet that wall in the bathroom was velvet to the touch!) BTW, we still have that rocking chair.

The Many Faces of Valentina

Of course, we did wake her up. Normally she's quite the tranquil baby. I love the last one cause it looks like she's giving the "peace" sign and going back to sleep. I can't believe how much she grew just in the time we were there!

Treasure from Argentina

Maybe some of you thought my treasure might have been something of monetary value but, to me, this is so much better! Diego's sweet mom let go of some of her prized pictures so I could share the wealth. Isn't he the cutest!? I like him lots!!!

And..., we're back!

The Family in Argentina
(from left: me, Diego, Alberto - dad, Gladis - mom, Valentina - niece, Analia - sister-in-law, and Gonzalo - brother)

It's not the greatest picture but it was way harder than I thought to get everyone together. Check back in a few days when I've had a chance to go through all the photos. More to come. Don't miss my Treasure From Argentina!!!

Los nuevos tios

This is Valentina Lista, the newest member of the Lista family. She was born on May 11, 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Diego's brother Gonzalo. I don't know who took this picture but I was WAY impressed! Way to use a different angle to show mom and baby AND dad (and still dad isn't the least bit understated)!
Doesn't she look just like her dad!! She adorable and I can't wait to meet her in like 10 days!!!!

I *heart* you

As if there was ANY doubt as to whether I loved my husband, it has now been immortalized photo booth style. I was at a tradeshow today and there was an updated version of those old Kmart, B&W, 4-up photo booths so I took advantage of it. It's not a great scan but the cards say, "I *heart* you baby cakes!" And with that, you now know what our choice term of endearment is as well. Bonus!

Viva la Mexico!

The 1st weekend in June we went to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico (Rocky Point).
Some friends of ours from the Spanish Branch were baptizing their 8-year old daughter in the ocean here at Cholla Bay. This was the baptism site. Picture Jesus and John the Baptist... Pretty cool, huh? You wish you were baptized in the ocean!
This is Cholla Bay. Their family owns most of the land here.
We never made it to the "resort"beaches but we did get to play in a backyard that was the beach (not picutred). It wouldn't be very much fun to scale rocks in your backyard!
Besides all that, we went geocaching, got stuck in the sand, someone pulled us out of the sand, we did more geocaching, saw the city and had lunch over the water.
Us in all of our sun-soaked glory...
I think part of the reason Diego wanted to go was to do a trial run on his papers. He we are waiting to get back into the US and it seems we are EXACTLY between the 2 countries. Everything was fine.
Because we leave for Argentina in like 2 weeks it probably won't be until the end of July/beginning of August before I post again. Enjoy till then. Hasta Luego!