happy happy happy.

This past Tuesday, June 4th, was the turning point for me since my arrival here. No more moving in phase, that chapter is over. This next week it was all about being, BACK TO WORK. I knew it was time to suit up and earn some kind of living out here. It was just too soon. Tuesday I came home from my first shift around 4:15pm and told Zach and my mom that my legs felt like they were broken. After going non-stop and then back to work and standing on my feet all day, I was exhausted. So after I complained for an hour I decided to sleep, and then sleep some more until the next day. It was wonderful. That's probably why I wasn't socially active for the past two days. But with all that said,  I actually enjoy working. Day two came and went in a breeze. It's not so bad after all.

Yesterday morning was awesome. I met up with a friend from back home to have lunch. Just a week before the move I got a hold of her asking if she would use me as a second shooter, I'm talking photography here not guns. Amazingly enough she said yes and I will be assisting her at the end of the month. I am ecstatic! If you do or don't know, the one thing I would love to do is photography. I have just struggled with knowing where and how to start, but I am definitely ready and going to do whatever it takes to get my practice in. And my friend is willing to help me, which I am very excited for and even more grateful.

While in the hype of everything I got even more advice from my sister-in-law, who is a photographer and takes beautiful pictures. She's been a great help as well with answering my questions and giving me advice. Thank you Alisha!

I have more to thank her for though...Today I had the opportunity to be interviewed at the Marriott Vacations Worldwide. Both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law have worked in the call center before, and Mike still works for the company in a higher division though. I have to thank Mike and Alisha for helping me out and being on the phone with me when I had questions and concerns, they gave me words of advice and with their knowledge and help, I got the job. Woot woot! It was the most intense interview I've experienced (not that there have been many) but I had three people asking me questions, then I sat with another lady at her cubical, then back to the HR for more paperwork and questions...once I walked out the doors after being there for two hours I RAN to my car to take a deep breath. I am just so happy and once again, thankful...even after having to pee in a cup, it's still worth it.

Zach took me out to Cafe Rio to celebrate...one of our favorites.

The Daily Dose

Rewinding...

Monday I came home after filling paperwork out at Five Guys. I was really in need of something to brighten my day after that long morning. Next thing I knew my adorable niece Savvy and her mom were hanging out at the house...

It was a sweet surprise.

She's the real reason I moved to Utah. 

The Daily Dose

My Zachary. He is loving, he is kind, he is funny, he is helpful, he is cheerful, he is goofy, he is adorkable, he is my love, he is my husband, he is mine forever. 

The Guatemalan has arrived

Hectorious (as my cousin Liam would call him) flew in last night around 10pm. We are happy to have him here with us for just a short amount of time. He will have orientation at school then head back to California tomorrow with my Dad. Upon his arrival I made him brownies, just a little warm welcome. 

The Daily Dose

Although I haven't titled my pictures "The Daily Dose" lately, I still have been taking pictures everyday. This picture basically sums up our lives at this moment...

We're hangin' in there!

Ikea, sandwiches, and Salt Lake City

You should see the smiles on my mom and grandma's face whenever they see an Ikea. Fortunately, Zach and I live just two exits away from one. Mom and Grandma told us first thing when we saw them pull in on Wednesday night. To be fair I do love Ikea. Especially after living in Denmark/Sweden, I get that feeling of being back in my danish home. And even just being home in California. Anyways, just know that my mom and grandma are obsessed and Ikea would never go out of business because of them.

It was this past Friday when we all spent the day at Ikea to get some new, and well needed, items for our place. But let me tell you, we were not planning to be there for FOUR hours. It felt like a day at an amusement park, minus the churros and fun rides. We would go to the map to see where we were heading,  take short cuts to get there, stop for an ice cream and something to eat, take bathroom breaks, and even wait in line to talk to a worker for help. It was the LONGEST DAY EVER. Thank goodness for the sofas and beds to rest on during this long, oh so long day spent in Ikea.

Afterwards we had the best gourmet sandwiches made by the Mrs. Rodas. Thanks Sis!

One of our soon-to-be night stands!

I had never put a piece together so I was determined to do it by myself.

They were trying to put together our pantry.

I was still figuring out the night stand.

Mom and Zach decided to race on the two doors...Zach won. Thanks to living in England for two years and putting loads of Ikea items together in many flats. 

And the finished product! One down, one to go.

Delicious.

I do thank my grandparents and parents for all their patience and hard work around our house. They have helped out immensely, and honestly without them we would be so lost with what to do around here.

Yesterday we took a well deserved break. Grandma's one request was to go to Salt Lake City. So we did. It was beautiful, as always! We went to the Temple Square and walked around, after which we saw the Joseph Smith movie and went to lunch at the Lion House. They have the best rolls there, we always take about two dozen home with us, they are that good. After lunch we were waiting outside enjoying the sun, seeing bride and grooms left and right. It was strange to think that Zach and I are already done with our wedding, after months of planning. Now we are on to month two and in Utah..we don't waste time.

Moving on... after lunch we visited the City Creek Mall, and that ran us to the ground. We got dead tired. It's been nonstop for us since we've arrived. We go go go. So after a few hours out we headed home and that's when all seven of us took naps.

SLC temple

Lauren and Grandpa on temple square.

Grandpa and Grandma

Dad packed his dancing shoes.

Mom and Dad

Soaking up the sun

My husband being a goof

and my sisters response, as usual.

kissy kissy.

Picture Galore

HOME

It was tough for some of us.

Team work

She couldn't find her book that she needed to write her 10 page research paper...this was her when she found it a few hours later. 

Dad working

Waiting for the boxes

Our Kitchen

Our living room

Unpacking

Lauren writing her paper

Zach meeting our neighbors

We had hundreds of empty boxes to flatten

nap time

We got help come from our our church

How can I help?!

We look like bums!

The heaviest piece we brought with us...the PIANO.