... setting it up...

Christmas is around the corner and a few weeks ago Andrew and I got our 2011 Christmas tree.  We kind of dislike fake Christmas trees; so, just as like last years' we got our "alive" Christmas tree.
We called Wilo to help get the tree and help set up decorations around the house.  We were excited, we love Christmas.
We decorated with the company of cookies and egg nog. YUM!

Since Wilo was our guest for our 2nd Christmas decoration, he had the opportunity
to be the one who puts the star on top of the tree!!

Muchos thanks

One of the traditions I want to keep from the American culture is celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  I am so thankful for so many things this year; I am so blessed.  Even though sometimes I  feel overwhelmed or cheerless about life difficulties, I try to remember of the things that makes me happy.  The other day, I went to a Music and Spoken Word program and they emphasized how we should seek for happiness.  Then the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang "My favorite things" ...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

I learned to think about the simple things as huge things; sometimes, we have huge things that we think are so simple... for example, having a bed to sleep on, having a house to live in, even a delicious meal is such a blessing.
This Thanksgiving I had a great time with my uncle, brother and loving husband.  We were in Kaysville from Wednesday to Sunday! It was also a good time to rest and relax before finals.  Besides the gospel in my life, I am grateful for a family who is healthy and loving.

Here are a few pictures of our Thanksgiving.  Andrew cooked the turkey! It was delicious.  Good job!

Yeah! it's the long weekend!

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 We would just eat, sleep, watch TONS of movies, eat again, nap, play chess, stay in our pj's, forget what time it was, go shopping, and then... eat again? :)

So, my uncle has a David statue in this living room and we always dress it up,
this Thanksgiving, he was a Peruvian American

making faces!! :D

Opera

I forgot to mention that we went to the Fidelio Utah Opera.  Ludwig Van Beethoven composed only one opera in his life and this was it! We enjoyed it.  I can't believe the powerful voices of these singers, they could even sing sitting down and laying down on the floor! incredible.

Picture: Utah Opera

Picture by newoutpost.com

picture by newoutpost.com

Picture by newoutpost.com

Things we have been doing lately...

We went to a Korean restaurant and enjoyed some AMAZING Korean food.  It was our first time eating Korean food... and an absolutely yummy experience.  Koreans know how to make delicious food. 

Why did we choose Korean food? Well, thanks to my friend Steph W. Lyons I have this thing towards Korea, specifically Korean drama. Two years ago, she told me I should watch Boys Over Flowers; I got hooked immediately. Andrew would laugh every time I watched Korean actors or commercials about upcoming Korean shows on Youtube, he thought it was silly.  Well, a few months ago he watched a new Korean drama with me!! ha! and he LOVED IT. This drama was actually a combination of action and romance.  Really well done.

It was just 20 episodes but it was so worth it.  My friend Steph's husband was hooked too =D Anyway, in this Korean drama, the leading girl would always make Kimchi for her man.  Andrew always wondered what Kimchi was and he brought up the idea of going to a Korean restaurant.  So, among other things, we ate Kimchi.

I was so happy!

We finished it all in a heartbeat!

Later that day, we went to his mission reunion in Salt Lake.  This is a picture of his Mission President, he is really young! Not long ago, we saw him in El Salvador.

The following day, it was conference! We worked so hard and eat so much =D So many great talks, so many things to ponder about and change!

Alypataly!

The Dog
So, after a few weeks we found a dog outside our home.  It was a cold day, we decided to wait a few days before calling Animal Control.  Our neighbors gave him food, water, even a blanket! So, he decided to stay.  hmm... not good! We called animal control and some police guy came to take it.

Something more relevant...
Our friend Francesco got married. It was a pretty reception, beautiful bride and handsome groom! We were so happy to be there for something so special.  Every time I go to a wedding reception, I remember how my wedding reception was a year ago and it makes me nostalgic because planning the wedding was great--stressful-- but worth doing.  If I had to do it again, I would not change anything.

Mostrando las muelas

Jama
Evita, her husband, Andrew, Wilo, Fassa and I went to eat at Sizzlers and we listened to a Chiropractor for a full hour.  Good lecture by the way :) Great quality time with some friends... The conclusion of this get together is that we really love rolls with cinnamon butter.

Empty baskets that were full of rolls jijijiji

Arthur's hair looked great after Evita trimmed it... :P