From Provo to SLC!

I lived in Provo since 2005... such a long time! Even when I was getting my masters at the University of Utah, I still lived in Provo because Andrew was finishing off at BYU.  Well, we were both done last May and a great job opportunity came for both of us in Salt Lake.  We decided it made no sense to live in Provo anymore and we started to look for apartments in Salt Lake County.  We had no idea where to start! We just looked in KSL and Craigslist and some other webpages such as http://www.forrent.com/ .  We found a few good apartments and decided to check them out.  All of them looked good on the pictures but once we got saw them it was not worth it.  There even was one time that we made an appointment to see this particular apartment but once we hit the neighborhood I told Andrew, "let's turn around, I don't care how this apartment looks like, I dislike the neighborhood."  We didn't even know which neighborhoods were good and which were bad.  We looked everywhere for a period of a little less than 2 months and we were tired.  We were worried we didn't find anything and our contract was coming to an end.  Just days before our contract was over, Andrew said, "Ok, let's just go to an area that we like in Salt Lake--anything that looks good to us!-- and let's just stop and see whatever apartment complexes are on the way." So, we did it! We drove around good looking neighborhoods and stopped and see apartments that were available.  We found 2 that we really liked. On our way back home to Provo, we were deciding between these apartments.  We were debating either way, we were not completely satisfied with either but we decided we needed to compromise because we needed to move right away!  Andrew liked one apartment, I liked the other.  We didn't know what to do.

We were in Murray, there was a lot of traffic to get to the freeway.  The GPS said we needed to go straight but we decided to go left and maybe find another way to get to the freeway avoiding the traffic.  When we decided to be on the lane that goes left the traffic loosened up and we got stuck in the left lane. We were so mad, especially me.  Either way, we just waited and waited.  I think this was a blessing.

We turned left eventually and we saw an apartment complex.  We looked at each other and said, "nah, we are tired, plus, we already have 2 apartments we are deciding on." After a few seconds we said, "OK, this is THE LAST ONE!!"

I am so glad to took a look at that "last one." Don't you just get this feeling, "this IS my new home?"when you find that one apartment you are looking for? This is how Andrew and I felt.  We have been living in Salt Lake county since July 4th and are loving it!

Moving!

New Look!

Andrew left for an event and I had around 3 hours by myself. I was looking for things to do and then I thought about the blog and how bad I have been.  I started to write a post but then I thought maybe I could improve our blog's look a bit.  I ended up changing the whole thing! :) I hope you guys like it and I hope this makes me a better blogger. I hope I don't get bored of this new look because it took me such a long time to move things around, learn a bit of HTML, choose pictures and such.  It is not completely done; so, if you click on the first picture of the slideshow is going to take you to CNN! haha! I have been testing things... I will finalize it this weekend and make a post as well.
Have a fun weekend!

Danella's graduation

When I woke up I was kind of nervous for the events that were to follow.  Andrew went to work early in order to get the afternoon off to be with me.
I went to the U a bit early to get the cap and gown I had requested online weeks ago.  I wanted to actually just borrow it from someone else who had just graduated with her Bachelors but then Andrew told me I should just get my own.  I am so glad I did! When I opened the package a Master's gown is a bit different than those who receive a Bachelor's.  I was most excited for the hood.  Though, it took us a long time to figure out how it was supposed to be placed on my back.  I felt important! My uncle told me I looked like a judge :) I don't know about that... judges don't wear caps :)

There was an informal dinner at the Alumni Center at the U for the graduates and their families/friends.
I can't believe Grammy, Belinda and Melany came back to Utah for my graduation.  Especially Grammy!!! Even though she is 80 years old I think she feels she is 20 years old and wants to do everything :) I love her.  She is just so sweet and cute.
Anyway, they drove back from Idaho to Utah and we were together again with Tio Orlando, Aly, Wilo, Estela and Andrew.

Elvina and I 

We then took some pictures and then walked for a while until we found Libby Garner Hall.

I hope this video works...

Favorite part: Food time!!!

I am so happy we both did it! I am happy that when we are old, we can show our children their parents graduated from college! We have been married for almost 2 years and going to school at the same time; now we get to rest! We actually have time for ourselves instead of spending that time for homework.
I guess I can be called a Master but that sounds a bit too much for me.  I am happy that I can actually put "MPA" next to my name.  Fancy.
Thanks,
Danella Zuzunaga Morales, MPA

 =D

Minority Graduation

Family left to Boston after spending amazing time together.  It was hard to see them leave; I have only known them for as long as I have been married to Andrew.  However, it feels like I have known them for so much longer than that.  When Andrew and I got engaged, we visited his family in Boston and that's when I met them.  At first I was scared but as days passed I felt more and more comfortable with them to the point that I was not embarrassed or extremely shy anymore around them. 

Since, Alexander stayed with us a few more days, he joined us for my Minority Graduation at the University of Utah.  I have never been invited to

this kind of event, it was great to see people from around the world graduating as well.  I just feel so excited that we finally did it!

So, the The Office for Equity and Diversity posted biographies about us:

They also said they were going to have "light" refreshments after the ceremony.  I don't think they were "light" We all stuffed ourselves with the food they served.  It was so worth it!

I have no idea why I was so nervous when I was waiting for them to call my name.  This event was not "THE" official graduation ceremony (which I was going to have after a week) but I guess this served me as an exercise for "THE" event on May 3rd.  I was so happy that Alexander, my siblings and my husband were there with me!!

So, this part made me laugh really hard.
While waiting for them to call my name I was confused as to what I was supposed to do.  They called my name and then I just walked up there, the lady put the medal on and then she said, "now, shake." I immediately thought I must had missed something.  I didn't see any of my fellow students shake, what did she mean by shake? Because I took a few seconds to think about it, she again said, "now, shake.... shake!!" I thought, "Ok, I am not going to shake it in front of everyone.  I mean, I am happy I am about to be done with school but I refuse to shake it on stage!!"  So, I tried to ignore the lady and just went my way.  Before I could make my first step, she FINALLY reached out with her hand and said once more, "SHAKE!!!" Then the light bulb turned on and I said to myself, "HOLY GUACAMOLE... she meant A HAND SHAKE!"

You know, she should have been clearer :) I then shook her hand and posed for a picture.  I was way to embarrassed and I think she also fact for the fact that I ignored her hand shake :)

Alexander doing some kind of dance... :)

Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea

I need to finish this blog or else I will end up sharing the exciting things that are happening now on Christmas! Anyway, we reached Delicate Arch.  This is where 2 years ago, Andrew proposed to me, right under the arch.  It took us about 40 minutes to get up there, we were dead.

Goodbye

We enjoyed having the family here. It felt great to be around everybody! Before everybody left, Andrew played Puff the Magic Dragon while Matty, Camy and Brooka sang.  It was very cute.

Moab

After Andrew's graduation, we went to Moab.  It was Andrew's idea--most of the family hadn't been there.  We had a blast.  First night we got there we had a barbeque. Oscar cooked the meat for all of us, it was delicious! I love bbq's!!! =D

Me, Baby Jace and Estela

Melanie and Andrew being silly!

We also celebrated Makayla's birthday!

After eating, we went to see the starts.  The starts are so close to the ground you can even touch them! We drove towards the national park and stopped on the way up.  We were kind of exploring with our flashlights and Nate took some cool pictures! Then we laid a blanket on the ground and we all cuddled :)
The next day, we started our day around 8:30 am and went to see the arches!

Cuties!

Balanced

Sister and Brother in law :)

Wilo, Estela, Melanie and Alexander

Sisteros

Monses

Andrew running up!

This rock is too heavy!

Me, Orlando, Estela, Abuela, Mat, Makayla, Alex and Andrew

♥♥

I'm tired! carry me!

Can't get out!

See ya

You can tell I'm not really into climbing!

Wilo... up there

So tired!

Shannon and Melanie

We did it!

Yay!

It was around 6 pm.  We were so tired because we had been walking from around 9 am! We wanted to see the Delicate Arch.  This place is special for Andrew and me because that's where he proposed 2 years ago! We needed to hurry because the it is a 45 minute hike and the sunset was around 7 pm.
We didn't want to miss it!

I'm too tired...

Tio

This is the last Arch we saw before going to Delicate Arch!