We have a new edition to the family.

Last week I got into a little car accident. It really was a little "the road was wet and I ran into the back of someone" kind of accident. It was my fault "technically" but the lady stopped so suddenly that I just slid right into her. Her car was fine, mine on the other hand was not so fine. The insurance company actually totalled our little Kia Spectra. That was sort of devastating news because my car was the reliable one. Nick's Rio has been on it's last leg for about the last year so hopefully it can just hang on for a bit more. We talked it over and decided we really needed a nice car that would go the distance so we decided to buy a new car! We bought a 2009 Toyota Corolla and I just LOVE it! It rides so smoot and smells so clean! It makes driving seem like a treat! So, now we need a name for the ol' girl......

I am ready to talk about it...

The mourning is over and I think it's time to accept and move on. I will miss seeing my friend each week and wish him well.

So Grateful, Part II

Last night I had my visiting teachers come by and it was such a great visit. I am so grateful for the visiting teaching program and for these faithful friends, you know who you are! The lesson that was prepared was beautiful and the conversation was so uplifting. I truly believe that our prayers are answered through other people and I am so lucky to have these two women in my life. We are so often faced with hard times and unexplainable trial. The flip side of that is knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who blesses our lives with the essentials to get through these things, including wonderful friends. I woke up feeling really blessed and grateful today, so, thank you ladies!

The day has arrived!!

What better way to use my blog that to brag about my mom! Her new book is officially out in stores now. She is on her book tour right now in Utah and is having a really great time meeting her fans - my mom has fans!!!. I know I am biased, but she really is a GREAT writer. If you like historical fact-based fiction with a little love thrown in there, then you will LOVE her series Free Men Dreamers. Book two is now available anywhere Covenant Communications sells, including: Deseret Books, Seagull Books, some Walmarts in Utah, and most book stores in Utah that are supported by Deseret. I am really so proud of my mom and couldn't be more excited for all her success. So anyone in need of a good lay be the pool book then check it out!! And if you are lucky, I might be able to get it signed for you! :-)

Start Spreading the News...........

Long time, no post! It's because we have been having TOO MUCH FUN! Last week Nick and I headed up to New York for a little R & R with his cousin Jard and his wife Trish. She is a theatre/dance major from BYU and had her directors showcase last week so we went up to check it out and do some fun sightseeing with them. We haven't seen them for over a year so it was SO fun to catch up and spend time together. **WARNING - LONG POST ALERT** We got up bright and early on Tuesday to take in some sights. We headed over to Trish's theater, the Sage Theatre, which was right in Times Square. It was pretty amazing. Anway, our first stop was the M & M store. You walk in and it smells so good and chocolatey! It was delightful. There are M&M's in EVERY color imaginable. Three stories of chocolatey goodness! If you like chocolate, it is a must see when you are in NY.

The entrance to the store - impossible to ignore!

*Nick and his cousin, Jared, getting the most bang for their buck!

Next, we headed down to Rockefeller Plaza. Now, Nick and I have been here many times, but never had we noticed the beloved Dean & Deluca. This might not mean anything to you an ordinary person off the street but any real "Felicity" fans know exactly what I am talking about. I believe I have admitted my freak obsession with the tv show in a past blog. Nick spotted in from about 200 yards away, and in true tourist fashion, we scurried over with our camera for a photo op.

Nick and I in front of Rockefeller Plaza

That is me in front of a memory!! Good ol' Dean & Deluca!

Next stop - FAO Schwarz. How could we come to the Big Apple and not go to FAO Schwarz. I love to come here and play on the piano from the movie "Big". Plus, they have the coolest toys there. It was really fun! How cool is this. It really plays and lights up. Very cool!

Harry Potter & gang - ALL MADE OUT OF LEGO'S - SO AMAZING!!

Nick and Jared Hanging out with a Lego Sponge Bob.

After alot of sightseeing, we headed back downtown to watch Trish's showcase and it was so great. There were so many talented people in her class. I took some pics but none of them turned out. Trish is an amazing dancer and singer and we really enjoyed ourselves!! After her showcase, we headed to heaven on earth. The resturant is called Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man. It is literally a resturant dedicated to all things chocolate. It was so yummy. Nick and I shared a Chocolate Pizza - WOW!!!

That ended Day 1 of our trip. The next day we did some more sightseeing but had big plans to see Lion King on Broadway. We spent a good part of the day walking through Central Park. We had the best weather and so it was a really enjoyable walk. Central Park is so huge so we didn't go through very much of it, but it was so peaceful and relaxing.

Nick and I in front of lake in Central Park.

Some beautiful flowers I got a picture of - I wanted to see it in Black & white.

We're walking along and this huge castle pops out of nowhere - right in the middle of Central Park.

After a really nice walk, we headed over to the Empire State Building. It really is breathtaking to be at the top of that building and see the ENTIRE city and all the burroughs. It was really awesome!!

We left the Empire State Building and headed to the Olive Garden for some dinner before Lion King, or so I thought!! We were walking and I saw that we passed Olive Garden. I was really confused. Then all of a sudden we turn the corner and I see this:

This is Bobby Flay's resturant. He is one of my favorite chef's on the Food Network - another guilty pleasure. I have been telling Nick for year's that I would love to go there sometime. So, he called and got us reservations. Jared and Trish were so great to go with us and keep the secret. I saw Jared & Trish walking in and I still didn't believe we were eating there. I was like, you guys look inside, I want to take a picture - DUH!! So, Nick had to tell me we were eating here and I got all teary because I am a sentimental sap! I was so surprised and SO excited. This place is so nice and fancy and elegant. Everything was so clean and put together. The food presentations were beautiful and the food was SO DELICIOUS!!! We all just shared everything! They said Bobby Flay comes in all the time so they sat us by the kitchen so I could see if he came in! They were so nice to me the whole night becasue they knew I was a big fan and gave me a menu to take home. Here are some pics:

Just a really great surprise - loved every second of it. I have such a good husband. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet Bobby - he had already been there earlier in the day. And if the day couldn't get better, we headed off to see Lion King. That was one of the best shows I have ever seen. The performers were excellent and you really started to feel like they were animals. Really great!!

I am so thankful that we were able to go and see our family and have such a memorable trip. We are certainly blessed!