A New Beginning

I think this will be my third blog, but I am determined to keep this one going! I am an avid journal writer, however I usually write my thoughts, impressions, etc & there are no pictures! Especially now that Camila is here I want to record her life in stories and in pictures. I'm making this public for anyone who wants to creep like me, but if it ends up that I'm the only one that reads it, that's okay too :) It'll be a great thing to look back on in the future.

With that said, I'll post about our most recent adventure. A few weekends ago Brittany flew from New Mexico to stay with us! It was a blast & Camila loved being spoiled by her :) Brittany spoiled us as well with an AMAZING dinner, I didn't take any pictures of it, but I have the picture from Pinterest. I am a terrible cook & won't be able to replicate the dish, but was grateful she shared her talents with us!

Monday we went swimming at the pool. Back in Iowa Camila swam at the hotel pool & she loved it! She was happy the entire time, & even though the water was freezing it didn't seem to phase her. It shouldn't have surprised me since she loves bathtime. However, when it came time for swimming in the pool here in Texas she was not having it. It was really bright, she was really tired, & I was extremely worried about her getting sun burnt. So that little trip lasted less than 45 minutes & we headed back to the apartment.

That night we went to Galveston, had dinner next to the ocean & then went to the boardwalk! Brittany & I went on the log ride & were soaked the rest of the night. I know this is immature but I did get a little chuckle out of the fact that it looked like Brittany peed herself.

Thank goodness she was there because Rodrigo was able to have a partner to go on all the rides with. I'm deathly afraid of heights. I felt bad that I wasn't joining him on any of the rides so I pulled my big girl pants on & asked him if he would go on the ferris wheel with me! It was dark & I wanted to see the beach against the city lights; I thought I could handle it... As the ferris wheel kept going by the worker I kept asking him to stop it and that I was done! He didn't listen....I didn't even really get to see the shore line because I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough!

I stole this from Rodrigo's instagram

Whenever we've gone to a fair, Rodrigo wastes money winning Camila something! It really is sweet. This time he got it on the first try! He's starting to figure out the trick;)

Tuesday was Brittany's last day :( Her flight wasn't until later that night so we killed some time at the Galleria mall in downtown Houston. We had the most fun in the Disney store. I think we were there for at least 45 minutes. Most of that time you could've found us in front of the enchanted mirror! Brittany was playing with Camila in the mirror & waving a wand! Suddenly a clip from Beauty & the Beast started playing! When it was done she grabbed a wand from Cinderalla's section, & sure enough after she waved it a clip from that movie came on! We were so excited! I started running around the store grabbing all the wands I could find from each disney princess! After about 7 wands, & 7 movie clips I gave her Rapunzel's wand from the movie Tangled. Brittany kept waving the wand in front of the mirror but nothing was happening. We were under the impression that a worker turned it off because we were spending way too much time there & taking it away from other little kids! Whoops!

It was so fun having Brittany visit. She was my college roommate for quite a few semesters & we became fast best friends! We loved having her come to our neck of the woods. Here are a few more pictures of Camila & Brittany....

This last weekend was Youth Conference! Since I am a youth leader I was there the whole weekend. Poor Camila was exhausted each night when we went to bed, but it was so fun hanging out with the youth and watching them grow. Saturday was an extremely crazy day. In the morning Rodrigo & I got to teach a workshop on Eternal Marriage (I know after 2 years of marriage we must be pros right?) hahah. In the middle of the workshop we planned a fight. We gave this workshop 4 times & the first 3 times everyone was shocked! We got the youth really good! I think the word had spread by the last group because they didn't believe it for a second. The fight consisted of Rodrigo & I arguing & then Rodrigo walking out of the classroom (only to return 5 seconds later.) Some of the girls were adorable when he walked out, they were like, 'It's okay, we'll help you!' Another girl tried changing the subject & asked about our pictures. It was so cute. They really felt bad for me! Actually I heard through the grapevine that one of my girls hadn't gotten it, she still believed the fight was real! I had to go over and tell her it was fake & not to worry hahah. That night was the dance. We handed off Camila a few times so that Rodrigo & I could dance together. He absolutely loves dancing & I feel bad he doesn't have a better dance partner, but I'm learning! My girls are teaching me how to move my hips, & Rodrigo has taught me bachata. It's a process...

The service project this year was at the Houston Food Bank. All my beautiful girls are in the front row to the left of the sign. The theme was, 'Make a Difference' referenced by the scripture Alma 37:6. This weekend were headed to Destin, Florida with our friends JR & Bianca! I'm gonna be a nervous wreck about Camila in the sun with her fair skin (that girl is so white) but we're really excited to just go & relax for a week. I'll be sure to post lots of pictures from the trip when we get back! Here are a few more pictures I took this last week of Camila.

To end each post I want to share a picture of my week's coupon findings. I am NOT an extreme couponer, but some ladies in my ward are & they taught me a few tricks :) Rodrigo & I's dates aren't usually the cheapest & we're traveling a ton this year so anyway I can save money on the essentials, I will. Plus, it's just fun sharing, even if as I said before, I'm the only one who looks at it!

3.99 for all of this at Target!