Rick is a College Grad

Rick graduated with his Political Science degree in December and I am so proud of him!!! He has waited for this day for so long, and he did it! Because of the holidays, we decided to wait until January to do his party and celebrate. We had a small get together last Saturday with family and friends and it was a great time. It was wonderful to get together with loved ones to honor Rick and all of his hard work at BYU. Rick's parents live in California and were unable to make it to the party, so we are flying Rick out to Cali next week to spend some time with the two people who influenced him and guided him the most during his education. He is so excited to go home for a week and celebrate with his mom and dad!

BYU doesn't do commencement in December, so all the graduates from December have to wait until April to walk and do the whole cap and gown thing. Rick's mom and myself absolutely insisted that Rick walk in commencement, but much to our dismay Rick has opted out and won't be walking. Maybe by some great miracle he will change his mind and put on that cap and gown in April:) I love you Rick and I'm so proud of all of your dedication and hard work throughout the years. Goooooooooooooooodbye BYU!!!!

Mid-January Procrastination

It is mid-January and yes, I am just getting to posting about our holiday season. I guess my New Years resolution of conquering my procrastination habits is a big fat fail. Our holidays were absolutely perfect. We were able to spend a lot of time with family and each other. Since I am so late, I have decided to only post a few pictures, one of us rockin' our Xmas Eve jammies that cute mom gave us and the other two from our wonderful yet bitter cold New Years in Park City. I am sorry I'm so boring, but I promise they are three b-e-a-utiful pictures.


Here's to a wonderful 2010.

Happy Feet

We were watching a little Sunday night television.
I look down to see my warm and cuddly wool socks were mismatched.
"Hmmm....wonder why they are mismatched?", I think.
I look at Rick's feet.
He too was wearing the same mismatched pair.
Same color on the same foot.
Wierd.
Oh well, what can I say, we're in love.
We also like our feet warm and....
obviously don't look too close when putting on our socks.

Take A Picture, It Lasts Longer

So I'm in the market for one of those fancy shmancy DSLR cameras. I'm no photographer, but I do enjoy bugging people with my annoying urge to snap at any photographic moment I see. It's in my genes, my mom and dad are both obsessive picture takers. For example, they went on a Mexican cruise last month and not one but both of them had cameras. This meant two sets of pictures to go through when they got home which resulted in 800+ photos. They are a cute little couple and I love them. Rick sat through the first 25 and then bowed out and watched basketball. I took one for the team and sat through the whole load of 800. (On a side note, for those of you who didn't know, my parents got remarried last month. Yep, you heard correct....my parents got remarried, to each other. Pretty cool to send your parents off on their second honeymoon 30 years after they went on their first honeymoon together...hence the Mexican Cruise, hence 800+ photos and hence me calling them a cute couple. They are much too happy for words and I am so proud of them.)

Anyways, back to the camera. I'm having trouble trying to decide between Canon and Nikon. I've done a little research but I'm still a little uncommitted. I've heard they are both very similar, but does anyone have an opinion? Anyone used either of these? Below are the two I'm thinking but I will take suggestions on any alternatives. Any feedback would be VERY much appreciated. Gracias.

Canon XSi 450D



Nikon D60

Gobble

We were with Rick's family for Thanksgiving this year. We decided to eat our turkey down in St. George far far away from my work desk and any of Rick's text books. Not to mention the temperature is warm and there are palm trees. I love palm trees. My dad has a vacation home down in St. George that we could stay at and Rick's family had never been, so we headed down. It was wonderful.



A few things we were thankful for on our Thanksgiving trip:

Cari's Cooking Skills

Cari planned the whole meal and everything was scrumptious.


Sweet ApronsMy Mother-in-Law is the type that doesn't forget any special touch. She is so sweet and gave us these matching aprons to cook it up in the kitchen.

Apple Strings

Anthony's favorite part of Thankgiving was definitely the "apple strings" (as he calls them) that would come off as we were peeling the apples for apple crisp. We had to make him stop eating cause we were worried he would get a stomach ache. Good thing he ate a lot of the strings cause he fell asleep right before we started our big feast. So cute.

Nephews

I love watching Rick with Anthony and Ethan. They can't get enough of playing with Uncle Rick. Every family event is so much more fun and eventful because of these little guys. We love them.








It was fun! We are thankful. Until next year....

Food Is Joy....

and as far as Rick is concerned, joy is In N Out. Rick introduced me to In N Out on my first trip out to California while we were dating. He loves it and he got me to love it. Every time Rick goes home to California he can't wait to eat his beloved double-double burger. Well, now he can get it whenever he wants cause it is right next door in Orem and American Fork. There is a little part of us that is sad that it won't be a special occasion to go to In N Out when we go to Cali to see Rick's family but I think the joy outweighs the sadness. Rick, my little bro Matt and myself went and braved the crowds to opening day of the Orem store.

It was good....real good. Thanks for the greasy goodness In N Out, it was a wonderful night.

Simply Ridiculous

I went jogging last night for the first time...in a long time. How do I feel today you ask? Like my butt is going to fall off. Yeah, I'm pretty disappointed in myself. I have no excuses; no kids, no school, I do have a job but that is only 8 hours out of the day. Seems as though when you graduate with an Exercise Science degree, it doesn't exactly mean you are the most dedicated at keeping in shape. But don't you worry, I am changing my ways...and I am going to get in shape to do that triathlon in November(when Rick reads this I'm sure he will chuckle). I can see it now, six pack abs and a rock hard behind(a girl can dream). GO ME!!

Three Outstanding Men

Life is precious. Family is precious. This is what I have learned this week. Tragedy struck in my family on Monday with news that my sweet Uncle Ron and his two sons were killed in an airplane crash while on their way to a father and sons fishing trip in Oregon. I could go on and on about examples of why these men were amazing but no words can do it justice. They just were.

Jed Mingo, 32
SLC, Utah

Jordan Mingo, 26
Lehi, Utah

Ron Mingo, 62
Paul, Idaho

And so it goes in situations like these, my mind has been racing with thoughts of ANYTHING that I can do to help....anything at all, and besides prayers there is only one other thing I can think of doing.

Jordan left a young wife, Shelley and three young children behind in his untimely death. Shelley is now faced with a daunting road ahead of raising these three children(one born just three short months ago) under the age of four without the love of her life and rock by her side. There has been a paypal account set up in Shelley's name that will take donations of anyone who would like to help. A little (even $1 or $2) adds up to a lot and the more word gets out, the more this young mom will be helped. Below are quick directions on donating to Shelley:

1) Click on following link http://wherearethemingos.blogspot.com/
2) On right side bar you will see donate button under paypal
3) Enter payment info and it will be sent directly to Shelley's account

Jordan, Shelley and kids

Jordan and his brand new baby boy