Long Overdue

This semester has been so amazingly busy. I've been working 2 jobs and going to school and there never seems to be enough time for anything. I should have posted about this on October 20, 2011, but better late than never.

I'M ENGAGED! to my sweetheart, Blake Ogden Day.

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Blake proposed to me on October 19, 2011 and we're getting married in a matter of 24 days, on New Year's Eve. Blake may have a different version of the story, but in my mind, the events went a little something like this:

It was an ordinary Wednesday. I went to work from 8-12 that morning and school from 12:30-4:45. We had planned to go country swing dancing for a double date with his co-worker, Jason, but Jason hadn't gotten back to us about our date so I wasn't sure we were going to go. Later that day Blake told me we were going to be in a music video for his friend. I was a little suspicious and wondered if "shoot a music video" was code for I'm going to propose to you and get it on camera.

We walked home from school and Blake asked me if I had told all my family that we were going to get married. I told him that I had told some people but I was going to wait until it was official with the ring to tell everyone. He acted like he felt really bad because he didn't have the ring yet because their family friend who was a jeweler was taking a long time with it and it wouldn't be there for another couple weeks. I told him not to worry about it and that it didn't matter when it got there. My suspicions about a proposal went away.

We actually did shoot a music video for his friend and planned to go country swing dancing just the two of us, even though Jason couldn't come. Throughout the filming he kept saying how tired he was and I kept agreeing because it had been a really long day. I asked him if he wanted to just skip dancing and go watch a movie at home. He asked if that's what I wanted to do. I told him that I wouldn't mind just relaxing and going dancing on Saturday since they have country swing dancing ever Wednesday and every Saturday.

So, we left the music video site and opted for some Sonic drinks and a movie. While we waited for our drinks, Blake said, "You know, we always say how much we love dancing, and we haven't been in a really long time." So, I figured maybe he wanted to go after all, so I said, "Alright. Let's go do it then!" We headed over to the Provo Rec. Center and learned some new moves for half an hour and continued dancing for another half hour. Blake spun me, flipped me, and held me close, just like he had on our first date more than a year before.

The music stopped and someone spoke over the speakers and asked everyone to clear the dance floor. Blake took me to the middle of the dance floor and then I knew what was happening. I started smiling real big and tearing up at the same time. I was in shock. Blake got down on one knee as he held my beautiful ring in his hand and said, "Ie Ling, I love you. Will you marry me?" I said YES! and threw my arms around him and everyone cheered. He requested that they play "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw and we danced and smiled.

We left right after and Blake and I drove to his parents house where his brothers, mom, aunts, and grandma, along with my brother and his girlfriend were waiting to congratulate us. We're getting married December 31 in the Los Angeles Temple and then we'll be starting some big adventures in Washington, D.C., while Blake interns with Senator Orrin Hatch. I hope to do a better job of documenting as soon as I finish finals next week.

WSW

Pardon the WSW absence, the past few weeks it's been on private blogs, but now back to me!

VANESSA

This Week:

•     Observed a preK class with Marina.  She liked it so much she wanted to stay the rest of the day! 
•     Enrolled her that day at Pinecrest School Tuesdays and Thursdays   
•     Reassured by Devin's teacher at back to school nite that he is doing well
•     Attended half of Grandparent day at Marina's school before unexpected meltdowns (mainly Eden)
•     Had our home appraised for our refinance, a long, grueling process
•     Wished my Grandma a Happy 90th and promised we'd be home for the holidays (I hope)
•     Girls' Nite In while the boys watched UCLA play at the Rose Bowl
•     Had the Stegebys over for Sunday dinner (Devin's piano teacher from church)
•     Nightly scripture reading (compliments of Devin and the Book of Mormon Stories)

 

Next Week:

•     Break in Eden's new babysitter
•     Inspire kiddos to be better 
•     Prepare healthy meals
•     Walk

Favorite thing:  Devin enthusiastically writing 25 spelling words neatly during our practice test and finding a school for Marina.

IE LI

Last Week:

• Nats vs. Dodgers. 
• It rained all week long.
• Started putting Stephen down for naps again.  The result has been good.
• Cleaned the whole house in a day.
• Cleaned the church as a family.  It took us three hours.  We took the kids to get pizza and ice cream afterward.  
• Dug up some important information on my ancestors in China.  I found the CD of digital pictures that my photographer cousin took of me at a cemetery in Beijing.  I have a picture with four of my ancestors headstones.  The picture quality is good enough so I can zoom in and see each character clearly.  It looks like we may be able to put some pieces together.  I will probably need to enlist the help of my Chinese neighbors across the street.
• Stephen's preschool open house.  My visiting teacher is one of his teachers, and she is wonderful.
• We missed the bus for the first time.  I hate that feeling!  I piled four kids in the car (Stephen had a friend over for a play date) in pouring rain and drove to the school.  Mei Li got her first tardy slip.  I felt so sad for tarnishing her attendance record.  
• Picked up my new orthotics for my shoes and I'm still getting used to them.  My feet are sore, which is supposedly normal.  Hope that goes away.
• I just came back from a family history fireside.  The man who presented mostly talked about the technological advancements that have taken place and will take place for the family history website.  It was all very fascinating and I'm excited to join in the work.
• Didn't run.

Next Week:

• Stephen starts preschool.
• Visiting teaching
• Ballet for Mei
• The sports class I signed Stephen up for was canceled due to low enrollment, so I need to spend sometime this week figuring out what our other options are.
• Run!
• Tax season for Steve ends on Thursday!
• Continue reading The Good Earth.
• Practice the piano.
• Family history work.

MICHIKO

Last week:

- The Primary program is over!  It went well.  I don't want to hear those primary songs for a long time.

This week:

- Party with the tAy- Team!

Favorite thing: Mary Kay microdermabrasion kit.  I haven't been good about using it lately, but have started up again, and I feel like it is really helping my skin clear up!  Maybe I will be acne-free in my 40's.

IE MEI

Last week:

• Worked the charities table on Thursday at the Newcomer’s Club Meeting. Tried to infuse my passion for the charitable work that we do on the other Newcomer’s to the annoyance of a few.  I guess I can be a bit over enthusiastic sometimes.
• Finished Unbroken – true story about the experiences of an Olympian/war veteran in WWII named Louie Zamperini.  I highly recommend it.
• Filled in some more information on our Indonesian side family tree.  
• Watched video of 9/11 with the boys to show what happened ten years ago in NYC. 

Favorite Part:  When Ie Li called me and told me that she has pictures of family grave sites in China and also a family tree of our Chinese ancestors. 

This Week:

• Relief Society Presidency meeting at my house.
• Field trip to the market with Jackson’s Special Spanish class.
• Prepare for and enjoy our trip.
• Start reading Fallen Angels.

IE LING

                                                                          

This Week:

• Watched a lot of football. A sad week for the Timpanogas T-Wolves and the BYU Cougars.
• Went on a double date with Blake and Jonathan and Megan to see Lea Salonga perform in the DeJong Concert Hall. AMAZING.
• Continued to have a cold and used up two rolls of toilet paper and a box of Kleenex just on my nose. 
• Sat through lots of enjoyable classes. 
• Got to go to church with my best friend Katie B. as she passed through on her way to Idaho. 
• Ran for the first time in 3 weeks. It was refreshing.
• Quadrupled the amount of salt in my bran muffins. Wouldn't recommend it, but they don't taste horrible. 

Next week:

• School
• Work
• Exercise
• Drink more water 
• Watch the Cougars beat those Utes!
• Finally kick this cold!

Favorite thing: Lea Salonga. Hands down. My favorite song that she sang was I Dreamed a Dream, but On My Own was also stunning of course. She sang a song in Tagalog and I was glad to have Blake by my side to translate for me. It was just the best entertainment I've ever spent money on. It was a really great night. 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is my dad's birthday. 

He's the greatest. 

He is just so jolly. 

I love that he says WARSH instead of Wash.

I love his "funny" jokes. 

I love that he's always calling his kids just to say hello even if it's just for a minute.

He is just a genuinely nice guy. 

I love being his favorite #6. 

I love that he had the courage to join the LDS Church. 

I love that he married my mom in the temple so we can be a family forever.

He's a great husband, father, and grandfather. 

Happy Happy Birthday Dad! I love you forever!

WSW

So, I'm a bit behind because I'm on vacation but this week's edition of West Sisters Weekly is on Ie Li's blog.

More from the beach later =)

West Sisters Weekly

So, Ie Li does a sisters' update with Steve's side of the family and I've been wanting to do it with the West sisters for a long time, so here is the premiere of West Sisters Weekly.

Ie Mei:

This Week:

• Spent every morning at the club watching Jackson and lance at tennis camp/watching Mylee and Ailee scooter and play at the playground while I tried to get to know a very nice mother of five from Bolivia.
• Spent four hours working with my Spanish tutor, Liliana.
• Exercised a couple times before the kids got up :)
• Had a tennis date with Brad and popped our tire on the way home.
• Taught Lumy, a young adult in our ward, how to make funeral potatoes.
• Prepared the funeral potatoes and homemade rolls for the five American missionaries in our ward.  Had fun --watching them devour the rolls and potatoes - foods they don't get very often in Mexico.
• Finalized the deal on a 2007 Passat.  I'm about to be a Mexican driver.

Next Week: 

• Big surprises from Ie Mei next week!

Vanessa:

This week:

• I took the kids to the Reptacular Animal exhibit and show at our local libraries.
• Devin got to hold an albino, Burmese python and Marina got to hold a canary. 
• On Friday nite, after an arduous week of earning 10 happy faces, Devin and Marina received the honor of accompanying mom and dad on our date nite to the Thousand Oaks Philaharmonics featuring youth soloist from the community.  The musicians were brilliant and the kids loved it.

Next week:

• our usual summer activities of piano, ballet, tennis, and swimming
• We are looking forward to heading out to the beach with family on Saturday.

Ie Li:

Last week:

• Swam
• Took the kids to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum on Wednesday
• Had a piano delivered to our house on Friday
• Summer school
• Played in puddles.
• Played in the sprinklers.
• Had dessert and played a game with Christine, John, Rachel, and Ken.
• Mei Li had princess ballet camp, which afforded me a few hours in the week to take two children to stores instead of three.  It makes a big difference.  I think Stephen enjoyed being the big boy.
• Got up at least a half hour before the kids woke up everyday.  I am hoping to make this a permanent habit.
• Made whole wheat bread with my new mixer.  The results were less than stellar.  I need to practice some more.
• Made pretzels as a family on Saturday.
• Attended the Redskins fan appreciation day on Saturday.

Next week:

• Go to Cafe Rio.  As much as I love Cafe Rio, I haven't been to either of the DC area ones that recently opened up.  I think I'll do that tomorrow.
• Search for a mirror and artwork.
• Another trip to the Air and Space Museum?  
• Summer school
• Swim
• Get up early and go to bed early
• Pack and go to the lake house in Pennsylvania with Rachel, Ken, and Christine (maybe John?)

Michiko:

This last week, I:

• got to hang out with Jonathan!  He's awesome, and I love the man he has grown to become.  I'm so super proud of his amazing study habits and achievements of this last semester! Nerds unite!  :B
• got to go to Ulta without kids.  I never go shopping, but I needed an anniversary present for the Jer-bear.  What do you get the guy who already buys himself whatever he wants?!  No, seriously.  What do you buy that guy?!  I bought some cologne, but I'll need ideas for later.  :)
• bought a few extras for myself while at Ulta!  I took advantage of Uncle Jonathan, who was patiently watching movies in the car with the boys.  After I settled on a cologne, I scanned the aisles super quick for something for me!  I had a 20% off coupon, I had to maximize it, you know?!  I found 2 things I'm excited about - a salt spray for my unruly hair, and RED lipstick!  I've always wanted to wear red lips, but have never been daring enough to try it.  What's the verdict, sistahs?!
• celebrated anniversary #11!  Jonathan watched the kids and put them down for bed so Jeremy and I could have a romantic date.  We went all-out for our 11th and drove to the city of love . . .  Stockton!  We hit the teacher supply store AND REI and held hands the whole time like love-sick teens.  :)  I know, I know, it's all too much, but wait!  There's more!  We had sushi and stayed out til 10 pm!  Kuh-raizy.  Just wait til you hear what we have planned for next year! (I kid, but Jeremy really did spoil me - he got me 2 new lenses for my camera and patio furniture for the back.  I can sit while I watch kids in the pool now!)
• finally got the primary program written!  That was a big load off my shoulders!

Next Week:

• celebrate Maika's 10th birthday!  It's going to be an EPIC party - even bigger than our anniversary!  We might get balloons!  And I think we are going to invite Maika's WHOLE classroom.  (Shhhh.  It's a surprise!)
• (Do I have any hope of the kids not resenting me when they get older?!)
• get passport applications submitted!  Both parents need to be present, and for having a husband that doesn't work Fridays, you'd think that would be easier to accomplish.
• make a loose D.C. itinerary and figure out which places I need reservations for.  
• mail Primary letters to the Elders serving in our ward. 
• try some vegetarian meals out on the boys - wish me luck!
• go to Benjamin Moore and pick another color for my kitchen.  I had high hopes for Martha's "enamelware" color, but it wasn't quite right.  I think I'm on try 6 or 7!  Who knew picking a blue could be so hard!
  
  
  
  Ie Ling:
  

This Week:

• worked 8 hours in front of a computer in one day. Major headache.
• had so many girls' nights because Blakers was on family vacation this week in Oregon.
• found a house to live in for the fall. Private Room. Piano. Theater Room!
• de-cluttered my closet with the help of my trusty friend, Martha.
• bought some  M.A.C. Fluidline in Dipdown. I would highly recommend it =)
• sported the side fish braid more than once. ( I also recommend this. It stays in much better than a regular one.)

Next Week:

• take a final for Business Law.
• spend an evening at Seven Peaks with Blakers for the first time since I was...five?
• Pack up all my stuff and clean.
• Run the Moonlight half marathon in my new shoes! (see post below)
• Fly to California for Beach Week!

Running, Running as Fast as I Can

So, in 9 days I will be running my second half marathon, with Blakers. If you clicked on the link you'll notice that it's called the Moonlight Half Marathon. It's just down the road in Mapleton, Utah and I'm getting really nervous. This time around my training hasn't been as effective. I think it's because running is so hard in the heat. And, my knees have been aching a lot when I run. I thought it was because my shoes were worn down and old, so I got some new running shoes. I tried them out yesterday but my knees still hurt, but maybe it takes some time. If not, then I have a fabulous new pair of running shoes anyway. 

These are them: Mizuno Wave Precision 11

Aren't they cute? My least favorite part is the neon green spider web looking parts on the teal, but I still think they're great. The other great thing is that I originally bought them for $93 at 26.2 here in Provo, UT, but then they were too small. So I did some research online and found that I could get the same exact ones for cheaper. Long story short, the final price paid for the shoes was $63. So, if you know what kind of shoes you need, check out Running Center and look for a good deal.

So, the cool thing about this half marathon is that it's at night! The goal is to cross the finish line as close to midnight as you can, which means that everyone starts at different times, depending on how fast you think you'll finish. Anyway, that's what I've been up to. Running, school, and work. Come cheer me on next Friday. And enjoy this cute picture of Buddy Bo that I got from my fabulous sister-in-law today:

I knew it'd make you smile =) Have a great summer day!

Since I've been home...

I've been to a lot of wedding activities with this handsome guy. 

Those are only pictures from half of them. Keep in mind that this was within a period of like 2 weeks. It's wedding season in Utah. 

This is Jordan Brock Smith. We lived together our freshman year. She was a stunning bride and I am so happy for her! 

Blakers and I also spent an evening at Strawberry Days and the Rodeo. I'm not sure what's got into me, but after seeing just a few minutes of the rodeo, I was telling Blake that I wanted to go to another one. We haven't gone yet, but I hope to go to another one before the summer is up. It is so exciting and everyone is just loving their life with their cowboy hats and boots. It's great. You should really try it out. 

Jonathan and I went on a sibling date to The Stadium of Fire. Best fireworks I've ever seen. I love love love the 4th of July. My most favorite holiday, hands down. I get teary eyed when I hear patriotic songs. And then I think of my dad because he just loves this country and is so patriotic and how a long time ago he was a pilot in the navy. It really makes me appreciate this country. It really is spectacular. I plan on going to The Stadium of Fire every year from now on. 

Blake and I spent a lot of time outside his apartment on July 3rd because everyone was camping out for the parade. We must be old or something because by 12:30 AM we had gone home to sleep while everyone else had stayed up till 4 or 5 in the morning. Anyway, we woke up early enough to catch the entire parade and it was really fun. Being from Pasadena, you'd think I'd be a veteran parade attendee, but also being Howard and Amy's daughter, you can understand why I can't remember a time that I've sat on the Rose Parade route. 

After the parade we got to spend just a little while with the Tay Team. Too little, but it was better than nothing. We just sat and talked in Blake's apartment and let the kids eat his treats. Thanks, Blake. Ie Mei made Mylee and Ailee's dresses. Aren't they adorable? I told Ie Mei that I wanted one too. Next year, please!

Poor Blake had to work on Independence day, but while he was away I got ready to have some fun at the Day Residence. Blake's parents just moved to a lovely house in Provo and invited Jonathan and me over for dinner and fireworks. It was so relaxing and enjoyable. We played ping-pong, BANG, and Dance Central and enjoyed one another's company. I'm not one to brag, but I do bring my A-game when it comes to Dance Central, so watch out! 

Jared and Mindy with sparklers/ the rest of us enjoying the homemade firework show.

Some bigger fireworks were just made legal in Utah and EVERYONE made a big deal out of it. I've never seen such big fireworks in residential areas. It was awesome. 

So other than weddings and 4th of July activities, I've just been schooling and working. Summer in Provo is wonderful. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as I am!

Just some extras:

Blake is goofy sometimes. I really love that. 

Note to self: When attending Blake's intramural games in the evening, drench yourself with insect repellent to avoid 12 mosquito bites all over your body that you scratch so much that you get scabs. Ew. 

We love half-off sushi at Demae on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This is where Blake and I went on our second date. We sat in this same booth. 

Desierto de Los Leones

First a P.S. I think I fixed the videos in my last post so you should look at them now =). 

So, this little day trip was just so fun that I thought it needed it's own separate post. On Saturday, June 11, The Tay Team and I went on a little day hike and picnic with the Olsons. Elder Olson went to dental school at UCLA with my mom and introduced her to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later baptized her. They are on a mission in Mexico City and are in the same ward as Ie Mei.

We had our picnic lunch at a stone table in the sun.  Sandwiches, chips, granola bars and crackers were some of the items on the menu.

There is an ex-convent in the park that we took a little tour of. Elder Olson is quite familiar with this place these days and gave us a great tour.

The building was beautiful, the rose gardens were exquisite and the tunnels were exciting. The Olsons, like I said, are familiar, so they were prepared with flashlights for us to see where we were going. Occasionally we turned them off and I couldn't see anything. Those tunnels gave a new meaning to the term "pitch black."

We then hiked a little to some hermitas which were little cabins that the monks would stay in for periods of a month. I'm not exactly sure, but I believe a lot of the monks were under a vow of silence at the convent and they would take turns staying in these hermitas during their silence.

 We played at the little playground and those Tay Team kids are just something else. Siblings and families are just wonderful.

Sorry that you're blurry, Mylee, but everyone can still see your smiling face shining through!

So, if you're in Mexico City sometime, make the Tay Team take you to Desierto de los Leones because it was one of my favorite places to see. 

Recent Ramblings on Mexico

This is going to be jumbled up because it's been a little while since I've blogged, but I just wanted to share some highlights from the past little while. In no particular order:

Mexico Traffic is still crazy and hilarious. I think it's funny how when a traffic light goes out everyone starts honking their horns. Last I checked, honking doesn't make the traffic lights work. But I guess I understand if they just really want to let their stress out, I'd probably end up honking my horn too if I was stuck in gridlock in Mexico City.

The other day we picked Brad up from work and we saw this:

That is a trailer that has lot its owner. A trolebus (trolley bus) is trying to squeeze past it to get to its next stop. A few minutes later we located the truck. I'm not sure how the trolebus managed to squeeze past this...perhaps it didn't and was the cause for Mexico City's traffic that day.

Last weekend Brad and Ie Mei went on a romantic getaway. I watched the four little ones. Sometimes I become super uptight auntie and boss them around which is really mean, so I made sure to just be fun. The kids went to bed around 10 PM on Friday and I let them watch star wars 3 times in a 24 hour period. But, we did do some fun things like have a picnic in the back yard. 

Ailee had this to say about it:

Jackson's been dying for me to put up videos. So, this is for Jackson mostly, not because I want to show off how good I am at sword duels, because that is clearly not the case.

I am going to miss tacos off the street: this was my third and final time having Mexican street food, well for this visit at least. I hope to come back and eat it again soon.

We've had plenty of fun in the kitchen making everything from beef and broccoli to orange rolls to rainbow cake! Pictures of rainbow cake to come.

Last Friday we went to the most beautiful outdoor mall. It had a bunch of ritzy stores but that's not the reason it  felt like heaven. It was the most beautiful day and it was early evening and the sun was setting and they have fountains everywhere and it's so peaceful and basically, I just wouldn't mind taking a stroll around that mall every night this summer. Maybe it's just the summer air that I love so much.

I meant to post this while I was in Mexico, but now I'm home so I will have to post a couple more about Mexico from California, but enjoy these random things!

Best Friends

Ever since I was born, I've had a best friend. His name is Jonathan Reagan West. He has always taken care of me.

Today he is 23 years old. 

We're less than two years apart and I hear that we never fought and that we used to play really well together. 

We still do. 

We have a lot of memories together. Like in pre-school when our school put on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As you can see, I'm a lovely little flower. Jonathan was Doc. I remember Mom made our costumes. Jonathan wore a white beard and stuffed a pillow under his shirt so he would have a round belly.

 We danced and sang together. Ie Mei got married when I was 8 and Jonathan was 10. We sang at her wedding. You know that cute little rendition of L-O-V-E from The Little Rascals that Waldo and Darla perform? Yeah. We sang that. 

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful brother who I get along with and who always takes care of me. He is one of the most kind, caring, intelligent, loving boys I know. He is a great brother, son, uncle and friend. I am so proud of him and all the hard work he has done throughout his life. He is a great example to me. Happy Birthday Jonathan! I love you!

Pictures found in Ie Mei's photo album here in Mexico City. 

Girls Only

This past weekend, Ie Mei and I went on a little girls trip with some ladies from the English-speaking ward. 

Just a heads up, this is kind of lengthy, so feel free to just look at the pictures. We embarked on our adventure to Puebla at about 8:30 AM on Friday and arrived at our destination around 11:00.

We ate at the most delicious sandwich shop for lunch. If you're ever in Puebla, Mexico, I highly recommend you go and eat here. Cemitas Las Poblanitas.

You see those spicy looking things? I put those in my sandwich. They were delicious, but I did work up quite a sweat eating them.

Puebla is famous for a type of pottery called Talavera, so after lunch we visited a workshop where they showed us the whole process.

 It's amazing how these artists paint everything freehand. Everything was beautiful. Later that day we walked through a lot of different Talavera shops and Ie Mei bought me a serving plate for my late birthday present. I may be biased, but I think my plate is the most beautiful piece that came home in our van.

Puebla has the most beautiful colored buildings with these cute stone sidewalks. This is my favorite picture of the trip. I just love my sister. She is beautiful.

Right after this beautiful picture was taken, we had a crazy hail storm. 

Being a Californian, and it being spring and all, I was of course wearing flip flops, but it eventually died down and we were able to visit some churches and go to dinner at an Italian/Poblano restaurant. Puebla is also famous for its mole which is a chocolate chili sauce. I figured I had to try it. Not my favorite, but I'm glad I tried something new. The churches on the other hand were lovely and I really did like those. 

By the time we were back at our hotel we were ready to pass out. The next morning we ate breakfast and we were on our way to Tecali, the Onix capital of the world. Ok, I made that up, but we shopped for hours and hours looking at all these different shops with all the same things made of onix. I found some good finds though. 

After all the shopping, I was glad to take a break and take a look at the church. I love this picture of this cute church with the bright blue sky. 

We walked down the street to the convent which is now ruins and it was really cool. It hasn't had a roof in I don't know how many years so now instead of an interior floor with stone, it is a beautiful grassy field. 

It was such a nice weekend with my sister and I'm glad I was able to visit so many interesting sites. The only down side is the sickness that Ie Mei and I have been experiencing all last night and today, but other than that it was a delightful, delicious, de-lovely trip. Thank you Ie Mei Lynn for a wonderful weekend!