Family time...

This past weekend Fernando and I were able to spend some time with his parents. Friday evening after work Fernando and I headed on our old path back to the home in Kearns to meet up with the Espejo parents. We met up with them at the house and then headed out to see "Hulk". Yes, now please keep in mind this would be the second time seeing this movie. Why you ask would we see it a second time? Well Fernando doesn't want to miss a thing, as well anytime he can get to share a movie with someone in his life he will jump on it. He loves to watch others experience things for the first time as well. We had a nice time with the Espejo clan, in fact you can always enjoy a movie with mom and dad especially since you can always count on something in the beginning of the adventure to make you laugh or smile.

So picture this we are at the house and I see my mother in-law grab an empty plastic back and stick it in her pocket. I think nothing of it and we are on our way. We purchase our tickets and then head for the necessity's popcorn and drinks. We purchase the large bag of popcorn the one with the free refill that nobody is ever able to refill, because they cant even get through the first one. We grab our sodas, large water for me (trying to behave), and head off to find our seats. Of course for me before entering into the theatre with a large water I figure I better stop in the restroom. So after visiting the little ladies room I head into the theatre to meet up with the fam, and what do I notice, dads gone, where is he?? Hmmmm I think to myself, and then I look at mom she has a plastic bag full of something, oh wait its popcorn. Yes that is right, the in laws have won the system!!! They are thinking on their feet. We got our free refill and we were all able to enjoy popcorn. Genius if you ask me. Hmmmm we Utah families think of everything. Although it was funny, because both Fernando and I looked at each other and smiled. Hmmm I wonder if we too will do that with our children?? Ahhhhhh good times.

The following day was Saturday and Fernando and I had made an agreement to work on the house. So after doing a few things in the morning and eating breakfast (we always need our breakfast) we embarked on the joys of laying more wood laminate. Fernando and I had been working on the task at hand when to my surprise my in laws show up to help. Yes I say surprise, not in a bad way, but honestly I had no idea that they were coming. Come to find out they talked about it the night before at the movie, but I didn't hear it (or should I say understand it, Spanish is not my strong suit, still working on it). Anyway I was happy to have them there. So after figuring out what we were all going to do I was able to get mom to help me paint the trim white and dad helped Fernando measure and cut the flooring. Although after those two had been working on the flooring for a while and making quite a few mistakes we came to the conclusion that they don't work so well together. Meaning they don't measure, and cut well together. By them selves as a solo Fernando they can handle it, but for some reason when you put Fernando Jr and Fernando Sr together and try to have them measure the same thing it comes up too short. They were able to work through this though and were able to get most of the hallway and closet done. What a task. Thank you mom and dad for your help!! We love you both!

Mom working hard!!
Fernando Sr. and Fernando Jr. trying to measure twice cut once!

Summer Nights and Nature

Summer nights are one of my favorite things. Some of my most wonderful memories of childhood are those of playing outside as the sun is going down and the night is starting to cool off. I would ride my bike around the neighborhood as fast as I could thinking that nothing could pass me. These are some of the simple things that I love and enjoy.

Even to this day I love just sitting on my porch and watching and listening. Watching and listening to the birds. I love to just sit, think, relax as well as enjoy the time as it goes by. I could honestly spend hours on my porch in the evening, not saying a thing. I know it sounds weird, but try it. Right before the sun goes down in the evening just sit outside and enjoy hearing the beautiful sounds out there. Looking at nature and enjoying life. I love to sit on the grass as well as walk barefoot through the cool grass. I would have to say I am somewhat of a nature lover. Especially of all things that are green. Green grass, and trees these are some of the things that truly make me happy. If I could just have a small little retreat in my backyard to sit and relax, and enjoy nature my life would be perfect. I would have to say I am somewhat of a tree hugger. That's what happens when your first few years in life get to start in Oregon, one of the most beautiful states I know. I have included some pictures of around the house, as well as my experimenting with my camera.

My Dad...

So being as fathers day is just around the corner and I came across these photos. Well I thought I would say a little something about him.


My dad is a man that would give the shirt off his back to help another, especially his children. My dad has been such a great help with the Espejo's new adventure of owning a home. Without him so many things wouldn't be possible. First he was there to help us take out the old nasty carpet, (along with Mom and Melisa don't want there help to go un-recognized) He was there to help us tear down the wall as well as build a wall again. He has helped us take down a tree so our home owners insurance wouldn't be cancelled, climbing it and all. He has just been such a big help, and has really made it possible for Fernando and I to reach our dreams.



Thank you Dad for all of your help.








Dad working hard!





Dad posing up in the tree for me.

Closing of the weeklong vacation

So Fernando and I have been enjoying a week long vacation in the walls of our own home. We had decided that since buying a home and spending most of our money on trying to fix it up (as I am sure you can see from the pictures below that it needs to be done) we cant really justify spending more money on traveling. So instead we enjoyed a little vacation at home. It was nice Fernando and I spent some time together being lazy as well as each of us spent some time doing things on our own.

We were both able to sleep in which is nice especially since we are so used to being up in the morning at 5a.m.. In fact this last week was perfect weather for sleeping in. Rainy weather. Cuddling up in your blankets and watching a nice movie is ideal on a rainy morning, and it was really nice to actually be able to do it other then be at work thinking about how it would be nice.

Something else Fernando and I were able to do is start on the adventures of laying wood laminate. So the plan for the last couple weeks was for Fernando's dad, Fernando Sr. to come over and help us lay this flooring due to the fact that he has expertise and experience in this process. Well Fernando Sr. ended up having to have knee surgery due to some broken cartilage and things. It all happened so sudden. Last thing I knew he was having physical therapy for his knee and now he is getting surgery done. Well long story a little bit shorter. He had his surgery and is doing great, but unfortunately for us he wont be working on any flooring in the near future. So with that being said Fernando and I took it upon us the task of laying the floor. We both did our homework that is for sure. We both took time to read the instructions yes I know I didn't studder we read the instructions (that is one of the things I love about Fernando he will do his research) and Fernando borrowed his dads saw, which honestly I was a little leery and nervous about Fernando using and whether or not he had the capabilities when it comes to power tools. In our 4 years of marriage I have never witnessed Fernando using power tools, other then a drill to hang pictures on the wall or such. So lets just say my confidence in his power tool knowledge wasn't very high. I know, I know...that is terrible how can you not have faith in your husband. Welllll its difficult I am somewhat of a perfectionist and I want this house to be beautiful..floor included. So I decided to get over my fears and just have a little faith in Fernando, and lets just see what he can do, and well he proved me wrong. Fernando has just opened the door for projects to come. He knows how to handle his power tools! I know this sounds silly, but it is comforting to know that if we had to build an ark...well Fernando could hold his own. Although I really don't want to pay for the materials for a project like that.

Fernando working hard!

Flooring starting too look like a floor!! yahoo!!

My new kitchen is just about done!!!

Just another view.

Small little improvements with lots of help

Well I thought I better post some updates on the coming of the home since the first set of pictures may leave some of you thinking....uhhhh why did they buy that house? Yes, I know, I sometimes might think that same thing myself. I'm sorry the below information is somewhat brief and maybe even out of order on the timeline, but it seems like this was done a few months ago so its somewhat difficult to go back. Oh wait it was done months ago...hmmmm I am very much ready to move forward. So here is just a quick recap along with some pictures to help keep you up to date.


Well we have been busy. We had all new windows put in. Which has halved our energy bills which is very nice for the budget. We have also removed all of the carpet and the entire kitchen, including a wall. Yes a wall! We actually removed the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room, making it somewhat more open. With the help of family and friends we are moving right along. We have our new kitchen cabinets in as well as our new dishwasher.....yahoooo. Yes I know I am excited about a dishwasher, but when you don't have one for over a year you start to miss the small things.


We have painted most everything including my nephew Cameron and are working on getting the flooring in...what I mean by this is we have purchased the flooring and well it is sitting in a room just waiting to be installed. My little time line has become a lot bigger then I really wanted it to.

Cameron and Fernando working hard on priming the kitchen.




Cameron realizing that he has paint on his shoe...and keeps saying to me. "my shuuueee" " my shuuee". Hope Melisa isn't upset I did warn her before she dropped him off that we would be painting.



Slave labor is great...now I remember why we are supposed to have children. Mind you we were babysitting when putting him to work. Fernando and I are very mean aunt and uncle.




This is looking into the kitchen from the stair well. you can see that the wall is gone.



A view with the wall gone as well as my lovely appliances sitting in the living room entry way.



Another view from the hallway looking towards the staircase. If you notice to the left we added a sliding glass door to open up the dining room even more.
Melisa, Mom, and Fernando working hard at painting the house. Yes Fernando describes the color as "baby blue". I hope my whole house doesn't look like a baby boys bedroom.




Daja and Melisa getting the little details done.




Aunt Tammy working in the closet.


Might I just say thanks to all of you who have helped us so far in making Fernando and my dreams come true. We truly do appreciate it! We love you all.

Our "roots" are being planted.

So this is all new so I feel like I need to give you all a little bit of an update as well as some history into the Espejo family life.


In February Fernando and I were able to reach a goal that we have wanted to accomplish for some time. We were able to purchase a home. Some might say why would you want to make a commitment like this? Why would you want to be locked in to a home with a mortgage to tie you down? Well we asked ourselves this quite some many times, and weighed the pros and cons and honestly came to the conclusion of wanting to establish some "roots". Fernando and I have lived in 4 different places in the last 4 years of marriage and we now feel like we have a place to call our own.


We started our first year of marriage in Ogden. We liked our little basement apartment, but found it hard to think that Fernando was only making such a little amount of $$ and paying the price for commuting back and forth to Salt Lake was somewhat silly. So I started out looking for a job in Salt Lake so that we can have a central location for all of life's adventures. A year or so had passed and I was able to find a job in Salt Lake as well, and well I found the job and within a week or two we moved to Salt Lake (Rose Park to be exact). Now that was an adventure. Fernando and I lived there happily for a little over a year and had a few ups and downs happen. After about a year of living in Salt Lake Fernando and I decided it was time to make a sacrifice and move in with the in-laws to save some money so we might be able to accomplish some goals. So we packed our bags and thanks to my big sis' Melisa moved most of our stuff into a cheap storage "unit" (some might call a free basement). We then lived for a little over a year in a small home in Kearns, Utah. Fernando and I had one bedroom in a house of 3 bedrooms. We had one bedroom for our office, living room and sometimes dining room. It was tight, but we made it work. Some may say that living with your in-laws could possibly end your relationship, but honestly it was good for us. It was great insight into the Espejo's and really helped me see where Fernando is coming from. I was able to learn a few things from my mother in-law. However I wish I would have learned more. She is a great cook! After living with my in-laws for a little over a year we were able to find a home.


We found a home in Clearfield, Utah.... I know, I know isn't that where you grew up. Yes, pretty darn close. Ok lets just put it like this. I can walk to my mom and dads. Now this wasn't planned to live this close to my mom and dad, although I don't mind. The plan was to find something somewhat close to mom and dad as well as Melisa due to the fact that childcare (I'm not announcing anything just thinking ahead) is always a little cheaper with family. So here it is we found a nice home with a lot of potential. Please keep this in mind as you look at the attached pictures. We have already began working on the home and it is looking better and better every day. The home is a rambler with a full basement. We have 3 bedrooms with one bathroom upstairs and 2 bedrooms downstairs with a partial bathroom (meaning they put the toilet in and a sink, but that's it!). We have a good size laundry room (I never thought that would mean anything to me) with a sink for spot cleaning some of those spills (Fernando has tendency of getting something on his shirt). The yard is a good size yard. The home sits on a corner lot and lets just say it has a lot of "potential". Well enough talk, here are the pictures.














The front of the home with all the snow!


Living room as you walk in the front door. I know I know you love my designer carpet!

Another view of the living room looking to the hallway and bedrooms.

Kitchen with my plastic cupboards, and no dishwasher!


Dining room with the lovely geese border.


The basement. Yes we actually paid extra for that lovely arch way in the middle of the family room....uh huh

A "mirror" into the life of the Espejo family

Well today is a new day. I have admired many peoples blogs. Somewhat of a blog stocker reading sweet life events and adventures that familys have, and realized it is time for me to start into this new adventure. So here it goes. Just a little glimpse or look into the Espejo family through Heathers eyes.