Reanne is a Teenager!!

Reanne turned 13! Can you believe it? I can't. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was holding her as a baby. She is growing SOOOO fast!!! She is catching up up to me! 

So her birthday was on the 9th... but I was out of town a lot this month, so it just didn't happen. Better late than never though huh? This year I let her choose if she wanted to go to Sodalicious again or if she wanted to go to the Sweet Tooth Fairy. She chose the Sweet Tooth Fairy. 

I didn't realize until we got there that they had moved and I didn't know where they had moved to. Probably because they just moved last month. I had to look it up on their Facebook page, but turns out they just moved to Center Street where I am sure they get a lot more action. I like their new location. 

She picked we chatted the whole way there and back, she picked out a cupcake and we watched a beautiful sunset together. It was fun. Reanne is so smart, talented, funny, creative, thoughtful and is turning into such a beautiful young woman. Such a pleasure to be her Aunt. Happy Late Birthday! Love you Reanne. 

Sunday's at the Park

I really love living next to such a big and nice park. The weather has been so nice lately... especially for February. It feels like Spring! I love it. So today after church... I took one of my hammock's to the park and a blanket and I hung my hammock in the sun and I took a nap. HEAVEN!!! I'm hoping for LOTS more of this. It's the best. So many things that I love... the park, good weather, my hammock, naps... yep. Great day.

Gunnison Cemetery

Today my friend Amber and I were coming back from a little day trip to some hot springs. We decided to take a different way back and ended up driving through Gunnison.

Gunnison is the city we always came to visit when we went to Utah growing up because that is where my grandparents on my mom side lived. I thought that was what all of Utah was like and I thought... who would ever want to live there? ha ha. I NOW see why people love living here. :)

While driving through I told Amber my grandparents were buried and so she said, want to stop? I hadn't seen the grave since my grandma passed away in summer of 2002. So we stopped so I could go say hi to my Grandparents. It was nice.

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Still great weather!! I'm not sad about that. I hope it stays, but I know it won't. I'm guessing there will be at least one more snow storm.

I already blogged all about my weekend with Leo. It was a super fun weekend. It is amazing how 2 strangers can hit it off that well right away. It's awesome when that happens. I wished that happened more in my dating. Oh well, enjoy it while it lasts. Now we chat on WhatsApp and Messenger at work... but of course there is a 5 hour time difference. I'm sure it will fade the longer he is home. He will forget all about me.

I was sucked in to documentary that everyone is watching. "How to make a Murder". I was so festinated by it and it really made me question the justice system. After I finished watching that, I have just been watching random movies on Netflix. In fact, I ran across this one... on Netflix it is called "Heaven is Waiting" but it is actually called "Midway to Heaven". Not sure why they changed the name. Anyway, I thought it looked interesting... knowing nothing about it. The first scene shots I recognized... it was Midway Utah and I was able to watch a movie put on by Mormons... not put out but the church, but made by members. I was correct. I laughed out loud when Michelle Money came on the screen. She is from Brad's second season of The Bachelor... which is the first season I started watching that show. Then I saw Kirby. It was a VERY cheesy film.... which was to be expected. I also watched this movie called "The Last 5 Years" which I also knew nothing about.... it was a musical and I had NO idea. And oddly enough I knew the first song. I had downloaded it YEARS ago not knowing what it was from. I need to find a new show to watch.

This week I started back up on the Fast Metabolism diet again with my cousin Lisa. We text each other everyday and cheer each other on. The first week is so hard. I'm hungry all of the time, I don't have as much energy, I get so tired and I have had headaches some nights... probably because I was addicted to sugar and my body is detoxing. Sad huh? Hopefully next week is easier. It is nice to know I'm not going through it a lone though. Always easier with a support system. Before you see results, it's hard to keep going. I weighed myself on Monday and it was DEPRESSING!!! So that in itself is motivating, at least for the first week. Hopefully the number goes down enough on the scale to keep motivating me through the weeks. Lisa just keeps sending me bikini emoji's. That's all you have to send to get the point across. That is our goal... is by this summer to be laying on the beach in bikini's. It is a great goal, I have never done that in my life. ha ha. We will see if I get there. Hopefully I do. I would love to feel that confident.

Wednesday I went over to my parents house because our long time family friend since I was a baby, Sue Brown, was in town and I wanted to say hi and chat. It had been years and it was so good to see her. She is so great. So fun to be around.

Wednesday night I also met up with my friend Lexi for dinner. We caught up and are thinking about taking a trip together now that she is single again. I'm always game. She is great so I think it would be fun.

Tonight I met up with Daniel and Becky at the Outdoor Expo in Provo. We were all super pumped to go because we are all outdoor people and went on a lot of adventures together this last summer and hopefully lots more this summer. We all loved it and plan on going back tomorrow because we didn't have enough time to see everything, but I ended up buying a couple of things I am excited about.

Monday I got my hair done. Nicole of course always does an amazing job. She kept my hair more red this time. I don't mind. I haven't not liked ANYTHING she has done to my hair so far in the last 6 years or however long she has been doing my hair. Love her. Plus we have a blast talking and catching up on life.

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One more pic from my trip to NorCal. <3

Friday Sunset with Leo

Took Leo to see the sunset at Utah Lake (my favorite spot) in hopes that we would get a beautiful sunset. AND WE DID!!! It was the prettiest one that I had seen there at the lake. He loved it, so that is what matters. I loved it too. It was the perfect start to the weekend. I can never get enough of sunsets.

When Tracy met Leo

It was just an average Wednesday at the office. I was working, had my headphones on and was sucked into "How to Make a Murder". All of the sudden, I hear my boss calling my name from across the room. I go over to her to see what she needs.

Boss: "Leo, this is Tracy. She just went to Brazil in December. Tracy, show him your Brazil video"

Me: "What an embarrassing introduction" but I do what I'm told and we pull up my Brazil video on the computer so Leo can watch and laugh at me who he just met and knows nothing about.

Leo then asks me questions about where I went and this and that.

Boss: (talking to Leo) "Ok, since Tracy made a video in Brazil, YOU should make a video while you are here"

Leo: "Ummm.... I'm not much of a dancer"

Boss: "Oh, who cares, it would be so fun."

Both of us not thinking she is serious just laugh.

Boss: "Leo, what are your plans Friday night?"

Leo: "I don't have any"

Boss: "Perfect! Tracy, do you have plans Friday night?"

Me: "Umm, nope, I don't have any plans yet".

Boss: "Perfect, you both are going to leave at 2:30 on Friday. I'll show Duane (Leo's boss) the Brazil video and tell him that is why you guys need to leave early on Friday. He will be fine with it"

There is something about her that people just do what she tells them to do. So apparently this is happening. I don't know if Leo and I are excited to make a video, but I'm excited to leave early on Friday to go play outside and Leo is excited to see some of Utah because so far, all he has seen is the office and downtown Provo where his hotel is. I also didn't mind the fact that Leo was pretty cute. Yeah... I'll spend time with him.

Are you wondering who Leo is and where he came from and why he was here? Yep, me too. I wasn't given any of this information. He was just introduced to me and then we were assigned to spend time together and make a video. He had a British accent, so I thought maybe he was coming from our office in England, but had just spent time in Brazil. I wasn't sure.

Thursday comes and I am trying to think of where I can take him. Did he bring hiking clothes? I'm not sure of anything, so I find him on the work instant messenger and send him a message saying... Hey! I'm the one that is taking you around tomorrow, did you bring hiking clothes? Just trying to plan for tomorrow. He responds saying he would love to hike and asked me if I had plans that night. I said no. He asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him. I said yes. So we had a date for dinner that night.

So later that night we went to Guru's for dinner. This is when I found out his story. He is 30 and single. He grew up in Brazil. He works in our office in Sao Paulo. He was hired 6 months ago so he came out to meet people and for training. He has always loved English and wanted to learn and become fluent, so he lived in England for 3 years... which is why he has the British accent. I don't cover Brazil at work, which is why I had never even heard of him and never would have met him if it were not for my boss throwing us together. I also learned that we had a TON in common. We hit it off right away. We both love to travel, we love couch surfing and hostels and meeting new people and seeing new places. He is funny and sarcastic and we laughed through dinner and had so much to talk about, so we continued the conversation up at the view point by the Y. He hadn't been anywhere but work since he got to Utah (which is also his first time to the USA) and had not had anyone to hang out with, so he was very grateful. He was a blast, so it was my pleasure. We decided to commit to this video and tried to pick a song that night and couldn't choose.

Friday morning I woke up to a text from Leo. He had chosen a song for our video. I went to work excited to be done so I could leave early and explore with Leo. After hitting it off and having such a great night the night before, we were both excited to spend more time together.

We filmed the first part of our video in the office with co-workers. Then I took him up to Bridal Veil Falls. After that we went to Utah Lake to watch the Sunset... and boy did we get a beautiful one! Then after that the Provo City Temple. After all of that excitement we were hungry so we went out to dinner. Then back up to the view point. We were still not done hanging out so we went to my house to hang out. We talked and laughed for hours. I loved spending time with Leo. Kissing may or may not have happened.

We were having so much fun together that we decided to spend Saturday together as well.... until he had to be at the airport to fly back to Brazil anyway. We went out to Breakfast, I took him to Sodalicious, I took him up Big Cottonwood Canyon and then I took him to the airport. He kissed me goodbye and then that was it. We had only spent a few days together, but I was going to miss spending time with Leo. Who knows when or if I will see him again. I guess he will probably come back to the office at some point in the future.... and I have an invitation to stay with him Brazil if I ever decided to and he would take me around. Guess time will tell. I didn't think I would see Alessandra again so soon after hosting her and Deb in the spring. All I know is... Leo wasn't super excited to be in Utah because he didn't think there was anything to do and he was bored up until we got pushed together. Now he is excited to come back and explore more of Utah. So I did my job right.

What a random, spontaneous, fun and eventful weekend. I didn't see it coming, but I'm sure glad it did. And THAT is the story of when Tracy met Leo.

Dancing through the Office

Story of this video to come....

The Redwoods

When Alessandra asked me if I wanted to explore Northern California, I immediately said yes and told her that I REALLY wanted to see the Redwoods. I have been wanting to see them for a long time. Can you blame me? They are so magical.

I wasn't aware before this trip, but there's the Redwood National Park, and then there's the Redwood State Park. Because we were running out of time and had to head back to Oakland, we didn't go to the National Park. I still want to do that. We did however go through the state park. We drove through the Avenue of the Giants which is a freeway you can take that you drive through redwoods for miles. It is pretty amazing. I loved it.

We also stopped to see the Redwood you can drive through and the Redwood tree houses.

I really did fall in love with Northern California. So beautiful. I defiantly want to go back to the Redwoods, especially the National Park next time and spend more time there. It would be amazing to camp there. next time...

NorCal

I didn't quite finish blogging about my trip to Northern California. It blows my mind that I never explored up there before now. It is SOOOOO beautiful there! We did a ton of driving, but I didn't even mind because it was all so beautiful. Alessandra took pictures while I drove. She did an amazing job. Here is just a little bit of what you will see while driving around beautiful Northern California.

I'm excited to go back sometime in the near future.

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It has warmed up to 40's 50's!!! Feels like Spring and it's still only February. So great. I hope it keeps this way....it probably won't, but a girl can hope right? It made it not so bad to come back to after being in 80's in California over the weekend. That was SO nice. My plan to leave to warmer weather during winter as often as possible to help me get through it has been working. Winter hasn't seemed so bad...and when I am in it I can enjoy snowshoeing.

I think I have covered my weekend pretty well in previous posts. Being in Southern California this last weekend was heaven. The drive there in my Grandma's tiny car was interesting... but we survived it. It was so fun to spend time with my cousins Lisa and Dave. I slept at Lisa's house and we got caught up AND I got to hold her new born baby (#9 of her kids) Emma who is the most precious beautiful little baby. I love babies. I was in heaven. Lisa also had me drinking the most Diet Mt. Dew that I think I have ever consumed in one weekend. Ha! We are so alike. While is why we are starting our diet together again next week. I'm excited and not at the same time. If I can get through the first week, I think I will be able to keep going. Just so hard to change at first and cut out sugar. OH how I wish I didn't love sugar so much. ugh. The next day my Grandma's Memorial service was very sweet. I miss her. It's hard to say goodbye to someone you love so much. I am so glad I was able to attend the service though. It was beautifully done. It was nice to spend a couple of days at home in Santa Barbara. Sometimes I forget how much I miss being there until I go back and visit. It was nice to hang out with Lori and her family since I don't get to see them much and it was fun to spend a little time with my good friend Veda. I also loved having a 4 day weekend. 2 in a row! I spent more time in California in the past 2 weeks than I have in Utah. I don't hate that. Love both states so much. Both are home now.

Tuesday it was back at work, however I did get to leave early because I had an appointment for a check up on my car which I have to do where I bought my car because it's free, but that is in Layton and the don't take appointments past 4:30 which means I get to leave work at 3. :) It's not a fun reason to leave early though. I hate being in traffic going home, however, I DID get an AMAZING sunset on the way home. Utah Winter sunsets are seriously the best.

Wednesday I went and got a pedicure after work. It had been a long time and my feet needed it. I know... it's a high maintenance thing, but they do such a better job than I do myself. My feet get so rough with all the hiking I do and such.

Wednesday I was also introduced to someone at work, Leo. I didn't know who he was because we don't correspond at work, but he is visiting from our office in Brazil and came up to talk to someone on the orders team which I'm now part of that team since they made all the changes. My boss introduces us because I had just gone to Brazil and made me show him my video (a little bit of an embarrassing introduction to someone) and then told us we should do one. I'm not sure if he really wants to or not, but he agreed to it. So my weekend plans have just been made for me. Hanging out with a guy from Brazil that I just barely met. Should be interesting. Hopefully he is cool.

Did I mention already that I got my taxes done? I'm always happy when I get that out of the way. My refund will pretty much be the same, which is fine. What throws me off now when I do my taxes is when we switched over to Attachmate (before Micro Focus) I didn't change my insurance or my plan in anyway and I was defaulted to this health savings account, which I didn't realize. My boss (at the time) told me it was a good thing and I should keep it, so I have, but I don't use it. Anyway... it's been a pain with my taxes the last couple of years and I'm not sure why. I figured it out though and it's done and I'm getting money back, so that is pretty much all I care about.

I guess that is it for this week. It flew by with the long weekend. I also tend to keep myself pretty busy, which is a good thing. I hate just sitting at home all of the time. Although I like it at least once a week because that is when my roommate MacKenzie and I hang out and catch up on all of our shows. It's our thing and I enjoy it.

Another week of Winter done. Another week where it is staying lighter a little bit later. YEA!!! I can feel Spring around the corner and I am ready!

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Close up of the greenery on a fallen redwood.

Knapps Castle with Veda

While I was in Santa Barbara, I was able to catch up with my good friend Veda. She drove up to my sisters house and we chatted while sitting in the hammock and then decided to take a little trip down the road to Knapps Castle. It had been YEARS since I had been there.

I brought the hammock just in case there was a place to hang it, because that is what I always do now. Little did I know what an awesome spot it would be to hang the hammock. The sides were too wide to tie around, so I looped it over the top, which I had never done before, but it worked out perfectly.

Loved catching up with Veda, it was the perfect little outing.

Presidents Weekend at Lori's

After San Clemente with the cousins and Aunts and Uncles, my parents and I headed to Santa Barbara to stay at Lori's house for the rest of the weekend. I'm never sad to go back home to Santa Barbara. We were not there for very long, so we didn't do a ton, but Lori still made sure we had some fun.

We went on a beautiful walk on the ranch after church on Sunday. It was such a beautiful day and everything was so green!

I also brought my hammock, and I found the perfect spot to hang it in the yard to soak in some sun (before heading back to cold Utah) and relax and enjoy the beautiful view. Lori snapped some great pictures without me even knowing.

Lori also arranged for us to feed the calves on the ranch. I have always had a soft spot for animals... so I loved every minute of bottle feeding this calf. I mean.. how cute are they?!

What a great weekend!