"You can close your eyes it's alright..."

The other morning, early--6-ish...I woke up from the worst nightmare. Ever. In the history of my bad dreams...it was horrifying.

I sat straight up, gasping, reeling, in utter shock. I couldn't get the images out of my head. Ivan woke up, turned on the light, held me until I could finally cry it out.

I sobbed---hard--- and left a tear puddle on his t-shirt.

He held me tight, stroked my hair and told me everything was alright, and that he would protect me, and our future babies. (BTW---baby dreams are the WORST! AHHHH!) and then he put on a funny movie to help me be distracted, while I snuggled into his shoulder and thought, "What a lucky, lucky, lucky...lucky girl am I."

I married the perfect guy for me - Part 1

{Image by Sarah Mick}

So with the melding of two cultures we've learned that there is a wealth of pop-culture, and delicious favorite indulgences that we like to share with each other.

 For Ivancito, he wants to make sure our future kids know El Raton Vaquero...and Cri Cri

I want to make sure our kids have Danny Kaye singing Hans Christian Andersen.

 

 As far as holiday traditions, well...we're still figuring that out. I have a feeling it will involve me making room in my traditional English+Scandinavian Christmas brain for fireworks, and spicy food.

As far as movies, (a big part of my family culture) Ivan has always been so willing to let me grab whatever I want at the local library and watch it with me. He's always so appreciative and open to my weird sensibilities, and movie tastes. 

I mean, this is the guy who turned to me after watching "Rear Window" and said, "Wow, thank you! I don't know if I would have watched that on my own. Thank you for that opportunity." 

Seriously? You're thanking me for introducing you to Hitchcock? I love this guy. MARRY ME! Oh, wait...

Don't ask me why, but I feel it necessary to prep him with classic Americana culture, not only for it's constant referencing in modern day, but because for the most part it's pretty dang good filmmaking!

Today was one of my all time favorites, "It's A Wonderful Life" ---and now after watching it together Ivan asked me if we could purchase it, to have a copy of our own in our library and watch it every Thanksgiving.

Uh...YES. 

I love you, and YES!

Good Stuff Maynard!

I think it's fair to say, we needed a break...far too many tests this week!

Thursday night called for an impromptu date. A night for contemplation, for beauty,  for art!

 

{Diana's Throne, Maynard Dixon}

So Ivan and I went to the MOA. 

{Grinning some more at Maynard...}

 We visited some "old friends" (Kershisnik's Nativity) and sat in our favorite thinking spots....

We were impressed by quilts....

 and giant strata of book art.

{ Oh hello, Georgia!}

As you can see, the art had quite a calming physical effect.

What do you do when you're maxed out and stressed out with school?

And that's what you get for eating fast food!

In an effort to play by the rules, and NOT drive our car (registration expired...don't worry, come Monday, all will be well!) we borrowed our sister's car.

We had to go up to Salt Lake to meet with our lawyer, and get all our papers going for the Greencard process.

On the way home, during a low-blood sugar moment...we stopped at Wendy's. OKAY! We admit it! AND it was DELICIOUS! Mmmmm fat. Mmmmm factory beef. 

But...getting out of the car...something happened. Ivan pushed the locked button? I opened the door too late? The car alarm gods decided to have some fun?

Whatever. The alarm was going like gangbusters, right by the speaker for the Wendy's drive through. The manager came out to see if we could do anything. 

-"You see, it's really loud." 

"Yeah, we noticed that too!"

The panic button was far away in Orem...on a keyring, taunting us. We had no way to turn it off!

There were no tools to disconnect the wires with...so in a genius move, that Mcgyver would have been impressed with, Ivan punctured the wire with a tack that Kaje found in her purse. 

Teamwork!

We flashed our lights all the way home--but at least the sound was gone. 

We joked, wouldn't it be hilarious if we were pulled over after trying so hard to be on the up-and up?

Luckily the po-po didn't find our sudden hazard lights, and us cracking up as we drove down the freeway as suspicious. 

UPDATE: The car (named Jimmy) made it safely home, and had it's security wire restored, and the alarm successfully turned off with the right button.

And with that..we leave you with an uncomfortable looking ad from the 1950s...

"Uh honey, could you stop messing with your car and pay attention to me now?"

"My my! That's a big bottle..."

Muy Rico!

 

 Once upon a time, Ivancito turned the big 3-0. 

We love to cook together, and that night was no exception. Stuffed chicken breast, lime rice, beans, and a key lime pie ( in place of a birthday cake) 

As Ivan likes to say, "So TASTY!"

Herein we document...

 Meet Ivan, my husband, chief griller, back-rub expert, funny guy,  and love. 

This is what he looked like, moments before he asked me to marry him--for the 2nd time.

I should probably clarify. 

He had asked me, I had said yes. He didn't have a ring at the time (just followed his heart)...

He surprised me, at Pemaquid Point, Maine. 

Our lives are sifted through cultures and countries, but we both believe that home is wherever you are. We've embarked on a pretty crazy cool life together. 

Over the next 10 months be we'll be in Utah, Maine & Hawaii--so to keep a record of our adventures we've started this blog.