our trip to cali

I can't believe it's been FOREVER since our last update!

Well, last week we went to California for a LA Dodger game.  That was sooo much fun!  

On the way there Friday night, while speeding on the California freeways, we listened to techno music and when the sun went down, we turned on/off all our lights and it was like a portable dance party.  It was hilarious!!!  Alex and Ryan were in the front and Kelsey and me were in the back.  She brought her computer (a Mac user; makes me smile) and I showed her some fun things to do...Photo Booth:

Needless to say, she enjoyed all the fun new things on her laptop. We got to Redondo Beach around 10pm at night and you could instantly smell the ocean right when we got out of the car. The temperature was a little cold, well, compared to Vegas...it was amazing! We stayed at the Redondo Beach Inn..or something like that. It was..nice. Hahaha. It was fine, really. Had everything we needed (except for, Kelsey noticed, a hairdryer).

The next morning right when we woke up, we went straight to the beach. It was seriously a block over so all we had to do was walk. Kyle ran straight into the ocean just screaming his head off. It had to have been the funniest thing we all have ever witnessed. When I finally got in the water, I got slammed by a wave and it hurt. Kelsey watched my back for the rest of what waves were coming my way. Kelsey and I threw a football around in the water and the boys played catch with the baseball. We were there for at least 6 hours...and my dumb self did not wear one ounce of sunscreen. Later on, I found how red I was and it was very, VERY painful. No joke. Lesson learned, oh, lesson learned.

Later on that night, we went to Dodger stadium (Max. capacity is 56,000) and from our view, it looked pretty packed!Our seats were sweet...even if the infield was a bit far away, we sat in the all-you-can-eat pavilion...that means unlimited hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and drinks! Soooo worth it!

The trip overall was amazing. California temperature was awesome. I only wish it could be the same here in Vegas! Hopefully we can go again soon...this time, it will be San Diego!

Much love, Alex & Barbara

P.S. Sorry if the photos are cut off.. I tried to make them fit as much as possible!

surprise!

Last night was Annie's surprise party!  I had sooo much fun!  It was nice to see all the family and friends.  Stephanie and Kayden had gotten there pretty early and were waiting in their car for us (we were on our way).  We got there and that's when we also ran into Kristen and Jason.  It was amazing to have us all there together to hang out and have fun.  Holly was home and her little Noelle was sitting in her little swing and I just had to hold the little darling!  She looked just like her daddy.  She's only about 4 months old and she is absolutely the cutest thing!  She was soo good when I was holding her and Stephanie pointed it out that my baby is going to look like Noelle.  Dark hair, light skin, and hopefully mine will have blue or green eyes... And here's the funny thing:  There was Ann, Stephanie, and Bethany (Ann's sister) who were all pregnant.  And then you had Holly and Eryn (her little Preston was such a big boy! And he's super handsome) who both just had babies so there was like, a "baby atmosphere" (so-to-speak) in the air.  All we did was talk about babies and giving birth and being pregnant, etc.  Kristen and I were seriously taking notes.  Then Kristen looked at me and asked me if we should really have babies...hahahaha! So true.

There's just so much to having a baby!  It's more than just your tummy growing out, inside-out belly buttons, and huge boobs...no kidding!  I noticed that Kristen and I had huge eyes as the girls were sharing their pregnancy stories and the issues that they all had to deal with.  Ooh, and then the topic of "sympathy weight"...and Brian totally has it =D  Annie said he'd get mad if we talked about it but it's just so darn cute!  When Ann eats, Brian eats.  It's good to see a little meat on his bones anyways!  

Sigh, then the night ended too soon.  Alex and I had to go because he had plans with Kyle and Ryan to go out into the desert and shoot their potato guns.  We all met at our house and we went way north on the 95, before the reservation, and we shot at signs and Kyle on a road that led to Mt. Charleston.  It was pretty cold and there was a slight wind that didn't make it any better, but it was still pretty fun.  Each boy had their gun, in some way, personalized.  Kyle's was sweet.  He had a short-barreled gun with a blinking indicator light (which Alex and Ryan used to their advantage as they were trying to shoot potatoes at him while he was running in the dark desert).  Alex had the long barrel, and Ryan's had his name on his (it was a one of those novelty license plates that had his name on it).  Two 10-pound bags of potatoes gone in about an hour.  Hilarious.  And then we did some off-roading and tail-whippin' around the dirt trails we had found in the same area.  

And all before the Sabbath.  Haha, we got home at 11:50pm.

Nothing but love,

Elax & Bearbara Kramah

P.S.  This post says I made it on Saturday...technically I started it yesterday, but I finished it today (Sunday) so the date is a day off. (Just an FYI)

we have a visitor!

Work is work.  I got to see Alex at his 1:30 appointment time and I ended up working on him today.  Of course, he was complaining with every move I made in his mouth (I did slip once, so he got me there =\)  But other than that, he's just a big baby. =]

After work, I went over to Stephanie's to help her install her infant car seat.  Let me tell you, I am definitely not strong enough for something like that.  Neither of us were able to get the seatbelt clicked...so we left it for her hubby (which I'm sure is plenty stronger [that make sense?] than we both were together).  It's so crazy how much goes into being pregnant and giving birth and nursing...there's just so much to it that I just don't understand!  I mean, I've never been around babies enough to know how to change a diaper or to be able to hold one correctly (I think that's the only thing I've done...)!  I'd be a nervous wreck if I were about to have a baby and I think it is hilarious that Stephanie is awaiting the day she pops!  She cannot wait to have her baby boy out of her and in her arms =]  I do have to admit that her tummy is the coolest thing I ever seen.  The little movements he makes and when I get to feel him jump and stuff...no words to explain how in awe I was!  And Stephanie could answer every question I had about being pregnant...and what everything was on her tummy and what its purpose was.  She's going to be an amazing mommy =]

Right now, I'm hanging out with my favorite boys - Alex & Kyle =]  Well, I'm just sitting with them while I'm on the computer updating my blog and they're watching the Laker/Jazz game (by the way its 82-82, Utah in the lead, with only 50 secs left).  It's actually a pretty intense game and I'm enjoying it.  I love these kinds of games!

Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to sitting in Cashman Field watching the Las Vegas 51's!  Woohoo!  Once again, with the boys - Alex, Kyle & Ryan.

Heartcha,

Barbara

day of rest

You wouldn't believe it.  I woke up this morning, went downstairs, and made breakfast.  Eggs, bacon, biscuits - the whole nine yards.  I even cooked Alex's favorite kind of eggs, over-easy.  Did I microwave my bacon? NO!  I actually cooked them on the skillet.  Now, you may be wondering why I'm making such a big deal out of this... if any of you know me, I am not a cook.  But this morning, I just had the feeling I wanted to make breakfast.  And I did!

Unfortunately, breakfast did run a little late and I was still in my pajamas and my hair was all frizzy and curly.  When breakfast was over, Alex and I had about 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave for sacrament.  Oops.  We went upstairs and got ready anyways, knowing we would probably miss the sacrament.  But I really wanted to go today even though I knew we were going to be late.

When we got there, we parked in the very, very back of the parking lot and as we walked into the chapel, we noticed that it was packed.  Overflow was even packed, so we just listened outside in the foyer from the overhead speakers.  We got to listen to the talks at least =]  

Gospel doctrine was a great class today.  The lady that taught it was a teacher so her organization was superb and I was able to follow.  We talked about how the scriptures are the most valuable things we have to stay close to our Heavenly Father and all the revelation given to Joseph Smith is a priceless treasure that we are to cherish.  

I don't know about what happened in Elder's Quorum, but in Relief Society, I sat next to Megan Smith - she's my new friend =]  She's 20 years old and is practically a newlywed (she's been married a little over a year) and her husband, Zack, happens to be Alex's home teaching companion!

That's the exciting part of the day - church!

Love,

Alex & Barbara

new & improved

I'd just have to say that I'm pretty proud of myself!  In the beginning, I looked at personalizing a blog with such angst that I put it off.  I saw all my friends' blogs (Jen's in particular) and realized to myself, "How come I can't do that??"  I personalized my own MySpace and I can't even start to personalize my blog.  Ugh.

But then Heidi made hers super cute recently, and I just had to follow suit.  She explained to me that she figured it out herself and that it was so simple.  Haha, so the teaching began...  Now I know how to add gadgets for slideshows, headers, etc.  And I've figured out how to use my own photos and whatnot.  

Thanks to everyone who inspired me to make my blog one-of-a-kind!

________________________

Alex, Ryan and a friend (I forgot his name!) went to Pioche this morning to go fishing and shooting.  I was supposed to go, but I decided last night at the last minute that I really wanted to sleep in and just relax and do absolutely nothing.  Plus, they were all boys and I'd be the only girl which totally justifies this other reason for not going...boys are gross  - and the fact that there are three of them... you get my point?

So I've been listening to music all morning ("Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey is the song of the moment) and working on my blog and that's been since 9:30am this morning.  Woow, didn't know it was already 2:30pm...  I've been at this for a while and I'm ready to take a shower and do something with the day!  Let's just hope I don't spend all my money (or the lack thereof).  

Have a wonderful day everyone and I hope you enjoy the new little gadgets on our blog! =]

Nothin' but love,

Barbara

run like the wind, bullseye!

Because Alex had late school tonight and I would have been home alone otherwise, I went to the gym with Heidi like I always do nowadays. =]  Yep, she's my workout buddy.  We try at least 3 times a week and today was the first day this week and we're not going tomorrow =P hehe...

Running is easy, you sweat a lot and you just run.  But we haven't done a full-body workout in a while so we went to the woman's gym (because we Heidi and I have both stated we were against working out with the dudes...that's just weird) and boy, let me tell you how sore I am!  It's one thing to have sore teeth (I started wearing rubber bands/elastics and I'm dying!), but now I'm sore all over.  And I like to complain!  Let me complain!  So I just popped some pills (yea, 2 tiny aspirins) and I'm doing alright... hopefully better in the next hour or so.

Alex came home just a few minutes ago and although we had previously discussed how we need to minimize our extraneous (is that the right word? I'm too lazy to look it up) spending, he shows me a bag full of goodies from Sportsman's Warehouse.  The store is closing and Alex is like a little kid in a candy store.  "What?! Flies are on sale 60% off?!?"  That was him today...I just know it.  And he bought a new fishing reel that was $75 and is now his for only the price of $30!  What savings!  Hahaha, I'm totally being facetious.  But I can't be mad because then I confessed that I had spent about $8 at Baja Fresh for lunch today.  Oopsies.  We really are working hard at saving money...

Ah, but we're still young.  Got our entire life ahead of us to save money. Pssh, why start now?  

Ha.

Barb & Elax

I hate waking up early for work.  I just want to sleep.  Alex stays up so late and I can never stay up with him anymore.  

lions, tigers, and DINOSAURS?... oh my??

The weather right now, outside the house, sounds like a tornado!  I honestly feel like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz where my house stays in one piece, but when I look out of the window, it's nothing but chaos!  I mean, jeez, the trees are bending 90 degrees in one direction and branches are swaying so crazy it's like tiny little arms doing the worm at a million miles an hour...  It's like the weather just wants to mess with us ... 

Just think:

Cloud 1: Yo-hooo, Nimbus, what's up, dude?!

Cloud 2: Nothin' much bro!  Let's like totally mess around with Vegas, dude.

Cloud 1: Like, how, man?  Like, what is it that you wanna do?

Cloud 2:  Let's like, pretend to make a tornado, dude.

Cloud 1:  Whooa, dude... Call me Cloudy cuz I'm in.

Okay, so that's my imagination at work.  Gotta love it!  

Anyways... today, I have to say was a good day.  I got to work early and apparently so did everyone else in the back office! Woo!  And I got some of my chores done at work and the day went pretty smooth.  At lunch, I took Heidi to Taco Bell (the first time in 2 and a 1/2 months!).  OMG, I was in Taco Bell heaven for like 5 minutes; that's how long it took me to eat my 3 tacos!  

And then, the topic of conversation we had at lunch today was awesome:  

Where, in the 7 days Heavenly Father created the world, do dinosaurs come into the picture?

Here are some of the theories we had come up with (that I remember):

1.  Days in Heaven are a lot shorter than days on Earth. It took Heavenly Father 7 days to create the Earth, but what kind of days are we talking about here?  7 Earth days or 7 Heaven days?  The theory is that it took 7 Heaven days to create the earth which means that on Earth, it could have taken millions of years.

2.  Heavenly Father has a great sense of humor.  He put fossils and what not into the earth just to keep us busy until we returned to Him.  Why not?

3.  On the earth, there is opposition in all things God created.  Dinosaurs lived so that their fossils in the ground would lead man away from religion and to rely on science and the idea of Evolution.

4.  Heavenly Father created the earth using other worlds he had created as examples or maybe even a Earth version 2.0 and dinosaurs were one of those parts from the other worlds.

It was pretty deep and it was hilarious how some of us thought out of the box.  In the end, I think that we will probably never unravel the mysteries that Heavenly Father planted in this world and that we it won't be until we return to Him, that all will be revealed to us and, of course, it will all make sense.

Barbara =]

be our guest

Ughhh....  

So I went to Gmail and worked my around to find out how to sign into my old blog...and I've found out my old username and password!  Now I'm stuck... I really want all my previous blogs (yea, all FIVE of them..haha) but at the same time, I just made this one!  Oh well, I'll have to keep this one. 

When I got home today, Alex introduced to me (for the second time) his friend, Brandon, a fellow missionary in the GLBRM - Great Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission.  He's staying overnight because he's on a roadtrip and is just passing through so he doesn't have to drive straight to his destination.  It's pretty funny watching them talk about "back in the day".  They were companions at one point in time and had a gazillion stories of all the people they taught and baptisms they had.  Lots of funny stuff they had to share with one another.  But the stories have died down and both boys are (as I'm typing this) glossy-eyed and glued to the TV watching basketball.  Apparently, the classic game is how they met!  I think I'll just let the boys be boys and I'm going to sit here pretending I'm having a great time watching...

Alex, Barbara & Brandon - haha!

a new beginning

Finally, the Kramers return!

Hopefully, I won't forget my username and password again.  Hahahaha!  

So Alex & I are out of our apartment on Cheyenne & Durango and are now in my parents' house.  I don't know why some people believe living with the parents is a drag... I LOVE IT!!!  I mean, come on - my mom's filipino food, my dad's authentic North Carolina BBQ, my old room that I get to share with my hubby, I could go on forever.  Too bad I can't live with them forever =/ hehe...

Anywho, today's Easter Sunday and we went to church and it was soo sweet!  Sacrament was full of music - lots of musical numbers and I was almost (yes, ALMOST) in tears because the singers were so talented and lovely and the spirit they brought was so strong.  Alex was looking over at me every couple seconds to see if I was crying... he makes me laugh.  Then, Sunday school... learning about the gathering of Israel (unfortunately, I didn't pay much attention in this class...neither did Alex - he was watching a cute little girl eat goldfish crackers & I'm guessing it was ultra CUTE. Hehe)  In Relief Society, the speaker gave a really good lesson full of music.  I think we had to sing about 7 songs.  It was about the Savior's resurrection and it was full of stories...and I payed attention.

Ooh! I was finally introduced in RS today as well, along with 2 other newlyweds, Megan and Courtney.  Sweet, now I have someone to sit next to in RS so I'm not all by myself full of women with children...no kidding, it's like everyone has at least 3 kids.

Alex & I wish everyone a very happy Easter!

Hugs & Kisses

XOXOXOXO