Jeff and Elise: October 2008

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Beautiful New Mexico!

After about 12 hours of driving, we arrived in Taos, NM. The scenery is very similar to the Salt Lake Valley. It has really tall mountains surrounding the area.
So, as some of you readers may already know, (if you've read the pevious post) I thought we were going to Angel Fire New Mexico, but actually our hotel is in Taos and Jeff's jobsite is in Angel Fire. This is such a neat area with little shops and chili pepper wreath thingys all over! I wish I had another lady here with me to tour the shops! When we first got to Taos, we went to our hotel, the Quality Inn... the lobby was decent and we were excited! We got to our room and it was so dirty, there were flies and the carpet was nasty, it was a real downer. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kinda gal that can't handle a little dirt! : ) But this was too much, Rocky and Kaia were on edge the whole time, we just didn't get a good vibe. So... we drove through town and looked at another place called the El Pueblo Lodge. That place wasn't too well off itself! ;) It was super old, which I kinda liked... ya know the style, old southwestern style!? but it was the kinda old that hadn't been kept up on. I was losing hope because both of us really didn't want to stay at the QI... augh! As we were headed back to the Quality Inn we mistakenly drove right past it and for some miraculous reason found a way nicer place, nothing too fancy schmancy!! : ) I went inside and the place was normal, not dirty, not smelly, normal! Needless to say, we immediately switched hotels and our whole visit changed, we were able to relax a bit after a very long drive! This place is wonderful though, we really like it here.. really kind people! Last night, coinsidentally, there was a hot air ballon thing going on a few blocks from our hotel, they were lighting up in the dark, it was really cool!

In the above picture you can see that Taos is part of a loop on the map, it's called "The Enchanted Circle". What an amazing drive! We drove the entire loop and got to see some way cool stuff, I spotted a coyote as big as Kaia! It was such a beautiful drive through the canyon which parts drove through Carson National Forest. I was surprised to see how much it looked like Big or Little Cottonwood, but different. I never would have guessed that New Mexico would be so mountainous and full of wildlife. There are rivers and lakes and reservoirs everywhere! I really want to catch some trout before I leave and take it home for my bro to smoke! yum.

We found the LDS church/office suite, and I was once again suprised! I guess I'm just so used to seeing LDS churches in Utah and thought they were all the same. Angel Fire's LDS church is in a little community center with multiple sepearte office suites... the "ward house" is an office suite! Wow! This made me realize for the first time how fortunate LDS members are in Utah, to have a nice big clean ward house to worship in.
Anyway, that's all for today. I'm taking lots of pics, but I don't have the cord thingy to transfer the pics onto my computer.

Love, Elise, Jeff, Rocky and Kaia

Monday, October 20, 2008

Angel Fire, New Mexico

Ever heard of it? I hadn't so I began researching and I am SOOO excited to go there!

Angel Fire is a high-altitude haven in New Mexico's Moreno Valley. At 8,400 feet above sea level the valley is surrounded by towering mountains typically splashed by spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

The Ute Indians gave Angel Fire its name when they saw those glowing skies and called it the "fire of the angels."

Summers are cool and dry. You'll rarely find a day with temperatures hotter than 80 degrees, even in July and August when everywhere else is red hot.

As some of you know, Jeffrey travels on occasion for work. This time, he is going to Angel Fire, New Mexico and asked me if I wanted to go with him! Of course I do! It's so hard for me to sleep without him home, I'm scared of the dark : ) so I checked with work and got it cleared to work remotely from the hotel during the days! I am so excited, we're taking Rocky and Kaia, they are going to love going for daily runs in this new place. I'd like to get two queen beds, one for Jeff & I and one for Rocky and Kaia. : ) I'll post pics and stories while I'm there! Have any of you ever been here?

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Handbag winner!!

Jess Knight, of Eagle Mountain, Congrats!

http://www.handbagplanet.com/contest-winners.html?coupon=launch&utm_campaign=Handbag%20Planet%20Reveals%20Winners%2E%2E%2E&utm_content=peechaz82@yahoo.com.com&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Click%20Here%20to%20view%20the%20Winners

Tag.. you're it!

This is so much fun!

Seven Random Facts about me!!

1. I have pumpkin orange countertops in my kitchen (which go wonderfully with my fall decor)
2. I have a passion for animals of all kinds
3. I love to mow the lawn too! Jeff and I got into a little tiff about who was going to mow the lawn when we first got our lawnmower. : )
4. I am a frugal shopper and love to find free stuff on craigslist. We got our dishwasher and sliding glass door for free there
5. I have never broken a major bone, only my big toe
6. My favorite place to be is with my husby
7. Harmon's is my favorite grocery store, actually the only one I shop at!

I tag...... Amanda, Jodi & Jess

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

"The Big One"

So I'm sure, if you live in Utah and pay any attention at all, you have heard that the Wasatch Front is over due for a major earthquake It is expected to be 7.0 or greater. I read an article published in the Deseret News back in 2006 about the worst case scenario for WHEN, not if, "The Big One" hits. I think it's so important that we take the necessary steps to ensure safety of ourselves and loved ones as best we can before it's too late. Below are some excerpts from the article... remember, this is all just a prediction and in the worst case scenario...

- It is 2 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2008, a freezing, snowy Friday. Most people are still at work or school — which, unfortunately, is the worst-case scenario for what is about to happen.

The next few seconds will release geologic pressure that built over 13 centuries, and — as scientists had predicted back in 2006 — will soon kill more than 6,000 people, injure 90,000 and cause a $40 billion economic hit.

- Utahns now will find they will need to depend on such preparation for far longer than officials in previous decades had once warned — and may need to survive with their "72-hour" emergency kits for five days or longer.

Police, fire and other emergency responders will be too busy to reach most people for days — so individuals and families will have to rely on themselves and their neighbors for help

- The movement soon leaves a new 10-foot-tall ledge or "scarp" — a height that varies at different points along the fault — as scientists had predicted. The scarp is 29 miles long and now divides areas west and east of it like a great wall. Roads that were once level now have a 10-foot drop-off. Power, water and gas lines there snap.

- Shaking is so severe throughout Salt Lake County that virtually no one there is able to stand without falling. Unsecured hot-water heaters in many homes shake loose and break natural gas and water lines. Fires start.

- Next, the severe shaking makes some saturated, sandy soils act like a liquid, or more accurately like quicksand. This "liquefaction" causes some buildings to sink or roll over in unstable soils. Landslides follow in some areas.

- All this damage has happened in under a minute

- Significantly, as people start looking for help, about a quarter of all area police and fire stations have themselves suffered at least moderate damage and a handful are beyond repair. One emergency communications center in Salt Lake City has been knocked out of service.

About 152,000 people are now newly homeless, and it is a freezing winter day.

- "I think people in our valley have expected to call 911 and have help there in three minutes. But in the event of a catastrophic event, it's not going to happen. People are going to be on their own. It will give new meaning to individual and family preparation."

I'm going to desinate a night within the next few weeks where anyone who wants can come to my house and put their kits together. Let me know if you want to join and I'll get you the information and cost for each pack.

If you want to read the article in its entirety...
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,635199749,00.html?pg=1

Here are some links that I've found very helpful...

Be Ready Utah http://www.bereadyutah.gov
U of U seismograph stations(best site for research and information): http://www.seis.utah.edu/
Local Quake Threat: http://www.quake.utah.edu/lqthreat/threat.shtml
Liquefaction potential maps: http://www.quake.utah.edu/lqthreat/liquefaction.shtml

Sunday, October 12, 2008

4th picture in your 4th folder...

How fun is this! Thanks manda! This is the 4th pic in my 4th folder. We were in the San Francisco airport waiting for our flight to board. We were headed home from Jeff's cousin wedding in Santa Cruz, which was so much fun! Mike and Roye's wedding nestled in the beautimous Redwoods! It was so romantic! What a cool wedding! I remember right across the street, Sami showed me albino peacocks!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

enter to win a FREE handbag

I saw this link on Jill's blog and tried it out, you enter your name and your email address and then pick which handbag you want to win! It's completely FREE! Handbag Planet is trying to get their name out there. Check it out... good luck! www.handbagplanet.com

Thursday, October 2, 2008

1 year of blissful marriage!!!

Yes, can you believe it?? It's already been a year! In celebration of our commitment to each other we had an anniversary weekend! Monday was the actual day, but we decided to go all out and celebrate it 4 days in a row!!! Whoo hooo!! Friday night we went to Sushi at Tsunami, it was so delicious, I swear they had just flown the fish in 15 minutes before we got there! Saturday, Jeff had planned a fancy schmancy dinner in Park City, so I called one of my most dearest friends, Heather, to go shopping with me and help me find the perfect dress!

Jeff and I ate dinner at Grappa on Main Street, it was really fun! Then, we headed to the Marriott downtown. We stayed there on our wedding night too, so it's sentimental to us. : ) We drank our Dom Perignon (gift from the Molletts)and reminised about our wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon. It was so nice... Then on Sunday we went a little more low key and ate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries! Yumm! There beef is all natural!!! After that we went shopping and got some good smelling lotions, perfumes, and oil stuff for the house. Yes, there's more! Monday, finally rolled around, we ate lunch at the Point, where we got married of course, and then we went to Brewvies to watch Pineapple Express, which I don't recommend. duh! duh! Then, we went home for a dinner, made by Jeff Lane! Enjoy the pics!

Annie's 2nd birthday!! (Sep 20th)

My niece Annie (beeba) turned 2 on September 20th. The party started at the Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. You can see from the pics there aren't any real kangaroos, but they call it that because it has alot of different bouncy blow up jumper thingys : ) After that we went back to her house for pizza and presents! She got super spoiled and enjoyed every minute of it. Happy Birthday Beeba!

Kristin's visit September 11-15

My littlest sister from Washington came to stay with Jeff and I a few weeks ago. We got to know each other and just hung out and had a great time! I hadn't seen her since she was 7 and she's now 17!!! She brought her way cool boyfriend, Josh with her too. It was alot of fun getting to know these guys. My favorite part of the whole trip was watching Krisi and Josh get to know their adorable nieces and nephew. It was so satisfying for me. I think it brought me peace and closure in regards to my family situation in Washington. I can't wait for our next visit with Krisi and Josh whether it be Jeff and I going up there or them coming back down here.