My trip to IDaho...

I was home exactly one week after the cruise when I had to leave for Boise, Idaho. It was a business trip, to a conference for academic advisors. That's me, I'm an academic advisor :) Overall the trip was good, although after spending 4 days with only my boss I was ready to get home. Plus, I missed my puppies!!! But I learned a lot and have a ton of ideas on how to be a better advisor, so that's what matters most right? :)

Our Mexican Cruise!

Our crusie was AMAZING! On April 5, Jason and I drove to Seattle and spent the night. Then the next morning we flew to Los Angeles, where we met my parents (who flew from Orlando to meet us.) The four of us had a really nice dinner out that night in an area called the Grove, and spent the night in LA.

The next morning, we packed up our things and got onto the cruise ship! We went on a 7 day cruise, from LA to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas, before returning to LA. Here's what we did each day:

The first at sea day, we completely lounged around the ship. We all got massages in the spa, and I took advantage of the sauna, steam room, and hot stone relaxation beds! Just typing about it makes me sad, I miss the spa!!! :)

After the first day relaxing, out trip somehow turned into a complete marathon of physical activities! In Puerto Vallarta, the four of us did a 5 mile hike through the mountains, including crossing a river and picking fresh sweet limes and lemons from the trees as we hiked. It was fabulous! We were all slightly sore the next day though.

So the next port day, Mazatlan, was supposed to be relaxing. We spent the morning shopping in the Gold District, and then in the afternoon my father had the genius idea of hiking to the lighthouse. The lighthouse in Mazatlan is the second tallest working lighthouse in the world... you have to hike up a few miles in the dirt before you get to the steps, and there are 400 steps to the top... needless to say, it was another workout. But so worth it, the view from the top was amazing! We could see the ships, the shopping district, downtown, etc. The view of the water was amazing! Then, of course, we had to hike back down again...

The last port day was in Cabo San Lucas. My mother and I went horseback riding. It was the first time riding for both of us, and it was great because they put us on really gentle horses that were used to riding in a straight line, following each other along the beach and through the trees. All together there were about 30 people riding, and the horses literally just followed each other in a straight line. We started at the front of the line, but my horse was so slow and dreamy, he was so happy just gazing off into the skyline and strolling on the beach that everyone passed us, and I ended up being the last horse in the line! The only bad thing about horseback riding was the bruises.... both my mother and I literally had bruises on our asses after the ride! I guess we don't have enough "meat" where our legs meet our booties... but that's not a bad thing, is it? :)

While we were bruising ourselves, the boys were out riding the waives, on a fishing boat. Jason caught the biggest fish I've ever seen, it was over 100 pounds and took 3 people to reel it in! Of course Jason's camera died on the ship, but a nice guy took a pic and emailed it to him, so here it is! Pretty cool, huh?

SO overall the cruise was wonderful, fabulous, amazing... I cannot say enough things. We've decided to do it again next year, make it a family tradition each year (of course, only if my baby bro can join us next year!) Next year we're thinking the 14 day Panama Canal cruise... YAY!

Bell's Palsy

The day after the audition, I woke up and only half of my face was working. Seriously, the right half was completely not moving. I couldn't blink my eye, I could only smile with half of my mouth. My cheek wouldn't move and I couldn't taste on half of my toungue. After a day in the ER and a CT scan, the doctor's decided it was Bell's Palsy. Completely harmless... they dont know why it happens, but for some reason the #7 nerve that runs from the brain to one side of the face gets inflammed and causes temporary paralization. It just randomly happens on random people... but the good news is, it usually goes completely away, and most people get it once and then never again.

For me, it lasted exactly one month. My cruise to the Mexican Riviera was the cure! :)

Audition update

I think everyone knows by now, but the Felions audition was in March, and it sucked. Well actually the audition was really good, the dance routine was easy and I kicked ass! BUT I weigh more than 100 pounds and I'm not blonde, so I didn't have a chance.

Now anyone that knows me KNOWS that next year I'll be back at the audition again... no one can tell me no! :)

Catching up this blog....

Ok so I have slightly missed the entire month of April. I have half an hour, I'm going to try to catch up as best as I can! :) Be ready to read...

WAHOO! Mexico here we come!!!!!!!!!

First week of April, we are so out of here! Going on a Mexican Riviera cruise! Jason wanted to do something fun before the season starts, and so a cruise it is! Best part is my parents are coming too, and I cannot wait! We've already picked out all of our excursions, including a 5 mile hike through Puerto Vallarta and horseback riding on the beach (well, not for Jason, he's too heavy!LOL) And I already have my spa appointment booked for a massage my first day on the ship. Did I mention I'm a little excited about this freaking trip?!?! IS IT APRIL YET?!??!

Felions Auditions!

I have finally decided that I am going to try out to be a Felion, the dance team for the BC Lions. I wasn't sure that I was completely able to, being married to a guy on the team and all... but I got the email today, everyone in the office has cleared it with the head honchos, and I am good to go!!! I have about a month to keep getting in shape, so wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes...

Mr. VIP's excursions...

Well even though its not football season, Mr. VIP has been busy these days. First was the Provincial tour, when he traveled like a movie star to a bunch of cities all around British Columbia. He went with some government officials and a Lions rep (no other teammates, he was the big star on this trip!) and posed and smiled with the Grey Cup while he encouraged young people to be healthy as part of the "Act Now BC" health initiative... pretty proud of my hubby! Here's an article from one of the cities, although he says the limo part isn't true...

http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?cat=40&paper=17&id=814059

Then he came home for an entire night before leaving for 4 days in Montreal. He had it tough there, staying in the Ritz Carlton for a few nights while his wife was home alone! :) He was there for a GREAT reason though, so I can't give him too hard of a time. The Montreal Allouettes have a great program where they mentor kids in junior and high school, and the Lions are looking to bring the program here to BC. So of all the guys on the team, they picked Jason to go to Montreal, receive formal training, and bring the program back here.

Like I said, I give him a hard time about being Mr. Important, but he's doing a lot of great things, and I am nothing but super proud of him!!!!!!!

My trip to Orlando

Wow it was nice to be at my parents house! I got there on New Years Eve, which I celebrated in my pjs on the couch with one of my bestest friends, and the world's nicest and sweetest people ever, my Swoopie! We drank a bottle of champagne, ate some peppermint ice cream (what a combo huh?) and passed out watching the ball drop. It was perfect!

The rest of the week was just as low key- spent time with the parents, lots of shopping with my mommy, dinner with Jenny, lunch with the girls for a late secret santa gift exchange... just spending time at home. Got to go to the dentist for a cleaning too, which I always enjoy (I know, I'm weird!)

It was so nice to be there! But as much as I enjoyed it, I missed Jason, I missed my puppies, I missed my bed, and after a week, I just wanted to get home! :)

It's been a while...

Well it looks like I am averaging one or two posts on here every other month. I try to remember this site exists, but I never have anything exciting to post about. I'll try harder though!

I love my puppies!

I dont know why, but tonight my puppies just want to snuggle. It is so rare for both of them to cuddle with me on the couch, and tonight, they jumped up on their own! I had to have Jason take a picture! :)

Snow shoeing!

Today jason and I had our first outdoor adventure in BC... we went up to Cypress Mountain, which is about a 30 minute drive from our house, and went on a snow shoeing tour! At first, we weren't sure that they'd have shoes big enough for Jason... but they did, and within a few minutes we were off into the woods and hiking! I cannot believe how much we both loved it, and what a great workout! I think we might go again before I start work again!

Here are a few pics from our snow adventure:

Christmas 2006

The Jimenez family had a fantastic first Christmas all alone in their BC home! Jason's gifts included wireless internet connection for the laptop, a new comfy desk chair, a bunch of new dvds and books, and some comfy pajama pants. Nikki got a new watch for timing herself while running, a bunch of work clothes and workout clothes, a huge wonderful container of bubble bath, and a workout ball!

Here are a few pictures of our tree and spoiled puppies, who loved their gifts too!


Our Christmas tree after Santa came:

Our puppies by the tree:

And this is what they did once they opened their presents:

Who says their spoiled?!?!

Ran another 5K today

And beat my personal best time! I ran 1 whole minute quicker, finishing in 34:30. Ok, so not the quickest time, but I'm going for completion right now, not speed! :) I'm hoping speed will come in the future.

I've lived a quarter of a century.

Ok, so it feels exactly the same now that I'm 25 as it did when I was 24 a week ago... but still... thinking about it, I just turned 25 on Monday. That's a quarter of a century, and a big milestone if I think about it. The next big birthday is 30! It doesn't seem possible that I could be that old... but here I am, 25!

So now that I have psyched myself into such a frenzy about getting old, I have decided that this is the time to set some goals for myself and really follow through with them. My mother in law always says that your birthday is the start of your personal new year, and this year, I think I believe her. It feels like a new year. So many good things have been happening for my family and I, the Grey Cup, new puppy, great job, etc... we're happy and everything is great. So, now to set some personal goals for the year.

First one is to get healthy. I just signed up for another 5K this weekend, and an 8K in February. That will lead me to the 10K Sun Run in April.... which will put me on track to run my first half marathon next fall. It's something I have always wanted to do, so this is my year!!! Wish me luck! (Actually, I don't need luck, I need determination and anti-laziness...)

SNOW in Vancouver!

Yup, it happened. What everyone promised NEVER happens here on the west coast... SNOW! And not just a little bit... over a foot (I have no idea how many centimeters that is...)!!!

So of course like the kids that we are, Jason and I, along with some good friends of ours who live in the neighborhood, took the dogs out at 10:30 pm on Sunday night and went sledding! We were a little ghetto- since we didn't have sleds, we used trash bags- I realy honestly thought it was a dumb idea and that it would never work, but I was so wrong! We had so much fun, the dogs loved it, it was great! Everything was so white and clean and pretty... what a nice way to celebrate the day before my 25th birthday! Definitely a night I will always remember!

My new job

Well I was at my new Canadian job for about a month when I found out they were changing my position already. It was extremely flattering to find out that the managers have been impressed by my work, and believed that I am qualified enough to work as a student advisor! So I started 2 weeks ago, and its been challenging and great. I have met with students, I receive emails daily thanking me for my encouragement and advice... really nice to go to work every day and make a differnece in someone's life, you know? I might just be good at this advising stuff after all! :)

Our new family member!

Presenting... CHAMP!

Champ is a now 10 week old greman sheppard mix puppy, he joined our family the night we got home from the Grey Cup (and obviously he is named in that way!)

Lola is getting used to him... we're a happy little family!

GREY CUP CHAMPS!

WOOHOO!!!!!! The BC Lions are the 2006 Grey Cup Champions. Being at the game and seeing Jason win was amazing. I'm such a girl, I cried on the sidelines at the end... but I couldn't help it, I was just so happy for him and all his teammates!

So here are a few pics:

Jason the champ! :) Pretty cool pic huh?

My weekend roomie, Lysa (one of the guys' girlfriends) and I on the bus on the way to the game

Jason and I with the Grey Cup at the party after the game! How exciting!!! (wow, I'm short!!!)

Haven't been in a while....

I haven't blogged in a while... about a month I think! I can say that my cute new rain boots have definitely been getting some use here in Vancouver!!!

So I am going to catch up tonight and post a whole bunch of new things... :)