life is awesome!!!

Alright, so life in Southern California really is all its cracked up to be! Things having been going so good for Gabe and I and I'm finding life to be just getting better and better. And in regards to my last post... the sun got my message!  Summer has finally begun.  School is out for the summer, the sun is out, and more and more we see cars headed towards the beach with surf boards strapped to the top.  Sometimes I feel like I am living in a "Save by the Bell" episode!  (which is awesome... I personally am a huge fan of the show)  We have come to the conclusion that since we live by the beach we might as well spend time there!  Its been so fun to come home from work, make a picnic and head to the beach, or spend a Saturday playing in the waves! Life is good!  And speaking of work... I FINALLY got a job here in California!  I am now a dental assistant for an awesome dentist way close to our house.  And since California requires every random licence for dental assisting, I am working on all of those while I work.  Gabe is doing awesome at his job and its so fun to hear all about his job everyday, the people he meets, the places he goes and the traffic he gets to sit in. 

      I really do love it here and am excited for an awesome summer filled with pool days, boogie boarding, camping, new adventures... and a nephew on his way!   We're so excited!

Dear Mr. Sunshine,

      I feel as if we've had some sort of miscommunication.  You see,  I was under the impression that you lived here in Orange County, California.  I've seen all the t.v. shows and the movies filmed in your backyard... and there you were, shining down, making it seem as if you were always around.  And so, when we heard we were moving to California, the only thing on my mind was you, Mr. Sunshine.  Let me remind you that I left my warm coats and jackets in Utah, where 8 months out of the year you rarely visit.  And so, Mr. Sunshine, be not afraid of the clouds and the "june gloom" they call it.  The beaches, the oceans, the pools and the BBQ's are all waiting for you!  So shine on Mr. Sunshine! Can't wait to see you!  

-Abby Valenzuela... your biggest fan

 

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

I turned 23!!!!!

This year was absolutely the best birthday ever! It was so great, I got to spend the whole week playing and spending time with my most favorite people.  (and if i didn't see you, it doesn't mean you didn't make the most favorite list... we just didn't have time to see EVERYONE) anywho.... We started the trip out to Las Vegas!  It was so great!  Gabe had to work all day Thursday in Vegas, so we drove out of cali Wed. night.  We stayed at the Stratosphere on the top of the strip in Las Vegas.  We woke up early the next day, and while Gabe spent the day workin' hard, I worked hard on my tan.  It was so great.  I went to the gym, walked around the shops and spent the rest of the day laying out by the pool.  It was so nice to spend the day just hangin out... bein' a girly girl.  Then after Gabe had put in a good days work, he came back to take me to a birthday dinner.  He took me to this awesome little Mexican place down the road.  It was so delicious!  We ate sizzling fajitas, yummy chips and salsa and awesome fried ice cream... my favorite!!

The day was perfect, well that is until my fears got the best of me.... you see, we stayed at the stratosphere, home of "The Big Shot", and that ride had been staring me down all day.  If you don't know I am terrified of heights... terrified.  And one year when I was in highschool I

 decided to make myself a bucket list... a list of things to do before I die.  So while I was leisurely sitting in my room writing this list I thought it would be a good idea to do something

 to conquer a fear of mine.... I thought "maybe the ride the big shot on the stratosphere" would

 be a good thing to jot down... bad idea.  Everytime I drove past that thing on a trip through vegas, I would look up and get completely sick to my stomache.  But I knew I had to do it

 eventually.  Well, for my birthday.... Gabe took my on the ride of my life.... For my birthday he

 gave me an all you can ride pass on "The Big Shot".  (below is the view from the top, beautiful, i know, but not as pretty when your shooting in the air to your death... or so i thought)

An awesome present! The chance to check off an item on my list!  Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought.  The whole way home from dinner Gabe had to convince me that it wasn't as scary as it looked.  We got back to the hotel and headed up the 108 stories to the top.  We finally got on the ride, strapped in, ready to shoot and I get a major anxiety attack... no joke, I start bawling... tears streaming down my face, begging Gabe to let me get off (bless his heart for putting up

 with this boob)... The ride attendant looked at me like a complete idiot baby (which i was) but he  let me off the ride.  I watched Gabe shoot up into the air and come back down safe and alive.  I was determined to do it.  So we got back in line and.... I did it!!!! I got on the dang ride, shot to the top, started crying again... honestly 1,149 feet above the earth, you better believe I cried,

 and then safely came back down.  I was laughing and crying and shaking so hard but I DID IT!

  Scratch that off the list.... I faced a fear, I survived the stratosphere!!!! And no.  In the picture below:  that is not a twinkle in my eye, those are big cry baby tears.

Since we had bought the two for one all you can ride pass, Gabe went on the other ride where you sit in seats that spin 1000 feet above the ground.  My husband is a brave soul.

  The next day we headed to Utah! I was so excited to see the fam and the big Utah Mountains.  I'm not going to lie, it was a good feeling to know that driving from point A to point B, I wasn't going to get lost, make a U turn or have to "recalculate".  We were also able to meet up with a couple of Gabe's friends.  I finally met Josh, the infamous Josh Wood. He in a contest at a club so Gabe and I met up with him and danced the night a way.  We were so not dressed for the occasion, being in the car all day, but it was so fun!!!! 

The next day was the best of all!!!! We got to go to one of my most favorite places on earth... the family cabin in Oakley, Utah.  I love this place! It is so beautiful and peaceful.  I love being up in the fresh mountain air.

And not only that but we went with the whole fam, both Gabe and my parents and siblings.  It was so nice to have them all up there with us.  I couldn't have asked for anything better on my birthday.  We roasted hot dogs and mollows, played games, went on walks through the woods, and Gabe put his fire skills to use and made fire after fire.

On my actual birthday my dad took us all out to dinner at an awesome little hamburger joint in Park City. Thank you dad! We just walked around a bit and enjoyed ourselves... love park city!

And to top it all off... we spent the next day driving back to beautiful California.  Even though the ride is not all that fun, it was nice to take advantage of the fact I got to sit next to my cute husband for 10 hours laughing and talking.  The whole week was so awesome.  Thank you to everyone! It really was the best birthday EVER!!! 

Happy Birthday WES!

Happy Birthday Weston!  June 6 was my big brother's birthday.  Weston's birthday is just one day ahead of my birthday and I always felt like the luckiest girl in the world because I got to share my birthday with the coolest brother in the world. Weston is such an awesome guy and really the greatest big brother.  When I was growing up, teachers and older "cooler" kids would always ask me if wes was my older brother.  When I would tell them "yes", they would always say what a cool guy he was, what a great kid and what a great athlete he was.  It is so true. I always felt lucky to walk in the footsteps of wes.  I always like to brag about how cool my big brother is... in highschool he won the state football championship, and MVP in volleyball, he was an awesome missionary in Japan, graduated from BYU (GO UTES!!!), married the cutest girl, doing great in dental school and is such an awesome dad!  He is such a great example and I look up to him so much! Happy Birthday Wes!  Love you tons!