What a day!

We sure had an adventure this morning worth noting. Last week in church they announced that we would be having stake conference in the the Conference Center. We knew it would be a large crowd, but assumed that it would be like most stake conferences that we've attended. So, we strolled down to our car around 9:20 (conference @ 10:00) and a neighbor says, "You won't get there in time by car." We raced down to the trax station to catch the train. (Running in heels with strollers, babies, diaper bags, etc.) We arrived to the center 15 minutes late only to find security check points, stroller check-ins and few seats left. By the time we hit our seats, we were all thinking, "Okay that was a lot of work." The conference center was packed! The events that followed were equally chaotic- a potty accident, a fussy baby and little time to listen to the speakers. What a treat it was when they announced the key-note speaker, President Monson! Here I was, complaining and griping about making such a difficult trip and I was actually surprised to be in presence of the prophet. How many stake conferences get to hear the prophet? We really live 3 miles from Temple Square and are able to hear the prophet on a normal Sunday! Noelle has been saying all day, "I saw the prophet!" How grateful I am for that dear man. He has such a sweet presence. Neither of us were able to give him our undivided attention as we juggled babies, but were both thrilled at the chance to be so close to a living prophet. It sure put my flustered mood in persective!

It's been a good week. I've just been busy watching kids. I still don't feel like we quite have a routine, but we're getting there. I try really hard to get Noelle out and playing during the day. We watched other kids 2 days this week and did preschool 2 days. Dan is really busy already with school, but manages to put on his happy face for us in the evenings. Most nights, he pushes his books aside and gives us all his attention. He has been enjoying the canyons around here on his bike. We've hosted families for dinner 2 nights this week and went out to dinner with another on Friday. We're really trying to get to know people around here. Corom isn't sleeping well, so most days I feel like the walking Zomby-Mama. It's like being on-duty 24 hours a day. Thank goodness he is so much fun- he melts my heart. That is why I continue to nurse him 4 times a night- because I like him so much. He and Noelle are really discovering how much fun it is to have a sibling. They laugh together, bathe together, play together and Corom thinks Noelle is hilarious. He is always chuckling at her. Good times! I really have to take time to remind myself that these children will not be babies forever and that I need to slow down and enjoy them-even though raising babies is difficult. Have a good week everyone!

Oh, the student life!

Noelle in a nutshell! At the Real Soccer game!

Yup-that's Corom!

Soccer buddies!

Pre-game...playing in the fountains!

Our little cowboy!

Noelle during preschool

How different life is than it was a month ago! We have been students for our whole married life, but are now really living as such. Since arriving here, we have been consumed by all of the events surrounding us. "Free and cheap" are words commonly heard around here. As in, "Oh, the stake is hosting a "free" dinner!" or "There's a kid's fair at the University and it's free!" (Hundreds of families come running) I love it and I love Salt Lake! You drive one direction and you are in the heart of Down Town, the other and you are in the mountains. Dan took us on a drive up to East Canyon tonight for family home evening. He had biked it last weekend. You literally head east on our street and you are in the middle of a beautiful landscape with a fabulous view of the mountains and the valley.

Last week we walked down to the stadium at the university to watch a professional soccer game- Real Salt Lake is the team. Bounce houses, game food, and lots of entertainment! We had a blast. This week we started a co-op preschool with 8 other kids in the court. I hosted 2 days last week. It was a little crazy, but really worth the work. It is fun meeting new friends and having the opportunity to watch Noelle interact. She was so excited! On Thursday, we tried a little dance class out at the community center here in the complex- really cute. Noelle loved it! We have since had sick kids- Noelle running a fever and Corom, well just really fussy. They are both feeling better. I think all of this activity and all of the new germs have gotten to them! Keep up the blogging everyone! I love staying connected!

Congratulations Nikki and Julio!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Sylvia Rose Hernandez who was born at 4:00am Friday morning at the Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento. Our tiny new baby weighed in at 5 lb. 13 oz. and was 18 inches long! I talked to Nikki this morning and she said they got to the hospital arround 2:30 and Sylvia was born by 4:00. (Am I really related to this woman?-not anything like my experiences) We wish we could be there to welcome our little niece/cousin into the world, but send our love. Check out Nikki's blog later in the week for pictures.

Just a Hello!

So, Salt Lake is starting to feel a little more like home- a little bit! I am still not quite sure what to do with myself. Noelle would spend the whole day in the courtyard, and to be honest, it is really easy to do since there are always kids out there to play with and mamas to talk to. I have been really homesick for my family, especially for Noelle to play with Lucia and Marco. She keeps asking if we are far away from home. Last week really felt like a vacation. We had an orientation picnic at Sugar House Park for Dan's program and a picnic up in the canyon with our ward. This week everyone has started back to school and it is alot more quiet around here. I suppose it is time for me to develop a new routine out here. Dan is about 2 minutes from home. We can see his building from our window. On Tuesday, we picniced lunch at his building. Today, we have Kenny Shirley (Josh's son) over to play. Boy, life is quiet... so different from my working/schooling days. I miss you all.

Here is our new contact information:

tami's email: tamialdama@gmail.com
dan's email: sassysnowman@gmail.com

new phone: 801-587-5043- I will email our address to you!

We had a really yummy dinner last night- I thought I'd pass along the recipe to you!

Costa Vida Sweet Pork Burritos

Crock Pot 2-4 pounds of pork shoulder roast with the following sauce:
2-3 cups of pace picante, 2 cups of brown sugar, desired amount of garlic and a dash of salt and pepper. Once the pork is cooked, shred and let simmer in the sauce for another hour or so.

Serve pork in a burrito with beans and the following lime/cilantro rice:

1 part rice to 2 parts water. First brown rice in a little butter. Add water and a little bit of lime juice. Once the water is boiling, add desired amount of fresh cilantro and simmer for 30 minutes.

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Getting Settled

We are now one week into our new adventure out here in Salt Lake. Each day seems to get a little better. We have been enjoying having Daddy home. He starts school tomorrow. We are almost unpacked and are thrilled to pieces to be getting our couch on Saturday. So sick of sitting on the floor. I have been brainstorming with my neighbors on ways to decorate cinderblock. Some suggestions have been paint, fabric, curtains. I need to do something. I guess this will be my own decorating challenge.

Anyhow, life out here is so much more than I expected. I was expecting a really young group, but its not. Everyone I have met so far is working on either their Masters degree or PHD. Our neighbors consist of law school students, medical students, historians, biologists, etc... Most of the women are stay-at-home gals like me with multiple children. It's such a fun environment. We are meeting new friends every time we go down to the courtyard. Noelle keeps watching out the window and lets us know when someone else is down there to play with. Today, we had our first play date with another neighbor. Yesterday we went to Hogle Zoo with my aunt and my cousin's son. (Loved it!) I am so homesick for friends and family, so keep up the blogs so we can stay posted! Dan starts tomorrow, so you'll probably hear alot more from me as I am about to become a student's wife again. Love you all and hope you are doing well!

Follow That Penske Truck!

We are finally here! On Wednesday we squished all Aldama belongings into a little 16 foot Penske. It took Dan 3 plus attempts to fit everything in, but he managed to do it. That night we closed our doors and crashed at my parent's house. We slipped away in the middle of the night (3:45) to get an early start on the road. Dan's parents helped us with the tedious drive. We shuffled seats and took turns with the driving. It took us almost 14 hours, but all went well. We could not have done the whole move without their help. It was a long drive, though Corom slept most of the way and Noelle talked the whole time! That night we spent the night with my Aunt April and Uncle John.

The next day, the adventure really began! We got the keys to our little apartment. A girl walked by and said, "You are moving all by yourselves..let me go make some calls!" For the next few hours our stuff kept marching up the stairs being carried by tons of unfamiliar faces. Our new ward members (neighbors) came to the rescue with an overwhelming welcome! There is something really humbling about watching people work so hard to help us get settled. It turns out that our new student ward is our courtyard. (Three buildings) The only thing that didn't make it was our couch. Off to the DI because we couldn't get it up the stairs. For now we have one recliner. Whoever is the quickest gets to sit down!

We are getting settled a little at a time. We are just trying to figure out where to put everything. What do people do without garages? Camping gear? Bikes?????? Anyways, we are feeling really blessed. We have been fed by John and April 3 times this week and are making new friends every time we go down to the playground in the courtyard. (Just at the bottom of the stairs) Dan started UPS this morning and will begin school next week. I'll post pictures once we put the place together. It kind of looks like the kind of mess you make on Christmas morning right now with all of the boxes and displaced stuff. We love you all and miss you like crazy! Noelle keeps asking to visit her people in Sacramento. She'll understand in time! We'll keep you all posted. If anyone has a webcam, let us know. We would love to keep in touch that way!

Summer Luvin'

It has been a fabulous summer...so sad to see it draw to a close. We are on the countdown now- just 6 more days until the Penske truck drives us away! We are, for the most part packed up and are just preparing for a moving sale on Saturday. (YUCK! But so much to get rid of) We said goodbye to our one and only car today- our Honda CRV. Tomorrow it will be replaced with a new Land Rover. (New to us at least) It was one of those finds that just screamed, "I'm your new car!" Plenty of room for the family, good for the snow, checked out and in really good condition and still under warranty. We are soooo excited. So, with our new car, Dan's parents, a big moving truck and our babies we will be taking off next Thursday. Thought I might take a second to showcase our fun summer since I haven't put up pictures in a long time.