The long overdue update

So, I'm sure everyone who actually reads this thing is wondering why I haven't updated our blog since we moved to Texas. Well, it's been a very crazy last couple of weeks. So, I'll try and do short recap of all that has happened in the last month or so.

1. I finally graduated from college. It only took me 5.5 years ( I know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years. They are called doctors). I graduated with a bachelor's of engineering degree in Construction Management. Needless to say, I along with Jamie are very happy to not have to live too much like poor college students, at least until we have to start paying off our student loans. For those who don't believe me, here are a couple of pics to prove it.


2. Christmas. Well, Christmas was a typical one, and there were a lot of pictures, so I'm not going to post any because all you have to do is look at other pics and that's what it looked like for us this year. The girls both got lots of presents, and like usual, I thought it was waaaaay too many, and this year was worse than the previous ones. Other than that, it was actually our last Christmas in while living in Nebraska.

3. Ella is a SUNBEAM! Yes, it's true that I am officially getting old, because I now have a daughter who is in Primary. She was so excited to go, because she and her wonderful mother Jamie have been practicing the many primary songs getting her ready for the big move from nursery to primary. Ella still has a hard time doing something new, but she is getting better. She only cries a little now when she goes to primary.



4. Lola turned 1! On January 17th, 2009 our baby girl Lola turned one year old. It was kinda sad, because that was the same day that we were finishing moving out of our apartment. So basically on her actual birthday, she helped us move, pack, and clean our apartment. But, don't worry, we had a small little party at my parents house where we were staying for a couple of days before we moved. Lola is nothing like her sister outside of her looks. She is a lot more CRAZY! She is walking now, and she gets into a lot of trouble. She likes to push the issue with things she is not supposed to do. We still love her all the same. Here are a couple of pictures from Lola's first birthday.



Well there you have it. A short update on our family and all that has happened to us this past couple of months. I know that people want to see what our house looks like now, but we are still trying to put it together. I will update everyone on all of the fun that happened when we first moved in after I have some pictures of the house to put up. I hope that everyone has a wonderful year to come, and that you will all be blessed with everything that you need. I know that if we focus our lives on the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, we will be blessed beyond measure. I will pray for everyone and I hope that we will be able to see you all someday again. From the Barrera's, "We love you all!"

Very Quick Update

So, we are very busy in the Barrera household. We are moving to Arlington, TX in 2 days, and we aren't done packing yet. I just wanted to post a link of the house that we bought so people can see it. Wish us luck on our new and exciting adventure, and keep your eyes open for new posts. I'm not sure when we'll be able to post again, because we won't have internet right away in our new place.

http://www.ebby.com/details/-2723331.html

Getting Our Very Own "REAL" Christmas Tree

Every single year Jamie forces me to go and get a real Christmas tree, which I absolutely do not want. This year was especially painful because she made us go to a tree farm instead of just a store parking lot. As you can tell I was just overflowing with the Christmas spirit!

After being drug around a good portion of the farm by Jamie and Ella we did finally find our perfect tree.




After we found it we got to get free hot chocolate and popcorn while we waited for it to be wrapped up for us to take home.

Then Jamie, Ella, and Lola transformed the house into Christmas central! Secretly I loved it but I just have to protect my Grinch image.

A Little Change of Plans

So, I know that it is becoming a little bit of a challenge to keep up with what is actually going on in our lives, but there has been a change of plans in my career and living arrangements. We are no long going to be moving to Phoenix, but instead, we will be moving to Dallas, TX. I know, a lot of people including my grandmother were very excited for us to be moving to Phoenix. The reason we are not going there, is that a company in Dallas that I had previously interviewed with and sent a letter of rejection contacted me and said that they really wanted me to come and work for them. After some discussions, we are now going to be moving to Dallas, TX (Arlington actually). It's overall a better deal. We will be getting a better salary, and the cost of living is substantially cheaper in Dallas than Phoenix. The housing is also much cheaper, so we will be able to get a house much sooner than if we had moved to Phoenix. Another reason it is better according to my wife is that it is much closer to Nebraska than Phoenix. I know it's getting close to when I graduate, but at least I was able to have a choice in jobs, because with the economy, a lot of my classmates are either stuck with one offer, or they don't have one at all. I'm so grateful to be so blessed. I know that Heavenly Father has been watching over me and my family, so I know that this is what and where we are supposed to be. Thanks for everyone's comments, and i look forward to reading these next ones. Have a great week everyone.

Finally, I have a job and know where we are moving

It's official, the Barrera's are moving to Phoenix, AZ. I accepted a job with Sundt Construction. It was a very nervous and weird experience with all of the interviews I went on. I interviewed with 5 contractors, and I received 4 offers. I didn't get the one offer I was hoping for, because they decided with the current economic conditions, they aren't going to hire any December grads, or May grads. This economy has really hurt the construction industry, so I am lucky to have had more than one offer to choose from. In the end, Jamie and I prayed and decided that the best option for me and for my future, was with Sundt in Arizona. It was the lower paying one, but with better future for me ( I hope). Jamie is trying to deal with the fact that she will not be enjoying snow much longer, and that our house in Arizona will atleast at first will be without much grass. I hope that this works out to be a tremenous blessing for our family. I will keep everyone posted with the upcoming move, and my upcoming graduation from college on December 20th. Take care, and may Heavenly Father bless everyone.

Family Pics (Finally)

So, it's been forever that Jamie has been bugging me for us to go and get actual family pictures taken. I'm usually not one for pictures, and I am definitely a guy who does not like to have pictures plastered all over walls like crazy, but I decided that it was probably time to get some pictures taken.

Just before we went to get the pictures taken (about 2 days before), Lola decided to leap off of the couch and smack her face right on the floor. At first it didn't look too bad, but the next day Lola had this huge rug burn on her little nose. That is why she has the cut on her nose during the pictures. I hope everyone likes the pictures, and now no one can say that I never get my picture taken.

The Barrera Family

The Barrera Family 2

Ella and Lola Barrera

Trick or Treat

Every year on Halloween, our church has a safe trick or treating event planned for all of the kids in the different wards. We call it "Trunk-or-Treating", and it's basically all of the families that want to participate will park their cars in the church parking lot, and pass out candy out of their trunks. This allows all of the kids to walk to the different trunks and get candy safely. I'm so grateful for this, because for one, I don't have to walk around a neighborhood for an hour or so, and it's very safe. Jamie was taking pictures throughout the night, and so because of that, she is not in any of the pictures. I know what everyone is thinking, and yes Jamie is much better looking than me, so she should have been the one who was in all of the pictures. Sorry for the disappointment.

me and my girls

Lola the cutest monkey ever!



Ella as Cinderella, and the monkey

It's quality family time like this that make me realize how blessed I truly am. I hope everyone has enjoyed another Barrera family update, and please continue to visit our blog. If anyone has any good ideas to make my blog a little more interesting, just send them my way.