These pics were taken on Aug. 27th...the day before opening. Notice all the stuff on the floor in the kitchen--I was pretty surprised when it all came together at the last minute. On the night before opening we have a private party. Those invited: new hires and their families, other store associates and managers from the area and their families, people from the shopping center we're in. There was a pretty good turn out. The all-stars (those who come from surrounding areas to help open the store) run the kitchen and everyone eats for free. It's kindof like a dry run to make sure all the equipment is working. It's a great time to visit and get to know the families of my new hires.
My friend Cathy and I

This is "mini-me"...Alicia, my assistant manager

Our little INO family

My beautiful store, 221
This is my shift team (l to r):

Alicia-2nd manager

Tommy-4th manager

Joe-3rd manager

These last few weeks have been pretty trying. It's hard not to see my little girl--I miss her lots. My crew is doing great and I've already given out about 14 raises. The kids were pretty excited.

Ok, enough about the store... my dad just told me that he and his girlfriend broke up tonight. :( His heart hurts, but he's a strong guy--he'll move on. His words, "There's other fish in the sea." Everything happens for a reason and I think part of this happening was to get him back to Arizona where he's closer to family.

Well, it's late and I've got to hit the hay.

I'm tired...

Today is my 11th day straight working and I still have 2 more to go til my day off. It's been a busy week with the store opening. It's been fun, but definitely a challenge. There have been a lot of equipment issues...a lot more than expected at a brand new store. I have a great crew, and it's fun to train them and see their excitement. Several of them already have aspirations of going into management...we'll see which ones last!

Our house is still underway. We are still in the paperwork process, yet we found out yesterday that the flooring we chose is going to be delayed :(

Baylee girl is doing great. She had her 4 mo check up last Thurs. She weighs 11 lbs. 8 oz and is 24 in long. Doc said she's ready for some solids, so Lui bought some gerbers and we've been giving them to her. The 1st few times were a little rough cause she couldn't really understand what was going on. But last night and tonight she ate the whole thing! Lil Miss Piggy!!! She's the cutest thing ever. She rolls over all the time now and is so strong holding her head up while she's on her tummy. Grandma was here for 2 weeks, but this past Sunday went home to mexico :( Baylee had so much fun with her and was sad to see her go. She went to the sitter for the 1st time on tues, and she did really well. They said she was so good. She always is. She's our little angel. She still sleeps really well. We put her down around 8 or 830 and she'll get up around 730. wow!

My dad was engaged a few weeks ago and they had decided on dec 27th for the date. They recently agreed to postpone the wedding, but my dad is still going to move down to az to be closer to his hunny.

Well, that's about it for now. Life is good. I miss my baby cause I've been working so much. :(

Lots of New Things...

So much to tell but so little time. Quick summary...back in vegas, living with lui's sis while our house is finishing being built (approx 2-3 mos), interviewing over 500+ applicants for my new store, set to open the 28th, missing baylee girl during the day when i'm gone :( , found a sitter for the girl when we're working (yeah!), enjoying all of baylee girl's new things:

rolling over from back to front!

she discovered her hands about a month ago and will try to fit both of them in her mouth at the same time!

stopped nursing :( after about a month of me being back to work she stopped...too much work compared to the bottle she was getting from dad and the sitter. sad.

started blowing spit bubbles

will hold her own bottle when she eats (her daddy taught her that one!)

if there's a fan in the room, she'll stare at it forever!

has loved playing with daddy all week since mommy's been at work

when on her tummy she holds her head up so high so she can see the t.v.

i swear there's nothing better than being a mom.

A Beautiful Morning

I took this the other day at about 6:30 in the morning. She had gone to bed the night before around 9:30...not a peep all night. Sometimes she'll wake up extra hungry and she'll be a little fussy. Most mornings are like this though...what a little angel.

Our Division "Meeting" In Havasu

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Work In Progress

just the frame taken June 6

the stucco and outside taken July 30

Here's my new store! It's beatiful! These past few days were spent in Vegas house hunting (more on that later). Yesterday we stopped at the store to check out the progress and take a few pictures. They've done a lot since June 6th huh?? Open interviews are still scheduled for Aug. 11-14 and orientations should start soon after that. They're shooting to open on Aug. 26. Looks like they still have a lot to do, but the builders we talked to said they are on target. (One hold up is getting electricity...that might be an important aspect.)

Here are a few more pics

The traditional crossed palm trees

Here's the covered drive lane with the rock pillars--looks pretty awesome eh?The break table (left side with all the boxes) along with the learning center (right). The learning center will consist of computers where the associate can take tests, watch videos, and learn about each position. Pretty darn cool if you ask me.My store #.... 220This is what will be the drive corner and fry table.

The builders said there are so many new additions to this store that the other don't have... Lots of "upgrades"! It's gonna be awesome!

Now for the housing update. We found a house out in Mountain's Edge that we are hoping to buy. We're in the whole loan process right now, so we'll see how things turn out. It's a beautiful 2200 sq ft single story home. 3 bedrooms, a den, and a great room, kitchen and dining area that are all open--the way I like it. I don't like a wall separating the kitchen from the living/family room. It's being built right now (see pics below) and is supposed to be done end of Sept. Until then we are going to be staying with Lui's sister Leticia. (which is actually in the neighborhood right behind us!)

Who do you think she looks like???

Thanks Abby!

This is Abby--she's our friend that watches Baylee girl when we're working. Baylee sure likes her and her little boy Bentley. This is one day when she had 5 kids over...what an adventure! We're sure gonna miss you when we go to Vegas :(

Thanks Barb!

Ok so my friend Barb told me a while ago that she made me some INO onesies, and I was so excited. Then she kept coming to Kingman and forgetting to bring them. So I had to improvise with this... (no, we didn't take the backing off the sticker. Her back was a little damp cause she just got out of the bath so it stuck)


Finally today she stopped by the store and VWA-LA! Here they are! Aren't they just the cutest onesies you've ever seen??? I have a store meeting on Sunday morn and I can't wait to take her in one of these! Which one should she wear???

More Pics From Lake Powell

Baylee's 1st boat ride!

She was out after about 15 minutes

Me and the hubby

Lake Powell sunset

Lui and the girl chillin under the shade on the beach. She liked sportin just a diaper!

Tummy time!!

We busted out the Baby Rider and went for a walk on the beach. She liked it!

We tried to keep her cool with a wet towel on her head. As you can see, she got a little sun on her cheeks and nose.

The morning after she got her little sunburn :(

Guess what Lui's trying to figure out! Each year we've gone we've had my dad there to help us out. This time we had to do it all on our own!

What a good hubby. Here he is...all ready to "dump the dump." (note me standing back "supervising" and taking pictures!)

In St. George she needed to get some burps and bubbles out of her tummy

Daddy's trying to teach her at an early age to hold her own bottle!

Now This Is A Vacation!

Can you tell what Lui and Baylee girl like to do?????

These were taken about 2 months ago, yet they are the only pics I have OF MY NEW STORE!!! That's right folks...I got a promotion and was chosen to open the new Las Vegas INO on Blue Diamond. I just found out yesterday after having patiently waited for what seemed like forever! I'm way excited, yet nervous too. The next 2 months are going to be a whirlwind. We will be moving soon as the store is set to open mid August. Plus I have to be there for all the interviews on Aug. 11-14. It's kindof ironic that it all happens right now, cause it seems like we just got into a routine here with me going back to work. But I just have to remember that everything will work out and to just leave it in the Lord's hands. Lui's sis Leticia is going to start looking for some houses for us in the Mountain's Edge area of town (southwest). We just found out the other day that our renters in the condo there in Vegas are leaving at the end of the month, so that's another choice we have to make...put it on the not-so-great-market-to-sell-right-now or try to find another renter. Is there a lot of damage from the renters? When are we going to fix it up? What are we going to do with the girl during this whole process? Lots of questions. Wish us luck!

Talking With Mom

This was in St. George on the way to Powell. She was telling me how excited she was!!

A Few Random Pics

Baylee is really starting to focus on different objects. She has recently discovered that the mobile in her crib is just so fun to watch! She will just stare at it. She also likes bright lights and ceiling fans. It's pretty incredible to see this little girl develop right before your eyes. She's getting pretty close to rolling over too. WOW!



These are a few pics I took outside the house after a rain storm.



Here's a preview of what's to come as far as pics from Lake Powell. Lots more to come, but I'm too beat right now to do anymore...