Hello blog world! I have lost my energy for unpacking and feel like losing myself in the world of blogs for a few minute. I thought while I was here, I may as well give an update. I know you are all dieing to know how I like Phoenix - or "the valley" as Arizonians euphemistically refer to it.
There are quite a few things I really like - I really like our house (even with it's quirky shelf-deficient cupboards), we lucked out with a great neighborhood with lots of little girls, we also happened to end up in a great and very friendly ward and have already been issued callings (they didn't waste any time), our location is great (close to a pool, the school, a library, lots of shopping :), a playground), Curly loves her preschool class and the routine in her life has decreased the deplorable tantruming that developed this summer (though there is still room for improvement).
The list of things I don't like is much shorter - I miss our families :( and I don't like the heat - fortunately we are past the hottest part of summer and it only gets to 105 on really hot days - I am dreading the receipt of our first utility bill - but oh how we love the air conditioner. I also don't appreciate Lou waking up before the crack of dawn and imploring Curly to join her for a visit to see if mom and dad are awake (we have taken to locking our door hoping it will encourage them to sleep until a more decent time - I could settle for 6 am).
Before closing - I must once again thank our families for the generous help we received. We had so much help loading our truck and our amazing dad's packed it to the brim...too bad we didn't have two more feet of space... Amazingly we also had plenty of help unloading the truck (thanks to a friend who tipped off our Elder's quorum), it was unloaded before I arrived (we were delayed by Curly's episodes of car sickness). We feel very blessed and very grateful! We have seen many tender mercies in our lives the past few weeks. Okay - here come the tears, I better go.
Check back in for pictures in the future. Until then - enjoy the pleasant fall weather!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
"The Coast"
Every August, for the past 20 years, Fisher's 90-something Grandpa drives 1000 miles to where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean to fish the salmon run. Nothing can prevent this trip (I do mean that - not even weddings or deaths). I think grandpa lives for his two weeks out at the coast. When Fisher interviewed for his job, it was agreed that he could have this week off to come back and go to "The Coast". I was more excited for the Fisher coming home part than the actual fishing part!
We loaded the car with camping gear, snacks, and kids and made the 13 hour drive to Ilwaco, Washington. We stopped overnight in Tri-cities and the following day at Multinomah Falls (below).
I spent most days in camp which was within walking distance of the beach! We could hear the waves crashing as we fell asleep each night. Curly and Lou had lots of fun playing in the sand. Curly's Grandpa showed her how to cast with a child size pole and she thought it was great - like father, like daughter.
Poor Lou woke up with a bug bite right between her eyes that swelled until she looked like a Star Trek character (I am not a trekie so I can't tell you which).
I went out on the boat fishing one day. I love the ocean and took tons of pictures....until I got sick. In between puking I managed to catch a few big, beautiful, salmon. My plan was to document the whole fishing experience - but all my attention was focused on keeping breakfast down - a battle I lost to the rolling sea.
That's my fisher!
Grandpa Lake doing what he loves!
It turned out to be a good fishing year and we came home with lots of yummy salmon!
We spent the last day sight-seeing. We picked blueberries and checked out the Long Beach kite festival.
Grandpa took all the kids on a short boat ride before the trip was over.
All good thing do come to an end and Fisher is back in Arizona. Only two more weeks until we move into our house! It's been nice for me to be able to spend a time with family and friends here and wrap up loose ends, but I have to say I am very excited to be with Fisher and in our own place.
We loaded the car with camping gear, snacks, and kids and made the 13 hour drive to Ilwaco, Washington. We stopped overnight in Tri-cities and the following day at Multinomah Falls (below).
I spent most days in camp which was within walking distance of the beach! We could hear the waves crashing as we fell asleep each night. Curly and Lou had lots of fun playing in the sand. Curly's Grandpa showed her how to cast with a child size pole and she thought it was great - like father, like daughter.
Poor Lou woke up with a bug bite right between her eyes that swelled until she looked like a Star Trek character (I am not a trekie so I can't tell you which).
I went out on the boat fishing one day. I love the ocean and took tons of pictures....until I got sick. In between puking I managed to catch a few big, beautiful, salmon. My plan was to document the whole fishing experience - but all my attention was focused on keeping breakfast down - a battle I lost to the rolling sea.
That's my fisher!
Grandpa Lake doing what he loves!
It turned out to be a good fishing year and we came home with lots of yummy salmon!
We spent the last day sight-seeing. We picked blueberries and checked out the Long Beach kite festival.
Grandpa took all the kids on a short boat ride before the trip was over.
All good thing do come to an end and Fisher is back in Arizona. Only two more weeks until we move into our house! It's been nice for me to be able to spend a time with family and friends here and wrap up loose ends, but I have to say I am very excited to be with Fisher and in our own place.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
If You Need a Laugh...
Fisher and I couldn't spend our anniversary together - but he sure did make me laugh with this one!
Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Reader Request
Many friends have requested pictures of the house the we found in our mad house hunt.... So here you are. We are excited to move in around the beginning of September, until then we are vagrants... staying with family and living out of a suitcase.
There are three basic home colors in Phoenix - tan, dark tan, and light tan. :)
A high priority on our list - a home with a yard!
Friday, July 24, 2009
The title-less post
It's a lame title I know... but I have racked my brain for something clever and nothing comes... On to the post - Fisher and I are currently in Phoenix having a house hunt marathon - and I do mean marathon. We have looked at 60 homes in the past 2 1/2 days sweating profusely in the 110 degree heat. We found four that we liked enough to consider buying and process of elimination/someone else bidding first has helped us narrow it down to one - now we wait...
Our past week or so back in Utah was mostly filled with packing and trying to enjoy time together. Fisher will be staying in Phoenix to work, so he took Curly and Lou on outings everyday to ensure they won't forget him - which would be impossible. (This was also very helpful for me to be able to pack). Their "big" outing was a hike to "Surprise Lake". Looks beautiful to me!
The below picture makes me very sad because I long ago realized how much we will miss our sweet Grandma. We all love to visit Grandpa and Grandma upstairs. Grandma takes Lou for "rides" on her chair, gives her snacks, reads her stories... Curly loves to help bring in the milk delivery and newspaper. She loves reading stories with grandma and coloring with her special stencils. Grandpa will equally be missed by all of us with his tickling fingers for the girls and words of wisdom and humor for us ... Okay I better stop because this is making me cry (really). Anyway - Grandma was also very helpful with packing. She folded the many loads of laundry (something she has done for me for a long time).
Oh dear, another sad picture... maybe I should call this the tear stained post. Anyway - these pictures speak for themselves.
I need a tissue.
Our past week or so back in Utah was mostly filled with packing and trying to enjoy time together. Fisher will be staying in Phoenix to work, so he took Curly and Lou on outings everyday to ensure they won't forget him - which would be impossible. (This was also very helpful for me to be able to pack). Their "big" outing was a hike to "Surprise Lake". Looks beautiful to me!
The below picture makes me very sad because I long ago realized how much we will miss our sweet Grandma. We all love to visit Grandpa and Grandma upstairs. Grandma takes Lou for "rides" on her chair, gives her snacks, reads her stories... Curly loves to help bring in the milk delivery and newspaper. She loves reading stories with grandma and coloring with her special stencils. Grandpa will equally be missed by all of us with his tickling fingers for the girls and words of wisdom and humor for us ... Okay I better stop because this is making me cry (really). Anyway - Grandma was also very helpful with packing. She folded the many loads of laundry (something she has done for me for a long time).
Oh dear, another sad picture... maybe I should call this the tear stained post. Anyway - these pictures speak for themselves.
I need a tissue.
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