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Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
New Year, Still Here
You may have thought I forgot about my blog. But here I am still, just feeling a little more settled into life here in AZ and ready to find my old voice, mixed with a new voice.
I could write about the old. Our last year was moving. And as much as other stuff happened, the move happened throughout it all. The neighbors we get to start over with, where to put Christmas decorations, where to put everything, finding styles and situations that work for us- it all happens behind the scenes because we moved. And this time for reals. God's Spirit told me that we are supposed to be in this house and although that happened 10 months ago, I am holding onto to the Lord's vision. I don't see and I don't want to see all that He does. I just trust He knows me, my family and my needs and He is taking care of all of us. I like relaxing into that thought.
So here we are in a new year. And when they say moving in takes a year, they are not lying. But things so far are good. Friends we are making, family close by, Bryan's work situation, schools for kids, the new house- it's all good stuff.
So what's up currently at our place?
Bryan is having a birthday! Monday he turns 36. Yep- it's real, we get old. He partied with his Utah family while were there over Christmas break. Here we are going on a date and eating yummy food. :) His work is doing awesome- so many good employees, the monthly visits back to Utah aren't his favorite but they are working for now. He loves electronics and got a few this last month. His dreams are getting a new car and new TV this year. He's into biking and yoga. And he's coaching Emily's Odyssey of the Mind team which is a fabulous learning experience for everyone.
Maegan- I am running Ragnar. February 20-21 I am embarking on my 4th Ragnar running relay adventure. 200 miles, 12 runners and 2 vans= 30+ hours on the road for a crazy two days. We are the ninja turtles team. I am into running with some great ladies a few times a week. I also am into being at schools with volunteering at Emily's class, working with a math group with Ashley, working in a tutoring room and teaching Aaron with Joyschool. Everyone is happy in their schools and so it makes all the driving around worth it. I am also into yoga, a ballet/tap/jazz dance class, two book clubs and am teaching the 4-year-olds in church, which is Aaron's class.
Emily's life is busy with Odyssey of the Mind (O.M.), 4th grade with Mrs. Wilson, and in band playing trumpet. She dreams of the day where she could read books and play Pokemon cards all day. She seems to find some time for jumping on the trampoline and doing some cooking too. She loves imagining. She got an American Girl doll house for Christmas and was in heaven. Her favorite day of the week is Tuesday where she gets to go to band, have early-out day at school, followed by a couple hours of O.M. with her friends. She likes her activity days church class and will start playing flag football soon.
Ashley is a second grader! She's in class with Ms. Bedford, her grandma- yippee! She likes playing Pokemon, drawing, and reading. She is in Brownies and will start selling girl scout cookies next week. Yum and fun! She also takes piano lessons from our friend Kristi Lee and had fun doing some recitals last year. She recently picked to play a new sport- flag football and the season will start in a couple weeks. She got a Barbie doll house for Christmas and was in heaven. Ashley can do some fun tricks on the tramp and found out that swimming in January is really cold.
Aaron is in two preschools this year! He is gone two mornings a week with Joyschool- a mom taught preschool group with 4 other friends. He's gone two afternoons a week at Mrs. Jackson's Preschool too and having a ball. He is a happy snuggly guy who prefers sleeping in mom and dad's bed. He got transformers for Christmas and loves them. He's into treats, being a tease, and drawing interesting shapes and turning them into pictures. He learned how to play Pit over the break and likes being included in the big guys' games. Aaron loves to be read to and is doing a great job learning how to read already. He is getting a new anti-finger-sucking glove in the mail soon and isn't really looking forward to wearing it.
So what's up currently at our place?
Bryan is having a birthday! Monday he turns 36. Yep- it's real, we get old. He partied with his Utah family while were there over Christmas break. Here we are going on a date and eating yummy food. :) His work is doing awesome- so many good employees, the monthly visits back to Utah aren't his favorite but they are working for now. He loves electronics and got a few this last month. His dreams are getting a new car and new TV this year. He's into biking and yoga. And he's coaching Emily's Odyssey of the Mind team which is a fabulous learning experience for everyone.
{Bryan goes to cheer at a football game for the Utes with his dad and the kiddos. His only time in red is caught on camera.}
Maegan- I am running Ragnar. February 20-21 I am embarking on my 4th Ragnar running relay adventure. 200 miles, 12 runners and 2 vans= 30+ hours on the road for a crazy two days. We are the ninja turtles team. I am into running with some great ladies a few times a week. I also am into being at schools with volunteering at Emily's class, working with a math group with Ashley, working in a tutoring room and teaching Aaron with Joyschool. Everyone is happy in their schools and so it makes all the driving around worth it. I am also into yoga, a ballet/tap/jazz dance class, two book clubs and am teaching the 4-year-olds in church, which is Aaron's class.
{Reading stories one Joyschool morning at our house}
Emily's life is busy with Odyssey of the Mind (O.M.), 4th grade with Mrs. Wilson, and in band playing trumpet. She dreams of the day where she could read books and play Pokemon cards all day. She seems to find some time for jumping on the trampoline and doing some cooking too. She loves imagining. She got an American Girl doll house for Christmas and was in heaven. Her favorite day of the week is Tuesday where she gets to go to band, have early-out day at school, followed by a couple hours of O.M. with her friends. She likes her activity days church class and will start playing flag football soon.
{At the pumpkin patch there were other fun events. Emily actually lassoed this hay cow with the rope!}
Ashley is a second grader! She's in class with Ms. Bedford, her grandma- yippee! She likes playing Pokemon, drawing, and reading. She is in Brownies and will start selling girl scout cookies next week. Yum and fun! She also takes piano lessons from our friend Kristi Lee and had fun doing some recitals last year. She recently picked to play a new sport- flag football and the season will start in a couple weeks. She got a Barbie doll house for Christmas and was in heaven. Ashley can do some fun tricks on the tramp and found out that swimming in January is really cold.
{Mustaches were passed out at the school's chili cook-off night and Ashley took advantage.}
Aaron is in two preschools this year! He is gone two mornings a week with Joyschool- a mom taught preschool group with 4 other friends. He's gone two afternoons a week at Mrs. Jackson's Preschool too and having a ball. He is a happy snuggly guy who prefers sleeping in mom and dad's bed. He got transformers for Christmas and loves them. He's into treats, being a tease, and drawing interesting shapes and turning them into pictures. He learned how to play Pit over the break and likes being included in the big guys' games. Aaron loves to be read to and is doing a great job learning how to read already. He is getting a new anti-finger-sucking glove in the mail soon and isn't really looking forward to wearing it.
{After making a bat hat at preschool, Aaron comes home to model his creation.}
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
The finer details of moving in
6 days in Tucson and so far- 12 piles of javelina pig poop near my front door, 106 degrees, live scorpion in box in garage, live scorpion in the middle of my kitchen floor, tarantula right by Ashley's new school front door, ran over a half alive rat on the road (it's injured rodent face looked at me right before my suv 'bore down'), and the last straw is just now as I was scooping up leaves looked down and some 'leaves' that had fallen out of my gloves were by my bare foot- dead pack rat/mouse. And we have a pack rat living in our pool's water feature. EWW!!!!
So last night we caught the pack rat (a large mouselike body) with my dad's live cage trap. The kids were excited to see it this morning and Emily and Aaron fed 'our new pet' some bread. Then later Aaron wanted to show our pet around the pool and yard. He carried it around for a while, talking to it and was watching it with fascination while 'it's tummy was going in and out quickly mom. It's going to have a baby!' Thankfully it didn't have a baby in the trap but we found it dead soon after. Whether it was death by over-heat or over-love it is uncertain but hopefully we don't catch another one tonight. I'm not sure I can handle 3 dead mice bodies in one week. Happy that the garbage man comes tomorrow.
On the other hand, awesome meteor showers this weekend. I saw a couple, Bryan saw 5 and then after a middle of the night wake up, Emily and I watched a few.
So last night we caught the pack rat (a large mouselike body) with my dad's live cage trap. The kids were excited to see it this morning and Emily and Aaron fed 'our new pet' some bread. Then later Aaron wanted to show our pet around the pool and yard. He carried it around for a while, talking to it and was watching it with fascination while 'it's tummy was going in and out quickly mom. It's going to have a baby!' Thankfully it didn't have a baby in the trap but we found it dead soon after. Whether it was death by over-heat or over-love it is uncertain but hopefully we don't catch another one tonight. I'm not sure I can handle 3 dead mice bodies in one week. Happy that the garbage man comes tomorrow.
On the other hand, awesome meteor showers this weekend. I saw a couple, Bryan saw 5 and then after a middle of the night wake up, Emily and I watched a few.
We are headed to San Diego in two weeks for my cousin's wedding. My mom, Garrett, Carlie and her family are all coming and we will see Wes too. Bryan leaves Wed. for Utah and will be there for 3 days with Jono.
On Saturday night we went downtown for 2nd Saturday in Tucson. They have one street blocked off and have live bands (5-8 different groups), food vendors, and lots of jewelry vendors too. We ate crepes & burritos, I danced to a drum band, saw two of my old high school teachers, hung out with my brother and his date and my dad and Marlene. Good fun.
Third day of school- had two happy excited girls. Also one happy mom because Emily gets to ride the bus so I don't have to drive two girls to school every day. Aaron starts Joyschool next week with 4 other kids- good times.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Moving In, (part 2)
We arrived safely in our new home today around 4pm, August 2nd. On our way driving in we had our first monsoon of the year- rain for a bit, cloudy, foggy, lightening, rainy and it was all over in 10 minutes or so.
We stopped at Picacho Peak gas station (30 mins away) for our last potty stop of our trip. The kids got to experience the Sonoran desert like they hadn't in a while- Aaron and I explored a wash, saw a lizard and he learned about prickly pear cactus and Emily found & collected mesquite tree beans to plant at home.
I have so many emotions that this trip to AZ is like the move I did in the summer of 1997 with my family. I left people and places I loved and left the green and moved south in some intense heat. My heart was shattered at age 16. My heart has done a lot of growing since then but it's still not easy.
So guess who I got to talk to on my way down? Two dear friends that I made while I was in Tucson in 1997- Andrea and Casper. I really don't think that was a coincidence that they both called today, especially considering that I haven't talked to either one in a long while. But they both are my good friends and though I left my precious Spokane, WA friends and life, I would never have known either of them. So, again proof that change is good- see?
My heart is feeling so many things today and each one isn't exactly fun. Apprehensive (Really, we just did this? okay...), stumped (Where is the best place for ____?), lonely (Bryan and mom don't want to hear my saying this is hard, unsure, etc so who can listen?), hard (Bryan sprained his wrist- lifting a lot won't be easy, sweaty unloading trailer at 11pm- is tomorrow going to be cooler? HA), hopeful (Schools for girls will work themselves out soon- right?), anxious (Am I really supposed to be here? why isn't this feeling great yet?), confused (Whose blue sheets are these and why do I have them? Where is the best room for my Aar bear boy to sleep in?)
My Happys of Today: Dinner at my mom's was so fabulous- homemade everything good and nothing tastes as good as when mom makes it. Spaghetti, sauce with veggies from her garden, bread, salad, watermelon, cooked carrots & ice cream.
The kids were having a ball- in the car, at our house running around, at my moms, making up a new prince and princess game, finding their old toys and things.
Bryan and I working together. Trying to listen & respect each others ideas while not keeping quiet either. I think it's good. He's a good ying to my yang. Even though it's not easy a lot, it's good.
When I see how much got done already- yay us. We did good.
That I made an effort to have a thank you prayer when we got here as a group and even though Bryan whined about my style, we did it.
My dad and his crew put all our furniture in already. I can't even believe what a huge blessing that is. And Marlene cleaned everything too. She rocks.
The pool isn't icky so we can swim in it tomorrow! My mom is coming back over to do lifeguard duty all day while Bry and I unpack everything. So nice.
And then Sunday is Haven's baby blessing and mom's b-day party so we get to see more family. And I think we're doing dinner at Marlene's tomorrow too. So many good family times already! Oh yea, I do like it here.
I'm off to get ready for bed where I will wake up Bry b/c the new bathroom doesn't have a door- sorry baby. But the alarm clock is plugged in and I unpacked one suitcase so I have clean clothes for tomorrow- yay!
We stopped at Picacho Peak gas station (30 mins away) for our last potty stop of our trip. The kids got to experience the Sonoran desert like they hadn't in a while- Aaron and I explored a wash, saw a lizard and he learned about prickly pear cactus and Emily found & collected mesquite tree beans to plant at home.
I have so many emotions that this trip to AZ is like the move I did in the summer of 1997 with my family. I left people and places I loved and left the green and moved south in some intense heat. My heart was shattered at age 16. My heart has done a lot of growing since then but it's still not easy.
So guess who I got to talk to on my way down? Two dear friends that I made while I was in Tucson in 1997- Andrea and Casper. I really don't think that was a coincidence that they both called today, especially considering that I haven't talked to either one in a long while. But they both are my good friends and though I left my precious Spokane, WA friends and life, I would never have known either of them. So, again proof that change is good- see?
My heart is feeling so many things today and each one isn't exactly fun. Apprehensive (Really, we just did this? okay...), stumped (Where is the best place for ____?), lonely (Bryan and mom don't want to hear my saying this is hard, unsure, etc so who can listen?), hard (Bryan sprained his wrist- lifting a lot won't be easy, sweaty unloading trailer at 11pm- is tomorrow going to be cooler? HA), hopeful (Schools for girls will work themselves out soon- right?), anxious (Am I really supposed to be here? why isn't this feeling great yet?), confused (Whose blue sheets are these and why do I have them? Where is the best room for my Aar bear boy to sleep in?)
My Happys of Today: Dinner at my mom's was so fabulous- homemade everything good and nothing tastes as good as when mom makes it. Spaghetti, sauce with veggies from her garden, bread, salad, watermelon, cooked carrots & ice cream.
The kids were having a ball- in the car, at our house running around, at my moms, making up a new prince and princess game, finding their old toys and things.
Bryan and I working together. Trying to listen & respect each others ideas while not keeping quiet either. I think it's good. He's a good ying to my yang. Even though it's not easy a lot, it's good.
When I see how much got done already- yay us. We did good.
That I made an effort to have a thank you prayer when we got here as a group and even though Bryan whined about my style, we did it.
My dad and his crew put all our furniture in already. I can't even believe what a huge blessing that is. And Marlene cleaned everything too. She rocks.
The pool isn't icky so we can swim in it tomorrow! My mom is coming back over to do lifeguard duty all day while Bry and I unpack everything. So nice.
And then Sunday is Haven's baby blessing and mom's b-day party so we get to see more family. And I think we're doing dinner at Marlene's tomorrow too. So many good family times already! Oh yea, I do like it here.
I'm off to get ready for bed where I will wake up Bry b/c the new bathroom doesn't have a door- sorry baby. But the alarm clock is plugged in and I unpacked one suitcase so I have clean clothes for tomorrow- yay!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Moving part 1
I'm going to attempt a documentary of our move to Tucson in hopes to capture my heart this adventure begins to unfold.
August 1, 2013- Moving Day. There are SO many things go into moving. There's the practical side- how to get yourselves & stuff to the new place, what to bring, what to throw away, what to leave behind and how to get it all packed up in the time remaining. Then there's the emotional side of saying goodbye to people and places and starting your heart ready to say hello to new people and places.
I guess this all started when I decided to let the Lord guide my life and be my light.
Practically it started a while ago as we left Tucson in May 2011, thinking we'd come back but not really sure when. Many discussions with Bryan and we decided to stay in Utah for a while longer than we first planned and then for the whole 2012-13 school year. I remember in April 2013 out on a date with Bryan discussing where kids would go to school next year and thinking AZ would be it. A couple months later I remember thinking that was pointless to move because I was happy where I was at in Utah and I realize that happy is a state of mind not a place and that I wouldn't be any happier than I was right then. Happy with my neighbors and friends, the kids' schools, with some family close by and with our house. I felt I emotionally went back to the drawing board about whether moving to Tucson again was a good idea.
One Sunday in June or July I was at the sink doing dishes and felt the Lord speak peace to my heart about going to Tucson. I knew it was from the Lord because His Spirit spoke to me as only God can- a flood of thoughts all at the same time with a really good feeling too. The two main ideas I took away were from it were "It's going to be an adventure" and "Put your faith and trust in Me". After that experience I was ready to pack up and move that day. It filled me with hope, being seen by the One who wants all happiness and good things for me and my family and I was feeling ready to jump into that new adventure.
So then came the start of planning the details. Going through the basement storage boxes and finding what was in all of them, decided who would stay in our house while we were gone (selling was not even discussed really because Eastpointe is sure our house and we were not ready to give it up yet).
But where I had the hardest part was staying as convicted to that feeling from God along the way. We lived away in AZ for a year but I guess I had reserved part of my heart for my home in Utah the whole time. This time we are leaving it feels like I am not leaving my heart in UT and goodbyes are more for reals. (Yes I just said 'for reals', does that mean Utah is coming with me?)
We moved to Eastpointe in July 2006, when Ash was 4 months old, Emily had just turned two. That same summer there were many other houses being bought in the neighborhood and together we all created a new place. I feel like us leaving is me breaking up a great thing we all had together- a community, my church support. my family, my everything. Not fun. Don't want to go.
Side note, right now we are driving through Phoenix- 108 degrees. My undies feel sticky just thinking about it. 1 1/2 hours until we get to our new house.
I had a great goodbye to Utah. After we were all packed up, all 5 of us walked through rooms in our house and remembered things that we had done in each room. The kids only lasted 3 rooms before they were so hyper they went to go jump on the couches so I suggested we all go on the trampoline for one last family jump session. We jumped for a few minutes, took a few pictures in front our house and then took off around 12. I had said goodbye to many friends before then too.
August 1, 2013- Moving Day. There are SO many things go into moving. There's the practical side- how to get yourselves & stuff to the new place, what to bring, what to throw away, what to leave behind and how to get it all packed up in the time remaining. Then there's the emotional side of saying goodbye to people and places and starting your heart ready to say hello to new people and places.
I guess this all started when I decided to let the Lord guide my life and be my light.
Practically it started a while ago as we left Tucson in May 2011, thinking we'd come back but not really sure when. Many discussions with Bryan and we decided to stay in Utah for a while longer than we first planned and then for the whole 2012-13 school year. I remember in April 2013 out on a date with Bryan discussing where kids would go to school next year and thinking AZ would be it. A couple months later I remember thinking that was pointless to move because I was happy where I was at in Utah and I realize that happy is a state of mind not a place and that I wouldn't be any happier than I was right then. Happy with my neighbors and friends, the kids' schools, with some family close by and with our house. I felt I emotionally went back to the drawing board about whether moving to Tucson again was a good idea.
One Sunday in June or July I was at the sink doing dishes and felt the Lord speak peace to my heart about going to Tucson. I knew it was from the Lord because His Spirit spoke to me as only God can- a flood of thoughts all at the same time with a really good feeling too. The two main ideas I took away were from it were "It's going to be an adventure" and "Put your faith and trust in Me". After that experience I was ready to pack up and move that day. It filled me with hope, being seen by the One who wants all happiness and good things for me and my family and I was feeling ready to jump into that new adventure.
So then came the start of planning the details. Going through the basement storage boxes and finding what was in all of them, decided who would stay in our house while we were gone (selling was not even discussed really because Eastpointe is sure our house and we were not ready to give it up yet).
But where I had the hardest part was staying as convicted to that feeling from God along the way. We lived away in AZ for a year but I guess I had reserved part of my heart for my home in Utah the whole time. This time we are leaving it feels like I am not leaving my heart in UT and goodbyes are more for reals. (Yes I just said 'for reals', does that mean Utah is coming with me?)
We moved to Eastpointe in July 2006, when Ash was 4 months old, Emily had just turned two. That same summer there were many other houses being bought in the neighborhood and together we all created a new place. I feel like us leaving is me breaking up a great thing we all had together- a community, my church support. my family, my everything. Not fun. Don't want to go.
Side note, right now we are driving through Phoenix- 108 degrees. My undies feel sticky just thinking about it. 1 1/2 hours until we get to our new house.
I had a great goodbye to Utah. After we were all packed up, all 5 of us walked through rooms in our house and remembered things that we had done in each room. The kids only lasted 3 rooms before they were so hyper they went to go jump on the couches so I suggested we all go on the trampoline for one last family jump session. We jumped for a few minutes, took a few pictures in front our house and then took off around 12. I had said goodbye to many friends before then too.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Spring Break Road Trip
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