#ArizonaLife

Well friends, I thought I'd do a quick update on our lives here in Arizona. I'll get around to writing about the holidays eventually. (Because they were fabulous! Thanksgiving with Joe's family in southern Utah and Christmas in San Diego just the two of us!) But consider this your overview with more details to come later.

Joe is still working for AMEC (thank goodness I can say that as it's only been 6 months!) and loving it. It's been quite a learning process for him and he has really enjoyed the work that he does. He has struggled with taking on the leadership role - if you know Joe, this shouldn't surprise you. But he has continued to impress those he works with. (This also shouldn't surprise you.) Anyway, he is usually working on jobs that are outside of Phoenix. He's currently working in Surprise, AZ which is about an hour and half outside of where we live. Previously, he has been staying in hotels while he works on job sites further away than Phoenix. I would go and stay with him and hang out wherever he was. But then I got a job so he has mostly been commuting back and forth from Surprise each day. I know it's been hard on him but I am so grateful he's willing to sacrifice by making that long commute so that we can still be together at night. He has loved living close to my sister and her family. He especially enjoys the fact that my brother-in-law owns an XBOX. Oh, and just having another male family member to hang out with.

I was previously not working due to us having only one car. But we bought a second car in October and I started looking for jobs. One of the drillers that Joe had been working with was telling him that his wife works with kids with disabilities. Joe found out the information about the company and whether or not they were hiring since I had previously worked with kids with disabilities. I applied that week, went in for an interview the next and was hired that same day! It was really exciting and I felt very blessed to have gotten a job so quickly and one that I was excited about having. I started training mid-November and have loved working there! Currently, I'm working with a teenage boy who is transitioning home from being in detention. We're working with him on building skills and learning activities that support sobriety. It's been quite the experience and I have learned so much already. The people I work with are also amazing. That is one of the positives of working in the field that I do - you go through so much together that you really get close and it's quite amazing. I also applied to the MSW (Master's in Social Work) program at ASU. I am currently just playing the waiting game to see if I get accepted. To be quite honest, I'm more scared of being accepted than being rejected. Maybe it's a little sad, but rejection is what I'm expecting so to actually be accepted and take on this new challenge will be...well, challenging! But I'm excited either way for my future and the fact that I'm in a job I love is pretty great.

We were both called to be Family History Consultants soon after we moved in. We were humbled and overwhelmed as neither of us have done much of it before. While we haven't been able to devote the same kind of time as the retired couple who was called with us, we have really enjoyed learning about family history and being strengthened as individuals and in our marriage as we have sought to do the work for our ancestors. I was also called to be a ward organist. This was also VERY humbling as I had never played the organ prior to being called. It has been interesting. I have enjoyed the opportunity for growth and to put myself out there to serve the Lord but I still get quite nervous every time I have to play.

The week I started training, my Grandpa Ward passed away. Since the funeral was to be that weekend, my sister and her family and Joe and I decided to make the long drive up to Idaho for a few days. All of us working folks were able to get Friday off so we left Thursday night, drove through the night, and arrived Friday. We spent Friday and Saturday with family and attending the funeral and headed back home on Sunday. It was so good to be there with so much family and to remember the amazing impact that my Grandpa has had on so many people. He will be greatly missed.

The next week was Thanksgiving. Joe and I were able to go up to Parowan to celebrate with his family. All of his family were there except a brother-in-law and nephew. It was so much fun! We about died in the FREEZING Utah weather. (They kept telling us it was warm compared to what the weather had been. We begged to differ.) Joe's parents gave all the children a generous gift and we were overwhelmed with their selfless gesture of love. I can't imagine a greater family to marry into. I have learned so much from the Zaleski's - their selfless, kind service to others never ceases to amaze me.

Once we got back, I had finished with training and started working with the kid that I am still working with. I didn't know how much time I would be able to get off for Christmas so Joe and I considered going to San Diego if my time off was only going to be a few days. At first, it was just a dream because we really did hope to make it up to Utah for Christmas to be with my family since we spent Thanksgiving with Joe's family. But as it got closer and we realized I wouldn't get as much time off as we hoped, we started looking into going to San Diego. Things just seemed to fall into place. We went on our honeymoon to San Diego a mere 3 years ago and since we had just celebrated our anniversary the week before, we thought what a better way to celebrate 3 years than in the place we honeymooned! We found a great deal on a great hotel but best of all, we found out the Utah State Aggies would be playing in the Poinsettia Bowl the day after Christmas! It felt like it was meant to be. So...we committed. And OH MAN, this was a trip for the books. We stayed in downtown San Diego only a couple blocks from the harbor. We could see the ocean from our hotel and it was glorious! We did a lot of walking around downtown San Diego as we were right in the heart. Probably the BEST thing we did was a sea kayaking tour around La Jolla caves. If you ever go to San Diego, don't miss this opportunity! Winter is the time to see marine life and while we didn't get to do the whale watching tour we initially wanted, we were more than happy with the one we got. We kayaked around the caves and saw leopard sharks, sea lions, harbor seals, cormorants and some cool-looking fish. We also were able to jump in and swim (we had wet suits on) and swim. There were harbor seals swimming around us at the time - it was amazing! A few of our other activities - went on a run along the harbor, walked around La Jolla beaches in the evening, ate at the San Diego Hard Rock Cafe (a tradition), got goodies at Ghirardelli, went to the San Diego temple for a session, saw the temple lights (amazing!) and finally...attended the Poinsettia Bowl! And, as you all know (or you should know!) the Aggies won!! It was such a fun experience to be there with so many other Aggie fans and be cheering together with Aggie fans, young and old. We also randomly ran into some friends from our ward in Logan. It was so much fun! We then said goodbye to San Diego and came back to reality. Until next time, dear San Diego.

Well, I'll try to post some pictures soon of all our adventures. I have pretty much stopped taking my camera anywhere since I became an iPhone owner. So pictures aren't great but they're sufficient! Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About Life

I found this little time waster on a blog that I follow and thought it looked fun. Then, as I was doing it, I remembered how my friends and I used to do little quizzes sort of like this on email back in the day and then send it around to each other. How funny! I guess my generation will always like to talk about themselves. So, on to enabling my narcissistic personality!

Making: Cards, lots of them! It turns out I am sometimes crafty and sometimes like how it turns out.

Cooking: Nothing. Ever. Especially when Joe is gone for work for weeks at a time...shh, don't tell him I eat out all the time! Ok...he already knows.

Drinking: Water! Since we moved to Arizona, I drink water like it's nobody's business. I am ALWAYS thirsty. I guess 100 degree weather 24/7 does that to you.

Reading: Our National Parks by Ansel Adams. Who knew he was as inspiring as his photography?

Wanting: To know how I should proceed in life. Career, school, family...?

Looking: At a picture I recently FINALLY bought a frame for. One that I bought from a street painter in Slovenia. Of Slovenia and it's charming little island in Bled. Oh, how I miss that place.

Playing: The guitar and my keyboard. All. The. Time.

Wasting: Time. Every day. All day. I kind of hate it and I kind of love it. I know this kind of free time is probably something I will never have again.

Sewing: Is this a question? It wouldn't be if you knew me.

Wishing: That for one day, I could just be everything I ever dreamed of being. A soccer star, a musician, etc.

Enjoying: My new library. I recently rented New Year's Eve and The Vow from it. The Logan library had a very SMALL selection of everything and it's so nice to have a larger library system to draw from!

Waiting: For my life to start. Dramatic? Maybe, but it's the truth.

Listening: To the Civil Wars. Can't get enough. Really bummed about their current band break-up. Hope it's not permanent! Do yourself a favor and listen to their song "Poison & Wine".

Liking: Aunt Annie's pretzels. I forgot how much I love soft pretzels.

Wondering: If I will ever stop comparing myself to others.

Loving: Zac Efron. Is that weird? Probably. Am I a 13-year old girl at heart? You better believe it.

Hoping: To be brave enough to move forward. Be it with my MSW, starting a family, or just acclimating to this new city.

Marveling: At every single sunset in this desert. Who knew?

Needing: Diet Coke. Yep, I've become that person.

Smelling: A candle called Meadow. Which reminds me of a spring rain. Which is fabulous.

Wearing: The comfiest T and pajama pants ever known to man. From Target, of course.

Following:  Bloggers. Turns out the internet has a lot of pretty great inspiration.

Noticing: I sleep a lot better when I pile the pillows on Joe's side as if someone were laying there next to me.

Knowing: I am missing the Logan fall. It's the BEST time of year up there.

Thinking: About Hilary Swank's quote from P.S. I Love You. I am relating to it a lot right now. "All I know is, if you don't figure out this something, you'll just stay ordinary, and it doesn't matter if it's a work of art, or a taco, or a pair of socks! Just create something... new, and there it is, and it's you, out in the world, outside of you, and you can look at it, or hear it, or read it, or feel it... and you know a little more about... you. A little bit more than anyone else does... Does that make any sense at all?" 

Feeling: Inspired. I have my whole life ahead of me and it's time to do something about it.

Bookmarking: Job postings. Boring, I know.

Opening: Mail. Lots of bills. Who knew being a grown up could be so dumb?

Giggling: Every night I spend with my sister. It has been SUCH a blessing to have her near, especially since both our hubbies travel for work. We have some good times.

Feeling: Pensieve. "Dang, I was going for thoughtful." ...Anyone?

The Cabin

After we had been home from Texas for about a week, my Mom called Marielle and asked her if we would drive up to Utah to go to the cabin with my parents and offered to pay for the gas. This seemed crazy because we had just got back from driving all that way (and Marielle driving to Oklahoma and back as well). But we both love the cabin and don't get a lot of opportunity to go there. So...long story short, we were on our way up to Utah a week later!

Our drive up to Utah

Once in Utah, we were able to spend a couple days there. This consisted of watching the Tour de France, getting my hairs done with my momma, and spending time with my brother and his family since they wouldn't be joining us at the cabin.

3 inches shorter and a little bit blonder on the ends! I just couldn't get myself to chop it off, despite the heat of Arizona. It had been gotten so long! Also, don't mind that my hair looks red in the first photo. It wasn't.

Then it was up to the cabin! This was definitely a trip to remember. The weather was perfect. We did a lot of fun things, both tradition and new. And we saw tons of wildlife! 5 moose (this is a record for me!), 3 heron, a muskrat, a deer, and lots of elk!

The first bonfire, one of many

We visited Big Springs, which has apparently been taken over by seagulls. Shame.

My Dad, Marielle and I went for a bike ride. It was so much fun! The views were breathtaking! We also rode through a herd of cows, saw a deer, and a moose chilling by a creek, and had lots of critters join us on ride. (See pictures below.)

Hey there, Mr. Moose!

And Mr. Deersley!

Then, on our way home from visiting West Yellowstone, we were greeted by two beautiful sights. The first was this sky of ridiculous beauty. The clouds were low and dark and the sun was trying it's best to burst through. It was lovely. 

The second was a momma moose and a baby moose. The mom and baby had crossed the road into a ravine. On one side of the ravine, the road. On the other, a barbed wire fence which was just tall enough that the baby couldn't climb over and we watched as it tried to go over and under and through. At this point, more and more people were stopping and I think it was making the mother even more stressed out. We watched as the baby finally found a way around as it came all the way down to the end of the ravine, got out this wooden fence and back over above the barbed wire. What a triumph!

I also noticed this beauty. Bike glove tan. Classy.

We also went on a hike that we had never done before. Well, I had never done it. It was called Upper Coffee Pot and it was delightful. It was overcast so the day was nice and cool. It's times like these that I really wish I knew how to work my camera better. I could never get the clouds and the green to look their best at the same time. Oh well. We also discovered that there were a ton of huckleberries on this hike! Which we graciously helped ourselves to. This is where we saw the 3 heron and the muskrat. I took pictures, but they're not great.

Huckleberries!

The muskrat.

 

 

Look at these two! How cute are they?

Oh hey!

We're cute.

Two of the heron! In the picture above, and below, hanging out in the tree.

I try to tell my Dad that he always wins games, which is why it's no fun to play with him. 

He denies it. So I am now documenting. Exhibit A. (Dad is "D." The goal is to get the lowest score.) On the plus side, I didn't take last place! I'm "MZ" and third is really good for me! Bronze, my friends!

On our way home, we decided to go through Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks and take our time as we meandered home. It was such a perfect day. Sunny in the morning, rainy in the afternoon and sunny the rest of the evening.

Unfortunately, the only picture I got of the sign is with some random people. Nope, don't know them. 

Nope, it's not awkward at all.

My surrogate children. Awkward family photo time!

How cute are they?!

Old Faithful in all it's glory!

 

The clouds doing their thang again.

   

Can't get enough of these kids!

 When the rain started...oh, glorious rain!

What happens when his mom leaves him with anyone but herself. Sad, but adorbs.

Some Elk from afar!

Then it was on to Grand Teton National Park! These clouds, they were glorious. As was Jackson Lake. I can't believe I never went here! Definitely on my bucket list to return and spend a whole week here.

   

       The only selfie I could manage with both my face and the mountains. Boo yeah!

It was windy. And Xavier got SO excited when he saw the boats. In the first photo, he's clapping and saying (more like squealing) "YAY!!!" That happened a lot. His favorite word? "A boat."

 

Seriously. Stop it, Jackson.

   

Is this not the most adorable thing you've ever seen! Not much makes

 me baby hungry, but this kid sure does. Look at that face! And that swagger. 

 

 

Another momma and baby moose! You can only see the mom in this one, 

but they were both there. Just chilling. Didn't even move despite the mass of tourists!

Our dinner place. Hello, yumminess! If you're ever in Jackson Hole, go here! 

You won't regret it. Well, your diet might, but your appetite won't.

The famous antler arch.

And that's all, folks! Until next time.