Football Fun

Happy Super Bowl! Even though the Super Bowl was here in Phoenix and there were a ton of festivities we decided to leave town. We headed to see our friends, MJ and Regina, that live in Henderson outside of Las Vegas. We had a wonderful and relaxing few days. We also got to drive over the Hoover dam on the way! What an amazing piece of America.

This is baby Ava. She is a precious 5 month old baby girl and I got my baby fix for a while.

This is Luke and Ben riding the bike together and having a blast.

This is lake Mead. On our way home and almost at the dam.

This is driving through the middle of the dam tour area. It was such an amazing sight to see.

This is a new bridge being built. It was GI-NOURMOUS and the picture does not do it justice.

This is the lake side of the dam. I couldn't get a pic of the side you normally see- the big side. Just couldn't get the angle. We also drove through the Joshua Tree Forest, but on the way back I was asleep and missed the picture opportunity. We have see some truely amazing and beautiful places in just a few months.

Hopefully the hunt is over

Okay, so all we have been doing the past 2 or 3 weeks is house hunt. This is still such a learning experience. As we discussed before coming out here maybe we should just rent an apartment for six months until we get a feel for the area. But, of course, my thinking was-- I am NOT moving twice!! Ya- never say never. Now here we go again. I think we have- Well I don't think, I know we have narrowed down to a neighborhood and actually today went back and forth between two houses. Since the housing market has declined and the rates are extremely low it is now affordable for us to live here!

So- now it is up to our realtor to work her magic and get us a great deal. It is a great neighborhood! I absolutely love it. Very family oriented. Lots of parks and kids! Here we have parks but no kids and you all know the rest of my complaints.

January Blues

I know I haven't updated in a while but there hasn't been anything exciting to report. We have just been trying to recover from Christmas! The excitement of the holidays has faded and I've seem to found myself back to being homesick again. Just missing all our family and friends.

We have been spending a lot of time house hunting again. Yes, house hunting. Thankfully though this time we are not rushed and trying to do it in 2 days! I have come to find that a three story house is just not practical with children. (I knew this going in, but didn't have time when looking...) Also- I MISS having a yard for the dog, Luke, and my privacy. We found a great realator and are taking our time and really looking for exactly what we want.

Juven's job is going great. He is loving it and really doing well. He is making a lot of great contacts that will hopefully get us back to Texas in the future.

Luke has turned into an all out three year old! Oh my goodness!! Wild, funny, tiring, loud, defiant, but of course fun and very loving. We still are having a slow go at potty training, but taking it day by day. He still hasn't stopped talking about the Polar Express train ride. He just absorbed the entire thing in and I think it will be an ever lasting memory for him. Hopefully we will be able to do it again next year.

The weather here has been beautiful! Fourties at night and high 60's in the day and sunny! I do love the weather. Especially after hearing about 20's and ice back home.

I love you all and miss everyone!!

It still isn't over!!

We had Christmas all over again!!! Last Thursday Luke's gifts finally arrived in the mail from Texas. He was just as excited as he was the first time he opened them. I had even forgotten about a few things he had gotten. We had toys everywhere!!

Then on Friday we headed off to Williams Az to ride the Polar Express to the north pole. It was soooo amazing!!!! So magical!!!! The train depot was the first on our stop. Still decorated for Christmas. Snow everywhere and Christmas lights all over the place.

Once we boarded the train Santa's helpers passed out hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. They played the reading of the book as the elves walked around showing pictures from the story.

Luke caught a little cat nap along the way. I think it was just too much excitement for him.

Then- there it was. The north pole!!! I wasn't fast enough with my camera!! Santa's workshop, sleigh, reindeer, Christmas tree, and the best part--- the northern lights! Santa then got on the train and handed each child there very own jingle bell.

Then on the way back we all sang Christmas carols at the top of our lungs!! It was a blast!!! We will definitely do it again next year. Hopefully we will get there before Christmas. They are already selling tickets for next year! I just called too late to get on before.

New Year's again!

I know I'm out of order with by entries but here is more pics from New Year's Eve. Notice the wardrobe change. Early in the evening Luke was having a ball playing with Ethan and Connor. While running through the kitchen he ran into the cook top island and cut his head open. He ended up being okay just a little bloody. We got him into a warm bath and put on his pj's.

We had a great time getting to see everybody!!!

Oh Happy Day

I have finally settled back in from our trip! Laundry is done, the house is clean, Christmas decorations are put up and the tree is taken down. For those of you I haven't gotten to talk to our trip home was not as smooth as the trip to Texas.



We arrived at the airport at 9 a.m. planning on taking off at 11:20. When we got to our gate in terminal A we found out our flight had been changed to terminal D. So- we hopped on the train and off we went. Got to terminal D- boarded and deboarded after maintenance found something wrong with one of the landing gears. An hour later we found out our flight had been cancelled because they couldn't find another plane to take us to Phoenix. Our options were to go standby- but all flights were booked, take the 6:30 flight to Tuscon and be bussed 90 miles to the Phoenix airport or have a 2 hour layover in Tuscon to get a connecting flight to Phoenix. Or fly out the next morning. Our bags were- well I don't know were they were at this point. But- no bags, no car seat, & if we flew out the next morning we would be put up in a Days Inn. We were just not settling for these options.

So, Juven used his sweet charm and talked to a ticket agent for about an hour as Luke and myself had a meltdown. FINALLY they came up with three seats for the 4 p.m. flight. However, they were not all together. Luke's was in first class and mine and Juven's were scattered through coach. How in the world can Luke fly by himself I know you are thinking- - as I was thinking to myself "What the heck are you doing!!!!!" to Juven as he explained the situation to me. He quickly calmed me down explaining how surely someone would move up to first class with no argument.

So- we got back on the train to go back to terminal A. Got to our gate and Juven decides to use the meal vouchers we were given for our trouble to go back to terminal D to McDonalds and get our $15 back!!!!! So, as Luke and I settled in to wait off he went. Then- as Juven returns empty handed with no $15 he realized our gate has been moved ten gates away!!!!!!!!!!!! He bolts to the new gate as Luke and I wait (Luke was poopin so we were not going anywhere). Juven then talks to the person at the boarding counter and somehow gets all of our seats together on the very last row of the airplane! OH wait-- I'm not done. We then sit on the tarmac for one hour due to a tear in the wall of the luggage compartment and they can not even load the luggage until it is fixed!! We finally departed at around 5 p.m.

When we landed in the Phoenix airport (I don't know how) but we easily found our luggage. But- then we couldn't find the car!! So-- once in the car we hit Wendy's, ate, showered, and went to bed!! This was a lovely New Years Day!!!!!

Oh, I forgot the part where when our gate was changed to 10 gates away- about 20 minutes later is was changed back to where Luke and I were! I also forgot to mention that when we were deboarded and found out our flight had been cancelled we were taken out of security to be reticketed and once were booked on the 4:00 flight had to go BACK THROUGH security. Ya, definitely driving next year.

I'm still going- backing up to Dec. 22 & 23. Had to do ALL of my Christmas shopping in 2 days. Unable to find the toys Luke picked out consistently and frantically wrapped on Christmas Eve while Juven took Luke to the mall.

But- overall we did have a wonderful trip and were so happy to celebrate the birth of Jesus with our families. Just a few snags along the way. At least we didn't get stranded due to ice!!

Home Sweet Home

We finally made it home! We had a wonderful time in Texas with our families and friends but were so happy to be home. We both realized home is where your stuff is. All the kids had so much fun opening presents and playing together. We had Lukes birthday party as well and it was a blast. A big thanks to my sister who hosted the party and helped me out tremendously. We also had a New Years party at our dear friends house, Rachel and Randy. Lots of fun times and good memories!