Cook out

Last night, we drove up into the hills a little ways and had a cook out with tin foil dinners. Steve prepared them while I slept after working the night before. We also made smores. Jenna told scary stories, and Zac threw a lot of rocks. The kids liked collecting all the wood. The kids wouldn't go on an "adventure" (hike) with me and find "gold treasures" (spent bullet shells). Steve said "you can't blame them, there's a fire." It was nice out there. Once it was dark and we were eating smores, we even heard some coyotes off in the distance howling. The kids thought that was cool, almost as cool as Steve thought it was. Anyway, it was nice. We love the mountains and the public land. We were glad to be able to squeeze that in at the end of November, it was nice weather.

Lexington, Logan, Waiting and Decisions

Steve went to Lexington, KY on Monday and despite a horrible trip of missed flights and forgetting his toiletries, the 4 hours of interview and lunch were good. He liked the company. The benefits are amazing. Of course I like that it is only 2 hours from home, esp in light of having a new baby. Also I still have family and friends of the family there and connections. I have always loved Kentucky; it is just a part of me and who I am. I have always loved an old farm house on green rolling hills. We are awaiting an offer after he gets his background check.
Yesterday we went for an interview with a small firm in Logan, Utah. This firm invited me to come to the interview too. That was different, but nice. The hard part is that they do an obscene amount of tax returns and put in 80-85 hours a week! I really liked Logan. I loved that it was more rural and agricultural. It was more country than I know Utah to be. There are plenty of Canyons and Bear lake is close. And of course the mountains to run around and play in. It's the best of both worlds in terms of outdoor opportunities and the "look" of it all. They said it would be 2 weeks before they were done interviewing. We have friends there too (Sorry Cansas, it was last minute, and I had to be back for work that night. We weren't able to make it happen to see you all!) Also Steve's sister and her fam are 2 hours away from Logan.
Thanks again Liss!

Tucsan, AZ

Steve had a face to face interview in AZ this past week. Tucsan is in southern AZ. We drove down Weds, spent the day Thursday, and returned in time for me to work Friday night. The trip was closer to 10 hours with just a few stops to eat and stretch.
The interview went well. Steve thought they were a professional and also fun firm. They will respond by letter as to an offer or not. We were pleased they paid for the gas and hotel. They also treated Steve to a nice lunch.
We agreed that it was beautiful and an appealing place to live, but not exactly what I expected. I figured that it would be a hotter, brown Utah, but Utah doesn't have the thick cacti that was there in Tucsan. An appealing part of staying in the the West was that there is plenty of public land to ride four wheelers, camp, hike and be active, and hunt for Steve. Plus, I am beginning to believe that my body needs sunshine! But the cacti and desert shrubs are so think there that you have to go to a designated camp spot anyway and have to find a place to ride the wheelers or even hike. Plus the idea of buying a few acres would be in the distant future. It was unique to me and the homes are attractive. Very Southwest and stucco looks beautiful there. Mountains surround the area. By the way I wanted to point out that the Sonora desert was not all brown. There was a lot of green vegetation, and even grass at the parks and in a few yards. Being from the Midwest, this was a big deal! The cacti were so fun to see everywhere. At the park, we had to constantly remind Zac to stay on the trail and "watch where you are going!" because just off the trails were cacti of many variety. The tall ones, the saguaro were speckling the mountains like evergreens would on the Cedar mountain.
All in all it was a nice mini-vacation. We swam even though it was a high of 74 and got down to the high 40's at night. Jenna and Zac both thought that they would like to live there in the hotel with the pool! We went to the Sonora Desert Museum that was awesome. The kids loved the cave!
It was fun for them and the trip was sweet in the van. It was a nice get-away.
We are glad for these experiences. Next week, monday, Steve flies for a face to face interview in Lexington,KY.

Halloween at Grandad and Grandma's House.

I had to work Fri-Sun night this past weekend. Steve and the kidos went to his parents in Blanding. They had a blast.
When they arrived Julene had folding chairs set up in front of the TV and clips from the spooky scenes of Disney movies for the kids to watch while they ate popcorn and suckers. After that they made "spider cider" which was apple juice poured over dry ice for the smoke and sprinkled with spiders all in a cauldron for Jenna to stir her "potion". They loved the spider cider drink! Grandma Julene had "brains and worms" to eat which was spaghetti with meat sauce. Jenna was wary...but Steve said that she should have had a headache that night because of all the smiling.
Steve dressed them in their costumes. I love my fancy witch and happy skeleton! They went to Steve's Grandparents in Blanding, Grannie and Grandad Great.
They trick or treated in his neighborhood, walking the streets with their grandad and daddy. Jenna told me that Zac was wild and that he was ready to walk in the peoples' houses.
After they trick or treated, they ran to answer the door for trick or treaters at Grandma's. Steve said that Jenna was precise and only gave a piece or 2, and Zac was generous giving a whole handful..that he loved the trick or treaters!
The next day they raked the yellow Fall leaves. It was a huge pile. They loved playing in the leaves.
Jenna also came home with lots of fun crafty things that her and grandma worked on.
How fun, Julene. The kids had a blast and Steve enjoyed the visit too!
We had the crappie and walleye fish tonight.

Job Nibbles and Gratitude

As of today, Steve appears to have 3 pretty serious job leads, he is on at least his second interview with each. They are in Idaho falls- Idaho, Lexington- KY and Tuscan- Arizona. That is right, I keep saying there is major change coming and big decisions. There are pros and cons to each.
We appreciate all of your concern and prayers.
This has been a sweet opportunity to recognize the tender mercies of God through the kindness of you and others. It has been an eye opener of what is important. We feel humble and although we get nervous about the decisions and prospect of moving, the bitterness is gone.

The Fall trip to Indiana.

I headed to Indiana last week for my 10 year class reunion. That was fun, but proved to be stressful for me. Maybe next time the class vice president should do it. He is so fun and his wife is amazing. They would be great!
Anyway, the best part of the trip was seeing the nephews and family. Buddy and Carrie took a couple days off and the cousins hung out a lot. I love visiting, and it is always heartbreaking to leave. I love them all so much. Zac loved sleeping with his "Ma" every night, and I loved just being with my mom and seeing Buddy more this time.
We went to the zoo, made cookies, had a sleep over with the cousins, carved pumpkins, colored a lot, wrestled (well not the grown women) ate well, spent time at mom's, Buddy and Carrie's and Dad and Regina's. I was also able to see some family and friends that popped in around all the festivities of the reunion and running with the kids.
It was a nice trip that always goes fast and ends with tears but great memories too.

Party Pooper

We are grateful for a baby coming, for our family, and for our health, and the nice things that we have. We are glad to live where we do. It is beautiful, and I love the sun shine and the smell of sage brush. Our house is coming along nice....aside from a few more things that should hang on the walls, our house is feeling like home. I love the yard and even the dog that sometimes makes me crazy. I am really liking my job and my co-workers. I am just about finished with orientation, in fact next week I will be more on my own. I love that Jenna is liking school, and that I feel safe with them at day care on the days that I work. They are truly loved there. Things are coming together at church. We are making friends and have callings there.
The scary things is that Steve was laid off about 10 days ago. LDS General Conference and optimism were very helpful and we were hopeful..."life is a journey", but after only 10 days and 20 resumes and a gambit of online job applications, we are starting to panic. He had such a good job that he enjoyed. He and 3 other colleagues didn't know the day before that they would receive a letter the next morning laying them off because of lack of monies and business at the firm, blaming the economy and lack of funds transferring from a client in China. He and the other 3 were the most recent hires.
We felt humble, then bitter toward his employer who made him big promises for partner, then jaded and dejected, and now panicked. The thought of moving again breaks my heart- esp for the kids. Also the cost of it all, and the potential of losing it...family is most important, but good credit is helpful! :) Plus I love my van and somewhat unkept yard. It's not luxury, but I love it.
Isn't it interesting how you respond to things in relation to your partner? He is calm and optimistic and so am I, once he panics, I follow in place. He has done awesome as Mr mom, the house is clean and the laundry is done, dinner is made and the kids love him home, but it has offered time for him to think and worry while I was working the past 2 days. Maybe tomorrow we will feel better. One thing is for certain, there is change a-coming, and although I have never hated change, this time, I didn't choose it, and don't feel up to the heartbreak or "going with the flow"... there are lots of factors now, 2 of which are small and sweet and will be confused.
I hate a party pooper, but today I don't have it in me to muster up something optimistic and hopeful. It just wouldn't be genuine. Well, I can honestly say that I do trust that things will be ok, it's just getting there from here.