Never stop datin' her

Bad news: I don't get to experience everything face to face with my famailies. Good news: I finally have things to blog about since the only people who read my blog are no longer present from day to day. :) So update.. Will and I are on two different pages in the evenings right now... He is out in the heat selling, working, persuading and I'm stranded in the extended stay. So often times when he gets in the A/C he wants to stay there and I'm ready to get out and about. I completely understand his position so often times I go exploring with the truck for an hour or two just get out of the tiny space. BUT when he suggested Wednesday night we go on a little date in Old Town I was VERY excited. We went to Salty Senorita for Margaritas and appetizers (we opted for 1.50 hamburger helper before we left;)). It was a very cool place.. people had their dogs on the patio's with them and the misters made the patio feel air conditioned in the 100 plus weather. We realized how wonderful it is to be out together on a quiet night just the two of us talking about everything and anything. When we were Philly we got to talking to an elderly man staying at the same hotel as us and he gave us great advice... Will explained that we had recently married and the gentleman said.. "Well, never stop datin' her". His little betty must just LOOOOOVE him :) So, I was reminded of that advice on our little date because no matter if we have been married 5 months or 50 years we still need to go on dates and remain romantic best friends. Date night.. Our home... :)

"Arizona's heat is dry but so is sticking your head in an oven"

Yesterday I found myself thinking it was a fairly nice day because the high was going to be only 101. AH! Well, turns out it was a good break as today was around 114 I think.. We were extremely thankful when Amy and Eric asked us over for swimming. We have a pool at the extended stay but it's - A. small B. only 5 ft deep and C. very public. Amy and Eric have a great home, pool, and BLACK LAB! So, we always have a great time there and they have really helped us out with getting comfortable with the valley. Will has been itching to get pool scuba gear and turns out Amy and Eric are stocked in the pool toys area so he got the snorkels out today and amy and eric have a under water digital camera (very fun). Hayden (the lab) LOVES the pool. He swam with us all afternoon and pretends he is a life gaurd. However, no matter what he will not let go of his bone so it always had to come with in the pool. Below are come pictures of our lazy sunday in the pool.

cloud nine : on time

It seems like Will and I's "I love you's" are promptly followed by an "I miss you"... This I certainly don't like but I feel like we are getting things a little more organized. We are finally both back in Phoenix, in the extended stay where we will stay through August. The space again proved to be cramped as Will woke up to me "chomping the loudest cereal I could find"... and I was across the room. Of course across the room means 3 steps away. However, with a little compromise and patience our tiny little love nest will strengthen our marriage through August. I was on cloud nine yesterday flying home (no pun intended). I had a great-grandmother sitting on one side of me with the cutest 6 month year old baby (besides Junebug and Aiden) and on my otherside was a teenage girl that was mentally challenged. I have no idea why I felt like I was in my element but I was mommin' the whole row. The teenage girl beside me was as white as a ghost and looked like she was ready to pee her pants. I sat down and after a few minutes she turned to me with wide eyes and said.. I'M SO NERVOUS! She was extremely scared of the taking off part of the flight and explained to me that during the three hour flight she refused to take off her seat belt. On my other side a great-grandmother was trying to manuever three bags and a baby into the seat next to me. Three minutes later I had a baby on my lap teaching him to honk noses, distributing gum for my needy row, and trying to relate horse back riding to flying to the nervous teen. (By the way I did decide that horse back riding and flying do have alot in common and was proud of my analogy) With no tears or vomiting my row got through the very smooth flight. Turns out the great grandmother was a very wise midwestern and we had a great talk and I learned all about the teen's dogs, hamsters, cats, and rats (animal lover). I wish them both the best and they were both sweethearts. I have not come to a conclusion on why I loved my plane/seating situation which I would think would be prone to irritation for most flyers. I have no plan to get into special ed and having a baby is far in the future. Back in Phoenix, I'm waiting for my car, my application status, and perhaps a job. It was such a great visit to my parents and I even got to see my best friend Pia. I decided I should never see her again because I miss her even more right after she leaves... but I know that won't happen.

Home is where the grass grows

OHHH my midwest! Ok, it's only been a few weeks (barely) and I'm already making a home visit. But my honey is in the midwest for work for a week and I couldn't have him being the only one enjoying it, now could I? I've been spending my week soaking up the look of grass and a complete appliance-furnished kitchen (a couple of things we do not have in Phoenix as of now). I also had the luxery (yes, for me it's a luxery) of cleaning out the bedroom closets. I again realized how very different my parents three children are as I took my first glance at the closets. Examples: Jenny's closet-attempted art projects and books, Mine- fairy wings and craft boxes, Erik's- a giant plastic leg and the periodic table hanging from a wire..tree..thing.. hmm..OH! and overflow of his sister's prom dresses :) It's funny the things each of us refuses to get rid of even after we have families, husbands, and college degrees. I guess for Jenny it's a giant red sweater from high school, for me it's dress-up accessories, and Erik's decorated toliet seat.. ? (no one knows). Confession: It's 1:30 in the morning. Olive Garden's caramel sugar-lover-inspired italian soda gave me a 2nd wind apparently. Short blog but I need to try to sleep again. Sweet dreams!

Under Construction

My blog is under construction so it may look a little boring right now. BUT stay tuned..

AZ from A to Z

Will and I have officially survived our first three day streak of the temperature being at least at 105. We have got alot to learn! The sidewalks were empty as we explored and we soon found out why.. the heat. We now know that you don't go outside during Arizona's summer.... except for the pool. We have only been here for 3 days but I feel like we have learned so much! Just by talking with the residents of Scottsdale/Phoenix we have learned just a few rules, tips, and facts. Below are some fun facts we've learned thus far about Arizonia.. A through Z! NOTE: I'm sorry if you have evidence to prove something false. I got my knowledge purely from the common people. A. I now know who are going through the most plastic water bottles and who are filling up the landfills. You MUST have water on you at all times and be drinking it. B. Saguaro Cacti are illegal to throw away or steal. If you are caught stealing one it's at least a 300 dollar fine. If you build where the cacti are standing you must root it up and replant it else where. C. In some parking lots there are roofs above the spaces so your car doesn't get so hot... otherwise you fight till the death for a tree spot. D. Palm trees root system are actually very small and shallow. How they stand so high without falling over.. no one knows. E. We will be trying our best to not spend 2 months in this extended stay as planned. F. There is no land left in Scottsdale available for building. G. Air conditioning is everywhere... and people must think you can store up the AC in your bones and save it for later because some places are FREEZING. H. Our chosen grocery store is called FRY'S... you get the lower price on everything if you sign up to be a VIP and it's free.. I haven't gotton the catch yet. I. The gardners climb up the palm trees to trim them. This sounds terrifying because of their small roots. J. DO NOT walk on the sidewalk without shoes. Your feet WILL burn. K. Cacti can kill you. They are super super heavy because of all the water they hold and their needles are like nails. So if they fall on you.. which has happenend.. you are a goner. L. Grass is just as thirsty as we are. Unless you invest in a high end sprinkler system or stand there with a watering can 24/7 you will not see it. M. Billboards are not allowed in Scottsdale because they are tacky. N. Rock is used in substitute of grass. Lawns are made of pebbles.. I don't love this look.. O. On Thursday nights the art gallaries open and the public can wonder and look for free P. In Flagstaff it can be twenty degrees cooler than it is in Phoenix because of the elevation. Q. One of the roads is called DRINKWATER RD. R. Appaently Phoenix is the place you see UFO's.... S. When it rains people freak out because there is no place for the rain to go.. so you can count on wet ankles. T. My idea of a small scottsdale turned out to be false...it's actually quite large... I've heard it compared to Cedar Rapids. U. AZ's climate is comparable to Baghdad's. V. There are many IA/MN people that come down here. There is a sports bar/grill that's dedicated to IOWA football and draws the IOWA crowd come football season. (The Hawkeyes, to my understanding) W. ASU would not give President Obama an honorary degree in April because he hadn't (hasn't) done anything yet. X. There are many, many music venues.. some located outside in Phoenix/Scottsdale/Mesa... Beyonce is rumored to be coming soon :) Y. Arizonia has... "Arizonia Idol". They are in the process of finding their number one singer. Z. It's not home yet! I have no major complaints but it will take awhile for it to feel like home. I've only taken scenery pictures so there are a few below. I will work on taking more interesting ones. But I must admit, the scenery here is beautiful. Specifically, the mountains.