Reading to Each Other

One of the traditions that Marc and I have started since moving to Flagstaff is reading to each other each and every night. I read to him and then he reads to me. It is such a wonderful tradition and so relaxing! The problem is Marc reads last and each night I fall asleep every night before he is finished… oops! So the next night he catches me up and reads again. I love how patient and kind he is with me and can’t wait to read another chapter tonight!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a big day this year for our little family as Marc and I both had Monday off! We haven’t both had the same day off since we moved up here. We decided that we would go and see my parents and spend the day hiking with them. We drove down Sunday night when Marc got off of work and we were so unprepared for what life was going to bring us. Max and Kovu do GREAT sleeping at our house and we don’t have a problem with them at all. However, at my parent’s house there are new noises and smells and movements and we were in for a long night. We tried to get them to sleep in the laundry room but they were almost up to a full howl before Marc tried sleeping with them. That didn’t work and neither did sleeping outside with them. They were finally locked up in the car and the rest of us got a good night sleep. We got up the next morning and started our hike. The dogs did really well on the hike and Max really liked my Dad. We finished our hike and left the dogs outside while we went into town to walk the Square. I love walking downtown with my family and this trip was no exception. While we were out it started to storm and I knew I would come home to two drenched little dogs. Sure enough they were muddy and wet and reeked! My parents let them come in and wash them in the tub so they wouldn’t be so dirty for the ride home. We washed them and I was surprised at how much Max hated his bath! He held perfectly still and we hardly got wet but he HATED every moment of it. While we were going to bathe Kovu, Mikkel and Dad dried off Max and brushed him. They were equally amazed at how much hair that dog has! With Kovu we weren’t so lucky with not getting wet. I am pretty sure that Marc and I were just as wet as he was. It was nice afterwards because I was drying off Kovu and he lay calmly in my lap (which has never happened before or since!) It was so nice to see my parents and get to spend a day with them. I can’t wait till we all get to do it again!

Library Episode #2

Most of our funny moments come from a little boy named Nicholas. Nicholas is the most unique little thing and keeps us laughing as we shake our heads. Our library has PIN numbers so that patrons can use our computers or check their accounts at home. Anyway, Nicholas was afraid that the kids had learned his library card number and pin and were going to use his account. He was going to buy a new library card and I suggested that he simply change his PIN number. I explained to Nicholas that he needed to pick a number that he would remember. He thought about it for a moment and declared “5032”. I asked him if he would remember those and he simply stated, “No!” After laughing for a moment we discussed a better pin for him. We picked “8888” because that was his age and he very seriously looked at me at asked, “But what happens when I turn 9?”

Talking in Church

The Bishop asked when Marc and I would be able to talk together in church. I made the mistake of telling him that wouldn’t be until Marc finished the academy. Well Bishop thought that was too far away and so I got called to speak by myself. Unfortunately the day of the talk, I was deathly ill and couldn’t even get out of bed. Hopefully the next time I get to talk it will be with Marc!

Library Episode #1

There are so many funny things that happen at work every day that I can’t help but put them here on our blog as well. So every once in a while I will interrupt our normal posts to put in some of the funny moments from the library.

Most of the funny moments happen thanks to children. They truly are the light of the library. Anyway, I had this new family come in for new library cards and I got to be the one who issued them. This little boy was waiting while I did his sister’s card and it involved the standard questions of birthday and so forth. When I asked her birthday, he very proudly announced that he was almost 11! I asked when his birthday was and he beamed as he said February. I was just making conversation as I clarified that this February he would be 11 as per our earlier conversation. He looked at me as if I had three heads and said, “No, I will be 8! But I am ALMOST 11!!!” Good to know I had no clue had birthdays worked!

Dinner with New Friends

I have loved getting to know new people in our ward. One of the people that I have gotten to know is my visiting teaching companion. She is new married and so awesome! I find myself having so much fun with her and have even found another Zumba addict, which is so much fun! Anyway, we went over to their house for dinner. We had a wonderful meal and great company! I can’t wait to get to know them better as we live here longer!

We finished training!

FINALLY! This couldn’t have come at a better time in our life. I was starting to feel like our lives were being run by dog training appointments. Life has been so much nicer now that the dogs are better behaved. Walking Kovu has become a manageable task and they are so much better behaved! I will always be grateful that we did the training but I am also so grateful that it is over!

Police Force and Sheriff Deputy

I write this post with mixed feelings. Marc unfortunately didn’t get the job with the Police Force. There were some things that were unclear on their testing and we didn’t prepare in the right way. He has applied for a job with the County and is always looking for new opportunities to get into this field. His determination and training is amazing. He is doing two-a-days on top of working two jobs and I am constantly amazed by him. I am such a lucky woman to have him in my life!

New Calling

So writing my blog in this new way usually means that I can’t remember what I posted because I do it so far in advance, so if I copy a post or some such nonsense…. don’t get too annoyed with me!

But anyway, I have a new calling in our ward. I am the new Primary Pianist. I have wondered over the past few months why on earth I would be called to this position and I realize that it is my own fault. Over the past few months I have really wanted to improve on my playing skills and this way I have to practice. Someone is relying on me to be able to play those songs each week and I can’t let them down. This has also been a great way to have kids brought into my life. Marc and I have wondered about our ability to have children and I really miss having Melissa’s kids around as my constant companions. This is a way to have those kids in my life and I thank my lucky stars that I get to have them in my life!

Marc's Grandparents Come to Visit

We were so blessed to have Marc’s Grandparents come and visit this summer. They were so sweet to come and visit and want to spent time with us. I only wish that we would have been able to spend more time with them. The dogs, namely Max, weren’t quite so cooperative though. This had been the first time that we had had “strangers” in the house and he didn’t like being stuck outside and not knowing what was going on. So he took off to go find a new group of people. Max loves kids and when he wanders off he finds a group of kids and follows them home. This time he found a family around the corner from us and just walked in and made himself at home. Instead of being able to socialize with our guests I was off combing the neighborhood to find our lost dog. We did find him with just enough time to scarf down breakfast before I had to be at church. It was so much fun to get to see them and can’t wait to see them again! Hopefully we will actually get to talk to them this time!

7/11/11

I love having reasons to party and am constantly creating new holidays for us to celebrate. Thankfully these are holidays that if I forget then it won’t be a big deal. The first of these made up holidays was July 11, 2011. Marc and I celebrated 7/11 day by trying to do things that reminded us of 7/11 stores. We went and bought icees (after going to three gas stations!) and spent the night hanging out like we would have on a road trip. It was a riot trying to find the icees and we just spent all night laughing. It was an awesome new holiday!

Beautiful Flowers

Marc knew that I was having a bad day and not feeling very well and so he brought me home these flowers and some chocolates. Aren't they beautiful!

They are playing tag....

with their teeth! Since getting the dogs Carmel seems to be having a hard time. He doesn't like to chase Kiara like he used to because he is afraid of Max but he stills wants to get Kiara to play with him. So his solution? To bite her butt.... I mean bottom. (sorry Mom) The poor girl hates this but it doesn't stop him from doing it. We are trying to teach him that this is not to be tolerated but he hasn't learned very quickly yet... maybe one day he will learn. Until then here are some pictures to document their playing tag with their teeth!

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