Skipping Winter

When we got back from California in January - our yard was covered in leaves. It was like we were experiencing the Fall season from our beloved home state of Michigan. We raked up five big black bags of leaves - but let the kids jump and play in the piles first, of course. Here are a few pictures of the kids in our back yard during our late "autumn" fest:





Here they are after a long day - I gave them a bath in the sink, #1 because it's big enough and #2 the tub was incredibly dirty (long story):






This is a picture of one of our Groundhog Day activities - we made groundhog cookies. O.K. technically they were teddy bear cookies, but the kids didn't know the difference... I got a book about groundhogs from the library too. We heard that the ground hog saw his shadow this year and that used to be upsetting news to us when we lived in Michigan - but we enjoyed 60 something degree weather that day - maybe some rain. And lately, we've been taking walks and enjoying seeing fruit on the citrus trees, blossoms on the popcorn trees, petunias and daffodils.

Arizona, can I call you home forever? maybe...

success

Well, our night away was a SUCCESS! We had a really nice time and the kids did so well with the Broadbents. The report we got back was that they ate a ton of spaghetti and went to bed around 8pm. The house was cleaned up nicely - the kids had to have made a big huge mess if they had spaghetti for dinner - and there were no traces. It was awesome!

My drive to Sedona was uneventful - just pretty. Arizona is actually green from all the rain it has been receiving. I got to the resort in about an hour and a half and Aaron came out to meet me. Our suite was very nice and comfortable. We went to a reception before the banquet and Aaron introduced me to his mentor, and other city professionals and managers he has met thus far. Everyone was very impressive.

During the banquet, Aaron received his award. He was introduced by Marty Vanacour, the former city manager of Glendale and Aaron's favorite professor/boss. Aaron got up received a plaque and gave the best speech. I was just blown away by how well he did. He made a few little jokes that made everyone laugh and then gave his very sincere thanks to the association and to his ASU colleages and then thanked me for encouraging him and putting up with this move across the country and with this career change. We had an outstanding meal and on our way out met even more VIP's and big shot urban professionals who wanted to offer congratulations.

We had a wonderful night away and are feeling so blessed. Aaron is really doing so well in school and in making contacts. We really feel that we made the right decision in coming to Arizona and are starting over in a field that just seems so right for him. I did learn that we may a have a difficult road ahead - there will be many days and evenings where Aaron will be gone. I heard mulitple times that I need to enjoy having him home so much now because once he starts work, I won't see him much.

Night Away

last evening right in the middle of dinner (that's why Noel has a bib on) we caught a glimpse of a rainbow outside

So today is the day. In about an hour I am going to be driving away from Phoenix - to Sedona to watch Aaron make me even more proud by accepting his award at the ACMA conference. I'm going to stay for dinner and the night, IF all goes well with Noel. He's still a little attached to mommy.

We've asked some really cool friends of our`s, a couple, who is still in their pre-parent phase, to come over and stay the night and watch the kiddos. They are wonderful! I have a cake in the oven for them as I type.

All of us have been sick with colds for the past couple of weeks. Aaron and Claire have both gotten better - Noel and I have not. It turns out that we have ear infections. I dragged my kids and someone else's kid (I babysit now), out to the doctor because Aaron was in a meeting at work - the pain was that bad. I thought my ear was going to explode. I was kind of scratching my head at Noel's behavior the other night - Monday he woke up screaming around 2am and didn't calm down until around 5:30. Now I understand...

Noel and I are recovering slowly. We have antibiotics and pain meds. We are happy. I can't hear out of my right ear and it is leaking so I have stuffed cotton in it to keep a lid on it. So, I hope I'm not too much of an embarrassment to my husband this evening. It's an event where we are supposed to mix and mingle and all that, but without my hearing that could make for some pretty awkward moments. Here's to hoping that I magically learn to read lips!