Insanely Spoiled

We knew this was going to be a great trip when we scored 1st class seats for the flight out. We had to document the moment!

We had an incredible view from our balcony--couldn't have picked it any better. We somehow scored a great family suite upgrade, too. We flew in after a huge "50-year" storm--could our luck be ANY better??? LOVIN' IT!
Still smokin' after 30!
Here is the sunset diver (see below)

We didn't realize how bad we needed a break until we got there. We felt really blessed to slow down for a week and regroup--and remember why we got married! haha!

We're having technical difficulties here trying to get my computer working with wireless so once we get things rolling, then I'll probably change up the posts so they're not so obnoxious! Meanwhile, I have to run my jump drive up and down stairs in order to get things done! All my favorites (errrr---all your blogs) are stuck on my computer so give me another week or two and I'll be back! I'm excited to see all your updates!

A little bit of sun

Bamboo Hike

Sunset after playing paddleball

This is my, "Yes, Hal, are you taking another picture of me!" face.

Brilliant food at this restaurant as we watched the sunset, luau, live music, and then this is the black rock diver that ran up after his dive to show us the "fish he caught" according to custom.

1692 miles later...WE MADE IT!!

How can you NOT stop at Kadillac ranch out near Amarillo? It's the most random place I've ever been. We felt like kids playin' around on the cars...

We made it and had to stop and take a photo after we crossed the Cali border. The funniest part of the trip was looking over at Hal who had the map sprawled out, a cell phone in each hand and our LeapFrog globe in his lap. What state--or country--are we in??? ha! We played with that dumb globe for hours--highly recommend it. I can now find "Bosnia and Herzegovina" in under 2 seconds.

Thanksgiving--playing with the Woodies

SOOO nice to take a break!

We're LIVE

Let's cross our fingers that in 6 months this link still isn't here! Aghh! So stressed at the timing of all of this!

http://homes.realtor.com/realestate/mckinney-tx-75070-1092220270/

The process begins...

I was definitely not born with a hammer in hand, but I did get a little HGTV groove going on and put together the headboard/panel deal. Hal was totally intrigued by the project and jumped in to help although I wouldn't recommend using a staple gun after midnight!! We were so tired! ha!
This is a funny story: We did the typical removal of all personal photos and religious items. I probably have about 14 boxes of Hal's church books alone. Anyhow, I had forgotten about his pile of books by the bed (this is about half the usual stack). The stagers came through and wanted to scatter books around the house as if we had "just left while reading a good book." Love Vanessa - she was crackin' me up. So she grabs three books from here and says (totally excited), "Look, they'll think, 'Oh, they were just reading this great biography about this Kimball Spencer guy and look here, one of Tanner so-and-so." I busted up and totally held back from saying anything--just nodding while she goes around placing all the books. So funny!

I fought them off on the "wine and cheese plate" setting and again on the coffee setting. I did cave and let them put the coffee bean candle out in one room so after the books, I feel more justified...HA!

This will make your day

Sometimes I check out craigslist or redfin just to see if I ever come across ANYTHING liveable near the 500's....mmmmm--pretty rare. This 3bd townhome near my folks is even $730K. Can you hear the deep sigh? agh! I'm truly grateful for spiritual confirmations because on paper, this is ridiculous! I thought you'd all like to wallow in my slightly nervous tension!

The Plan

I feel like the last week has been a whirlwind--from packing things up, staging the home, and then the realtors came over as I was posting the news. Thanks for all your notes; we feel so blessed to have so many people around us constantly buoying us. Each of you makes our world so much brighter!

Hopefully I have a few answers to the questions you sent: Hal's been in talks with Deloitte for the last two months(ish) and after his last conference in SF, he was pretty excited and announced he's ready to move out there. While on the plane coming back, some headhunters actually called. Ha~kismet. We couldn't have aligned the stars any better (truly a blessing) because Hal is thrilled and this is a great position for him.

So we have to leave by the end of November. I decided this is like a twisted version of light-speed. For the last month, we've been organizing, and categorizing and stuff. I even loaded up on boxes, color coding supplies, packing tape, bubble rap, etc. but COULD NOT pack a single box. So I finally sat down after three wasted days and made the little video. Then I got up and started boxing the rest of the house. It's my "happy place"--my cathartic outlet!! Grandma called just as emotional as I was at that moment. That's why I love you! I think you understand me completely!!!!

And ya, David, you nailed it: we'll be entirely house poor! Aghhhh

Our big announcement!!

This one's for DAD!

Thought you'd get a kick out of our friend Mike's costume.

Four Amigos

Here are the four amigos. Really, there are about six of them but I was lucky enough to haul around only the four! hah!

True friends don't let go of each other's hands during a cake walk

I was tired by the end of the night and anxious to hear from Hal. Kya told Marilee (while making the cutest gingerbread haunted houses on Sunday) that she already had Halloween. SWEET!! Maybe that means I don't have to dress her all up and take her around again! Sure, we already had Halloween! ha!

Too close for comfort

We've been sick as we watched the progress of the fires. This first shot is of Mission Viejo from Uncle Brad.

Once upon a time, we lived in San Diego. This is a shot of from where our first apartment was--within a mile of the Witch fire. We felt relieved to hear that all our friends (most were evacuated) have all been able to return to their homes. It was hard to watch both of the stakes we lived in get hit...once again.

How bad is the air down there??

Nothin' but Love

These two make me laugh, make my world brighter, and are my absolute favorite people!

Hal finally walked in Thursday night around 9:30pm (earlier than usual) and said, "Hi, I think the only time I've seen you in the last two weeks was Sunday!" Sad, but probably true. Sometimes I sit back and think, Am I really ready for things to get busier?

Bonfire

We thought it would be fun to have a little bonfire with friends. It was a blast...and 45 people later....

Here are the girls (in case you couldn't tell by the lack of pink)

Round Two

We took our second trip to the firestation this week and, as you can see, we weren't afraid of the firetrucks this time! Kya gets with her little girlfriends and just giggles and giggles. I asked her today how preschool was and she said, "Jordan and I giggled and giggled outside."

This is their cute little SafetyTown. It's all miniature--the streets, buildings, street lights, etc. They had a room they fill with smoke and teach the children how to react. They also had a room where all the windows were televisions and you could see the weather report with tornado warnings and then when you looked at the windows, the screens showed the tornado coming. Way too unsettling for me (think Wizard of Oz) but it was great!

To get you excited too

http://www.youtube.com/v/TNv6cFUvU9s

The Powerful One

We are already getting ramped up here to see Wicked again! This will be a blast! We're excited to go with you all!! (I had to throw this pic on - my favorite scene)

I was making Kya lunch today and she asked if her "powerful one" could come eat with her. I looked down to see her handful of princesses..."hmmm...sure." (I learn a lot about Kya by spying on her secret conversations with her princesses) and heard her saying, "Look! Elpheba is here!" - What?! How does she know Elpheba?! ha!

That's almost as good as when we saw it earlier this summer and she said kept throwing out the word "loathing" on random car trips. I died when I overheard another doll conversation saying, "I hope you're happy! I hope you're happy now!"

Church Appropriate

Kya's teachers told me she decided to sing a solo in church today. Apparently, she stood up and announced she had a song for everyone. When we got home from church, I asked her what she sang. Very appropriate! Ha!

She's fixated on this song this week. Our craft of the week was making ghosts and hanging them outside and some of our ghosts have a peculiar one eye and one horn! It was one of those songs I pulled out last minute while I was watching some kids and everything was spiraling downhill quickly. I needed something to grab their attention - ah well! At least it worked!

Just click the mute button to turn on the music

General Conference

I printed up conference packets to help Kya stay engaged...
Ha! Looks like I should have made copies.

Kya lit up when she saw her cousins singing in the choir!
KK, you sounded great!! We loved hearing your stories
(bomb squad, conductor, etc.)

Fire Station

Here is Kya and her trip to the firestation. She had a great time with all her little friends!! They even had the perfect dalmation "fire dog."

Dallas Temple Trip

Couldn't find a sitter so I told Kya she was coming with me to the temple and she immediately jumped into her princess gown. Nothing but the best, right? The older ladies loved it.
She kept running up and down the stairs there. When I looked closer, I realized she would gasp, run, look back, and cry, "oh!" - ya, we were playing Cinderella in high heels and all!

Faceplant

Now that I can post video, we're all in trouble!! Because we love Brad, we'll leave his video off... for now!

Kya snoozin'

I love videos - we'll see if this works!!

Kya playing in the sprinklers

All by myself...

Totally surprised me when she wanted to go faster! That's ma' girl. ;-) She floats, I sink...

Kya had a lot of firsts on this trip: first time kneeboarding (or hangliding as she keeps referring to it), seeing the dolphins and killer whales, and watching the sea otters swimming around by us at Santa Cruz. She had the absolute time of her life...wish we hadn't forgotten our camera!! Thanks for sending the pics!

Skiing with Grandpa

We had an absolute blast and it was so hard to leave!

As I jumped in the water Kya looked shocked. She looked from the water to me and said, "Mom! That's yucky water, Mom. DON'T drink that water!!" Ahh, our first introduction to the delta...and don't wear white.
Kate, you'll have to send me a picture of your last flip. I loved the comment, "...can't tell if she landed it or not!"

Dance...and more dance

5 - pin bowling
Kya danced after rolling every ball (forget hitting the pins)
We danced all day at the park. We dance before we eat. We dance when we wake up. We dance as soon as we put a "pretty dress" on. We dance in our swim suit (that one is a little weird because she loves to dance with the poles at the pool-- Aghh!). I forget how fun life can be!!

O Canada!

Kya was the super hiker up in Glacier. Ok, I'll admit it--I ate it on the snow parts and have the war-wounds to match Hal's! (Someone left a mop on his mom's stairs and he ate it as he was carrying boxes downstairs--such a match we make!)
Kya and McKay. He was "keeping his goat warm"--too cute. They went up a little farther and were almost bucked by a momma goat. Luckily Hal grabbed them in time! Our close encounter for the day!

Forget the dresses...

Her new favorite outfit. She keeps yanking it out of the hamper so it's got to be the smelliest thing she owns right now!!

Happy Birthday!!

I can't believe she's 3! It's going by way too fast...
Kya loves her new tent. Made us proud when the first thing she asked for that night was her scriptures to "read all by myself with my flashlight."
All things princess... She loved it all!
A little too much partying!