End of 1st quarter

It's very hard to believe, but this is the last week of the first quarter.  This year has just flown by so far, probably the combination of learning a new job and the fact that I'm getting older so every year seems to go by faster.   This year we will be making our way out to Texas over part of Fall Break to visit Jon's family.  I haven't seen the aunts, uncles, and cousins since before we tied the knot, so it will be nice to catch up with them.  Hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer than AZ, too!   We plan to spend a few days in Austin, too, a city both of us are unfamiliar with but excited to see.   We don't have any concrete plans but to see 6th Street and get to know the general area.

Recently Jon and I heard that Disneyland is offering free admission to The Park on your birthday.  We both got very excited at this prospect because we absolutely love Disneyland and had so much fun the last time we were there together about one year ago.  Since the European extravaganza ate away our entire vacation budget and more, I think this sounds like a pretty sweet gig for a much more affordable-yet fun-alternative.  I still would like to get to Hawaii and go on a cruise, but perhaps one of these is what I can look forward to when I turn the big three zero!  

Speaking of birthdays, and subsequently presents, I just found out that Amazon allows you to put items other than those found at Amazon on your wishlist.  This is a fun option I have been wanting for a few years, and there is now absolutely NO reason why anyone should avoid getting an Amazon wishlist.  Whether it is to add items that are indeed wishes or things people could actually afford to purchase for you, I had great fun with this last night.  I got to add some overpriced jewelry from Tiffany's, some gift certificates for spas to be pampered, as well as Southwest Airlines $$$.  Jon asked me who would actually buy airline money for me, but I thought the gift of travel would be very fun and perhaps help us pay for that trip to Hawaii (I mean California!)  

A new day

Reading one of my last posts about my new position I forgot how hard that first week in this new job was.  God definitely answered my prayers because life as the media specialist has gotten much better since then.  I am adjusting to my new position and finding out how to switch "hats"-from kindergartners who are 4-5 years old up to eighth graders (13-14 years) in the next moment. I am also learning the new curriculum and crafting lessons that correspond in (hopefully!) meaningful and fun ways for the kids each day.

Overall I really am enjoying it.  The kids are fun, and I've even gotten a few hugs from kids when they leave.  (Middle schoolers never did that!).  I also like being able to share literature and "acting out" the roles of the characters.  This was one of my favorite parts of teaching younger kids, and I've missed

 it in middle school the past five years.   I have also found a great group of ladies who are "teamless" as well because they teach a "special" or a mismatch of subjects.  Overall I am really happy with my new job and love the challenge of something different.  

Labor Day was a great, restful weekend.  We went up to Payson and saw some amazing rainbows after one of several downpours.  It was one of the brightest rainbows I had ever seen, and we could see the whole thing stretched across the sky.  Then, out of nowhere, another rainbow faintly began to appear as well.   It was gorgeous!

This past weekend we got together to celebrate Dad and Troy's birthday as well.  Of 

course Garrison was the center of attention, and here are a few cute pictures of the family, too.   The one with Garrison holding the can of beer was particularly funny.  He pretended to drink it and gave us this grimace when we tried to take it away from him.  

Jon and I went to a DBacks game against the Marlins a few weeks ago, 

and I thought I'd post a fun pick of that, too.  We totally pigged out and bought SO MUCH food-two dogs, nachos, soda, beer, and peanuts.  We sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," did the wave, and cheered on the Dbacks, especially after their one and only home run which opened the game.  Unfortunately they lost, but it was a great time.