Random pics from Noah's phone

Testing out the moving truck

Skip the toothbrush...straight for the toothpaste!

Sadie turned 4 last month and picked to eat at PPP. She had so much fun with Mom and Dad.

A very tired Belle.

The ASU graduate!

Future plumber Dad?

No, I'm not joking

This picture does not even give me justice. I think I have close to 30 mosquito bites just on my feet and legs.

Last night I was about to pull my hair out from how bad my legs itched so I looked up how to get rid of the itch and it said to rub baking soda and water all over. It actually worked but before I went to bed I wiped it off. I woke up around 2 am and wanted to chop off my legs. Pretty much, I didn't sleep after that.
I will never go to an outdoor party and stay for 4 hours without pants or heavy duty bug spray again!!!

Feeling Blessed

I meant to be so much of a better blogger, I really did! I will get there.
So this past week has been a big week for me/us. That first week we were here was kind of a hard week. We pretty much stayed inside everyday because it has still been raining like crazy. It actually just let up and didn't rain at all today..Yahoo! It should be nice the next couple days but then we may be getting a hurricane! Ever heard of hurricane Bill? Ya, it's headed our way! Noah's excited but I'm a little nervous. Anyway being all alone here, not knowing many people and living the student life really makes you think differently about the way you live. Obviously we have no money. After paying school, bills, tithing, food, that leaves money left over for lets see...Nothing!! Today we paid tithing completely on faith. But don't feel bad for us...this is what we chose. At first it was a little hard but you know what, it's been so great. I can't tell you how much we have cut back on and we are still living pretty great. We find fun things to do for free, like we love to go down to Brody's new school that is down the street and play at the fun park there.

How fun is this huge map? It's next to the playground at the school. We play this game where you call out a state and whoever gets to the state first wins. It gets the kids out and makes them learn their states!

We plan out all our meals so we don't buy extra and I've been trying to exercise outside since a gym membership is out of the question. It's actually been great! We live in this neighborhood with long windey roads, where all the houses look different and so cute, and the weather is actually pretty nice to run in. You get a little more sweaty from the humidity but it's been in the 80's so it evens out. AND!!...this amazing lady in my ward, the primary president, just asked me today to train with her for a half marathon in November! She totally had to twist my arm but I said yes to training and maybe for the race. After the marathon in January I said I wouldn't do another for at least a year or two and look at me! What the heck am I thinking?? She will be a fun running partner though.
I can't tell you how much we have relied on the church out here. It's so great you can move anywhere and know that you instantly have a church family to lean on. They all have been so great. I've become pretty good friends with a girl who also moved in when we did. They have a 5 year old boy so Brody loves when they come over. We have had a few dinners with fun families in the ward. The missionaries had dinner at out house and that was great. There is so much missionary work to be done here...nothing like back home where there are 15 members on your street. Noah just got made the ward mission leader actually and he could not be more excited! I don't have a calling yet but I did sub in Sunbeams today so it was fun to see how they do their primary. (Maddy...they don't hold a candle to us...haha) All in all we have been so blessed to meet so many great people already and feel so comfortable. I know we are already making some life long friends.

I thought our old neighbors would like this picture. We were cleaning out the garage and all the neighbor kids ended up in our garage wanting all the skateboards (we have a lot) and Noah ended pumping up all their bikes and played with them all. Things haven't changed much huh?

After we were done, the garage looked sooo much better. I can now actually walk around and do laundry with out worrying about stepping on a cockroach!

Speaking of cockroaches, we have them. We had scorpions in AZ and cockroaches here. I can't decide which is worse. You would think the scorpions, but when you see a disgusting cockroach run across your floor you can't help but scream and cringe!!

We went over and met our neighbors next door yesterday night. We took cupcakes to brake the ice a bit. Their 5 year old son was just diagnosed with leukemia a month ago so they are having a pretty hard time right now. We have watched Noah's sister's son, Troy, go through this so we know how hard things are for them right now. They seem like great people and we are excited to get to know them and help them with anything.

Ronan was having flashbacks from his birthday when we gave him his own cupcake last night. Pretty much he was in heaven and made the biggest mess known to man.

So that is it from me. I took a picture of our calender because it pretty much sums up our last week and our week to come. Last week...nothing. This week...stuff actually on the calender! It should be a fun week. Noah has orientation this week so he doesn't really have to be there much. We may try to hit Sand bridge beach this week...if Bill doesn't hit first!!

The past few days...

So not much going on the past couple of days. The kids and I get really bored everyday since we don't know anyone. We have been playing LOTS of games, reading books, and just playing together. We made it to the library today and that was a fun change. It's a great acivity that is FREE, so we all got library cards.It's been raining like crazy the past 24 hours! 3.63inches to be exact. Last night was one of the loudest thunderstorms I had ever heard. I get scared every time that my house is going to be struck by lightening. And so does Brody I guess. He was up all night scared of the thunder so I finally let him in bed with us.
Noah finished his first week of school. He loves it. And still wants to be a lawyer I guess. He said he made a comment yesterday and his teacher said it was the best answer he had heard all day! The homework has not been too bad but I'm sure it is coming.
Church this past Sun. was fabulous. I was so expecting to get there and hate it and see a bunch of oakie people but it was sooo normal! Everyone was so welcoming and so nice. We actually had two dinner invites that night but had to turn them down since my parents were still here and had to take them to the airport. So they invited us for next Sun. There were 2 other families who moved in the same week so it was nice to not be the only newbies.My Grandma and her sister Jean came to visit today! She is in South Carolina for a few weeks visiting family so she is going to made the 4 1/2 hour drive to come see us. I haven't seen my Great aunt Jean in a few years so it so fun to see her!
The other night at dinner Ronan got a little crazy with his spaghetti. I had to take a picture because it reminded me of that commercial with the Mom trying to pick a picture for her credit card and she picked the picture of her kid in the high chair that looked just like this.Here's to one week down in V.B.!

The good is out weighing the bad

We made it safe and sound! It's been 2 full days for us here and I think it's gonna be a keeper. We have been going non stop unpacking and trying to get settled. It's been exhausting but I know when things are done it will be all worth it.

So a my friend Maddy taught me that when you tell about a trip you tell all the bad parts first so that when it comes to the good parts things will sound really good.

So I'll start with the bad news:

-Still no hot water. Major major bummer. They came to turn on the gas when it was just Noah and the Dad's here and they had gone to get dinner so the city said they will come out on the 4th. So no hot baths for the kids, hot shower for us, no dishes, no cooking, and whatever else you use gas for.

-It's been really tricky trying to fit a 2400 sq. ft. house into a 1500 sq. ft. house.

-It rains every day.

-The humidity makes you want to take a shower every couple hours.

-Oh ya this is a biggy...Noah's transmission in his truck got ruined on the way here. He can still drive it but you have to automatically shift it. It needs a new transmission sooner rather than later that is going to cost a minimum of a grand! Yikes!

-The rodes are CRAZY here! I am really nervous for when I have to go out on my own to a new place. I know for sure I'm going to get lost.

On to the good stuff!

-It's beautiful here.

-We love the house and is sooo cute! It is really old which gives it have so much character. For instance this blue bath tub and tiles. Real wood floors throughout the whole house, which is a fun change from our slate flooring that I hated to clean.

-We have finished unpacking all the boxes and have about 85% put away. I've decided having a smaller house makes your house more cute because you put all your cutest stuff out and all the ugly stuff in storage in the garage.

-We are saving money by not getting Internet, cable or phone set up..BUT Noah figured out how to tether our computer from his Iphone! (which I guess is a big deal...even his brother Justin didn't know how to do that...which says alot!) So for the tv...we get the basics...3 5 10 12 etc. (except in V.B. channels. I haven't figured it all out yet)

-The kids love it here. My dad and Noah's dad took all 3 kids to the beach yesterday and then rented a fun 5 seater bike and they were in heaven. We spent a few more hours at the beach today so now the kids think it is an everyday event.

(Yes I am fully clothed at the beach. I was too tired to get into my swimsuit and new there would be many more days at the beach. And yes my Dad has a shirt on his head. He forgot his hat).

Hope eveyone is doing good and I will post more pics soon.

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