Living in a Whirlwind!

The past few weeks have been such a blur! I'm beginning to think I know what Dorothy in OZ felt like when she got picked up by the tornado...

David and I are back at the old plow.....which is small town code for....we're both back to work and school. Even me! Back in school! Okay....so maybe it's just online...and my quite possibly even my "first day of school outfit" was my pj's.. But I am still excited about it.

These days have consisted of work, running...and then "school." Only to come back home and feel ready for bed at 8:30. What can I say.....I'm a real party animal. Did I mention I'm running my first half marathon in two days??  Yes.....that would be 13.1 miles of pure....hmmm...well I'm not exactly sure yet. I don't think bliss or happiness would be the words to use there. I am rather excited to prove to myself that I can do it. Even if I do cross the finish line needing a hip and knee replacement. Good thing I married a physical therapist! He has been doing triple time as student, therapist and trainer for me.

On a different note..with all the rain we have been getting lately.... I can't help but miss our California adventure to see Heather and Mckay a few weeks ago! Even though it was a short trip....we had a blast

Trust me. After these photos....you'll wish you had been there too!

You haven't had a real day at the beach until someone gets covered in sand.

I think this turned out to be a sand alligator protecting the castle!

I love this! I would run too....Seaweed..yikes! I'm convinced seaweed are simply miniature minions of the Lochness Monster in disguise. Why else would one get so entangled in it?

Oh how I loved the beach! Especially with these two! 

He's my favorite! Also...note the pier in the background...and the Ferris wheel. A  shout out to Heather for talking us into riding it! 

We absolutely loved all of our end of summer vacations....even if it seemed we were here, there and everywhere. We got to see just about every member of both our families!

Well. I think I have succeeded in prolonging my packing long enough. Cedar Half? Bring it on.


Until next time!

Jam Packed.

Phew!

I feel like David and I have done so many things the past week and a half! With everything we've been doing......it feels great today to be a little lazy on a Sunday afternoon..

Remember how much we love Utah? Well....we went and visited my family last weekend! It was great....not to mention much cooler. Literally. As in....about a high of 88 degrees. Talk about bliss! And....in the evenings....it was down to the low 60's! Slight change from the furnace of Vegas...

After the long drive....we ended up in my hometown. For David....it's sort of like driving off the edge of the planet!

My favorite and toughest little red head!

Being the good example of an aunt that I am.....I taught them how to play the spitting game off the bridge!

We sure have missed these two!

Little Miss E!

Courtney's facial expressions kill me....though this was well deserved....note the dead deer!

Future Cheerleader. Just ask. 

Did I mention that the weather was amazing? Not to mention a bazillion stars. We had to sleep outside! So of course I talked my brothers and the kids into it as well..

We loved vising! We got to see my mom and brothers, my grandparents, aunt, uncles, my home ward....and a couple dear friends! We also got our own little guitar show from Uncle Howard. I am still surprised at how many people we saw in a three day period. However....our adventures didn't end there! On the way home....we got to stop and stay with our family in St. George!

We went and visited the ducks! 

I love this photo! (way to be for taking in David!) It reminds me of something out of a Jane Austen movie. Maybe it's the hat. 

Sadly, we didn't get to spend too much time in St. George. But lucky for us, we got a visit from Aimee and Eric! Yet another perk of being married....having more adorable nephews!

I think everyone was a fan of the pool!

Even though sometimes it seems like short visits are never long enough...I am still so happy we were able to make the trip! With no car problems might I add. Now that alone is a miracle in itself. 

Now....off to fully enjoy being lazy!

Answered Prayers and Car Graveyards....

Have I ever mentioned that Mr. Brown and I have really great luck with cars? (Insert sarcasm)..If we ever have a problem with cars...it never is simply a "minor" fix. It always ends up being a rather complicated adventure!

This week was no different...

As David was on his merry way to work....he blew a tire....on the freeway. No big deal right? Simply just go get a new tire...right? So we thought.....

The first place we went to said they could not put a new tire on because our rim was bent. (Sigh....of course that would be our luck!) So we were sent to find a rim at a place called Pic-a-Part. As it turns out.....Pic-a-part was actually a junkyard. A place where David and I were about the only people speaking much english...

Did I mention we also had to sign a waver upon walking in saying if we were somehow injured we wouldn't sue? Great first impressions.

In my opinion.....it was a car graveyard out of a scary movie. I half expected some of them to suddenly transform into giant fighting robots.... (Overactive imagination...remember?)

In the middle of our search, I said a prayer. I prayed that somehow.....we would find a way to fix the car....to get the right rim...and to be able to fix it without having to fork out a lot of money and our left kidney..

Soon after, we thought we had found a rim! Unfortunately......but actually fortunately....we ran into a man after heading to purchase our new-found rim. His first words to us were, "You guys look like members!" Yes, yes we are!! (Here is where I thought....'perfect....my prayer was already answered! This man is going to help us!')

I don't really have words for this one...

After a great little conversation with this man, he took a look at our car....only to tell us not to buy that rim. He left happily off, shouting to his wife that he had just met some members!

However for us, it was back to square one.....after more junkyard searching, we headed home holding together our dirt covered oily hands feeling a little bummed and slightly flustered.

How does this even happen?!

Don't worry, here comes the good part of the story! The next morning, we received some of the best advice to go to Discount Tire here in Henderson. Right after walking in, a man started helping us right away. He took a look at our rim and said, "What? You guys don't need a new rim at all!"

They set us up with a new tire, great service, and free water...and sent us happily on our way.

Braving the junkyard! Yet another reason I love sure love him.

Sometimes, as David helped to point out, as much as we want.....our prayers aren't answered in the way that we think they should be....only because there is an answer that is much better for us. We would have bought a rim that we didn't need one pinch. But because of a stranger that stopped us, and then we received perfect advice to head to a different shop.....our prayers were answered! And no money was spent on a rim!

Home.

Well, what a week!

It's official. David and I have moved out of our little apartment.... As excited as we were to move and start a new adventure....it was sort of sad to leave.

After all, it was our first home together! Sure, there was always an underlying musty smell....and at times the pool looked rather questionable...but overall...it was the perfect beginning for us. I will forever be grateful for the people we met there....like our lovely neighbor (the ultimate neighboorhood watch master), walls filled with our pictures, and  the handful of kids who thought we were the coolest ever.

So now we are new "house-sitters." Not in the literal since of course. Maybe they should change that to the word....house watchers. Whichever way it is put, we are happy! It is a little different going from one bedroom to five! I feel like at times....David just disappears. Last night I tried finding him using Marco-Polo.

David dismantling the TV that no one wanted (including us...and Goodwill). Even doing so in a pink shirt. Talk about manly!

So long little apartment! You were great to us!

Through it all.....I am so grateful to have David with me through everything. Even with the change of homes, he is always my constant. (Cheesy? Maybe. But you should already know I'm all about the cheese.) Not to mention.....a whole new adventure! 

I may sound like a broken record.....but we have been so blessed here in Vegas! The people we have met have impacted our lives so much. Here's to our new home! 

Out on the Town...

I'm lucky to be married to a man with "connections"......as a result....we were able to go to the Donny and Marie Osborn show last night! For no pennies out of our pocket I might add.

Actually....it should have just been called the Marie show last night.....Donny is currently out for a few weeks due to a torn gluteus maximus. Or as some may say....a torn bottom.

We had an amazing time! And even though we spent half an hour afterwards looking for our car....and then got caught in the monsoon rains of Vegas, it was still a great night!

Not the greatest picture...but the Donny and Marie sign is in the background!

For this song.....Her nephew David Osborn helped out....since Donny rather was absent. I love it!

Have I mentioned lately how blessed we both feel? Especially on nights like these!

God Bless America.

You know those days when you just wake up feeling like maybe you could just start dancing around while belting the Star Spangled Banner? Ok...ok...maybe that's a slight exaggeration.... However, the past few weeks I have felt especially blessed!

Life these days varies from hot....to a little hotter.....roasting.....and just about well done....

Yet....I very much love our lives as of late. David has been doing his clinical for the past few weeks..(which essentially means he is paying to work...) but it has been great!! And he's loving it! Only about a year an a half until you can officially call him Dr. Brown.

With both of us working.....we feel like such "grown-ups!" However, we still find time to do some pretty fun things....

Our Fourth of July!! Do you notice our red and blue? Or the stars on David's shirt? We take the 4th of July seriously over here! 

 We discovered the beautiful Sunset park! The first time...we were unprepared....and didn't bring 

bread.....

 The second time.....they loved us! Almost to the point of hostility...... 

You can even watch them in action!!

 What a dashing man I dare say! David of course....not the duck. Though they definitely attack....I mean...come in flocks. 

Sometimes we also stumble across museums!

Ice cream dates! One of my favorite places! Did you read that? Finally.....proof that ice cream truly does build healthy bodies!

Only two more weeks until we move houses!! And only three more months until cooler weather!! I don't know which I'm more excited for....

Until next time!!

*AB