Mother's Day in the Desert

Yes, I spent my first Mother's Day in the desert, while on my way to "The Desert".  I'll try and make this story as short as possible, but there will be an overload of pictures (something about having a baby makes you love every picture you take).

Long story short I got asked to help drive a car from Park City to Palm Desert by the family that I use to Nanny for out their.  I jumped on the chance to take a free vacation to California and spend a few days with my not so little girls and have the family meet Ashton too.  All I had to do was drive a car out there.  Easy right?  That's what I thought too.  We had the car checked out and made sure everything was ready to go the day before.  Sunday morning bright and early Ashton and I loaded up and said goodbye to Jason (who had to stay behind because of fun fun summer school).  We made it all the way to St. George before we had to stop and get gas and get out and play for a little bit.  I've done this drive a bunch of times, so I knew my next stop would be Barstow for gas.  We were on that loooong stretch of straight highway by Death Valley when all of a sudden the car started sounding like a lawn mower and I noticed the little icon that looks like a buoy floating in water (which I later learned is called the temperature gauge) had dropped down into the blue, which in my mind I thought was better than red, right? anyways I called Jase and he said to pull over as soon as I could. Before I knew it the car was smoking.  Luckily there was an exit I was able to take, the last and only exit for miles.  As soon as I took the exit the whole car lost power, no power steering, and no brakes.  I had to drive the car into some sand and pull the e-brake to get us to stop.  Yes I was freaking out, which made Ashton freak out, yes it was 100 degrees outside, and no we were not near ANYTHING!  There was a lot of drama with in the next 5+ hours that involved us being stranded in the hot car for over an hour before we could get a tow truck, and then being stuck in Bakersville for the rest of the time at a gas station while we waited for someone to come pick us up.  Did I mention we were driving a Land Rover, ya that explains a lot huh?

If I went into all the details of all the craziness that went on while stranded this post would never end.  After the initial freaking out in the car the rest of the situation was just completely laughable.  I usually get so nervous before any kind of trip, but felt completely calm and ready for this one.  I never even dreamt anything like this would happen!  We were on schedule to arrive in Palm Desert at 3:00pm but got there at 10 instead.  However the next day was spent completely relaxing and playing in the pool.

I have been obsessed with taking Ashton swimming and was so excited for his big debut in his swimming suit.

We swam.

We napped.

We had staring contests with the dog.

And we swam some more.

 We laughed and caught up on life.

 And I remembered why I love these kids so much!  

Tuesday we took one last walk down El Paseo before heading to the airport.   

Before the whole car breaking down thing I was so nervous to fly with Ashton, but after surviving all that, I felt like I could conquer anything!  Ashton did amazing, I loved having my little man with me so much and I secretly love all the attention he gets from everyone.  Just to top of our crazy trip, he had a blow out on the plane, I was too mortified to get up and try and get to the plane bathroom, plus I hadn't brought an extra change of clothes for me so we just sat there covered in poop for about an hour.  I apologize to all the passengers next to us who had to endure that smell the whole time.  So embarrassing...

Even though my first Mother's Day wasn't spent the way I had imagined I still loved Ashton and I's little adventure.  I just love being his Mom and I am so grateful to have him in my life.  Jason, as always, was super thoughtful and got me treats for my drive, a new gym outfit, and a super awesome kite.  

How he comes up with these ideas I don't know, but I love it! We also spent the Saturday before I left in Park City shopping and going out to eat with his family.  

I sure do love my life, car disasters and all.

Chapters

Having moved a lot through out my whole life, I never really felt like I got attached to a certain house.  I got attached to my friends and my surroundings, but never the house it self.

Back in 2006 I started Nannying for a family in Park City, which turned into moving to California, and then back to Park City.  Ever since that time I've always had a "home" in PC.  I lived there for 3 summers and was back and forth between Sugar House and Park City up until I got married.  It was my home during that time.  My stability.  I knew I always had my room there.  My escape and getaway.

Last week, I went up to Park City, to pick up some things that I still had in the basement of my old home there.  Since the family spends most of their time in California they have decided to sell it.  I got their a little before they did and walked through the house, sat in my room, and I was surprised at all the emotions that came.  I went through a lot while living there. A lot of growing up.  I miss all the movie nights by the fire place.  The scooter rides.   The perfect summer weather.  The pools.  I miss the nights when I had the whole house to myself and I could play the piano and mess up as much as I wanted to and it didn't matter.  I haven't played at all since moving away.  I miss the cuddles from my girls when they would fall asleep with me or come wake me up in the mornings.  I miss all the laughs from the boys cracking me up at all times.  The giddiness of the surprise visits and flowers that Jason would always leave for me.  I miss the views.  Waking up to fresh snow in Park City is something else.  It's breath taking.

Blame it on being crazy pregnant or for the first time really being sad about leaving a house.  Even though I haven't slept in "my room" for years it was still hard walking away.
We were all crying.
It's the closing of a Chapter in all of our lives.

Thank you for being so good to me Park City.  I am a lucky girl to say I have lived there.

Craving

I'm craving a vacation right about now.  For all those Utahn's you know the feeling.  Winter is long, and the sun is cruel and teasing right now. 

warm. cold. warm. cold. sunny but freezing.  

Ever since I was 11 and we moved from Washington to Arizona I would save up all my money all year long and go back to visit every year (except the year they came to visit me).  

Then when we moved to Utah, and I went back to Arizona as much as possible.  

I loved traveling. 

I loved the independence of getting on that airplane all by myself and having time with just my friends.  

My first year of college I was way too poor to go anywhere.  Then I found Nannying.  Traveling and getting paid for it.  I was off to New York, then California, best job ever.

The year after I graduated from USU was the best traveling time of my life.  In a years time I had gone to California (5 times), Cabo San Lucas, Cayman Islands, and New York.  Not to mention all the mini va-kays around Utah.

Needless to say, it's been a while... 

I'd love a day on the beach with this guy.

Or a night out exploring with these girls.

How much longer til we're done with school????

Farewell Michigan

After exactly one year and two weeks in Michigan we have said farewell. That's right we are no longer "Michiganders".

When we first moved there I couldn't wait to leave and now leaving has been so hard. We have had quite the adventure here and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. We have had so much fun and have been blessed while we were here.

We were able to attend all the major sporting events... Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons.

We had fun with visitors. My family came and stayed with us. The Cherrington family stopped and stayed with us on their way to New York. My good friend Autumn came and played, and my friend Kristi and I were able to get together a few times since her mom lives here. We also got to visit and go on trips with my favorite couple: The Moons.

We got to do some exploring in the state of Michigan and the surrounding areas.

We met and worked for a lot of different people,

Doctors, Lawyers, Baseball Players, VP's, Photographers, Car people... Oh the many

jobs I had in Michigan.

My favorite job, was with Goldfish though. I have had the hardest time saying goodbye to them. I love my little swimmer kids. I loved the thoughtful gifts and pictures they would bring me. I loved seeing them get so excited about swimming. I loved the hugs and high fives. I loved the people I worked with. I loved going to workevery day and being surrounded by friends. I loved all the crazy people and dramatic stories and laughing so hard at them at the end of the day.

We will also miss our little five year olds in our primary class. We fell in love with Primary and the special spirit in there.

I may or may not miss our little apartment though. It was a great first "home" for us. But I will not miss the constant head aches from all the smoke that constantly seeped in through the walls or the weird noises or the fear off being home alone in an unsafe area.

I will miss the lakes. I will miss the green. I will miss the good outlet stores. I will miss my yoga classes at my favorite gym. I will not miss "Michigan lefts", that is for sure.

I am excited for family and Utah friends though. It will be a fun new adventure that involves Jason going to school, and me finding a job to support us. I am excited to be able to talk about "stakes, wards, LDS, CTR, BOM, FHE, and missions" and not have people look at me so confused.

Thank you to everyone who took their time to come out to our apartment to say goodbye to us. Thank you Goldfish for the farewell lunch and fun weekend. Thank you Michigan for making our first year of marriage such a memorable one. You will be missed!

(Belated) Anniversary Trip

For our one year anniversary we decided to take advantage of being "close-ish" to the Caribbean and do some exploring. After MUCH researching we finally found the perfect place, for the perfect price... Puerto Rico. We left last Monday (3/8) and stayed for 5 days. It was a much needed vacation and we had a blast. Even though Puerto Rico received record rainfall that week, and it rained the majority of the time we were there, we still had so much fun exploring new places and getting to spend time with one another without the stress of all the other stuff going on back in our "real lives".

We stayed in Rio Grande, which is on the northeast side of Puerto Rico. We stayed at the Wyndham Rio Mar Resort. It was at the bottom of the El Yunque Rainforest and right on the beach. We truly had the best of both worlds.

We spent a day hiking and exploring the rain forest. It was so beautiful and fun to see all the different kinds of plants, birds, and lizards. We took a hike along the river to a big waterfall where we swam and played for a while too. The rainforest was probably one of the biggest highlights of the trip for me.

We did have one partially sunny day where we hit the beach and rented boogie boards. The water was pretty cloudy from all the storms but it was still the perfect temperature and it was so nice to be back in the ocean again, I just can never get enough!

We rented a car while we were there so we were able to do a lot of exploring in all the little towns next to us. We spent one afternoon/night in Old San Juan. I loved Old San Juan they had fun little shops and great architecture. We also hung out at the old Castillos (forts) that were built 100's of years ago when Spain owned Puerto Rico. It was all very interesting and neat to see such magnificent structures.

The rainiest day there we took a ferry over to Vieques. A small Island just off of Puerto Rico. Part of the family that I had nannied for in New York was staying over there so we got to spend the day exploring that island and catching up with them.

It was hard coming back, but I guess every vacation has to end sometime. Now I just have to restrain myself from planning the next one. Thank you for an amazing Anniversary Jason! I loved every rainy second of it! :)

2009, What a year!

2009 has been quite the year for us! We have had so many life changes this year.

New jobs, New family members, New states, New homes, New last names, New adventures.

and many more...

Eric came home from his Mission in Italy!

I got to take my endowments out at the Bountiful

Temple. We were sealed for all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Got married.

Welcomed in new life...

Kayson Todd Larson

and grieved the passing of old...

Grandma Beckstrand

Partied with MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

Moved to Michigan. Returned to a Family Ward and to Primary.

Said Goodbye to good Friends...

and said Hello to NEW friends.

We "adopted" this little dude.

We explored Mexico, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Canada.

We have had a very eventful and great year. I feel so blessed to have had so many wonderful things happen this past year and I am grateful for all of our family and friends continued support while we are on our journey here in Michigan. We are looking forward to a fantastic 2010!

Decisions

We all know I have a very hard time with decisions, that and commitments. I finally got over part of the commitment phobia by actually getting married, but I still struggle with the decision end of things. My biggest one at the moment is jobs, employment, career, work, however you want to word it I just can't decide what I want to be when I grow up!

When we first moved here it took me about a month and a half to find a job.

I truly feel so blessed that I was able to find such a great family to Nanny for. Originally I didn't want to nanny again, but knew it was something I could always fall back on. No matter what the job market is, people always need other people to watch their kids. Knowing this was just a temporary position I think I was able to avoid my commitment issues when accepting this job. I still get to babysit Robbie and end up seeing them at least once a week. Jason and I have so much fun "playing house" and spending time with that family.

Anyways, I am now working at Goldfish Swim School, I've been there for just over two months now. I teach swim lessons and work at the front desk. I love it for the sole fact that I actually get to interact with people my age. At the same time, I've been told that I am overqualified for the job, there really is not much room for any more growth than I have already done, I barley get over 20 hours a week, and I'll be honest with you the pay is nothing to brag about.

That being said I've always known this was a good job to just hold me over till I could find something else. I have constantly been looking for that dream grown up job. One that challenges me and uses my hard earned college degree and one that I feel like I am really making a difference in. This job is apparently non-existent. I have however, found two different "executive" families that I could nanny for.

So it is decision time.

Do I go back to Nannying? I love the kids and interacting with them and all that goes along with that, but at the same time, I get so isolated out here when Jason and I have really no other friends or people our age to interact with. The pay is awesome. The hours are good. With the pay and hours put together I would be making over 3 times what I am making now.

But I have done the whole nanny bit, and part of me thinks... "I'm going to be raising kids for the rest of my life, if I want to work outside the home this is the last chance I'm going to have to do it." So with that thought in mind do I stay where I'm at? And continue looking for that dream job? Being able to put Goldfish and the experience I have gained there will have a greater impact on a resume than yet another Nanny position.

I also have the regret factor to worry about, if I decide to Nanny again, am I just going to get isolated and lonely again and regret leaving a work environment where I am surrounded by people every day. At the same time if I stay where I'm at am I going to constantly be thinking about the money that I am NOT making?

I know I really have no right to sit here and vent about this decision since there is a very large percentage of people in this area who would kill to have three job offers in front of them. I just can't figure it out. And I kinda need to, like tonight, so anyone out there want to tell me what to do?!