Year: 2014

We start off July with Monsoon weather! I love it. It is by far my favorite thing that we have here in the desert Southwest in the summertime.

For this Fourth of July (Ara’s first) we decided to go to LA so we can be outside and enjoy the fireworks. We headed off to the airport, and since they didn’t have our class car size, they got us into a Toyota Prius instead. I’m excited to see the fuel economy.

Before we knew it, we were in Los Angeles. We visited the area where Grey’s Anatomy is filmed (at least the exterior shots of the Hospital). As someone who has been watching that series for a long time, it was cool to make it real. Then we headed off to the beach! Look at our little girl. Match her up with that sunset and there is no other place you would want to be.

One thing you can count on LA for is the beaches – and the sunsets at the beach!

The next day, before we headed home we headed home we finally go the chance to see our plaque that is at the end of the Santa Monica Pier. See it?! Kinda cool – now we have left our mark (in some way shape or form) in Portland and Los Angeles. Since we were already so close to the beach we decided to get wet and let the girl get a little wet too.

Can’t blame us, can you?! Then we were back to Phoenix – until we meet again – but I’ll let you in on a secret. We didn’t get enough beach time – Plus my dad was invited to a work event a Calimigos Ranch in Malibu. We returned the next weekend! First thing was to let the little girl enjoy the cool water again. Then we headed off to Malibu for the cookout/ranch outing.

Calimigos ranch was cool. They had a Ford that they let everyone paint (we added 503 PDX for good measure). They had free food, pictures, rides, and even a petting zoo. It was nice – we want to do it again. The Carne Asada was one thing that stood out. That and the Cotton Candy (but you can’t go wrong with that can you?). The only annoyance was when you went to get a refill of Coke or water – there were Bees all around that would be waiting near the spout of the drinks.

I can’t stand bees. Ugh.

Before we headed home from the weekend we went to Norms and enjoyed a nice dinner with my parents.

just Pray

note: this post was published on 09/29/22 but moved the publish date back to the middle of July 2014 to keep chronological order.

Hey everyone

We went to the mall and at Sears we let Arabella sit in the car display they had out. She looked amazed. Then we took a trip over to the Glendale campus for Central for Church. It was nice because Arabella wanted to be fed and they didn’t have a nursing area- instead, they unlocked the pastor’s office and let us use that until we were done.

The picture of Arabella with purple glasses was a silly photo we took while at Babies R Us. She looked pretty cute in the sun glasses (but wouldn’t keep them on for long).

Speaking of Silly, I think she is silly because sometimes when she is sleeping on my chest her little hand reaches up and just holds my goatee. Silliness abounds – Jake loves watching the birds and really anything with the type of blinds we have. He can just mosey on up and push them out of the way for front-row viewing.

The boy (Jake) still liked to be anywhere near Arabella. I’m telling you – best friends those two are. In our condo, they have a swimming pool so we decided to take the girl swimming. If she is going to be living in Arizona she better learn how to swim.

We still go on drives here and there – we took a trip up north a little and on our way back we got some Starbucks. Not really worth mentioning except that they had a huge Kokopelli next door. I grabbed a photo of it – I ended up making the wife proud.

At work, our car was hit. I don’t know how and had to go to the security guard the next day to see if they could find out who did it. I ended up asking around and it was someone that I work with. Tyree (I have mentioned him before) said it was an accident and as he was backing out he didn’t notice that he hit me. He mentioned having left a note on my hood, but I suppose it got blown away. Either way, he said he would take care of the damages. He knows a guy who would fix it for a few hundred dollars, or we could do insurance. I thought it would be better to go through insurance even though I don’t love that idea either.

Here is a quick photo of my hours being submitted for the day before I headed off for the weekend. Arabella is seen floating in the pool on a raft-type thing that we got her. She really likes the water. A few more random photos of her for good measure (her getting on a ride at the mall, and falling asleep in the front pack I wear while we look around in stores).

I am really on a roll with sharing more work photos as of late. A couple more are below – one of the front gates (you have to badge in to get inside the parking area), and a beautiful Sunset that I captured… along with my reflection.

If you look you will see our car going for an estimate to get repaired at Sanderson Auto body. They apparently are a good place to take your car to, so I will let you know how that turns out.

We have begun watching a new TV show (at least it is new to us). Big Love (it is on HBO). The show ended in 2011, but that is only a few years ago and we really didn’t hear anything about it when it was on. It is really well made. Right now we are binge-watching it.

What else? hmm… well, We found a new Sushi spot that actually has affordable sushi. Why is that so hard to find? It really shouldn’t be. This one is located over in Glendale and I think it may be our new spot to go to.

just Pray

note: this post was published on 09/29/22 but moved the publish date back to the end of June 2014 to keep chronological order.

At church, they had a nice setup for families to take pictures for Mother’s day – we took multiple photos (here is one below).

I had a fire drill during the day at work, which works for me. Any time to get off of the phones is a win-win.

Here is a photo of the Gilbert Campus for Central. Mesa feels most like home, but really any of them are nice. We have been watching Game of Thrones for some time now – and so we went out and got a beer that they had made specifically for the show. I am NOT a fan of beer, but hey when in Rome!

Arabella was running a fever, and it wasn’t going down. We took her to the hospital and found out she had a UTI – apparently, this is common for girl babies to have but is not as common in boys. The wife and I felt pretty helpless as they had her hooked up. They ended up putting that sleeve over her hand because she kept ripping the fluids out of her arm (making the whole situation worse).

Once she was feeling better it was like we blinked and she was back at home and watching Your Baby Can Read. It seems to help- plus it is virtually the only TV time she gets. We took her for the normal checkups over at “Pediatrix” which is a place that works mostly for us. It is a bit dated but at least it is covered by insurance. They are pretty good with her.

Another weekend and we were at Church again. Love being challenged in our faith to grow deeper.

After church, we went to Oreganos in Gilbert. Afterward, we walked around and found this fun splash pad to play in and keep cool. We let her get her feet wet (and we joined in with her too).

just Pray

note: this post was published on 09/29/22 but moved the publish date back to the end of May 2014 to keep chronological order.

Hey,

Wanted to share another couple of photos from work. One is of the breakroom/lunch room. Not many people arehere in the evening hours. Outside the building where I enter, and the elevator (with a snazzy logo).

BLAZERMANIA. Yessss!

The Blazers were playing the Rockets, the end of the game (and series) came down to the FINAL SHOT. Dame came through – if you can see the net swishing as the time expired. This kid is something special. This game in some ways reminded me of when Brandon Roy hit the game winner (also against the Rockets with only seconds left). Main difference is that this one won the series. Watch it here:

Okay, what else? I’ve spent most of my time at work. When home we have been trying to take little cute photos of Arabella’s feet with our wedding rings. Also came across this van in a Frys parking lot as we were going inside. Not exactly the sunny disposition you think you would have. It seems more like a scare tactic. Not my cup of tea.

The picture of the building is my view when its blazing hot outside, and I’m inside working.

We have been checking out each campus of Central. We were at the Gilbert campus when the wife took this photo of me and Ara. Later on I got her to take photo with me. My wife is beautiful, I see where Arabella gets it from.

Some sad news. Ke’hley Lauer has died – she was one of the only remaining people that I’ve kept in contact all these years after working at Target. When I worked at Target in 2001, I transferred to a Portland store in 2003. She was at that store and we struck up a friendship that maybe was unlikely, but lasted. We’ve kept in contact via Facebook over the years. I spoke to her daughter who mentioned that she mentioned me even to her, speaking about me like I was a son of hers. I know it to be true that she was a Christian, and so I can say that Heaven gets a good one with her.

We have been driving around and came across the Mormon temple. We visited the grounds (they keep it up very nicely). We also took a trip over to the turtle park for Arabella to finally visit!

just Pray

note: this post was published on 09/29/22 but moved the publish date back to the middle of May 2014 to keep chronological order.

Wanted to tell you about Freddy’s restaurant. It is yummy, and if you have the chance to go – do so!

I had to capture this photo: Arabella fell asleep on me. She looks so tiny on my legs, especially in that diaper (which looks big on her but she is just small). The other photos are of a loveable cat. Jake! John-Jacob-Jingleheimer-Schmidt! He has been especially cuddly lately. Even so far as to snuggle the wife even after she has him wear his tie.

We had a late-season snowstorm hit Flagstaff and the surrounding area. This gave us an opportunity to venture north and let the little girl see some snow for the first time.

On the way around we hit some muddy roads (and thankfully our car handled it like a trooper). She did get a little dirty though. She pretty much matched the Red Rocks of Sedona. We also stopped at the Chapel in Sedona on the way down. It is beautiful how it’s built right into the surroundings.

We eventually got a carwash (see below) and it looked so much better – but that photo with the dirt and the red rock looks pretty cool.

Back at home, Arabella got some shots and was super tired afterward (which is pretty normal, or so they tell us). The wife and I both took turns holding her (Maryia held her while she was awake, then snuck her to me when she was asleep so she wouldn’t notice/start crying).

People at work have been really nice. Merrilee made a blanket and gave it to us. Tyree (also from work) gave us a Jordan outfit. I think she looks amazing and took a photo to share (see above). I have got to show him this photo! I mean – really. She is adorable.

just Pray

note: this post was published on 09/28/22 but moved the publish date back to the end of April 2014 to keep chronological order.