okay, it looks like we're moving

So, it looks like we're moving. Not to Bend...but to the South Ogden area. We went down to a job interview over a week ago and they loved him and Nephi was impressed with the opportunity. They invited me to come and sit in on the whole interview process so it was really interesting. I figured out pretty quickly that this was the type of setting that Nephi has wanted for a long time. As a certified hand therapist he would work basicaly side by side with the hand surgeons to ensure the best possible care for the patients. It's what he's tried to have in Idaho Falls but it has been futile. These people seem to really appreciate his specialization and understand how it also will boost their company. It's about time. Our home is on the market now. Not the best time to sell a house. We're not making any money on it but hopefully it will be worth it for us in the long run. I posted the address for the virtual tour if anyone wants to check it out. We've already had two showings. Hopefully it will continue. The century 21 caravan comes through this Thursday and next Tuesday is the general mls tour which will include realtors from all over town. Hopefully the exposure will help get the job done. I am trying to rely on faith that if this is what we should be doing it will come together. (hopefully not before the interest rates get much higher. ugh...) Wish us luck!

Bend Oregon

So as many of my loyal readers have read (ha ha), we went to Bend, OR to look at a therapy job that Nephi had been interested in for a couple of years. On paper it sounded like the perfect job. Well, we went to check it out and Nephi didn't love it as much as he imagined he would. There were different reasons but I don't feel like going into detail...in short...it just didn't gel in the end. Bend is definately pretty but in my opinion not necessarily more beautiful than Idaho Falls. We really thought we would be impressed and love it there, but that just wasn't the case. One reason is that their real estate has gone down the tubes. Of course that translates into lots of good prices now since tons of homes are sitting empty, but on the flipside, there are tons of homes sitting empty. The neighborhoods there were sad to me. Lots of nice homes sitting on tiny city size lots with weeds growing up around them. The city is so overbuilt the realtor couldn't even say how this would repair itself positively in the near future. It was a shame and personally, it made me appreciate Idaho Falls even more than I already do.
Anyhow, heres some pictures taken from the hotel and the last one I believe I took while out and about.

the best part of the trip

Staying at the hotel was the best part of the trip for sure. Because our vacations are always trips to Mesquite we never need to stay in a motel (Thanks Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Robin). Hotels have had a mysterious allure to my kids for awhile so this was very exciting to them. We stayed in the Ameritel Inn, which by the way was awesome. The Ameritel in Bend is probably one of the best the chain owns. It was so nice, almost upscale feeling, and to the kids delight, our room was on the third floor. We took the elevator many times and the kids never stopped loving it.

side note: we stayed in the Ameritel in Boise and it wasn't as nice. Kind of stuck in the 80's. Cool if you like flashbacks.

Fun Land

On Friday, Laci's "real" birthday we walked over to Tautphaus park to play at the big playground but it was quite busy so the kids didn't want to stay. The kids didn't want to have to go home though so we decided to walk a little further to Fun Land just for fun. Brigham was so excited about the ferris wheel and Laci wanted to get on the Merry Go Round. They started begging to go on the rides. I warned Brigham that he'd have to ride the ferris wheel by himself because Laci refused to ride it and I couldn't leave her alone. He didn't mind, so I thought, "Hey, why not." We walked back home so I could get some money and then walked back. Brigham rode the ferris wheel twice and Laci rode the Merry Go Round three times. It's a small enough amusement park that I could sit on the grass, hand out tickets and watch. There were two teenage boys that walked around and started rides up for the kids. WE HAD A BLAST! The kids were having a fun time and I enjoyed watching them. I really would like to have been on the ferris wheel with Brigham but maybe next time. In the picture, Brigham is in the red seat on the far upper left of the picture. You can see his head looking down. Gina, I look forward to when you all come. The kids will have fun doing these rides together!

Brigham turned 6! / Brigham's favorite things.....

Brigham had a birthday party also. His party had a whole different vibe and for some reason I never took pictures! Whoops. sorry.... Brigham pretty much ran his own party. He really liked being in charge and the two boys that were there, Carson Look, and Bracken Beck, didn't seem to mind. He had a pirate theme and had pirate cupcakes. They had a scavenger hunt and the "buried" treasures were pirate swords for all the boys hidden in the dryer. They loved it.

Here's some info on Brigham.... (will finish later)

Laci's favorite things...

In honor of Laci's 4th birthday I'm giving her a chance to talk about the things that she loves...

(I will finish this later. I just had to make sure I got this spot saved for this)

Laci turns 4

Laci finally turned four! I wasn't in a hurry but Laci sure was. We celebrated her birthday days early but Laci didn't care. She figured the second she had a birthday party she became four and nobody was going to tell her any different. So we didn't! All of Laci's joy school friends made it to the party and her 'longtime' friend Sydney Conrad also. I've always wanted to make a doll cake so I was able to indulge and try it. It would be safe to say that it was a hit! The girls marveled at it and I admit I felt pretty proud. At the party they played pin the jewel on the tiara, ate pizza, painted resin puppies, had cake and ice cream. I think it was pretty succesful. I think Laci's favorite gift was the barbie doll from Sydney C. that changes hair color in water. Laci stood at the bathroom sink for a long time after the party trying it out. Happy Birthday Laci!

My version of Flashback Friday this week. (Last Season!)

Oh, I just love Neil.