2008 Christmas Letter!

Due to various reasons I have decided to  post our annual Christmas letter on our blog (thanks Becky for the idea).  I had a hard time copying and pasting so instead I uploaded it as a JPEG so you should be able to click on it in order to read the fine print.  Be sure to leave a comment so I know you were updated.  

I also posted a recorded tour of our new house to let you all know what it looks like.  We have plenty of space so if any of you want to come out to the midwest just know you have somewhere to sleep!  

Thanksgiving Update

For Thanksgiving we went to Cleveland, Ohio to visit Austin's brother and sister-in-law (Marshal and Angie).  We had a great time and enjoyed hanging out with them.  On Black Friday Angie and I did some shopping (well mostly I shopped and Angie was my advisor on various household colors and decor).   But I do have to mention that Marshal and Austin got some screaming deals on ammo!  

Anyways, after the shopping we went to Kirtland, Ohio to do a little Church history tour.  

We went to the Kirtland Temple which is now owned by the RLDS or Community of Christ Church.  It is a beautiful building but didn't seem to have quite the same spirit that dedicated temples have.  I am pretty sure most everyone in our group was LDS especially when at the end one of the ladies and her family asked if we could sing "The Spirit of God" while we were sitting at the pews.  The spirit was stronger at that point because we all know that praising God through singing can bring the spirit faster than most anything else!
We also visited the "downtown" area which included the Newel K. Whitney store, his home, and the ash refinery (which was Austin and Marshal's favorite part).
This is the head stone that the church put up at some point in the cemetery right next to the temple.  Historians are pretty sure that these people were all buried in this graveyard, they just did not have head stones.  Pretty neat, John Johnson and Thankful Pratt (Parley P. Pratt's wife) were buried next to this head stone as well.  I looked at the directory for all the burial spots and there were three Cox's buried here as well so they may be ancestors of mine!
This is us in the John Johnson Farm house.  This is the home were Joseph Smith was staying when he was taken in the middle of the night by the mob and tarred and feathered. It was my favorite to see out of all the places we toured.  There is a very special spirit in this home.

Hurray! We found a house!  A few weeks ago Austin and I checked out a new housing development that had some cute floor plans.  The downer was that the houses in our price range would have to be built (which takes 60 - 90 days).  There was one house that some couple had customized for them but ended up being transfered to Detroit so they left it on the Builders hands.  Unfortunately it was out of our price range.  After our last house fell through (after the inspection) we suddenly felt the urge to call this housing development.  Austin called and basically told them what we were willing to pay (which was about 15  grand under the asking price).  The lady talked to her boss and called us back saying that if we signed the papers that day we could get the house!  So here it is!

The living room (literally just walked in the door and snapped the photo).  The dining room is off to the left and the kitchen is off of that to the right.  Notice the little window in front of the sink so you are not looking at a wall.
The couple upgraded the cabinets to cherry wood and the appliances are upgraded to the black.
The outside shot.  It was getting dark and this picture didn't turn out too great but you get the idea.

The neighborhood is somewhat cookie cutter (which is not our favorite) but doable for a starter home.  The floor plan is 1400 sq. ft. with a full unfinished basement.  3 bedroom and 2 bath.  The bank says we should be able to get the loan in 2 weeks so it is basically a waiting game.  We will probably get in right after Thanksgiving.

Faith Shall Conquer All!

Well it is 1 am and I am not tired which is really weird since I usually can't keep my eyes open any longer by 11 pm.  So I have been wandering aimlessly on Facebook and blog stocking, thank you all for entertaining me for the evening (or should I say morning)!  

Unfortunately our house inspection we had today (on the house we are trying to buy)  showed a foundation and roof problem that we would need to fix (within the next six months).  As a result we are going to see if the current owners will fix the problems... our inclination is that they will not since they previously informed us of their stance on that issue.  Anyways, to make a long story short we are back at square one with a month (exactly) left for us to stay in the hotel with the company paying for all our expenses.  We do have some back up plans... and with any luck and a whole lotta faith I know we will figure out something.  Any extra prayers you have feel free to send them our way!  

Hope all is going well for you guys, I really appreciate your love and support! 

Here's the scoop...

So I have been applying for jobs online through Craigslist and didn't really think much about it.  I have had a couple of responses but nothing has really panned through until recently.  It was a nannying position for a family from Ireland that was moving here this week... I was very trusting and shared some information that I probably should have withheld.  After sharing all this with my husband we realized that maybe this was not a real position.  We do not know yet for sure but I emailed the man that I had been communicating with and requested that my husband and I meet him and his family before I start working to ensure both parties that this arrangement would work (this was done on Monday).  I have not yet  heard from him so I don't know what to think but we decided to make our blog private just in case... so everyone BE CAREFUL of who you interact with online!  Hopefully this position is real because it pays really well and it would work great with my schedule (when school starts next semester) but I am not holding my breath.  

Besides that everything is going well... we are in the process of BUYING A HOUSE!!!  HURRAH! It is a very cute house on a good sized lot... it is even on a street named Green Acres which (from what I hear) is the place to be!  I would post pictures but my camera was out of batteries so I didn't take any!  We are doing inspections this week and hopefully we will close by the 12th of December!  

Thanks to all of you who posted your email addresses, I think that is record for the most responses I have ever received!  At least I know people actually look on here!  If you run into people that want access to my blog (that you know I know) then send me an email or comment and I will add them on.  Thanks again, you guys are the best! 

ATTENTION!!

Hey everyone!  So I have decided to make our blog private... I know its so sudden but we had a run in with something and want to make sure that our identities are safe.  (Sounds crazy but just bear with me).  Post your email as a comment so I can add you on as a friend.  I will give it until Tuesday (tomorrow) afternoon before I make the switch.  Thanks!!

Pictures!!

Here are the pictures I promised!  I got a little carried away and posted quite a few!  

Austin started work yesterday which has left me stranded here at the hotel.  Luckily target, kohls and a few other stores are nearby so I can go for a walk to see things (maybe to get some sexy boots, right Heidi!).  

We went to church on Sunday and everyone already knew we coming which was nice. The furnace was broken so we were freezing the entire time!   

Anyways, we have stayed busy house shopping and mortgage loan shopping, we have a couple houses we are looking at seriously and I posted some pictures to give you all an idea.  

We made it!

Well, we left Arizona on Friday (which happened to be my 25th birthday... pretty exciting day, boy I am getting old!).  We went up to Utah and visited some family and friends... it was freezing cold and didn't know what we got ourselves into, (it snowed in the beginning of October, can you believe that!).  On Sunday morning we were headed to church and our truck didn't start!  Talk about freakin out... we realized it was the battery and after giving it a little jump (and a few prayers) it started right up and we haven't had a problem with it since.  On Monday we started our journey eastward, just so you know, Wyoming and Nebraska are the longest states in the world!!  It seemed like forever just to get to North Platte, Nebraska where we stayed the first night of our drive.  On Tuesday we made it the rest of the way here to Valparaiso, IN.  We stayed at a Best Western the first two nights, a little ghetto and it smelled so we decided to move into Holiday Inn Express instead.  It is wonderful!  A kitchenette, laundry room and a soft king size bed (yeah, we're in a suite since the company is paying and we will be here for a while).  

We have spent the last two days shopping for mortgage loans and checking out houses.  It's an exciting time.  Anyways, I have taken pictures of our adventure but do not currently have the capabilities to put it on my computer so this will have to do for now, I will post more later.  

FYI, Austin starts working on Monday the 20th, hooray!

On the Move

Austin has been so bored the last few months waiting to get a job... now that he has one and we are getting ready to move he has been REALLY busy!  Calling moving companies, getting pre-employment papers filled out, re-packing boxes and building a camper shell on our truck!  Can you believe him? What can I say? He is AMAZING!  We are going to drive our truck to Indiana and don't want to worry about people stealing things out of the back so he decided to build a cover so we could travel at ease.  

Did you know it is actually cheaper to ship a car then to drive it?  Crazy huh?  Because of this we are going to ship our two normal cars and drive the beautiful truck.  Moving far away is pretty expensive, luckily the company is paying for all our moving costs!

We now have boxes A-X all inventoried (is that a word?) so that if we lose one we will know what was in it... pretty good idea but time consuming (especially when everything was already packed in the first place!).  

Anyways, we plan on leaving on Friday.  We are going to head up to Utah to see some friends and family before we go to the midwest (it only adds on about four hours in the whole scheme of things and when you are already driving 26 then what difference does it make?).  We will update you as we go!

Change of Plans

As a few of you know, Murphy's Law has come into affect in our lives.  As of last Sunday, we had made a decision (with the Phoenix Palo verde job), the very next day the job we wanted all along in Indiana called us with a better offer.  Since it is what Austin really wants to do and it would be a good experience for us we decided to take it.  We will miss our family but we are excited to be on our own.  Thank you all for your comments, we appreciate your support.  We will be moving in the next two weeks to Valparaiso, Indiana (which is about 40 min. away from Chicago).  If you happen to be in the area then give us a holler!  

Decision has been made!!

We have finally made a decision.  We have decided to go with the Palo Verde job which is located west of Phoenix.  Austin's tentative start date is Oct. 7th.  It mainly depends on how fast they are able to do the back ground checks.  He will probably move down into my parents condo in Sun City until we buy a house.  We are hoping to get into one by November in the Goodyear area.  Depending on when I get a job down there I will move down as well.  Until then I might as well keep working here so we can save some extra cash!  Needless to say it is comforting having a plan and knowing what we are going to be doing for the next few years.  

All about business:  So I have to do a shout out to my little business website I made.  Since I started making purses I have had many people ask about purchasing one.  Check out my website: misstailorhandbags.blogspot.com  Custom options are available for friends and family.  My sister also has a mother-friendly invention of her own you should all check out at: kurlgirlcreations.blogspot.com  (Great ideas for Christmas or special occasion gifts).  

Happy September!

Hello my friends.  Here in AZ everything is going well.  We went on a camping trip last weekend with a lot of family in the area and had a great time.  I especially enjoyed the thick mattress pads we had to sleep on.  I had my best night's sleep ever (on a camping trip), which was awesome. 

Austin has received two job offers recently, which is very exciting.  One is in Gary, IN and the other in Phoenix.  He still has two more interviews this week (one in Seattle and the other in Palo Verde, west of Phoenix).  We will see what happens, all we know is that we will probably be moving soon!  If any of you know Indiana or have any thoughts on which locations would be better, let us know.  We will obviously decide in the end according to which job meets our needs but we are curious about what people think of the different locations.

Well, I have started up a hobby recently (purse making).  I am usually anti- hobbies mainly because they cost a lot of time and money.  I started off making myself a purse modeled after one I already own and then  I went crazy.  It's been so long since I have used my creative brain and I have really enjoyed trying this out.  So far I have made six purses in the last three weeks.  I have decided that I want to make purses that are affordable and super cute as a side hobby.  I will probably start a separate blog to show off what I have been up to. I am just curious to know what price range you girls would pay for a purse like one of these, any input you have would be appreciated.  

Well, I guess that is all.  Take care and I will update you as soon as we decide what we will do!  Who knows!

Mt. Timp Hike/ Move to AZ

Before we left Utah we had to hike the most beautiful (not to mention the tallest) mountain in the Provo area.  Mount Timpanogos.  The point of the mountain above Austin's head was our destination. Hikers: Austin, Warren, and I (Tommy bailed, what a loser :)

After about four hours, a moose, a couple of deer, and some mountain goats we made it to the top.  The view was phenomenal.  This is overlooking the Provo/ American Fork part of Utah valley.  

The view from the back side of the mountain. 

Us at the top.  Not the best picture but at least we are documented.

The way down was quite a bit harder than I thought it would be.  By this time it was mid morning and the rest of the way down was in the heat of the sun.  The hike was pretty intense, we even had an old man pass us... I have to admit that was because of me more so than because of the boys. 

We loved this hike (especially starting early and seeing the sun rise in the valley).  If you enjoy hiking but are not in the best shape I would suggest going a couple miles up the trail  just to see the sun rise (the trail has a lot of switch backs so its not too hard at first), be sure to bring mosquito repellant (those guys have no mercy up there). 

 

As for what we are up to, we have moved to Arizona.  We are chillin' with my parents here in Lakeside at the moment.  I have a job at the local hospital doing in-patient physical therapy.  It is a fun yet very different setting from what I have been working in.  (I almost passed out on my first day from the sight of blood (a lot of it), but that's another story!).  Austin is still applying for jobs all over.  We are looking at the possibility of staying here for a year while we apply to graduate schools and then start that next fall.  We will see what happens, who knows... we just fly by the seat of our pants (its a Gwynn thing, it's starting to rub off on me!)

In the meantime I keep myself busy after work by alternating cooking/cleaning duties with my mother and playing board games with my niece Joslin, at least I have someone to play with.  If any of you readers are currently in Lakeside or will be visiting please call us!  We need friends up here!  :)    

Timp Caves

The Timpanogos caves are located pretty high up the backside of Mount Timp. The average time it takes for most people to hike this trail is around 45 min - 1 hour.  We thought we were running late for our tour time so we booked it up the trail.  It took us 27 min.  Once we got to the top we realized that our tour started 1 hour and 30 minutes later.  The time our tickets told us to start hiking is the time we thought our tour started!  We ended up sitting around at the top until our tour.  Honestly, I thought my lungs were going to burst.  The last 1/4 of the hike I had to hold on to Austin's camelback so I could keep the pace!  What a good guy!  We went with our friends Bobby and Ashlee.  Good times.     Below from left to right. 1) Myself and Austin outside the main entrance to the cave.  2)Austin's back side (which is very nice) as he "squeezes" through the cave.  3)A rock formation that looks like a St. Bernard dog.  Pretty Funny! 4) This picture was taken in the dark and I look pretty goofy.  Austin thinks I look like a bat or maybe a smiling vampire (don't ask why) so I turned it upside down so you can the full effect.

All in all I decided that a lot of the rock in the caves reminds me of the Ghost Busters movie where the gooey stuff is all over in the sewers (and that weird guy is in a painting)... anyways, pretty cool stuff.  We had a good time.

Road Trip...

1) Austin and Macy (Kevin & Kerrie's 2 year old daughter), She insisted that Austin read her a bedtime story. (Spokane, WA)

2) Kevin & Kerrie with their son Nelson
3) Lanette, Anita, and babies... close friends of Austin's. (Kevin's siblings).  (Wenatchee, WA)
4) Jennifer (Austin's sister) and her youngest child Sawyer   (Seattle, WA)
5) Sydney and I (Jennifer's middle child).  She seems a little freaked out in this picture but she is super cute.
6)Austin showing Aiden (Jen's oldest) how to do push ups.

7) Austin and I hanging out with my cousin Brandon and his wife Sally.  (Gresham, OR)

8) Aiden swinging at the pinata.  Demiree (Austin's cousin) is controlling the rope. (Portland,OR.... July 4th)

9) Rissa (Austin's cousin), the bride-to-be, hanging out with Demiree's dog

10) Austin, up to bat in our intense game of woofle ball.

11) 4th of July fire works.  We were up on Mount Tabor and could see fireworks over the entire valley.

12) Charlie (Austin's little cousin) and Aiden at the Wedding.  (July 5th)

13) My favorite picture!!  Austin and his Grandma Adele 

14) Our best picture together the whole trip. 

15) The Wedding of Rissa and Patrick 

16) It rained on us (just sprinkles)!

17) The Bride and Groom toasting.

18) Our slow dance 

Hike Anniversary

2006

A little over two years ago Austin and I hiked to the very top of the "Y" mountain (not just to the "Y"), while we were dating.  So we decided a couple of weekends ago to go on that very same hike.  The only difference this time is that we had Tommy (my nephew) and Warren (Austin's brother) with us.   Above are the 2006 pictures (we used a timer on the camera) and below are the 2008 pictures. 

2008

  

Oh yeah, look at those beastly men!  From left to right: Warren, Tommy, and my most handsome, sexy Austy pooh.

Family Home Evening this week

We always talk about service, but finally we decided to do some, yeah!  So we decided to take care of our neighbors back yard.  She is going through a difficult time, so we got Georgia and some of the neighbors together to help clean it all up.

Exhibit A: My beautiful wife (right), Georgia, and Ashley who now lives in the apartment above the garage.  We lovingly call her 'smart ash.'
Exhibit B: I am not really sure what is going on here to be honest, I think I was daydreaming about my wife naked.  Now Kim is telling me that we were trying to be gang members...
Exhibit C: Fortunately we only lost two children during this entire event.  One to the lawn mower, and another one to the rabid horse in the adjacent field... just kidding.

Well, that about sums it up.  Until next year, when I think about blogging again, just keep the sanity flowing.