Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. We miss you all and wish we could be home to see you all.

With Keegan napping

and Josh at work

This is how I'm spending my afternoon. Warm and cozy infront of the fireplace with my nice warm new socks.

And 9 years later...

So 9 years ago I started a project. I was all jazzed and got half of it done right away. Then, life got in the way and this little project got packed away in a rubbermaid container. I brought it out again 3 years ago, only to do part of it wrong. Totally discouraged, I put it away again. But as we were packing our stuff for Vancouver, I decided I was determined to get this blasted thing finished.

FINALLY

done with the hard part

All that is left is to put the borders on and then find someone to do the quilting. There is no way I'm going to try to do that myself. There are computerized machines for just that purpose. I would go NUTS.

This was at the zoo yesterday. Keegan was chased by this penguin for quite a while. They played this game for at least 5 min if not longer. They would have kept going had I let them.

Oregon Zoo

Today we bundled up in our rain gear and headed to the zoo. It is a fairly good size zoo with lots of animals to see. We were deciding on the zoo or the aquarium. Until we looked up the Portland Aquarium...it may be called the Portland Aquarium...but it isn't in Portland, it's an hour away. So off to the Oregon Zoo we went.

Measuring up to the Bald Eagle.

In the zoo thay have a small farm area with goats and cows and pigs and obviously a tractor

Mr. Blue Eyes not pulling a crazy face.


Log walking

Keegan and Josh riding wooden horses in the farm area.

We were really excited to see this. We walked up to the viewing area and here was this beautiful wolf standing and almost posing for us. I think what made this exciting is that at the Hogle Zoo in Ut you never get to see the wolves. They are always hiding in their very wooded area. And then in Albuquerque they had some mexican wolves or Lobos and I never saw them either.

This is just to show how wooded the zoo is. Here is the bathroom Keegan had to use, it looks like it is an out house in a campsite. Soooo many trees.

The wolf again.

Sleepy polar bears. They didn't do much, he did open his eyes once but that is the most movement we got out of these 2.

Here is Keegan seeing how he measures up to all the different kinds of bears.

Here were the elephants, they have a baby. It was so much fun to watch him. They had water running into the pond. I shouldn't say running, it was like a fire hose shooting full force. But it didn't matter, this little guy loved it.

We watched him play for quite a long time.

And one of the last animals that we saw was who Keegan was sure was named "Mufasa" he loves the Lion King these days.

Costco

Nothing really new to report. I can say say that we have visited all of the area Costco's the one here in Vancouver and the 2 on the Oregon side. The one in Clackamas was fun only for the fact that Clackamas is fun to say. Ha ha ha Oh and the ones on the Oregon side don't have sales tax. Like I said a thrilling week. Hopefully next time I will have something more exciting to tell you all.

** Just looked it up, there are 2 more that I can visit.

Christmas Tree

So like last Christmas, because of our travels, we have a tiny tree. But it's a tree and Keegan loves it. He loves that it is just his size and that he can pug it in, and does so every morning. We kept our ornaments from last year and he was very excited to put them on.

So, here is our tiny tree

Here is Keegans "Toy Parade" they have been here since we put up the tree. If anyone falls down he takes great care in putting them back in their correct spot in line.

Keegans way of decorating. Everyday there seems to be more and more of the red ornaments hanging off this one snowflake.

Multnoma Falls

Today we decided to go to Multnomah Falls. We passed it while we were on our way here but it was getting dark so we couldn't really see it.

Multnomah Falls

Columbia River Gorge

We did the walk up to the bridge. It was so green and there was moss on everything. This in looking down over the bridge.

Keegan, on the hike up above the bridge.

Spray off the waterfall.

Our Funny Dog

So our dog is a great dog. We love him and can't believe that someone would actually send him away. Oh well, thier loss is our gain. However, he is sometimes a bit strange. Koda loves to sleep with our shoes, he never chews on them just sleeps with them. It is well know here, and at any house we take him to, Mimi's, The Viehweg's, or my Mom's. If you can't find a shoe, or the pair for that matter, check Koda's bed. Sometimes he tries to be sneaky, and thinks you can't see him and takes them when you are right there. But, like I said he never hurts them so we don't really care.

Well, tonight, he topped that. I had taken Josh to work today, so this evening I had to go pick him up. When we go home Josh was very excited to turn on the TV and start watching a show we thought we had missed the first part of. Well, where is the remote???? We could not find it anywhere, not it the blankets on the couch, not behind the couch, not inthe cushions. It was gone. I was almost postive that when Keegs and I left, I had put it on the arm of the couch. But nope, not there. So just out of curiosity I went up to our room. And guess where the remote was.....On Koda's bed with my shoe. What does a dog need a remote for???? He had not done anything to it, not a single tooth mark, a little wet yes, but not harmed at all.

Not sure if this if funnier than the time we left him at Josh's parents house where he got up on the counter and ate 2 loaves of bread, but not before leaving a few pieces under the pillow on the couch for Paul to find later. Paul went to lay down on the couch to take a little snooze and put his hand under the pillow only to find 3 or 4 pieces of bread that Koda was saving for later.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!

It won't be the same being so far away but I bet this turkey will be happy. Especially since we are having chicken.

Hello From Vancouver, WA

We made it. We got everything packed up and ready on Sunday so we would be ready to leave EARLY Monday morning. Monday morning came quickly. My alarm went off at 3:15 and we were on the road by 3:45. Keegan did great as always, he went back to sleep in the car and slept until we were almost to Boise. We stopped in Boise for breakfast and were done there by 9:00. We were making great time.

Then for lunch we stopped somewhere in Oregon, not sure where but it was so WINDY!! You can ask Jacey, she called Josh while we were there and I am sure she could barely hear him.

At this stop there were some HUGE stuffed animals, since there were no signs saying we couldn't put Keegan up there we did it. So this is somewhere in Oregon.

The last 3 hours of the drive were along the Columbia river. Here is one of our first views of the river. I was driving so I made Josh take the pictures. Had I not been driving there would have been a TON more pictures to post. I had to force him to take this one.

This picture isn't the greatest but, in the distance you can see Mt. Hood.

So far so good here. It is REALLY different than the last place we were. It is green EVERYWHERE you look, and no road runners.

I'll post more pictures soon.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We have been busy around here. We got to Utah and immediately started building a room for Keegan at my mom's house. It turned out really cute and we just have a couple finishing touches and then we will be done in time to move away again.

While here we got to do our annual pumpkin carving with Jacey and Jon.

This is Jacey's

Mine

Jon's

Josh's

Keegan had fun watching and even dared to scoop out some guts. Last year he wouldn't even touch them so this year was a big step, maybe next year he will do his own. Ididn't get any pictures of Keegan in his costume. He never really wanted to wear the whole thing. We went trick-or-treating and at everyhouse he lost a piece of his costume. By the end I was holding all of it.

After Halloween, we finished Keegan room enough that we could move in. The part I was dreading was the moving of all of our crap! We had been moving boxes with each trip over to my moms and then it was just the big stuff left.

So this pic is just because I kind of ''forget" what the Wasatch Mountains look like when we are away. LOVE THEM.

So now we have under 2 weeks left in Salt Lake and then it is off to Vancouver, WA. We are really excited and can't wait to go see somewhere new. Now, if Josh's company would just tell us where we are going to be living I would feel soooo much better.

Plans change so quickly around here!!

Since before we left ABQ we decided we would take the rest of the year off and make sure we were home for the holidays. WRONG!!! This morning I was woken up by Josh's phone ringing, in the back of my mind I already knew who it was. Even though there is no reason Josh's recruiter should be calling, he was. He was calling to let Josh know that there were new openings in Vancouver Washington, right across the river from Portland. He knew that Josh wanted some time off but also knows that Josh loves Washington. So after some talking we decided it would be alright for him to send Josh's info up to the hospital up there. If some of you remember any of our other travels we have NEVER ended up going to the 1st place that has come available, so while we were torn we didn't think that there was anyway that they would call. So less than an hour later his phone rings again, with an out of state area code. Guess who it is..... the stinking hospital in Washington. So now after hearing all about it, it sounds like a great area and a great hospital. Guess where his boss was born and raised.....Albuquerque. So needless to say, Josh said yes. He starts on November 18th. So no holidays here in UT but we get to go off and explore somewhere new!!

Vancouver here we come...in 3 weeks.

Busy Busy Busy

We have since left ABQ and made it safely back to Salt Lake, with a minor detour in St. George to deliver some chilies. Since being back we have started building a room at my mom's house for Keegs since we will be staying with her instead of my sis. So far things are going well. After MANY trips to Home Depot (3 yesterday) We have framed, electrified, insulated and done 1/2 the sheet rock. ( we would have had it all done but a fishing trip today was a MUST DO. ) Most of you know my husband well enough to know this kind of stuff is not his forte' Thanks to his Dad's help we are both learning a lot.


I was going to post some pictures but the computer is freaking out and wouldn't let me, maybe another day.

Last one I swear....well for now at least.

Ok, I swear, this will be the last post about hot air balloons.

We ended up staying an extra day to see the special shaped balloons. We got up super early, loaded on to a school bus and schuttled to the park. It was AMAZING, seriously the coolest thing ever. It was so much fun to be right there and see how big some of these balloons were. There were sooooo many to look at, here are a few of my favorites.

This space shuttle was sooooo tall, the balloon in front if it is a normal sized balloon.

Not sure what this one actually is but it was HUGE.

There was a Darth Vader balloon (scroll down further) and along with it were Star Wars characters. Josh was excited to get his picture with them. The pink bunny ears are from the Energizer Bunny baloon people.

Darth Vader getting ready to go up.

Trying to get as many as possible in one picture, there really was too many to look at.

And the much anticipated Darth Vader balloon, that was being "held hostage" in China after a balloon festival over there. Apparently there were some shipping issues and many feared he wouldn't make it to ABQ in time for our Balloon Fiesta, luckily he arrived safely the day before the "Special Shape Rodeo" Yay!!!

Possibly my favorite, just so cute and happy

One of the "regular" balloons getting ready to go up.

We had a GREAT time and I am already hoping that we get to go back someday.

It's Time to Say Adios to Albuquerque

I'm actually quite sad that we are leaving. We have really enjoyed our time here. As usual it wasn't our first choice and we didn't know what to expect. In my mind I was expecting a cross between Tucson and the Wild Wild West. We got here plesantly surprised to see NO cacti and NO cockroaches. And that there are the same kind of trees we have in Utah. We also learned that the weather here is quite like Salt Lake.

Unlike the last 2 places we have gone, I have always had something to complain about. Here....I have tried REALLY hard to come up with something just to even things out and the best I can do is....the parking spaces are narrower than other states , and the library system kind of sucks. Or maybe the food is WAY WAY too YUMMY!!!!

Here are some of the things we are really going to miss

1. The food. There is something slightly different about mexican food here. They call it New Mexican.

2. Waking up to Hot air balloons out my window almost every morning.

3. The Balloon Fiesta!!!! Still the coolest thing I have EVER EVER EVER seen. Everyone should see it atleast once in their lives.

4. The roasted green chilies on EVERYTHING. I love them!!! Maybe that is why I am bringing almost 50 lbs of frozen chilies back to UT.

5. The fun things to do...zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens, tram

6.My apartments bathtub. To some of you this may sound strange and to others you know my obsession.

7. Did I mention the food??


So in 13.5 hours we will be leaving one of the funnest places we have been so far.

But the good news is, that if after the holidays no other hospital calls Josh to work for them, The Heart Hospital in Albuquerque told him that he could come back!!! Yay Yay Yay

I woke the boys up early for this....

I forced the boys out of bed at 5:45 this morning to see this. I know they are blurry but these are the 1st balloons getting ready to take off. They blink on and off soooo cool to watch.

Here are more of them, glowing in the dark, the first ones to take off for the Balloon Fiesta

The sun is coming up as the balloons headed north.

Keep scrolling down to the next post of soooo many balloons that I can't even describe it.