2011...Going to Be a Game Changer!!

Well, this is it, it seems.  Looks like we are headed back to the northeast! Frank took a new job that will have him traveling  90% of the time, so Samantha and I are going to be learning to fend for ourselves.
The only location requirement is that he is 1 hour from a major airport, so that he can get to and from his work sites easily.  He is very excited, though I have  a little more trepidations.  Its a lot that is suddenly going to be thrown on my plate.  The household, cleaning, cooking, maintaining, bills...yard work!  Ugh! Plus all the childcare and my full time job.  Yikes!

The job comes with great beni's, and some real opportunity though, so we are going to get through it. The biggest change will come in the Spring, when we leave pack our house and head back to the northeast.  This job came about while looking for jobs back there, so now it's official.  We will be living near my family, and closer to his. Exit hot summers and warm winter's, enter 4 seasons....including...gulp...winter!

We are making a bucket list of sorts, "Things we must do in AZ before we leave!".  Today we took advantage of our great location, drove 10 min to the desert and went for a walk.  collecting rocks, sticks, and checking out the different animal footprints.  Any desert dwellers got any ideas for "MUST DO's" before we go?  Would love to hear them.

TTFN

A wonderful Holiday Season Passes

Thanksgiving, Christmas, all have passed  and now we are in a new year. Samantha enjoyed the holidays completely.  She is truly at the height of her belief in the magic of Christmas. Early in December we went to the Apache Junction Christmas parade that started with tons of snow deposited on Main St. It was definitely a little more uh..Apache Junction-ish, ahem...last year was much better, and cozier on the library grounds.

Megan and Sage came with us, and thanks to the girls, Miss Samantha actually sat on Santa's lap this year!

Sage, Sam and Megan on Santa's Lap

Then the following weekend we went to the annual party at Jr's and Janet's party in Glendale.  She had a great time again and we got to see some of the adoptive families that we have come to know over the past few years. She again was so excited about Santa.  Mrs. Claus gave all the kids a bell, and she read them the  

Polar Express.  Each child was to ring the bell if they believed.  Samantha was wide eyed as Santa came through the gate.  When he called her name, she went right up and sat on his lap.  He gave her her present and she was beyond excited!  She got a camera!  She has played with it ever since. 

We did a few drives around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, and the week before Christmas we went up to dinner at Ben and Erin's.  We had a really nice evening and after the fashion show with the girls, we went to a home in Gold Canyon and checked out the elaborate train set up for Christmas by one of the neighbors.  People ask, how can it feel Christmasy here with no snow?  That night felt like the ultamate Christmas event.  Hot chocolate, Christmas music, kids the train set up for Christmas...was perfect! 

The two Diva's during their fashion Show! 

Megan and Sam at the Train House Drinking their hot chocolate.

One of the other big events of the season was Samantha's dance recital! She did amazing!  Was a long tiring day, but she did a great job! 

The attendies!




We also met Denise, Todd and Jiandra at the McCormick Train Park! The lights were amazing there! The girls had a great time playing with all the characters, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Buzz Lightyear...was fun!

Christmas Eve my mother had a party and the usual Christmas Revelers came over!  A good time was had by all!

   


 

Christmas morning was magical!  Thanks to Skype we got to visit with family back east while we open some presents.  Santa was very good to Samantha, he brought her all kinds of goodies.  A trunk full of princess dresses, and some electronics...was  a great day. 

The Holidays wrapped up with a New Years Eve party at our house!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!