UPDATE #2

At the end of July, Craig was sent to Carson City to attend the POST Academy and to become a CAT 1 Police Officer. I would have never guessed in a million years I would be married to a cop. He was gone for 16 weeks, July 26th - November 10th. In which he missed a lot, Kayla starting 1st Grade, Kayla playing her 1st sport, Soccer, Halloween

1st day of 1st Grade

Soccer

Halloween: Austin is a Park Ranger, Ashley is Cinderella, and Kayla is a bride

and ANOTHER MOVE. That's right!!! On one of his visits home, we decided to move from the top on the hill to the bottom of the hill. Of course he had to go back and I was dealt with the move, by myself. Although he did come back to paint the house but I did everything else...of course I did have some help. After the move which was quick, I think 10 days. I flew to Texas with Sandy, Heather, Brock, Stephanie, Juan and my mom for my uncle and aunts wedding anniversary. Which was a blast!

The world biggest wind chime

The Schlitterbahn

Juan having fun with an ice cream cart we found

The masquerade party

Hernandez cousins

Then right when I got home, I flew back out this time to Carson City for Craig's graduation.

It was good having him back home, especially for the major holidays and birthdays.

UPDATE #1

I am really bad at blogging. I think it has been over a year since my last post. As most of you know a lot has happened. I will break this up so it is not too much. Back in January 2011, Craig was offered a job as a LE Park Ranger in the Valley of Fire. With an extensive background and several tests, Craig was hired in March. As part of being hired, one of the job requirements was to live at the park. So now the Valley of Fire is our new home and we have a lakeside view.

At the top of the hill!

We moved our family here in May. Our neighborhood consist of 5 homes, 4 in which are rangers and 1 as the regional mechanic. We love our cute neighborhood. The kids love it out here. They're always going outside and exploring, taking hikes on the hill behind us, collecting rocks and sticks, finding all kinds of animals, birds and bugs. So far we have seen: snakes, lizards, roadrunners, eagles, coyotes, big horn sheep, random cats, ground squirrels (which I can't stand), rabbits, quail, mice and many more. I tell the kids

all the time, they have the biggest backyard.

The hill behind our house that the kids nicknamed Volcano Rock

A stick they found.

Happy New Years

It's a new year and for some reason I KNOW it's going to be a great year. Although my water heater going out on us this morning is not my idea of a great start, but on a good note we are just renting so at least I don't have to front the bill. I am so glad the holidays are over so I can get back on a schedule and get my house back in order.

I am so exciting Craig and I just got called to team teach the Sunbeam class. Austin is one of our sunbeams and he is so excited to know that mom and dad will be there. I think advancing to primary is a scary thing for a little kid so Austin is relieved we will be there with him. So, now Ashley is the only one left in nursery....oh well, she will survive. Kayla is excited for school to start back up...I just hope she always feels like that.

The holidays were good to us and the kids enjoyed everything it had to offer. We were very blessed to be surrounded by good family and friends. We are truly grateful for everything we have and for the out pour of love that is around us. May God bless you and your families into this new year, may it be full of wonderful and exciting things.

UPDATE ON PIANO

WE SOLD THE PIANO! It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the ad just come out in the local paper and the the first person bought it. NICE!

Finally Done

It took us about 4 months but we finally finished restoring 1 of the 2 pianos we found. Here are some pictures from start to finish.

This is how we got it

When we stripped it downAfter sanding it for many, many hours
A couple of coats of polyurethane and now it looks beautiful

We still need to do a few little touch ups like new hardware and new pads for the keys but other than that this ready to sell. We still can't decide on how much to sell it for. Any thoughts? Its a Story and Clark Piano and I think it was made in 1958. The only thing that it needs is a bench and to be tuned but other than that it's good.

Catching You All Up

WOW! I have been sooo busy the last year. Let me see if I can update everyone on what, and where we're at. We are still in Overton and have been HERE for the last year and a half. Craig is still working valet at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, working the swing shift - Ya! He wants to go into Forensic Science as a CSI and has applications in 5 different places and is on the eligible to hire list, but with the economy, we're just waiting for a response. So in the meantime we help his mom around the house with yard work, we just got done landscaping the front yard - and I have to say it look pretty darn good! We've been also remodeling the inside of the house - well mostly painting, we did knock down a wall and built shelves in the storage room and converted it into our food storage room/sewing room. Its huge and we love it. We also planted our first garden, I am definitely enjoying it. I mostly have stuff to make salsa but we working on expanding it sometime soon. I think most of my time gets spent on all my church callings. Craig and I are the Ward Activities Chairmen, we actually just got done having our Easter Activity. It was so much fun and if anyone know Overton 1st Ward, we had an awesome turn out. But now were planning our next one maybe sometime in the summer. I also am the Food Storage Specialist,... WOW what an overwhelming calling. I didn't think it would be but it is and I'm loving every minute of it. Sometimes Craig gets after me about it but I know the members are counting on me, but I think they're definitely coming around. And my last kind of, sort of calling is doing the Relief Society Newsletter. But despite what everyone says I love all of them. Oh, I also have a part-time job working down at Radioshack, I love learning about all the stuff that I usually let Craig worry about, but its fun. Oh, I am also working on getting my Real Estates license, so if you know anything who is thinking of buying a house in the next couple months, just let me know. Kayla is in preschool, she loves it and is always excited in come home and tell me with she did. Austin, what can I say, he is so much fun. Loves to be outside and doing all the boy things like playing in the dirt riding his bike and 4-wheeler and just causing nothing but trouble. Ashley or Rae-Rae, she is such a doll. She just had her first birthday last week on the 1st. We love her so much. I forgot to mention, did you know Craig has lost over 30 pounds. He looks awesome and I'm so proud of him. He mostly just changed his eating habits but man, it sure paid off. So the next time you see him, just let him know that you know that he lost some weight. Well I think that it for know. Hopefully, I can keep this up.