Finally...a February and March Update!

Let's get caught up on life already.

It's been craaaaazy busy out here lately, but we've been doing a lot of fun things and visiting with some awesome people.

Let's start with the most recent. Yesterday, Rob and I went on a shopping excursion to Costco. We bought flowers! (As well a lot of other random things that seemed necessary in bulk.) I accidentally don't even know what kind of flowers we planted in our front yard, but they are some sort of random ground covering version. We planted them along the side of the house, along the walkway leading to the front door. Here are a few pictures...

the overview picture...

...and a close up.

We tied Hunter's leash to a post and he supervised the yard work. He also managed to wrap himself around the post while going crazy over the cat in the yard across the street. Silly dog!

We also worked on weeding the front yard and trimming back some of the dead leaves off the bushes. It's rained a little over the past few weeks and the weeds have been popping up like crazy. I don't like that part of homeownership very much.

We have been working hard in the backyard as well. Last Sunday, while I sat on the patio and graded research papers, Rob turned over the rest of the soil/dirt/dust in the yard and we planted grass! We haven't seen any sprouts yet, and are a little nervous that the birds might be eating the seeds, but we will wait and see. The bag said it would take one-two weeks. I'm just not patient enough!

 Almost ready to open the bags of topsoil and plant. Hunter wants to...help?

hopefully we will have grass in this little island of dirt soon...

We bought a patio table for the back porch and have been enjoying weekend breakfasts on the patio now that the weather is warmer. We also installed sun shades to drop down, especially in the evenings, when the sun sets in the back of the house. And! I bought gerber daises and I think some other sort of daisy plant from Costco and planted them in a big pot that sits on the patio. It's the perfect little burst of color and happiness.

our breakfast on the new patio table last weekend...and you can see the sunshades too :)

a big picture view of the patio, with the sunshades up.

I'm really happy with all the work we have gotten done and proud of it too! In just about a week Mom will be out here to see it all and in two, Dad, Adam and the Spences will join in the fun! I'm excited to have so much yardwork done before they all get here.

Speaking of visitors...they have been plentiful now that the weather here is perfect (50's at night and 80's during the day...I love it!) and it is still snowing at home. In mid-February Grandma and Grandpa came out and stayed with us for about a week. They did a little sight-seeing of their own (Tucson, Goodyear, Sedona) and we took a train ride into the Grand Canyon together. Unfortunately, the view of the canyon was blocked by snow! I never would have thought it would snow at the Grand Canyon! And it snowed a lot. It was heavy and cold and beautiful...but not exactly wished for. We spent most of our time at the Grand Canyon in the El Tovar hotel, staying warm by the fire and drinking hot chocolate. It was a totally different trip from the time we went with Shelly and Adam in the summer!

 Grandma and I on the train to the Grand Canyon.

Grandpa and Rob on the train.

We had the best seat in the house at lunch time...right next to this fireplace in the dining room of the El Tovar!

After lunch we headed outside into the snow...

burrrr! not what you think of when it comes to Arizona weather, that's for sure!

a map near one of the Canyon overlooks...and the white out behind it blocking the view :(

While Grandma and Grandpa were here, we also showed them around town and our daily routine. They came to school, and watched a track practice, and also saw Rob's flight school. We also took them to the Olive Mill (which I think is one of my favorite places in Queen Creek). We went on quite a few walks through our neighborhood with Hunter, who I think impressed them a good bit. 

Almost immediately after my grandparents left town, my cousin Brian came to visit! We showed Brian around town too, and walked around ASU's campus and Mill Avenue. We watched some basketball and went to dinner at a coal oven pizza place, which was delicious! We had planned on hiking in one of the state parks that is about five minutes from our house, but it had rained, and the thought of tracking Hunter through the mud was a little daunting. 

Beyond visitors and yardwork, Rob and I have both been busy at work. Rob's last day will be March 25 and he will begin work in Vegas on April 4. (Technically training starts then. He has two weeks of flight and ground school, and then a checkride to pass to certify him in the new aircraft before he actually starts flying with passengers.) And! When he flies with passengers he wears the fancy official pilot uniform that you see airline pilots wear. I think it looks cool :) Here are two pictures of helicopters that are flown in Vegas.

This one is the EC-130. Rob will start flying in it.

 

  And this is the A-Star. It's the helicopter he will likely transition into after a little bit of time with the company.

I have one week left before Spring Break and am so ready for a break from teaching and coaching, and to relax a bit with my family. My mom and I are planning on getting pedicures and manicures when she comes to visit. It's the light at the end of this busy tunnel of grading research papers and adjusting to a coaching schedule. Luckily, I am planning on showing a movie near the end of this week, which will make for an easier week than those past. And! We have a half day on Thursday when teachers can actually leave early (at 12:30)! Rob and I are having friends over for St. Patrick's Day! We are looking into this corned beef food and I am planning on making cupcakes with frosting that has Bailey's in it! Festive! :)

Okay, I am headed back to finish weeding in the front yard, and then have some school work to do. No more coffee and blog on the patio :( Hope you all are having a great weekend and can't wait to see some of you soon! Love, Sarah, Rob and Hunter