Amazed

What's this we see??? Mike in a Blue Shirt??? Yep!

Most reading this already know, but the news is officially out-Mike is a Prescott Firefighter.

Reminder that this is not the reason we moved up here. We knew Mike was on an interview list, but it was on the back-burner, not really a consideration in our decision to move here. Mike had/has a stable contract job that does not require him to be in a particular geographical location. Mike's passion will always be helping others, serving the community and his dream he would always pursue would be to be a firefighter. But with budgets and economics...honestly you just never know.

So after we made our arrangements to move north from Tucson, Mike got a call from Prescott to interview with the chief. We signed our lease and began our move on the 1st of June and Mike interviewed on the 2nd. Shortly after, he received his phone call asking him to fill an "overhire" position. This position was full-time, full benefits, but considered temporary to fill in for a firefighter that was deployed overseas in the military until October. The idea as we understood it was that he would be "benched" after October and available to cover call-outs and such, kind of like a reserve, I guess...We were ecstatic! Couldn't be happier at this opportunity. Though it was temporary, it came out of the blue, was an answered prayer, was a reminder that God doesn't forget a calling. It was doing something and not just waiting for something to happen. Even to have this brief opportunity to learn and be a part of what was going on in the Prescott Fire Department was beyond imagined...

So Mike started an academy on June 20th. He was absorbing everything, learning the Prescott way, completely in awe of what he was experiencing. The Chief sat down with them Thursday to go over some business and he let Mike know that he was not in the overhire position any longer but they had gotten the go-ahead to put him in a permanent position. He was ON, full-time, permanent! Woo-hoo...

So Sunday the 26th he started on shift. They are roving him and the other two guys they hired around to the different stations for a while. Each station has unique aspects to the area they serve-georaphic and demographic.

We are so excited to be joining this family and are looking forward to the next decades we will be living life with them!!

Saturday Outing-Goldwater Lake

Saturday we headed out to enjoy the beautiful day. We took a picnic out to Goldwater Lake.

It was beautiful and relaxing and peaceful. We watched all the canoers and kayakers paddling around and people fishing and playing. We threw around the football and fished it out of the lake several times...The kids fed the ducks and geese...
We explored the lake and took a little walk...
and then those pine cones were just too tempting...Not long and Pine Cone Wars broke out...

Great fun, great fun...By the time we got back we were all tuckered out...Good family day at Goldwater Lake though.

Fun Summer Kid-Food

Browsing through Family Fun magazine at the library, I came across some fun ideas for the kids to do.

The first was a not so healthy dinner, but different and fun. They were these hot dogs on a stick thingies. What you need are hot dogs, refrigerator breadsticks (or pizza dough cut into strips), screwers. You simply wrap the dough around the hot dog on the stick....

and then bake them according to the package instructions on the breadsticks/pizza dough...

Yum and fun!

The next was Homemade Ice Cream in a bag. Soo fun and very YUM!! Here's what you need: 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 cup half and half, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ice, about 1/2 cup salt. Pour first three ingredients into a quart size ziplock and seal shut...

Then fill a gallon size baggie half way with ice and a quarter to half cup of salt. (I double bagged this step) Then shake, shake, shake...for about five minutes. (after about one minute our hands froze. They put mittens/socks on their hands and it helped a bit. Ended up rolling them around as we shook them on the counter) The idea is to keep it all moving around in a vigorous manner...
It turned out perfectly! We added some mini chocolate chips...came up with endless possibilities-berries, bananas, crushed up cookies...so many ideas to add-in next time...

Other going-ons

We've kept busy doing several activities around town...

We went to the Prescott Valley Days Carnival. Mike and I are getting old! Mike was able to barely do the Dragon Swing...I tried to keep up with the kids-we did the Starship and stuck to the walls, we did the Cliff Hanger (pictured below) and flew through the air around and around and around and up and down...we went on the Tumbler and were thrown this way and that. And then the doozy-Niko wanted to go on the Zipper. The catch-had to ride in twos, no single riders...So, this took me back about 20 years when I wanted to go on the same ride sooo bad at the Del Mar Fair. It was the ride I chose out of all the rides there. Guess who took one for the team and climbed into the cage with me? My fearless father :) I'm sorry Dad for putting you through that! I now know why you weren't too thrilled behind that forced excitement facade you put up for your daughter.

So, yep, climbed into the cage with Niko and around we went as it got loaded up...It was great fun for the first few times around. The cage even flipped completely around a couple times and it was a blast. But then something happened and the flippity-do's got more intense and Niko slipped up almost out of the restraint and then crashed his head on the padded bar in front of him. It was a nightmare and he wasn't having it. He wanted to get out of the thing NOW! So, as we flipped and tumbled, he was freaking out and I was trying to calm him down...Yeah, it was a blast...yeah...So finally get him calmed down as the ride comes to an end. He gets out and is ready to keep goin'. That one finished me...Never again!! Overall the kids had a great time and Mike and I remembered what it was like to be a fearless kid again.

Along with finding the pool, we've also found the library. The kids are doing the summer reading program. They've checked out some fun books. Met some friends there. And we've gone to a couple summer shows there as well-an animal/nature guy last week and a juggler this week. Fun!

The school bfast/lunch program has been good to go to also. It has gotten us out of the house each day and keeps some variety in the day. And it's just down the street.

Last weekend was the annual Bluegrass Festival downtown. It was great fun. Bethany, Matthew and I strolled around downtown, popping in and out of the shops, stopping to pet and talk to all the fun, cute puppies/dogs enjoying the day too. All the while the very unique, light hearted, feel-good blue grass playing. Lovely day!

Spending time at the house isn't so bad either. Still have a lot of unpacking to do, but a little each day. We have been enjoying the space and the neighborhood and the park up the street. We have horses in the pasture behind us that like to come up and say hi to us. They are so sweet. We love the open space around us. The other night we were driving down the road and saw countless deer all over. It was crazy! and beautiful. We even saw an antelope! It was so cool!

Matthew with Poppy, Bethany's bird.

Found the Pool!!

Even though we are in cooler Prescott, it is still Summer...and Summer means it gets warm! We have gone to the community pool a couple times already. It's nice to play and cool off...and a good place to read my summer book-The Help (it's sucked me in, love this book and highly recommend it. Want to finish it before we see the movie. Thanks for the recommendation Sarah!)

Bethany

Boys

Niko on slide

Father's Day 2011

Mike spent Father's Day weekend on a quick trip to CA to visit his grandfather with his dad. They went over on Saturday morning and came home Sunday afternoon. It was a good visit and long overdue. He got home in time to spend some good time with the kids and run to Home Depot to pick up his Dad's day gift from his kiddos...a grill!!

I love Father's Day because it's a great day to brag about dads, mine happens to be the most patient man I know (yes, even more so than Mike-we all have our strengths, right?) He is also wise, extremely funny, full of Grace, supportive, confident-not only in himself, but in his children-giving of himself, and merciful. I am so blessed to be his daughter!

Buuut, I love Father's Day also because I get to brag endlessly about the amazingly wonderful father of my children! Mike is such an example of faithful endurance, kindness, humility. He works tirelessly to provide for his family and gives his children the gift of having their momma available in the home for them. He puts the fun in the family. He puts that secure structure in the family too. He speaks God's goodness and love into our home. He sets the atmosphere of praise in our home. He is their hero, he is my hero. Love his overall commitment and faith.

(amazing dinner Mike grilled on his new bbq)

We're Here!!

Not a whole lot of time to check in lately. Summer hit the road full speed and hasn't run out of gas yet...

We have moved in up north and we remain extremely blessed!

I cannot believe how amazing our God is, how faithful and true and how if we just take the steps He's called us to take, He takes care of the rest...I read an article the other day about how getting to where God wants you to be, receiving the promises He's given you, requires courageous faithful obedience where fear has no place. The world calls it 'taking risks', but when you're stepping out with God by your side, there are no risks. He'll catch you if you make a mis-step and He'll take you to the next step if you don't. Either way, it's a win when you are seeking His will...

Don't know if that made sense, but we are loving our new town and excited about this new chapter.

We've explored some trails, the library, the schools, the pool. We saw a fun animal show at the library this week and we are looking forward to a Blue Grass Festival downtown this weekend and all the Independence Day festivities coming up, including the rodeo!

Can't wait to share some pictures of our summer.