Pumpkin Love and Other Things

I really love Fall. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I really love everything about it. I’ve been a little pumpkin crazy the past few weeks, bought lots of pumpkin Halloween décor, different types of squash (made pumpkin soups, Kabocha and will be making butter nut squash). We were at Trader Joes the other day and I wanted to buy everything I could find that was pumpkin related…it’s kind of crazy. we went to the pumpkin patch this weekend to find the family pumpkin ( to go along with the other’s I’ve already purchased) we had a great time, and lily loved the festivities. Love the pumpkin Mark picked out and I got a Cinderella pumpkin which are awesome. Lily got to ride a pony, which made her day and I got some cute ‘Fall’ type photos at the Farm. It was a fun day. Here are some photos:

 

 

 

Well, Mark has received his first job offer for after he graduates. Won’t reveal the company yet until we have officially agreed to go with the offer, but it is somewhere he wanted to work and we are very grateful for the opportunity. He is pretty excited, we are all excited. It would be in Phoenix, which sadly means we would need to move. I don’t like the idea of moving to Phoenix. It is a big city without perks, just overly crowded and hot. BUT, it has more opportunities then we have here in Tucson and will help our little families in the longrun. It will stink to not have family nearby (as in within 30 min drive), but hopefully I will be able to stay at home and not have to place Lily into daycare. The job would not start till Mark graduates, and they give him time to pass the CPA exam, so it would not begin until about September 2015. It’s hard to imagine a life where Mark works full time, in a ‘big boy’ job and us not living by family. But I guess this will be the beginning of our future…deep, I know.

We are still waiting to get prego with baby #2. Kind of weird this time around, because the first time was not planned, whereas this time we are trying to plan it. This may be TMI, but I’ve been completely ‘off’ since stopping birth control, which is not causing the ‘environment’ to be conducive with conceiving a child ( that is the least TMI I could put it.) I’ve thought a lot about it, especially since I’ve assumed I was prego several times, only to find out I was empty, at which point I thought that I could be content with just Lily. As untrue as that really is, I’m trying to prep myself for the possibility that we may just be a one child family. And in reality, that is okay. We were blessed to have Lily, who was totally unexpected, how could we be greedy enough to ask for another when there are others who can’t conceive one? She is the perfect child. Maybe not Jesus perfect, but dang, she is pretty amazing. If we did not have any other children, I am extremely grateful to have a child like my lil’ lil’. I would love to see our family grow, lily would make an amazing older sister, Mark is a fantastic father and I feel deeply that we are not done. BUT just cause I feel it, does not make it so. I’m going to continue to be baby ready but understand that if it is the lords will for us to be a one child family, it will not be the end of the world. It would just be a different world then what I’d envisioned. And that is okay

Lately

Not much to say, just wanted to post some pictures.
Fall is here, which makes me happy. We've got some fun stuff coming up, so lots to look forward too.
We celebrated five years of marriage. Can't believe its been five years... feels like a life time. It has gone fast, but it feels like I've always known mark. Can't really remember what life was like before him. Love that man so much, can't believe I'm so lucky to be with such a patient, hardworking, ambitious and caring man. Grateful everyday for him.
Mark has had a few call backs from interviews with accounting firms which is exciting, makes us feel like we are almost done with this school journey. He has an interview everyday this week! He's going to be an interview pro. Some big firms, but we are just hoping to get as many offers on the table as possible to decide what our future will be. All the jobs are in Phoenix, which I'm not too excited about, but at least we will be close to home.
Mark and I have begun training at the gym again, which means back on strict diet. I'm excited, but am so sore right now! Every movement makes me whine... but pain is good, right? Hopefully this will help get us back on track and meet some physical goals. I'm hoping to do my first 'band-less' pull up by December. Not too focused on weight, physical strength is more important to me this time around.
Lily... is perfect. Talking more and more, she is a smart girl and so funny!
Life is going pretty well these days, despite minor set backs (flat tires on both cars, AC in house going out, dad in car accident, my anxiety spells), just hope it continues this way...

always a great treat when we can get away to the temple.

 

we stayed overnight in Phoenix for our anniversary. Though our view from the hotel required peeking around the corner, it was a lot of fun just the two of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

house is decorated with the help of my little witch

getting ready for Halloween!

enjoying our conference weekend with some time at the park in between sessions.

 

pics from the family reunion arrived via Whitney. Fun times!

Cats, Both Wild and Domestic...

Great three day weekend, its been really nice to have mark home on the weekends! We are both loving our new jobs. It feels weird to get out of work before 5 everyday and not feel sick of talking to people all day. I've noticed my anxiety is minimal, and I'm able to focus on physical goals again. So far, so good!

Spent labor day at Breakers Water Park. Lily had a blast! I was worried about all the water she swallowed since she is still learning to swim, but she's happy. We have not been there since she was 6 months, it was fun to be back.

six months vs. 32 months

my baby has grown so much so fast!

We went to our first U of A game of the season. GO WILD CATS! Love going to football games with mark. Makes a good date night and mark is patient enough to teach me the game. Plus, this means fall is vastly approaching and that makes me very happy! I love fall! Cooler weather, Halloween, pumpkin and apple pie smells... love it.

So, we have a cat stalker. We call him 'el gato' and he has been hovering around our house for about a week now. We'd keep him if mark was not allergic. Right thing to do would be to take it to the humane society, but that is just to much work. So instead, we will keep it outside until it goes to another home. Sweet little gato, just wants to be loved. But it wants to come into our house! We have to go out the back door if its in the front, and the back if its in the front. Its a pain. Hopefully it will go away soon, realizing we were not meant for a pet. Poor animal.

New Chapter

Today was my last day as the HR Generalist for APAC. Last week I gave my two weeks notice informing them I have accepted a new position with Premier Building group as their HR Coordinator. It is a strange feeling to know I will not be going back. Five years with them, a lot of up's and a lot of downs. I had imagined my last days, wished I could leave, but now that it is real, I'm sad. I will miss all of the faces I saw everyday. The employees who I tried so hard to take care of. My amazing co-workers I was with everyday, they will always be my friends, they have taught me so much. I cried a bit over the last week, but I know it is for the best. My heart is heavy, but I have hope for our future.

I'm excited for this new chapter in my career. I've already started working with the new company, and everyone is very nice! I'm looking forward to starting full time on Monday. Mark will also finish his last day at Vans tomorrow, starts his new accounting job with KLK on Friday, classes start the 25th, so he will be a busy boy! Though change is hard, it is necessary to progress.

Grateful for the opportunities the lord has given us, just pray it all works out.

 

my work friends gave me a 'dammit doll' for my going away present. This is genius!

 

 

lily has wanted to go to chucky cheese

she loved it

we've moved back into the house and gave a new kitchen. We love it!

 

 

love my girl