shenanigans

shenan i gans {shə-ˈna-ni-gənz}

plural noun informal

silly or high-spirited behavior; mischief

Our First September in Arizona

One thing that we are really loving about September in Arizona is going outside! There are so many wonderful city parks with playgrounds and splash parks and we are beginning to take advantage of them. Our weather is on average 10 to 15 degrees cooler these days. Not hitting 100 EVERY single day of the week has been so nice. This has especially been appreciated since the pool at our apartment complex hasn't been open in over a month! 

We are starting to feel autumn in our own way here. This is the first autumn in over 20 years that neither Mike or I have been starting school and even though we decided not to start preschool yet, we got into the 'back to school' feel with Annabelle starting some little classes of her own. Sometimes I worry that she might be too distracted to listen to and follow directions but I just remind myself that she isn't quite 3 yet and her teachers are probably used to it!

Mike seems to really understanding a lot more at work now. I can tell because he talks in his sleep and most of the time he rambles off some work jargon that goes right over my head. He is busy a lot of the time that he is at work and if he has any down time at work he has his 'green belt' project to work on. This project is a requirement to be 'green belt' certified in a management strategy called Six Sigma. I'm so relieved that he likes what he is doing. I guess the last couple years I've had this little fear that he wouldn't like his field and we'd be back to the student life! But engineering really suits him. I married one smart cookie. 

Chopped!

I've been wanting to chop it all off for several months - mostly because it was too heavy, too hot and I was bored with the ponytail. So yesterday Mike TOLD me to go into the salon while he did the grocery shopping to see if they had any appointments. I'm so glad he did. I got 8 inches off so that I could donate it and I love it. Hopefully I can replicate the style myself this week. We'll see I suppose.

Four Things

Four Random Things I like about my husband:

(0r guys in general)

1. Being outside makes him happy, pretty much no matter what else is going on.

2. He has an engineering mind (he designed and sewed his own backpack).

3. He hasn't owned a pair of jeans in over a decade, talk about being true to yourself. 

4. He loves 'his girls'. 

Four Jobs I've had:

1. Chinese place in the mall: organizer of plastic silverware

2. Samurai Sam's: the bossy girl

3. Teen's with disabilities summer day camp: counselor

4. City of Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation: intern

Four Movies I've watched more than once:

1. I am Sam

2. Letter Factory (more than once? try hundreds of times)

3. Dan in Real Life

4. Whale Rider

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Dirty Jobs

2. Wipe Out

3. Jon and Kate plus 8

4. most recently - Project Runway

Four Places I've been:

1.  buried in a pile of leaves laughing

2. climbing up the side of a cliff without shaking

3. on an operating table smiling

4. flying down a mountain in zero degree weather in complete bliss

Four people who email me regularly:

1. Mike

2. the Relief Society

3.

4.

(I admit it, I'm a bad pen pal, no one emails me b/c I am terrible at writing back)

Four of my favorite foods:

1. these noodles

2. mashed potatoes with brown gravy

3. gummies

4. bean enchiladas

Four places I would like to visit:

1. Argentina

2. New Zealand

3. Tibet

4. Mexico

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:

1. House Hunting (with a little terror, but still looking forward to it)

2. making my first Thanksgiving dinner

3. playing outside ALL winter

4. watch Annabelle grow and learn even more

Four people I tag:

1. Holly because I know she is home bored wishing she had more to do to keep her busy

2. Nichole because she needs to post again

3.  Anyone who is related to me and wants to

4. Whoever has tried the cinnamon roll recipe