Corey's New Job

Yes, he has a new job.  He has actually had this one for a couple of weeks now.  There were so many times when we thought his temporary position would turn permanent, but apparently that wasn't the case.  We are preparing to move in the next couple of weeks, and it is no coincidence that everything is happening at the same time and here is why.
Corey had been laid off for about 8 months and we have been regularly fasting and praying that he would get a new job soon, but that didn't seem to be in the cards.  I went to work full time and Corey was an amazing stay at home Dad.  However, we began to feel like we needed to make some more changes in our lives.  Even with myself going full-time we were still struggling to make ends meet (I just don't make as much as he does).  Our Landlords then decided that they were going to put our home up for sale.  It still hasn't sold, but it I will tell you that it did light a fire for us to make some more dramatic changes.  We have been given the opportunity to move into our neighbors basement apartment.  Now the house is smaller, but we feel really good about it.  After we finally gave our Landlord our notice and we made the final decision that we were going to jump all in things changed for us.  Within four hours Corey got a call telling him that he got a new permanent position.  He is now working in downtown Salt Lake City at the City Creek project, he absolutely loves it except for the commute, which is over an hour one way.  So everything is changing for us, we are moving Corey started a new job, I'm cutting my hours back to more part-time and Derek is getting ready to start preschool.  But with change comes growth so we are excited for the next adventures that come into our lives.  Hopefully this time we can learn our lessons a little differently than with a layoff.  Thank you to all who have supported us during these trials.  We have had so many family and friends who have been our listening ears and shoulders to cry on during the frustrating times and our moments of insecurity.  We love you all and appreciate all that you have done for us.

Camping trip 2011

Our Cozy little tent

The Kids Playing in the tent

Cedar and Chris's cozy home for the night

We went Hiking and saw some amazing scenery, and Corey found a couple of fishing holes.

A Beautiful Waterfall

The Kids just wouldn't hold still to take a good picture

We had so much fun on our camping trip, we went up Santaquin Canyon to Tinney Flats and it was really a fun little place.  The kids had fun, and it was great to be in a place where we had absolutely no cell service.  We were alone.  My parents came up Friday night and had dinner with us.  Chris cooked some amazing Tin Foil Dinners.  I completely forgot my camera, so the only pictures that I could take were from my phone, so I guess it was good that I at least had it.  I will admit, it would have been a better trip if I hadn't had been so cold at night, I just needed a little bit better sleep.  Oh well, we still had a little family vacation.  That morning we cooked a massive breakfast and I don't think that I had ever had hashbrowns and eggs that ever tasted that good.  Once again, Chris was the cook and I could tell he was happy just to be cooking outdoors.  Camping is really his thing. The kids were so mad when we had to leave, but we had to get home so we could all get ready for Maybel's 1st birthday party. 

First real fishing trip

Back in July Corey took Derek  on his very first fishing trip.  They borrowed my Sister Cedar and her husband Chris's Canoe and went out to the little reservoir that was out by their house in Santaquin.  Derek absolutely loved it and was so excited when Corey took him to Wal-mart to buy him his very own Lightning McQueen Fishing Pole.  Corey says that Derek actual learned to real and cast pretty quickly and Corey had a grin on his face the whole way home.  I know that this is something that Corey has wanted to do his whole life.  He has always thought about the time that he would get to take his boy fishing.  They had a lot of fun, didn't catch anything, but Derek was super patient and wasn't even worried about the fact that they didn't even bring home a fish.  Derek talked about it for several days and still asks about going fishing every time we go to Cedar and Chris's house.  I'm so glad that these boys are such good friend as I know that this relationship has got to help us as one Derek will get bigger and think that we aren't as cool as we have fooled him into thinking. 

Beating the Heat

So, One Saturday afternoon we decided that we would fore go all the typical Saturday chores, and we would head to the mountains to escape the heat.  We packed a picnic and away we went.  We drove up Payson Canyon and really just had a lot of fun.  Most importantly we found where we wanted to camp the following weekend.

Derek and I decided that we would cool off, by dipping our feet in the still very cold water.

Corey reminded me this day that these kind of pictures are the reason why he is still living in Utah.  This kind of scenery you just don't find anywhere else.

Derek just had to try to fish, even though the water was running to fast if he could at least cast, he wouldn't care if he actually caught something.

We have no idea who these people where that kept getting in our pictures, they just kind of showed up and wouldn't leave us alone.  Weird.

The Spanish Fork Rodeo

My Dad was kind enough to get us all tickets to see the Spanish Fork Rodeo.  I love Rodeo's and Derek thought it was pretty cool. Thanks Dad again, for the fun times, we really do have so much fun just hanging out with the family.

The Grandparents

Nate and Jen

The Harding's

The Gambling's - I was so shocked how well Maybel did.

We had great seats and weren't sitting in the sun.

We found this hat for sale after the Rodeo and well I will admit that it took all I had not to spend that $30.  Doesn't Derek look just so cute.

These are some very tired kids.

Pioneer Day Parade

Because I had to work on Pioneer Day I unfortunately didn't get to go to the Spanish Fork Parade, (Which really is OK, because I'm just not a lover of parades to begin with).  But Corey thought because it was such a nice day, the weather was cloudy but not raining which kept the heat and sun down he would take Derek.  Derek really likes parades, he loves seeing the fire trucks, the floats, the bands, he just likes it all.

Corey was so proud of himself for getting such a great spot, and going getting there hours ahead of time.

Waiting for the parade to start.

When I saw this picture I just had to laugh, it reminds me of the reenactments in the South.

Derek's Favorite part the Fire Engines!

Derek doesn't really like the sirens unless he is the one pushing the "woo woo" button as he calls it.

We live right next to a Dairy, so there are always lots of tractors around.  Of course Derek has become fascinated with them, and he loved that there were so many in the parade.

Animals and a Train on a float.  He thought this was just the coolest.

The General Lee

Derek just thought these Jeeps were so awesome and he kept telling me about them when I got home that night.  Luckily Corey had taken a picture or I would have been so confused.

The Loot

I can't believe I'm actually at this thing! Demolition derby my first and probably my last

Eventually

Eventually I went get to blogging again, but honestly my life is just a little crazy right now.  The last couple of weeks Corey had a temporary assignment that they told us would probably turn into a full-time position, but well that was a big fat lie. Which really made me bummed out, however, he is getting closer to the top of the out-of-work list.  Corey then had a week of school and I was still working full time during all of this.  We have had a couple of really fun things that we have done, I just haven't had the time to blog about it all.  I'm sorry but I have chosen to not spend my night blogging, and instead spend the limited time with my family.  We are also getting ready to move hopefully the end of this month, so that creates a lot more work.  I'm just so lucky that Corey is so willing and able to help out.  He has been really pretty good about keeping the house clean, as he put it he didn't want me to come home from work and then just have to work some more around the house, and really feel like I never saw my family.  So, the pictures about Derek's first fishing trip, the 24th of July parade, a day in the mountains, and this weekends camping trip will just have to come at a later day and time.  And just as a side note, congrats to my brother Nate and his wife Jen on their new home.  It is so cute, and I'm so excited for them to have a place of their very own.  Congrats, and just in case you were wondering I'm just a little bit jealous, but way excited!