Well, it's been a year since we left Kansas for the desert. Seems like a long time and also like the blink of an eye. The days pass quickly because we truly love it here, we know this is where God wants us to be, and because we still get to see our family so often! We look back and are filled with thanksgiving for the many ways God has provided for us here. Friends, our church, our neighborhood--so many blessings!
I've pretty much given up on blogging, but as we get ready for another life-change (ie our Surprise baby) I find myself looking back at the blog and enjoying that it's here. It helps me remember those little details that I want to remember...that I think I'll remember...but I don't remember without a quick pic and caption to jog my memory.
I could go on and fully process through the adjustments, changes, surprises--all the ways we have all been stretched this year. But I think I'll just say it's been a good first year. One we want to remember and this post will be plenty long enough with my favorite pics to help me one day jog my memory.
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| The kids jumped right into school in early August a few weeks after they got here. They did awesome becoming Marley Park Mavericks! |
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| Construction began on the OUAZ campus--an exciting time! |
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| Some of our first guests: Gentry and Owen and my parents |
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| So fun to get to show the Ingrams the OUAZ campus plans when they were in Phoenix! |
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| A special treat that Audrey's crew made a stop in Surprise on their summer vacation to California! |
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| Special friends help you feel like you're not forgotten...by putting you on a stick and taking you places. |
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| We hosted Matt's team for Sunday night meals. |
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| First bday to celebrate in the desert...transporting an ice cream cake here is NOT easy. |
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| Labor Day visit from Grandma and Grandpa Keeley |
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| We became Diamondback fans! (But still Royals fans!) |
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| Tried to rid ourselves of this hideous rock wall as soon as possible. |
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And took the kitchen from browns to grays.
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| Swimming in October was a regular thing |
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| Got festive with fall decorations mostly because it did not feel like fall at all. |
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| Took in the AZ state fair with my parents |
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| Explored the Wildlife Zoo |
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| Went to a random desert pumpkin patch that was actually set up on a lot in the middle of a town... |
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| Celebrated Halloween with NO coats |
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| We jumped right in to Rec Center activities with Cade playing flag football |
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| and Reese playing soccer. |
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| Accompanied Reese's class on a field trip to a "farm" which looked a lot like the desert. |
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| Hiked the "waterfall" trail at the White Tank Mountains with the Hepkers (spoiler alert, there is no waterfall) |
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| Had Thanksgiving here with just our little fam...and I ate most of this food myself (over the course of several days). But it seems wrong NOT to cook Thanksgiving dinner. |
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| Decorated the house for Christmas...because again...it didn't feel like Christmas |
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| Celebrated the town Christmas Tree lighting |
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| Enjoyed a visit from my Grandmama and Papa |
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| Papa helped motivate us to keep working on that fireplace wall transformation. |
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| We visited the White Tank Mountains. |
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| We let Papa chauffeur us in the golf cart even though we had the coldest temps all winter during their visit! |
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| Cam met Santa... |
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| Reese had a dance recital...this pic is outdoors in December...and that's normal! |
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| The Raschs came for a visit! |
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| We made it to GB for Christmas with the Keeley crew! |
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| And the Sauder side, too! |
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| I went to Vegas for the ultimate concert experience with my besties! |
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| Britney VIP section...for real |
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| Rung in the New Year celebrating this beautiful bride in good old Manhattan, Kansas! |
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| Some play place shenanigans resulted in Cam's front teeth being knocked out. RIP Cam's teeth. |
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| We loved cheering on the OUAZ Spirit as Matt's first season as a head coach and first season in program history ended with a WINNING record! |
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| Gmom and Papa discovered that coming to visit us is very fun...especially when it's winter in Kansas. We are so glad they made the trip so often! |
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| Swimming in February |
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| Groundbreaking for the new Odell Athletic facility on OUAZ campus! |
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| Field trip with Cade's class to the White Tanks and Nature Center |
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| Kicking off Spring Training season with a visit from the Schulz's! |
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| Amazing guests! (Please come every year...seriously. Maybe twice this year?!) |
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| The kids played Rec basketball. |
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| We LOVED going to Spring Training games...and I started to get concerned over the gut I was developing (and 2 periods I'd missed...you see where this is going?!) |
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| We enjoyed a quick and scenic drive to Vegas with the Hepkers! |
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| More Spring Training games and a visit from Grandma & Grandpa Keeley and Grandpa Schartz |
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| Took in the Phoenix Zoo |
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| Celebrated Sweet Reese with a tea party! |
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| McCormick Train Park with the Grimm's! |
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| Cade and I paid a pretty penny to attend the Royals last Spring Training game before they headed back to KC. |
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| Neighborhood Easter Egg hunt with the Grimm's! |
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| Started getting used to the idea that this was happening...our post-vasectomy baby! |
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| Shared our news with all of our family while we were at Disney World! |
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| Shared our news with the world when we returned from Disney! |
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| Enjoyed a visit from Mom and MaKenzie before the Rasch's headed to Asia for the summer! |
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| We celebrated Cade turning 8 with a night at the Diamondbacks game! |
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| The kids finished up the school year...they were such champs! |
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| These desert baby girls are due within days of each other! |
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| We love getting to see the Garretson's!! |
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| Reese's spring recital |
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| 107 degrees in June...20 weeks |
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| Working on our Summer Bucketlist with the Grimm's! |
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| C & R are teammates in their summer basketball league |
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| This guy turned 2!! |
Many changes we couldn't have predicted over the past year or so, but they all bring blessings and excitement for sure! I think I only forgot pics of the Harwood's and Utz's who visited and our parents came so much I couldn't keep count. We love sharing our part of Phoenix with visitors from the Midwest so keep those trips coming!
