A snowy Mt. Rushmore

 We had seen Mt Rushmore in the summer time.  If you go there you will here when you come back it will look different depending on the weather and the time of day you go.  I wanted to see it covered in snow.  I thought about going in November or December but we were to busy with the Holidays, Ryan having to work, or it  was to cold  and I didn't want to go outside.  As I was thinking about what to do this weekend I checked the weather and it was going to be snowing.  I decided this was our last chance to see Mt Rushmore in the snow.  In the morning it was snowing and I was a little worried about the roads so we decided not to go.  Then at about 11 Ryan says we could go now if you wanted.  I said Owen needs lunch and a nap.  If you want his nap to be ruined we can go.  Neither of us wanted that.  We like our break.  So at 3 when he woke up I said its now or never so we got a few snacks and our coats and headed out to the car.  It had started snowing again but we decided to try.  The roads were clear we had no problem.  Only a handful of people braved the snow with us.  While we were there we saw a herd of deer and a mountain goat.  By the end Owen was screaming because his hands were freezing, we felt bad we didn't bring mittens or hand warmers.  Hes a trooper to put up with all mine and Ryan's craziness. 

Yes I"m wearing Ryans jacket because mine dosn't zip up anymore :(

The herd of sheep is behind the trees.  They were eating until they saw us then we had a stare down as Ryan took some pictures then Owen started talking and they ran away.

The Mt. Goat right on the path eating his dinner

Moving

Well its that time of year when Ryan residency will be over in a few months and we have to find a job.  He is staying with the Indian Health Service and they told us to start looking in December.  We applied to a few  like Alaska, Kansas, and Washington.  Then when I took my trip to Arizona I told Ryan I wanted to go somewhere warm so he applied to a couple positions in Arizona.  During this time he kept saying what if Rapid City gets an opening.  I said if so great but we aren't going to sit around and wait plus I was nervous the winter here was really bad.  The 2 places in Arizona really liked him and were waiting for some paper work to go through so they could offer him the job.  Our parents were thrilled we would be moving back with a 2 grand kids.  Ryan kept telling me he didn't think we'd be coming back to Arizona so soon and he wasn't sure it was the right thing for us.  Plus he was hoping Rapid City would offer him a job so we wouldn't have to deal with moving right after having a baby.    I was like it will be fine.  Then 4 months later out of the blue Yakima Washington calls him for an interview.  They really liked him to.  We were torn.  Do we move back by family to a small town, or do we go on an adventure to Washington where the hours are better and the town is bigger.    I must say moving back to Arizona in the winter sounds like a good thing.  Would I feel the same in July?  Then Yakima calls him with a job offer.  He tells me he wants to take it and I said ok lets do it.  We both feel so excited and all our doubts leave us.  Rapid City tells him the job they are hiring for needs to be a supervisor, which at this point Ryan is not qualified for.  Knowing we cant stay makes it easier to leave and Ryan has some cousins and his Grandpa in the Olympia area a few hours away. The town is a lot bigger than the small town in Arizona we would move to.  It has a mall, Costco, and a bunch of fruit farms.  It's 2-3 hrs from Seattle, Portland, and Spokane.  All his fellow residence are jealous because they want to move to Yakima Washington.  We are just blessed since we started looking right when we were told to instead of procrastinating. 

Girl

In case anyone doesn't know I'm 7 months pregnant and having a girl.  Its probably a good thing we are having a girl and not a boy because Owen likes girls more.  He was playing with some boys at the park then a girl shows up and he says girl girl and follows her around the rest of the time.  Anyways we don't have a name yet I guess its time I start trying a little harder since she will be here in a couple months.  She moves all around.  Owen was laying on my stomach and then he looks at me and says OW.  I guess the baby kicked him.  Since we've been talking about the baby in mamas belly whenever we see  something its either a mama or a baby.  Owen will be a great big brother after learning how to share mamas attention and when the baby will be old enough to play with him a little bit. 

Arizona update

Rapid city is freezing and Ryan was being sent to Nebraska for a month, then to Arizona for a month, so  I had a 2 month vacation in Arizona.  While the rest of the country was experiencing record breaking cold temperatures, this winter Arizona had record breaking heat.  

Owen and I had fun being able to go outside. 3-4 times a week we would walk to the park.

He loved helping one Grandma rake the leaves and the other Grandma clean her house. 

 

He would also beg to go to the garage to find hidden toys or cats.  He enjoyed chasing the kitties around. Since we have been home whenever he sees a picture of a cat he tells me it's Maddie and she is hiding. Then he says grandpa holds her.

A couple time we had a salon and Owen did his animals hair. 

We also got to play with new toys and visit with cousins one weekend.  Owen usually makes me play with him but not when his cousins are around they are more fun than me.

We had a couple outings while we were there.  We went to the zoo with my parents and the science center with Ryan's family.

 

 

We also discovered Owen likes IHOP.  He refuses most food that's not covered in syrup.  At IHOP he gets pancakes with syrup and kids eat free after 4 so we don't waste money when he eats 3 bites.  

We also got to be there for the Gilbert temple open house, dedication, and do a session there on our 5 year wedding anniversary.

Owen was also spoiled the whole time.  He ate way to much chips, candy, and cookies.  He refused to sleep unless some laid down with him.  He also slept a couple of hours less per day.  So as much fun as we had, I'm glad to be home and get back to his regular schedule.

Motercycle museum

Every August in Sturgis there is a motorcycle rally.  I didn't want to go there then but in December we went to the motorcycle museum.  It's a couple rooms filled with different motorcycles.  Ryan loved it Owen was disappointed since he wasn't allowed to touch or sit on them.  Since it was right after Christmas there was one with presents in the side car one of Owens favorite.  Owen was only to excited to get back in the car.  We set up the DVD in our car and this was the first time he watched a movie in the car.