6th Anniversary Getaway!

This past weekend saw us celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary! Six whole years! To celebrate we were fortunate enough to pack up the car for a weekend out of the desert heat with Sonora in tow. We actually left after a 12 hour shift for Amanda, leaving around 9:00 pm to get a head start for the Central Coast of California. We spent the night in the Palm Springs area of California, which was comfortable and gave us the ability to get through LA the next day without having to deal with extensive traffic, although of course there was a little bit we encountered. I don't think you can ever completely avoid traffic in LA. Our destination for the weekend was Paso Robles, a wine country area roughly halfway between San Francisco and LA.

I (Rob) had found a 900 sq. ft. farmhouse for rent in the hills and meadows West of town. It was a renovated, historic little farmhouse on a working hay and cattle farm, and the house was surrounded by gardens, and enclosed so that we didn't have to worry about Sonora taking off through the pastures. It was beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing. It wasn't like living near or on a dairy with a persistent bad smell. In fact, I don't think we really smelled the cattle even when we were up close and checking them out. The smell of all the bales of hay was rejuvenating and refreshing for us coming from the city. The highlight of the house was the wraparound porch, and so we were able to spend mornings, evenings, and nights sitting outside enjoying the crisp, clean air. The screeches of red-tail hawks flying over the pasture were welcome, and watching them dive, play, and fight with each other was like watching a show on Discovery or something.

Photo of us outside the same winery 6 years apart!

 Over the weekend we were able to relax, eat some tasty food, and visit wineries (the reason for out destination). We were actually right in the middle of several vineyards at the farmhouse, and I was able to run through the woods, vineyards, orchards, and meadows on Saturday morning with Sonora...that was fun compared with Phoenix sidewalks!! There were some amazing wines and the scenery was truly spectacular. It was Amanda's favorite scenery if only there were a stream or river coming through it I think she would have stayed forever! We ate a remarkable meal at Thomas Hill Organics for our official anniversary dinner, which was pretty amazing food.

On Monday we heading back to Phoenix, going through the town of San Luis Obispo. We actually stopped by two wineries which were basically the first ones we ever visited, back when we were dating...keeping our reminiscing going! Luckily we were only heading to San Pedro in the LA metro area to spend the night with our good friends who just moved there from Seattle. We had a great dinner with Joe & Joanna Lacanlale and then crashed at their new home on Fort MacArthur in government housing as Joe recently joined the Coast and is stationed in Long Beach. It is a cool, historic, old officers quarters home with views of the port.

Tuesday, we made it home without incident. All in all, a very relaxing anniversary getaway (other than coming into LA on Monday) and some much needed time to clear our heads, connect with each other, reflect, and dream a bit. Now we are on to year 7!!

Visiting Rhonda and Gary at the Grand Canyon

Rhonda and Gary are busy traveling the western United States touring lots of beautiful places. Zion NP, Canyon Lands, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon NP, Arches NP...the list goes on and on. What is so cool is one of their stops was Grand Canyon National Park...4 hours away from us.

We jumped on the chance to go and visit them for the day. So on Monday morning we started the drive up to Grand Canyon with the expectation of cooler temperature and gorgeous views of Grand Canyon. As always, it did not disappoint. We walked around a couple overlooks and then decided to grab some french bread, bagel crackers and red pepper hummus and hang out and watch the sunset.  It was quite peaceful!  We then grabbed dinner in the cafeteria by Yavapai Lodge, where they were staying and then headed in for the night.

The next morning they headed out by 8:15 am so Rob and I decided to hike down Bright Angel Trail...and we were glad we did!  We saw six California Condors soaring above us and at one point, two flew right above us and we were able to see their tag numbers.  The one I remembered and looked up was J1.  She is a 4 year old female born in April 2009.  Pretty neat!  Rob has now seen California Condors at the Grand Canyon and in Vermillion Cliffs but he said this was the closest he has seen them yet.  California Condors are some of the rarest birds to see in nature.

We left Grand Canyon around 1130pm and decided to stop in at Cottonwood, Arizona.  We absolutely love this town in the Verde Valley.  We walked around a thrift store super quick (it was named Paw Boutique and we thought it was a thrift store for dogs/cats, etc but it was not).  We then tried some wines at Burning Tree Cellars and Arizona Stronghold.  As always, great wines.  We stopped for a quick bit to eat on the way out and got home to Phoenix around 730pm.  Back to the heat!

This morning I had oral surgery to remove my last two wisdom teeth and another molar that I have been having issues with.  I am feeling much better than my last surgery but as the night is wearing on the pain is picking back up, ugh! 

Anyhoo, it was wonderful to get out of town for a couple days and see Rhonda and Gary at the Grand Canyon!

Kanab, Utah

Moving to Days

Just a little post to mark the wonderful occasion that I will be moving to day shift this month.  Can't wait! :)

Planning for Hawai'i!

We are busy planning for a trip to Hawaii with our good friends, Joe & Joanna Lacanlale.  On Sunday we skyped and talked about different things we were interested and doing and decided to split our time between the Hilo and Kona side of the Big Island.

We are going to rent vacation homes for our stay.  This is something we have done for awhile.  You get more space, it is usually less expensive and you feel more like you are experiencing the surroundings more than if you are up in a tourist dominant hotel spot.

Some of the activities we may do are:  scuba diving (for Joe and Joanna), snorkel, check out the white and black sand beaches, Hawaii Volcano National Park, swim with the manta rays at night, hike, rent bikes, visit a coffee plantation and possibly one of their microbreweries.

We are so, so excited!  The last time Rob was in Hawaii was for Spring Break his senior year at West Point.  The last time I went, I was a freshman and college and was visiting a friend. 

 I am SO looking forward to spending a vacation in Paradise with my love!!

Recent Updates

Life has been slow & fast all at the same time!

I can't believe how fast time flies but at the same time, it can feel like a standstill.

Right now, I just started working a second job with Banner Staffing and it has been interesting getting in extra shifts at a different hospital (and the pay is great which has helped with Rob still looking for a pastoral job).  It has made me appreciate my home base, JCL, so much.  We have such an awesome unit with really great people. 

Rob is still busy turning in job applications.  Currently, he has one out with a church in San Diego/La Jolla that we are excited about but trying not to get too excited...you know how that is?

I am on day 2 of my study plan to take the CCRN.  I was going to do before the holidays but then my photography business kinda took over with a life of its own but now that it has slowed down for a week or two, i have taken time to sit down and map out a CCRN study plan and stick to it.

As far as the photography, I have loved it and will continue but think I am going to pull back to 1 to 2 sessions a month.  I would like to get in a class or find a mentor and grow that way too.

Rob and I are planning a May vacation, we are thinking Zion NP/Bryce/Monument Valley area.  Can't wait to get time away with my love & work on landscape photography-my first photography love ♥

Also in May, we will head to Colorado for Brian Jr's high school graduation, wow! 

Guess thats all that is new for now :)

McFarrens of Roanoke visit the McFarrens of Phoenix

Today wrapped up a wonderful seven days of Joe and Heather visiting us for a week in Phoenix!  They decided a few months ago to come out for vacation and also run the PF Changs Marathon before Joe left for Africa in April for nine months.  A couple months of talking and planning...and here they were!

They arrived Friday morning and we immediately headed to Matts Big Breakfast for, well, breakfast!  This is a well known and popular breakfast spot in Phoenix with waits up to two hours.  We got there, had a 5 minute wait, and they put us in the prep kitchen room.  One that you normally have to reserve!  While we were waiting and eating, the crowd grew and we could quickly see the wait build to over an hour.  Granted, the food was delicious and homemade but I would not wait more than 30 minutes for a table there, personally.  It was a great meal though for the five minute wait :)

Afterwards, we headed over to the Convention Center to attend the PF Changs Marathon Expo.  At the Expo we explored all the booths and tried samples, got PF Chang gift cards, tshirts and just had fun.  Afterwards, we grabbed drinks at Heritage Square then headed home.

Saturday was a lounge day and overall rest day to prep for the race.  That night, Heather and I went to a painting class at the Art of Merlot in Scottsdale and painted Van Goghs "Wheatfields"  What a beautiful painting...

Sunday was race day!  Joe ran his fastest marathon time and Rob, Heather and I had fun running the Mini Marathon, which is 5.4 miles.  That evening, we grilled steaks and relaxed.

Monday morning found us up and headed North to Flagstaff for the night.  We hung out with Vicki and Jim, cousins of the McFarrens, and then stayed the night at a hotel in Flag that night.

Tuesday we spent the day exploring the Grand Canyon South Rim.  It was such a beautiful day and we had so much fun!

Wednesday we had another lounge day and that night had a movie and game night.  We went through three movies and finally crashed around 11pm.

Thursday, i had to head back to work but Joe and Heather headed to Gold Canyon Golf Resort for a night just to relax together.

Finally Friday rolled around and it was a sad day because Joe and Heather hopped a plane and headed back to Indiana.  We had such a great time with them and makes me wish that we lived a bit closer.  Lots of laughs and memories.