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December 20, 2010

Our new home... Palo Verde Inn and Suites

Its been about a month since I wrote a post and in that time we moved to Tucson, AZ- the GHETTO-VILLE. We just don't like Tucson but we are grateful to have a job and it has been nice to be closer to my family. Too bad  you can't have the best of both worlds. Its been quite an interesting adventure living in a hotel. Just about every day or night something crazy happens. Kevin has been working the front desk and maintenance. And I just hang out here, or go hang out with my mom. I'm glad to be starting school tomorrow and for the next few months. It will get me out of this hotel and keep me busy, but with the way things are going here at the hotel, it sounds like I may have a job doing finances or housekeeping.  Extra money don't hurt.

We're just trying to make ourselves feel at home, trying to make our rooms kind of like an apartment. We've got almost everything we need for our place. We got our Christmas tree up and decorated and presents under the tree. I'm just grateful to have a place to call "home" even though it's not every one's dream to live in a hotel.     



Pictures aren't always what they seem.
  
As I was saying, we have had some interesting experiences as we been here at the hotel. Here are a few stories.


Our First Night
Our first night at the hotel we were put into this room that had 2 full beds, one was broken and the other was slanted, therefore, Kevin and I slept in different beds. Late that night, someone had slashed someones tires. Makes me nervous that we'd be next but somewhat comforting that it's a personal matter between that person's car and the person who did it. The next day, we got a different room that had a king size bed, thank goodness.


Kevin's First Day at Work
It was Kevin's first day of work and he worked at the front desk. The cops had stopped by asking about so and so and showed pictures. He found out a lot about the hotel from his co-worker. For a while I guess the cops stopped by everyday and were finding people they needed to bust. His co-worker told him, about the guy who robbed Circle K in southwest Tucson was staying here at the hotel. The swat team came and arrested him. The funny part of it is that the owner of the hotel was here for a couple days from California. I could imagine how he felt. 

Our Second Night
The second night, as you all know I wear a hearing aide, so at night I don't sleep with it therefore, I'm deaf. Plus I didn't find out until the next day, mid-afternoon what happened. The front desk forgot to switch our names to a different room and checked in this guy into our room.  Here it is, in the middle of the night, someone was trying to get into our rooms, thankfully we had the latch. He yelled out, "Is someone in here?" "Hello?" "Is someone living in here?" Finally, it dawned to Kevin what was going on while being half asleep. He replied, "Yes!" The guy, quickly apologized and shut the door. Kevin called the front desk to find out what was going on, the front desk had made a mistake and in the background Kevin could hear the guy saying, "Thanks for not shooting me!" LOL.

Also, someone stole a guest's truck but didn't make it far without the cop stopping him.

 Room #120 & 143
Rumor has it that there is a ghost in room 120, a woman was killed there and I guess she makes noises and she'll call the front desk but never says anything. The other day Kevin was fixing up the room so they could put the room back on market. He freaked himself out, but maybe it was her. Creepy.

In room 143, a man died in his sleep a year ago. His nephew kept calling the hotel asking for his uncle then asked them to check on him and when they found him, he was stiffed. He apparently haunts the hotel.

Hot Spot for Stealing
The hotel is a hot spot for stealing. Just about every night there is always an attempt of stealing a vehicle. We have these monthly renters whom are construction workers. They have their dump trucks, tractors and semi, and whatever else. Well, one night someone tried to steal the dump truck/semis. We worry, or at least I do every night that we are going to wake up to no car or when I leave the room and shop, our stuff is going to be gone. People break into the rooms all the time and trash the rooms. It's AWFUL!

Sunny-side Up
One day, Kevin was doing maintenance and was helping these weekly guest. This weekly guest, is quite LARGE. Apparently she was sun-bathing and was wearing a bikini with no top on the sidewalk with a radio blaring Christmas music. This sidewalk is not just any sidewalk, its out facing the road. She's a brave woman, but Kevin thought it was quite disgusting. I was disturb when I heard this story.

The Safe Box
There was this safe that a guest had put his personal belongings in and it wouldn't open. And He asked the maintenance if there was a key or something to open it up but they told him that they were unable to do so. The guest was anxious to open it up but had to leave, he was curious what was in it. He wanted Kevin's help to open it. They busted it open and there it was... DRUGS and a pipe to go along with it.

November 14, 2010

Gratitude

Last night I was up late preparing some brownies and made a card for my ladies that I visit teach. I decided to teach gratitude since it was a month of Thanksgiving. I wanted to teach the lesson before we moved and it was my last chance in the Branch. We're sad to leave the deaf branch, especially since we are starting to make new friends and being more involved. And everyone was sad to see us go, they kept questioning if we had to go back to Arizona.  I'm so grateful to have been part of the deaf branch and to have met great people. They have been an example to Kevin and I. I'm grateful that he was called to be the clerk, and it hasn't been long, but I have seen the blessings from accepting the calling.


As I was thinking about what I had read in the recent Ensign, the conference talks, by President Monson. I pondered on how I needed to show/express more gratitude towards our Heavenly Father. President Monson said, "A grateful heart...comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives." I have so much to be grateful for: Kevin, eternal marriage, Kevin's new job starting, having a place to stay, transportation, family and my new family, friends, education, and so much more.  One of the sisters in the Branch mentioned how we shoudn't dwell on the negativity and focus on the postives things, and that remind us of the things that we do have.

November 12, 2010

What do we have to lose...5 MILLION DOLLARS?

The last two weeks Dave, Mike, and Kevin decided to wait last minute to do the Dorito Commercial. The last day you could submit a video is the 15th. They prepared a storyline and Kevin and I went searching for costumes and props. It came down to it- the last weekend and it was all about the Dorito Commercial. 

Renette, Summer, and I went to Salt Lake last Friday afternoon to get a video camera. We had complications throughout the whole weekend! Finally on Sunday (the last day we could film), they shot some footages with a whole new storyline. It was good, but I had hard time picturing the footages together. So today, Kevin and Dave were working on the computer to put all the footages together. It's turning out great, I'm excited about it and excited for them. It would be AWESOME if we won!

November 9, 2010

Modern Family

For those who don't know what Modern Family is, it's a TV show. Its awkwardly hilarious. Kevin had seen a a couple of them and I was intrigued because his family would all of sudden just burst with laughter. Today, Kevin & I watched some episodes and by the end of one of the episodes, Kevin was LAUGHING his head off til he had tears rolling down his face. You don't see him do this very often, and when he does, it's contagious. I always end up laughing more because of him. You know what they say, "Laughter is the best medicine."


October 25, 2010

The up-date of our lives

Kevin mentioned that his really good friend thought we should start a blog and asked what I thought about it.  I wanted to start one back when, but I just didn't do it. What a perfect time to start one together. So, starting a blog is awful especially when  I'm so indecisive.  Kevin thought using 4bizzle.blogspot would be funny, of course I didn't like it and that is because I wasn't getting the concept until he thought of 4bisfarm.blogspot. it dawned to me what he was trying to do. Its actually quite funny, I sure need to learn to trust him a little more. And come to find out, there is a forbizzle.blogspot and their last name is Forbes, we thought it was kind of funny.


Its crazy how summer flew by and fall seems like it's slipping from our fingers.  Summer was eventful and memorable, we got married, went to the most beautiful place on earth, Hawaii. My family came up and we went to WY to see our cousins and old missionary that served in St. David that lives there. We went to the scrapbooking expo, Oprah, plays, and the Greek Festival. I was able to attend the Relief Society Conference with my sister-in-law, Tiff and her friends.  My parents came back up and we went to my cousin Ty's wedding down in the Provo area. We went to Idaho- Rexburg to see where Kevin went to school and to see his friends that lives there. And we went to Boise to help out Kevin's aunt, I must say his aunt is amazing with the things she can whip up.  Boise was a pretty city. We stopped somewhere in between Boise and Twin Falls, to meet his Grandpa and Grandma.... The place we stopped at was, hmmm, lets say that's where all the hillbillies hang. It was that bad, I don't think we would ever eat there after all we found out the cook was DRUNK! Then we went to Twin Falls to see his aunt Amy.


Now, the up-date....We've been living in Mendon, Ut. Its pretty but it's getting cold; thank goodness I'm in Arizona visiting, but its only gonna get colder when I get back! BLEH!  We have 7 lovely chickens, and we get 7 eggs everyday. They're great minus the poop everywhere! Sophie, our niece, loves to chase them and walk around in the coop, she's a silly girl. We built a coop for the chickens, it was kind of fun. It looks great.  Kevin sure is a handy man, GOOD THING. We also had two nephews instead of one niece and nephew at the end of September. I've been learning some new skills while Kevin learns how to be more self-sufficient.  I've been canning jams and applesauce and scrapbooking, I actually really enjoy it.  All Kevin talks about these days is Kentucky, he really wants to move there and start a farm, and I think it'll be fun and an adventure. We have so many plans for ourselves and can't wait until they come through.
As for work, we're waiting for the contracts to come through so we can move to Tucson, if that doesn't work, we want to open up a thrift/book store in Mesa/Gilbert area, and I'll go back to school before we start having any kids! It'll only become more difficult when we do.
We've put our records in the deaf branch and love it there. We've met some great people in the branch. And Kevin was recently called to be the financial clerk. It has helped/pushed Kevin to learn more sign language.  


I've been in Arizona for about a week and half, its been nice to be home. It would be better if Kevin was here with me.  I came home to see Preston play his football game since its his senior year and it was my Grandma's 80th birthday.  Its the perfect time to be home because my mom's birthday is today and I'm able to celebrate it with her.  Since I've been home, I've been getting all my favorite meals, which are YUMMY. Its been great! I was able to see our new nephews, all kiddos are just so adorable.


Here are some pictures of our festivities... Enjoy!

 Paradise

Our first 2 eggs!
 My brothers and Kev's Brothers
  Family
  Tiff and I at the RS Broadcast
  Twin Falls Temple
 Crew and I
  Mr. Macho
 
  Our Chicken Coop
  Some of the hens 

 Boise River

Jack, Calvin, and Paige
My mother and I

Sophia

Parents and Us

Ashlynn