5 Moves in 4 Years

Yep, it's that time again. Time to announce our 5th move in our 4 year relationship. Let's take a look back at the previous moves:

Move 1: Las Vegas, NV. to Provo, UT (Jan. 2011)
Move 2: Provo, UT to Wichita Falls, TX (Mar. 2012)
Move 3: Wichita Falls, TX to Fort Worth, TX (May 2012)
Move 4: Fort Worth, TX to Provo, UT (Sept. 2012)

and now Move 5: Provo, UT to Provo, UT. ;) (Nov. 2014)

Michael and I are moving about 10 minutes away from where we live now. Most people wouldn't consider this a very big move, but for us it's huge. We are closing the chapter of our lives and marriage where we have cared for my grandparents. Aside from the summer we lived in Texas, we haven't had our own home or the freedom to live our lives fully for ourselves. We are excited and eager to start this new chapter in our lives.

Stay tuned for pictures of our new home!

Late News is Still Bad News Sometimes.

I had the opportunity to work as a long term substitute in the Special Ed. department at Provo High School from Feb-May this year. I came to know and care for all of "my" students while I was there. (I'm now working as an Instructional Assistant at Provo High, but that's another story for another day.) One of "my" students was a quiet, petite girl who attended classes irregularly. I wasn't able to know her as well as some of the other students, but I did know her. While I was subbing, I was made aware that this girl was being watched for self-harming behavior. More than once I had to call the office to report injuries and concerning marks. On those days she wasn't in class, I feared she may not come back.

When my assignment ended 3 weeks before the end of the school year I returned to my regularly scheduled life, often wondering what was becoming all the students I cared so much about.  Sadly, it wasn't all good....I learned today that this meek girl we all worried about had killed herself the last week of the school year. My heart is broken for her and the loved ones she left behind. A part of me feels a tad ridiculous to be grieving 5 months after the fact, but late news is still heartbreaking sometimes.

...

My whole life I dreamed of getting married...I just never dreamed of the soul crushing in-laws that came with it...

Where Does the Time Go?

Since moving back to Utah to take care of my grandma, time has both flown by and stood still. The months/years are rolling by quickly; I blinked and missed most of May. I turned 29 this year and have experienced an uncomfortable amount of anxiety over getting "old". Michael and I have taken care of Grandma for 3 years, living in a bubble where every day seems to be exactly the same as the day before. The world slips by, waiting for no one, leaving us behind. I got old before I even had the chance to really live.

Not all that much has happened or changed since my last post. I got a job working for the Aviation department of Utah Valley University last July...budget cuts took said job away from me in November. I was crushed. I went back to Substitute teaching and spent February to May teaching Special Education at Provo High School. I'm considering going back to school for my teaching credentials...

At least I worked on something great while I was there.

Michael started working for U.S Synthetic as a Press Operator last October and he loves it. He is also in his second semester of Aircraft Maintenance school and is eager to graduate and move on to bigger, better things. Our plan is to move back to Fort Worth once Michael is done with school. I have been working as a freelance photographer, building my business and honing my skills, dreaming of opening a natural light studio when we get back to Texas.

I think the highlight of our time back in Utah has been the addition of our gorgeous furbaby, Blue Belle.
We adopted her in December 2012 (a few months after we moved back) and have loved every minute of our lives with her. The cats may feel differently about her, though...

The Anniversary Inn - Arabian Nights

I was referred to the Anniversary Inn by a friend of mine. My husband and I decided to take the free tour offered at each of the locations and fell in love with the idea of staying in a different room every year until we have stayed in all of them. So far, we have stayed in 4 different rooms; 2 for our anniversaries, 1 for my birthday, and 1 recently just for the fun of it over Labor Day weekend. Arabian Nights was the room we stayed in for our 2 year anniversary and the second time we stayed at the Anniversary Inn in Logan, UT.

Each room is themed and includes sparkling apple cider, complimentary Utah Truffles, cupcakes or cheesecake, and breakfast. There is a list of additional items and packages that can be added on to enhance your stay. Michael's favorite add on is the the Movie Pack. For $14.99, a fresh bucket of popcorn, 2 bottled sodas, and 2 candy bars is delivered to your room at the time of your choosing. 

The Private Entrance to Arabian Nights

One of the only themed doors. The door to Arabian Nights.

The Taj Mahal room we stayed in for our 1st anniversary had a t.v. across from the tub so that guests can enjoy a movie in a large jetted tub for two. This set a standard for my husband that some rooms will struggle to meet. We chose the Arabian Nights room for our 2nd anniversary because the Anniversary Inn website listed a t.v. over the tub as one of the amenities at the time we made our reservation. (We also saw it during one of our tours.) However, to our disappointment, the t.v. over the tub had been removed by the time we arrived for our stay. My husband immediately noticed the missing t.v. during our initial walk-through of the room. When he brought this disappointment up to the front desk, he was told that there had never been a t.v. there...even though the speakers, electrical outlet, and cable connection were still there. I went back to the website to double check and the second t.v. had been removed from the amenities list, however, there was a comment in the guest book referencing the t.v. in question. So, on top of the one thing my husband looked forward to about the room being gone, the staff tried to make us believe that we had simply been wrong all along.

The Arabian Nights room is a Diamond level room costing $249.00-$299.00 per night depending on the night of the week you stay. Michael and I are on the text list and receive monthly deals. We also book our Anniversary stay during their December open house when Diamond level rooms range from $129.00-$149.00. (The only way we'd be able to afford to stay in a Diamond room.) 

The room was clean and comfortable, the apple cider was chilled, and the towels were perfectly folded and as white as freshly fallen snow. The cupcakes, however, were less than impressive and the complimentary Utah Truffles were missing from our room. While the decorative aspect of the cupcake duo was fine, the size and flavor missed the mark. The cupcakes were smaller than your average cupcake and the flavor was underwhelming. (In all fairness, the cupcakes come from a local bakery.) I highly recommend going with the cheesecake! 

We enjoyed both the large jetted tub and multi-head shower. However, I think it's safe to say that our favorite part of our stay was the luxurious king size bed. Piled high with pillows, the beds at the Anniversary Inn are by far the most comfortable beds I have ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. I got some of the best sleep ever during our stay.

Breakfast is good, but it is a bit carb and sugar heavy. At check in you fill out a Breakfast Card and select the time you would like your breakfast delivered. Breakfast consists of 2 beverages, 1 croissant or cinnamon roll, and  1 yogurt/fruit/granola parfait per person. (I found myself wishing for an omelet after the popcorn and cupcakes...)

Robes are provided for your enjoyment during your stay.

Surround sound speakers around the bed enhance your movie viewing experience.

A large flat screen t.v. across from the bed and access to a free movie library allow for an evening of relaxation.

Each room is equipped with a mini fridge to store any cold food or drinks you might order or bring with you. Be warned, the water bottles in the fridge are NOT included in the price of the room. (We learned this the hard way.) If you happen to drink the water provided in the fridge, you'll be charged a whopping $3.00 per bottle at the end of your stay. 

Factoring in the sub-par cupcakes, missing chocolates, and the less than stellar customer service, I give the Arabian Nights at the Anniversary Inn - Logan 3 out 5 pillows.

Another Move

Despite my love for all things Texas, the drive from Utah was not something I was looking forward to. 20+ hours driving alone would have driven me crazy! (No pun intended.) My Aunt Susan is a bit a "Road Trip Junkie". Or would "Guru" be a better term? She loves driving long distances and was happy to drive out with me. She was even kind enough to do 95% of the driving. I get awful anxiety driving at night ever since Michael and I spun off a two lane mountain road coming home from Bear Lake during an intense snow storm late one February night. Once my aunt and I made it to Wichita Falls, we decided some site seeing was in order since it was her first time visiting Texas. Michael and I took her to Dealy Plaza in downtown Dallas to see the site of President Kennedy's assassination. 

The Sixth Floor Museum. One of the shooters is believed to have shot from the sixth floor of this building.

My Aunt Susan.

The Grassy Knoll.

The Kennedy Memorial

You can see the Grassy Knoll past the monument.

I love the reflection of the sky on this building.

X's have been placed on the road where the bullets struck the President.

Dallas has some great buildings!

My Aunt Susan with one the X's marking where President Kennedy was shot.

This man claimed to have been present when Pres. Kennedy was shot. He has a picture showing him as a young boy standing along the parade route right by the Grassy Knoll. He talks to tourists about what happened that day.

The fence is marked to show where Lee Harvey Oswald perched his rifle to shoot the President.

Michael avoiding the camera.

The water fountain at Dealy Plaza.

Michael charging one of the bull statues at Pioneer Plaza

Michael losing to the bull.

Aunt Susan running with the bulls.

Michael attempting to drop one of the bull statues...he didn't get very far.

Aunt Susan has an admirer...

"This is Sparta!"

Aunt Susan got swept up in all the excitement of Dallas.

Street Cars are making a comeback in Dallas and they are so much fun to ride in!

Here are a few pictures I took during our arrival and stay in Wichita Falls.

We had ducks walking around in the street during a rainstorm.

There are some crazy clouds in Texas...the whole "Tornado Alley" thing has me scared I'll get caught in a real life reenactment of the movie Twister.

Our apartment was 2 minutes from Sheppard Air Force Base.

This was our final run through of the apartment to make sure that we had everything.

After 3 days in Wichita Falls, Michael's job transferred us down to Fort Worth and we couldn't have been happier about the move. The new apartment was only a one bedroom, but it is much nicer than the dingy one we were in in Wichita Falls. I'll post those pictures later.