What We've Been Up To

I sent an email to friends and family last night but got so many "bad email addresses" back that I'm just going to post here:

Hey friends and family,

I intended to just send this to my family. My mom has been begging me for pictures of our house and esp now that it's finished (that's used loosely). I decided that since we didn't send out a Christmas card, I might as well just send out the link to our pictures to share via pics what we've been up to. And I think you'll understand why we didn't get a card out. And why we've been bad friends, neighbors, hard to get in touch with...all of it, this is our excuse.

Since I only intended on making this a house album, it doesn't show all of the great things we've been able to do this year too, so here are some highlights and a little timeline.

Beginning of 2009:

-In Houston, finally adjusting, just making home how I wanted it. Great opportunity came up with a branch opening from Josh's firm in Palo Alto, CA, so we accepted.

Busy week in April 2009:

-Finished up house to get ready to move. I ran Boston marathon with friend Shelah, about died, worse than natural childbirth. But finished, yay! Josh had bum knee so he played super daddy and worked on getting house ready, taking care of kids and working all without me there and the week we were moving.

Spring/Summer 2009:

-Moved to Sunnyvale, hotel, apartment, house. We thought the house part would be the best part. The day we moved in, the water was turned off, when we turned it on, there was a leak, which we discovered later and after mold grew. Then there was a major leak from our fridge, but only after we'd moved in of course. They pulled up the floor, got rid of mold, found asbestos--which ran throughout the house. Had to move back out--but just to our backyard and porch.

-Josh working at new job. Small office, youngest guy there, lots of work, lowest man on the totem pole, you get the the idea, it was fun.

-Upside was that we were in CA. The weather was awesome and there was something to do all the time (if we weren't doing house stuff...). There are festivals all the time in the summer which I decided was hands down one of the best things about moving here. Kids liked being able to play outside in the summer too--Houston not so much.

-Trip to Oregon to visit Parker family for 4th of July. Trip to Ohio because my sister Jill married Shane, hurray! Much needed breaks from our house.

Summer/Fall 2009:

-Living in construction zone. Josh is the activities committee chair in our ward so he got to put on the Halloween party for our church and his family loved seeing him in action. Nice to have some fun distractions for us. I ran the St. George Marathon with little sister Tina. Much much more fun than any other race. Had a fun road trip to see family in UT after that.

-A few visits from Parkers and Tina to help us move in, thank you!

Fall/Winter 2009:

-Another road trip to UT for Thanksgiving and Josh's brother Ethan's wedding to Danielle. Love having another sister in the family! We got to know northern Nevada all too well that month from driving through it three times.

Winter 2009:

-House almost done. I left with girls for Ohio for Christmas and Josh stayed to work for a bit more. Ohio was awesome. Gearing up for the work that awaited us when we got back. We had the contractor do the bare minimum he would allow on our house to cut costs leaving us a lot to do once they left during Christmas break. When we came back we had a week and a half to finish up house before our inspection and wedding open house for Josh's cousin Ang and her fiance Matt.

Feb 2009:

We survived! The real work is mostly done and we are loving LOVING our "new" house. We're starting to really move in now, no more of this shoving stuff around bit. Lots more to do, but more on the fun side and without deadlines. I just bought paint for two more rooms to do this next week and chips for our room. We're soooo close to being done, it's wonderful.

Sorry we've been out of touch, negligent, and lousy friends. We plan to be a lot more social and with it from now on. We are completely loving life now so much that I even enjoy doing the dishes. I'm sure that will wear off, but for now, I'm just thrilled it's not in our back yard or bathroom.

May you have a year free of leaks, mold and asbestos. Love, Afton, Josh, Hazel and Felicity

You can find our pics here: http://aftonio.smugmug.com/

That may not last forever though and maybe only if I buy a membership, so this might only be for another 5 days...anyway, happy browsing:).