back to my roots...

this is a long one, sorry.
We've had a great time in Arizona. Besides sitting around and doing nothing, we enjoyed:

• a brief visit with Quinn and Cameron (my brother and his wife, she never reads my blog so I thought I'd post this flattering shot)

• a trip to the train park in Scottsdale where Asher was re-united with Bennett (one of his best friends from Boston) and his namesake baby Asher (Bennett's baby brother). The reuniting ended in blood as Bennett split his head open on the "stage coach train." Asher has told the story many times since.

• ringing in the New Year by watching a movie and going to bed. (Will anything ever be more fun than the Multi-Stake new years eve dances at our church???) OK, check back, because I think I need to find, scan, and post a picture of us at one such dance.
  

• many trips to the park ie. swings.

• shopping (what's a trip to Arizona without a visit to Last Chance and/or a new pair of shoes?)

• getting together with a few old friends (and wishing that everyone still lived in Moon Valley or within a 15 minute drive so I could have seen more)
  
• dental work for free (thanks to my Dad and Kelly his hygienist)
• golfing, I mean miniature golf, and bumper boats and race cars (now when was the last time you did THAT?)

• backyard campfires.

• dying my hair- hence the title of this post. Aren't I clever with the play on words? (I'm a brunette now- kinda an impulsive change, but I'm getting used to it and so are the kids. I think I'll keep it a while)

• getting family pictures (thanks to almost all the AZ girls on my blog, I was introduced to Jamie Hammond who was SO KIND to do a photo session for us. She's not only kind, she was extremely patient and a fabulous photographer.)

• AND finalizing our plans for 2008 (and beyond.) John accepted a job offer with an International Real Estate development firm based out of Dubai. We'll soon be busy packing up and movin' out. John is set to start the first week in February and I plan on following with the kids, a few weeks later.
  

And although it's not Thanksgiving, it is "Thankful Thursday" according to my friend Jacque. Today I want to share my THANKS for the internet; for e-mail, for blogs, for digital pictures and video sharing, for webcam chats, for instant messages, for all the things that allow me to feel connected to friends and family, to you! While I'm thankful today for those things, I am sure I will rely on them EVEN MORE as we make this move.