9/11

I just wanted to take down a note of where Dean and I were Ten years ago on 9/11/01 when the twin towers were hit.

I (Cynthia) was walking into Mrs. Gordan's class in 8th grade. I remember her getting frustrated and shushing us because we were talking. So we sat quietly and I had someone explain to me exactly what the twin towers were cause I was a "little" uninformed in that area. Then I remember it hitting me pretty hard when the second tower was hit. We sat and watched the TV most the rest of the day to see the results, and then the pentagon was hit and the other plane in the field. My heart goes out to those that were affected 10 years ago. It is so touching to hear all the stories on this ten year anniversary. I think it hits me harder now that I am older and I understand it more. Thank you to all those who sacrificed their lives, Especially those who died trying to save others.

Dean was on his way to school when heard on the radio and then he was in welding class when the second tower was hit.

Labor Day Weekend.

Well Dean and I wanted to try and get out of the HEAT for a day so we went up to Sedona AZ. It was a little cooler we came from 112 degrees ish... and went to 102 degrees. So... it didn't seem like that much of a difference but we did feel like staying outside a little longer so we went on a hike. Here are some of the pictures from it...

Dean posing with a prickly pear bush. (Sad thing... he thought he touched it where there were not thorns but... I guess it still had some unseen tiny ones, Dean and I spent sometime afterward trying to get them out.) So note to the wise... Don't touch them.

I LOVED all of the Red Rock!!!

I also liked the little cliffs we had to climb up to continue on the "red brick road"

We had to laugh about this cactus. It was totally cut that way by man but it was still cool.

Pac Man

We found these pools of water on the trail and they were FULL of tad poles!

I LOVE hanging out, playing, and be adventurous with Dean!

Along the way we found this HUGE wash out. People were standing all around it so we were wondering what they found and so we climbed up a little ledge and saw this...

If you look to the left that is a huge chunk of rock that fell out of the side of the mountain. It was pretty awesome looking!

Almost at the end of the hike! I was pooped, Guess I didn't realize how good of a workout hiking can be!

We had a lot of fun hiking, but we were both pretty tired at the end and our feet hurt. We planned on walking around some of the shops but instead, we got a drink and headed home to relax. We did enjoy ourselves though and we want to do more hiking in the future.

Bring on the BaseBall

Well this week Dean and I were lucky enough to go to a Diamond Backs game. Dean's cousin was able to get tickets from his work and he was kind enough to think of us and invite us along. (THANKS AGAIN!) So about 3 pm we hopped on the Metro (public transportation) and road to the field. We got there and of course we were at a baseball game so we had to have the novelties We each got a hotdog, and we also got cracker jacks, nacho's with jalapenos (my favorite), and finished with ice cream. It was an awesome experience and something I know we would like to do again.

The tickets!

Diamond Backs Team

We each also got a FREE Bobble Head

Dean and I and Brandon's Son (Dean's cousin) Justin

Again...

The Field

We had a Blast thanks again Brandon!

Graphic!!!

So I am just warning you this is GRAPHIC so if you don't like arachnids, please don't keep reading.

First, I am not writing this to make anyone feel sorry for me by any means. But this blog is also my journal and I want to write memories from Arizona in here. SO on Tuesday I was sleeping so peacefully in bed when all of the sudden around 5:30 am. I felt a sharp pain go through my right arm. I thought it was a cramp then it came again. I soon realized something was biting/stinging me. So I yelled for Dean to get out of bed. Something just bit me. ( I know, what a nice wake up call right?) I told him I thought it was a scorpion. So he got out of bed and started to look. We couldn't find anything. Then I looked at my arm and could see two stings. So Dean looked on the internet to find out what I should do to treat myself. They said Tylenol and Benadryl. So off to the store we went to find the meds and to find a black light. (We learned from people down here. That scorpions turn florescent green under a black light.) We found it. I took the meds, because by then I started to get a rash. and we headed home. We looked again with the black light all over the room and nothing was to be found. Then I had a thought what about under the mattress. GROSS. I know But... we lifted it up and BAM there it was. Dean KILLED it with a shoe.
Now I wasn't very familiar with this kind of stuff. So Dean told me to call the ER and talk to a nurse and make sure I didn't need to go in. Well the First ER I called told me they could not tell me if I was fine over the phone I needed to come in so they could see it. So I called another hospital and they said they couldn't tell me either. BUT that I could call poison control. (I thought for Heaven Sake I just want to know if I could DIE!). So I called poison control and they we SO helpful. They said they are not usually life threatening, but if I had trouble breathing or if any of the numbness, tingling, or pain I felt went above the shoulders I needed to go to the ER. Then They said and we DON'T recommend you take benadry. Oops... (Benadryl turn out to be a double bad idea because I got REALLY tired, couldn't take a nap cause it hurt, and I had a job interview at 10 that morning.) Poison control also informed me the numbness, tingling, and shooting pain could last for THREE DAYS!
People down here say it is just like a bad wasp sting. I guess I haven't been stung by a wasp so I don't know. All I know is the first day it hurt so bad I couldn't sleep. Because every time I moved my arm it felt like pens and needles in my arm. (the best way I can describe it is, it is like when your foot is asleep and it starts to wake again and it hurts so bad to move cause it tingles.) The second day wasn't as bad it still had the prickly sensation when I would touch my arm on something but the shooting pain was gone. Today is much better it is just a little numb. Let me tell you it was a weird experience.

Below are a few pictures of the kind of scorpion that stung me. It is called a Bark Scorpion



Below is what they look like under the black light. I do have to say they are more green then blue in real life but you get the point.

Also AZ has been HOT I know one day they had a record high! We have been under a heat advisory! I did see a temp of 121 on my cars thermometer. CRAZY I know. The even weirder thing is that we are getting use to it and it really doesn't seem that hot! Plus I would take the heat over cold any day. :)

Another Great Week!

Well first I am sad to report there are no pictures with this post. I kept forgetting to take them. Well this week I spent most of it looking and applying for jobs. But Wednesday was a different story. It was my Birthday! So I woke up got all dressed and met Dean for lunch at his work. He had to work late this whole week so then I went shopping with the money he gave me for a new dress. I LOVE the one I found it is real girly! Then when Dean got off work about seven, he surprised me with a card and a bag of Carmel Kisses! (My favorite, plus chocolate kisses have a special meaning to us) Then we went to Dairy Queen and got ICE CREAM! Snickers Blizzard for me please MY favorite. We celebrated the rest of my Birthday on Friday by going out to Dinner at a BBQ restaurant and getting dessert afterward mmmm... Then we went home and watched a movie! It was a GREAT Birthday! I love just getting to spend time with Dean! He is SO fun to be around and he always makes me feel SO special! Saturday we went on the Metro (public transportation) to down town Phoenix just to see what it was like. I was a lot cleaner then I thought! But let me tell you Down Town Phoenix is DEAD on Saturday! That was a shock to me!!! Then last night we went and walked around the temple in the dark with some new friends we made in the ward! They are great! I am so grateful, I feel like our ward is amazing! I have never sat by myself at church, the elders quorum has already came and visited us. (Now Dean is the Elders Quorum Secretary), and everyone is so nice and easy to talk to and I have already made some great friends! LIFE IS GOOD! and I am blessed!

Our New Place

Well I finally have everything unpacked and feeling more like home! Dean and I are really enjoying it here. He is enjoying work and now that I am unpacked I get to g find a job. :) I am excited! Well because a lot of you have been wanting to see the apartment I have posted pictures below.

To start off here is the dining area and enterence.

Here is the kitchen. I love the dishwasher it is So quiet.

The bar area of the kitchen.

Our HUGE living room. I can't believe how big it is compared to the one in Rexburg I LOVE IT!

The Hallway

The pantry and linen closet.

Another hall/ storage closet.

Our bedroom. It is also REALLY BIG!

Our bedroom closet.

The office.

Closet in the office.

The bathroom.

The patio.

Last is our Laundry room. This was a must for both of us and we are SO glad we have it!