New Blog

Hey everyone. I finally made the move. Visit us now at:

http://parksadventure.blogspot.com/

I make no promises, but I will try to be better about updating this.

Voting Time

I have decided the time has come to rename the blog. "Doha Digest" worked while we were gone...but now it just feels like living in the past. (Like a homecoming queen that never gets over high school.)

I know I haven't been very good in the past year about posting, so I don't know how many people even check our blog regularly anymore. But for those few faithful followers out there, I want you to vote on the next name. I would like it to be something somewhat generic so that we won't have to change it for every new phase in our life. Here are the possibilities my sister and I came up with tonight:

Park and Jet parkandjet.blogspot.com
Park N Jet parknjet.blogspot.com
(Both of these are also available if I use “parks” instead of “park”)
Short Term Parking shorttermparking.blogspot.com
(Long term parking was taken.)
Parks City parkscity.blogspot.com
"To Park" topark.blogspot.com
Parks Department parksdepartment.blogspot.com
Parks Division parksdivision.blogspot.com
Dept. of Parks and Rec deptofparksandrec.blogspot.com
Recreation and Parks recreationandparks.blogspot.com
(“Parks and Recreation” was taken)
Central Parks centralparks.blogspot.com
Boldly Going. Somewhere. boldlygoingsomewhere.blogspot.com

Vote on one or two of your favorites by posting a comment. You can also suggest your own. By the way, "Parks Place" and "Park Place" are already taken. And before anyone thinks they are too funny, "Trailer Parks" is taken too. :)

Lillebarn

I wanted to give a plug for my old roommate April. She and a friend have started an online business selling baby accessories that they make. Their stuff is really cute. You can check it out at: www.lillebarn.etsy.com

Here are some of my favorites:

FINALLY! Some news...

Jon will enter officer training school on September 17 at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. OTS is 12 weeks long and Emily will stay in Utah while he goes. After that it is on to navigator school (probably Texas) for 8 or so months. We will update more as we get more info!

In case anyone ever doubted my love for Jon...

After five years of discussion and over the loud objections of his mom and mom-in-law, Jon finally got his motorcycle.

He really loves it.

I am getting use to the idea.

Jon's riding buddy: Baby Zane Shaeffer

Coulam Family Visit

This picture was too cute not to share.  Mel and her family came to visit me the other day and her kids had a great time playing in the hammock in our backyard.  I can not believe how big they have gotten and how much little Em is just like her mom. :)

It's Spring!

After a LONG COLD winter in Utah, we are starting to see signs of spring.  Last weekend we started getting our garden ready. Jon did most of the work as a surprise for my birthday last month.  Neither one of us has much of a green thumb...so we will see how it goes.

Our seed starters

This nest is on the wreath on our front door.  I knew we had a nest nearby somewhere, but I was so confused for a couple of weeks until I actually saw them flying out from the door.  The nest is well hidden.  We are trying to be careful every time we open and close the front door so as not to "wake" our little birds too early. :)

Sactown visit

We drove to California to visit Jon's family and to celebrate Easter with them.  It was a lot of fun and was really great to see everyone.

Mom and Grandma Bette

Easter egg hunt at Chris'

Jon with is nephew and great-niece

Our "great-niece" Monroe.  That's right! We are Great Uncle Jon and Great Aunt Em

A sad sad day for American education...

Are you frickin' kidding me?!?!?!?! It makes you wonder how some people survive in this world. She may be able to sing, but hopefully she isn't reproducing or voting!

(This is Kelly Pickler--a finalist from American Idol who is now a country singer. To be honest, I had no idea who she was until I watched this. I had to look her up on wiki.)

Here we are again...

Hi All! As many of you know, I have been on a computer/internet hiatus since we have been home. I am working now to go back and update some things from my journal and other events from our life of the past six months. Keep checking back in the next few days for updates.

I hope to be more regular after this, but I make no promises :)

Stand a Little Taller

It has been sad to watch President Hinckley get older in the last couple of years. He has always been so full of life, humor and energy. I thought it was going to be a really hard transition for me when he passed away. To be honest, I mostly feel peace and happiness that he is reunited with his wife again.

He changed so many lives--including mine. Watching all the tributes of his life the last few days has reminded me what an incredible man he was. I am amazed at how much energy he had and how much he accomplished. It makes me feel like a slacker and has motivated me to be just a little better and stand just a little taller.

My New Niece: Hailey Ann Hansen

Congratulations to Sarah and Eric!

Hailey Ann Hansen
Born: January 26, 2008
6 lbs. 3 oz.
19 1/2 inches

Congratulations Alexis and Zane!

Welcome Baby Zane!

Born January 1st 2008
6lbs. 3 oz.
19 inches long


Thanks to Alexis for this photo. I think Jon kind of likes baby Zane! :)