Free Stuff for Followers

I need some followers with feedback. To help spread the word about my new blog at

mpflory.blogspot.com

and to build the readership, I am instilling a giveaway. For every five people to sign on as followers to this blog at your referral, I will send you a free childrens' book. Just email me at mcdflory@gmail.com with the names of your five friends that have added on and your address and I'll mail you your book. If you sign up 20 people, then you get four books, and so on.

If you would like to contribute to this blog, also let me know. I love freebies, articles, news, etc.

Michelle

Possibilities

What is it about having a lot of shelves that makes me excited? There is such hope and possibility in having shelves ready and waiting for whatever I fill it with. I LOVE the pantries/fruit rooms/storage that houses here have. It makes me want to learn how to can foods.

A New Life

I've been thinking about something my mom used to say when we moved in the army. We'd remind ourselves of the positives and one would always be that in our new home/place, all my clothes would seem brand new to everyone else. We'd talk about what kind of person we wanted to be. While I was outgoing and very social in one home/place, perhaps I wanted to be shy in my new location. Or if I didn't like talking in crowds before, perhaps I could try to break out of my shell in this new place that no one knew me. It was interesting to think that with the convenience of moving every one to three years, you had the chance to start over if you wanted to. All those pieces of me added up to...me.

So, now I'm in a new place for the first time in a long time and I've been reminded of my mom's advice. I'll always be a wife and mom, first and foremost. It's the most joyful thing in this life. But...I've been the student, I've been the teacher, I've been the professor, now I think it's time to do what I've said for years I want to do but never had time for...author. Why? I don't know why. I just want to. I want to see my name on a shelf at the bookstore. I told Doug the other day that since we are here and have nothing, I want to start fresh and really write. What have I got to lose? He supports me, of course.

Moving is always cathartic for military kids.

Summertime in Utah

Here is our new home. The front yard has a great view and the back yard has a great view too! Look at those mountains! I can't wait to see them with fall leaves and snow. We are living in my brothers home while they live in France for a year. You can email me if you want our new address and phone number at mcdflory@gmail.com.







We arrived in Utah just in time for unloading, a little unpacking and celebrating the Fourth of July. My uncle Greg was in town and so it became a fun day of hanging out with family and food. Grandma made all the girls cute matching dresses and we did our traditional cousin show and fireworks on the front lawn. We couldn't get over how green and cool the grass was. Louis wasn't quite sure what it was at first, but then became an expert at crawling through it.


















We brought our cousins little Madeleine dolls and the movie to help get them excited about france. They liked the movie and impressed us with all the French they learned so far. We had a few movie parties with popcorn (mostly so mom and dad could unpack with no interruptions.) We did a sleepover one night and painted our nails and did our makeup too. Carter is missing his boy cousins, but learning a lot about girls too!






Here are some random pictures as we adjusted to our new surroundings including hanging around the house and enjoying cool weather on picnics. Plus, in the few short weeks that we've been here, we've celebrated four birthdays. We had a fun party at ChuckECheese for our cousin, Maisy. Then we went to our twin cousins birthday Pinkalicious party, and finally celebrated Carter's 8th birthday at a fun place here called Pirate Island. He may be growing older, but he was still a little kid pretending to be a pirate, with a balloon parrot on his shoulder, an eyepatch, an earring, a sword, a hat, and lots of loot. He really thought he was a pirate. His face was hilarious in a mean snarl as he said, "Arrgh, you scurvy dog!" and "Swab the deck, me harties!" He was very entertaining. We came home and made him a king chair and opened presents followed by brownie, earthquake sundaes. We used sparklers instead of candles which quickly melted the whole sundae, so never try that at home.
















Doug treated me to a great reading conference that I wanted to go to, but you'll have to check my other blog for info on that. It was very fun! mpflory.blogspot.com

That's all for now. I'll be more consistent on my posts without a hundred pictures from now on. I am really enjoying not working right now, though. I feel like I am staying busy and haven't been bored yet. I wish I had a huge family inheritance or something so I could be at home and yet, still have money in the bank. We are currently job hunting and just enjoying our time as a family. Having only a month or two of hot days and cool nights is perfect for us, though. We are just now starting to get into activities since school here doesn't start till the end of August. We've got everyone registered but I'm sad that there is no band or orchestra in the schools here. The kids began piano, I'm going to trade that by teaching cooking class and tutoring and Carter wants to learn guitar. I'm trying to find a gymnastics place for Haleigh and we may swim a bit more. Tonight we plan to drive into the mountains a bit and get lost a little. Perhaps we'll try some smore's by a lake. That might be fun. Tlll then...

Catch Up

I'm way behind on my blogging here because of our transition to Utah, so please allow me to catch you up!

First, Doug and I took our first romantic getaway in May (the first in twelve years...isn't that shameful!) The kids went to grandma's house for the weekend and Doug took me to Melrose Place. Okay, it wasn't called that, it was called the Clarendon and never, never go there. We hated it. We got there during a pool party, unloaded our bags to a very "modern" room and left for dinner hoping the live band that echoed through our room would be gone by then. Yes, I'm old and I like my quiet. I admit it. So, we came back from dinner and the pool party was over but the roof party began which had a bass that actually rattled the walls. I felt so awful telling Doug that there was no way in the world I was going to feel romantic with that pounding headache that was beginning and would he mind if we went to look for another hotel. He agreed in a second and off we went to find a hotel with two specific qualities: Peace and quiet. We found a great Hilton nearby that was practically empty and we had a lovely weekend from then on. We discovered a very fun old fashioned ice cream shop in downtown Phoenix called Mary Coyle's. I've very sad that I discovered it right before we moved because it was awesome.





We later took my dad and uncle there for fathers day. We ordered the chili and sandwiches. I don't know why but I love the sweet chili there. Save room for dessert though. The dessert menu is six pages long. I love the brownie sundaes. Beware of the rootbeer floats though. They are bigger than my head!















So May was spent packing, renting out our house, finding homes for the dogs and preparing to leave our jobs. June was very busy. I was teaching four days a week, the kids were in swim lessons and we were doing our final preparations. I took some photos on my phone on my way to work one day. I was teaching a class for NAU on a small reservation called Sacaton. On my way to the school each time, I was reminded how it was really in the middle of nowhere. I was so happy just to see a house or a patch of grass. A view would have been nice.





Many people ask what exactly we do. Doug worked for Vanguard Financial Group and I had a few part time jobs teaching college with Ottawa, and NAU and supervising student teachers with GCU and NAU. There had been other colleges in the past, but those were my main employers. Since moving, only one of those will carry over: Ottawa...since I teach with them online right now. We'll see what other opportunities emerge. I have been feeling like I want to slow down a bit and perhaps focus on my hobby of writing more now. We'll see. My new blog mpflory.blogspot.com focuses on that.




So began our goodbye's. Doug was very excited for our new adventure and I was surprised that I was more anxious than excited. We had some final cousin visits and then loaded and loaded and loaded again our stuff and off we went to Utah. The day we left, it seemed like the whole drive was gorgeous. If you know me, then you'll know that I don't love the desert landscape. However, the day we drove away, I couldn't stop taking pics on my phone because we had the best views.








I rode with the kids by myself which was fun yet challenging. Carter was a big help with the baby and I managed to stay awake.







I forgot to mention that before leaving AZ and upon arriving in UT, I got to meet up with some college roommates of mine. I hadn't seen Amy or Amanda for almost 10 years so it was very fun to get together and see how we all are so grown up. They remembered some funny stories that I must have blocked out. Isn't college great for those crazy stories! Amy lives in DC now and Amanda in Oregon so I loved chatting for a while and having some of our kids meet.






One final video of the kids playing on our trampoline before it got packed away. We are keeping most of our things in storage while we rent in Utah while finding work. Like always, the kids make me laugh!