New job, new wheels

Chad wanted to show the floors of the car

I'm in most of these pictures too, since Chad had the camera and it's "technically" my car

This is how the back seats fold up on the wall, although they can also be completely removed

Note to self: close doors before driving

So last week when Chad and I were in Phoenix for my AP Institute Chad found out that he got the job with Airevac as a flight medic. Yay!!!!!! So that was Monday...and then we realized we needed a second car. Chad and I have gone almost an entire year with one vehicle and it has worked out pretty well, but we are at the point where we need two cars again. So after I got finished with my class every day at 3:30, we would go car shopping until pretty much the dealerships were closed. In 114 degree heat that can be a little exhausting. If you are interested in the whole story about how we got our car I will tell it to you another time, but since most of you probably don't care a wit I'm just posting pictures. Let me just preface this by saying that I have loved Honda Elements since they came out a few years ago and pretty much had my mind set on one. Then I'll say that in all of Phoenix we found about two used Elements at dealerships that were in our price range, one of which smelled like an ashtray. We did not get the ash tray. So here are pictures of our new car which I love. If you want to know more about it you can just give me a call sometime.

Climbing Granite Mountain

Man, I loved that tree

On the top...pretty tired

Me viewing our nice little town

Peeking through a tree that burned in a forest fire around 30 years ago

Pictures, as promised. The reason they're mostly of me is because Chad was practicing his photography skills and had the camera most of the time. I particularly liked the shot he took of the agave plant so I included that as well.

Playing catch-up

Chad really did help paddle, he's just posing at the moment.
I headed up the front of the boat.

Apparently, the ducks don't like to be chased.

Okay, well quite a few things have happened in the past couple of weeks so now I am trying to play catch-up. Here are a few pictures of us paddling on Lynx Lake here in town (thanks for letting us use your canoe, Alan) and the above post will be pictures of climbing Granite Mountain. Alan's parents went with us, and were very impressive on the hike. I believe it was around 9 miles for the whole trip, and much of it was boulder-hopping and climbing. Way to go Alan's parents!

Bonnie & Dad at Erin & Josh's house

Kellen playing

Well, right now Chad is up at church doing something with a jackhammer...I think they are putting in a sprinkler system and new sod. So I am up here at the library posting to the blog. On Sunday we will head to Phoenix (where the high today is 115...yikes) for the Advanced Placement Institute I will be attending until Thursday. Here are some pictures dad sent of Kellen & Bonnie from his recent trip to Texas.

What else are sisters-in-law for?

Next on "What if they mated?" Shawn Montandon and Elvira

I noticed that Emma "forgot" to post any pictures of this monumental performance (Or was forbidden to do so). I think that Chad used some sort of Jedi mind trick on Shawn because otherwise I can't see him doing this, but it was hilarious. This is just to give you a visual to go with Emma's story. You're welcome, Shawn!

Chad & Lesley about to go off the zipline.

Chad & Elle being silly

Shawn, Elle, Emma & Lesley on top of Johnson's Mesa (Chad was on duty back at camp)

The very first fire of the entire summer

Shawn saying "gig 'em!" before he swings

Here are some more pictures from Blue Haven. The picture of Shawn, Emma, Elle & me on top of Johnson's is interesting because we got up there after having to change a shredded tire on one of the other teacher's trucks. I guess that will teach us not to borrow things from other people.

Where did the summer go?

Chad getting ready to swing "Superman Style"

Lesley, mid-swing

Chad & Elle on our porch

Elle & Callie, the camp cat, on our porch

Our humble abode for our two weeks at camp

We got home from Blue Haven last Friday evening and I just realized I have about 2 weeks until I go back for inservice at school. I can't believe the summer has flown by so fast. We had a great time visiting with Chad's grandparents in Lubbock, and we also got to see Brandi and Keith, her fiance. Brandi and I decided it has been almost two years since we saw each other. So it was really good to catch up with her and talk about their upcoming wedding in August.

Then, we went to Amarillo for a couple days for Matt's wedding which was also fun. After about an hour at the reception we decided we needed to leave if we wanted to get to Blue Haven at a decent hour--luckily we gained an hour on our way there and got to Blue Haven around 10:30 p.m.

Our time at Blue Haven was fun. Chad was especially busy as the camp nurse. I had a little more freedom since I was only "nurse's helper." It sounds made up but it was harder than it seemed. We had a good time with Shawn, Emma and Elle and seeing other Blue Haven people that we hadn't really spent any time with since we were counselors. We both were asked to do devos for the 4 7th and 8th grade cabins (split up by boys and girls) and we also squeezed in a little time at the challenge course. They've got this huge swing now and a zipline which we both did. It was a lot of fun. Of course now I'm going through Blue Haven withdrawal, which you think would have subsided now that I'm almost 25 years old, but no. Here are some pictures of our time at Blue Haven.

Chad is on his way to Phoenix right now for an interview with a company called AirEvac. He is interviewing for a flight medic position opening up here. Please keep him in your prayers.

I think that's about it for now.