Temporary Scottsdalians

We spent 30 days in a temp housing condo in Scottsdale. It was nice to be set up in something other than a hotel for this transition, especially with Rolin. It seemed like a 30 day whirlwind, with all our to dos, doctor appointments, mail chasing, no cell service, waiting for our car to arrive and house hunting, so the days flew by.

Our digs were pretty sweet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one with a double sink!), fully furnished, large kitchen with nice appliances, washer/dryer, community pools, next to a park. It was no where near child proofed, so that made things interesting the first few days. We only broke three things total. Thank goodness for superglue.

Scottsdale itself is nothing to shake a stick at, either. Some areas are pretty swanky.

And the sunsets. THE SUNSETS!

The condo was in a community in the Scottsdale Ranch area, which is nestled around a man-made lake. We didn't have a lake view from our condo, but all we had to do is walk across the parking lot to enjoy the view.

There was also a fountain in the center of the community that Rolin really enjoyed watching. We made daily trips to the fountain (because he'd fall asleep on our walks, you see, so whether or not he seemed like he wanted to see the fountain, we went to see it anyway).

Fountain side re-hydrating with ice water. Sweet, sweet ice water.

We used the pool a couple times. There were two in the community, and they were almost always void of swimmers. Probably because it was too hot. Rolin loves the water, and loved sitting in his floatie near the pool's waterfall.

We would have gone more, but it was monsoon season while we were there, making for quite a few thunder storms and haboobs (sand/dust storms), not to mention excessive heat.

Nice to know this feature exists.

Visibility was down to 100 ft. in this sand/dust storm. Can you see the house in that pic?

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

The Thompsons came down the first week we were in Scottsdale to help watch Rolin while we went house hunting with a rental rep. They stayed for a few days, you know, just long enough to start to get used to the heat.

 Grandpa Lee soaking up some patio heat with Rolin.

We went to the aquarium later in the month to kill some time. Rolin seemed to enjoy it more than I expected he would. He seemed entertained the entire time and didn't cry once.

Gazing up at the fish from inside the under-tank bubble.

Jellyfish.

I couldn't help it.

No idea what this is. But it is interesting!

We got two stuffed manta ray toys at the aquarium, one for Rolin and one for a friend, as a memento. We had Rolin choose between blue and green mantas; he chose the green one twice...I thought it was so cute when he made his selection between the two. Now that we've moved into our new place I can't find the damn blue manta ray for his friend anywhere...it's making me feel crazy. I'll probably find it when we move out of this house. The dangers of moving...

Overall, Rolin did the best he could to entertain himself with the limited amount of toys we brought for our temp stay. He played peekaboo a lot and chased his red bouncy ball around the house.

He did end up playing with an empty beer box for a long time one night, so the next day we went and got him a truck he can sit on or push.

We realized too late that he doesn't quite yet understand the concept of hanging on to the truck when you go too fast when parents push you too fast. Sorry, baby!

The truck entertained him for a day or two, then he resorted to batting a stacking cup around as entertainment.

We also practiced speaking names of our loved ones, such as Aunt Brianna and Uncle Joe:

He really did enjoy going outside though, no matter how hot it was. He would get so sweaty and pink-cheeked, but he LOVED being outside. I'd have to drag him back inside kicking and screaming....at least he doesn't hate the heat, right?

Now we're busy getting settled in at our new house. We've had a crazy time since moving in too, as we were in WA for a week for Nanny's funeral, came back to AZ with house guests, and Rolin pushed through 3-4 teeth, had diarrhea and a terrible head cold. Needless to say, we're grateful for a low-key weekend.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Rolin's 1st Birthday

We changed the location of Rolin's 1st birthday party at least three times.

Plan A: Have the party at my parents' house and invite the universe.

Plan B: Have the party at our new place in Spokane (and con a comparatively smaller group of invitees to carry in and/or unpack a box during their stay). Invites went out with this plan.

Plan C: Have the party at a generous friend's house in Spokane (and con an even smaller group of people -- who still actually were ok with me changing their weekend plans around AGAIN -- to periodically remind me to take a deep breath in the midst of all the craziness).

Plan D: Have it at my parents' house after tacky-fully sending out late-night text invitations a day and a half before the party (and con people into actually coming so my kid will see pics of people at his 1st birthday celebration).

We executed plan D and had the party at my parents' house. I unpacked boxes of birthday decorations that I'd packed to move up the hill, revised the menu a bit, threw everything in the car and we drove to Grandview on Friday, also known as our fifth wedding anniversary.

Justin's parents arrived that night, too, and mom prepared a nice surf & turf anniversary dinner for everyone. We thought it was fun to celebrate our fifth anniversary in the same place where we married -- we even went out to the site of the ceremony for pictures.

This is the spot where were were married exactly five years before. (They still host weddings in the yard, hence the backdrop set up).

Rolin didn't care to listen to wedding tales of old. "I'm outta here," he said. 

The next day was a scramble to get everything together. Everyone jumped in to help hang up signs, make dishes and entertain Rolin. Thank goodness my parents had actually purchased hot dogs and buns. They also let me raid their cupboards for random condiments, decorations and other tidbits.

The party "theme" was Hot Dog Smorgasbord, similar to the S'mores Smorgasbord I did for Justin's 30th birthday. I created different themed hot dogs with matching toppings, my favorite being the Californian. I also used a lot of light/sky blue, yellow and red. A sort of picnic-esque look, you could say.

 

The "outtakes." Because of the small crowd and limited time (caramelized onions...what was I thinking?), we cut out a few choices. 

   

Some of the goodies, plus a few of Rolin's baby books for people to peruse. 

The hot dog bar.

Because we're still managing Rolin's cow's milk protein allergy, I made him a watermelon cake. It's a cake made of...wait for it...watermelon. Thank you, Pinterest! The coconut cream I chilled and whipped worked pretty well for the frosting.

Mom also made cupcakes, which we arranged in the shape of a number one. I made a last-minute mini happy birthday banner to stick in the cupcakes to add a little decor to their presentation.

Watermelon cake!

I've thought about his birthday since he was born, of course, but with all the last minute changes to the party plans (not to mention our lives) most of this was done on the fly. I think we did pretty well and it all came together nicely, thanks to everyone pitching in to help.

Yay! We survived one year as a family of three! 

As you can tell by the smirk on his face in the following pic, Rolin had no problem being the center of attention.

Birthday lovin' from Uncle Joe and Aunt Brianna.

 Time for presents!

A little croquet with Uncle Joe & Aunt Brianna.

Playing ladder golf with Grandparents Thompson.

The next day we headed back to Spokane, but not before stopping for brunch with everyone in Tri-Cities. And also not before finding a cowboy hat to complete Rolin's awesome cowboy ensemble. 

YeeHaw!

Brunch with the fam-bam.

He goes before us, He stands behind us

Several friends and family have asked how I've been doing with the move, broken leases, Rolin's birthday, temp housing and other life events. Overall, I'm doing well. We made it to Phoenix; we're still all relatively sane. I'd call that a win for Team Thompson!

While I believe my body still managed to host a physical reaction to stress (more on that later), I believe I did mentally ok with this move. Especially compared to when we first moved to California.

Besides forgetting Rolin's swim trunks for swimming lessons, and, I'm sure, overlooking someone's birthday (sorry if it was yours!), I don't think I experienced too much scatterbrain-ness or overreacting. Well, except for the day the new pediatrician in Spokane (yes, I finally found a new one) told me that there was no way I could bring Rolin in until August 6. We still didn't have a firm date as to when we would leave town, you see, and I wasn't sure if we'd still be in town on August 6.

Hearing that I may not be able to get him in for his 1-year well baby check was apparently a trigger for me; I experienced a breakdown not unlike a breakdown a brand new mom may have during the first two or so weeks of a new baby's life. My crazy-mom hormones kicked in and I was irrationally convinced that if I didn't get Rolin his 1-year vaccinations before we left for Phoenix, he would surely perish or spontaneously combust the moment he saw his first cactus.

Good news: We made it to his August 6th appointment.

This time around, I am 100% certain that my (overall) sanity is owed to a higher level of faith and reliance on God. I mostly trusted with the last moves, but in the past I would let doubt and crazy brain get the better of me. I would allow evil to instill fear in my world. I'd feared things would not work out smoothly, that we wouldn't make enough money to eat in California, that I wouldn't find a job, that we'd never ever find any friends.

Every single time, those doubts have been proved wrong. The Lord does provide.

Doubt and fear are silent, deadly enemies, my friends.

Understanding and remembering that our Heavenly Father goes before us and stands behind us (Deut. 31:8) is a sure comfort. This is a promise I was reminded of through a song the day after learning of our Phoenix assignment, and also by a friend the night before we left Spokane. I'm not saying this adventure was worry-free, but reminding myself that our story is part of his plan, taking a deep breath from time to time and telling myself I do not have to take action or control in every little thing really brought a new sense of peace to this transition.

Some tasks are meant for others to handle, and the best way for me to help is to take a step back and trust. Also known as mind my own business.

There are things I've struggled with in my life -- worry, jealousy, bossiness, biting my nails, hypersensitivity to others words/actions, judging, nosiness (for lack of a a better word that describes getting involved in situations where I don't belong), to name a few -- all things that have been helped through prayer and conversation with Jesus. That's not to say I don't still struggle with these, but I'm getting better.

Worry, for example...well, let's call it irrational fear...

I once saw someone touch raw pork and then reach into a large package of wonton wrappers (we were making dumplings), therefore possibly contaminating the remaining wonton wrappers in the package. Another person took the rest of the wonton wrappers home to use at a later date. I couldn't sleep for two nights out of fear that if I didn't tell them I'd witnessed a possible (and after further review, unlikely) contamination of the remaining wonton wrappers, that this person's family would die from trichinosis.

Another time I hunted down newlyweds in a crowd of people to tell them to please remove the blue crepe paper from their getaway car before they parked at the airport, out of fear that the paper would not only stain their car, but that they'd be super pissed at the bridal party for eternity and never talk to us again. They looked at me as if I was the stupidest person on the block and that of course they already planned on removing the blue crepe paper. They were adults, after all. With brains of their own and everything!

But still, these are the things that haunt my thoughts and dreams.

Also, involving myself where I don't belong. While I 'd like to think of it as being vigilant, others probably find it to be more along the lines of meddling, "oldest child syndrome," being bossy, nosy or a busybody...

I still have a very prominent memory of being called out after whisking away a spoon from a cousin's toddling child. The child's parents were right there, present and watching, but I still intervened thinking I knew best. The parents were actually kind in the way they called me out, considering my actions were unnecessary and they were now dealing with a screaming, confused toddler -- but I think it was the look on everyone's faces that was like someone smacking me upside the head and saying you don't always need to do something about everything.

After that, while I was visiting home for the weekend, I actually told my mom I was disinclined to acquiesce to her request to I make sure my adult-aged brother was out of bed in time for church, that his khakis were ironed and he was wearing a belt (because he hadn't yet responded to her previous (and multiple) requests, you see). This waking-my-brother business was a frequent assignment of my youth, and it'd almost always lead to some sort of outrageous Sunday-morning throwdown between me and said brother.

You know why? Because I made it my business, my job, my duty, and I was determined to be successful. I wouldn't simply stick my head in his room and tell him to get up. Ohhh, no. I'd stick my whole person in his room and start waving my arms around and stomping my feet, demanding he get up. I'd say he was making mom mad, that I didn't understand why he just wouldn't do what mom said, that he knew better, that he was being ridiculous jerkface and he knew it, that he really, really, really needed to get up!!! And don't forget your damn belt!!!

This would cause undo stress, anger, semi-hatred, upset stomachs and unnecessary nail biting for everyone. It could have all easily been avoided.

This particular time, when assigned the task of waking brother, I told mom I'd tell him once, but I'd leave it at that. Guess what? He eventually woke, dressed, ate and got in the car...all...by...himself! There was no screaming, calling of names, hitting or gnashing of teeth. I think that Sunday we actually all walked into church with smiles on our faces. He may have even been wearing a belt!

Sometimes we got along.

Learning to let go, learning to hand over the reigns, learning to pass on taking the reigns in the first place, learning to trust with the faith that all things will work together is a lesson I need tattooed on my forehead. It is (obviously) definitely not my first thought or reaction in most situations. But I am learning.

With this move I really focused on trusting and not working myself into a wobbly, worried, doubtful, control-freak mess. There were groups of people working on logistics and details so we didn't have to, and I just let them do it. Yes, I still had moments of panic, anger, worry, bickering and tears, but a keeping my focus on God's faithfulness and control served as a reminder that eventually things will be back to normal, that He will take care of us. It helped me see God moving in the present.

Perhaps this time it won't take me almost three years to look back and say, "Ohhh, I see what you did there. You're sneaky. Thank you!"

Adios, amigo!

We parted with a good friend last month.

A friend that had seen Team Thompson through many adventures, countless movies, laughs, tears, good news, late night snacks, lazy weekends and panic attacks. This friend was also hospitable to strangers and friends alike, and stuck by our side through the five times we've moved in the last five years.

Though strings of insults were thrown its way, particularly around tax-return season or any time we moved, this friend remained a constant in our lives.

You could say this friend has been there through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer.

This friend was our couch.

Our OLD couch, that is.

Old Couchy in San Jose

WE GOT A NEW COUCH!

The crew loading a few of the boxes into Justin's work rig. 

Old Couchy was a truly heavy beast, complete with a hide-a-bed. We have reason to believe it had invisible lead bricks sewn into its cushions. Justin absolutely despised that couch, but, really, only when we had to move it.

I inherited Old Couchy from friends Sarah and Eric when I lived with Tara & Ami in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Eric and Justin moved it into my old apartment, destroying only one and a half exit signs and scraping the stairway walls along the way. Upon setting it down, Justin proclaimed, "When you move out, this thing is staying here!"

Luckily Joe was in town when we decided to get the new couch.

Then Justin and I got married a while later and, upon reviewing our finances, decided to move the couch into our new apartment in Lake Forest Park. My dad and bro Joe helped with that move. Upon setting it down in the new place, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

OK, one of the main reasons we got the new couch was because Joe was in town.

Then we learned we were moving to California. Old Couchy stayed in LFP while we lived in my parents' RV in CA while waiting out our LFP lease to be up and trying to save money for a new place in CA. After getting all our ducks in a row and finding an apartment in Mountain View, CA, we reviewed our finances and decided to bring Old Couchy to CA. My bro Joe also helped with that move, both out of the apartment in WA and into our new home in CA. Old Couchy smashed only one finger along the way. Upon setting the couch down in CA, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

It takes a lot of muscle and stamina to move Old Couchy.

From Mountain View we moved to San Jose where our rent was a bit higher. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to bring Old Couchy with us to the South Bay. We had a crew of friends help with that move, but still, upon setting down the couch, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

Not exactly sure what to do with the old while bringing in the new, we moved the beast out on to the porch.

Soon after we got settled into our place in San Jose, we received our tax return. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to see about getting a new couch. It was also the weekend Justin's brother came to visit. We spent the better part of Saturday testing out new couches....leather couches, microfiber couches, couches with ottomans, couches in the shape of an L.

We came home with new TV instead.

In no time at all, the neighbors expressed interest, and Old Couchy had a new home. 

As you know, we recently moved again...this time back to WA. A professional crew of movers packed up and transported our belongings this time, so while Old Couchy skirted ridicule during this latest move, Justin still looked at the couch with hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. When it came time to arrange the living room, Justin proclaimed, "This is the last time I want to move this couch!"

So he began plotting. Plotting ways to convince me it was time to part with Old Couchy. "We'll have more visitors now so we'll need more places to sit." "See how it dips down in the middle?" "See how it slides so easily on the wood floor?" "Don't you think a darker colored couch with a different fabric would make for easier baby barf clean up?" "You hate this couch, too, don't you? DON'T YOU?!"

The weekend Joe my bro came to town, and after MUCH discussion as to whether or not it was the right time, we went to Coscto and purchased a new couch.

New couch!

We weren't sure what we'd do with Old Couchy, but as Joe and Justin moved the beast out to the porch -- not without much moaning, groaning and calling of names -- the neighbors walked by.

The neighbors are now the proud new owners of Old Couchy.

I'll miss Old Couchy. As I said, it's seen Team Thompson through a lot of adventures, but change is good.
And so is a new place to rest our weary rears.