Attempt #2

Okay, so I kind of failed at my first attempt at blogging. As you can see, I've posted twice in almost a year, partially because I felt like "no one's going to read this anyway", and partially because my life just isn't as exciting as everyone else's. I read all these other blogs and I'm like "Sheesh! I need to liven up my life!" Tina: your life is pretty exciting and so is your blog. I mean how many people have now been entertained because of the "dead-beat" girlfriend comment? Everyone else: you have kids and kids are exciting. They also are cute and it's always fun to see blogs filled with pictures of cute kids. I don't have kids. So I'll try to spice things up so that if anyone ever does come upon this blog, it'll be worthwhile. Disclaimer: I may have to fabricate/dramatize some truths in order to create said excitement.

Summer Vacation:
So at the beginning of August, we packed up our apartment in Texas (so that it would be ready to be loaded in a U-Haul when we returned) and flew to Utah for Garrett's family reunion at Bear Lake. Every other year there is a huge Christensen Family reunion, and when I say huge, we're talking over 100 people. So far Grandma and Grandpa Christensen have 110 posterity, so the only way to have a reunion is to rent condos and spent a week at the lake swimming, boating, sun-bathing, and eating. So relaxing, and so needed! I think there were 30+ little great-grandkids running around, and every single one of them are towheads and look alike. Apparently the Christensen gene is pretty strong, so I guess now I know what my kids will look like!

Our Immediate Christensen Family (minus Nicole and Adrienne) at Bear Lake

After a week in Utah, we drove down to San Diego to spend some time with Garrett's parents and caught up with some of Garrett's old roommates and friends. (By the way, I heart San Diego. I highly recommend anyone to visit there. And for the world's best seafood: The Beach House in La Jolla=Heaven on Earth!)
After a few days in San Diego, we went up to Alaska for a little over a week to spend time with my family and with Garrett's sisters. Garrertt went fishing, we went hiking, ate some good Grannie food, ate lots of good fair food (fried cheese curds: delish!), and got to see my sisters, cousin, and niece show their animals in the fair.

Celebrating Grandma's (Claire's) birthday in Alaska

Victorious after hiking the Butte: Sadie, Claire, Kanani, Annie, Denali, Nicole, and Maile.

Garrett and our Niece Lanie on the Butte

Sadie showing her calf, Charles. She won Master Showman. I was so proud.

Mooooving!
After our fun but too-short vacation in Alaska, we flew back to Houston on a 24-hour trip, got back to our apartment at 1:30am, woke up at 7am, loaded the U-haul that Garrett drove while I drove my car, and took a two day cross country trip to Minnesota, our new home!! And we made it out of Houston just a week before hurricane Ike hit, saving us from having to evacuate and then deal with a two week power-outage. Phew!!

Crossing the state border into Minnesota

So now we're in Minnesota, Garrett's life consists of studying, and mine consists of STILL looking for employment (so ironic that I chose a career that would supposedly always be hiring yet they're laying off nurses in the Minneapolis area!!). But it's fun and we're loving living here. The fall colors are AMAZING here and even though we're close to Minneapolis, our town is small and cute and surrounded by a lot of farms and trees so that I don't feel like I'm in a huge city. I enjoy feeling safer here than I did in Houston, it's a lot cleaner here (not as much garbage on the streets, not as many shady neighborhoods to go through on my way to the grocery store), it's less crowded here, and I'm kind of looking forward to having a real winter with snow and a fun summer that isn't too hot to go outside and play in. Another bonus us that Katie lives two miles away so I get to do a lot with her. I also get to play with and spoil my niece and nephews. I'm having a blast living close to my sister again.

Some things I'll miss about Houston:
Although I'm really loving my new home, I have to come to Houston's defense because there are some things I will miss:
1. My Landry cousins, and Aunts and Uncles.
2. Visits to Grandma Margaret's in Richmond: I wish we could have lived next door to her!)
3. HEB: if anyone reading this has lived down in Texas, then you understand that HEB is hands down the best grocery store ever. I've been all over the country, and nothing compares. It's kind of sad to say, but I miss shopping there!!
4. My gym: LA Fitness was right next door to our apartments. I spent many yoga, running, and cycling hours there and loved it.
5. My friends at MD Anderson: my job as an oncolgy nurse was hard and heart-breaking. My co-workers and fellow nurses on the floor were hilarious and fun. I'll miss our fun chats inbetween craziness on the floor and I'll miss our game nights.