New Job

I have a new job!!! Last week I applied for a position as a Case Manager/SSW in the Adult Outpatient department of Wasatch Mental Health, where I currently work as a secretary. I went through two rounds of interviews and was almost 99% positive that I wouldn't get the job. I am way under qualified and there were several other applicants that already had their SSW license. Thursday morning I got a call from my boss who was on his way out of town offering me the job! I was shocked and super excited! He said I have a lot to learn, but he thinks I'll do great in the position and is excited to have me start! There are two classes that I have to take during this next year while I get in so many clinical supervision hours. After that, I can take a test and get my SSW license. I'm so excited and nervous to start my new job Monday. Wish me luck - I'll need it!

Welcome to the Hotel Garcia!

The past two months have been crazy busy and tons of fun!! We had the Grand Opening of the Hotel Garcia about the second week of July when Christopher's mom and Grandma came and stayed with us for a few days, while his brother, David, and dad were in Salt Lake getting things squared away for David to go to the University of Utah. It was fun spending some time with Mom and Grandma and kicking off the Hotel Garcia!

A few days later, my Mom, Dad and little bro, Brian, came to town a few weeks early for our family reunion. We had fun spending time with them and having them stay with us a few nights.

We went to a Rodeo, went swimming a few times, went to the 24th of July Parade in Spanish Fork, and went to an Owls game all together over that holiday weekend.

Then on the 28th, Laura, Donny and Katy, and Kevin, Toni and Caroline all came out for the start of our Brad Walker Family Reunion 2009! Laura, Donny, and Katy stayed with us that night and the next day we all met for a family picture to start off the reunion. We spent the weekend together at a cabin up in Heber City. We had so much fun just being together and playing for a few days. My favorite part about it was to hear Caroline say my name - "Aunt Enemy". I loved it!

It was great to watch the kids all play together and to spend some time getting to know Katy and Caroline.

Christopher brought his hammock and put it up for us to relax in. Brook had a blast climbing in it and swinging with me! Whenever anyone disappeared for awhile, it was pretty safe to say they were sneaking a nap in the hammock :)

Katy, Caroline, and Brook were so cute walking at the zoo! This was such a cute picture, I had to post it! They had so much fun playing together. It's fun to have kids the same ages!

Then it was back down to the valley for extended family gatherings on both sides of the family. The reunion ended on August 3rd and Kevin, Toni, and Caroline headed back to NC. It was hard to see them go!! Mom, Dad, and Brian left a few days later. Laura and her fam were here for another week and a half and continued their stay at the Hotel Garcia. It was fun to play with Katy and watch her run around and play at my house. When Chris and I got home from work one day she said, "Oh, hi Emily! Did you come to see your house?" She cracks me up! After they left we had a few days to get ready for the next round of visitors.

The Garcia's came out late on the 11th and stayed with us for David and Kristi's wedding. They were married on the 13th in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful wedding and fun to all be together for the day (except for Kathleen - we missed you!!) The fam stayed with us another night and then headed back to Colorado on the 15th.

Stephanie stayed with us to work and get ready for school to start again. It was fun to have her here and hang out at night together. I actually cooked dinner several nights in a row while she was here!! Today we took her up to Provo and helped her move in to her apartment. She is living at the BC (Bountiful Court), which is where Christopher and I met. It was fun to help her move in and reminisce about the good ole days....

It was so much fun to have so much family stay with us! I love that I finally have a house big enough to be able to have friends and family stay with us comfortably!

So, after a month of occupancy, we finally have a vacancy. Any takers?

Camping Trip

We were finally able to take our first camping trip, just the two of us July 10 - 11. We decided to go camping a few days before we went, so we left a little early from work on the 10th and headed up the canyon to find a campsite! We first tried Timpanogos Campgroup, but they were full. Three campgrounds and 4 hours later, we finally found a site in Maple campground up Hobble Creek Canyon somewhere. After talking to the campground host for a few minutes, we realized why there were still sites left in his campground - he had just shot a bear there about a week before we came camping! So, needless to say, I spent all night looking over my shoulder and jumping at anything that made noise! We were able to get our camp all set up about a half hour before the sun went down. We roasted some hot dogs over the fire for dinner and sat around our campfire for awhile, having s'mores and chatting. The next morning we got up and had breakfast and then had to hurry and break camp, because it started to rain! Even though we weren't able to camp for very long, we still had a great first camping trip together. It's too bad it took us 4 years to go!! Hopefully it won't be that long before we can go again!!