Teepee Breakfast

When we heard the girls were going to take the teepee down for the winter we could hear it beckoning  to us to send smoke signals from it one last time... so we burnt breakfast in it. The skillet was over a raging campfire so temperatures were often uncontrollable, and it seemed like the food cooked instantly upon making contact. This indian home also inspired a series of photo shoots put on by Shayna and the "little girls". They got into the indian spirit so completely for the pictures that I wont be surprised if one of our neighbors cows gets speard and stolen by 3 lightweight redheads in the near future. The teepee take down was quick. We will look forward to more exceptionally well done pancakes and eggs next year.

Indian Photo Shoot

The TeePee got us in the mood for an Indian photo shoot.. had a great time chasing our last bit of sun with these squaws.

Halloween

Some people make Halloween more than just a creepy evening devoid of inhibition... Katie and Katherine are their names. Their costumes were daring and successful. Katie, imitating Marilyn Monroe, added a southern twang to the sultry blond; while at the same time (on the other side of the United States), Katherine stuffed to a perfectly, and overly, mature form. These women exemplify the aspect of this ridiculous holiday that we appreciate. Our little Honey bee couldn't be more darling and the planed on Lone Ranger became Spider Man after not wanting to put on any extra clothes. He stayed in his pj's and it worked out just as well.

Nelsons in MS. and The Trip Home

My family drove out in the new motor home to help us move home. We had a fun week before heading west. It was complete with a trip to Alabama, dinner at Catfish Country, and a tour of the Buffalo park in Tupelo. The Stites and the Nelsons became instant friends. The girls even whipped out their guitars. We packed up the caravan (the truck and 5th wheel followed by my dads motor home trailering our SUV) and they were gone after a quick Sunday picnic. I stayed behind to finish up my rotation. Shayna and the kids got to ride in the motor home while my dad drove. In Shayna's own words "this is the only way to drive with kids across country". Amy and Mom drove the truck pulling our home of 14 months. They are troopers! We are so thankful they were willing (and even suggested the idea) to help us move. It would not have been the same experience without the help. There was minimal drama (running out of gas and Ruby popping a seam), and they made good time. Shayna has spent her first week home unpacking and chasing the kids around. My rotation is over now and I am studying for my test. Saturday couldn't come sooner. I have 3 rotations in Utah left, 1 month back in Tennessee wrapping up, and then the Boards (Sometime in May).

alabama

arkansas

texas

oklahoma

colorado

wyoming

utah

Leaving the South

We've been looking forward to this day for 2 years now; however, now that it's here, we're so torn. Of course we want to be back with family in the west, but we acquired some more family members here and we are so sad to leave them. Saying goodbye to everything that we became accustom to out here is painful. We are missing the way people talk, the long conversations with the checkout grandma at walmart, the thick green lush surroundings, and mostly just the way people here are instantly familiar. Hopefully its rubbed off on us permanently.
We made many close friends. We spent our last year living near the Stites. They have become family to us. Spending time with them was a daily occurrence; most of the time it involved them doing something kind for us. Their kids were so kind to let us hog their parents while we were here. Each one of them treated us like family. We miss them very very much.
How ironic that we have missed our families back in Utah and Arizona (and Washington) for 2 years, and now that we're returning we are missing our family in the south. We wont ever be able to not be missing someone.