We have been very busy since the end of November with moving to a new city, starting new jobs and adjusting to a new life. We have slowly been settling into our apartment in Sierra Vista, but have found that we are over apartment life. We only signed a six month lease, so hope to find a more suitable fit for us over the next few months as we learn more about our new home. Sierra Vista has a very similar small town feel like Flagstaff, just tumble weeds instead of pine trees.
Shortly after we moved in and just two days after Christmas, we found out that Jared was going to be laid off at the end of January. His brand new position with General Dynamics as a Help Desk Technician was losing their contract through the Army, which meant the entire staff was going to be laid off in that department. This was a very heavy burden as we had just invested our time and money to relocate to Sierra Vista. Unfortunately, this also happened just days before our one year anniversary, so our big weekend plans were canceled as we needed to save every penny for what might come in the next six weeks. Jared instantly began working on his resume and networking within General Dynamics and through Army personnel. Within a week, Jared had an interview with another department of General Dynamics, also at Fort Huachuca, as a Proxy Administrator (whose contract is until the end of 2012) and he was offered the position! We were so relieved and thankful that he was able to find a new position not only so quickly, but in the same town!
Kayla was able to get a transfer to Wells Fargo and was able to continue working for the company she had just started with. She has been thinking about going back to school for awhile, but with finances and timing, the idea has been put on the back burner. After working at Kay Jewelers and now Wells Fargo, she is clear that a sales position is not for her. She has always had a love for the hospital environment, but her weak stomach doesn't allow a profession in the medical field. The summer before her senior year at NAU, she had a Public Relations internship that she loved at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Unfortunately the current economy has eliminated a lot of PR related positions. She has now decided to go back to school to become a Child Life Specialist, to help children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events while in the hospital. She is going to begin by taking online classes, then hopefully find a nearby university to take the necessary in-person classes. The position requires a bachelor degree in Child Life, three certifications and 480 volunteer hours, so she has a long road ahead of her before she can apply, but she is very excited to begin the process! Kayla feels that being a Child Life Specialist would be a very rewarding and fulfilling job and would also tie in her PR degree as Child Life does a lot of event planning.
Well we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary and can't believe how quickly the past year went. Although our one year wasn't ideal because we were stressed with Jared's job and didn't do anything special as we were scared to touch our bank account not knowing the future. But we were thankful that we were together and living under the same roof again! We enjoyed all the anniversary cards, memories from the day, watching our engagement and wedding picture montage videos and looking through our wedding album. We did get an anniversary cake from the same bakery that made our wedding cake, which was delicious!
Our one year anniversary cake from Barb's Bakery!
The pink champagne was so delicious!
We have found a doggy day camp for our little guy Max and he just loves going! We normally take him twice a week which allows him some social time and good exercise! The place is called 'Going to Grandma's: A bed and biscuit kennel,' they give us a report card and pictures of Max playing about three times a month. The only bad thing about the place is that it's all dirt, so our white Max comes home orange! We bathe him so much more now but we know it is worth it. There is also a great dog park nearby, which allows us to take him to play ball and run around. We hope to get a backyard in the future and maybe a sister for Max, because he loves being outside and he loves being with other dogs. This is the first time Max has ever lived somewhere without a doggy door and he has done so well with letting us know when he needs out and has managed to hold it all day while we are at work.
Max at doggy day camp
Max playing at the dog park. He was trying to be the next Sandlot dog
We still have a lot of unpacked boxes and have yet to invite any family or friends down, as we are still trying to get settled and adjusted. We are enjoying the adventure of a new city where we only know each other, but we also know that Sierra Vista isn't somewhere we care to make permanent. For now, we are making the most of it and are looking forward to what this chapter in our life will bring us.
We will continue to keep you updated and maybe blog more often!
Jared and Kayla
