Another week in Alabama August 29th 2011

Hey Y'all!

Its been a very slow week this week with nothing much going on. Its pretty much the same as last week. Sara is working nights. There was this one interesting night, where Regi had diarrhea. I told sara and she thought nothing of it. Then that night, two hours after I put Regi to bed, she started throwing up. She was crying so much she was pretty much screaming. Even with all the commotion in the house, Aliya slept sound in her bedroom. Wow! The day after that, it turned into a cold, and a couple of days later, I inhereted the cold :(

On saturday morning through Sunday night, Sara took the girls up to Hoover for the weekend to celebrate her sister's birthday. I didn't want to go, because I was not feeling well from the cold. So all I did was watch a lot of Netflix, and finish my new favorite book Michael Vey. Such a good book!!! For dinner's, I couldn't find anything that I liked or I was just not up to cooking, so I ordered Chinese food called Golden Dragon. The chinese places here are SO VERY GOOD. Since I am close to the ocean, all the seafood is fresh.

For all those who were wondering, Hurricane Irene did not affect the Gulf of Mexico. We did not even get train here.

The Pictures I sent, are all pretty much in the backyard. It is the city of trees here. It is really hard to find stores and restaurants (mostly restaurants) because of all the trees. You really don't see it till the last minute.

The 2 dogs are cute little dogs. The one on the left is named Layla, and the one on the right, is named Dixie. Dixie is the biggest snuggle bug I have ever seen. :)

I have gotten mom to change the background on the blog, since Harry Potter is over. :'( It is a Mardi Gras image, because Mardi Gras was pretty much "born" in Mobile, Alabama. Most people think it was discovered in New Orleans.

Well, thats all for now!

see ya next week!

Hey Everybody!

So this week has been a little hard for me because Sara has been working nights, and she comes home and sleeps during the day, so I have to take care of the kids while she's sleeping.

On monday, Sara has added me to her AT&T plan, so I have gotten a phone. Now I have 2 phones! An Idaho, and an Alabama phone. Also, I bought myself a Kindle! The Kindle is so amazing!

Aliya has been going to preschool for 3 days a week now, and I have to take her. I have succeeded without getting lost!!! Thank goodness I just have to take about 3 streets to get there.

Last Friday, I FINALLY recieved my debit card! There was a huge mixup, because the bank sent my card to my boss's old address in Arizona! So they had cancel that card and resend the new card which took about 3 days. Saturday, we went out to eat at an Italian restaurant, and sara ordered an appitizer (can't remember the name) and got me to try it. Oh I remember it was Callimary! It was a little gummy, but it was very good. They deep fried it, and put lemon juice over it. I took a picture of it. Then, we had to go grocery shopping, and I got my self a hat (see picture), a skirt, and a couple of earrings. I looooove the debit card. it is so amazing, but I will be careful with it.

thats pretty much it for the week!

I will get another letter next week

Paige

Letter 8/7/11

Dear Mom and Dad and Gavin

It has been a slow week this week, with nothing much to do. A couple of weeks ago, Ian, sara's husband arrived at the house, along with 3 chihuahua's named Dixie, Layla, and Tanner. Tanner, we had to give away to a family that would take good care of him, because he wasn't potty trained all the way, so he spent a lot of time in the kennel. It was good to give him to a loving family.

There is a swing out in our backyard, and Ian and I took Aliya and Reggie out, so aliya could swing. I put bug spray on, but I guess I didn't get enough of it on, so I got eaten alive by mosquitos on my legs. One day, it was itching so badly I was in a little bit of pain. (But not too badly mom)

My name was given to YSA (young single adults) so whenever the group wants to get together, they just text everybody when, and what time they want to get together. They have now wanted to combine Mobile, and Pensecola, which is in the Florida area which is an hour away. Hopefully they will meet around here soon.

Since living here I have tried fried okrah and hushpuppies which are sooooooo delicious! I have tried cheese grits, of which I hate, because I really don't like cheese, but I have yet to try black eyed peas, gumbo, and Chic-fil-A.

There are 3 main things here that people consider to be important, and 2 could be a religion. 1) church (mainly baptist), 2) Bar-ba-que, and 3) football. Possibly in that order.

Also, Mardi Gras started here in Mobil. There is a museum about Mobil, and if you have ever seen Bizzare Foods on the travel channel, one of the images is of a white house that looks like 2 party clowns. I really don't live far from that; probably about 15 minutes away.

Thats all I can think of for now! I'll write more next week.

Love Paige

Steak and Shake

Paige and Sara and the family went to a restaurant that was called The Steak and Shake, and the Walmart behind the restaurant had this gentleman or preacher rather that was preaching his gospel to all those that would listen. Paige said that the preacher was very nice, and gave her a CD after talking with him. Southern hospitality!

We were able to talk to Paige on the phone today, and she is doing really well. She is getting more and more used to Alabama as her new home. She said that the storms there are amazing, and she loves them. She couldn't email me today because of a power outage due to a huge storm that passed through.

Accomplishments: driving to church by herself with Aliya in the car and not getting lost! Thank heavens the church is just on one main street so no chance of getting lost.

Hey if you get a chance to email Paige she would love a letter!

The Big Guy!

This toad was found by Paige's boss. She was out mowing the lawn, and brought it up so that Paige and the little girl could see it. Paige wouldn't touch it at all. Why am I not surprised! You like snakes Paige! Hopefully Paige will get more pictures in the days to come, and of herself so that you can see her and where she lives. Today was her first payday, and that is always a good feeling. She has been working hard, and that working hard has paid off. She is starting to settle in, and the homesickness is going away by the day. Soon she won't even want to come home! We miss her terribly, but know that she is right where she needs to be. Can't wait to Skype with her on Sunday. Also I am having her write letters home so they can go directly on the blog. This will make things lots easier for me. I can just copy and paste like I do for Garrett's blog.

July 4th 2011

Paige was able to go to Florida with her family, and hang out on the beach all day. Apparently the family had an apartment there, and she told me that they sat around an visited. Notice how white the sand is! They went hermit crabbing, and saw a blue crab, and because her camera is starting to die she didn't get any pictures. Illegal fireworks aren't illegal in Florida so they had an up close and personal show of fireworks.

Today she went shopping for shoes. She told me that the humidity was making her shoes fall apart. Any excuse to buy shoes, is a good excuse!

Also when I talked to Paige today, she was watching Tangled with the family and was more interested in watching that instead of talking to her mom. The homesickness is disappearing, and she has only been there not even 2 weeks yet!

Gulf Shores The Beach!

Paige was able to go to the beach on Saturday. She is doing great, and seeing a lot of wonderful things. She still doesn't have internet, but reads her blog from her phone, and would love to see comments to her. Homesickness comes and goes, but her boss put her to work to help ease the pain. In some of our conversations she is in awe of the accents that she has heard, and in church the congregation sang the prelude music, calling it the gathering hymn.

Dinner

I talked to Paige last night, and she sounded so good! Sara took her to dinner at Dreamland bar-b-que. Now remember Paige is a VERY picky eater, but she tried new things, and really enjoyed herself. She loved the baked beans (shock)! Not sure what the appetizer was, and the banana pudding was served a little different, but she like it.

She called me last night, and told me that she went to Wal-Mart and said that it was kind of different because she and Sara were about the only white people in the store. LOL!

Whole new culture for Paige!

Paige's Room!

It seems as if Paige is settling in very nicely! She loves the house, and the beginnings of a nice bedroom. This morning she told me that her bedroom is connected to the girls, and her bathroom. She also told me that the humidity is crazy. She stepped out of the airport, and her hands instantly broke out in a sweat. She is also feeling a bit of homesickness now. I told her to read her scriptures, pray, and then involve herself with the kids. I hope she takes this advice, and it passes real soon.

Pictures from My Phone

Paige has had a very long day! We took her to the airport and were there at 5:00 a.m. Then she flew to Denver Colorado, and had a 2 hour lay over, then flew to Houston Texas for another 2 hour lay over. Now she is on her last leg to Mobil. She has told me that Texas is really hot, and that she had to take a train from one gate to the next. This child is learning so fast! She texted me just a little while ago, stating it's been a very long day, and very excited to get to her destination!

There are not words to say how much I love this daughter of mine!

3 months ago a good friend of ours Liz Thurgood asked Paige if she wanted to be a nanny in Alabama for her sister in law. Paige said no because she wanted to go to school. After Liz left we told Paige that being a nanny in a different state would be an awesome experience and that she could save money for college. I asked Paige to pray about it, and so she did and her answer was yes that she would go. Little did we know how things would fall into place so easily. Little did we know how much our life would change without her.

She has been the sunshine in this family. She and I have been very close through a great many things. As I sent her on her way this morning feelings of dread for me, not for her are on my mind. I will miss her so much, but know that this will be such an awesome, growing experience in her life. She will care for 2 children in Mobil Alabama, and this is not only a job, but it will be a service to the family that needs her. Through this blog I hope to capture as much as I can about her adventures. Of course she has to write home and send me pictures, so bring it on Paige!

God speed!