Leaving Neverland

In an attempt to make your heart grow fonder of us we've rather neglected our little blog recently.  Sorry about that.  But isn't your heart feeling just a little bit mushier?  No?  Well, then bear with us while we try to play catch up for the last few months.

 Back in June we suddenly grew up all at once.  Zach graduated, we moved away from the comfort of Happy Valley, bought a house, and Zach started his new, perfectly responsible grown-up job.   

While I do most definitely NOT miss our old apartment with its grimy interior and lack of dishwasher and AC, Zach and I are constantly commenting to each other about how much we miss the little Starving Student Community we left behind. 

Good luck in Roswell Cowarts!

 But to everything there is a season, so we packed it all up (moving is the WORST.  And that's all I have to say about that) and headed to our new home in the hip, trendy, happenin' location known as...

Elko, Nevada.

What can I say about Elko?  The most we can muster up is to say that it's really not that bad.  As you can see from the map, it's not in the "cool part" of Nevada by Vegas.  It's the rural northeastern part of Nevada about 3 hours west of Salt Lake.  As our (native Elkonian) neighbor put it, it's the bumcrack of nowhere, right between SLC and Reno.  But, as such, it is the hub for all the little surrounding communities so it has more amenities than you would expect from a town of 20,000.

Even Kmart is a big deal here, which is great because that's where Zach works.  Say hello to the new Pharmacy Manager of your local Elko location!

First day on the job

Zach has taken on the challenge of managing with zeal and gusto and I am so proud of him.  Eli is too, but he shows it by heading straight for the narcotics shelf whenever we go visit.  He has earned himself the nickname "Little Narky" amongst the techs.

Oh, and hey!  We own a house now!  I think the whole process of debating about, selecting, and financing the house was more stressful than all of the final licensing tests and moving combined.  But here we are the first week we moved in:

When we went to tour the house it looked like this:

That lovely peachy-yellowy color was EVERYWHERE.  Every wall and ceiling (except for one purple room upstairs) was this color.  It was like being inside the James and the Giant Peach peach.

Luckily for us, as an incentive to purchase they painted the ceilings and trim white and the walls gray before we moved in, so it now looks more like this:

We are slowly settling into our new, non-academically-centered lives and schedule and making new friends.  However, we still very much miss our family and old friends, so if you're ever on your way to the West Coast or just want to make amazing Elko, NV your destination, please come and visit!

Soaking up Utah

It's our last week in good ol' Utah, and it's been mostly taken up with packing. But we've spent the last few months going to our favorite places in the state, so I think I've got my fix for now.

Snow Canyon near St. George

The Living Room along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Arches National Park and Mesa Verde National Park (ok, technically Colorado)

A few months ago when Zach was determining which rotations to pick our good friends the Cowarts from pharmacy school hatched a brilliant plan:  Tyler and Zach could both do their rural rotation in Blanding, UT at the same time and we could all go down and live there together for six weeks!  What fun!  We could bring Eli and the Cowarts could bring their three children and we would all have one long party.  

Yeah.  Due to jobs and classes that couldn't happen.  So the women and children stayed behind. 

Luckily Michelle and I were hardcore, boldly heading the families and taking charge of the households while we sent our menfolk out to get their education. 

Okay, Michelle was hardcore.

I just moved in with my parents for six weeks.

It was hard without husbands, but we managed to have at least one small party in Blanding with Zach and Tyler.  Michelle and I gathered our courage and made the five hour drive down to Blanding with a van full of car seats, two babies, two toddlers, and endless smushed crackers.  Did I mention we were hardcore? 

Blanding, while not terribly interesting itself, is wonderfully located near some great hiking places.

Goblin Valley National Park

Our last hurrah with our fantastic neighbors and ward members before we all split up for "real life"

Eli (mostly) loved it and wanted to do everything himself.  He's also a big fan of dirt.

We'll miss you Utah.  But don't cry.  We'll be back.

A Very Late Graduation Post

See this guy?

This is one Mr. Zach Judkins in his first semester of grad school.  Rockin' the beard.

See this man?

This is one Dr. Zachary Judkins, four years, three moves, one baby, hundreds of hours of commuting, dozens of tests, and one very proud wife later.

 Such an auspicious event deserves only the very best that we can provide in camera phone pictures (how did we ALL forget our cameras?).  Squint your eyes and it's almost like you were there.

 The march of the graduates followed by a somewhat long and then even longer speech. For all of those that couldn't make it, be grateful you missed that part.

 Eli was thoroughly unimpressed with the pomp and circumstance.  But he did love Zach's hat.

Zach:  He honestly did.  He really loves anything he perceives as making him look "cool".

 We look super cheesy in this picture, looking off toward our bright future. But thanks to Zach and all the hard work he has put in for the past eight years the future really is pretty shiny looking.
CONGRATULATIONS HANDSOME MAN!

Next up: licensing exams.  Graduation is really a bit of a false summit; Zach isn't a legalized drug dealer until he passes the NAPLEX and law exam, so despite graduating the stress level remains high at our house.  Prayers please!

Also next up: moving.  Aiee!  More on that later.

1st Birthday Bash

We had a rockin' party for Eli's first birthday.  Can you possibly guess the theme?

Zach: Here's a hint.  Chuck Norris, Tom Selleck and Ron Burgundy.  Three of the manliest men alive

 Seriously... a piece of jalapeno beef jerky just appeared in my hand by virtue of combining those names in a single sentence.  Here's a Ron Swanson video on how to grow your own "whatever these men have in common".

Why is Zach not smiling?  I don't know.  And if he thinks that scruff

passes as a mustache... well, think again.

Zach: I don't always grown facial hair.  But, when I do...

 Grandma and Grandpa Haight and Eli playing peek-a-boo

Don't worry Tawny, sometimes facial hair just isn't meant to be. 

Eli and Rod crack me up.

Oh my.  I beyond love Hazel in this picture.

Leave it to Gabe and Jerica to turn a picture into artistic statement

Carter wins the award for the best portrayal of Charlie Chaplin 

Isaac and his cute girlfriend Sami,

the "cool ones"

 

 Randy, our amazing photographer and Chanel,

amazing at everything

"Look mom!  30 pictures later and I'm still hamming it up!"

 

For some reason when I see this picture all I can think is 

"plethora of sweaters"

Cheers bro. 

Melissa looks adorable.  Standing in for Anthon

with my mustache coming off I look less so.

While he may not have understood the reason for the party, Eli knew he was the center of attention and showed off his "no hands!" trick constantly

As a treat for Eli I thought I would let him demolish his own personal cake with all the mess he could possibly make.  I envisioned something like Brucie- because let's face it, that's the dream.  Or at least my dream.

In preparation, we stripped him down to his diaper, ready for the mess, and instead of diving in we saw a dainty side of Eli we have never witnessed before or since.

 

Thanks to everyone for coming to Eli's first birthday bash.  Post party instructions here.

Next year I'm thinking Togas.