The Sunshine State

Many people have been asking if we know where we are moving/doing with our lives?
We are now somewhat excited to announce that we are moving to Florida in January. Kevin will be working with his dad, and I will be once again on the job prowl.
If someone has been dying to drive across the country let me know, I have no desire. And Kevin wasn't impressed when I suggested I would fly out and meet him here.
Hope Kevin wants an annual Disney Pass for christmas!

Great Minds

You know you have been married to long, when this happens:

Trinkets

Before Shelly took a school trip to Paris, she asked me if there was anything I wanted. I told her I wanted anything other than a tacky trinket. So being a smart-aleck 11 year old that she was, she managed to find me the tackiest trinket: a plastic Eiffel Tower, sitting on a plastic globe, with Tweetie Pie hanging from the side.

On my family's latest field adventure (to Prague - which I wasn't invited to. It doesn't matter if I have already been there or not. I still wasn't invited) Shelly and Cori managed to out do themselves:

Not really sure if I should thank them for thinking of me or not.... I do know however, I need to take a trip somewhere and quick! Hope you girls like snow-globes.

*Big Hole In The Ground

This weekend we took a day trip to the Grand Canyon, it was amazing. We hiked the Bright Angel Trail, which was a grueling 9 miles to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (although the bottom-bottom was another 6 miles beyond that, but I like to think I achieved the bottom, so work with me here)

Initial reaction to the Grand Canyon:

"Bottom" of Grand Canyon:

Cool rock formation that made me think of TJ. Maybe you could explain how the Grand Canyon was made for the talent show?

We were hoping for something a bit more exciting to happen here. Unfortunately no one was rammed. Kevin told me if I was the one to be rammed, he would have knocked the mountain goat out. I considered getting rammed just to see him try.

*I may or may not have at one time referred to the Grand Canyon as "the big hole in the ground," and it is quite possible that I will never live that one down.

Cheaters Never Propser

It's November first and we are still wearing shorts and t-shirts:

Taken November 1st (this just doesn't seem right, I should be wearing three layers!)

I feel as though we have cheated winter and having an extended summer. Which is why I am starting to worry about where will we end up moving in January. I'm starting to think that our punishment for cheating winter will be a move to Alaska. However, I'm banking on the fact that Karma doesn't know how good of a cheater I am (see any member of my family for details on this)

We have been taken advantage of the wonderful weather by doing lots of out-doorsy things, such as jet skiing. We went jet skiing when we were down in Florida, which means we were in the same water as alligators.

Kevin was not allowed under any circumstance to throw me off the jet ski. I could have been eaten alive! (I have very sweet blood - they can smell it, you know) The alligators turned out to be too fast to catch on video, but we did find something else....

We plan on taking lots of advantage of the weather before shipping off to Alaska!

Remember The Lions

This past weekend Kevin and I got to go out to Florida to watch Trevor and his fellow lions, of Oviedo High School, lay the smack down on Hagerty (a big rival school.) It also happened to be Trevor's senior night, and my first ever high school football game. So when you add the two together, it made for a very exciting evening! Which will hopefully explain the following videos:

I learnt a valuable lesson from this video: don't be embarrassed to just keep filming. What you miss here is the commentator announcing Kevin as older brother "Keevie" and then the longest most awkward pause: "and wife Nicole." I also missed us all shaking the coaches hands and me proclaiming that: "we are just SO proud"

A few things here: a) the players go from linking arms to holding hands (which made me feel very uncomfortable. Note Trevor was not touching anyone!) and b) that yes I did scream rather loud when the canyon went off....it was so unexpected.

One Hump Or Two?

Camelback Mountain is a very popular hike here in Phoenix. It is just one mile to the top, which doesn't sound very hard, but when that one mile is at a 100% incline, up medium sized boulders and an increase of 1100 feet in altitude (facts obtained and then exaggerated from Kevin's gps watch), things become more challenging.

It was super bright up there - hence squinting!

Camelback on Camelback. Despite what you may think, this in not a bum bag (or that heinous word you Americans use to describe it). It's my water carrying pouch!

Rather large Saguaro (or for you non-desert experts: cacti)

Demonstration of steepness:

My little 2-mile-round-trip hike though is nothing compared to my mother who just hiked 70 miles across Spain. She and a friend decided to go on a Pilgrimage in Northern Spain (apparently you spend less time in purgatory this way.) So for the last week they carried all their belongings on their backs, slept in monasteries and struggled along the Pilgrims trail. I find it very hard to believe my mother did this, I personally think she spent the last week at a resort and spa. I need photographic evidence!

Hip Hip Hooray

Hip hip hooray,

Kevy had a birthday!

One more year old,

Life is just beginning to unfold.

And still decades away from the gray.

The day was lots of fun,

And would probably equate a home run.

He received lots of stuff,

27 candles did he puff,

Getting them all out in one!

Apparently the theme for this birthday was the colour red! In true Saltzman tradition he had to try on all his new clothes. However if you look quickly, it looks like he is just wearing the same thing and I take too

many photos of him.

Kevy had many birthday requests, one of which was that we all played Settlers of Catan! And since we are all such a loving family, we let him win (although I don't think Katie was too happy about it)

And this is because: being sung to isn't awkward enough:

Judgemental

Yesterday we were offered third row seats to the WNBA playoffs....The Phoenix Mercury against the San Antonio Silver Stars (who's job is it to name these teams?)

Black Jerseys = Silver Stars. White Jerseys = The Mighty Mercury

We went with the attitude of considering our appearance to be similar to community service. Someone needs to support them, right? But we ended up having a really good time.

The game was really intense, and I ended up getting far too in to it. And am embarrassed to say I would go again.

My biggest regret was not having my video camera. The WNBA has a very interesting fan-base, who offered countless amazing footage moments. I may have matched the fans in intensity but there were many other things that separated me from them. Such as: a biker chain, an Ellen DeGeneres hair cut, oh and a husband.

This is Charles Barkley one of the top 50 players of all time. I learnt that if someone points out Charles Barkley in a crowd full of Basketball fans and you go "Gnarles Barkley, where?" The person in front of you will turn around, and give you a very dirty look, and Kevin will have to jump in and explain that you are from England and don't know too much about basketball.

Moral of the story: Don't judge basketball by who is playing it. A good game, is still a good game. (Kevin will pretend he doesn't agree with this statement, but I saw how much fun he had last night. Don't let him tell you otherwise)

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me! I have now been in America for 5 years. Look at me go.

I moved to America at the beginning of September 5 years ago, into my far-too-small dorm-room at David-John Hall. Much has changed since then, but it has been a wonderful 5 years. So to celebrate I have dedicated the whole of September to my anniversary (think of me what you will.)

So far to celebrate we have been country dancing. We had lessons beforehand from an old G-pa Cowboy. We quickly became friends and he started using me in all the demos. He liked to come around and critique us as we were dancing. Apparently I bob around too much. He suggested I keep my upper body still and take smaller steps; "save some energy for when you get home."

We also went out for some good old American BBQ, at a small whole in the wall known as Stacey's. It has been voted number 1

BBQ in Phoenix, and I now understand why. Nothing like good ol' fashioned smoked BBQ ribs, served to you by someone with a hic accent to let you know your in America.

To accompany the celebrations I have been increasing my American knowledge by reading about Abraham Lincoln. My knowledge on America is somewhat embarrassing. I also plan on being able to label a map of America before the month is out.

Since we are only half way through September there is still plenty more time for celebration. I just need to think of more American activities....Ameritivties?

(ps. I still love England, as is evident by my past costumes for halloween.)

Spot The Difference

Kevin and I went for a bike ride with Sean (Kevin's cousin-in-law) on monday, the difference between biking in Arizona and Utah was HUGE!

Can you spot all the differences?

1. No dad in Arizona

2. Kevin's and my outfits don't match

3. My jersey, well Kevin's, is way too big (hint hint, Dad)

4. Lush green v. desert waste land.

5. Cacti! If you look carefully you can see them in the background, they were everywhere!

6. I had to carry my own backpack with Kevin!

7. Kevin is sporting his Cougar pride (he actually got a few comments from fellow riders)

8. There are clouds in Utah!

As fun as it was, 20 miles in the super heat isn't necessarily my first choice to spend a holiday. Maybe next time only 10 miles?

"Yes Master"

Kevin was accepted into the Southern Utah University Masters program for Exercise Science and Conditioning!

Everyone should start preparing themselves now, as Kevin has requested that once he graduates to be referred to as "master." Apparently if you become a graduate student you are ranked up there with Major Nelson.

SUU is the home of the T-birds, which means Kevin has gone from a proud BYU Cougar to:

or if you are/were a nerd and grew up in England one of these:

Either way he now has a halloween costume for life!

You are all invited to Kevin's graduation, which will be held in Cedar City, hopefully in the summer of 2012, where Kevin will receive his "hoodie" (or more commonly known as a hood.) Hope to see you there!

The Grand Canyon State

We have moved from what claims to be a desert to what really is a desert....Utah is a lush beauty of green compared to Arizona!It took us 12 hours to drive from SLC to Phoenix, and this is what I got to stare out for 12 hours, the back of our U-Haul. And when I wanted a break from that I got to look at this: 

Thankfully to make the journey a bit more enjoyable Kevy and I had walkie-talkies, and with code names such as Rubber Ducky and Foxy Loxy how could we not have fun?

It may be 105 degrees today ....and for the rest of the month ....and quite possibly all of next month. But I shall be having the last laugh come November and still wearing shorts while you are bundled in everything you own!!! Except if you happen to live in Arizona or maybe Texas and actually Florida too....But for all you others HAHAHAHAHA

Final Countdown

With our last week in Utah coming to an end, things have been somewhat hectic. However we have still managed to do one or two things. For example, we both finally graduated:

To celebrate our graduation we had two parties. A "Nicole Party" and a "Kevin Party". For my party I requested we spend the day at a water park, which was hydrotastic! Kevin's party of course centered around food, and lots of it. I think my party was better, especially as I got to wear this!

My final request before we left Utah was to go down the Alpine Slide. I like to think it was symbolic of how we are sliding from one phase of our life right into a new one. You don't know what is coming around the next corner, it takes a lot of effort to move forward (the sleds were actually really hard to control), blink and you miss everything happening around you. 

The Converse Club - cool kids only

"Tour"ture de Midway

After a week of training a new lady at work, packing for the move and studying for my last final, my dad decided what I need was a bike ride! My dad is a very "focused" (read intense) bike rider. He took my Uncle Steve and I up by Cascade Springs in Midway, which was very pretty but only had two gradients: straight up or straight down! 

Call me crazy, but I have never been a fan of spandex, but my mum told me that I should really wear the padded bike shorts. I'm so glad I did, otherwise my poor bottom would be super sore today (versus just sore!) 

As fun as it was, I'm thinking next time I would rather have a ski lift take me to the top and I'll just ride down....

We found some pretty deep puddles (I chose to avoid this one)

I don't like getting my feet wet!

The only sunglasses I could find were Kevin's. I choose to think I look ravishing in them, and not that they made me look like I have a big nose and a wonky head.