The big update!

We are really here in Memphis. It has been so long since I last posted & so much has been going on! The reason why I started this blog was to keep track of all the details of our experience...not doing a very good job, am I?
I will try to highlight some things....
We have been to the same church 2 Sundays in a row! It looks like they have a great children's program & the service Andy & I went to was upbeat & had great music (three of our biggest requirements!). We haven't really met anyone to hang out with, but it is summer & I think of this time as "church-lite"--people want to get in & get out to enjoy the day! I think we like it enough to stay! When we moved to Phoenix it took us several years & many churches to find one in which we felt at home.
I feel like we have looked @ at least 50 houses since we started on that first interview trip! I know I am over estimating, but I might not be off by that much! We have found several houses that have a lot of the things we want, but there is always something not quite right...not the neighborhood we would like, bad floor plan, no yard, weird neighbors (ok, we don't really know if they are really weird, just a feeling!) I know we have high expectations, but I think the right house is out there! I wonder if house hunting is like shopping for a wedding dress...when you try on "the one" you just know it's "the one"? We have found a couple that have come close, but we are still looking for "the one"!
I have found some great shopping...and I have not even stepped foot in a mall! Right by the Target (one of the first shopping I HAD to find, after the grocery store!) is some great outlet shops: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm. Already found some great bargains at Williams-Sonoma, and Andy even let me break our rule of not buying anything else (besides food & the like) for the house because we already have too much stuff to fit in this rental house as it is!!! Of course it was some new grilling stuff to go with his new charcoal grill (apparently, Memphis people look down their noses @ people who cook on GAS GRILLS!) So, now we have a little collection of grills going (I think this is exempt from "THE rule" because it doesn't actually come IN the house!) Next, Andy wants to get a smoker...we will have to put "grilling area" on our list of must-haves for our house hunting!
We went to the cutest 4th of July parade in Central Gardens...we would love to live in this neighborhood, but most of the nice houses are just a tad out of our budget. The kids--& parents-- had decorated their bikes & scooters & wagons. They even had a little judging stand & across the street had chairs set up for people. They also had free hot dogs & snow cones & lemonade for the crowd! It seems like just the neighborhood we are looking for...now to find the house!
On Sunday we went to a Memphis Redbirds game. We had great seats just a few rows up from home plate...it would have been really great, except it was EXTREMELY humid & there was no air circulation where we were sitting (we must be spoiled from the indoor-air conditioned D-Backs stadium!) It rained for about a minute when we got there then stopped, but I think that cloud just stayed over our heads instead of moving on! The boys were a little grumpy (Andy & I were a little grumpy, too!). To keep them happy we spent way too much $$ on popcorn & ice cream & cotton candy & two baseball caps! They did have fun @ the play area & the BIG hill above the outfield! Nothing like rolling down a hill on a Sunday afternoon to top off your great weekend!
We had our 9th wedding anniversary yesterday! I found a cute grocery store that is JUST like AJ's back in Arizona. They had great prices on flower bunches so I bought some "from Andy"...I love getting flowers from that man...I always get what I want, because I always pick it out!! We went to Bosco's for dinner. We were hoping that it would be our new Spinato's (our favorite pizza place in Phoenix), but it is more expensive & they only have individual pizzas. It was very good, though & I'm sure we will go again. They even brew their own beer!
The kids have been in summer camp at school this week. They are both having a great time. Logan & I get to go to the zoo tomorrow..but, SO sad about the baby elephant who died yesterday (only click over if you are emotionally ready...
http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20090709/NEWS01/90709007/Memphis+Zoo+mourns+death+of+baby+elephant
That poor momma. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow.
Keenan is going to all day sports camp next week & is very excited. I'm preparing myself for a VERY tired 6 year old!
This weekend we have plans to go to a fun concert in the park & church & more open houses! I was supposed to go to coffee tomorrow with some girls from the main office at school, but Logan's teacher needed drivers for the zoo so I had to cancel. But, now we are trying to plan for an afternoon get together next week with wine & girl talk....sounds even better than coffee!