Big ol' update time!!

So MUCH has happened since July.  I have had "update the blog" on my list for probably 3 months now.  So....where we left off.  Let's start with Cru--He is LOVING pre-school!  It has been so good for him and Mrs. J (Jenae--same one from camp posts in the past) is the best teacher.  He is learning a ton and is starting to sound out words and has read a couple by himself.  He loves the social aspect of it and had himself a girlfriend a couple weeks ago.  She liked to kiss Cru and he said he only kissed her once.  Needless to say, we had a nice kissing conversation, however; during the Thanksgiving program the thing he was most thankful for was "hugging Paisley".  I haven't had him in any sports because he is so busy with preschool and we play a bunch outside usually every day or so.  He is getting very excited for Christmas and has a list that changes every other day.  Hopefully he will be happy with what he gets.

Zoey girl is still just spitfire-ing it up!  Just when I think she has it figured out, the melt downs come back or she starts biting again.  She is FULL of it but doesn't take any crap from anyone which I am actually glad about.  We went to the children's museum the other day and some bigger boys were trying to take a scarf she had and she went ballistic on them and they slowly backed away from her.  It has been nice to have some one on one time with Zoey now that Cru is in school.  She wants to go to preschool because she see's how much fun Cru is having. I am trying to get her into a dance class and will hopefully figure that one out in the next few months.  She is also very excited for Primary so I hope that continues when she realizes she doesn't get snack time anymore at church.

The big news deals with Zac.  In about four weeks we will be moving to Reno, Nevada for a work assignment!  It is kinda nuts and totally unexpected.  Back in September when we were in Idaho for our annual vacation, a huge work opportunity came up for Zac and he had to go to Reno for two days during vacation to help with a job bid.  It is one of the biggest jobs Rosendin has ever bid so he went to help the team out.  They ended up winning the job and Zac got promoted and is one of the main guys in charge on the assignment.  It has been a whirlwind of choices and change, but I feel calm about it and am very excited for my guy!  I am so very sad to be leaving Arizona but have a good feeling that Reno/Sparks will be good.  Career wise and financially wise we would be STUPID not to do this so we say why the heck not?  It'll be an adventure for sure.

So onto me--I have been living the single mom life off and on since October and I have a new appreciation for those who have to do it full time.  It has been going okay and hasn't been that bad but has further solidified my choice to move to Nevada so we can be together as a family.  The kids need their dad in their lives even if it is only for a few hours at night and I kinda like being around him too!  I have had to rely on others to help me when I have mutual and that is not the easiest thing for me to do.  I have lots of help here in my ward so I am thankful for that.  I am going to miss this ward and area a lot!  I have really come to love Arizona and so glad we decided to take a risk and get out of our comfort zone to move here.  It is such an amazing place that will forever have a place in my heart.  We very well could be back here after this job is over.  Not sure how long the job will last but I decided I am done planning.  If we make it back here that would be fine with me. But who knows!  I never EVER thought I would live in Nevada.  I am excited to explore new places and meet new people!  Glad I have always had an adventurous side so things like this aren't too daunting.  I am really sad to be leaving my calling and the Young Women here in Chandler.  This calling is so demanding and high energy and never ending and sometimes all consuming, but has also been my favorite place to be in our church.  I love working with the youth and glad I have had the chance to share a sliver of these girls' lives.

Here have been some of the highlights over the past five months that I have taken pictures of.  (Zac and I went to NY for our 10 year anniversary but I want to do a whole post on that adventure).

AUGUST

Cru started Mrs. J's preschool in August!  This is his first day of school picture because Zac always got his picture by the mailbox.  A little different from his pictures.  Plus it was probably close to 100 degrees in this pic. 

I also had the chance to FINALLY meet someone who has a boat.  Plus I am friends with her (before I knew she had a boat mind you).  I am so sad I will not be able to hitch a ride with them over this summer since I will be 10 hours away. The time we went was so much fun and Cru wanted to try wake surfing!  Like I wouldn't get him in there and start him young.  It was a BLAST and he loved it. 

I also turned 31 in August and decided we should go to the roller derby for my birthday.  I got a group of friends together and we went to a bout together.  It was a riot! 

These are some of my friends I am going to miss so much.  They are all so much fun! 

We also decided we were done with scorching temps and ventures two hours north to Sedona.  What an amazing place.  It is SO beautiful and I am glad we did it!  The rocks are so red and we hiked around and explored.  Even came upon a bunch of hippies laying by a creek while some guy lightly drummed an indian drum and told them to find their inner peace or something.  It was great.

One day at the end of August it rained more in 6 hours than it ever has in Chandler.  It dumped 5.93 inches and flooded everything!  There is about 4 feet of water in the wash right there.  That is usually our park that the kids play in.  

SEPTEMBER

We also took our annual trip to Idaho for a couple weeks.  This is the Drzayich kids throwing rocks in the Boise River.  The kids thought the river was "so giant".

One of my favorite things is a bon fire and s'mores.  If you look closely you can see the Hershey's chocolate on the graham getting nice and smooshy.

My kids helped grandma and grandpa pick some pumpkins in the pumpkin patch with their cousins. They get life lessons at grandpa's house and learn that food doesn't just come from the grocery store! 

Here are some of my most favorite people in the world.  I am so lucky to have siblings that I love and get along with.  Even though I came a little later than the rest of them, I have always felt close to my brothers and sisters.  Plus they are friggin funny and we definitely feed of each other.  Plus we like pizza. 

Little Z turned three this year!  She wanted a scooter and got one.  She is probably better than Cru at it and is fearless riding that thing. 

OCTOBER

Since dad has had to travel with work, I have had to improvise for mutual here and there.  We decided to have mutual at our house and watch The Nightmare Before Christmas since a bunch of the girls hadn't seen it and wanted to.  It was perfect for my kids and another leaders kid to participate in.  We had heaps of fun. 

The kids insisted on carving pumpkins this year and since I was a slacker this year, by the time I went to buy a pumpkin, all that was left were the super small ones.  We (I) still carved like champs though!

This is before the trunk or treat--Zoey is Tinker Bell, Cru is Spiderman, and I am Middle School Me.  What you can't see is that I am wearing my retainer in this picture. 

And this is how you look after trick or treating in Arizona.  When we left it was 90 degrees outside.

Zac and I had the chance to finally see an ASU football game.  It was really fun to be at a college football game and we got to sit with some fun people (Mike and Cindy).

We got the chance to race go carts (ones that go 45 MPH) for one of Zac's work appreciation nights.  It was WAY more fun than I had anticipated and I even got on the podium!  Zac got second and I got third out of all those people.   

NOVEMBER

Cru has really gotten into coloring and is staying in the lines and using more than just one color.  I think he was proud of this picture he colored. :)

We had our YW in Excellence with the theme of girl on fire.  It was pretty cool and I felt like it turned out great!  It is amazing to hear how strong these girls are and how solid they are.  

This is Cru waiting to preform for his Thanksgiving preschool play.  He sang his little heart out and took over the show.  He is such a fun and funny kid.  All of his teachers (school or church) always say how fun he is and how quick he is to obey.  A definite teachers pet but I will take it over the latter.

These two have become the best of friends lately.  They still fight but are probably 75% of the time friends.  I love these pictures of them. 

It makes me so happy to see them like this and I wasn't sure if it would ever get to this point!  I love that they love each other because I love my siblings so much and want the same for them.

DECEMBER

If you look close you can see a tiny scorpion that I killed and the kids are checking it out.  I killed this beast two days before Nick and Jessie came to visit.  SICK! 

Nick and Jessica came with their fam at the beginning of December.  It was SO much fun!  The house was wild and crazy because it is not that big but I feel like we made the best of it!  This is us waiting for the Phoenix train to pick us up after we killed it at the children's museum.

Cove came out dressed like this and Cru immediately went to his closet and picked out the same outfit he had (thanks to Baba for the shirts). 

This picture just makes me laugh.  Zac is on the phone and just holding Jaitz like that.  Goofs. 

This is us at the annual Rosendin Christmas party.  It was really fun!  We danced like fools the whole night and enjoyed every minute of it.  Zac made me laugh really hard a few times with his moves.  He sure does have moves!  

Christmas is in four days and the kids are so excited this year!  We went and saw Santa the other day and there is magic surrounding him.  I love this time of year and I am so thankful we can teach our kids about the Saviors birth which they are catching on to.  Life is good and I am so glad I can say that!  Merry Christmas!