Goodbye Merced

We left our summer home in sunny California only to arrive in a dreary college town. I must say the moment I arrived in Provo I was less than thrilled. It may have been because my husband still hadn't arrived or because I feel that my life is at risk whenever I'm on the road. I'm sure I can think of a huge list of reasons why I would prefer to be somewhere else. However I am excited to continue with my education and get it done. Our final days in Merced were filled with packing as many things as possible into the smallest space possible. It takes some skill but seeing as this is our 4th move of our marriage i'm getting pretty darn good. I left 3days before Max so I could detour up to Boise for Anna and Buck's wedding. (Both fabulous missionaries that served in Armenia with me.) I drove the 11 hours all alone and did great thanks to my running jams and harry potter. I got to Boise just in time for the bachelorette party. It was great thanks to Leah and Mandy! It ended in us jumping in the pool in our black dresses. a successful party indeed. The sealing was excellent! I remember reading in my grandpa's journal about his wedding day. He said that it seemed that if someone was not married in the temple it would be as if they weren't married at all. I have that same feeling every time I witness a sealing. The power of God is needed to bond a husband and wife and that power can only be found in His holy temples. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison.

I was able to see my mission president and his wife for the first time since they have been home. It was wonderful. I absolutely love them.

If anna made everyone a bridesmaid...it would be chaotic.

The mission family

Of course there was Armenian dancing at the reception.

It was a beautiful wedding and I'm so glad that I was able to go. The day after the wedding I headed back to Provo. I spent the night with my friend Leah because Max wasn't there yet and I didn't want to sleep in our scary empty apartment alone. I love leah so it all worked out..

Ok...Next post...Max's trek to Utah

update

This post is to remind me of what to post in the future

• Moving from California
• Anna and Buck's wedding
• Lori and Jacqueline's baptism
• moving in
• mold
• moving out
• new apartment.
• Max starting the fire academy

Maybe someday I will make time to elaborate...

Baertlein Family

Last week Max's parent's and brother/cousin, Justin came to visit for a week. It was kind of a last minute trip but they came down to visit us and spend a day with Justin's mom and Grandma. Max had to work most of the time so I got to practice being a good hostess. It was fun!

We Visited the tiny local zoo. The familyBowling in Bakersfield. Dinner with Justin's Mom and GrandmaMax was teaching his dad and Justin some important stretchesSnuggling...No, we didn't let Justin sleep with us.We had good times.

RMA Boating!

So about two weeks ago Max's boss took all the pest boys on a boating trip. The wives weren't able to go because there wasn't enough room on the boat. It was ok with me though because we get to hang out by the pool or be in an air conditioned house any day while those boys are working long hours in the hot sun. They deserved a day on the lake! Anyway, I don't know what so say because I didn't go and I'm sure Max won't post about this so I will just put some pictures up.

The team!

They had so much fun and were sore for days after!

Playdate!

Earlier this week I got to baby sit our neighbor's 18 month old while his parents celebrated their 3 year anniversary. Weston is basically a perfect kid so it was so fun playing with him all day. Just saying...usually babysitting makes me less excited about having my own kids but now I want one just like Weston!

we started the day with sidewalk chalk.

Then we walked to the park with Britney and Olivia. (another pest control wife and her daughter)

Posing on the fire engine

His Zoolander pose!

He liked our new photo book.

We played baseball and with playdough then...

We made cookies as an anniversary gift for his parents.

We used this picture to make an anniversary card.

He kept sneaking the dough the little rascal...

Almost done...

Fun! I hope we have a playdate again sometime soon!

Fresno Family Fun

We had a great day yesterday in Fresno. Those crazy pest control boys have been working hard and the company decided to award them with a day at the waterpark for them and their families. We decided to leave early in the morning and attend a session in the Fresno temple. It was beautiful. Us after a session...Max gave me a watersliding hairstyle (Just in case you were noting the uniqueness)
We then took a lunch break. Max and I were the only ones who packed a lunch so we went with our team to in 'n out burger. While they ordered we lugged in our lunch cooler and pulled out our tastey homemade BLT and our fresh crisp bag of veggies.We felt like snobs in the middle of a busy burger joint while Max insisted on wiping of the table down in his suit and I crunched down on a bell pepper. We just laughed at how odd we must look.

Then we headed off to the park. We had so much fun. I was remembering the last time I went to a water park O didn't have my contacts yet and I couldn't bring my glasses so I walked around the park blind. It was all a blur (haha...I know i'm funny). Anyway...we loved going down the slides time and time again. There were even really steep drop off ones when we weren't touching the slide. Scary! I love that it's so hot here, it makes places like this more enjoyable.

So we didn't really want to take our camera down the slides and in the water to we took a picture at the end.

Everyone else had already left so our "group picture" consisted of us four.

Then, after we were worn out (Mostly from climbing up so many stairs to get to the slides) we went to an Armenian restaurant. I was talking to an insurance guy from Fresno and he told me that there is a big Armenian population in Fresno and that they have quite a few restaurants. He recommended George's Bar and Grill. We decided to try it out. This was the 3rd Armenian restaurant that I have tried since i've been home and I haven't been too pleased with the first two. And I can't say I was really pleased with this one either. I think the reason being that Armenian food realy isn't that great. While I was there it seemed that there was always a huge hype about having Խորոված or շաուրմա parties. It took me this long to remember the stomachaches caused by քյաբաբ և բոն չիկ. The լավաշ served at the restaurant was great however it wasn't լավաշ at all, it was merely pita bread. I think my Armenian cravings have subsided and I'm sure they will stay under control until I visit the country itself whenever that may be. Anyway, we have so much fun when the boys take a day off work. I love Summer!

4th of July

Happy Independence Day!
Every year it seems that we celebrate differently. This summer and last we have been "visitors" in random California cities. This can make it hard to decide what to do to celebrate when we are out of the local loop. This year we asked some neighbors and church members where to catch some firework shows. We were excited to know that there would be one at the high school down the streets from our apartments. We headed over when it got dark and much to our disappointment...the fireworks were lame...like a million fountains that all look the same...nothing big or explosive. To make matters worse...there was a man narrating the firework...aisinkin..."listen to the screeches this one puts of..." I don't need someone to tell me a firework is screeching thank you very much...We found out later that is was just a company advertising their fireworks.

Lucky for us that the high school event was on July 3rd so we were able to redeem ourselves the next day. We did some more research and found that there was an actual good show at a high school in a neighboring city. We went and found a big open field and enjoyed a good show!

We went with the other people in our pest control group.

So Romantic...

Our friends' little boy (Weston) enjoyed the fireworks and loves Max!

Weston really liked rubbing Max's head then seemed to think that Max needed more hair so he added grass.

5th of July...We were not done celebrating...seriously what's Independence day without pie.

I have been wanting to learn how to make pie becuase I never have before and Lemon Merengue is one of Max's favorites. So Marissa and I worked hard and made an amazing pie. We are just so proud of it so I'm posting several pictures of the pie!

It was so tasty!!

That's all!