Getting Settled

I just wanted to post a quick post that we have arrived safely in Tracy, CA. We are getting unpacked and are enjoying the area. It is cool today under blue blue skies. This weekend however, we should be in the mid 80's. Break out the sunscreen!! We are about half way unpacked. We need to finish Caitlyn's room and the Parent bedroom :) The dogs learned how to break out of the back yard today, thanks to the wind and the gate not being locked, but they came right back as we pulled in which is good for them.
I will post house pics soon
Love to all!

and the decision is.............

So many of you have been wondering what our final decision is on our move. Is it Kentucky? Is it California? I will tell you that this has been such a huge process for us and in some ways it has been made so clear which way we should go and in others we have doubted, questioned and have had to learn to really tune into and figure out the very quiet whisperings of the spirit.
Having said all that....the decision is
WE ARE MOVING TO CALIFORNIA
Now some of you will be thinking "holy cow, what are they thinking" We understand that because we have said the same things, asked the same things and logically thought through all of that. The Sunday before conference, Kris and I both fasted and prayed and asked for blessings to help us in our decision. In the blessing i received, the man, Brother Cantin, said "I feel inspired to tell you that you need to follow your heart and to do what makes your heart feel excited". So after trying to logically think things through I remember thinking "well, california is what makes my heart feel excited, but that can't be the answer, because it is what I really want" so I told Kris and he had told me that in his blessing that he was told that when he made the right decision, he would feel peace. We both were told that there was a specific place the Lord wanted us right now and that he would help us get there.
So by sunday night we talked and we both sortof talked ourselves into Kentucky and we went to bed. Well monday I woke up and I was so sad. I felt overwhelming sadness. I felt like I had just lost the best thing ever. I felt a hopeless kind of sad. I don't think I had felt sadness like that in a very very long time. I called Kris and asked him how he was and he said "i just feel kindof sad today"....whoa, what? I told him I felt the same and I said "honey, Kentucky is not the right decision" So by that night he was back on the phone with the company in cali and they came back with the offer we wanted plus a bonus to move with and some other perks as well. And all in all we will actually come out with a considerable amount more per month in our savings that we would have in Kentucky, as they upped the offer. We are truly blessed and I pray that as we journey to california it will be for many many years. We are looking to stay in Tracy, CA where the company is. There is lots of rural farmland around, almond trees, walnut groves, strawberry fields etc. As soon as we both decided to go for it, we both felt such peace and such excitement. We did have to stop often and be still and listen carefully and follow how the spirit made us feel. But all in all, don't doubt our decision and we will be closer to home and family and friends.
Our tentative move date is in about a week and a half, so wish us luck!
I will blog more as we get settled

decisions decisions

Who knew planning your future could be so crazy?? Ok, really I did know that it could be crazy...our whole married life has been crazy, a twist here, a turn there....I am hoping this next step might be a straight line for a while. Just when we thought we were Kentucky bound another twist has popped up. Not necessarily a bad twist, just a twist. In January, Taxworks, (who Kris worked for before moving here to Maine) anyway, Taxworks, contacted Kris to go do some contract work for a company based out of Tracy, CA. He actually did the work for them up in Seattle, WA. He was gone the month of Jan. up there. Well, right before he left to fly home, he met with one of the owners of the company (Chuck Petz) Chuck picked Kris's brain about starting up a QA dept for their business, they talked for a long time. He even thought maybe he wanted Kris to do sales for them and to be a sales manager for them, live on the east coast and work primarly over the areas of NY and NJ. Anyway, they were not prepared to make an offer at that time, they needed to get through their tax season and to see what their projected growth would be. That information came back this month for them and they just flew Kris and I out for the weekend, to interview, to look around, to see the areas, the schools, etc. They came back with one offer today, which was good, but not enough for northern california. So Kris counter offered, so we will see what they come back with. I don't think they intentionally low balled, in fact It was a really good offer, but we need to ask for what we need as well. So...on the flip side, Kris did tell ZirMed (where he is working in Kentucky) that he was going to go on the interview in California. They were supportive of that and wanted to talk to him when he got back. They are meeting tomorrow but let him in on the fact that they see him becoming the QA Architect in the next short while (with in 4-6 months) This would mean an increase in salary and stock options plus some other benefits. Both are really amazing places to work, both are amazing places to live. Both offer some great things and both are growing, even in this economy. ZirMed just broke ground on a new building as well. So we have a lot of decisions to make in the next few days. I think I know where we are leaning and then we both bring up other concerns, options etc and we lean another way....So we will post when the decision is final
In the mean time, It was really fun to be in San Francisco for a few days and even more fun to be with my husband. Below are some pics of our trip.

One of the bay bridges
the sailboats down by pier 39
Pier 39. We enjoyed a yummy bowl of clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl!
Kris near the water...see he does exist! lol
A cool black and white of Alcatraz Island....you can go on a flashlight tour every Friday the 13th and every Halloween...fun...or creepy!

Do not pass snow, Go directly to Spring

Don't you LOVE those end of winters, beginnings of Spring, where it gets up in the mid 50's and you think "hmmm, I wonder where Winter went". Its not like I haven't been wishing for sunshine and for the snow to melt, I just didn't think anyone would take me seriously and actually grant such a request as this. We are in Northern Maine for heaven's sake. Land of 200" of SNOW....How is this possible that on March 18th, I can look out the window and see grass where the snow was just a few short days ago. People keep telling me this is "highly unusual" I think I Like the term now. "highly unusual" that means, This is so incredible cool, it rarely happens and don't hold your breath, we have no idea how long it might last. Could there be a negative "highly unusual"? Of course...that might look like -60 degrees, 300 inches of snow...kids home with so many snow days they have to go to school until the end of July to make it all up.....
No THANK YOU...I will take my "highly unusual" and enjoy it.
We are supposed to get more snow the end of the month...But unless it dumps 5 feet, I think I can handle it.
It has been so nice to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors. My dogs are even going crazy, they are leaping around, barking with excitement and genuinely just pleased about not having to go outside in negative temps to do their business.
I feel like a game of Monopoly where you draw a card and instead of saying "do not pass go, go directly to jail" I got the good karma card of "do not pass snow, Go directly to SPRING!!!

Duh!

You know, I keep checking my blog, I've taken off the Valentines background and put up a St. Patty's day Background. I have hopped on to analyze the blog and have thought, hmmm, no more comments. I wonder why. Well, DUH! I looked today and realized I have not posted a new post since FEBRUARY 3rd!!!! Well, no wonder. I probably have people taking a peak, but realize there is NOTHING new.....
Well, here is my attempt at something new.
We are anxiously awaiting finding a home in Kentucky. As soon as we do, I AM OUTTA HERE....no offense to any of my maine friends, I am just so ready to be back with my husband again. hope to never have to be a true single parent in my lifetime. It is not joyful. Well, again, I guess that would depend on the situation that would make you into a single parent. For me, having my husband working out of state, is not joyful. I imagine this might be how NOT achieve the Celestial Kingdom might be. With out my sweet companion here with me there is no progression forward in our relationship (although we are trying to chat everyday and now we are working on goals while we are apart, so that helps) but it reminds me of what that eternal state might be like. How depressing to not have your family unit, to not have your spouse and to just be ministering to others. To me, right now, when I get to be back with Kris, that will be a celestial reunion. I can't wait.
BUT in the mean time..life goes on. I am packing boxes, stripping wall paper and still teaching seminary, doing Relief Society, teaching piano and voice lessons and working, plus being the mom, the chauffeur, the entertainment person, the doctor, the pet walker and trying to find time for some ME time. I think, right now, being busy is a great thing. I can get up , focus on the tasks at hand and get going. It is making the time fly by. I can't believe Kris left for Seattle 2 months ago today!!
So, we are good, we are busy and we are anxiously awaiting yet another chapter in our lives!
Oh, I am also starting a recipe blog. There is only one recipe on it right now, but it will grow. It is www.polsonfamilyrecipes.blogspot.com

LOBSTAH!

AH LOBSTAH!
We decided with Kris heading out to Kentucky in the morning that we would treat the kids to a real live Maine Lobster Dinner! We opted to do it at home because it would be half the cost of taking them out. At around 8.00$ a lobster, it was NOT a bad deal! :) We did not tell them what we were having, just that we had a surprise for dinner. Caitlyn's reaction was priceless as she was walking around the corner into the kitchen she saw the Lobsters and screamed "AHHHH"...not in the Ahhh yum sort of way, IN theAHHHHH What is that on my plate...sort of way. It was funny.
So enclosed are some pics of our Maine Lobster dinner

Before our feasting....these guys were just caught yesterday morning and were driven up here yesterday afternoon. FRESH!
The kids with their LOBSTAH's!
Kris enjoying his Lobster
What is left of Nate's feast..oh, we had a huge batch of steamer clams as well. Personally, I am not a clam fan. But Nate and Kris seemed to really enjoy them!
Along with the lobster and clams we had baked potatoes, sauteed Brussell sprouts, steamed carrots and rolls.
oops..on its side. Nick licking his fork one last time as the meal ends
A little bit of lobster tail
All in all it was fabulous. The little store here in town cooks the lobster for you and boxes it up fresh and hot to take home, ready to eat. It was nice to not have to boil the poor things at home. I am not so good at that. Yummeeee!

Just an update

This is mainly for Kris, so he knows what we are up to while he is gone.
Tonight Nick had scouts and so we made a nice batch of Thai Curry Soup and had dinner. Caitlyn and I took Nick to scouts and of course the dogs wanted to go for a RIDE! They love RIDES in the car! I LOVE the way Zoe's ears perk up and she gets this crooked "Elvis" grin and then she paces and whines until she gets her leash on to go. Zeus waits patiently by the door, watches me get on my coat, and boots and then the listen for the keys. The KEYS are the signature sound. When they hear that sound, they know it is time to go. Once we head out, they both wait patiently by the door...NOT....zeus usually runs around the car or tries head to the back yard. We have to remind him of why we are outside. Zoe is more controlled but only because she is on the leash. Then we open the doors and pull the seat up and in they go. Zoe is really content to ride in the back but not Zeus. Zeus, when placed in the back seat, talks the whole time he is back there. He grumbles and groans and squawks and grunts, telling us this is NOT where he wants to sit. he wants to be up front next to mom!! Tonight Zoe rode in the back seat and Zeus in the middle seat. He was content to be there. I guess it was close enough. When we dropped Nick off, we left and went to Rite Aid. He promptly moved up to the front seat as soon as we had exited the car. Of course when we got back in the car, both zoe and zeus were in the front seats. They are pretty funny. We left Rite Aid and went to Tim Hortons. For those of you who don't know what Tim Hortons is...it is a donut/bakery/sandwich/breakfast restaurant. They make awesome donuts, however that is NOT my favorite part of Tim Hortons. They made the best breakfast sandwich around..It is called a B.E.L.T (bacon, egg, lettuce Tomato). It usually comes on a bagel but I get my on the biscuit. So much better that way. So we went to tim hortons and picked up a dozen donuts. We went home and played scattergories for Family night and ate donuts.
It was a good night. The only thing missing was the daddy. It just is not the same with out my husband home!~ I love you sweetheart!