Hans' Graduation

Here are some pictures of Hans' graduation day, June 4th, 2011.

 This is before the graduation fun started.

 Arlee helping me save spots... She was so good at it too. No one wanted to fight with her.

 Hans looking at me to get a picture before getting his name read.

 This was after he got his name read and hooded as a Doctor of Pharmacy.

 Hans walking out after the ceramony was over.

 Our little family. You can see the "hood" that the doctors where around Hans' neck. (Very uncomfortable to wear).

 My parents with Hans. (I thought I got one with his parents, but I guess not. : (

 All of my side that was at his graduation.

 Hans' side

So for Hans' graduation present my parents gave him some money to take me out on a date. We went and saw Kunfu Panda 2, Ate dinner at Red Robin and then went and had ice cream at Leatherbys-something I am going to miss a lot while we are not living in Utah.

 Hans at Red Robin.....YUM!

 Me.

 Me enJOYing my Almond JOY sundae

Hans eating his Traci's Peanut Butter Cup.

Thanks to all that have supported Hans in his schooling years and to everyone that came and shared his special day with him.

Thanks to my parents for this night out and watching Arlee for us. Probably the last time that we will go out before we move. TEAR...

We are looking forward to Hans getting paid the REAL money to do what he has been doing thoroughout his school years. We are so glad that it is over and we can move on with life.

Hans is currently studying for his FINAL tests that he will take once he gets the okay.  Then we will wait for his PHARMACIST license. After he has that Albertsons (new company that he is working for) will pay him the big bucks. Haha we have a lot of loans to pay off so... The BIG bucks are going to seem like little big bucks until those are paid. Either way he will be making more than what he has been and we are excited for that and to buy a house and settle somewhere.

I am sure I am not the only one, but I hate moving and this one and done me in. We are going to be in a town house for a little bit, until Hans gets his license then we will start looking for a house. So I guess one more move and also a new baby before getting to that stettling point for a while.

Wish us luck. We love you all.

The Hoges!

The offers came!

Hans got a job! He really got two jobs, but because he can't be in two places at the same time he is taking one. That one would be Albertsons in Yakima, Washington. We will be moving our little family about 700 miles away (12 hours) into a town house that we've never seen and we hope we like it. I saw a picture on googlemaps.com, but it doesn't give me anything of the inside. However, talking to the lady it sounds amazing. I will post pictures as soon as I am able.  We will be moving out there on the 24th of this month.
That is the plan as of now, since Hans doesn't really know when he will be getting home from his training in California. He'll fly out the 19th (Father's Day)-bummer I know and come back that Friday, the 24th. Hopefully at a decent hour or the movers will be there before we will. Especially since I need to get out of the car being pregnant and we have Arlee who will also as you can imagine need to get out of the car.
I will keep you updated. Keep up in your prayers that everything will go smoothly.
Love,
the not knowing anythingers. :)

Interviews....

Hans has had an interview with a Albertsons in Washington and is supposed to talk to another person this week, but the guy is taking forever! I know it is only Wednesday, but it seemed like he should have been calling Hans already.
He also had a phone interview with a Walgreens in Lake Charles, Louisiana. From this interview the lady is sending him benefits information already. After Hans gets this he is supposed to call and talk to the lady again. Possible job offer? MAYBE?! She read Hans' interview information from the Walgreens interview that took place about a month ago.  The only reason he didn't get that job is because they hired people that already had Walgreens experience. :(
Hans got a call from a company in Phoenix, AZ and is supposed to check it out after he gets out of school. But with the heat in mind and it isn't all that easy to get there, but car... he doesn't really want to go there.  We will of course take what we can get, but this one has FT positions now, but they might not in a year, due to over hiring. (Which I thought was ridiculous). Why wouldn't they just hire the bunch that they need and not lay anyone off? Good point I know, but I was glad that they told Hans that he could get laid off, before we decide to live there. Granted that the most ideal place to work would be in Utah, but we might not need to be here right now. I guess Hans would get a job otherwise; right?
As you can tell we are still waiting and looking for opportunities so if you know anything, pass them our way, please.

Enough said....

As I mentioned in an earlier post; we are in need of a new bed.  I thought for sure that I wanted a sleep number bed that you can adjust the toughness of it. After trying out the sleep number beds and not being too impressed... Hans and I were about the same number so we thought why not get a normal bed since we are about the same of firmness. This led us to RCWilley and we found the bed that we love. Serta Natural Sleep-Cyprus! It was so soft and didn't cost nearly as much as the sleep number beds. I think I have now convinced Hans that we need a new bed. He was dreading sleeping on our hard bed after feeling what a nice soft bed would feel like. Hahaha we are still going to wait until after he gets a job, but are hopeful that it will happen soon, since we both woke up sore this morning. : )

Hans has a phone interview with Albertsons up in Oregon today and we have our fingers crossed!

Good luck Hans!

Huge Need...

Alright! As you can tell I am in a huge need of something. That little something is a new bed. My sweet grandma gave me my bed when I was about 15 years old... well now I am 23 almost 24. My... now our bed is in need of a replacement. I swear my aching hips, sore shoulders and knees are from this hard bed. Not only is the bed hard it has very old springs which I don't like anymore.

I am in love with the Sleep Number beds at the mall. I would love one, because sometimes a hard, soft or medium bed would be nice. Sometimes, I prefer the couch as I am just not sleeping well on the bed.

However, most other times the bed, but just because it has my cuddle buddy in it. Who by the way also can't sleep on his one side since his shoulder hurts. Haha! Probably from the bed I think.

Our bed has been a nice one, but it is time to trade it in. Don't ya think?

Hans doesn't think so... Why? He needs a job first. I would love to get this bed problem taken care of, but with out a job. There is no use in spending our funds in case we might need them while he still doesn't have a job.  I will tell ya. I am really wanting this job searching to end. At this point, it is almost pointless to look for a job since everything that he could do until his license gets here is now full. So now we wait.... If you know of anything lets us know. The sooner he gets his job, the sooner I get my bed. : )

Louisiana Trip/ Interview

Hans and I went to Louisiana this last weekend for an interview.  We left Arlee with my mom and then Abbie would pick her up after work. My mom took us to the airport and then took Arlee back to her house to wait for Abbie. I was about to cry when we were walking away and I looked at Arlee with her arms out stretched screaming and crying for us to take her with. It is always sad leaving our little bug, but we must do it every now and then. : ( She was fine soon after. Thank goodness for everyone!

We left Friday afternoon and came back Sunday night. It was a fast trip, but worth it. Hans had his interview on Saturday and it lasted a little more than six hours. It went great until they said that they didn't need us to come down for a year! WHAT the... I thought that was crazy. I don't really think that is going to happen, but that is just my thinking that I don't want to move rather than maybe that might be something that we need to do.  We will see. They are going to keep in touch with us.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Sugar cane fields are every where. Lining them are roads and huge trees.

Hans riding in the car with the people "interviewing" him were showing us around.

 Hans looking out at all the sugar cane... As you can tell it goes on forever.

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 Sugar Mill

 This is where the sugar gets dumped into the barges to be shipped all around.

 Bayou Teche from the car.

 Louisiana is very flat and green, except when the sugar cane has been cut down.

 Hans standing next to some trees that were by a place dedicated to the first Franklin guy to die in some battle (can't remember right now)

Me and Hans standing together with the trees. They are tall and skinny and have moss on them. I actually didn't get any pictures of the huge oak trees that canopy the trees. Weird, I know.

 Hans and Jerry Fournet (interviewer/business owner) walking over the bridge to look at the Bayou Teche

 Here is a better picture of the Bayou Teche

 A little restaurant off the Bayou Teche

 A picture of the trees that Hans and I were standing next too. The Fournet's house is just a few to the right of this picture. They also took us to their house.

 The houses that are built off the Bayou Teche

 I thought you might be able to see the water under the bridge, but I guess not, but this is what the bridge is made out of.

Here are some pictures from the plane. I always have to get some.

 Louisiana

 Colorado.... I thought this was pretty cool with a bunch of mountains with no snow and then one in the middle of them all with snow.

 The white spot on the top left is from the same mountain from above, just zoomed out.

 This is the same mountain as as above, just zoomed in... way in!

 Even more zoomed in. I like to play with the camera. Can you tell?

 River from the airplane.  This is also in Colorado.

Colorado again. This time with clouds.

The pictures from the plane are just if you like to see the difference, but no real significance.

OH YES!!!
I tried shrimp and liked it. Those that don't know me really well, I don't eat seafood, lake food, creek or stream food. This however, my cousin, Natalie talked me into trying. I wanted to try it and told her I would try things once, but I have to tell you I was scared out of my mind. The last time I tried shrimp I hated it. The last time it was dipped in cocktail sauce and absolutely gross. This time it was with a jalapeno and wrapped in bacon. Hans had to tell me wear to bite it off and once I did; it was delicious. Now, I am not going to think that I like any kind of shrimp now, but this was good. Natalie was telling me that it is really fresh there so that may make the difference. Who knows? I am not going to be the judge of that.

Ulla you should be proud of me. I actually like some kind of variation!

We are so happy to be home even though we enjoyed our visit. 
Thank you to the Jordans for being our hosts.
Thank you to my mom for picking us up and dropping us off at the airport. Also for taking care of Arlee.
Thank you to Abbie and Matt for being second parents to Arlee while we are gone. Sorry she was not the best sleeper, but what little kid is? Well maybe it is just her, but she enjoyed the time with you.
Thank you to Hans for letting me tag along on the adventure.

Where will we go next? Stay tuned....

Chels

Decorations, Birthdays, Eternity, Outings and the Christmas

Here are some pictures for ya.... Oh yeah and some tid bits of information too.

Decorations outside our place:

Our front door

Our balcony

Our lights compared to our neighbors.... for the record we did ours first.

 Hans' brother and sister in law have their birthdays pretty close to each others so Amy decided to throw a birthday party for both of them. It was a surprise for Jens and a get together for Amy. We played volleyball, ate cake and socialized. It was a lot of fun especially since Arlee let Hans and I both play. (usually she is a momma's girl when we have people over to play volleyball.)

Hans and Arlee at Jens and Amy's party

 Eternity: Hans' childhood friend and his family got sealed on the 18th of December. Hans wasn't able to go with the schedule he has had so I went and supported them.  It was a beautiful sealing. I absolutely enjoyed it even though I was crying like a baby by the end and even more so when I went and gave them a hug. I cannot express the feelings that I was having, but they were overwhelming. (I had similar feelings when I went to another family sealing that I have been friends with for a long time.)  I have told Hans that there is a totally different feeling from a couple sealing to a family sealing for me.  I can't wait for the day that we can go be with my sister, Abbie and her husband, Matt when they adopt and be sealed to their children. (I love you and pray in your behalf everyday Abbie and Matt).

Even though it was windy and cold everyone went outside to congratulate them. I wasn't able to get all of them, since they were coming out when I got this picture.

Family/friends

The happy family: Jared holding Sophie (dead asleep despite the cold and windy conditions) and Jeni Smith

Everyone complaining about the cold as Jeni was saying that she was dying of heat! Crazy woman...

Their family members that attended

This picture was taken where the wind wasn't too bad 

They had to get a picture where the wind was the worst! This was in front of the temple

Jeni laughing and saying that it is freezing!

Hans' Birthday party at my parents' house:

Hans with Kasiah

Kasiah, Hans, Arlee and me

Kasiah loves blowing out everyone's candles.  (Don't mind how retarded I look)

I need to figure out how to cut and paste myself into pictures. This one looks a little bit better.

My sister, Abbie and Matt

*Anyone who is reading this... let me know if you or anyone you know is placing their child up for adoption. These two would be great parents)

My last living grandma (mom's mom) This is not counting her "Stepmother" that is nine years older than her either. My grandma's mother, Helen died when my mom was eight years old. I am not sure how much time passed until he got married again, but nontheless she is my last living grandma and I still have a great grandma, but we have always called her grandma instead of great grandma anyway.

Arlee smiling in her dress up clothes at my parents'

So here is one for ya. Kasiah was being so silly... She got all dolled up and wanted Shawn (Kali's husband) to marry her. After they got married she wanted him to dance with her and dip her like he dipped Kali during their first dance. HAHahahahaha everyone that was paying attention were giggling quite a bit. Shawn was a good sport and did everything that she had asked for. It made Kasiah's day. So cute!

My parents gave Hans Jazz tickets for his birthday.

 

Arlee loves to play with boxes. This one she was pulled around the kitchen in. It was a great moment for her. She laughed the whole time she was being pulled in it too. We do this around our house, but usually in a laundry basket. It is still great fun though.

Hans' Birthday party with the family members of both of our families that could make it. This is at our house.

Arlee and I were able to get Hans a Jazz jersey this year.

Chili's:

I am not in any of these pictures... I hate that I am never in them, but they look like they were having fun. : ) (I was too by the way)

Notice the huge bump on Arlee's forehead... Hans told Arlee: "Go tell Mommy to take it easy", because I was saying something to him (probably hurry up) and she looked up at me just in the nick of time to trip over a towel from her bath earlier and slammed her head right into the door frame directly in front of her. So sad... She was of course screaming her guts out like it was the end of the world and Hans and I cuddled with her. Maybe now he will not send her to do his dirty work?

Arlee and Hans coloring the paper that they give the little kids.

Christmas:

Santa brought Arlee a kitchen for Christmas.

In this picture she was telling us that she was excited. I love this face that she gives.

*One day I decided that I would finally unpack her stuffed animals. Once they were out she asked me to pick some of them up and follow her into the living room. As she was walking out of her bedroom that we were in she puts her hands on her cheeks just like in this picture and says, "EXCITED!" and looks up at me with a huge smile on her face. I busted a gut. I hadn't taught her that at all. She did it all on her own. Silly little girl.

Blocks that Santa also brought her

Here is a house that Santa (or the elves rather) made for her. That she loves to play in.

As you can see. Just today, she was playing peek a boo with us.  Arlee will put all of her toys in there and sit and play for awhile. I am enjoying her new found independence, but of course I still enjoy playing as much as anyone.

Arlee got some dress up clothes for Christmas from my sister, Lyndsay and some princess shoes and this crown from Hans' parents.  The shoes are cut off in this picture, but she loves putting them on and walking around the apartment. Especially in the kitchen where the shoes make a lot of noise. I feel bad for the poor couple below us...

Diaper bag for Arlee's babies from my sister, Kali and Shawn

This one is not the excited face, but the "Arlee make faces at mommy" face... Hans tells her to do that and this is what we end up with most of the time. 

Glamour shot? Not really, I just caught her at the right time... she was playing with her earring. As she calls it Ring-ring!

Outing with Arlee:

Hans was trying to finish up some things that he needed for an application, so I decided that it was time to get Arlee out of the house. (She loves having Hans home. She will not leave his side for the most part when he is. This might make you understand that it was much needed for all of us.) We went and played in the snow. Arlee and I had a lot of fun. We attempted to make a snow man, but weren't successful since the snow was powder. Not a problem for the ski season, but it was for us. For the most part, we played on the slide and had a blast doing so. Arlee would sit on my lap and we would go down and hope for a soft landing. The first time down I was able to catch us with my feet into a standing position, the second time down I tried, but I landed on my butt! However, I was lucky enough to land on some powdery snow.  We went down the slide more and more times and I still wasn't able to stop us with my feet.  I gave up and just hoped that I didn't have a bruised and sore butt by the time we were done. I thought I better not just hope though so everytime that we went down I would pile up snow so I could land more lightly.

The plan worked, my butt is fine and Arlee and I had a great time. I am so glad that she loves being outside despite the cold temperatures. It is a joy to be out with her. Now if only I could find a way to keep her blasted gloves on. Suggestions!? Comments? Please leave below...

Arlee and I making faces... well atleast I AM. Maybe Hans caught her just after she finished the fish face. : )