welcome to arizona

We made it to Arizona with little or no damage to life or property.  All of our people and possessions made it with no incident, the house was even better than I remembered from having only seen it ONCE for 10 minutes (huge relief).  As soon as we pulled up to the house, we got right to business and went for a swim.  While we were swimming, we saw a huge cloud of dust coming our way from the East.  We decided it was best to head inside.  Apparently, these dust storms are called haboob's and they aren't really dangerous (other than when you're driving since they reduce visibility), they just make a big mess.  

There was food waiting for us at our new house and we were invited to dinner with my aunt and uncle who live just around the corner.  They and my local cousins were very helpful and kind.  We also had some generous helpers from our new church congregation/ward come help us move our stuff into the house when the truck arrived a few days later.  Of course, now a month and a half later, we are still not totally unpacked and I have yet to put up photos or place things on bookshelves :).

We made it (only 3 more hours!)  There should be a sign that warns you of 116 degree temperatures ahead!

Oh yeah, driving in the car to a new home, new life, new school, new job, new church.  At least the boys are still the same!  You can take the crazies out of Nashville, and now we just have crazies in Arizona.

I CANNOT express how excited the boys were to see a real cactus. Particularly Peter.  As soon as we crossed to border to Arizona, he said "Where are all the cactus?"  He has had his own cactus in a pot in Nashville for the last 6 months, which he bought with his own money.  He has been talking about seeing the cactus' in Arizona for months now and asked several times in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas if we thought that he would be able to see any real cacti in Arizona.  And we did.  Here is the proof.  He took a photo out the window of the first one we saw.  Needless to say, he was REALLY excited about it.

The haboob as it was approaching while we were swimming in the pool the day we arrived in AZ.

Not dangerous, but still pretty freaky when you just moved here, THAT DAY, and have no idea what this is or what is going on.  I thought maybe the world was coming to an end. :)