Exciting News in the Openshaw Household

Sam is Graduating!!!!

Here is the information for the ceremonies.
When:Thursday, December 17th
Where: ASU Downtown Campus, Wells Fargo Arena
What time: 9am- University Commencement, 12:30 university commencement
More Info: http://graduation.asu.edu/ceremonies/commencement
For those who can't make it, you can watch it online, just go to the website above

We will also have a reception at our house after the ceremony. More details to come.

I found out today that after three weeks of waiting, I have been promoted! I am now an Operations (Assistant) Manager for the PetSmart on ValVista & Guadalupe in Mesa. I'm really excited for the new challenge!!

Sam and I are thankful for our family and friends who have supported us throughout our journey and are most thankful for the opportunities that God has created for us. :) I will post our Thanksgiving pictures tomorrow!!

2009 Favorite Pictures

Here are some of my favorite pictures for 2009. Hope you enjoy!

South Carolina Gamecocks

Yes.... their mascot is a Gamecock. They have cock rags, and their mascot is named Cocky... The most funny thing about it, is one of their big sponsors in Chick-Fil-A... Wait?? Isn't Cocky a chicken???

The Western States could really use some coaching on tailgating. They really know how to do it in the South.

Our setupRick & my MomThe cooksPlaying gamesIn the standsCockyThe band did some cool formations!!

Fire Department/ Oysters

Garrett is a volunteer firefighter at Pimlico Fire Department. He gave us a tour of the firehouse and all of the the fire trucks. I was truly impressed with all of the knowledge he as about the trucks and equipment! It was awesome!!

His gear, he has to get dressed from head to toe in under 2 minutes. Helmet and badge

Grandpa, Garrett, and Grandma Libby

Rick cooked Oysters for us one night. Here are the pictures.

Everyone eating... I tried them, but they taste like a booger to me, so I just popped them open for everyone else to eat.

Boat ride/Carriage Ride/ Fr. Sumter

Rick took us on their boat in the river(I think) next to their community. It was beautiful!!Yes, that is my husband, isn't he handsome!!! :)

The boat and its crew.

Yes... that is a real live alligator!!!! This is the first time I have seen one!! It was just a baby, but I'm sure the mom was nearby. We took a carriage tour of downtown Charleston, which was AWESOME!!

:)

One of the other tours we took was of Fort Sumter. This is the place where the Civil War started. From this trip I learned that although nowadays the Civil War is presented to us as a war to free slaves, in reality it was all about economics... Just like every war we have ever been in...

My mom and Uncle LeRoy getting ready to get on our boat.

Yes, she is really fixing his fake hair. What a wife...The Island, It looks more like a sandbar.One of the cannons.

South Carolina -Magnolia Plantation

We stopped to get some boiled peanuts for the ride to Magnolia Plantation. FYI, boiled peanuts taste like pinto beans.

There was some very pretty plants everywhere! Definitely a cool place to get married at if you are looking...One of the pondsRick, Grandpa Walt and Grandma LibbyRick & me

1st 2 Days in South Carolina

Here is some of the things I have done and seen in the past couple of days while in South Carolina.

Yikes!! I have not seen any gators yet, but I am on the lookout!

This beach is called Short Stay. It is a park just for military people and their guests. My mom and their friends go their almost every weekend in the Summer. Some rentals at Short Stay. It rained all day yesterday, which is why these pictures look so gloomy. This is my idea of a swamp. Kind of creepy, but the flowers on top of the pads are pretty cool.

I made Garrett stand in front of his school sign. He was not to happy about this.
A picture of the front of his school. His mascot is a Stag. Yes... they really have a grocery store called the piggly wiggly.

Savannah. I play catch with her every day. I tried to bike with her and she kept running in front of me so we had to come back to the house. We are going to try again tomorrow.

Today I went fishing with Garrett and his friend. There is a small lake (yes it has alligators) right in their community that they go on. Leaving the truck on the bank.... Kind of scary in this tiny little boat!GarrettSome houses in my moms community. Sunset.Beautiful!!!One of the little blue gills I caught.
Looks pretty cool hanging in the sunset!Lol... I think my worm weighed more than this fish!The Biggie!!! This is a large mouth bass. I think it weighed a couple of pounds.

I also got to go hunting for deer behind my moms house. I climbed up a tree in a tree stand and hunted for about three hours. I didn't see anything, but I'm going again tomorrow, so hopefully I will have better luck next time.

If you have never climbed up a tree with one of these, just let me tell you that if you are not in shape, don't do it. It was easy to climb up, but not to climb down. I am so freaken sore, its unbelievable!! Here is a link to a youtube video. I didn't sit on the stand like he did, I will try this technique next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El2svLS8NJs