Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Lone Star State

We got some BIG news a few weeks ago! Petey was offered a full time job with Chevron in their Upstream Capabilities department in Houston, Texas! He got the verbal offer on August 30, and we got all the official paperwork this past Tuesday! So it is now 100% official! I'm so proud of Petey! He worked so hard during his internship this summer with Chevron and I had a good feeling that everything was going to work out! It is such a stress reliever to know that Petey already has a job after he graduates. He just has to stay motivated to get good grades his final 2 semesters :) During Petey's first 5 years of working for Chevron he will have 3 different jobs,  he'll do a different job every 18-24 months. Those first 5 years we could move up to 3 times! Although I'm really nervous to move to Texas this is such a huge opportunity for my hubby. Living away from my family will be really hard since I'm so close with them, but everything will work out. Petey has already told me that he'll fly me home as much as possible. He's so good to me! He literally has his dream job waiting for him when he graduates. I wish I was as motivated and focused as he is! My nerves won't go away anytime soon, but Chevron is such a great company and they are really going to take care of us! They will pay for Petey and I to fly to Houston to look for housing, they will pay a moving company to move our stuff, and they even have a service that will help me find I job once we are settled in Texas! After living in Hawaii for the summer Petey and I know all about humidity. Houston gets even hotter in the summer than Hawaii and we've heard the humidity is horrible. I've had some friends who've lived in Texas tell me that no one does anything outside during the summer because it's so unbearable... so that should be interesting?

Some interesting facts about Houston (thanks wikipedia and current results):

  • It is the 4th largest city in the U.S.
  • The largest city in Texas
  • There are over 2.1 million people (2010 U.S. Census)
  • A 'global city' since it has a broad industrial base in energy (particularly oil and natural gas, yay Chevron!), manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation
  • There is a theater district, a museum district, Chinatown, The Bayou Bend, The Kemah Boardwalk, and much more
  • There are 337 parks 
  • Has 4 major sports teams; The Texans (NFL), The Rockets (NBA) The Astros (MLB), and the Dynamo (MLS) - that will keep us entertained! 
  • An extremely diverse city with over 90 languages spoken
  • Ranks 3rd in humidity out of America's largest cities (1,000,000 people or more)
We should find plenty of things to keep us busy, right??? With Houston having a big airport (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) we will have the world at our fingertips :) Plus Galvaston, Tx is only a 52 minute drive away, which is where a lot of cruise ships leave from and New Orleans is only a 5 hour drive away. Although I'm scared to move away from home (we want to end up back in Utah!) this will be a great adventure and we'll experience a lot! Petey has already promised that I can get a cat once we move there! YAY!!!! Cat lady status here I come :) Now we just have to wait 8-ish months until Petey graduates!!!! Our drive from Logan to Houston will not be fun though... 23 hours! I'm so proud of you Petey!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Leaving paradise and back to real life


Our last month in Hawaii was incredible! We had a great time and it truly was a once in a lifetime experience. I'm so grateful that I was able to go with my hubby! Our last month in Hawaii we were able to:

  • Go to the Punchbowl Cemetery 
  • Take a drive through the mountains and get breathtaking views of Honolulu
  • Hang out at Cockroach Cove
  • Snorkel at 3 Tables
  • Snorkel at Lanikai
  • Snorkele at Hale'iwa Beach Park
  • Eat Motsumoto & Aoki shave ice
  • Kayak to 'The Mokes' (2 islands near Lanikai)
  • Did the Lanikai Pillbox hike 
  • Went to the Aloha Swap meet (twice)
  • Snorkel at Turtle Bay
  • Snorkel at Hanauma Bay (again)
  • Went to Waimea Valley and swam in the waterfall
  • Saw the natural sea arch at Laie Point
  • Explored the Pu'u O Mahuka Heiau temple ruins in Waimea 
  • Swam at Alan Davis Beach 
  • Saw a shark at Kaena Point!
  • Spent a lot of time on the North Shore
  • We sold our island clunker car!
  • Celebrated Petey's 25th birthday!!!!
  • Played with our friends Sterling and Laura
  • And much more....!


                         Here are some pictures from our last few adventures before we came back to Utah
                                                             {warning: picture overload!}

Laie Sea Arch
Snorkeling at 3 Tables. It was amazing!
Cockroach Cove
Overlooking Waimea Bay
Kaena Point - before we saw the shark!
Sea Turlte at Hale'iwa Beach Park! This is with NO zoom!
Kayaking to 'The Mokes'
Waimea Falls 
Having fun kayaking!
Cockroach Cove
Waimea Falls
Picture on the Pillbox hike 
Our last day in Hawaii was spent at Hanauma Bay
Hello Honolulu
The Punchbowl Cemetery 
Beautiful 
View of 'The Mokes' from the Lanikai Pillbox hike 
I love this place!
Happy Birthday Petey!! I love you!


I already miss these amazing sunsets!
Heaven

We will miss Sterling and Laura!

Gecko!! We loved them!


                      We've been home over 3 weeks now and it stills feel kind of surreal! I will forever be
                                    grateful for the time I was able to spend with Petey in Hawaii!!