new job and travel

The biggest and most important news is that Jon was blessed to find a new job. For some time now we’ve been looking and praying for a new job at a bank that would be more stable, a better place for him really settle into a career path with room to learn and grow, and, in case we weren’t already asking for a lot, a job where he would be able to work fewer hours, my hope is that he gets a Saturday or two off a month, so that he would have more time for me and the baby. Back in February he applied online for a position at an Australian investment bank and for a month we prayed that something would come of it. Then one day they called to set up an interview, beginning a four or five week interview process then radio silence for three weeks where we could hardly breathe not knowing what was going to happen. We really felt like it was truly a miracle in this crazy job market when he got the job offer from Macquarie and was able to leave UBS a month before his job starts, tomorrow, actually.

Because of his sudden time off, he’s been able to study for his upcoming CFA Level II exam, and also for us to visit our families for ten days at the start of May. We went first to California for five days then on to Denver.

When we got to Windsor my parents surprised us by sending us to the coast for a night at the Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa for our birthdays. It was a Thursday so the place was totally dead and we were pretty much the only people under 65 there. So quiet! We had a room with a fireplace and a balcony and a view of the bay, we ate great seafood (Salmon, scallops, crabcakes, sole, swordfish –yum!) and heavenly heavenly massages. The next day Mom, Pop and Amy drove out and met us for lunch and a beautiful drive out towards to Pt. Reyes.

On Saturday we had our baby shower. It was a nice relaxing backyard BBQ with fabulous friends. I loved it! It was so nice to look around and see and visit with so many dear women who raised me in one way or another. People were so generous and we got such cute baby clothes, toys and a number of handmade blankets. We feel so blessed! I just feel bad that I didn’t get a chance to really visit with everybody who came.

On Monday afternoon we flew out to Denver. Jon and I hadn’t been there in about two years, and his parents may possibly be leaving the area, so we had a list of places we wanted to see and things we wanted to do incase we don’t get back there again for a long time. We went shopping for our birthday gifts (shoes for both of us as well as baby and maternity clothes), picked out fabric and a quilt design for Becky to make for us when she comes out after the little tyke’s born, attended the temple and drove around downtown Denver, went to a Rockies Game, drove out to Red Rocks Amphitheater and to Georgetown to ride a train that it turns out doesn’t open until Memorial Day, and got cream slushes from Sonic, burgers from Good Times, and had a really fun dinner at the fondue restaurant called The Melting Pot.

It was a super full trip and we were glad to be able to go and see everyone, but by the end we were ready to be back home sleeping in our own bed and eating our favorite NY pizza. :o)

Unfortunately pictures from our trip are on like four different cameras so I’ll have to do a post later when I get pictures…