7 months old

I can't believe McKay is already 7 months old! We're on the other 1/2 of his first year! Seriously, where has the time gone?!?! And he is just so DARN cute!!!

december updates

Well, now that it's almost February, I am finally posting Christmas pictures! What can I say? We spent Christmas vacation in Dubuque with my family. And except for Alan who is serving a mission in Chile, we were all together. All the kids, grandkids & spouses. We had such a wonderful time, I didn't want to come home!

Christmas Eve our little family got new p.j.s.

Then, little and big kids alike participated in our nativity.

Christmas morning.

Family memories.

Sledding fun.

6 months

the latest

Last night we had our first black out in this house. Both Dallin & Tyler had work/school canceled because of the ice storm, and yesterday afternoon, about 3:30 we were grocery shopping -- rather quickly because Dallin was meeting up with the Elders later -- and Dallin suggested getting something to eat for dinner on the way home. The kids thought that was a great idea, and actually opted for Subway over McD's. I was so proud! We got the food to go, and then headed home to get our groceries in the fridge. We sat down to eat about 4:30 -- early, I know, but apparently EVERYONE -- except me -- was STARVING. As we ate the lights slowly dimmed, and then everything went dark. I pulled out some tea candles -- I really need to invest in some large candles (unscented) and candlesticks/holders -- the kids thought it was really neat to eat by candle light. Adeline kept singing Happy Birthday to someone. And I mentioned to Dallin what a great idea it was going to Subway, because dinner would have otherwise been rather interesting. Dallin had to leave shortly after to meet with the Elders. So, I had 3 kids by myself in the dark with not a whole lot to do! McKay also needed to be fed right then, so the 4 of us piled up on our bed and I fed McKay and read stories to the others. The power came back on about an hour after it went off and I used that opportunity to get the kids to put their clean clothes put away and get ready for bed -- and gave McKay a bath. Just as I got McKay in his P.J.s the power went out again. Dallin came home not long after that, and he and I got ready for bed as well, and back on our bed we went and read books for awhile. Slowly the kids drifted off to sleep, and we put them in their respective beds. Dallin fell asleep around 9, and I ended up reading by flashlight until around midnight. It is a really good book -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. It's a fictional book about people living in the Channel Islands during the German Occupation there. Really fascinating. Anyway. The power came back on around 3:30 or so -- don't ask me how I know this. And school is canceled again today. Our school district has used up all their scheduled snow days and then some this year. Right now the last day of school is June 7. They may do what they did last year and make up the days else where during the semester. Hopefully they do that. So as of right now we may not leave for Utah until June 8. On a more somber note, last week Dallin came home and told me that the principal had told the teachers that they were going to have to cut some positions. He told them in 2 or 3 days he would know who was leaving. The teachers were unsure if this meant they lost their jobs immediately -- they all have a clause in their contracts that says this is possible -- or if it just meant they wouldn't be back next year. Last Friday was day 3 of this waiting period, and all the teachers stayed after school waiting to hear what was happening. After waiting for about an hour the finally called the secretary and asked her to go into the meeting the principal was having with the CEO of the school and ask them if they had made any decisions yet. The principal came out and said they were surprised anyone had stayed. They thought everyone would have gone home at 3. WHAT?!?!?! Long story short -- they hadn't made any decisions yet, and hadn't even really discussed it yet. Again, WHAT?!?!?! They told the teachers they would have an answer for them on Monday. Super. On Monday everyone found out that they are "safe" until the end of the year. This is good news because it means Dallin will get paid until August. Contracts are supposed to come out in March. We don't know if we will find out before then what our status is. Dallin did mention that the principal met with Dallin and told him that Dallin is one of the most versatile teachers out there. And then asked if Dallin would be willing to teach the GED recovery class. Uh...yeah. Dallin was also asked if he thought people would be willing to give up their Special Ed bonuses to help keep a few jobs. Dallin said he would be willing to. And I'm thinking, especially if it's HIS job they're saving! So that is where we stand right now. The kids are doing well. Oh, I have to tell you this, too. A little background first -- 2 years ago Dallin applied and had an interview for a teaching/coaching job in Cherokee, Iowa -- that's about 2 hours west of where we are now. While we were waiting to hear back from the school I had a dream that we were told to move to Fort Dodge. I remember in the dream being upset and insisting that we were moving to Cherokee. A week or so later Dallin got the interview here and then a job offer. And now we live in Fort Dodge. Last week Tyler had a dream that on his birthday our family moved back to Dubuque to live with my parents. This amid all our worry about Dallin's job. He is so insistent that this is going to happen that on Monday when we went to the library he refused to get a movie and books because he insisted that we would be moving before they were due. I've started planning for Tyler's birthday party in a couple weeks and Tyler always makes sure I know we have to have the party before we start packing up. We'll see what happens I guess.

updates are coming

I know I haven't posted in a while. Our computer finally bit the dust just before Thanksgiving, so the only computer I have to work on is Dallin's work computer. And I only get that for a limited amount of time in the evenings & at night. That means I have to do all my computer work in a short amount of time. Going through pictures and what not takes up A LOT of time! That being said, the pictures are cropped and sorted, and I will have some up by the end of the week! Yeah! Be prepared for a picture/update assault!