Well Now

Hello to everyone who follows. I'm sorry I have not posted on here for a long time. We have been quite busy and now I have the time and the freedom to post.

As most of you know, we've returned to Minnesota. It was a bit of a rough change as we went from living in our own house to sharing with Mary. We are grateful for her hospitality and are happy we have gotten a little more established.

At the beginning of the move, Jason stayed behind to work until I could find a job. That lasted for about 2 months and returned to us in September. I am, however; still unemployed. Jason was lucky to find a job working for a guy in our ward whose family owns a heating, plumbing, A/C, and other such things company. He's keeping busy and the company he works for also works with a lady here in the Twin Cities that has a show on HGTV or DIY Network. I don't remember which. The show is called Rehab Addict. He's come home a few nights saying that he'll probably be on the show and has told a few stories of talking to the camera guys from the network.

I am apparently destine to spend my time in school. I have been extremely unsuccessful at finding a job in the last 3 months of being here as well as looking and applying for several months prior to the actual move. This is a bit frustrating as I have a Bachelor degree, but it didn't seem to appeal to anyone here. I've decided to return to school. I will make my attempt at the nursing program at Century College. I'm pretty much a semester away from the program, but I also have to get really good grades in certain things and I have to take the Nursing Assistant program.

The kids are thriving in school and having so much fun here. Stacey has said to me that she really likes it here both in school and church. Kail is actually enjoying and voluntarily going to primary every week. He's actually cried when we took him out early one Sunday. Jayden is the same old kid he was before seemingly not too interested in much other than video games and TV. He is doing amazing in school and only struggles with knowing what information is needed for writing a story. Kail does seem to be having some small issues with adjusting to not being able to do what he wants when he wants, but hopefully the talks we've had with him have helped.

I have been called as the Enrichment Leader in my new ward and I love this ward. They are all so friendly and it's wonderful having such a fun calling. We are preparing for our Super Saturday to take place in just 2 days. I'm excited and know that it wouldn't be happening if I hadn't said anything to the previous Enrichment leader. She had no idea what it was, but once I explained it to her, she was on board and ready. I helped her prepare and get ideas until they called me into that position and now she's gracefully helping me complete the project. She is also still the Enrichment Counselor, so she still has her part in it. I will try to post some pictures of our projects.

That is the extent of our lives here in a nut shell. If I'd kept up on the Blog, I'm sure more information would have made it on here, but these are the highlights. The rest is for you to enjoy in pictures with captions.



 

Stacey's birthday. This hat was a gift and she loves it.

Stacey and her friend Ellie Jo pushing Jayden and Ellie Jo's brother Sam up the hill in the back yard. They'd ride down the hill in the wagon and take turns doing so.

Jason is helping Kail ride a friend's kid dirt bike. Since he can't ride a bike without training wheels, Jason had to hold on the entire time.

The kids walking to school the first day. It's really Stacey and Jayden's second day because kindergarten started one day later.

Cutie Kail on his first day of school.

Kail figured out that it's fun to ride on the four wheeler and no one has to hold him up. He loves riding it quite a bit.

Jayden figured out that it really wasn't that bad to ride the dirt bike and actually now wants one of his own. Little dare devil.

This is my attempt at amateur photography of the changing leaves. They're so pretty.

The kids are riding in the trailer attached to the ride-on lawnmower. They helped Jason do yard work.

Our cute little Sam really enjoying the sun.

The kids at the Minnesota State Zoo. They had a blast.

 

Jayden is getting such a goofy personality. He does love to joke around and here he's showing how the unofficial Minnesota State Bird can attack at any moment.

Kail in a mock bird's nest at the zoo. Apparently this thing spins.

I have no idea what she was doing, but it's hilarious.

 

 

Stacey's Halloween costume. If you can't guess, she's an angel. I wanted to get little devil horns and then attach a halo to them, but that didn't happen. 

Jayden as a Ninja Lord.

Kail as a cop. He ended up being a gansta cop at some point in the night as he put his hat back on and it was basically sideways.

This is the kids' haul of candy. We brought the blue bag so they could dump their candy in it when their bags got heavy. Most of this is Kail's and they all still have more candy not pictured on the table here. They really made out well last night.