Happy Birthday Jason

Monday was Jason's Birthday and he took the day off work to get some things done around the house. He requested Peach Pie (his favorite) instead of birthday cake. We had a nice time and we were happy to spend the day with him. (Since it was also Presidents Day, the kids had the day off school too).

Since it is his birthday this week, I have been thinking alot about Jason and how wonderful he is. He works so hard to provide for our family. I know that this is a huge responsibility and that his career is full of stress and sleepless nights. I know that there are many days that he wishes we could just move away to a cabin in the woods and live a simpler life. Tonight he is stuck at the office, working on a project that is due first thing in the morning. He carries the responsibility of providing for our family. These days that responsibity can be seem like a heavy burden. He is so incredibly good to me and so kind. He never criticizes me, he just supports me in everything I do. He knows how easily hurt I can be and he is incredibly sensitive to my feelings. He puts up with my loathing when it comes to cooking and preparing dinner and treats me to dinner out WAY more often than he should. He is my very best friend and although I don't know what I did to deserve him, I am so thankful he is with me in this journey and by my side always.

Will is showing me his "Happy Dance"

I don't have any good pictures of James this week because he has been home sick, with the flu. I think it's back to school for him tomorrow, though.

Tubing at Buck Hill

I know, I know. I go months without posting and then twice in one week. What's with that? I like to think I am finally getting organized and settled in. I am better keeping on top of things now that I am mostly unpacked.

We went tubing on Saturday and the kids (and the adults) had so much fun!

On your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Kiley is in the second lane, Kate and Jason together in the far lane...

And now Here comes James...

And I somehow missed Will while he was tubing down the hill,

and just caught him when he arrived at the bottom...

However, he was so sweet to volunteer to re-enact the whole thing for me...

And back up the hill for more...

After I got a few pictures, I went and put my camera back in the car and joined them. We tubed for a couple hours, then had some hot chocolate. It was a fun evening.

Crazy Hair Day

Last week the boys were supposed to do something wacky with their hair for Crazy Hair Day at school. Kiley and Kate wanted in on the fun.

Will

James

Kiley

It has been a long time since I posted and although the Christmas season is long gone, I just have to post these pictures of the kids acting out the nativity story. My sisters son is playing the part of Joseph, and my youngest daughter, Kate is playing the part of Mary. Kiley and Will are the Wise Men bringing gifts, and James is one of the shephards.

Kate as Mary

Kiley and Will as the Kings

Our Nativity Cast

My favorite part of the story was when Joseph, my nephew Aaron, decided that he should be the one to ride the donkey, instead of his wife, Mary (Kate). The look Kate is giving him of disgust is my favorite picture. Just after this, Joseph fell off the donkey. Priceless. It was quite a moment.

And just incase you didn't catch that look of disgust, here it is as a close-up. I am pretty sure I give that same look to Jason somedays. It's that, "Are you kidding me?" look. You ladies know what I am talking about. Jason knows that look well.

And the fall...

We also had a fun little talent show on Christmas Eve. Kate did her favorite trick. It looked something like this:

These People are Crazy...

Hello, from Minnesota, where my weather bug shows me the temperature outside is currently 21 degrees BELOW zero. With the windchill it is easily 40 - 45 below. Our straight temp has not dipped above zero in three days, and today won't either. You would think they might consider not sending our poor kids out to school in this frigid cold, but evidently they don't cancel here. Each morning I wake up hoping that they will consider even a delay till it warms up to a balmy Neg. 15, but it is sort of a source of pride for them from what I can gather. Minnesotans don't stop for cold temps. I am not as hardy as my friends here.

My windshield washer fluid froze up and I couldn't clean my window, so last night I tried to run it through the car wash. I figured the wash would be closed because of the cold, but it wasn't so I sat in the car wash, talking to my mom on the phone when I realized that the spray had been hitting the same spot on my windshield for a good 5 minutes. I sat there for another 5 minutes, hoping it would get unstuck, but it wasn't working. I could not pull forward, because the bar was right in front of my car, spraying the windshield, and I could not see behind because of the steam and ice. I decided my best bet was to back up and as soon as I did the water turned off and I could roll down my window to see if the door was open or closed behind me. It was open, so I reversed backward and out the door. I pulled around front and into the gas station to tell them my dilemma. My car was still very wet and now was a sheet of ice. The guy said he would reset it and I would have to drive through the car wash to get the ice off and get it dried, so I did. However, the water was not warm enough to melt the ice, and the dryer was not blowing cold, so I still have a sheet of ice on my car and it was a challenge just to open the doors this morning. Jason did go out last night and scrape all the ice off my windows, but my garage is freezing too, so I am hoping it warms up a little this weekend so I can thaw out my car.

I was not happy last night. Along with my bad car wash experience, when I got in the house I noticed the crickets I bought had died because of the cold. (The whole reason I left my warm house last night was to buy crickets for Will's gecko and frog) Then I checked our fridge in the garage that we are selling on Craig's list. The small heater we have on it did not do the trick, and the inside water filter had frozen up and broke. Frozen water was leaking out everywhere. We had a guy wanting to buy it and now we have to have it fixed first. I am cursing Minnesota today. I told Jason the next time we move, it has to be somewhere warmer.

Okay, now changing the subject, other than loathing the cold weather, we are doing great. We had a wonderful trip home to see family in Idaho over the holidays. We found a buyer for our home in Wisconsin and we sold it to the company, because our time to sell ran out and the buyers aren't wanting to close until the end of Jan. The kids are starting to settle in and get use to Minnesota. We have made some very good friends here and while it still doesn't feel like home, it is just a matter of time. I am very excited about my new calling as Primary Chorister. I know I will love that.

Jason is doing great at his job and loves the company, the people and everything about it. He got called to serve in our church as ward Employment Specialist/ Ward Welfare specialist. He will enjoy that also. The kids started back in Piano Lessons. We are looking forward to Monday being out of school. We are going to hit the zoo with some friends from the neighborhood on Monday.

Here are some pictures of our new Christmas tree that we found. It is 12 feet tall and perfect for our living room. The kids promised Grandma that they would send a picture. The helped Jas take it down and it reminded them of a book Grandma read to them over Christmas.

FAMILY TREE

KATE SIZE TREE

PIP SIZE TREE

Catching up...

Wow! I am back online permanantly now. I have some catching up to do. Here are some noteworthy moments from the last three months.

October

1. While Jason and I were looking for homes in Minnesota, James broke his foot at recess in Wisconsin. Poor guy! And poor me for being so far away and wanting to hurry home to take care of him. It was a long three weeks with the cast and crutches. Then 3 more weeks with a walking boot/cast. Lots of stairs in our condo, and lots of him getting out of doing EVERYTHING because of his gimpy leg.

2. Saying goodbye to my dear friends in Racine. I have some incredible friends there. As relieved as I was to be released from Primary, the moment that I actually walked out of the chapel and left the new presidency in charge, was really hard. We were practicing for our Primary Program and I just adore those children. And leaving my awesome counselors and friends made me sad. Really, the Racine ward made me feel comfortable with who I am and accepted me for what I am. I miss them.

3. Moving into a temporary Condo that was very unpleasant. It was sort of like living in a college dorm, because we had college kids all around us and they were constantly outside our door drinking and smoking, swearing and partying. We had to take the dog out for walks and I just dreaded going out there. The morning after Halloween, Kiley and Will went to take the dog out and ran back in when someone started puking in the bushes by our house. We were there for a very long month. Made me so happy to move into our house.

(Sorry, no pictures of this experience. I am trying to block it from my memory)

4. Jason started work at his new job and he really loves it. It will be really busy and stressful for now. They are really growing fast and he has a lot of responsibility in marketing, but I am so glad he likes what he is doing and the people he works with are fantastic.

5. Trick or Treating at the new ward building and at Meiers Neighborhood. Lots of candy!

Okay, I know Kiley looks really mad here and like a scary teenager, but I assure you that she is just really playing her part of Frankensteins wife who doesn not smile!!!!!

Wait a minute! There's a smile!

November

1. Will's birthday. We celebrated by going mini golfing and trying out the batting cages.

2. Closing on our house the week before Thanksgiving. and moving out of the condo and into our beautiful new home.

3. I was really sick with bronchitis for about 4 weeks. I could not unpack anything and I felt completely hopeless.

4. Jason's grandfather passed away just before Thanksgiving. Jason stayed and had Thanksgiving dinner with us and then flew out for the funeral the next day. We were so blessed that he was able to be there for the funeral.

December

1. I can't believe it is already a week into December. Nothing much to report in Dec. Jason and I went to the company Christmas party and he was given a card that said they planted a tree in his name in a national forest for Christmas. How very Green of them!

I am feeling so blessed tonight. So lucky to have a warm home and a loving, healthy family. So blessed to been raised in a safe and loving enviroment. So lucky to have grown up in the countryside of Idaho, where I could roam and wander and have time to myself to think. SO lucky to have a wonderful mom and dad who saw more in me than I ever saw in myself. So lucky to have met Jason and to be so in love with him after 13 years. So lucky for his good job and the financial security that it provides for us at this time of uncertainty.

And so lucky to be able to go home this December. I am missing my family (can you tell?) My parents are moving from Blackfoot to Boise and they will be selling their house in January. I am so happy that I can go spend a Christmas in this home and town where I grew up. I am hoping to talk Kam and Am into coming to meet me in Wapello for some goofy childish traditions.

Well that is all for now, except that I should mention that we like our ward here. Jason was called to be the ward welfare and employment specailist. He will enjoy that.

I will write more frequently now. I miss you all.

Kerri