Snow & more snow, Braces off, Swimming fun, & outlook on future job search...

Kids are out on a 4 day weekend!!! Yeah - it is nice to have breaks for sure!!!

We have been having calm - warmer weather & then out of no where a huge storm will hit without much notice beside some wild wind. It closes the interstate, dumps us a new 2-10 inches in a blizzard & in 2-4 days it melts!! Still have a good amount of snow on the lawn - but the weather is fine - not as bitter cold as it had been!!

(I am pretty sure I don't believe in the ground hog anymore... but I am glad it isn't another job we as parents have to undertake like the tooth fairy, Easter bunny, Santa, etc!!! LOL)

Guess what - another freak storm & it DUMPED on us!! Here is Tyler trying to clear out every one's driveways so they could get out early this morning. (If you look close in the left of the garage window you see John - our Sweet (& big) Alzheimer neighbor staring out watching Tyler plow his driveway! He is so cute & I'm sure he'd love to be out there helping Ty!)

Brady is happy & as helpful as can be of course!! He & Madison went to the Stake Center & played with the Glathar cousins yesterday & had a lot of fun! They both have also started taking Swim lessons (since we don't have any Tavaci/LeVoce going on right now) & they absolutely adore being in the water!!

Madi - is doing 100% better. As soon as we started the steroids & singular every single spot was gone in about 5 hours... I was amazed - as some of the marks on her face looked like they could start bleeding & scar!! I am grateful!!

Tomorrow we head to the Dr. to start our EKG's on the 2 youngest to begin our Genetic testing with our kids - now that Dave has tested Positive for Long QT syndrome - there is a 50/50 chance our kids could have it - now that we know Dave has it. Out of 13 grandchildren who have been tested so far - 7 results have come back positive!! ( That they too have the matching Genetics to Jackie & that they also have Long QT Syndrome!!) One family having 3 of their 4 kids - being positive!!)

Considering the 7 siblings who have tested & 5 have matching tests results... I am sure all our numbers will be higher than 50% in each family!! I am so glad none of us have had any episodes in our families yet & hope we never will.... deep breath!

Tyler is starting to struggle a bit more with school - but still hanging in there. He lied to me about there not being any Parent teacher conferences & luckily I found out... as after 3 hours meeting with almost all his teachers - they loaded me up with all his late & missing work - not much luck in him accomplishing any of it so far... But a wonderful thing is: Teachers all report he is still respectful in class & a joy to be around! He got his braces tightened yesterday & is loving playing in all the mud outside! Ugh! His thoughts & actions are so random right now - he has a hard time concentrating on even playing outside... he is in & out & up & down every 15 - 20 minutes - which is so odd for him. But he is handling it so far the best he can.

Garrett got his braces off this week & is loving that!! Had a wonderful PT conference with several of his teachers this past Friday!! He continues to be a A+/A student & has been recommended for Honors classes next year!!! Every teacher commenting on how he is their stellar example of hard work, willingness to help others, getting work in on time, & being respectful & a great all around kid to be with!! THANK-YOU Garrett for all your hard work & effort you apply to your schooling!! You make us very proud parents!!

This weekend he was at Torrington with (only) 37 other kids this weekend - they were going to have him compete Varsity & JR. Varsity in the rounds that he has been winning so much!! I talked with one of the girls on the team last night & it didn't sound like it was going to well for him as his partner was pretty upset. SO I hope their luck changes today!! (They ended up placing 3rd over all & the team again took 1st place - Which I think is Great!!) Only about 1 month left until the season is over - he is still loving it!!

Well news from the JOB FRONT: We have been here in Green River now for 11 years next week due to Dave's Job out at C&D!! It has been a wonderful job, amazing benefits (till this Jan. - in my opinion.... but have realized I am glad we have ANY benefits considering many don't), & lots of other perks here & there over the years.

Dave has been feeling pretty uncomfortable for a while now that something was going on & that it wasn't good at work. He called on Tues to let me know that the VP for C&D had flown in & announced 2 big meetings to make some announcements for all employees at the plant!!

Then in Wednesday's paper in announced (in short) they are moving some of the operations (Distribution, Kitty litter, & ?) to CA where they will be building a new plant & warehouse (where they can pay workers 1/3 of what they are paying people here) & will be eliminating 60 jobs in the next year.

Transition assistance, severances, benefits continuation & support in finding other employment opportunities will be available.

Dave doesn't feel to great about it - I personally feel he would be fine... but knowing 2-4 other supervisor's jobs would be eliminated - I guess if they wanted to play their seniority card.... Dave could be one of the 60... (they'd be stupid to do that, in my opinion.)

But I really believe Dave has started looking around for other possibilities. (Sad part being if he were to find another job before the 12 months is up & when they announce their Buyout/transition assistance package - then he looses out on that ... which I think would stink - but at least we'd have a job!)

I feel at peace & know that the Lord has always provided a way for what he needed us to be doing & where he needed us at. I will support him/Dave no matter what happens, if we get to stay or if we need to go elsewhere to find work.... change is good, not always comfortable - but we can adjust!!

I told Dave he better consider a place/or company that offers moving assistance if we have to move - considering Keith/Dad isn't here to do all the work, it would be impossible to move all our stuff again! *Smiling*!!

It is comforting to know all our debt besides the house is paid off, Misc. expenses (braces, insurance, etc) is saved for 3 months in advance, & we have a ton of food storage.

Dave has been calling friends out at Solvay, FMC, etc... I had the thought come to me & mentioned to him to call Ray & sounds like he did.

P.S. Valentine's was fun!! I was able to eat lunch at the elementary with Madison & Brady today & visit with them in their classes!! That was so fun!! Brady is Mr Friendly & "Casanova" as Dave calls him!! It was so fun to walk down the halls & sit with him at lunch & EVERYONE was tapping him or waving at him to say HI Brady!! Made me just smile to know he is such a friendly guy & has met so many people at school & is loved!! Makes it so much easier to let him go off each day to school!! Madison's class got to watch a movie, eat lunch in their classroom, & have ice cream sundaes which I helped provide a bunch of supplies for their party! Madison & Brady LOVED having V-tines at school!! They are SO LOVED by their friends & teachers.

At home - We had swimming lessons this night - Garrett didn't have practice, so he & Ty played in the gym & we were able to do a little more at the Rec. tonight! Then once we ate dinner & our Valentine cookies - we had FHE. We sat around reading our V-tine cards & between Madison & Brady they had handmade over 50+ valentines for everyone in our family!! Tyler surprised us all & bought these cool chocolate rose suckers at school for everyone, Garrett quickly made a handmade valentine expressing his love & thanks for everyone & then we had some fun little trinkets & treats in our mailboxes from Dave & I. After - we made time to go around & have each person talk about or name why they loved or admired each family member & that was neat to hear the things the kids had to say about each other!! It was a nice evening.

So ... for now - onto another week!!

All is well... Update on the family & Madison is on the mend

To keep the blog up I might have to insert sections of letters I write here to our many missionaries out serving right now so I can keep up on what is happening at home! (Here are some clips included from this week's past note to Grandma.)

* Grandma is currently serving her mission in North Carolina (here she is pictured with Sister Peace in her ward who loves to feed the missionaries.) She is serving as the Financial secretary at the mission home & is loving it - but dearly missing us all... well I should say the grand-kids!!

Uncle Tony flew out today to Tacoma Washington.. where we learn from our cousin Denelle that there was a 4.3 earthquake today... My mom messaged me the info. about the earthquake & I replied... "Did you Txt Denelle back & let her know it looks like Tony has arrived safe in WA then?"... as Denelle isn't a member of the church & I thought considering he is so into body building & is so excited to be going on his mission... it was his Big ARRIVAL to WA!! I don't think my mom found it too funny!

Info. from our past week:

Our big excitement this week comes from: Madison getting really sick again due to an allergic reaction to her Antibiotic the Doctor put her on the week before. (The week before she ran a 101 - 103* fever starting on Sunday & by Wed. we couldn't get it to break with our routine of warm bath, gatorade, motrin, & soup - so we took her to the Dr. & they tested her for everything... she had nothing but was dehydrated & low on potassium - so just in case they put here on a Antibiotic.) UGh... Almost within 5-6 hours she was spot free after taking an oral steroid!! I am so glad!! She had a wonderful day at School for Valentine's day!! Her & Brady alone probably made close to a 100 homemade Valentine's cards for our family!! What a treat (except the reminding them to clean up their craft supplies each time they broke into a creative moment!! LOL)

Other that - Tyler finally cleaned his room!! It is amazing, helped a bunch that he wants to go on the upcoming Dare Ski trip again!! Proud of him that he did such a good job all by himself!! He is so excited to go skiing again... has a bag almost packed & it is still a month away! He has been trying so hard in school & has actually really been making some effort to be more civil at home lately... I don't know if I want to call it maturity? or just a fluke... but I hope it continues!! I like having my ol' boy back!! He is so fun to watch & enjoy when he is happy! Today I was touched when I was up at his school hanging locker posters for the Girls BB team... he somehow found me or saw me & actually came to talk to me... all of a sudden he reaches into his pocket & pulls out 6 beautiful Chocolate & red Chocolate rose shaped suckers & said... "Mom, can you take these home for me & put them in everyone's mailboxes for me?"... What? You thought about everyone else & even spent your own money on buying something for them too!!! WOW!! Romeo... watch -out!!

Brady is of course SO Excited for Valentine's day tomorrow/today & to see all that he is getting at school!! (LOL) I went to eat with him at Lunch today at school & I am so tickled & proud of him... if that boy doesn't know every person in the school & is a friend to "EVERYONE" than I don't know who is!! It was SO Fun to see him walk down the halls, sit at lunch, etc & EVERYONE came to talk to Brady & see how he was & to tell him HI!!! We get so many reports from Adults who work at schook or visit with their own kids that Brady is quite the Ladies man... LOL!! (It terribly upsets him when Dave teases him about it... but I tell him that is a good thing as it means he is kind to everyone & that everyone in return wants to be his friend!!) He is a doll!! I Love this Stage!!

Garrett had his first weekend off from traveling with Speech & Debate & we enjoyed it!!! Only about 2 months left (YEAH!) He gets his braces off this week & a permanent retainer installed!! It will be a busy week for sure!! Things seem to be calming down a bit.. tonight in FHE when we were going around the family & talking about what we admire, like/love, or appreciate about each other... he comments that he appreicates that I help him fine tune his Debating skills... (He was laughing!!) Meaning - he enjoys that I allow him to & give him the opportunity to argue with me!! S0 FUNNY, but I do love ya!!! (P.S.... all this arguing you do better pay off in the future!!! ☺)

I got to teach a lesson in Relief Society today on fasting - it went well. Realized it has been since I was in the RS Presidency back in 1998-99 that I last taught a lesson in RS!! I feel it went well, but of course I always have to many tears (That is annoying! Oh well!) Of course keeping busy with Photos!! I seem to think that things are slowing down & that maybe people aren't interested in my style or what I am offering... then all of a sudden I get 2-3 calls or e-mails booking new sessions for upcoming family, missionary, etc. HOW fun & exciting!! I love it!

Dave traveled this weekend with referring to Evanston! He sure does love it!! Dave & Madison had their 1st Daddy - Daughter date on Saturday!! I have never seen a happier little girl than she was!! From showering, picking out her outfit, to primping & getting ready for her big "DATE"!!! It was awesome!! (I am so grateful for such awesome programs in our church & what they do for our kids!) I am most grateful for an awesome husband who enjoys taking time-outs to spend with our kids on special occasions like this!

What a fun time for our 8-12 year old girls & their fathers, Grandpas, & mom subs today!! They had so much fun!! Their morning started with some fun photos (which I got to do), a wonderful breakfast with the most Heavenly Pancakes & Potatoes ever! Then they had a relay as they were given a bag of goodies - the girls had to tie a tie on their dad's neck, they had to clip an ad out of the paper of their favorite food, the Dad's had to tie a pony tail in their daughter's hair & paint her nails!! Then they also played a game to find out how well they knew their daughters answering questions such as: What does your daughter want to be when she grows up, where does she want to go on a dream vacation, what is her favorite food? There were giggles & smiles galore!! Thank-you Sister Davis, Sister Fairchild, Sister Nathan, & Sister Hardy for such an awesome activity & breakfast!!

Other than that - the weather seems to possibly be warming up!! We hit 37* today & I didn't notice much wind!! That is nice!! Maybe we can break out the flip flops & shorts in about 3 more degrees!! :)