The Long Belated Update

Sorry for the hiatus in our blogging. Life has kept us very busy. I don't know if that is a legitimate excuse but that's my excuse.

As you all know we moved into our house in January. After moving into our new house we set to unpacking and then invited our family and friends over. It is so nice to have space for people to come over. If you had ever been to our

old, dark, dungeon of an apartment you knew that it was near impossible to have any one over, let alone sit, talk and enjoy each others company. We love it!

When spring came we began our yard work (aka the clean-up). However, I also was still attending school (at UVU and U of U) and busily getting my portfolio together to apply for the architectural program.

In late spring Taylor lost his job. This

was devastating to our family, however I was very proud of the way which Taylor handled himself. As many of you know this was not the first time Taylor has lost a job. However, his attitude toward this situation has shown me a total change between how he once was and the man he is today. Shortly after losing his job he received a phone call from a manager of a Big O Tire shop close to where we live. I was at an all time frustration level with the situation, so

this phone call couldn't have come at a better time. He went in to interview and accepted a position as a sales man. He has since been one of their top

sellers. Although he is still not an early bird and does not enjoy the early hours, he continues to amaze me with the positive attitude he has every day.

As summer came, school ended for me. I decided to continue to work part-time in order to spend more time with the girls before school started again. We spent much of the time cleaning, planting, raking, and bagging up the yard. We took many, many truck loads of brush, debris, apples (rotten) and leaves to the dump. At the the beginning of summer/ end of spring we had a last storm that brought down a few tree limbs including a large arm to a tree just south west of our house. Once the clean up was over we began to plant. We planted flowers, bushes and even started a garden. We carved pumpkins from our garden in preparation for Halloween.

In late July I recieved the news that I was accepted into the architectural

program at the University of Utah. This news was great relief. However,

there was much anxiety that came with this news. I had to work out daycare and my work schedule. We had figure out how we were going to survive financially with me only working 2 days a week. Things seemed to fall into place as the summer progressed. Whenever I have doubts I simple look back at how perfectly every thing has worked out and I know this is what I am supposed to be doing right now. Now that I have been in the program for several months I absolutely love it. It's my "family" outside my family. Don't get me wrong it is a LOT of work. The other week I had a project due on a Monday. I was at our studio all Friday night and on Sunday from noon until 5 in the morning. It seems that my days consist of sketching and building models out of cardboard. It is very time consuming but it is definitely worth it. I am learning so much.

The girls have started at a new daycare (preschool) just across the street from my house. I also love this. They drive two hours (more with traffic) everyday with me. We spend time talking, singing, playing game, and I am not going to lie.... there is some

yelling and frustration involved. The girls have gain great friends at their new "school". They have also learned SO much. They have been attending just over 2 months. Already Bailey has learned to to spell and write her name. Jada is in Big girl pants all day. They have centers, recess, story time, nap time, show and tell. I love the structure and learning that occurs.

Here are some pictures of the girls in their Halloween costumes. They dressed up on Friday. Their school had a "carnival" Friday night. The girls and I went to their carnival. This consisted of walking from room to room and enjoying in different activities. There was face painting, bean bag toss, a piñata, and so many more. On Saturday we all went out trick or treating. The girls were such troopers. It had rained all day and was so cold. Jada and Taylor made it about 20-30 minutes. Bailey and I went around for about another hour or so. By then Bailey began to complain about her "cold and tired legs".

Earlier this month we also had the first snow of the year. I went into the girls room at 7 am and told Bailey to go look outside. She groggily strolled into the kitchen and looked out the window. She then came running back into her room yelling "there's snow! there's snow! Can we go outside!?!" I have never seen the girls get dressed so fast. Needless to say we made it out of the house in record time.

Taylor says in the picture the girls look like deer caught in head lights.