Another Week

Not much has happened this week, so let me tell you about other events that I haven't gotten a round to mentioning...

McKenzie has her first tooth--Her bottom front left--it was first spotted on January 6th, and has now completely broken through and her next one isn't far behind. McKenzie is also extremely close to actually crawling instead of scooting. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth, then as she is moving her hands she looses balance and face plants into the floor. She only cries if there is someone there that reacts to it, and there really isn't any other way for her to learn. McKenzie also LOVES food. I don't think she has a favorite but she is very fond of bananas mixed with pears. Aaron and I both agree that she sure is cute.

Alexis had her 2nd hair cut EVER over Christmas Break...she looks so much more grown up, and her hair looks so healthy now. Instead of listening to my mind, I listened to my pocket book and did it myself...it doesn't look bad at all, but there are times when I am looking at her and see a spot that I missed. Aaron assures me that only I can tell ;). We have gotten so many complements on how good it looks, and Aaron and I both agree that she sure is cute.

As you can tell, we have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy, smart girls who sure are cute, but we may be bias.

Other events in our lives:

Aaron will start visiting elementary schools this week, teaching 5th and 6th graders the basics--according to him, his schedule now starts to get busy. He will also be teaching a theory class this last trimester and is very excited about the class and the possibilities that this class has.

I have been busy playing house and trying to get my self in shape. I have also been busy working on our taxes...I know I am a geek, but I can't help it, I actually ENJOY working through all of the forms and publications and learning more about taxes. This is the first year that we will be using a tax prep software (Turbo Tax freedom)--but only because it is free for us to file both federal and state taxes and we will get our rebate sooner, BUT I have still been busy reading through information and making sure that 'they' are doing everything right.

I have also started a new novel--The host by Stephanie Meyer. I am half way through the Twilight series, and my library has a wait list for vol. 3, so I picked this up instead. It is a science fiction chick flick, and has parts that really make you stop and think about life and what we find important vs. what is REALLY important. So far, I find this a very interesting book, compelling enough to keep me reading, but not one that I will ever own. If you enjoy science fiction and chick flicks, give it a try, (if you are like me and are just curious, and not sure about the whole sci-fi, still give it a try) you won't be disappointed.--if you have read the book or after reading this are compelled to read it and actually do, let me know what you think.

Today Aaron and I sang in church--the first time Aaron and I have ever sang in church together (not in a choir setting), and the first time that Aaron has ever sang a solo. We sang Sweet Hour of Prayer, and Aaron sang a vs. in Spanish (there are three verses in the Spanish hymn book, so we decided to add a little variety to our debut) He did very well on his solo, and we both got lots of compliments on how well we did together. I was very excited to get to sing with Aaron, and hope that we will have more opportunities like this.

Today was also Ward Conference, and our Bishop gave a great talk on being concerned that we have a lot of knowledge (knowledge about meetings, about seminary, about primary, etc.), but we aren't feeling the spirit enough. He then gave a list of things to do to feel the spirit more often in our lives:
1. Read Scriptures Daily
2. Pray, don't just say prayers
3. Fast meaningfully (no 'slow Sundays')
4. Bear your testimony
5. Early to bed early to rise
6. Keep romance where romance should be kept
7. Work Hard (thrust in your sickle with all your might)
8. Service
9.
10.

There were ten, but right now, we are only able to think of eight. (but with some leg work, I will find the other two, so check back)

I encourage you to do what I did, and check and see if you are doing all that you can to ALWAYS have his spirit with you, and if not, it's not too late to set some 'new' goals.

We love you all and hope all is well.

A minor mistake

Aarons run is a 2-mile time, sorry for any confusion For him, this reflects a lot more improvement-which is really the case.

Yesterday the Idaho State Journal attend Drill with the RSP unit in Pocatello. They were doing an article highlighting Aaron's unit, and this morning, this was a front page photo, so I thought I would share.

Joe Kline/Idaho State Journal Pocatello Police Officer Clint Ross, right, watches and instructs a team of Idaho National Guard recruits as they practice clearing a room during training as part of the Recruit Sustainment Program at the Idaho National Guard Armory in Pocatello on Saturday.

Here is more of the article available from the Idaho State Journal web site:

POCATELLO -- Pfc. Josh Walker said many of the things he learned one weekend a month at the Idaho National Guard Armory in Pocatello prior to ever starting basic training put him ahead of the curve during boot camp.

"A lot of the things we did here, we were doing there," Walker said. "I was considered a high-speed soldier, which meant I was helping others. A lot of them didn't know what to expect."
For the rest of this story, see Sunday's Idaho State Journal.

By Jimmy Hancock

I didn't know about it until coming out of church and a friend stopped long enough to ask if Aaron was in Guard, and after I said yes, he mentioned that he thought that was him on the front page.

It's still kind of weird to see Aaron in uniform, but I'm sure this will go away with time. He is enjoying his time at Drill as he prepares for Basic Training this summer. Each month he sets a personal goal to do better than the month before, especially on his PT tests. He does very well on his running portion, so he is focusing on his push-ups and sit-ups. This month his goals were 40 and 50...he not only reached his goals, but surpassed them--43/51, 14:43-2-mile. I am so proud of him, he is working so hard to prepare, and is doing so well.

Year in Review

WOW, a new year already. I can't believe how fast life seems to pass by. My baby is 6 months old already, and my big girl is three, going on 23. There are only 19 weeks left in the school year (count down courtesy of the local gas station marque), and 20 weeks until Aaron leaves for Basic Training.

This last year was one full of many memories and learning experiences.

In January, Aaron started vising the elementary schools and teaching 5th and 6th graders the basics of music. He learned more than anything that patience and hard work, especially with this age group, are vital to a growing music program.

In February Aaron and I started looking into becoming home buyers and making our move to Arimo a little more permanent.

In March, we found our house, and started the VERY long paperwork process.

The end of April, everything was finalized and we moved in on April 28, 2008 (only hours after signing our life away). Luckily for us, my brother was in town, and we moved in about two days.

May ended Aaron's first year of teaching, and started our first summer together where Aaron didn't have a summer job.

In June, my brother and his family moved in, he was hired at Marsh Valley as the new AG teacher, and they still needed to sell their home in Oregon. We were supposed to welcome a new baby this month, but she decided that she didn't want to come until July.

July 1st we finally welcomed McKenzie Kay into our family, just in time for her first 4th of July celebration--and a family first of spending the evening up in Idaho Falls at the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration--something I grew up with, and finally had the opportunity of sharing with my family.

August started Aaron's second year of teaching.

In September, Aaron joined the Idaho National Guard--a decision that was made in October of 2007, about the same time we found out we were expecting, and I was not about to send him off to Basics and miss our special delivery.

September and October were also full of a lot of traveling. My sister had twins the end of August, and I traveled to Boise for a week, and then up to Moscow for a week. It was great to see her and her new family.

Thanksgiving was spent in the Boise area. We spent Thanksgiving with my family, and Friday with Aaron's family. We then traveled to Moscow for a baby blessing on Saturday.

On December 8, 2008 Troy and Caiti officially sold their home!

December was our first Christmas to stay home for the Holidays. We were not alone. Melinda came down to visit for two weeks, Troy and Caiti were here, and Dad came down for the day. It was great having everyone around.

At some point over Christmas break I played Risk for the first time. It was fun in that "this is a very interesting game sort of way". A game that takes lots of thought, and if you make one mistake, you loose. (As you can probably guess, I lost.)

This next year looks very exciting and bright. Despite what is happening in the world around us, we have faith in the future and plans for a wonderful year. As mentioned before, Aaron will experience Basic Training this year, he will also begin traveling to Boise for Drill weekends. McKenzie will turn one in July, In April we will start year two as home owners, Aaron will start his third year of teaching in August, Alexis will turn four in September, and we will celebrate our fifth anniversary in June.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!