Michael Changes Jobs (Again)

As has happened every other October (and a few times in between) during the course of our marriage, Michael is changing jobs again.

At the beginning of October everyone in the Utah division, except Michael, was told they were going to be laid off at the end of the month. This came as quite a surprise because only a couple of weeks before discussions were held to finalize the hiring of the last contract employee in our area. Michael was told that his position was very valuable and necessary for the company and they did not anticipate laying him off any time soon. Since the main body of the company was based in Pennsylvania, this was not entirely reassuring and Michael started looking for a job in case the need arose to find a new one. Much to our surpise he received an interview request almost right away and after completing several days of interviewing and testing he was offered the job.

Now we had to determine if changing jobs would actually be beneficial to us, or if we should trust our luck and remain with the current company. Michael called his boss in Pennsylvania to tell him that he had a job offer on the table and if the Pennyslvania company could match the offer he would stay with them. His boss informed Michael that the offer could not be met and he would recommend that Michael take the job. This response affirmed our suspicions that Michael had the possibility of coming up on the chopping block sooner rather than later. So, Michael took the job with an HP company and now commutes to an office ten minutes away instead of downstairs.

I have survived my first week without having him at home all of the time and hope that life will continue in such a pattern. I am so grateful that we will able to have him home for so long and to help me work through so many things. I am finally at a point where the idea of being on my own every day is not at intimidating and overwhelming as it once was and have the faith that I will be provided with the strength I need to face the day to day challenges of being a mother and housekeeper, among other things, all day long.

We are excited about this positive change and look forward to conquering the challenges that are being placed before us.

Children at Play

Lately Benjamin and Bekah have been manifesting wuite the sibling rivalry. One takes the toys from the other and they see how loud they can make each other screeam. However, they do have cooperative moments, and I love it when they play nicely together. There is nothing in the world that is sweeter than watching my children have fun and laugh together. Right now we are having such a moment. I don't know how long it will last but at least we are having a moment of gleeful cooperative play that does not require Mom to play referee.

Pumpkin Carving Party

This year we only grew enough pumpkins to carve Jack O'laterns for Halloween. We still ended up with too many and decided to have some friends over and carve pumpkins together. we ended up with a lot of cute pumpkins. We even had pumpkin, which the kids scarfed, for desert.

First Snow Before Halloween

We had our first snow the week of Halloween and so we had to dig out the winter clothes for the children to go sledding and build snowmen. I wasn't ready for the snow, and thankfully it didn't last, but the kids were so excited to play in it I couldn't help but smile.

Hike Out

Dropping leaves in the river and watching them swirl away.

One Monday evening for Family Home Evening we went up the canyon to roast marshmellows and hot dogs. It was a brisk autumn evening and we were glad we had the warmth of the camp fire as the sun faded away. Benjamin was so delighted to be outside that he wanted to know if we were going to have a camp out. When we said no, but we were going to have a camp fire and roast marshmellows Benjamin asked if we were having a hike out since we had to walk across a little bridge into the forest. I thought that was as a good a description as any while laughing and when we were done with our activities I asked Benjamin how he enjoyed our "hike out" and he said he had a lot of fun and wanted to do it again.

She Came, She Conquered

The other night we took the kiddos out to dinner at McDonald's, their favorite place to eat out at. We even decided to splurge and buy Kid's Meals, with toys (the most important part in Benjamin's opinion.) While we were eating Benjamin and Bekah had a delightful time playing with the other children and going up and down the slides. The amazing part was that Bekah climed up and down all the slides and tunnels all by herself! After over a year of climbing in and out of tunnels on play equipment, I was ecstatic that she was able to do the climbing all by herself. Those tunnels are not built well for adult size persons and I hated blocking traffic for the other children. So Bekah came, and she conquered.

Halloween Activities

Trick or Treating around our neighborhood

Pixies & Pirates activities at the Dinosaur Museum

Benjamin helping the Captain navigate to Neverland

Our ward's Halloween Party and Trunk or Treat

The highlight of these activities for Benjamin was meeting "Peter Pan" at the Dinosaur Museum, and Bekah was delighted to "meet" Elmo at the ward Trunk or Treat party.

Scarecrow Festival 2009

The Pixie and the Pirate

We had a Peter Pan theme to our Halloween costumes this year. Benjamin was Captain Hook. Bekah was Tinkerbell. Dad was a lost boy and Mom was Wendy. The kids had a blast wearing their costumes throughout the month of October and for two nights in a row for trick or treating with our ward and around the neighborhood.

"Soil to Market" Discovery

Farm Country has this new activity center where the kids can learn about planting, harvesting, shipping and distributing fruits and vegetables. We had fun exploring and sharing it with friends.