I have been really slacking about keeping up my blog. I want to revamp my blog and do some different things with it. So for now I will give an account about what we have been up to and will post pictures later.
So since my last post we have had a few big changes in our lives. Last October we received a phone call asking Josh if he would be interested in submitting his resume to a farm company in the Idaho Falls area. We talked it over and decided to go for it. The best case scenario was that we would get to come back to Idaho and worst case scenario was that nothing came of it and we kept plugging along with our current situation of opposite work schedules, preschool, caring for the kids, and fulfilling our church callings. We took some time off to head to Idaho around Halloween so that Josh could do his interview (he had already done a phone interview by this time and was one of the final candidates)and we could celebrate Halloween with Josh's family at the Ririe Trunk or Treat. After going back home we decided the best thing for us to do is act as if nothing were going to change. We scheduled doctor appointments for Josh (he tore his ACL doing Insanity right before our trip to Idaho) and scheduled his surgery, kept to our daily schedules, and work responsibilities. Days came and went with no phone calls but finally the call came. The farm wanted Josh to come and be their accounting manager and wanted him to start around Dec. 10th. After agreeing to taking the job I spent lots of time getting everything ready for the move. Josh helped where he could and we somehow made it all work out. We ended up staying with my youngest brother and his wife for 2 weeks while our tenants found a new place and moved. We were able to move back into our home about a week before Christmas.
We have put Josh's knee surgery on hold for now. Hoping he'll do it next year (2015) but we'll see.
Ashlyn was able to get into a preschool (Room to Bloom) here in Blackfoot shortly after we moved back and loved it. Her teacher Miss Emilie is one of the most amazing people I know. Ashlyn has really excelled and loves to learn and meet new people. She graduated preschool in May 2014. She just started Kindergarten (Blackfoot Community Charter School) on Aug. 18, 2014 and loves it. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Dodd's (she is in our ward. The 2 people she talks most about in her class are Gideon and Billy. Ashlyn loves getting a different snack in her lunch everyday and loves riding the bus. She is amazing and never ceases to amaze me.
Kaylee is getting so big and just celebrated her 3rd birthday on May 1, 2014. She asked for a Frozen themed birthday party and I did my best to create that for her. We invited my parents, Josh's parents, and all the siblings. She also invited her best friend and next door neighbor Peyton. She loves to try anything new and is such a great eater. She still struggles with speech and after addressing it with our pediatrician we had her tested for hearing and speech evaluations. She has a moderate to severe speech articulation delay which we have been working on since the end of May with her therapist Kariessa. She was just evaluated last week at the elementary to see if she is eligible to attend the preschool. She does and has completed all of her testing. This week I will meet with the team for an IEP meeting and set goals for her. She is very excited to start school on Wed. Sept 3rd. She feels so big and is so excited to ride the bus like her big sister. One of Kaylee's big accomplishments this year was potty training. We are so proud of our big girl and love to see her personality come out.
Jacob has got the energy of the energizer bunny. I am not even kidding. This boy is into everything that he can. If I am not pulling him out of the oven or off of the dishwasher drawer then he is busy trying to play in the flour or sugar, pulling all of his clothes out of his drawers, playing cars, or chasing his sisters. He loves to pick the plums off of the tree which aren't ready yet and chase dogs and cats if they are near. He loves any type of footwear, especially Kaylee's pink cowgirl boots. He talks really well which is a great blessing. Sacrament meeting and baths are a few of his "NOT" favorite things. He loves any fruit that is red. He is full of mischief, smiles, and giggles. I love this little guy and am glad that I have another 3 years before he heads off to school. It really goes by too fast and I want him to stay little longer.
I have been debating since we got back whether to go back to school. I finally decided and got everything in order to go. After submitting my application I was surprised to find out that I will start this fall. I have 3 weeks before I start and am nervous but excited to start. This year I also agreed to participate in a half-marathon with my SIL in Pocatello. It's this weekend and I can honestly say that I am 99.9% sure I won't die doing it :)I have been able to read a few series dealing with mythology the past couple of months, shuttling kids to various places, slowly working on home improvement ideas, and trying to come up with fun lessons for my CTR 4 class.
Josh has been keeping busy with his work and his church calling. Work keeps him busy and learning since he was moved from manager to CFO. His boss and the CEO of the company are really nice. I think he is definitely lucky to have them and I think they spoil him :) We were able to go to a work party and it turned out to be so much fun. I really find them to be just good down-to-earth people and I love it. I love that my husband enjoys going to work everyday. Josh has truly been blessed with this opportunity and I know he will do great at it. It won't always be easy but he will grow in so many ways as he faces the challenges that come with this position. We our proud of his accomplishments and his desire to work hard to provide for our family. He is really looking forward to going hunting this year and I am glad he gets to go.
Life is simply good. It's not perfect by any means but it is our type of perfect. There is lots of room to grow and improve and as we do so both as a family and individuals it will only get better.