Another update

Well, I never said that I would be consistent! A lot has happened since our last entry:

Summer:
Matthew worked at Rona and we diligently updated our home with the following reno projects: re-finishing and staining our wood floors in both upstairs bedrooms; painting our bedroom and putting in baseboards; painting and putting up moulding in our hallway; installing a fan, light switch, and vanity light in our bath room, as well as a paint job in there; painting the living room; and installing carpet downstairs in both bedrooms and the den-like area.
Since I had no kids to babysit except Ethan, we had a great time going on walks and swimming during the day. To every one's surprise, Ethan really loved the water this summer, so Matt and I are a bit more dedicated to our family date nights at the pool now. Asides from the Branch camp out, we really didn't leave home much at all--it's crazy just how fast two months can go by.

September:

• Employment: After much prayer, Matt went down for an interview in Parksville for a full-time Spanish job teaching grades 9-12. We were all set for the long-distance thing, but after the interview we knew it simply was not the right move. With faith Matt put his name on the substitute teachers list and hoped that somehow we would be able to pay our mortgage. After two weeks, a tech job was posted for the school district, and, although not exactly qualified, Matt applied anyway. They were excited to have a teacher interested in the position because it requires teaching the teachers how to use the tech systems, and Matt was more than happy to accept it! He LOVES the job and I'm sure feels super cool with his company Blackberry and all of the perks he's getting, although I've already claimed the ipod. I'm now babysitting full time for Lisa, and Ethan is really enjoying his friend Rachel's company. Over the summer I could tell he was getting pretty bored of me, so this has been a great change and they are both as cute as ever!



• Family: Pregnancy this time around has been great. I'm almost at week 35 (of 37-41 full term) and I still find enough energy for walks with the kids thanks to a great double stroller my parents got for me. Overall, we are loving the peace of mind this job provides and are looking forward to the new arrival.



• Church: Matt is still branch president! We've made it almost one full year now, and the time really has gone by quickly. We are lamenting the loss of the Simmonds family to Calgary since we both lost councillors. Seminary has started again for the year and with our adapted schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday class with Tuesday & Thursday homestudy) I've managed to have enough energy to fulfill my Young Women's calling too- I hope at least. This weekend is General Conference and I am especially looking forward to it this time around.



• Life: Well, dinner awaits and I have three babies and Stephen here, so hopefully soon I can write another update.

Babysitting

Today Ethan played with his friend Rachel and wanted to mimmic nearly everything she did. As she was standing at my side she would point to all of the different creatures on her sippy cup: flower, bug, bee, and butterfly. Ethan then came up to me with his clear sippy, pointed at it, and said, "Baba." I giggled at his very valient and true effort on this one! He is really beginning to understand a lot of social skills; the other night I threw his shirt on top of his head while he was changing, and instead of ripping it off as he usually does, he pranced around the room smiling and laughing out of his side peek hole! We have pictures but I don't have the time right now to upload them. As for me, babysitting is done this week and I get to see my baby this Thursday. What a relief, since I thought it was last week and nearly cried at the office when the nurse told me to come back! So round two it is. We still don't know what the future holds for Matt's job, but we feel confident that something will work out. That's it until Rita visits this weekend and week and I get back from Girls Camp.... There will be a long entry to follow :)

Trying to keep it alive!

I knew that this would be more difficult than I expected! I just got back from a great conference for the United Way in Kamploos and am excited to get working on the new "community impact" strategies for our town. I volunteered as Treasurer a couple of months ago and it feels so good to be involved again after my great BYU-I experiences. As for family, we're still waiting to hear about positions for teaching next year with fewer and fewer classes remaining in this school year. Ethan is officially a "walker" now. About 2 weeks ago he had been using his legs 80% of the time, but now he is up and not going back! We
were so torn between his scooting; it was so cute but wearing on us because there appeared like no end to it. Well we have met that end. What next? I think his speech is getting a lot better with semblances of: please, love you, noodle, teddy, and the frequent and clear "YES." At least he can't tell me no yet! Another fun family fact occurred last week when I got to hear little baby's heartbeat!

These pictures are from Ethan and Mom's date last week!

On a roll!

Just a quick seminary update from a really proud seminary teacher. The only reason I am currently awake is because I get to sleep in tomorrow, but I am sad this year has come to an end. My two students went to Scripture Bowl this weekend and competed against teams from two stakes. They were the smallest team with the next closest being four rowdy boys from Campbell River. I spotted for a team of twelve, and the largest was close to twenty. The girls decided that they were sufficiently strong to represent Powell River and not join another group, and in the end they placed second overall! I was so happy for them and all of their efforts. The branch was exstatic to hear about the win, and we even found the last ribbon earned by our branch seminary team: third place in 1989! I have submitted my "resignation" from this assignment since I will be baysitting full-time and having to look after baby #2, but if there in no other option for a teacher I might still do it on an adjusted schedule. So that's my happy update on my first year of seminary!

The things parents teach their children.

Since returning from our Idaho trip, Ethan has loved playing with his new light saber since all of his older cousins had one and were very proficient in their "Jedi training." One morning, a few weeks back, Matt wanted to show Ethan how he could stab one of his toys for fun with the light saber. Sounds like great fun, dosn't it? While I was in the other room getting ready before the students came, I heard the clear, destinct sound of my husband declaring that the penguin toy needed to, "DIE! DIE!" as the saber pierced all vital parts of that poor toy's body. Trying to reprimand Matt for his comments was usless through all of the laughter. Ethan seemed to enjoy it, but my soapbox before even having children was never having "death weapons" in our home. Did super cool space-age technology count? Well, that thought passed and seemed just like a funny memory, until two days ago when Ethan picked up the light saber once again and seemingly exclaimed the word, "DIE!" At first Matt wasn't entirely sure what was said, but the next sound could not be mistaken once I identified it from the situation a few weeks ago. Great! So now our little child goes around asking everyone in sight to die, so long as a long pointed object is in his hand! So watch out.

Number 2, Like I promised!

Now for the quick update.
Matt and I have been in Powell River since graduating from BYU-I and finishing our student teaching in Las Vegas. I had a chance to substitute for three months before Ethan came along, March 28, 2007, but Matt's had a temporary full-time contract for this past school year. This has allowed me to stay home with Ethan and I babysit part-time for a friend's daughter. We also bought a house in August, anticipating the teaching job, and have been busy working on improvements. We're not sure what employment will bring in September, but since Matt's Branch President the hope is to stay in town. I've also been teaching early-morning seminary and have just been called to work with the young women at our church. We are all looking forward to the summer and the new bundle of joy we hope to welcome in to our family early November. This time around I hope to be surprised at delivery to see if it's a boy or girl, but I have my hunches. That is all the time I have for updates, but I certainly hope we can get into the habit and visit our family and friend's sites too!

The first, hopefully not the last!

We are succumbing to blogger peer presure and finally setting one up! Yay! Again, though, we use this title because we are not very good at updates and this may become a short-lived phase. In fact, I'm going to keep this short so that I can already start my second posting. Tricky, I know ;)