Glad Tidings

Two years ago when we packed up our house and said goodbye to a wonderful neighborhood full of dear friends. I was full of hope that we would return to it, but with each month that lapsed my hope faded. With a poor job market and a job search that was open to anywhere, I felt our chances of ever moving back, impossible at best.  In fact, until about a week ago, I have felt very stressed and shackled about what to do with the house we left behind in Heber.  

Lately, we have felt strongly that the lord wanted Jake to focus his job search back home in Utah, and so he has. The lord surprised us this week by leading Jake to an unlikely job in an unlikely place.  He has been offered and excepted a job as the watershed director of the Kamas Valley Conservation District. The work will take him in a little different direction then he planned, (farther away from design and more towards hydrology). He feels the work he will be doing will be very fulfilling and is excited for all the field work and community education that will be involved.  The best part of the job is that it will take us back to an area we loved and a home that is already waiting for us. The best part of that is that we will again be in much desired closer proximity to family.  Once again, I am blown away by how our heavenly father continues to take care of our family. I'm so thankful for his promptings and his guidance, and most of all, his blessings!

An ice cream cake to celebrate.
GOOD JOB JAKE!

Easter Fun

On Saturday we enjoyed a day at the park and an Easter egg hunt.  I had no idea 10,000 eggs could disappear so quickly. Hudson and Ellie had a blast, and surprised me by not even being afraid of the Easter Bunny this year.  I guess they are growing up. They are certainly getting pretty good at finding eggs.

Hudson preparing Autumn for next year.

Part teddy bear, part adorable baby, equals a whole lot of snugly fun. I don't know what I'm going to do when we don't have any more babies to put inside this thing.

Autumn 6 months

Ellie 6 months

Hudson 3 months

Ohhh how I love my three little bears!!!

One Last Trip to Poe Valley

Since we set a move date I find that I am already starting to say goodbye to people who have been a big part of our lives. Even as excited as we are to get home it is hard for me to think about leaving here. We have loved our time here and made some wonderful friendships. I find that I am even a little sad when I visit places here I love.  Jake had a little extra work to finish up at one of the state parks he studied so we made an afternoon outing out of it.  Our little family spent a good deal of time at Poe Valley State Park last summer and it made me really sad to see it and know that it was probably the last time. Despite my mourning, it was still a wonderful afternoon of hiking and playing in the sand.  

The Tale of the Rocks

  As we were hiking along the shore, Hudson started to fall in love with nearly every rock he saw. He packed them around with him until he no longer could manage and began placing them in a pile he referred to as his rock collection. Nearby, Jake started to skip rocks across the water and Hudson decided he wanted to give it a try. He picked up one of his prize rocks and lobbed it into the lake.  Suddenly, the connection was made that his rock would not be coming back. You could see a mixture of panic and terror come across his face. In a hysterical craze he ran for the water as fast as he could and attempted to retrieve his rock. Even the icy water had little effect of detracting him from his frantic search. Thankfully, Jake thought to pretend to find one just like it and Hudson was appeased for a moment until we delivered the crushing news that the rocks would not be coming home with us. I tried to appeal to him by telling him we would take this picture of the rocks so we could keep it forever and he seemed ok with my proposal until it came time to actually say goodbye. He was one heart broken little guy. Good thing he was so busy applying his classic Charlie Brown pout to see that his parents were laughing and not sharing his pain. I guess I’m not the only one having a hard time saying good bye.

Goodbye March

I can't believe March is over.  It has been a fun month, but I am happy to see it go, because it means we are just that much closer to summer.  This was also a big month because Jake finished up his thesis and got it turned in. Although he will still have to make some revisions this is a huge accomplishment and I am so happy that he has been able to tie all his work together and gotten so close to being done.  We also made a pretty big decision for our family.  After lots of prayer we decided that we aren't going to apply for any jobs out here.  We just feel that this isn't where our family is supposed to be, so we will also be saying good bye to the EAST. In fact we will be back in Utah by the end of May. Its all pretty exciting.

Maple Syrup Festival

I was able to take the kids to a local maple syrup festival.  We had fun learning about the process of tapping trees and making syrup.They even hand some hands on activities for the kids.  Their favorite of coarse was tasting the delicious stuff.

My favorite part of the day was getting to come home smelling like a camp fire.

A Well Deserved Award

Jake was presented a creative achievement award in the area of Art and Architecture. It was really neat to get to see him be recognized for his hard work.  One of the presenters mentioned that Penn State is such a big place you really have to work hard to stand out.  Jake has certainly done that.  I am so proud of him!

Surprise Visitors

The kids got a fun surprise when a knock at the door turned out to be Grandma Andrea and Aunt Jenny.  We enjoyed every minute of having them at our house for four days.  The kids worked really hard to wear them out; and they worked really hard at spoiling all of us.  We are sure excited to get to see a lot more of our families soon.

We made the pilgrimage to chocolate world,
and I for one  left with a belly ache from sampling  the goods a little too much.

Thanks to Uncle Ross's supply of space books Hudson has been able to continue his love of space.

Jenny couldn't resist getting the girls these adorable Easter dresses.
Hudson can't resist getting in on all the pictures.

Jenny and Ellie have a shared passion for all things girly.  Ellie spent the weekend trying to  convince Jenny to give her  all of Jenny's Hello Kitty things. Jenny spent the weekend indulging Ellie. They are quite the pair.

 Autumn is Six Months Old

I can't believe my little baby is six month old. I hate that she is growing up so fast.  She is rolling all over the place now. She watches everything Hudson and Ellie do. It seems like she is constantly trying to figure them out. More then anything she is truly sweet and none of us can get enough of her.

At 6 months old:  

Autumn: 16.13 lbs; 27 inches 

     Ellie: 18.1  lbs; 27.5 inches

Hudson: 19 lbs;  28.75 inches

Pictures