New Year New Calling

So I just thought I'd share that I have a new calling. I am an 11 year old scout leader now! I work with a couple, they actually teach a Primary class on Sundays too. So I am very excited. I'll be honest when I was a young mother and in a Primary Presidency and I was in charge of the nursery, sunbeams, the Sacrament Meeting program and music I was REALLY glad that I wasn't over cub scouts! It was a HUGE mystery to me. What I remembered from cub scouts from my younger brothers was pine wood derby and spagetti dinners. So the unknown was intimidating to me. Well, once my oldest turned 8 and became a cub scout, I thought, Hey this looks fun!!! I became a WEBELOS leader just as Taran turned 11. It was a blast and I cried when I got released. I was so happy they finally called me to something in scouts again! I have met with the boys twice and they are active but fun and good. I love the Hallsteds they are great people just very busy--more than me! We have some organizing to do but I look forward to lots of good times!!!

This is a photo of me with my WEBELOS my co-leader Jane (and a couple of dads) and our boys as we snow shoed to Stewart Falls--just past Sundance. It was a great experience! Those boys are all 14 now!

A New Year, A New Job and A (used) New Car!

On Monday, January 12th Tim started a new job. He had worked 16 + years at Novell. You may think it strange but unfortunately he did not get laid off. They do a really nice severence package, he offered but they declined--he was too valuable but no valuable that they didn't counter offer the church's offer. The severence money would have helped us a lot. Owell. The church really wanted him, there were some things he was discouraged about at Novell and the economy. We began to think, is Heavenly Father telling us something? I told Tim I trusted whatever decision he made because he was the one that needed to be happy at the job.

Here he is in a suit! He doesn't have to wear a suit everyday only if he goes to the church office building. He had training Monday up there so he had to wear a suit. He normally wears a dress shirt and pants with a tie. It's a sacrifice when he's been able to wear whatever he wanted the past 16 years! He'll miss lunchtime basketball but that isn't until summer. He is testing family history software and works with many friends from Novell.

His car needed so much work to pass the emissions and safety (it's 20 years old)so we decided to put the money toward a newer car. It's a 1998 Saturn. It's in pretty good shape and it's paid for!

So far so good, good year, right until the 20th? Good job and good car! Yeah for Tim!!! BTW He looks really handsome in his new duds!

Cool Photography Website

I have 2 friends named Lisa but this is not the one who turned 40 last month. This Lisa we used to scrapbook together. She has taken her hobby photography to a whole new level and now takes professional photos. Check out her website http://bellaphoto365.blogspot.com/ that website has a link to her portraits. Enjoy!

Random Updates to finish up 2008

I am just adding some more photos of Christmas break that weren't part of the major holidays.


Tim was able to take the two weeks off during that time. We were able to go to the temple together and on a couple of dates. It was my friend Lisa's 40th birthday so a bunch of us took her out for breakfast, it was really fun! We had a game afternoon at my mom's one day after Christmas. We took the kids out to dinner courtesy of some kind soul who gave us a generous gift certificate to Chili's anonymously. Tim and I (by force) organized our closet--not that I didn't want to do it it's just that I wanted some other things done first. I am very happy at the outcome! Tim was car shopping and found a cute used Saturn he now drives. I promise a post tomorrow on it and his job situation. The kids enjoyed playing with friends and their new toys and still sledded quite a bit. We got tons of snow and I am trying the positive approach to it to keep myself happy and it seems to be working. You see I am from California, I know I have lived here awhile but I am still not comfortable driving in the snow and ice. So I just watch the weather and try to get done my errands done before the next big storm. So I still do that but I've decided to join my kids in their wonder of the beautiful white stuff. And maybe because of my back injury and being laid up for awhile I rejoice I can actually walk in it even though I can't sled in it. Taran is not a snow lover and claims that he is moving out as soon as he graduates to a warmer climate. We'll see. So we still have some party poopers. Now if we have snow in May and June like last year I am going to personally FEDEX it to Al Gore, Mr. Global Warming, HA! That's when I say enough is enough!

New Years Day, Welcome 2009!

I love the feel of a new beginning whether it's a new school year, a new year or summer break. It's great time to reflect and start new. Of course New Year's Day I didn't worry about what I was eating that day but we had a great time. We finished putting away the Christmas stuff and returning things we hadn't had a chance. We got the teenagers up in time for lunch but they had breakfast. We went to my brother Charl's in the afternoon and continued watching bowl games on his huge TV. The younger kids watched Shrek 2 which I've never seen so hopefully it's okay. Anyway, Katie made homemade pizza dough and sauce which turned out really good. We brought toppings, stuff for floats and any other junk you could feast on. Amber helped us out with putting it all together. My mom made a salad so we did have something healthy. Actually I think the pizza was pretty healthy it's the other stuff. We also jammed to guitar hero with Amber and Keith's play station. It was pretty fun even though it told me I suck! I really did. Tim and I stunk it up but our kids, everyone else did well! It was a lot of fun we just missed my dad who was too tired from one of his resolutions--organizing his computer room!

New Year's Eve

So Tim got the camera software working, yeah! But the video clip of Gwen nodding off was too long so it had trouble uploading it--I tried it twice. I will see if I can edit it but with my current rate of success I doubt it! If you are ever over I'll show it to you!!! This last photo is of New Year's Eve breakfast and I don't know the significance of it--sorry Gwen just looks sad!




Here are photos from New Year's Eve. We were very productive that day putting away most of our Christmas stuff and other odds and ends before heading out to Tim's parents. It was a low key party but fun nonetheless. We picked up Panda Express, a tradition we started a several years ago, on our way. Amy and Nate came with their kids too. Shellie and family were partying with friends--I believe, so we missed them. Amy made a yummy frappe and we had stuff for floats when that ran out. We also had lots of sweets and crackers and cheese dip and cheese ball, etc. The teens and adults watched Get Smart--very funny, and the kids watched The Clone Wars. I included a photo of Zane in front of Tim's mother's Christmas village. Tim's mom worked on the 1,000 piece nightmare puzzle we gave her for Christmas. Amy, Nate and I tried to help her after Get Smart. I think I got 5 pieces connected not onto the puzzle but to each other! Owell, it'll keep her busy! Tim took Timo and Taran to friends after Get Smart. Tim's dad and the kids watched Kung Fu Panda while we worked on the puzzle. We got home about 11 PM. We worked on our own puzzle Hans (Tim's brother) gave us of Fenway Park. Then at midnight we cheered each other with Martinellis and sent the kids to bed (Gwen was already in bed). Timo got home at 12:30 AM and helped with the puzzle. Taran got home not too long after. We went to bed once he was home and so did he. Timo stayed up later to finish the crowd in the stands on the puzzle! It was a great way to end 2008!

I want my pictures!

So I got a new camera for Christmas. It came with new software to install. Tim did it and we got some photos downloaded but now it's not working! For some reason I just think it's more interesting to include photos. So maybe tomorrow I'll blog again with some photos--like about New Year's and vacation stuff. Taran used my camera to video Gwen tonight falling asleep at the dinner table and it was hilarious so I really want that posted!!!!! So instead you get this goofy llama--my teenage sons collect these weird pictures and sometimes they come in handy!