Ears Pierced

Malia has been waiting for this day since McKenzie got her ears pierced.  Now that she is 8 she is finally able to get hers done too.  She has watched and waited for her turn for a long time and we told her that if she waited till we moved to Minnesota, we could get her ears pierced in the Mall of America (really we just wanted her to wait until we moved so we didn't have to worry about taking care of her ears in the middle of chaos).  So she waited even longer than she wanted, till November even (things were really nuts till after Halloween) and we finally went to the Mall and had them done.  She was a trooper.

 She didn't cry at all, although I do remember her getting a little light headed and need to sit down for a bit.  We gave her a lollipop to help perk her up.  Such an excited girl!!!

Indianapolis Temple

One of the many things we were grateful for having had the chance to live in Indy was the new LDS temple that was being built there.  We were able to see a little bit of its construction and also be apart of the open house and cultural celebration.  It is a beautiful temple and although having lived in Utah I was able to go to a couple of open houses, I was never lived in the temple district of those new temples so we didn't have the chance to really participate in it.  There is a lot that goes into opening a temple and I have a new appreciation for all of the hard work and service that the members in the area gave.  There is a lot of moving parts to make it successful and the Indy members really stepped up.  Randy and I even signed up to help one Saturday with giving tours to visitors.  That was an amazing experience that we will never forget.

Before we volunteered, we decided to take the whole family on a tour so they could see it.  The older one's had been to the Draper and Oquirrh Mt. open houses but they don't remember all that well and so it was really neat to be able to take them to another one now that they are older.

After the open house was done and the open house clean up was complete, it was time for the cultural celebration and dedication.  The youth in the district got together and put on a performance that gave an idea of Indiana's past and culture.  McKenzie was able to participate and Morgan missed the cutoff by 10 days.  She was really sad to not be able to participate but she survived.  It was a really awesome experience.  The theme was "Gather to the Light" and the youth practiced all summer to put it together.  Our stake is in the orange shirts.  Kenz is in there somewhere in the middle of it, but I can't see her right now.

We were able to sit with some of our ward family.  These are our best buds the Durtschi's.  We were fast friends with them and tried to get together as much as we could.  It helped that most of our kids were the same age.  They are pretty much the coolest family ever.

More of "our" family.

Morgan a couple of girls from the ward.

The beginning of the performance.  Each stake stood in a different area of the field and slowly walked into the center singing the theme song.  

Our stakes individual number was to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Kenz is in a hot pink skirt to the left of the line on the bottom of the circle.

 Each stake did a different dance each one showing a different side of Indy.

 I was so proud of these kids.  They spent all day rehearsing in the blazing hot sun.  They did awesome!

 This is just the kids from our ward.

 One of the Durtschi boys.  Kenz became really good friends with him while we were there.

 The twins, Steph and Mal.

 The girls 

 It was totally worth the crowds and the heat to see these guys.  Wish we could do it again.

The next day was the temple dedication.  We were able to be apart of it by going to a ward building and watch by satellite.  Our Durtschi friends, because of their father being in the Stake Presidency, got tickets to go to the temple itself for the dedication.  While standing in line at the temple to get put into one of the rooms inside of the temple, someone came up to them and pulled them out of the line and gave them special tickets to be able to sit in the celestial room and where the actual dedication takes place. We were so excited to see them in the broadcast as the camera panned around the room.

Spring School Events 2015

The girls had 2 more band concerts this spring.  One in March and one right before school let out in May.

 We had an inkling that changes were going to be made to Randy's job by the end of the school year, so the girls prepared to say goodbye to some friends. 

 They really did a great job and improved so much by the end of the year.  

 Micah's big presentation at school was a famous Hoosier.  He chose to do Wilbur Wright and put together a powerpoint presentation about him and dressed up like him as well.  He did a great job putting his presentation together.

Easter 2014

To start this post off, you know how Randy graduated a long time ago. . .like right before Masie was born?  Well during his last year he started looking for a new job.  As much fun as BYU is to work for, he wasn't happy there and wasn't able to utilize his skills.  Don't get me wrong, we are so grateful for our time at BYU, it helped him finish his Bachelor's degree and get his Masters, it kept us afloat for so many years but we knew it was time to move on.  Over the last 2 years, there have been many interviews, some job offers, many close calls for us to move on but things just never panned out.  He was given blessing that there was a job being created for him and I kept praying for the right job to come along and that when it did, there would be no doubt in our minds as weather or not we should take it.  After the beginning of this year, I told him that maybe we should take a job searching break till this baby came.  I wasn't really in the mood to move either a billions years pregnant or with a newborn (trust me I've done both) so he kept looking but kind of laid low not really pursuing a ton of stuff. . . and then it happened!!!!! Like a ton of bricks!  The right job DID come along and there was no question of weather or not we should take it.  

Here's the quick version:  

The company that moved us to Utah back in December of 2006 and then laid him off  4 months later almost to the day (which gave us Utah residency) called him on a Wednesday in early April.  They interviewed him on Thursday and Friday and then flew him out that next Monday to Indianapolis to give him the chance to see what he would be facing and letting him decide if he wanted to take on the challenge.  He stayed till Thursday and by Friday morning had a job offer on the table.  He then gave his 2 weeks notice to BYU (which wasn't a big deal cuz everyone knew he was looking to move and encouraged it).  He was to start on the day after Easter, work for two weeks, fly home in time for me to have the baby, stay home for 10 days and then fly back to Indiana till school was out to pack us up and head out.  It was a crazy 8 weeks to say the least.  I was very stressed wondering if he was going to make it home in time for the baby or if I was going to have to do it alone, or beg someone to help me during the labor.  There were so many unknowns and things I couldn't plan for and I hated it.  My only saving grace was that the company was going to move us so I didn't have to pack a thing, HALLELUJAH!  We did try to dejunk as much as we could during his 2 week notice and then once he was gone I did nothing hoping that the baby would cooperate and stay in till he got home, which he did and I will do a whole `nother post on that. . .trust me!  Anyway, so Easter was our last day with him till he started his new job.  We decided to head up one last time to Grandma/pa's and celebrate with them.  We had a lot of fun, and Masie discovered the sandbox for the 1st time.  She was in hog heaven.

 She pretty much lived in there except when she saw the Easter candy.

 As you can see here.  This is before the egg hunt.  We were hiding eggs and she was following behind "finding" them very quickly.  

 We let the babies go out first and have a crack at egg hunting, at which point they got bored and headed back to the sandbox. . .

 and the swing set. . . 

 while the older kids had a shot at it.

 On Sunday we went to church and took a couple of shots before we had to take Randy to the airport and say goodbye for 2 weeks.  This pregnancy really was not kind to me as far as weight gain.  Probably cuz I was so sick that all I did was lie around.

 Then we tried to get one of the kids and grandma but the only way Masie would cooperate was if she was actually swinging so this was the best we could do.  Hey, it's a picture. . .with the kids. . .and grandma. . . you can't ask for much, lol.

It was a short weekend, but fun nonetheless.  

Winter Concerts

 We had two concert/recitals in two days.  

First was Malia's dance recital.  She has been doing Jr. Hip Hop at the rec. center since September.  They had a recital for all of the dance classes that were held on M/W on the same night.  Surprisingly, it ran really smoothly and quickly.  Malia danced to 2 songs, "What does the fox say" and "Do you believe in Magic."  They were both really cute.  I'm trying to post one at the end of this post.  She really loved dancing, We'll see if we can get her in another class soon.

 The second concert was McKenzie's winter concert.  They played 3 Christmas songs.  They are improving each time I hear them.  For being a beginning band, they aren't half bad.  She's on the 2nd row, 3rd one in on the right, with the Santa hat on.

Malia's Fox Dance.  Don't mind that she's a giant.  She's the oldest and has always been the tallest.  The rest of the kids are 4.  I wish they would change the age groups a little bit.

Malia's 2nd dance.

Kristi's Home & Happy Thanksgiving!

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Sister Tucker arrive home from her mission to Des Moines, Iowa.  We have all missed her so much and are so grateful for her service these past 18 months.  The whole family (including Rob's from San Antonio) went to the airport to meet her off of her plane.

 There were so many other families there waiting to meet their missionaries.  I think we counted between 10-12 huge groups waiting just like us.  Here she is ready for the biggest hugs ever.

 Everyone was sooo happy to see her

 especially McKenzie.  We didn't realize she was going to have this kind of reaction, but it was soo sweet.  She really missed her aunt.

 We found out that one of the reasons there were so many people waiting for their missionaries, is Des Moines sent home these awesome servants at the same time.  

 Kristi's MTC companion who went to West Virginia (I think) also arrived at the same time, so they got to see each other again.  Her name was Sister Tucket.  How crazy is that?

After we were done wiping our eyes, we went out to lunch to a diner in Kaysville.  It was really yummy, way too much food, but soo good.

 These were the babies that were born while she was gone. (Well technically,  Felicity was born about 1 month before she left, but Kristi has not seen her grow).

 The cousins had so much fun playing together, sometimes a little too much fun.  Holy makeup batman.

 That weekend was really busy getting ready for Kristi's homecoming and Bacon's baby shower.  She came down for a wedding on Adam's side and her MIL wanted to throw her a baby shower while she was here around a lot of family so I hauled the Tucker girls to see her and help her celebrate her new, upcoming arrival.  One of the games was to make a baby out of playdough for Bac to judge.  Alina and I won 1st and 2nd (I kicked everyone's trash).  Alina's was very cute, but mine just had that "I'm her sister" factor to it.  I gave it an umbilical cord and it was anatomically correct. (for a girl).  She busted up and didn't have to look any further. :)

 We went home for the week so the kids could finish their last few days of school and Randy could work before we headed back for Thanksgiving.  I (because I'm me) didn't get anything from that  except a couple of Masie enjoying the baby swing she once loved so much.  Kendra and I stayed home one evening to watch the kids under 8 so the rest could go see Savior of the world.  Being pregnant and having seen it before, I opted to let those who hadn't yet seen it go while I lounged on the recliner and bribed the kids with movies and popcorn.  I'm a good babysitter I tell ya.

Masie was in heaven rocking about.  The funny thing is she is still light enough to be in there.

After it was all over and we had to get back to reality, it snowed for for 2 or 3 days straight dumping about 10 inches on us.  It was beautiful. . . 

 but I don't like long storms.  I like it to dump in a day or less and then melt off the streets so I can get back to my normal life.  This was in the middle of the storm, we had to shovel a few more times before it stayed off.