It's been a while!

Hello all! I suppose it's been quite a while since I've had the time and/or energy to update this blog! Thanksgiving and Christmas have both come and gone since I last added to it. Both of those holidays were spent between family and work. I've been working an average of about 50 hours a week since right before Thanksgiving and those hours will get higher before they go back down, we are at 1/2 staff at work and it creates very nice pay checks at the expense of most of the time with my family. Beth was called into the primary presidency of the newly formed Ward. I can tell from our conversations that she enjoys it, and it's challenges and blessings, but is also often somewhat overwhelmed. I was just called to teach the 12-13 yr olds. I think I'll enjoy it. There are only about 3 or 4 of them. I also just started 2 classes on campus, one is a post graduate level higher education law class, taught by the vicepresident of student affairs here...should be interesting. I have been enjoying an audio book lately which I have never tried before. I have been listening to Benjamin Franklins Autobiography. It's better than reading it because I can do it in the car or on my breaks at work (I often take short walks while on break and listen), but I do find myself wanting to go back and listen to certain parts again because my mind wandered or I forgot what I had listened to the last time I had been able to listen. Beth and I have started to play around with numbers and the idea of buying our first home, but I have a feeling it will have to wait until next year. Life is very busy for us and I see no signs of it slowing down, but we enjoy each other and the kids as much as we can!



In early November we took the kids to the park and had some fun! I know I'm not prejudice when I say these kids are the cutest kids ever! ;-)

Displaying brute strength
Tyler: "I know if I try hard enough, I can climb this tree that!"

Cera, running around! He was very intrigued by the water pump!

The pole was the only way I could get them together in the same shot halfway attentive.

We couldnt convince the kids to go to Santa unless we went with...kinda don't blame them...he's one of the more scarry Santa's I've seen ;-)

We hope all of you are doing good! Keep in touch!

OUCH!

Can you believe that Tyler and Cera are going to be 3 years old next week?! Time is flying and yet feels so often it is standing still. Carter is standing on his own and still smiling from ear to ear! I got home last night and Beth was still trying to get Cera and Tyler to sleep. When This is the case I usually come in and give the kids a hug and kiss and either take over from Beth, or she stays and I unwind from work. Well....I get home and come into their bedroom and Cera cuddles up to me and says "Daddy, Tyler pushed me." Beth said "Your daughter's birthday is ruined, go look at her cheek." Apperantly she and Tyler were standing on the table and Tyler pushed her off. She hit her cheek on the side of our microwave hutch on the way down and has a pretty blue line accross her cheeck now. Now, instead of walking around saying "I just sick" (she's been sick and reminding us), she says "Tyler just pushed me." (if you haven't noticed a trend everything is "just") Well....tomorrow is their birthday party! It should be fun. Well be attending church in the morning. It should be an exciting day! Those familiar with the Rockford State, the Sycamore Ward is spliting, the announcement was made last week and appearantly they are doing during sacrament tomorrow! Don't know where we'll end up, but we're excited!

I've been working crazy hours at work because we've been down several people for the last couple of weeks. I think I'm working on 55 or 60 hours this week so far! Needless to say...I've been pretty tired. But we have been able to get out as a family and enjoy some time together. Well...I'll try to keep this more up to date and interesting, keep in touch!

Family Update

Hello all! Things are going generally well and busy as ever. I'm taking 2 online courses again this fall and am officially a "post grad" student. I have been accepted into the graduate school, but have not worked into a gradute program. One of the classes I'm taking this fall (A Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness class) is a graduate course. The other (A managing financial resourse for health and human sciences course) is an undergrad class. To be bluntly honest...just taking them because they are online which is easier for me. I'm still trying to decide if I want to take the plunge into the MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) program here at NIU. I recently started a new shift at work, which meant Beth cut down on the hours she is working. She is also in the process of trying to start a scrapbooking paper business. (Those interested in this check out www.darlinglittlescraps.com. It is still under some construction though.) The kids are loads of fun and as rambunchous as ever. Tyler and Cera will be 3 next month, and Carter just turned 7 mo. old! WOW! Time flies! Tyler and Cera are potty training. Tyler started a bit earlier, Cera seems to have it down pretty good, not even sleeping with a diaper anymore. Carter is pulling himself up to any and everything he can, and is getting pretty close to walking along furniture. He also has some teeth stubbs starting to sprout on his lower gums, kinda been fussy last couple of days because of it, which if you know Carter...is not his character. Great Aunt Chrylnn is amazed because during church she usually has him and she says he goes from gooing and gaaing and being active, to quite for a minute or two and rubbing his eyes, then he's out. He is usually a very very happy and unfussy, if you will, baby. The Denton Clan is getting together this weekend for Steve and Utahnas' Bdays. Looking forward to that as I haven't seen everyone for a while. I've had a really fun time lately on www.bebo.com. Found a couple of mission companions and friends on there! It's always good to hear from someone either down there or from there. Only been 1 year since I got back and I'm already getting the itch to go back down there....said this last time, but I don't expect I will be able to go back anytime soon. I was extremely lucky and blessed to have been back twice since I got home from my mission! Well...keep in touch and here are some pics of the cutest family in the world, no offence to yours.

Before Cera's first haircut...

And singing the receipt after her first haircut...

This is what I deal with!....NO KIDDING!!!

I love what people consider an emergency...or better yet...what constitute a reason to call 911. My favorite is the response that the majority of people I talk with on 911 give. I answer 911 as "911 where's your emergency?" No kidding....at least 50% of the callers respond, "Oh, this isnt an emergency, but..." this is usually followed by a request or statement not too often unlike the ones in this clip....gotta love idiots!

Check out this video: Funniest 911 calls compilation:)



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Weekend and Jed's wedding

Hello everyone! Well, we had a nice fun little weekend. Beth's parents watched the kids and Beth and I went to a good friends (Jed and Jamie's) wedding. The wedding was in Chicago at the Adler Planetarium, right on the the lake. Although, thanks to Mapquest, we ended up being about 15 min late; It was a beautiful wedding and the rain held out until just as the were walking down the isle to leave. The ceremony was outside facing the lake, then the reception was inside the planetarium. It was a nice evening of catching up and seeing friends! Beth and I stayed in a suburban hotel after the wedding and then went to go see Harry Potter at an IMAX! It was pretty good, and even had the fight scene in 3-D! (On a side note, we both have finished reading HP 7 as well...just FYI.) I hope to add some up to date pictures of the fam on here soon. Carter had his 6 month Dr. apt today... 17 lbs even and 26.5 inches (or there abouts...I dont remember for sure). He is becoming a very good army crawler and I would expect that he will be up and full crawling any day now. We are trying to get Cera and Tyler potty trained....umph....ya. I won't say much about it right now, but Beth and I are possibly looking into starting a business in the scrapbook industry....don't know the full details yet, but are in the beginning stages of planning...We'll let everyone know about it as it develops a little more. School starts soon again, so I'll be busy. Anywho, hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy. I'd love to hear from any of you, especially if I haven't in a while...so drop me a note www.ulavale1@hotmail.com . Keep in touch and take care!


- Ulavale1

Transformers and update

Well....Last night my brother and I, on whim, went to go see Transformers. I thought it was pretty good! Shia LaBeouf, who plays Sam in the movie, along with his "guardian" Bumble-Bee really made the movie, I think. The special effects were great, although Steve and I agreed that some of the transformation scenes were too fast and too close up, it seemed all you really saw was metal flashing before you, not really the "transformation". I think the movie did a pretty good job at bringing inanimate objects to life. I certainly will not look at my car the same after watching Transformers. ;-).
On another note. I often call Cera my "baby girl" and lately I have started asking her "Are you my baby girl" and she usually nods her head and says "Yesssssss." Tyler's newest thing is he'll grab your hand and say "common daddy, common" when he wants you to go play cars, or trains or whatever with you, or go somewhere. Carter is getting stronger than ever, I fear it will not be too long before he's crawling. He already will push himself up on his hands and, in effect, crawl backwards. He is still one of the happiest babies I've ever met, as he constantly smiles and goos. You gotta love kids...and I do mine. Things have been busy with us as I have worked quite a bit of overtime the last 3 weeks or so, and Beth started a part-time job as well, but We are doing well and enjoying life and our family. Beth and I are looking forward still to seeing Harry Potter when neither of us have to work and we can find an available baby sitter. And Harry Potter 7 comes out Saturday.....so.... somehow in our schedule we'll have to find time to read that too! Priorities, you know! ;-)

Movie Ramblings

Well....Sometime in the near future I hope to find an opportunity to go see Transformers and Harry Potter 5. Beth and I are looking forward to the last Harry Potter book coming out next week. It's nice it is coming out over the summer, I may be able to find some time at work to read. Life is going pretty good for us right now. We're busy as ever, and I'm sure I don't see it letting up anytime soon. In fact, I would assume with the kids getting older, the opportunity for extra curricular's will grow, which will only add to the busy schedule. Tyler and Cera have a cousin (Beth's sister's son who is about their age) over this weekend so they are all having fun, including Beth who gets to watch them all (and Carter) while I'm at work. I get to watch them all by myself Monday until I have to go to work. Three 2 year old's and a 6 month old....If you don't hear from me by Wednesday, send reinforcements ;-).