Birds and the Bees

So, for your information, we had a nice surprise Tuesday morning when we found out that.....I AM PREGNANT!!!! WAHOO!!! If our calculations are right I'm about a month along and would give birth February or March. I know, I know they say you should wait to tell people until after the first trimester...but if something happens, I figured that my family would be my best support. So, ummm...that's all. OH and we're moving into our apartment this Saturday--YIPEE!!!!!!!!! We are soooo excited. I really love my job and Eric is soo excited to start his in a week from this Monday. So things are going great for us. We love you and please still pray for Eric that he will do well on the MCAT (on June 15). Thanks guys!

It'a a BOY!

We had our ultrasound today and found out that we'll be expecting a little Harvey David Hutchinson in October. They moved my due date back to October 30th so I'm actually a week less pregnant than I thought. Oh well, I feel great and am enjoying my good health through the pregnancy. We'll post pictures when we go visit for dinner this weekend since we don't have a scanner. We have a couple really cool 3-D pictures.

Summer is almost here!

Charlie's last day is June 8th. We've only been counting down now since the beginning of May, maybe even the end of April. It has become harder and harder for Charlie to stay motivated to work, especially since he gave his letter of resignation. But he's trying to hand in there and do the best job he can, because that's the type of person he is. His brother, Les, has his first interview on Wed. this week. They turned him down. He has several other schools he has applied for so we aren't worried for him yet. Ironically enough, Flat Rock is looking for a social studies/Spanish combo for the middle school. Charlie told Les to apply. We think it will be funny if he gets the job there. Charlie thinks Les has a better temperment for middle school aged kids then he does. I've been slowly working on the house we are living in. I have one bedroom almost totally painted. I only have the door, ceiling and closet to paint. It's hard since I can only paint when the kids are sleeping. I have washed the walls in the living room and hope to start painting it this weekend. I'm looking forward to having the living room painted so I can bring real furniture into it. So far, we've been sitting on camping chairs because they are easier to move around to paint.

For those of you who might not know, Jocelyn and her husband, Les, moved out at the beginning of April. They moved in with Charlie's parents. That is why we don't have real furniture in the living room. It's been nice to have a house to myself again. So, we are fixing the house up to sell it for Les and Jocelyn. They plan on staying with Charlie's parents or in their house for several years so they won't need this house any more. We just happen to have the skills and time to be able to fix it up. It worked out pretty good. I'm sorry if I've already told you about this, I can't remember who I tell and who I don't.

So even though the summer will be full of hard work on this house, I'm still excited for it to come because Charlie will be home. I'm feeling like my patience is running short. I'm definatly not cut out to be a single mom, and I'm sure my poor kids could support me in that. I'm afraid I'm not the nicest person too much of the time lately and I think it's just because I'm tired. I just hope it gets better when Charlie is here to help. I hate to think that this is who I am now.

Well, I should probably get to bed and get some sleep before my kids wake up in the morning. Take care everyone.

WE DID IT!

Eric and I both have jobs!!! Well, I know that Eric already has a job, but he has a new job. I got a job on the University of Utah campus. My official title is the Grades Clerk. I am part of the distance education department-they do independent study. I do things with grades and exams and putting together student's material for their course. I started on Wednesday. It's just a part-time job, but I workd from 9-1 so it will be perfect for going to school. And today we just found out that Eric got the orderly job at St. Mark's hospital. YEAH!! He will be in the operating room. We are super excited. We also move into our new apartment next Friday-YAY! So thanks for all your prayers and I would ask now that you pray for Eric that he does well on the MCAT (he takes it June 15 in the morning). We love you all.

Kurt and Heather--

I've been wondering how it has been in your new house. I haven't heard anything about it! Do you have any new pictures? How has the adjustment been? I'd really like to get the scoop.

What lovely people! This is from a picnic we had back in April or so.

The happy Utah Valley State College graduate.

Makayla, Jana, Mom and Dad at the zoo under the seal and polar bear tank. I thought I took a whole bunch more pictures on our trip to Michigan, but I guess not! Bummer.

New Direction

So I quit my job...I know, I know, I just started on Monday, but it was a bit too much on my back and I came home sooo sore both nights and we found out that the summer math class that I needed to take was at the same time. So, today was my last day and I start my math class tomorrow. But, do not worry, I have already put out 6 or 7 applications and are planning on doing more when I find good jobs. And since we will be living with Eric's parents for the next 3 weeks, that's how long I have to find a job. But, we're not worried about it-just please pray that I will find a great part-time job so that I can still go to school. Just thought that I'd let you know what's going on. OH, and we still don't know about the orderly job for Eric, but he's pretty certain that he will get the job (pray for that too, please :)

Muffin Mini Meatloaves

This recipe is delicious and SOOO easy! Thanks to the Kraft Recipe Magazines, we've had it several times and lovelovelove it. We've also passed it out to several friends and each has given us great reviews.

Muffin Mini Meatloaves
1 lb. ground beef
1 box Stove Top (6 oz)
1 cup water
1 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 cup BBQ sauce
3/4 cup shredded cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and the garlic powder until well blended. 2. Press evenly into 12 medium muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray; make an indentation in center of each with back of spoon.
3. Spoon BBQ sauce evenly into center of each with back of spoon.
4. Bake 30 min. or until meatloaves are cooked through. Top evenly with cheese; continue baking 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 min. before serving.

**OPTIONAL** Jazz it up: For a little kick, add 2 Tbsp A.1. Original Steak Sauce to meat mixture before shaping into meatloaves.

Spring

It's been so pretty here the last week. The lilacs are out and smell so good. The tulips and daffodils that Merrit sold me last year bloomed and are so colorful. The grass just keeps growing and growing. If we could find a good deal on a tractor, both Dad and I are ready to buy one. We're getting to old and feeble to walk behind the old one anymore. Dad even borrowed Molly's tractor last week and mowed our backyard. He says that it isn't as easy as you might think, since it doesn't turn on a dime and takes some maneuvering. We'll see how long it will take to talk ourselves into it. Of course, if we get a tractor then we have to build a shed to put it in. One thing leads to another in the way of home ownership. The play is over. The second weekend was totally sold out all 3 performances! Everyone who saw it really liked it. On Saturday night there were a number of people from the ward who went, so we meet at Riffles before hand and had dinner together, then went to the play. The week before, Castros had gone to Northville High's production of The Sound of Music. Susie said it was really bad. She was glad to go to a good high school play. Anyway, on with life! Dad still hasn't heard about the new job, so we still don't know what we're going to do about a summer vacation. We've thought of several options, and we'll just have to wait and see which one it will be. Enjoy the spring while it lasts, summer will be here soon enough.

Finally!

So, we have FINALLY moved completely out of our apartment. WOHOO!!! No more stink! :) Today was our last day and now we are at Eric's parent's house for the next 2 weeks. Because....we found another apartment! YAY! It's in a duplex almost in downtown Salt Lake. The tenant in front is a single man who runs a salon out of his apartment. The manager says that it's quite and we even have a little back yard all to ourselves and the parking in the back is ours too. We even get to paint! YIPEE! Also, I took the custodian job working for the Church as a custodian, I start on Monday. It will be a great job to have during the school year because it only goes from 5-8:30pm. And, yesterday Eric interviewed for an orderly job at a different hospital and he said that he feels good about the interveiw and he's really optomistic about getting the job. It doesn't pay as well as the job he has now, but it is full-time, with benefits and the chance for a pay increase. He would be an operating room orderly and the lady that interviewed him said that there would be chances for him to help out in some surgeries-something that he was super stoked about. So, we are both pretty excited and we should hear about the job (hopefully) next week sometime. That's all our news on this home front. It's all pretty exciting! We really do miss all of you back in Michigan, and like Heather hope that it was easier to get there, but hopefully by next summer we will be a lot closer and can see you all more frequently. But we had fun playing Boggle and cards and going to the zoo. But now it's time to get back to life and get on with being an adult. We love you!

Everyone home safe?

Hope all your travels went well. Did everyone arrive home safe and in a timely manner? It was great to see everyone. I wish we all lived a lot closer or that airline ticket prices would plummet. Such is life.

it's Jason's birthday, shout hurray

we want to sing to him today

one year older and wiser, too (ahem, ahem...)

happy birthday

TO YOU!

Finally Draft

Just wanted to share the good news that I sent in a full draft of my thesis today to my committee. I'll probably get some edits back before the presentation but I don't know for sure. Now I just have to get my presentation together and try to think up what sort of questions they'll be asking so I can have some thought out replies. Kurt and I think we'll be driving straight through on the way back so we should be around for most of Saturday. Yay!

happy birthday KURT!!

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY, ANOTHER YEAR
LET'S ALL GIVE KURT A GREAT BIG CHEER!

HURRAH!

Quiche recipe

Here is an easy recipe I found in the Parade magazine.

Ham and Cheese Quiche

1 9" deep dish pie shell (thawed)
2 cups shredded sharp cheese
1 cup chopped ham
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper (optional)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup evaporated milk


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss together cheese, ham, onion and green pepper. Spoon in pie shell. Whisk together remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour over ham and cheese mixture. Bake 45 minutes, or until golden and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Recipe is easily double and extra can be frozen.

We tried it with green peppers yesterday and it was great. Preparations go a lot faster if you buy the ham already cubed.

SOMEONE IS ONE YEAR OLDER!

Just wanted to wish you heck of a birthday tomorrow, Heather!!! Hope that it's fantastic!

Another Update

I am happy to report that things are going well. For a while there I thought I was going to lose my mind with all the things that we were trying to decide. But, yesterday we went and put money down to hold an apartment. The apartments we are going to move into are brand new and they aren't yet done building them, so we put the money down to secure an apartment. To view the apartments, click here. All you can really look at are the floorplans, we are moving into a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. They are not sure when we can move in because it is still being built, but Eric's parents have graciously let us live with them until then. It will either be the middle or end of May. And, I told some of you that I was quitting my job, but today that planned changed and I will be keeping my courier job-it was just easier that way. Eric is still looking for a different full-time job, but until he can get one, he will keep his job at LDS and just move from part-time to full-time. I will be staying at part-time so that I can take some summer classes. I also told some of you that we were thinking of me not going to school in the Fall, but I will be. So, I am taking this summer class so that I fulfill the pre-requisite for the math class I need and not have to spend 8 semesters in math classes. Eric is re-taking the MCAT in June and start applying to medical schools again shortly thereafter. They have changed the format so that you get your results in a month instead of three like before. He has decided to apply to osteopathic schools as well as medical schools. He graduates in 3 weeks and we are soooo excited! Also, for those who are popping out babies - and those of you who aren't or can't - we have decided to try for babies next March. This is when my birth control perscription runs out and we are just not going to renew it and see what happens :)! Ummm...primary is going great. On Sunday I'm going to start teaching the kids how to sing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives!" in sign language. The church's website has a link to learn the hymns in sign language and I watched it like one hundred times before I got it down. I am just going to teach them the first verse, but I have the fourth verse written down in case they are really good at the first. We will see how it goes, I'm kind of nervous. We are having Easter by ourselves and are glad it will be a quiet day. We miss you all, and Hillary good luck with moving...should be pretty awesome! BUT don't worry we will be there in 19 days from tomorrow! WOHOO!!! It should be pretty awesome. We couldn't be more excited. We hope you are all well and that you do all have an awesome Easter. John 20 (the Easter story). WE LOVE YOU!!!

Happy Easter!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Easter! I hope you all will be spending your Easter in a nice relaxing atmosphere.

I get to move Les and Jocelyn into Charlie's parents' house. It's been pretty stressful so far and tomorrow is the big move with all their furniture going. I will be so glad when this weekend is over. I'm trying to keep a Christ-like attitude, especially with it being Easter and all :).

Love you all.

Why did the girl fall off the swing?

Because she didn't have any arms.

Ha ha!

Baby pictures!

We had our first pregnancy exam last Tuesday. Heather has been doing great so far, and the doctors say that there's no reason that won't continue. The obstetrician we met with specializes in high-risk pregnancies (due to Heather's heart condition), and he said he's assisted several women with the same condition whose pregnancies went smoothly. He was very nice and professional. Due to the high-riskiness, they did an ultrasound even though it was just the first exam. It was very exciting to see the bean shaped person, especially the heart beating. Last night at Mom and Dad's, we scanned the ultrasound pictures they gave us. Here they are, for your viewing pleasure.