Spring Fever

Here we are in February, almost into March. I am starting to really crave the Springtime and a couple of recent days have made me want the warm even more! A couple of days this week we have had sunshine and beautiful weather, but the other days have been rain, and sometimes a mix of snow. I wish Mother Nature would make up Her mind! I can't wait to get out of the house and let the kids run all day, blowing bubbles, sliding down the slide, and running up and down our little hill while I'm out cutting back roses and other greenery getting ready for the new buds to come. Spring is a beautiful thing in most places, but nothing like here in Washington. Especially Wenatchee. I love to see the orchard trees get their leaves and the perennials out in our yard start to peep through the brown, cold dirt. I can't wait to see the green around the river and the trees across our street blooming and showing signs of life. I suppose I can wait, since it is still February, but that doesn't mean that I want to.

We are enjoying life so much! Mason and Andrew are getting along so much better lately and they rarely fight. Mason is such a sweet boy that he will answer to "Please" and "Thank you" just about every time. Even if he takes something from his brother, all Andrew has to do is ask nicely and Mason will (usually) hand it right back over without any fuss at all. What a blessing for me! I am constantly reminded how grateful I am that they are so close in age.

John has been working like a dog. He is still in school and working full time, so he is gone 14 hours a day and is very tired when he gets home. Poor thing still has to do homework when he's done eating dinner, and then it's off to bed to start it all over again. Early this month the P.U.D. opened a full-time, permanent position in the Fleet Services Department (where he currently works under a temporary student position) and he applied right away. He put in his resume and was promptly called for an interview. They set it up for the 20th of February, but they canceled it just a couple of days later, informing him that they needed to "re-evaluate the budget." It was a bit of a downer for us. We have been hoping and praying that something would work out for us in this regard. We've been told over and over that if he just gets his foot in the door there, they'll make a space for him. They did give him an extension on his student position, which is a positive thing, so we know they like him. It's just a matter of them giving him better pay and benefits. Now his main Foreman at the shop has put in his notice and that will open up a second very important position, not to mention that they are short-handed as it is. We are just waiting. And waiting and waiting...Andrew is getting so big and so smart. He's talking so well and knows so much. It's amazing how I don't have to tell him about something more than once before he can recognize it the next time. He really knocks my socks off sometimes! Mason doesn't talk much, but he will. He says things like "juice" and "dada" and "car" and "cracker" but he's working on most of his vocabulary. He understands simple instructions and he DEFINITELY knows what lunch is. :) He's such an angel. I just love having him in our family (it sounds like he was adopted from the way I wrote that!). JJ has really taken to him, too, which is hard for JJ when the kids are at such a small age and when he's gone all the time. We are just very lucky to be so happy in our family.JJ spoils me. He gave me the greatest gift EVER! He let me buy a piano! So, this is the first piano I have ever owned for myself. I found a used one on Craigslist and it had come out of a church. The brethren from the Elder's Quorum Presidency came and moved it for me. It's amazing how fast they can organize a moving team! I love the piano, and I LOVE that I can play and someday teach the boys how to play. And the boys, needless to say, love to bang on it and see how much noise they can make. :) This is such a blessing to me, too, because I was called as the Primary Pianist a couple of weeks ago. How fun! I love the Primary and I love those little kids with all of their attitudes! I love feeling needed and I love that I can contribute something to the ward, especially in a place that they needed someone so badly. The boys are BOTH going to nursery, too, so it gives me a little time to myself. :) It's GREAT!