Conference Weekend

Many people apologize when they don't blog for a long time, but I don't think I will. That would mean I'm assuming people actually read my blog.

But I will, for the sake of connecting the last blog to this one in a matter of time frames, highlight each month and a little of what has been happening.

April: Jake starts working as a substitute and decides that he will one day pursue a degree in Elementary Ed and Special Needs. Taci finds out that the district who guaranteed her a job no longer has the budget to keep her next year so she starts looking for a new teaching position.

We traveled down to Utah for conference and attend Jake's second missionary reunion.

May: Job searching is hard and scary! They travel to Utah frequently for interviews with no luck.

This is not a good year for hiring someone in the social sciences like history and geography.

As the school year winds down and the weather warms up, we get excited for summer. Jake packs all of our camping stuff together in a bin so we can "camp at a moment's notice" (his exact words).

June: Taci works at a science summer camp for kids at the local community college and has tons of fun! She enjoys teaching kids about the rock cycle and dirt and dinosaurs so much that she decides to pursue a second teaching certificate in science education.

Jake finally convinces Taci that they need to camp. We went up past Ashton Idaho to Warm River and spent a weekend getting eaten by bugs and trying not to drown in the rain, all the while having a blast.

Jake got offered a full time job at an elementary school working with autistic kindergarten and 1st grade kids.

July: Taci and Jake go camping again with Jake's parents for the 4th of July. Camping is fun just by yourselves, but it is great when you have someone who owns 4 wheelers with you. Taci learned to drive a 4 wheeler, and we had some great campfire cookin' from Jake's mom.

August: We spend their first anniversary with Taci's family in DISNEYLAND for a week! Taci's parents took us as a late college graduation present for Taci and just because they love Jake. Tara came along and made sure everyone stayed un-grumpy in lines and the hot sunshine.

We went to the beach and everyone got fried in the sun and Jake tried to body surf while we watched.

We also spend a few days in Utah during which we had a chance to see Taylor and Brooke's new apartment and kitten. Sure love that Hector and Helen.

At the end of August Jake started his new job and loves it! He works with some incredible people in his classroom who are all very experienced in the special needs field and have given him great advice and adores each kid in there.

Jake and Taci spent a weekend with Jake's sister Jodi and her husband Dallan in Soda Springs and watched her sing in sacrament meeting. She has such a beautiful voice and we always love spending time with them.

September: Was the busiest and craziest month yet! Jake turned 23 and we spent a weekend with his family. Both his sisters and his niece Ella were at his parents and it was fun to see everyone.

Taci's cousin Brady stopped in for dinner during his business trip through the area and we had fun spending time with him!

Jake and Taci decided one day to move to a new apartment, so we went and looked around to see what we could find. We come across a little house that was renting out the upstairs and when we saw that all utilities are paid, it has an extra room, and it is only 75 dollars more than our other smaller place, we snatched it up. In a matter of three days we were completely moved in with the help of good friends and family. It is a few blocks away from Jake's school and we are excited to be in a new ward.

Molly and Brandon, our very good friends in Rexburg, took us out for Jake's birthday and we had so much fun hanging out with them!

Taci started substitute teaching and so far has really enjoyed it. She has learned so much and is excited to do this until she finds a more permanent position.

October: Well, here we are again, six months and another conference with Taci's family down in Utah. A lot, yet just a little in the face of eternity, has happened, and we are still doing wonderfully. We love being in a new place and we are so happy with our jobs where we are learning every day.

We are excited (mostly Taci) for Halloween so Jake can dress up at school. We (Taci) has decided he is going as a nerd, with the suspenders and taped glasses. We (mostly Jake) are also so excited with the halloween candy in bulk at winco.

The next few months will bring us both starting night classes and trying to survive the winter without a crazy heating bill. We are going to have Thanksgiving with Taci's family and Christmas with Jake's, and in between we are happy staying home and spending our weekends together. We are so happy to have the same work hours and the same employer with the same days off! Jake is a flourishing cook who is keeping Taci chubby and in turn she isn't burning as much stuff as she used to, and her biscuits get better every time.