The October 20th, 2004 version...
Hi everyone! Our biggest news is that we are moving to Texas in 4 weeks or so. Don't worry, it was a shock to us too hehe.Tom, through a series of perfectly timed phone calls and interviews (you could almost call them coincidences but I believe they were also inspired) was promoted to the home office for his company... a HUGE promotion from in the field sales. The result is that Tom is in Texas starting the 25th, and we have to move the week of Thanksgiving, or be moved by the 29th, somehow. That gives us very little time to find a place and get everything packed. The company is providing everything, including a moving service, so we are not worried, it's the short amount of time we actually have to move in that is startling and slightly stressful. (ok, Tom isn't stressed, I am! That might be because I will be 7 months pregnant at the time of the actual move)
Other news... we get to find a new OB, new pediatrician, new library, new homeschool group, new house (minor detail), new church (that's easy, they are very happy to have us there! There are 4 wards) and get used to it all over again. Michael should still be baptized the 4th of December, and who knows about Thanksgiving, we figure we may be in Oklahoma that night. Cracker Barrel has a turkey dinner, right? :) We will be many days closer to family for the most part, a few hours further away on other parts. (and we'll be the same distance, give or take a few miles, from both sets of inlaws/grandparents.)
We will be very sad to leave all the new friends we have made.
It seems we live the shortest amounts of time in the places we feel the most at home.
I think you can convince us not to be as sad about leaving the flooding basement.
We have loved being in Pennsylvania. Here are some pictures of the colors (before some of the coldest nights, I need to take more pictures) from around our home. Ok, just one picture. The others are from too far away to really see anything.
As for our family, Tom is doing well with his job, obviously, though we realize it will be so strange for him not to be in Walmarts for work, spending his time instead in a cubicle all his very own. (oooh, fun) A desk job!
It will be hard not having him at home, but it is very temporary as we have such a limited time before the actual move! It will e nice being on a salary, not taxed at the commission rate (thus seeing a great deal of our income in the form of income tax return INSTEAD of takehome pay)... wish us luck! And pray for a home for us, as well.
Tabitha is busy, 6 months pregnant, and on the verge of getting stressed lol. Still busy with being Young Women's president, homeschooling, Cub Scouting (did we mention Michael is a Cub Scout?), mothering, cleaning, and whatever else I do...
now moving on top of all that hehe, and then we got asked to speak on Sunday! (actually, Tom volunteered me after being asked to speak himself, wasn't that sweet of him? hehe)
Michael is now a Cub Scout, as we joined a local troop with the one other boy in our branch who is Cub Scout age. So, he joined early as far as Church Cub Scouting is concerned, but we weren't planning on moving! He has earned his Bobcat and will receive it at the Pack Meeting next week, and is looking forward to racing his boat in the Raingutter Regatta this Friday evening. We will post pictures! (both of his boat and the race.) He LOVES Cub Scouting, his change to the Senior Primary class, and the idea of having his own scriptures after his birthday, as well as being baptized. He wasn't too keen on the idea of moving, but realizes there will be more kids his age in our new area, which will be a lot of fun. He is learning more daily and doing 3rd grade work, as well as reviewing 1st and 2nd grade items. His writing is improving and he loves being a part of the Pizza Hut reading program we signed up for this year. His page is here . I know he will love living closer to a library after our move, as well.
Benjamin loves learning how to read, and being 6, and being a huge help to us (his parents). He is growing in leaps and bounds but still has trouble controlling his temper. He loves Family Home Evening, Primary, going to Cub Scout meetings and Young Women's with Mom. His favorite thing to eat is Ice Cream, although he asked for Lasagna for his birthday dinner. One of his presents was McDonald's gift certificates and he was pretty proud of helping pay for a night out. He loves his siblings and playing with them. His favorite books and movies vary from week to week lately, but he loves legos and Harry Potter and Star wars. We are very proud of him and all he does for our family. He loves making pictures on the computer and playing the different games and programs we have. His page is here.
Emilie is busy busy busy being a girl. She always wants to be doing her hair, learning what matches in her clothes drawers (and growing out of everything as well), and always looking pretty. She makes up games, songs, stories, and jokes all the time and usually plays well with Nathanael, but gets tired of boy games with Michael and Benjamin. (and they just don't get the princess thing). She loves dressing up, getting dressed, looking nice, playing dolls, Strawberry Shortcake, anything princess, cooking, helping Mom clean or cook, making things for babies, building with Duplos (usually cakes or castles), and playing games on the computer. She is a happy energetic little girl who is a lot of fun to be around. Her page is here.
Nathanael is loving Nursery, trying to talk, following his siblings around and playing with whatever they have RIGHT NOW, and eating, as long as it's not dinner, oh, and shaking his head NO. He is 19 months old and his favorite things are cars and animals. He can say OINK and MOO and VROOM for cars. He likes standing up in his high chair to see the cars going by the kitchen window. He uses a few signs like Eat, More, Please, and Hungry, but mostly grunts and points. He is blonde, still a shock to us, and very mobile. He is growing very fast and fitting size 2T clothes. His page is here. It has new pictures and lots about him there as well.
Baby 6 is just about as normal. We get to find a new doctor all over again, and we already have looked up the hospital where he will be born. His page is HERE if you want to read updates on what is going on or see how many days left until DDay. No names yet, be sure to send us your suggestions hehe.
Give us a call anytime! And, after the baby is born OR before Christmas anyone is welcome to visit... my last months of pregnancy aren't good times to visit hehe. (let me get unpacked, too!) We will be sure to send out our new address and phone number as soon as we know it ourselves! Emails should not change, at least not anytime soon.
Tabitha, Tom, and family
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