Well January has been a interesting month I Jason started school both at BYU-Idaho and at ISU. So far it has been an easy time (knock on wood). I am taking both the first and second have of human anat/phy at BYU-I, and intro to dental hygiene from ISU. We found out that we have to pay all of the MRI so that really stinks. Well I went down to Utah and stayed with some odd people, but they were nice :) Anyway I had an interview at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene and that day I found out I got accepted. All I can say is it is a big load off my back. Well as long as I pass my anat/phy with a B or above. Well that night the people I was staying with (Rob and Tamara) and Marnie went to a comedy club (like a Who's Line is it anyway place) it was so funny and a great way to end a great day. I think sometime in the summer we all should get together and do something like go camping and stuff like that. Michelle is still working at Meleluca and taking care the the kids. Scott is growing and becoming more and more like a mini me. I know, I know a very scary thought. He loves playing with Kyle and helps my mom and dad with what ever he can. Kyle is running around and loves to copy what ever sound you make. It is a fun time with them. Well other than that every day is like the last day wake up take care of kids go to school study class work sleep. Well hope you all are have a great day talk to you all later.
Jason and Family
Monday, February 4, 2008
2008 January: Bates
Well, this month was a relaxingly big month for us!
We went to the doctor (having been told that Tamara was 14 weeks along) and found out that we were actually 18 weeks along (which is what Tamara had told them previously). So we had a surprise ultrasound [*this is not our baby... but they all look very similar, so I just stole this one of the internet... but, for the purpose of this newsletter, this is our ultrasound picture ;-) ]. The baby is healthy and well, and we are excited.
The Holidays stopped much of my progress on my site (missionshoebox), but I am getting back into it, and hopefully it will be up and running in the next month or two. My business partner also is in the process of getting really close to being engaged, so he hasn't been able to do much lately either. But, soon we'll get-r-done and be billionaires like the google-bros (we should make a video game like Mario-bros but with the Google boys).
Other than that it has just been work and play. Tamara and I are having fun as always, and hoping that everyone else is doing well as well.
Cheers,
Rob & Tamara
2008 January: North
Another month has come and gone here in the North household. I hope it’s the same in your households, because if not then we’ve messed up somewhere. We’ve finally submitted to the rhythmic humdrum of our work and school routine. I go in with Becky at 8 every morning and do some homework before my classes start. I’m usually done before she is and have some time in the afternoon to do some homework. On Monday nights we attend our ward FHE. Do you remember when FHE was a ward activity? Jason you were only in that situation for a few months weren’t you. Derik, you moved on pretty quickly too. Rob and I stayed for awhile, and now I can’t seem to get out. Our ward has a fantastic FHE leader, and we enjoy socializing with the ward members, but we also miss doing our own FHE. Wednesday nights we have an institute class together. We’re taking the class called “Achieving a Celestial Marriage.” It’s for newlyweds. So far I’ve been impressed with the teacher. I think we’re going to get a lot out of the class.
I have a class on Contemporary European Cultures. The teacher is a lot of fun, and he relates to his students very well…he’s also off his rocker. He spent the last class period trying to convince us that beauty, love, truth, and evil are non-existent. “What,” you ask “does that have to do with contemporary European culture?” I answer: “I’m not really sure, but it’s fun to debate it.” All my other classes are going well. I am enjoying my class on neurology. We are learning some fascinating things about how the brain develops and functions. I have felt the Spirit on a number of occasions testifying to me during class that there is no way our bodies evolved by chance, but we are created in the image of God. The brain is a marvel.
So are you all going to be able to see a broadcast of the temple dedication? They are transmitting it to a few stake centers here in Pocatello, so we’ll be able to go and watch. I think it will be a wonderful experience.
Well I’m out of time folks. We hope everything is going well for you. If you’re ever in Pocatello give us a call and stop by for dinner.
-Stewart and Becky
I have a class on Contemporary European Cultures. The teacher is a lot of fun, and he relates to his students very well…he’s also off his rocker. He spent the last class period trying to convince us that beauty, love, truth, and evil are non-existent. “What,” you ask “does that have to do with contemporary European culture?” I answer: “I’m not really sure, but it’s fun to debate it.” All my other classes are going well. I am enjoying my class on neurology. We are learning some fascinating things about how the brain develops and functions. I have felt the Spirit on a number of occasions testifying to me during class that there is no way our bodies evolved by chance, but we are created in the image of God. The brain is a marvel.
So are you all going to be able to see a broadcast of the temple dedication? They are transmitting it to a few stake centers here in Pocatello, so we’ll be able to go and watch. I think it will be a wonderful experience.
Well I’m out of time folks. We hope everything is going well for you. If you’re ever in Pocatello give us a call and stop by for dinner.
-Stewart and Becky
2008 January: Robertson
Greetings one and all,January has been a busy month for us. If I can remember everything that has happened it has to run something like this: We celebrated New Years Eve and Day with Morgan's family in Minnesota by playing a lot of board and card games. We were all a little sick, but did all right. We came home on the 7th of January to a cold Rexburg. I spent the next couple of days getting ready for school to start on the 9th.
The day that classes started I walked into my classes - this time as the teacher and had some really strange looks. I think the vast majority of people were wondering what it was that I was doing there. I admit I would give someone my age an odd look too if they were up front acting like they were going to teach philosophy. I then commenced to lay it on heavy and thick. My goal was to scare as many students away as I could. The fire code only allows for 42 students to be in the room. I had 45 signed up for the class and a total of 50 show up on the first day. So I didn't sugar coat anything. I mentioned my strict attendance policy and all of the writing I require per class (one page single spaced typed for each class period, plus essays, plus written quizzes and tests). I got to vent all frustrations I have with lazy students and back up all of my ravings with the power of the grade book which I hold. Well, my ravings had a bigger effect than I thought possible. In my two sections combined I went from 100 students that showed up that first day to a current enrollment of 67.
The hardest thing for me during those first couple days was earning the respect of the class. I am not the oldest person in the classes, yet I have to be the one that is challenging old ideas and illustrating new ones. I had to answer (and still answer) questions that establish my credentials in teaching the subject. I must admit that each class is a rush. I get the jittery nerves right before I walk in the door, but once I am in up in front of everyone and going I love every minute of it. I like the challenging questions and even the frustrating comments that come from the students that don't get it, or worse - don't get it and think that they do. I like the class sizes being small. If I could I would have them be even smaller than they are right now. Twenty students would be ideal. Oh-well. We just got through the introduction section and are half way through epistemology (the study of knowledge). We just finished shaking the students' beliefs to the very core with David Hume's empiricism - using the credo we can't know anything until we experience it (which most of my class said is true) he proved that we really don't know anything. Monday we get to try and build their world back up with Immanuel Kant. We'll see. I think everyone in the classes are itching to get to philosophy of religion. They might be surprised what they find there. I'll keep you updated. Needless to say I am enthralled with teaching and am sure that this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.
On another, slightly different topic. The price of text books are going up even more in the fall, and accepting a challenge from our university president to do more with less. The philosophy department (Br. Merrill and myself) decided that we needed a new textbook that would be aimed directly at the students who attend here and would be fairly cheap. Looking around we couldn't find any. To cut to the chase - I am writing a text book - rather compiling. I am taking famous essays and books editing the parts that I like and inserting my own commentary when appropriate. I have two months to finish it before it is at the printers. Tally ho!
The family is doing relatively good. Morgan does get a little bored staying home with the girls while I am at work, but she does enjoy my new found freedom in coming home for lunch and my access to the Humanities department's movie library. They have a bunch of the classics such as Hamlet, The Birds, Moby Dick, A Man for All Seasons, To Kill a Mockingbird, Finding Christ's Face in Art, and Looney Tunes Golden Collections volumes 1,2, and 3 (we are currently on volume 2). The Girls celebrated their 1 year birthday with a quiet night home. We gave them each a cupcake that they destroyed. We caught it on camera. The girls also started walking this month. Daria is a bit better at it than Kyla is, but Kyla is a bit more daring (Morgan says "reckless") Within a few weeks they will be running and our lives will be over. We had a family birthday party for them where we gave them more cake to throw all over the floor. They were spoiled by grandparents. We also toured the Rexburg temple with my parents. It is a beautiful building and we are really excited for its opening.
Morgan got another job to do wedding flowers for a lady that she has already bailed out once. But we are still in the dark as to the date of said wedding. I had a neat experience the other night as I got to go into the Rexburg temple to help move furniture so they could put up chairs for the dedication. We cleared all of the furniture out of the celestial room (on floor level 3) and had to carry all of the couches into the basement because they wouldn't fit in the elevator. so after taking five large couches down three flights of stairs we were doing our best to remember where we were. It wasn't too fun. Then after the couches we went to the 4th floor where all of the sealing rooms are located and had to take apart all of the alters so they could use all of the room to fit people in for the dedication (they are planning on 1800 people in the temple during each session). Those alters are about as heavy as the couches were if not heavier. It took four men straining and grunting to move the alters (after we had removed the tops and the cushions that surround them). At least with the alters we got to put them in the elevator and carried them to the mechanical room that comprises the 5th floor of the temple (call it a glorified attic - pun intended). We got to see the supports that are holding the spire up, the ladder that goes up to Moroni and the beast of a cable that is holding the celestial room's chandelier up. It was pretty neat. I'm just glad that I am not one of the people that has to move everything back. They have to have all of the furniture back in place by Monday morning when the temple staff shows up for their first day of meetings and training. So the workers are going to start moving everything back at 7pm Sunday night right after the dedication and hopefully will finish by 4 am Monday morning. If any of you want to help it is open to anyone who has a recommend and a hankering to perform 9 hours of labor intensive grunt work in the Lord's house in the middle of the night at break neck speed. Too bad I have to be to work early the next day...
We are saddened by the death of President Hinckley. He truly is a prophet of God. We will miss him immensely. On the other hand we must rejoice that he has found his sweetheart again. That had to have been a very touching and sacred reunion. We also look forward with anticipation to get to know the new first presidency and what they will be focusing on. Not to brag, but their first official public action will take place here in Rexburg with the temple. The community has real bittersweet feelings about it. We are all excited for the new presidency to come, but there will be that twinge of sadness at not seeing President Hinckley's smile. Oh well, the church is true and the work of the Lord will keep marching on with His timetable, not ours. If it was up to us I don't think we ever would have let President Hinckley die. I suppose that is a deep testimony to the impact that he had on all of us.
We hope that this finds you all well and happy. Sorry for the epistle this month. Next month I'll try to keep it down to a simple pamphlet. Love you all.
God Bless,
Morgan, Kyla, Daria & Derik
Saturday, February 2, 2008
2007 December: Hope
To tell you all I got the first email from Derik and emailed him back but did not get anything eles so from now on Derik if you could send the emails to jmskhope@gmail.com that would be great. I did get the newsletter from you???? Odd well I will try to remember what I said in the letter. December was a interesting month, I found out that I was not covered by our insurance when I got my MRI so that was a very unhappy bill we got after Christmas, so now we are fighting it. I was off of it for 2 months without them even letting us know that we were dropped. The MRI came back negative about tumors but I do have a venus angioma which in turn means some of my my vessels in my brain are messed up. If it stays the way it is it is not life threatening but if it starts to change it will change into a week vessel and it could cause a anurisum (a stroke) so I am hoping it will just stay the same I would rather have a headache for the rest of my life than to loose a half of my brain. Michelle is back working a Melaluca doing the same thing she did before. Scott is growing up into a little boy. Kyle is walking now YES. Scott also likes Kyle walking also, now they can play easier and Scott calls Kyle baby so he says "Baby come here" They had a great Christmas they got trucks and blocks and books. Well that is all I remember. Also just to let you all know I got accepted to the Dental Hygiene college down in Orem, as long as I pass both my classes. But my choice is still ISU if they ask me to come. Well have a great day and talk to you all soon.
The Hopes
2007 December: Bates
NEWSLETTER: The Bates Christmas Claymation SpecialThis month Tamara's morning sickness has greatly decreased. She still is sick and throws up a lot more than a normal person, but in
comparison she feels pretty chipper.Tamara was in charge of our ward Christmas program this year. She was told she had free reign, so she decided to scrap all speaking and just go with a Musical Entourage. She delegated songs out to the RS, EQ, and primary, and then would have the Ward Choir sing 3 or 4 songs. All seemed to be going well, when about 2 weeks beforehand the bishopric changed a lot of stuff on us. She adjusted and was fine again. Then just over a week before, the stake presidency informed us that they wanted us to have speakers. So, Tamara asked me and one of the Bishop's counselors to speak. She even prepared a talk for the counselor in case he wanted to use it... so once again we were fine and on schedule (but worried that Sacrament would extend and be late).
Dec 23 came, and chaos broke loose. All plans failed and I ended up winging the counselor's talk, and someone else ended up giving my talk. Tamara changed song order to accommodate the chaos, and it all worked out fine... but it was quite the unplanned meeting.
This year we Bateses congregated at the Idaho HQ. My parents have moved into a decently large house, so there was plenty of room for all of us. We had a relaxing Christmas and didn't do a whole lot, which was fine by me since I actually had to work while I was home. Everything went swimmingly, and we were spoiled rotten as usual.
For New Year's, we were with Tamara's family. We talked and teased and celebrated midnight. It was a fun time. We called it an early-ish night because I had to work the next day at 6:30. I awoke and went to work at 6:30 AM, only to discover 2 hours later that my company had miscommunicated and I was in fact NOT supposed to work New Year's day. But, at least no one was there to get in my way. I had a very efficient 2 hours.
Wishing everyone the best,
-Tamara & Rob
2007 December: North
Happy New Year everybody!!
My new year's resolution this year is to loose weight. I stepped onto the scale and saw triple digits and knew that I had to do something. I'd like to be back down to 85 by June, I want to look good for swimsuit season. Just kidding. Seriously, I didn't set any resolutions this year. I decided to take a break. I did have a successful year last year tho. I memorized 40 scriptures, and kept track of my expenses and was able to save some money. My goal to exercise 3 times a week lasted until I got married.
For Christmas I got a .22 rifle. We went shooting a couple of times out on Becky's farm and I went shooting yesterday morning near Pocatello. I drove around for awhile on Wednesday looking for a place I could go. Then yesterday morning I went to D.I. and spent about $4 on targets (toys) and went shooting. It was a lot of fun. I also got a biography of Hyrum Smith that I have been enjoying.
Are you all planning on going to the Rexburg temple open house? I don't think Becky and I will be able to. I just checked the website this morning and there are no times open when we can come up. I think we'll just go when it's open.
Attached is a picture of Becky and I and our first Christmas tree, and me holding up the fruits of my first successful hunt.
Take care everyone.
Stewart and Becky
My new year's resolution this year is to loose weight. I stepped onto the scale and saw triple digits and knew that I had to do something. I'd like to be back down to 85 by June, I want to look good for swimsuit season. Just kidding. Seriously, I didn't set any resolutions this year. I decided to take a break. I did have a successful year last year tho. I memorized 40 scriptures, and kept track of my expenses and was able to save some money. My goal to exercise 3 times a week lasted until I got married.
For Christmas I got a .22 rifle. We went shooting a couple of times out on Becky's farm and I went shooting yesterday morning near Pocatello. I drove around for awhile on Wednesday looking for a place I could go. Then yesterday morning I went to D.I. and spent about $4 on targets (toys) and went shooting. It was a lot of fun. I also got a biography of Hyrum Smith that I have been enjoying.
Are you all planning on going to the Rexburg temple open house? I don't think Becky and I will be able to. I just checked the website this morning and there are no times open when we can come up. I think we'll just go when it's open.
Attached is a picture of Becky and I and our first Christmas tree, and me holding up the fruits of my first successful hunt.
Take care everyone.
Stewart and Becky
2007 December: Robertson
Hey everyone,
Well I really think that absolutely none of my emails are getting through to Jason because I have emailed him every other day and have heard nothing in response. So someone forward this on to him just to make sure he gets something. The big news for December is simply - I graduated! That felt so good. I graduated Cum Lauda from the university. We went down the next day to Logan to see Ann graduate from Utah State. As I was looking through their program I had the GPA I could have graduated Summa Cum Lauda there (Morgan as well). As I went through both the Church graduation and a State graduation - oh wow. President Susan Tanner gave the talk at BYU-I graduation about staying humble and writing eternal truths on the fleshy tablets of the heart. Utah State graduation came across as a big sales pitch on why the alumni should donate money followed by a plea never to forget the school. There was mild swearing and lots of self importance. By the end of the ceremony, I was rather annoyed with the school. Two days after that we were on our way to Minnesota to spend the break with Morgan's family. Minnesota was fun. SO I hear. I spent the entire time behind text books getting ready for school to start in January. Christmas was really good to us. We were spoiled. Right after Christmas we all got sick with colds. Morgan's cold evolved into Bronchitis and both Kyla and Daria ended up getting ear infections. I am in denial about getting anything more serious than a cold, but it wont go away. But we got home all in one peace.
Well, it has been a good year. By and large I think that this newsletter has been a wonderful way to stay in touch. With the new year it can only get bigger and better so , with that, I pass the ceremonial torch on to Rob. He will be taking over . So you can expect a reminder email from him from now on. I hope that this move will also get the newsletter to Jason. Love you all - blessings on you all during the coming year.
Derik, Morgan, Kyla, Daria
2007 November: Bates
The Bates Family Duo (getting ready to pull a reverse Lion King ['our duos up to 3' -abmuP & nomiT])
This month we actually had some cool-groovy news (so I guess we'll start with that). We are pregnant. We don't know exactly when Tamara is due... but it will be sometime in the summer. We are very excited to become parents and join that nobel rank already acheived by the Hopes and Robertsons.
Tamara's brother Jefferson left on his mission early this month. Because of that, we celebrated Thanksgiving a little early. Then the whole Bates family (extended Bates family) came to our house for Thanksgiving. So we whipped up a meal and had a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner. Then an even MORE extended Bates family had a reunion the day after Thanksgiving with Turkey and all the trimmings... yes, a 3rd Thanksgiving Dinner. Then Tamara's family had a left-over blow out where we all pooled our left overs to get rid of them faster... which ended up being a full on Thanksgiving Dinner. So, after 4 Thanksgiving dinners, I am very Thankful (and there's more of me to be thankful with... about 10 pounds more I'd guess).
The one really good thing about Thanksgiving was cleaning everything up so that everyone could fit in our house. We had a relatively clutter-free home, until the relatives revoked that relativity. So, our house was re-relatively cluttered by relatives. (Ok, I'll stop before this turns into "The House that Jack Built").
In other news, it appears that Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is going to wipe out our neighborhood with a highway... so we are once again looking for a home (too bad, this one's way nice for us).
The very last piece of news is that I have started my own business on the side. It is not up and running yet, but I am writing the code for www.MissionShoeBox.com. It should be a fun site once I have it up and running. I already have all the user login code written, but still need to get all the rest of the functionality in. It is basically a place for missionaries to keep all their stuff (digital photos, video, convert info, mailing addresses, email stuff, etc...). My goal is to make it very easy for missionaries to put their stuff online, not worry about losing photos, and not worry as much about writing everyone back home, but just sending them an email BEFORE they leave with a URL that they can access and see certain things the missionary puts there. It is meant to reduce the time missionaries have to spend on PDay to email their pictures home, and email different people. It is also meant to archive their stuff forever so that instead of digging in the closet for that old "shoe box" they have full of mission stuff, they can just log into their account and see everything (even present it to other people in slideshows and the like). So, that should be fun (and hopefully at least a little profitable on the side).
So, that's pretty much it for November for us. Until the end of December (fyi we will be in Rexburg this year for Christmas. We will probably come Sunday evening the 23rd and leave Thursday afternoon). Cheers,
-Tamara & Rob
This month we actually had some cool-groovy news (so I guess we'll start with that). We are pregnant. We don't know exactly when Tamara is due... but it will be sometime in the summer. We are very excited to become parents and join that nobel rank already acheived by the Hopes and Robertsons.
Tamara's brother Jefferson left on his mission early this month. Because of that, we celebrated Thanksgiving a little early. Then the whole Bates family (extended Bates family) came to our house for Thanksgiving. So we whipped up a meal and had a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner. Then an even MORE extended Bates family had a reunion the day after Thanksgiving with Turkey and all the trimmings... yes, a 3rd Thanksgiving Dinner. Then Tamara's family had a left-over blow out where we all pooled our left overs to get rid of them faster... which ended up being a full on Thanksgiving Dinner. So, after 4 Thanksgiving dinners, I am very Thankful (and there's more of me to be thankful with... about 10 pounds more I'd guess).
The one really good thing about Thanksgiving was cleaning everything up so that everyone could fit in our house. We had a relatively clutter-free home, until the relatives revoked that relativity. So, our house was re-relatively cluttered by relatives. (Ok, I'll stop before this turns into "The House that Jack Built").
In other news, it appears that Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is going to wipe out our neighborhood with a highway... so we are once again looking for a home (too bad, this one's way nice for us).
The very last piece of news is that I have started my own business on the side. It is not up and running yet, but I am writing the code for www.MissionShoeBox.com. It should be a fun site once I have it up and running. I already have all the user login code written, but still need to get all the rest of the functionality in. It is basically a place for missionaries to keep all their stuff (digital photos, video, convert info, mailing addresses, email stuff, etc...). My goal is to make it very easy for missionaries to put their stuff online, not worry about losing photos, and not worry as much about writing everyone back home, but just sending them an email BEFORE they leave with a URL that they can access and see certain things the missionary puts there. It is meant to reduce the time missionaries have to spend on PDay to email their pictures home, and email different people. It is also meant to archive their stuff forever so that instead of digging in the closet for that old "shoe box" they have full of mission stuff, they can just log into their account and see everything (even present it to other people in slideshows and the like). So, that should be fun (and hopefully at least a little profitable on the side).
So, that's pretty much it for November for us. Until the end of December (fyi we will be in Rexburg this year for Christmas. We will probably come Sunday evening the 23rd and leave Thursday afternoon). Cheers,
-Tamara & Rob
2007 October: Hope
Hello All,
Well my family is doing great we are still at my parents house, and I will be going in to get an MRI if my head either this or next weak depending on our insurance. I have had a headache for the past 24 days and what ever the doctors give me does not work, so they think there could be something up there but they hope not for my sake. I hope not to in a way. In a way I want something there to know why I am having the headaches but not to have something there to save a lot of money and surgery. I still work at Broulim's but I am thinking about looking for something else the doctors and my family also think this could be causing my headaches due to some people I work with and how they treat me. I will leave it at that. I will be going back to school this winter to take some night classes so it will look good when I talk to schools and hopefully I will get in this time. Well Halloween Scott was sick so he was not able to go trick or treating so we just took all of what others had who came to our door it was a lot easier and more rewarding this way I say and also less expensive. Other than that it has been getting colder and more like winter, and it smells more like stuffing and frozen fingers in the morning (Stew would not get this because he could wear gloves). Take care all
2007 October: Bates
October was another month of the mundane... UNTIL: we had the opportunity to go on a cruise with Tamara's family. They take a huge vacation every time one of their kids goes on a mission, and Tamara's little brother will leave in November. So, they organized a cruise along the Mexican Riviera. Unfortunately we couldn't afford to both go... but luckily it would have been impossible to get the 12 days off work for me, so I didn't have to feel bad about missing out.
Tamara had a blast with her family and they took lots of pictures, unfortunately I don't have the digitals to send-- so you'll just have to trust me that it was fun... and I have to trust them that the photos haven't been digitally altered in any way ;)
Tamara and her sisters all coordinated their Halloween costumes so that they were the witches of the North, South, East and West. Tamara was the god witch of the North. I went as wolverine with real metal claws I made myself (*see picture). We had a fun party at Tamara's sister's house, after which we played murder in the dark (a really cool version where you run around a pitch black house trying to kill, not be killed, find those who have died, and accuse/convict the murderer. It was very fun.
Other than that it was a normal month (though there was a lot of pining during the dozen days Tamara was gone).
Until November 30th,
-Rob & Tamara
2007 October: North
Well everyone, sorry I'm a couple of days late. School has been hectic, but gratifying in it's own little way. I found out that I'm on track to graduate next spring (spring of 2009), which was quite a relief for me. I was worried that my advisor would say something like "woops, it looks like you overlooked this little detail and you won't be able to graduate for 3 1/2 years." Luckily he said that I'm on track.
We're having a group from the ward over for FHE tonight. I told the FHE coordinator (do you remember back when that was a calling in your singles wards?) to send the smallest group to our house. The other members of the bishopric have large, beautiful lawns, and beautiful houses with multiple family rooms and our house has 3 rooms and only 10 chairs, including the folding chair in the closet. So it will be standing room only at the North house tonight. It's okay, I think we'll have a fun evening.
Becky is working lots of hours still. She got off at 9:15 last Saturday. We're able to save a little bit of money now so that we'll have some when football season is over and she doesn't get the overtime.
We hope things are going well for you all,
Stewart and Becky
We're having a group from the ward over for FHE tonight. I told the FHE coordinator (do you remember back when that was a calling in your singles wards?) to send the smallest group to our house. The other members of the bishopric have large, beautiful lawns, and beautiful houses with multiple family rooms and our house has 3 rooms and only 10 chairs, including the folding chair in the closet. So it will be standing room only at the North house tonight. It's okay, I think we'll have a fun evening.
Becky is working lots of hours still. She got off at 9:15 last Saturday. We're able to save a little bit of money now so that we'll have some when football season is over and she doesn't get the overtime.
We hope things are going well for you all,
Stewart and Becky
2007 October: Robertson
I have come to the conclusion that I am the long winded one. oh well.
October went by so fast that I’m not sure what we did during the month. I started the month taking the GRE in Pocatello. I received my scores just last week. I didn’t do too bad. I did better than about 75 % of the people who took the test in the English segment, better than 63% of test takers in the math section and over 88% of the test takers in the written section. Not bad. I am hoping that my letters of recommendation will make the applications to graduate school really shine. I am still waiting for my results for the subject literature GRE test that I took. I enjoyed my 25th birthday. At this point in time I could say some trite about time flying and the endless marching of the ages, but what’s the point.
School has been going on and on as usual. I am currently taking my 7th graders on a whirlwind course of essay writing and personal responsibility. Side note: we have learned by sad experience that 7th graders are not responsible and then complain to the teacher that they have no responsibility. Oh well.
I have officially been hired on at the university to teach two sections of philosophy 110 for the winter semester. Books have been ordered and my syllabus is almost done. As soon as Christmas vacation hits I will be scrambling to get a schedule for the class put together. I have also been asked by the university to be a panel member for their upcoming pre-professional conference that they are holding in a couple of weeks. Things are keeping me busy.
Morgan and the girls are having enjoyable if not hectic times at home. The girls are now crawling and Daria is starting to pull herself up onto objects. She can now pull herself into a standing position and will walk if someone holds her. Kyla is in no hurry to do either. She is content with her army style crawling and being entertained by Daria’s movement. They keep Morgan running around. She has found a little past time in listening to books on tape. She received a call one Saturday this month asking if she could come that afternoon and do some flowers for a wedding. She worked her magic and did the flowers for a wedding in about three hours. The people she did them for were very grateful and impressed with her work.
Love you,Derik and the girls
2007 September: Hope
Well I guess I can say that I got a job working for a dental office. It is the same one that I did my internship with so it was nice to get paid for what I did for free a few months ago. I do not work a Wingers anymore. They did not work with my schedule with the dental office. But I started working at the Broulim's bakery and I work ther full time :) so now I am working 12 hour days 7 to 7. I am starting to apply to dental hygeien schools hopefuly I get inot one. I plane on applying to 10 or so. (stew when are you planing to graduate form ISU?? That is one of the places I am applying to.) Michelle is doing ok she is getting sick of being at my parents house. I can see why, she has no car to go anywere and it is starting to get cold so she can not take the boys outside as often. But other than that I think she is doing great. Scott is doing great he loves it at my parants house because he can play with lots of space. Kyle is doing well but he is still not walking but getting close and he is still trying to get some more teeth. and still trying to act like his big brother. Well hope everything is well for the rest of you. See you later.
The Hope's
2007 Spetember: Bates
The 15th of this month was our anniversary... for our first date that is. Kinda crazy! We've been dating for a year, engaged 10 months ago, and married for a little over 1/3rd of a year. Unbelievable, and awesome!
Several deadlines came due this month for me at my work, which then became my main focus. So, I was pretty boring during September.
We bought an additional car this month, so we now fall inline with Utah's statistics of at least 1 car per person over 10 years old in the family. I also bought several Hot Wheels. Counting those, we are a 10 car family. Ok, so maybe I didn't actually buy Hot Wheels... but I could have.
Lady luck paid us a visit at a family raffle. Tamara's Grandma is giving away a lot of antiques that her late husband collected throughout his life. We won the radio/record player. Though we haven't picked it up yet, we do own a really cool antique. It will probably displace our current record player that we received from a dead person I had met only once.
Quite recently we had a movie night with Tamara's eldest brother and his wife. We watched "Waking Ned Divine" and ate many good snacks. A move is always funnier when it has very old men riding naked on motorbikes. When we've ages appropriately, I think we should make such a film.
Till then,
-Rob (clothed, and not on a motorbike) and Tamara
Several deadlines came due this month for me at my work, which then became my main focus. So, I was pretty boring during September.
We bought an additional car this month, so we now fall inline with Utah's statistics of at least 1 car per person over 10 years old in the family. I also bought several Hot Wheels. Counting those, we are a 10 car family. Ok, so maybe I didn't actually buy Hot Wheels... but I could have.
Lady luck paid us a visit at a family raffle. Tamara's Grandma is giving away a lot of antiques that her late husband collected throughout his life. We won the radio/record player. Though we haven't picked it up yet, we do own a really cool antique. It will probably displace our current record player that we received from a dead person I had met only once.
Quite recently we had a movie night with Tamara's eldest brother and his wife. We watched "Waking Ned Divine" and ate many good snacks. A move is always funnier when it has very old men riding naked on motorbikes. When we've ages appropriately, I think we should make such a film.
Till then,
-Rob (clothed, and not on a motorbike) and Tamara
2007 September: North
September was a good month for Becky and I. We spent the first weekend out at Becky's folks' place. I did my best to fit in and be a country/farm boy (It was hard because I was sneezing all the time). I did love being out on the farm. Becky and I went 4-wheeling that Saturday. We went way out into the desert to a spot that Becky's family used to go swimming in the river. It was dry this time of year, but we enjoyed the solitude. I went badger hunting at 4am with my father-in-law. It was kind of cool to go riding around the farm on 4-wheelers with guns at 4am. We never caught him though. As far as I know he's still out there digging holes in their fields (I'll get you next time badger!). On Monday we went skeet shooting. I really like shooting. I wasn't ever really exposed to it when I was younger, but I've taken to it now. I'd like to get a gun one of these days. I won't have time to go shooting until summer tho. I'm getting more comfortable up at the podium. September was my month to conduct so I got to dive right in. My first week I think my hands were shaking pretty bad but Becky said you couldn't even tell. On the third week I told a joke that made everybody laugh, and so I feel a little bit more comfortable.
This is the part of the semester where things are really going. I've got more homework than I do hours in the day. Oh well, I've survived it before, I guess I can do it again. What are you all doing for conference? Becky's family got tickets to the Saturday afternoon session so we're going down there for it. Have a great weekend everyone.
Stewart and Becky
This is the part of the semester where things are really going. I've got more homework than I do hours in the day. Oh well, I've survived it before, I guess I can do it again. What are you all doing for conference? Becky's family got tickets to the Saturday afternoon session so we're going down there for it. Have a great weekend everyone.
Stewart and Becky
2007 September: Robertson
I guess to get things started we can give an update on the girls. They are still growing faster than we can keep up with. We are looking at getting winter clothes for them, but we have no idea how big they will be by December. So we will wait. They are getting around to pretty much where ever they want to go. No crawling, just scooting and rolling. However, they are up on their hands and knees now and rock back and forth. Any day now they will take that first little step and then our semi docile existence will be shattered forever. They still enjoy jabbering and have recently started jabbering to each other. They really like to play together when they are not pulling each others hair or kicking each other in the face in an effort to get from point A to B.
Morgan has been called as the music chorister for the Relief Society in our ward and already complains that she has run out of ideas. If you have any, send them our way. Other than that she has been trying to find a routine to fall into during the day. She goes on walks now and then, does her church callings, and above all keeps me going. She has become a personal tutor and task master getting me ready for the GREs. I know that she has put up with a lot of my griping, but she has born it all in stride and with infinite patience.This last Tuesday I was called into the office of the chairman over the Humanities and Philosophy department on campus. Not knowing what the meeting was about, I was floored when he offered me a job as an adjunct faculty member for the winter semester. The job offered is to teach two philosophy classes. This job really is a God send. We didn't really know what we were going to do in between my graduation in December and grad school in August. This allows me something to do, gives me good experience, gives me a little money to save, and will help me prepare for grad school better than anything else I could do. We feel really blessed to be given this opportunity. I know that we are being looked out for by a Heavenly Father that hears our concerns and opens opportunities to us if we do our part.
I think that is about it for our busy lives. God Bless,
Derik and family
2007 August: Hope
Well sorry about the last month letter we were in the moving mode and I did not have the Internet. Well We moved over to Portland well just outside of it called Beaverton and was planning to go to WCI for Pastry school . So I went and they showed me around and well I felt that something was not right, and being a Latter-Day Saint I knew it was the Holy Ghost telling me something, then they told me were I could go to find some jobs so I could start getting $$$$$$. Well that night I asked to know if this was the right thing, after all I have asked before and felt it was right. Well the first place I went to get a job was La Bakery, and the chef there was a former teacher there and after looking at what cooking classes I took at BYU-Idaho he said that I did not need to go to the pastry school, so he asked me random questions and I answered them and he said (in a French accent) "Yep you know most everything they would teach you there" So I took that to heart and the ward was going to do baptisms at the Portland Temple. So you know how that all works out and well Michelle was coming the next day and we decided that I would move back to Idaho and go to school for dental hygiene. So that is what is going on in my life. Michelle is just staying home with the kids and trying to adjust into that mode of life since she has been working since we have been married. Scott is now 2 and 1/2 years old and is growing up and becoming a little man. He loves going outside and looking at animals. Kyle is 15 months now and still is not walking but hopefully soon. He loves whatever his older brother is doing and tries to do that task, sometimes not getting the outcome that he would like. Other than that we are doing great. So if you need to reach Michelle or I, we are at my parent's house until we move into an apt. the info is
Jason & Michelle Hope
5810 S. 2000 W.
Rexburg, ID 83440
208-356-6123
2007 August: Bates
Yet again a month has slipped by, and I'm behind on updating everyone. On the positive side, you are getting the most up-to-date info about last month (just in case any of last months happenings changed during this month ;)
August for the Bateses (Bates's? Bates-z... that looks good).
The Month of August was kind of a standard one for us. We worked and played as usual. Work was especially busy for me, because we had our final summer deadlines. After some overtime and some luck, I got everything done.
We did, however, celebrate 2 anniversaries this month. August 6th, when we first met (in ward choir), and August 29th, when we had our first date (a rather spontaneous one after FHE).
The highlight of the month though, was a spontaneous trip to the Spanish Fork canyon Hot-Spring. We drove out there, hiked a few miles, and enjoyed the thermal spring for a few hours. We had a picnic, and waded, and enjoyed ourselves.
So, the moral of the story... take some time out of the mundane, and go do something crazy different on the spur of the moment. Preferably, do several of those things, and then you'll have more to write in your newsletter than I do.
-Rob & Tamara Bates
2007 August: North
Becky and I have officially ended our summer vacation. We got free Lagoon tickets at Becky's bridal shower and we finally went the last Thursday before school started. Thursday is an excellent day to go to Lagoon. There weren't any lines longer than 5 min. Later on in the day more people came, but the whole morning there weren't that many people. We did all the cool, fun rides in the morning, but then, like you might expect from me, I got queezy after lunch and we had to spend the rest of the afternoon doing all the tame rides.
My school schedule isn't that hard yet. I have 12 credits, all science classes, with 9 hours of lab each week (Jason, you probably know what that's like). So far my favorite class is organic chemistry. Call me a nerd, but I enjoy learning about how all these chemicals in our body work. I could go off on some nerdy sshpeel about magnetic forces between the molecules in our bodies, but that would probably be the last time I was invited to contribute to this newlsetter.
In church news, after a summer vacation with no demanding callings and being able to sit by my wife during church, I've been called into the bishopric of my old singles ward; I'm the second counselor. This will be very strange for Becky and I. We'll be back in the same setting we were when we were dating, but now we're married. I love the Bishop of that ward, and I love the people in the ward, but it will be very very odd. Can you imagine me conducting a temple recommend interview, or sitting in on a church court? I'm also going to make double sure that I wear my wedding ring to every ward function. I won't be made a high priest however, for situations like this they just leave you an elder.
This info. might be of interest to you all. Becky and I just signed up for a type of pregnancy insurance thru Aflac. If we are able to conceive when we want to, we will end up doubling our money (ie. we will pay about $1500 by the time we have the baby, but Aflac will pay out about $3000). If any of you want more info let me know. It seems to me like it's a pretty good plan. Do Derik and Jason have any tips on paying for a baby?
Best of luck everyone, you're good friends to have.
Stewart and Becky
My school schedule isn't that hard yet. I have 12 credits, all science classes, with 9 hours of lab each week (Jason, you probably know what that's like). So far my favorite class is organic chemistry. Call me a nerd, but I enjoy learning about how all these chemicals in our body work. I could go off on some nerdy sshpeel about magnetic forces between the molecules in our bodies, but that would probably be the last time I was invited to contribute to this newlsetter.
In church news, after a summer vacation with no demanding callings and being able to sit by my wife during church, I've been called into the bishopric of my old singles ward; I'm the second counselor. This will be very strange for Becky and I. We'll be back in the same setting we were when we were dating, but now we're married. I love the Bishop of that ward, and I love the people in the ward, but it will be very very odd. Can you imagine me conducting a temple recommend interview, or sitting in on a church court? I'm also going to make double sure that I wear my wedding ring to every ward function. I won't be made a high priest however, for situations like this they just leave you an elder.
This info. might be of interest to you all. Becky and I just signed up for a type of pregnancy insurance thru Aflac. If we are able to conceive when we want to, we will end up doubling our money (ie. we will pay about $1500 by the time we have the baby, but Aflac will pay out about $3000). If any of you want more info let me know. It seems to me like it's a pretty good plan. Do Derik and Jason have any tips on paying for a baby?
Best of luck everyone, you're good friends to have.
Stewart and Becky
2007 August: Robertson
Well all,
August has been very busy for us. We were able to go down for a little day trip to Logan to see our new nephew. Ann had her baby boy Taggart on the 15th (I think) He's a cute kid. Morgan did the flowers for my cousins wedding. It was a hectic day trying to get all of the flowers done and she went above and beyond the call of duty by actually doing some floral decorating at the reception - which she was expecting to really do. But all the flowers turned out great and she received many compliments on them, even by complete strangers who just happened to be at the temple when we were. I started my student teaching in August. I started with the district meetings which were incredibly boring and I didn't agree with half of what was being said by their special guest speaker. But my cooperating teacher is about as cynical about the entire process as I am. I don't know if that is good or bad. We have fun in the school day - most of the students don't catch my little commentary throughout the lesson, but my cooperating teacher does and she does her best not to start laughing out loud.
I started practicing for the GRE this month. I will be in pocatello on the 3rd of October to take the GRE and will either be in pocatello or Boise on the 6th to take the subject GRE. Looking at Grad schools has been interesting. I have considered a lot of schools and have finally settled on at least four that i wouldn't mind getting into all four of them are in the top 25 schools for English in the country. We'll see how it all pans out. I also kept my job for Grand River so I can have some income to pay bills with while I student teach. It is having a full time job and a part time job and studying for tests and school every day. I tell myself it is only for 3 months and then i get a break from school stuff, except for teaching myself latin (it is a requirement for most of the schools that I am applying for). That about covers it for us. Hope that you enjoy this months communication. Have a good one. God Bless!
Derik & Co
August has been very busy for us. We were able to go down for a little day trip to Logan to see our new nephew. Ann had her baby boy Taggart on the 15th (I think) He's a cute kid. Morgan did the flowers for my cousins wedding. It was a hectic day trying to get all of the flowers done and she went above and beyond the call of duty by actually doing some floral decorating at the reception - which she was expecting to really do. But all the flowers turned out great and she received many compliments on them, even by complete strangers who just happened to be at the temple when we were. I started my student teaching in August. I started with the district meetings which were incredibly boring and I didn't agree with half of what was being said by their special guest speaker. But my cooperating teacher is about as cynical about the entire process as I am. I don't know if that is good or bad. We have fun in the school day - most of the students don't catch my little commentary throughout the lesson, but my cooperating teacher does and she does her best not to start laughing out loud.
I started practicing for the GRE this month. I will be in pocatello on the 3rd of October to take the GRE and will either be in pocatello or Boise on the 6th to take the subject GRE. Looking at Grad schools has been interesting. I have considered a lot of schools and have finally settled on at least four that i wouldn't mind getting into all four of them are in the top 25 schools for English in the country. We'll see how it all pans out. I also kept my job for Grand River so I can have some income to pay bills with while I student teach. It is having a full time job and a part time job and studying for tests and school every day. I tell myself it is only for 3 months and then i get a break from school stuff, except for teaching myself latin (it is a requirement for most of the schools that I am applying for). That about covers it for us. Hope that you enjoy this months communication. Have a good one. God Bless!
Derik & Co
2007 July: Bates
I Hereby Decree this Newsletter be carried abroad for the Inform of Allies:
July has always shown greatness everywhere that year-round school has not taken hold. Named for the emperor, it continues in a tradition of grandeur, power, and tyranny (defined in summer months as parents telling children to do chores instead of lolly-gag away their vacation... sheesh, the dictatorial power!). But, unnotably, this has nothing to do with my own July.
Tamara and I have now made our first house payment, and actually own about a doorknob's worth of the house (talk about building equity. If I ever go bankrupt, I can fall back on that doorknob, and any Disney aficionado will tell you that knobs can be quite powerful).
We also made the some-time-periodly mecca back to Rexburg for Jason's moving-to-Oregon party. Derik also paid us a visit and stayed with us for a night. So, the only one left to see is Stew and his new bride (and the rest of you will just have to darn-well wait your turn till I do ;-).
Also, in the July-esk tradition of greatness, Jason and I celebrated yet another anniversary of being.
Other than that, this month was pretty hectic. This was the month of bills and overtime. So, I didn't much besides work. I did however manage to hire my bro-in-law to mow our lawn (all in the name of helping him prepare for his mission). So, that's one less thing to worry about.
Hopefully August will bring some new-younger-and-improved tyrannical interest. Everyone loves an emperor's son... or else!
Peaches and Smiles,
-Tamara and Rob
July has always shown greatness everywhere that year-round school has not taken hold. Named for the emperor, it continues in a tradition of grandeur, power, and tyranny (defined in summer months as parents telling children to do chores instead of lolly-gag away their vacation... sheesh, the dictatorial power!). But, unnotably, this has nothing to do with my own July.
Tamara and I have now made our first house payment, and actually own about a doorknob's worth of the house (talk about building equity. If I ever go bankrupt, I can fall back on that doorknob, and any Disney aficionado will tell you that knobs can be quite powerful).
We also made the some-time-periodly mecca back to Rexburg for Jason's moving-to-Oregon party. Derik also paid us a visit and stayed with us for a night. So, the only one left to see is Stew and his new bride (and the rest of you will just have to darn-well wait your turn till I do ;-).
Also, in the July-esk tradition of greatness, Jason and I celebrated yet another anniversary of being.
Other than that, this month was pretty hectic. This was the month of bills and overtime. So, I didn't much besides work. I did however manage to hire my bro-in-law to mow our lawn (all in the name of helping him prepare for his mission). So, that's one less thing to worry about.
Hopefully August will bring some new-younger-and-improved tyrannical interest. Everyone loves an emperor's son... or else!
Peaches and Smiles,
-Tamara and Rob
2007 July: North
July is now over. It has been a great month. Today my wife and I are
celebrating our 2 month anniversary. I went and bought her a digital camera
today after work. She doesn't know that I did it. I'll suprise her with it
this evening. We have some money left over from our wedding and she
mentioned that she'd like a digital camera. It's going to be a wonderful
suprise.
Speaking of money, in a series of unlikely events I found out about a grant
called the SMART grant that I am eligible for. Usually people are
automatically considered for the grant when they apply for a PEL grant, but
for some reason I wasn't. When I found out about it I went and talked to
somebody at ISU and they said they'd look into it. A week later I found out
that I will be given $4000 for this next school year; combined with my other
scholarships and PEL grants that means I won't have to pay anything out of
my own pocket for school. What a great blessing that is! Becky and I are
glad that we pay our tithing faithfully. (tomorrow I'm going to buy a lot
of chamaine so that I can bathe in it)
Rob, we all had fun at your expense at our little octet party last month.
Jason did the funniest impression of you on drugs. It was hillarious. (OK
just kidding, we didn't make fun of you, we did have fun, but it would have
been more fun if you could have made it).
Well it's pretty clear from the newsletter who the computer programmer is
with all those cool little hyperlinks in his post, and who the english guy
is, with his use of unusual metaphors (unicorns and moonbeams), but you
can't really tell what I am yet. I guess it means I'm still getting there.
Soon maybe I'll start including gruesome details about operations I've seen
or something.
Jason, congrats and good luck in Oregon. I know it sounds like something
you'd hear at a funeral, but I'll say it anyway, "you've got to a better
place". Oh and happy birthday Rob and Jason.
Stewart
celebrating our 2 month anniversary. I went and bought her a digital camera
today after work. She doesn't know that I did it. I'll suprise her with it
this evening. We have some money left over from our wedding and she
mentioned that she'd like a digital camera. It's going to be a wonderful
suprise.
Speaking of money, in a series of unlikely events I found out about a grant
called the SMART grant that I am eligible for. Usually people are
automatically considered for the grant when they apply for a PEL grant, but
for some reason I wasn't. When I found out about it I went and talked to
somebody at ISU and they said they'd look into it. A week later I found out
that I will be given $4000 for this next school year; combined with my other
scholarships and PEL grants that means I won't have to pay anything out of
my own pocket for school. What a great blessing that is! Becky and I are
glad that we pay our tithing faithfully. (tomorrow I'm going to buy a lot
of chamaine so that I can bathe in it)
Rob, we all had fun at your expense at our little octet party last month.
Jason did the funniest impression of you on drugs. It was hillarious. (OK
just kidding, we didn't make fun of you, we did have fun, but it would have
been more fun if you could have made it).
Well it's pretty clear from the newsletter who the computer programmer is
with all those cool little hyperlinks in his post, and who the english guy
is, with his use of unusual metaphors (unicorns and moonbeams), but you
can't really tell what I am yet. I guess it means I'm still getting there.
Soon maybe I'll start including gruesome details about operations I've seen
or something.
Jason, congrats and good luck in Oregon. I know it sounds like something
you'd hear at a funeral, but I'll say it anyway, "you've got to a better
place". Oh and happy birthday Rob and Jason.
Stewart
2007 July: Robertson
July has been absolutely crazy for me. I finished school - all of my being a student in a classroom for my undergraduate degree is finished, I just have to student teach and then I am graduated. I was quite pleased with my self for the term. With as much as I was working both on and off campus, and with carrying all upper level classes -except for one class (that was really a joke) I pulled through with a bright 4.0. Too bad that also puts me over the credit limit so I wont be recieving any scholarships in the fall. Oh well. As soon as school was out, I had to move my boss's business down to Spanish Fork. That was long and miserable. We used a U-haul to move his inventory down. We louded that thing 10,000 pounds past its max carrying capacity. The engine maxed out at 25mph over the malad pass. When we arrived at Spanish Fork, the back tires and axle were smoking. Thank you Rob in helping unload that accursed truck, and letting us stay at your place. The drive back to Rexburg was even more nerve wracking. My cousin, the guy that was helping me, talked to his fiance on his cell from the moment we left Spanish Fork until we hit Pocatello. I used the word 'talk' very loosely. They repeated the same sticky phrases to each other over and over. It sounded like a broken recording of a poorly written, poorly produced, and poorly acted LDS Romance. Yes - unicorns were throwing up their moon beams.
As soon as I got back from that trip, I -with my family - popped over the wish the Hopes the best in their future endevours. It was good to hang out and play pool one last time. Now it is official -I am the last one to leave Rexburg -sniff. The next day we headed to a week long family reunion up in Driggs where there were enough Aunts and cousins around that we didn't have to do much with our girls, they were in high demand - that was nice. I came home from the family reunion and started a new job at Grand River Bioler & Hydronic supply. You may find us on the web at www.heaterup.com we specialize in heating systems that run off of alternative energy. It is my job to do all of the writing. So I have written my bosses business plan, I am writing is office operations, and soon I will start writing grants to get some federal funding coming this way. Sometime, I will get five minutes to sit down and read. Until then, I wish everyone the best. Have a great summer and August.
Derik & CO.
As soon as I got back from that trip, I -with my family - popped over the wish the Hopes the best in their future endevours. It was good to hang out and play pool one last time. Now it is official -I am the last one to leave Rexburg -sniff. The next day we headed to a week long family reunion up in Driggs where there were enough Aunts and cousins around that we didn't have to do much with our girls, they were in high demand - that was nice. I came home from the family reunion and started a new job at Grand River Bioler & Hydronic supply. You may find us on the web at www.heaterup.com we specialize in heating systems that run off of alternative energy. It is my job to do all of the writing. So I have written my bosses business plan, I am writing is office operations, and soon I will start writing grants to get some federal funding coming this way. Sometime, I will get five minutes to sit down and read. Until then, I wish everyone the best. Have a great summer and August.
Derik & CO.
2007 June: Hope
Hello all,
Well it has been an interesting month, I had to take a neuroanatomy lab test were we had to name all of the parts of the brain and we could only miss 10 of them. My graduation was at risk here, if I missed 11 I would not graduate so as you might guess I was very scared that I was going to mess up so the end of the story is that I got a 98% so I get to graduate this July :):) The rest of my classes are great I am the T.A. for the culinary art program, and the past few weeks I have been teaching some of the Pastry, baking and cake decorating classes, it has been a blast. for my sculpture class we are going to be poring our bronze animals this Monday I can't wait. My animal is a head of a cobra, so I was going to put it on a stick and carry it around with me just by some chance I get bit by one (See I pay attention in Bible class)(If it still does not make any sense it is Moses). Anyway I have only 18 days left of school :):):):) Michelle only has 16 days left of work and she is sad and happy to quit. Scott is 2 years and 4 months old and he is turning into a little man, it is scary to see old pic of him and to see how much he has grown. Kyle is 1 year and 3 months old and he is trying to walk around the couch. Scott and Kyle has also scared us this month one is that Scott pushed a char over to the counter and climbed up onto the counter and got into Michelle's seizure medication and ate some so I had to rush him to the hospital and make him take some of that activated charcoal to make it so that the molecules of the drug would not get absorbed into Scott's blood. He is ok and doing well. Then Kyle the next day spiked a 104 degree temperature which was scary also but like Scott when he got a 105 degree temp it was caused by getting his teeth. So just a FYI for you who are having kids, going to be having kids and for a couple who are still kids don't freak out to soon it could be just them getting teeth (but still keep a eye on them just in case it is something different). So hope this gets to you all in good health and happy days.
Also to all of you we are having a good bye party on July 20th (its a Friday) so all come over because we are leaving to Portland on the 3rd of August
Well it has been an interesting month, I had to take a neuroanatomy lab test were we had to name all of the parts of the brain and we could only miss 10 of them. My graduation was at risk here, if I missed 11 I would not graduate so as you might guess I was very scared that I was going to mess up so the end of the story is that I got a 98% so I get to graduate this July :):) The rest of my classes are great I am the T.A. for the culinary art program, and the past few weeks I have been teaching some of the Pastry, baking and cake decorating classes, it has been a blast. for my sculpture class we are going to be poring our bronze animals this Monday I can't wait. My animal is a head of a cobra, so I was going to put it on a stick and carry it around with me just by some chance I get bit by one (See I pay attention in Bible class)(If it still does not make any sense it is Moses). Anyway I have only 18 days left of school :):):):) Michelle only has 16 days left of work and she is sad and happy to quit. Scott is 2 years and 4 months old and he is turning into a little man, it is scary to see old pic of him and to see how much he has grown. Kyle is 1 year and 3 months old and he is trying to walk around the couch. Scott and Kyle has also scared us this month one is that Scott pushed a char over to the counter and climbed up onto the counter and got into Michelle's seizure medication and ate some so I had to rush him to the hospital and make him take some of that activated charcoal to make it so that the molecules of the drug would not get absorbed into Scott's blood. He is ok and doing well. Then Kyle the next day spiked a 104 degree temperature which was scary also but like Scott when he got a 105 degree temp it was caused by getting his teeth. So just a FYI for you who are having kids, going to be having kids and for a couple who are still kids don't freak out to soon it could be just them getting teeth (but still keep a eye on them just in case it is something different). So hope this gets to you all in good health and happy days.
Also to all of you we are having a good bye party on July 20th (its a Friday) so all come over because we are leaving to Portland on the 3rd of August
2007 June: Bates
In the depths of the urban jungle, beyond all points of logic and reason, comes the first random ramblings from the newly formed Bates Family (♪♫ Dat dah Duhnnnn ♪♫♪).
Captain's Log
Stardate: 6th earth lunar cylce
Well, I know it's old hat news, but Tamara and I got married May 16th... but this newsletter is for June. So, we'll start out with Tamara and my big vacation (AKA Honeymoon). We flew to Rome, Italy on June 1st. We stayed there a few days, then in Florence, Lucca, Levanto, and once again in Rome. It was amazing and we saw lots of really cool old-stuff (to state it in the most understated way possible). The attached pictures serve as proof that we actually went and didn't just hide in someone's basement for a little over 2 weeks (I'll leave the Photoshop Forgery examination up to y'all). We returned on the 16th, and have spent the remainder of the month "vegging-out" (to use the common vernacular).
The other significant event was the establishment of headquarters. After much debate and possibility of government appropriation, we eventually decided to purchase HQ, located at 959 W 2100 N, Lehi, UT 84043. We should find out in the next few months whether or not UDOT will purchase it, flatten it, and make an ugly freeway over its grave.
I recently (Friday the 29th) returned from CFUnited, a conference I attended in Washington DC for my work. It was, above all else, a frustrating waste of time. It was interesting, and being in DC was kinda cool... but if I am expected to leave my wife for days at a time (Eons in Newly-Wed perception) in order to attend a conference, I better dang well learn something. I took the advanced track and learned nothing. But, perhaps they will have a Guru track next year... unfortunately I wont be there to find out.
Well, till next time... same bat-time, same bat-channel.
Cheers,
-Rob and Tamara (occasionally known as "Ramara")
P.S. My in-laws say "Hi."
P.P.S. I dunno exactly what the expected format for these Newsletters is, so I just kinda winged the first. I'm sure after I figure out a more exact template I'll write a program to observe us and write my newsletter for me... and then I shall Rule the World! Bwa haha!!! Or something. Whatever.
P.P.P.S. Us info:
Names: Robert Byron Bates & Tamara Rachel Van Bloem Bates
Address: 959 West 2100 North, Lehi, Utah 84043
B-Dates: Tamara (8 May 1986), Rob (6 July 1983)
Favorite Care Bears: ummm... I think there must have been a blue one, right? I'll go will blue-bear... -care... thingy.
Favorite Toe: Tamara (big toe [said after much indecisive debate]), Rob (Han-So-Toe from Thumb-Wars... or Toe-bacca).
First Word: Tamara ("I have no idea"), Rob (Tickle)
Social Security #s: 876-56-1123, 453-79-0987
CC#: 3599 8652 0165 2345, CCV 276
Favorite Opera Song: Tamara (The Song of the Pearl Fisherman), Rob (3 Blind Mice)
Favorite Ice Cream: Tamara (Ben & Jerry's "Chubby Hubby" w/ 5 billion calories), Rob (Dairy-free ["I'll get you next time..." Lactose Intolerance])
Super Power: Tamara (Subdivision Demolition), Rob (Eyeball Hypnotism [with the cool song that accompanies it: *see Jungle Book's "Kaa"])
Secret Identity: Tamara (Mild Mannered Subdivision Coordinator), Rob (Paranoid Pizza Delivery Guy)
Under Cover Role: Tamara (Hooker), Rob (Middle-Aged 60's Hippie)
Captain's Log
Stardate: 6th earth lunar cylce
Well, I know it's old hat news, but Tamara and I got married May 16th... but this newsletter is for June. So, we'll start out with Tamara and my big vacation (AKA Honeymoon). We flew to Rome, Italy on June 1st. We stayed there a few days, then in Florence, Lucca, Levanto, and once again in Rome. It was amazing and we saw lots of really cool old-stuff (to state it in the most understated way possible). The attached pictures serve as proof that we actually went and didn't just hide in someone's basement for a little over 2 weeks (I'll leave the Photoshop Forgery examination up to y'all). We returned on the 16th, and have spent the remainder of the month "vegging-out" (to use the common vernacular).
The other significant event was the establishment of headquarters. After much debate and possibility of government appropriation, we eventually decided to purchase HQ, located at 959 W 2100 N, Lehi, UT 84043. We should find out in the next few months whether or not UDOT will purchase it, flatten it, and make an ugly freeway over its grave.
I recently (Friday the 29th) returned from CFUnited, a conference I attended in Washington DC for my work. It was, above all else, a frustrating waste of time. It was interesting, and being in DC was kinda cool... but if I am expected to leave my wife for days at a time (Eons in Newly-Wed perception) in order to attend a conference, I better dang well learn something. I took the advanced track and learned nothing. But, perhaps they will have a Guru track next year... unfortunately I wont be there to find out.
Well, till next time... same bat-time, same bat-channel.
Cheers,
-Rob and Tamara (occasionally known as "Ramara")
P.S. My in-laws say "Hi."
P.P.S. I dunno exactly what the expected format for these Newsletters is, so I just kinda winged the first. I'm sure after I figure out a more exact template I'll write a program to observe us and write my newsletter for me... and then I shall Rule the World! Bwa haha!!! Or something. Whatever.
P.P.P.S. Us info:
Names: Robert Byron Bates & Tamara Rachel Van Bloem Bates
Address: 959 West 2100 North, Lehi, Utah 84043
B-Dates: Tamara (8 May 1986), Rob (6 July 1983)
Favorite Care Bears: ummm... I think there must have been a blue one, right? I'll go will blue-bear... -care... thingy.
Favorite Toe: Tamara (big toe [said after much indecisive debate]), Rob (Han-So-Toe from Thumb-Wars... or Toe-bacca).
First Word: Tamara ("I have no idea"), Rob (Tickle)
Social Security #s: 876-56-1123, 453-79-0987
CC#: 3599 8652 0165 2345, CCV 276
Favorite Opera Song: Tamara (The Song of the Pearl Fisherman), Rob (3 Blind Mice)
Favorite Ice Cream: Tamara (Ben & Jerry's "Chubby Hubby" w/ 5 billion calories), Rob (Dairy-free ["I'll get you next time..." Lactose Intolerance])
Super Power: Tamara (Subdivision Demolition), Rob (Eyeball Hypnotism [with the cool song that accompanies it: *see Jungle Book's "Kaa"])
Secret Identity: Tamara (Mild Mannered Subdivision Coordinator), Rob (Paranoid Pizza Delivery Guy)
Under Cover Role: Tamara (Hooker), Rob (Middle-Aged 60's Hippie)
2007 June: North
Here is my first letter for the Freakish Four Newsletter, or whatever we
decided to call it:
Hi everyone. I've tried to think of anything big that might have happened
in June, and nothing comes to mind. It seems like maybe there was something
at the beginning of the month, but I just can't remember that far back.
Hmmm....oh wait wait, it had to do with a girl. Oh now I remember, I got
married! Yes that's right. We've been married for almost a month now and
we are having the time of our life. We're still trying to get our
apartament cleaned up and cleaned out. We both had a lot of stuff from when
we were single, stuff that we don't want/need anymore, plus we got a lot of
duplicate wedding gifts. Last week we returned a load of things to Bed Bath
and Beyond and to Walmart. This week we'll take a load of things to DI. It
will feel good to get rid of the piles of stuff that are now occupying the
corners of our house. It's starting to feel
Speaking of our house, you're all invited to stop by the next time you're
passing through Pocatello. If we have enough notice we'd love to have you
for dinner too (Becky has this great recipe for BBQ-high-school-buddy).
I haven't heard from Rob since he and Tamara returned from Italy. I hope
they did in fact return, although I couldn't blame them if they decided to
just stay there.
I haven't heard from Jason for awhile. Are you still planning on being a
dentist?
Take care guys,
Stewart
Address:
201 1\2 #A S. 19th Ave.
Pocatello, ID 83201
Telephone: (208)317-1080 It's a cell, we don't have a landline.
Social Sec. #: 1-800-Lovedoctor. I know, it doesn't look like a normal SSN,
but that's just what the government gave me. It's easy to remember though.
Mofia codewords: Fazzolo morto, chicken coop, and Liver Chopper.
2007 June: Robertson
Well folks,
I think that this month's newsletter will be pretty low key. My computer crashed (by crashed I mean we have a long heart to heart as it was sitting on a ledge ready to jump) and I can't find my software to reboot my programs; so I am just sending everything out as an email. By the end of July I will have time (knock on wood) to go through our boxes and find the things that I need. this month has been pretty busy for us. I am continuing on as the head intern for the English department and that keeps me on my toes. I am also working for a company that imports farm machinery from Italy, but that job will come to an end as soon as school gets out because my boss has married a woman from Spanish Fork and will be moving the business down there. I will not follow him. SO I have picked up another job in the mean time with a man that sells hot water heaters and boilers that are all run on alternative energy. That will be my line of work for time being. We enjoyed going to the receptions/open houses of Stew and Rob and seeing everyone again. Congrats again. Morgan has picked up a job doing my cousins flowers for his wedding in August. She is excited for the opportunity to get to play with her flowers again. It's been something that see always likes to do. So sometime this week she gets to go and play around in the floral wholesalers market in Idaho Falls and Pocatello to pick out what she wants. I am looking around at different graduate schools. I don't know 100% that I want to head that direction as soon as I graduate, but it is looking more and more like that every day. All of my professors say that grad school would be a really good thing for me to do. We shall see. We thought that this was pretty cool thing for my sister so I will share it. Ann is an interior designer in Logan for a company that does kitchens. This last month Logan held their parade of homes in Logan and in the parade the organization that puts it on judges the work that is done on the houses and gives out prizes. Ann's kitchens won 2nd place in houses that were priced less than a million dollars and won 1st prize for her work in houses worth more than a million. She beat out professionals that have years under their belts. She even beat out the designer on ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. So if anyone wants a hookup I know a great designer and someone else that could arrange a killer floral arrangement for your new kitchen. Hope that this finds all healthy and happy.
Derik Morgan and girls
contact info:
166 N 5th W H8
Rexburg, ID 83440
208 201 6215
I think that this month's newsletter will be pretty low key. My computer crashed (by crashed I mean we have a long heart to heart as it was sitting on a ledge ready to jump) and I can't find my software to reboot my programs; so I am just sending everything out as an email. By the end of July I will have time (knock on wood) to go through our boxes and find the things that I need. this month has been pretty busy for us. I am continuing on as the head intern for the English department and that keeps me on my toes. I am also working for a company that imports farm machinery from Italy, but that job will come to an end as soon as school gets out because my boss has married a woman from Spanish Fork and will be moving the business down there. I will not follow him. SO I have picked up another job in the mean time with a man that sells hot water heaters and boilers that are all run on alternative energy. That will be my line of work for time being. We enjoyed going to the receptions/open houses of Stew and Rob and seeing everyone again. Congrats again. Morgan has picked up a job doing my cousins flowers for his wedding in August. She is excited for the opportunity to get to play with her flowers again. It's been something that see always likes to do. So sometime this week she gets to go and play around in the floral wholesalers market in Idaho Falls and Pocatello to pick out what she wants. I am looking around at different graduate schools. I don't know 100% that I want to head that direction as soon as I graduate, but it is looking more and more like that every day. All of my professors say that grad school would be a really good thing for me to do. We shall see. We thought that this was pretty cool thing for my sister so I will share it. Ann is an interior designer in Logan for a company that does kitchens. This last month Logan held their parade of homes in Logan and in the parade the organization that puts it on judges the work that is done on the houses and gives out prizes. Ann's kitchens won 2nd place in houses that were priced less than a million dollars and won 1st prize for her work in houses worth more than a million. She beat out professionals that have years under their belts. She even beat out the designer on ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. So if anyone wants a hookup I know a great designer and someone else that could arrange a killer floral arrangement for your new kitchen. Hope that this finds all healthy and happy.
Derik Morgan and girls
contact info:
166 N 5th W H8
Rexburg, ID 83440
208 201 6215
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