This Holiday season was a Frantic one!
We went to Idaho for both Thanksgiving & Christmas. We got to see the Robertsons while we were there, which was fun. We played a game where each player's goal was to be as miserable as possible- so naturally I won ;-)
Starting in December, we've had to watch out for UDOT possibly demolishing our home. So far we haven't seen any bulldozers though.
Provo Canyon is a great place to sled, we discovered. But, it has multiple places where small cars aren't very well suited to climb their slippery hills.
Orianna is very active and can say tons of words now. It's interesting that toddlers go from mutes to full-on talkers almost imperceptibly.
But, the most time-intensive aspect of life has been job hunting. I applied to a bunch of jobs, and had various interviews/follow-up-emails/phone-calls/etc... But, I think I've decided to stay where I am at because I *can* work just 40 hours a week here (if I try really hard to come home on time, and don't work through lunch). So, I will use that spare time to get more of our side-projects done. My business partner and I keep coming up with more ideas, but we don't have time to do them... so we are going to try to sell a bunch of ideas, and use that capital for the projects we want to invest in long-term. So, we'll see how that goes.
Sorry that this newsletter is kind of helter-skelter, but it'll have to do.
Hope everyone is doing excellent!
-The Bates
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2009 December: North
There is too much to say for this month; I’ll have to be brief. Becky got another job this month. It came as a referral from the museum director. She felt so bad for having to let Becky go that she was on the lookout for any job she could refer to Becky. Becky is now a part-time receptionist at a pediatric dentist’s office. She enjoys the atmosphere and is gaining valuable skills. I think it’s a great opportunity for us. On Friday the 18th I finished my first semester of medical school (cheers and applause). It’s a good feeling. I don’t know all my final grades, but I am confident that I passed. I put in the time and know my stuff. Also on the 18th we got hit with a huge snow storm. It dumped 2 ft. in less than 24 hours! Lot’s of people got stuck on their way out of town. It took Becky and I 4 days before we were dug out enough to use our car.
The first part of our Christmas break was spent here in Lewisburg relaxing. It was so nice to be able to sleep in. My to-do lists included things like “watch another episode of Star Trek” and “read my book.” Christmas morning was unusual, but comfortable. We didn’t have any other family with us, it was just Becky and I. We read the Christmas story in bed before we went and opened our presents. It was relaxing and fun. We miss our families, but it’s also fun to establish our own home and traditions. We went to some friends’ house for Christmas dinner and stayed and played games. It was a wonderful holiday!
On the 29th Becky and I loaded up the car and headed to Washington D.C. We went to the temple that day. The temple is spiritually rejuvenating. I feel better prepared to face the future. I’m glad we took time to go. I have extended family on my Mom’s side living a few minutes north of the temple. We stayed with them during our trip. It was neat to get to know some of our family a little better and we are grateful for their hospitality. On the 30th we went to Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium. It was a fun day. There’s too much to explain about our day in Baltimore, it was a lot of fun. For pictures and a couple of videos go to our blog that Becky maintains so nicely: http://stewandbeck.blogspot.com/. That night we went to see the lights show at the temple visitor’s center, and met a former roommate for dessert. Thanks Josh, it was fun. On the 31st we came back home. It’s been such a fun break and a fantastic end to an eventful year. One year ago I never could have guessed where we’d be or what we’d be doing. Life is truly and adventure! May God bless and keep you safe.
Stewart and Becky
The first part of our Christmas break was spent here in Lewisburg relaxing. It was so nice to be able to sleep in. My to-do lists included things like “watch another episode of Star Trek” and “read my book.” Christmas morning was unusual, but comfortable. We didn’t have any other family with us, it was just Becky and I. We read the Christmas story in bed before we went and opened our presents. It was relaxing and fun. We miss our families, but it’s also fun to establish our own home and traditions. We went to some friends’ house for Christmas dinner and stayed and played games. It was a wonderful holiday!
On the 29th Becky and I loaded up the car and headed to Washington D.C. We went to the temple that day. The temple is spiritually rejuvenating. I feel better prepared to face the future. I’m glad we took time to go. I have extended family on my Mom’s side living a few minutes north of the temple. We stayed with them during our trip. It was neat to get to know some of our family a little better and we are grateful for their hospitality. On the 30th we went to Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium. It was a fun day. There’s too much to explain about our day in Baltimore, it was a lot of fun. For pictures and a couple of videos go to our blog that Becky maintains so nicely: http://stewandbeck.blogspot.com/. That night we went to see the lights show at the temple visitor’s center, and met a former roommate for dessert. Thanks Josh, it was fun. On the 31st we came back home. It’s been such a fun break and a fantastic end to an eventful year. One year ago I never could have guessed where we’d be or what we’d be doing. Life is truly and adventure! May God bless and keep you safe.
Stewart and Becky
2009 December: Robertson
Greetings everyone,
I need to get this done, but time is short, so I will be brief. December was a good month for us. I finished up another semester of school in the first part of December while still maintaining my 4.0 – yippee. I just have to pull it through again with the next semester (hopefully the final one) and then I’m set. Our big news for December was our trip out to Idaho. The girls handled the 20 hours car ride to Idaho surprisingly well. We bought them a car dvd player and that worked its magic on them beautifully. We enjoyed time with family and friends who we were able to see and missed those who were not able to see. We played lots of games, ate good food, cooked good food, played in the snow, went to live nativities, and celebrated. We were all sad to leave. Kyla and Daria have asked for Grandma, Grandpa, Annie, and especially Tagg almost every day since we have been back. They really enjoyed spending time with their cousin. We got back to Minnesota, and I started running getting ready for school to start and getting ready for my comp exams on Feb 5. It is a crazy time, but hopefully we can make it through the coming month. We are thinking about all of you and can’t wait for a time when we will be able to see all of you again. God bless you in the New Year,
Jamis, Daria, Kyla, Morgan, & Derik
I need to get this done, but time is short, so I will be brief. December was a good month for us. I finished up another semester of school in the first part of December while still maintaining my 4.0 – yippee. I just have to pull it through again with the next semester (hopefully the final one) and then I’m set. Our big news for December was our trip out to Idaho. The girls handled the 20 hours car ride to Idaho surprisingly well. We bought them a car dvd player and that worked its magic on them beautifully. We enjoyed time with family and friends who we were able to see and missed those who were not able to see. We played lots of games, ate good food, cooked good food, played in the snow, went to live nativities, and celebrated. We were all sad to leave. Kyla and Daria have asked for Grandma, Grandpa, Annie, and especially Tagg almost every day since we have been back. They really enjoyed spending time with their cousin. We got back to Minnesota, and I started running getting ready for school to start and getting ready for my comp exams on Feb 5. It is a crazy time, but hopefully we can make it through the coming month. We are thinking about all of you and can’t wait for a time when we will be able to see all of you again. God bless you in the New Year,
Jamis, Daria, Kyla, Morgan, & Derik
Monday, December 14, 2009
2009 November: North
It’s been a good month for us here in these Eastern Mountains, but not without bumps and scrapes. Do you remember how I told you last month about Becky’s new job at the museum? Well it appears it was too good to be true, at least for now. On the first day of her second week of employment the museum director came and asked her to stop by her office before she left work that day. When she stopped in the director told her that she would have to let her go. She felt terrible about it and hoped Becky wouldn’t be angry. She said that one of the board members took issue with the way in which the director hired Becky; apparently she didn’t go through the proper channels. It seemed to me like it was a power struggle between the director and the board and Becky got caught in the crossfire. So after just one week of work Becky is looking for a job again. We know that something will work out eventually. I’m proud of Becky for keeping her spirits high even though I know it is difficult.
I have been on Thanksgiving break for the last several days and am really enjoying the time to relax. I needed it. I had two big tests right before break and I was near my breaking point when the vacation came. I only have 3 weeks of class left before Christmas break (you can do it, you can do it). We had a fun Thanksgiving Day visiting a family from church that invited us over. We ate too much food and napped after lunch. You can’t beat that can you? Later that evening we went to some other friends’ house and played games. We do miss our families, but we know that we will see you again soon. You are in our prayers and hearts.
We wish you all the best this holiday season!
Stewart and Becky
I have been on Thanksgiving break for the last several days and am really enjoying the time to relax. I needed it. I had two big tests right before break and I was near my breaking point when the vacation came. I only have 3 weeks of class left before Christmas break (you can do it, you can do it). We had a fun Thanksgiving Day visiting a family from church that invited us over. We ate too much food and napped after lunch. You can’t beat that can you? Later that evening we went to some other friends’ house and played games. We do miss our families, but we know that we will see you again soon. You are in our prayers and hearts.
We wish you all the best this holiday season!
Stewart and Becky
2009 November: Robertson
Greetings Everyone,
November went by rather quickly. I am still trying to figure out everything that happened during the month. I know that we were booked every single weekend. We had a temple baptismal trip with the youth at the start of the month, a stake activity day the following weekend involving a volleyball tournament and a lot of meetings, Thanksgiving with Morgan’s family, Meals and joint teaching with the missionaries, and a stake priesthood meeting for me.
This month the primary gave their Primary Program in sacrament meeting. They did very well, and Morgan is grateful that the kids behaved themselves on the stand and actually sang the songs. She is happy that it is over and doesn’t have to worry about it for another year.
Apart from worrying about the Primary program, Morgan has been making several trips to various doctors this month. For a little stretch she was going every single day. Things started to go downhill when Morgan developed a fever and became very tired and achy. We thought at first that it might be the flu, but she never developed any other symptoms. Her symptoms worsened over the weekend (when the doctor’s office is closed – of course) until other symptoms developed, and she knew exactly what she had. Early the following Monday she went to the doctor and was prescribed some antibiotics for mastitis. Since she is still breast feeding, she had to get a low does antibiotic. She has been taking four pills a day for about two weeks now. She should be finishing up the treatment soon. Other than that, Jamis has been to the doctor to get his 2 month check-up and again for his immunizations. He is a big boy. He is pushing 15 lbs and is in the 97 percentile for weight and 95 for height. I think that his bulk is what is keeping him alive when his sisters start to get too rambunctious. There have been a few instances so far when the girls will get to riled up they stop pay attention to what they are doing and make a running leap onto the couch only to land on or kick Jamis while Morgan or I am holding him. Our attempts to shield him don’t always work. Of course, when he starts screaming, the girls just look around bewildered and wonder what just happened.
I have been busy with school and just getting ready for the end of the semester. I also learned this month that I will be losing over half of my young men in January. Two of my young men will be moving to California where their dad found work and another young man will be moving to his father’s place because his mom just lost custody of her kids. This will take my active young men from 5 down to 2 (and I use the word active very loosely). Sigh. On a happier note, we are all getting really excited to head to Idaho for Christmas and see everyone who will be around. We leave in 12 days. It will be a sorely needed break from school.
We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing those we can in a few weeks,
Derik, Morgan, Jamis, Daria, and Kyla
November went by rather quickly. I am still trying to figure out everything that happened during the month. I know that we were booked every single weekend. We had a temple baptismal trip with the youth at the start of the month, a stake activity day the following weekend involving a volleyball tournament and a lot of meetings, Thanksgiving with Morgan’s family, Meals and joint teaching with the missionaries, and a stake priesthood meeting for me.
This month the primary gave their Primary Program in sacrament meeting. They did very well, and Morgan is grateful that the kids behaved themselves on the stand and actually sang the songs. She is happy that it is over and doesn’t have to worry about it for another year.
Apart from worrying about the Primary program, Morgan has been making several trips to various doctors this month. For a little stretch she was going every single day. Things started to go downhill when Morgan developed a fever and became very tired and achy. We thought at first that it might be the flu, but she never developed any other symptoms. Her symptoms worsened over the weekend (when the doctor’s office is closed – of course) until other symptoms developed, and she knew exactly what she had. Early the following Monday she went to the doctor and was prescribed some antibiotics for mastitis. Since she is still breast feeding, she had to get a low does antibiotic. She has been taking four pills a day for about two weeks now. She should be finishing up the treatment soon. Other than that, Jamis has been to the doctor to get his 2 month check-up and again for his immunizations. He is a big boy. He is pushing 15 lbs and is in the 97 percentile for weight and 95 for height. I think that his bulk is what is keeping him alive when his sisters start to get too rambunctious. There have been a few instances so far when the girls will get to riled up they stop pay attention to what they are doing and make a running leap onto the couch only to land on or kick Jamis while Morgan or I am holding him. Our attempts to shield him don’t always work. Of course, when he starts screaming, the girls just look around bewildered and wonder what just happened.
I have been busy with school and just getting ready for the end of the semester. I also learned this month that I will be losing over half of my young men in January. Two of my young men will be moving to California where their dad found work and another young man will be moving to his father’s place because his mom just lost custody of her kids. This will take my active young men from 5 down to 2 (and I use the word active very loosely). Sigh. On a happier note, we are all getting really excited to head to Idaho for Christmas and see everyone who will be around. We leave in 12 days. It will be a sorely needed break from school.
We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing those we can in a few weeks,
Derik, Morgan, Jamis, Daria, and Kyla
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