Easter pics (Finally!)

Beginning Friday afternoon as Elizabeth dyes eggs for first time.


And Amelia wonders whats going on up there!



Elizabeth with the loot. We couldn't get any decent pictures of her that morning (Saturday, because James had to work Sunday morning). She was moving far too fast. She even got up before anyone else and was well on her way before Mommy and Daddy got up. Despite her urgent calls to her sister, Amelia was determined to stay asleep.




Playing with blankets that morning.

Isn't she cute?

Amelia liked the egg salad sandwiches so much she got back up to the table to finish off her sister's.

Dancing together.

Eating bunnies. They kept switching back and forth and giggling like crazy.

Sunday morning in the beautiful dresses Grandma and Grandpa Blair sent them.

Amelia did NOT want to cooperate for pictures.

I think she knew Mommy was risking being late.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was more cooperative than she has EVER been for pictures.

Amelia just wanted to leave, already.

Elizabeth landing after a jump. Love this pic!

Things you don't want to hear getting out the shower

Elizabeth (from the top of the stairs)

"Daddy, Daddy, can you help?"

No response

"Jump, Amelia, jump!"

"Daddy, Daddy, can you help?"

No response

"Jump, Amelia, jump! I catch you!"

Happy Birthday, Dad!

The best thing about Gainesville

is definitely the park. There's a park like this in San Angelo that we've stopped at on the way from Pyote to Cove. I was so excited to see this one in Gainesville. It's probably half the size of the one in San Angelo, but that's good because I have enough trouble keeping track of Elizabeth in this one. There are so many places to run and climb...immensely better than your standard playground equipment.

The picture below is looking from the toddler swings toward the entrance of the Frank Buck Zoo. We've yet to take the girls there, but hopefully soon. We tried on day when admission was a "buck a head" but it was Spring Break and the whole town was there and I had already thrown up twice (and threw up once more before I got to the car) and we needed to leave to go out of town that day, so we got there and decided not to battle the crowds.

Elizabeth insisted on pushing Amelia in the swing. Good thing she's a toughie and doesn't cry when the swing hits her.

The swings are Amelia's favorite. Actually, a lot of the stuff is too big for Amelia to play on but she does GREAT on the swings. Even big kid swings. She can just hold on and swing forever. Or, if she's in the mood, she'll swing for a few minutes, yell "All Done!" then run over to the next (identical) swing and insist on being lifted up again. All of the swings are quite high off the ground and I do worry that I won't be able to lift them (especially Elizabeth) safely too much longer.

Climbing activities like this are right up Elizabeth's alley. Great way to work the large muscle groups and very organizing for her. Amelia likes to think that she could do it too, if only Mommy would cooperate.

I have to be waiting for Amelia at the top of the slide because the crazy girl will run straight off the edge. Look at that face!

When Amelia isn't on the swings, she's usually trying to figure out how to climb over things. They discovered that the balance beam makes a fun horsey/teeter totter type thing if they sit on opposite ends.

One more activity on the way back to the van. What is Elizabeth doing with those branches?

Tearing them apart to put down the storm drain, of course!

Phew!!!!

!!!!!

I got a priesthood blessing this morning while Christie was handing off the Family History Center keys. We then got down to house hunting and found a new place. The owner used to work for TYC so he knows the score, and he's trying to get us in a fast as possible, probably middle of next week. We extended the rental on teh moving truck to buy us some time and keep most of our plans intact. The EQ President of the Gainesville ward has offered us a place to park the truck, so we're good there.

New address: 1107 S. Howeth, Gainesville TX 76240

The girls will get to visit their 3 favorite doggies again. Thanks again to the Texas Jeppsons!

Granny is here to help with packing. Elizabeth is soaking up all the attention and is helping whole bunches. Amelia isn't feeling well, but she enjoys the extra attention when she is able.

My parents will try to come help with the unloading and/or unpacking depending on which day. The girls will get extra love from more grandparents.

I just filed reports on the previous rental company with BBB and HUD.

My tentative new supervisor is LDS (from a different ward) and he is aware of our situation. I should be able to take some time as needed for the move. Other than that, I was able to find out that my first week at work will be learning the ropes in the Security unit and filling in there until they get a replacement (unless I take it). Depending on the work schedule, this could be a nice change of pace.

Still a bit hectic, but at least we have a direction to jump while we're doing the leap of faith thing.

Oh No!

The rental company just called and said our application was denied. They won't say why and I'm getting the runaround at the other places I've been referred to find out. They'll mail me a credit report in about 10 days, but that doesn't do much good right now. Argh!!!!

Just in time!

While we were out house hunting, the facility here in Pyote got a sudden second round RiF. The facility population is being reduced by half, and lots of other changes are being made. They ended up RiFing 67 people while we were driving back on Friday. The cut the chaplain, Youth Rights specialist, one of only 3 psychologists (we're starting a treatment heavy program that needed all 3 psychs to operate properly) plus dozens of others I don't know about yet. Here's the relevant portion from the Executive Commissioner's e-mail on Friday:

"The most significant impact will be to the West Texas State School. We are reducing its capacity to 48 beds for youth committed to TYC from the West region. The appropriate staff size for that population is 69, which means we will be reducing staff by about 110 positions. Due to fewer vacant positions at West Texas, 67 employees will be losing their jobs.

We are transforming the West Texas campus to a less restrictive, more treatment-oriented facility. Many of the buildings on campus will be closed, and we will operate only three dorms. There will be no pickets, security units, warehouse or gate. As a regional facility, the campus will focus on chemical dependency and abuse treatment since more than 70 percent of youth from the West region come to us with identified chemical dependency and/or abuse treatment needs. We will aggressively implement CoNEXTions and best treatment practices in this smaller setting and JCOs will become much more involved in the treatment of youth."


Anyone thinking that we were supposed to somehow stay in the area understood just how blessed we were to get the first round of RiFs. I got a transfer offer, but I doubt anyone who just got RiFed will have that benefit. Gotta love Texas politics, as all this has nothing to do with the economy.