Hicks update

Charlie's dad just got a new job and he leaves for West Virginia next Saturday, the 4th. The plan is for Charlie's mom to follow in the middle of January, after this first semester of school is over for the grandkids. They take care of Charlie's sister, Sabrina's, kids. She is in the process of divorcing her husband and gave guardianship to her parents for the time being. So she is thinking about transfering down there too. I'm a little bummed about them moving out of state. It was nice to live close by them again. I really hope this works out for them well though. Charlie's mom has wanted to stop working ever since they got Sabrina's kids and this new job may let her be able to do that. It'll be good for her and the kids.

Charlie had an interview for a JV wrestling coach position at Swartz Creek high today. The varsity coach did the interview and seemed to like Charlie. We think he might get this job. It would be nice. We're still holding our breath for a math position at Hamady high school. He hasn't been able to start subbing yet because the company that handles all the subbing positions for Genesee county is dragging their feet getting all his information together and available for schools to use. We aren't happy about it, but there really isn't much we can do now. He has submitted everything they have asked of him. Now we just wait.

My classes are going pretty well. I've been able to handle the work load pretty well. I don't feel overwhelmed at all (I was nervous I would).

The kids are doing great. They just started after school programs this week. Lexi and Merrit are in a ceramics class together and Makayla and Chelsea have an arts and craft class on Mondays. Lexi does the robotics club on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Merrit has the chess club and Makayla does dance on Thursdays. I have Chelsea on a waiting list for the young authors' club for Thursdays. They love the chance to stay after school and do something fun. I love them staying too, except that I have to go pick them up. Lexi's robotics club is going to be something great for her I think. They are planning on going to competitions later this year. It's going to be a great experience for her.

Back from Provo

Hello Ladies,

We dropped Austin off at the MTC yesterday. And to be honest, maybe because I am a convert, and this is all new to me, but I am VERY sad and am crying alot. I must be out in left field because I never hear of moms that are this sad. So, I assume its because we are first generation missionaries?? 2 years sure seems long to me!

Thanks for the listening ear.

Debbie Hall

Canning

I should be doing an accounting quiz right now, but I don't feel like it. I'll do it tomorrow. I'd like to share with you my first time experience I had last week. Charlie and I canned for the first time together and for me it was my first time canning We don't have a pressure cooker, so we hot wate bathed them. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, just time consuming. We felt like this is a skill we should learn especially as food prices keep going up. We actually got 18 quart size jars. We would've had 19 but one of the cans didn't seal. I thought that was a pretty good ratio for our first time. Maybe next year we'll expand our horizons to include pickles or apples or something like that. I'll include a picture soon.

The kids didn't have school on Friday (teacher prep day) so we went to a children's museum in Ann Arbor. I have a cute little video clip I hope to post soon of our trip.

Hello Friends! If it seems like we have dropped off the face of the earth, never to be heard from again, it's because we have! But we are back now. We just moved into a house this past week and the phone company came today to hook us up to the internet. We are online! Hurray!

I feel so bad that we haven't emailed or posted anything yet. It turns out that checking your email once a week for fifteen minutes at the library is not condusive to blogging or long emails.

First of all let me tell you how much we miss you and think about you all the time. We really loved our time we spent in the Racine Ward and we are always talking about what good friends we had. It's hard to start over - especially when you came from such a great ward.

We are starting to settle into our new surroundings. There is still a ton more to unpack and organize, but now that all of the essentials have been found, I am in no hurry. We found a house in Harrisburg, which is a little town just north of Eugene. It turns out that land in Oregon is pretty expensive, so we had to put the ten acres on hold for now. But we feel lucky that we found something on the edge of town, so we don't feel so hemmed in. Enough of my ramblings, here are a few pictures from this summer.

This is a picture out our back window. There is a big blackberry patch that has provided us with a few cobblers this past summer.


There is an orchard down the road where you can pick just about any kind of fruit or vegetable you can think of. These are some peaches that we canned and froze. We are really enjoying the fresh berries, vegetables, and fruit. It seems like just about anything will grow out here.

Before

After. I feel so domesticated.

We've gone to the coast a few times. It's nice to drive less than an hour and go from 90 degrees to wearing two jackets.

Here we are at Newport with my mom.

Multnomath Falls outside of Portland

Daryn won the lumber jack competition at the ward campout. Did I mention that he was called as the 11 year old scout leader. He is pretty excited about it and I think they have the best guy for the job.

I was called as the Laurel Class advisor. I'm really excited that I get to go back into YWs.

Logan's little personality is so fun to watch. He is very social and has no fear of strangers. We are counting down the weeks to when he will go into nursery. His new talent is getting into small spaces and getting stuck.

Well, that's all for now. We hope you are all well out in Racine. If any of you would like a free place to stay while visiting the Oregon coast, or exploring the Pacific Northwest, you are more than welcome to stay with us. We would love it. It is so fun to hear from you. Keep those entries coming!

love,

Sara, Daryn, and Logan

Cluphf's summer

we have been pretty busy this summer. i guess past summer. it's hard to believe school is back in session! we had a lot of family visit and we visited family. no big surprise. but i thought you all might to enjoy some of our pictures.