Thnkasgiving keys

Dallan, Nov 30 2009
We survived Thanksgiving. No body threw up and everybody ate lots and lots. It was fun to be together at Mom’s house, she has really been working hard to get it looking beautiful for this weekend and she did succeed however we all drug our little kids around and the kids tore apart the house about as fast as a tornado could. We picked up legos all weekend long and the little girls dressed up and accessorized Barbie to their hearts content. Friday morning All the girls, except Sara and Mom packed up at a very early hour and diligently spent their husbands money as fast as they could. The shopping was great and some very good deals were available and I don’t think anybody got hurt. The boys enjoyed football for about every minute that it was on all weekend long. BYU beat Uof U and Boise won their game against Nevada. All the other games were watched and assessed and talked about but not of any real importance, but they were watched all the same. Jon and Jason and Uncle Gardell really put mom’s upgraded TV package to good use and were excited to be entertained in the basement for most of the weekend. The constant crying this weekend was as stated Constant. If it wasn’t one child it was another and the same goes for Poopy diapers. I think all of moms garbage cans were filled to the brim with the stuff. We were all excited to hear Martin and Sara’s good news and hope Sara get’s to feeling better soon. Sara and I win the not so smart blond award for the weekend. Somehow I picked up her coat and she picked up my coat and then Sara and Martin took it all the way to Utah before Sara realized the switch, My keys to the Van were in the pocket. The Only keys we have to our new van. Martin was very sweet and drove back to Snowville and met Jon so we could switch back the keys and the coats. It made for a fun memory and lots of laughs. Jon and I plan on making a copy of our van key and hiding it on the van sometime this week. This week is full of lots of other things that should get done and might get done and probably will be procrastinated as long as possible but I need to bet back to my procrastinating. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays are as much fun for you as we are hoping they will be for us.
Love Monica and the Woodin Nickel Nutcrackers Heads

I am thankful

Dallan Nov 22, 2009
We are counting down to the end of the year. Erica has already begun asking when Valentines Day will be. Girls always love pink and presents. Anyway this week is much like other. My kids have made some amazing messes and yours truly spent much of her time cleaning up those messes and relocating items back to their original positions. William with his newfound mode of transportation , ie walking, is increasing and magnifying his calling to be a relocation engineer. He can move things further than before and much more quickly, not to mention his productivity is double with the use of both his hands while relocating. He has a great teacher in his brother Hunter.
This week I decided that I was in great need of some more sleep, and had crawled back into bed after sending the big kids off to school. When I awoke I found that the items which are kept in the fridge had been relocated all over the house. The pumpkin pie, of which I had made the day before from a pumpkin we grew in the garden, was now upside down, and a sad ruin on the floor in front of the fridge. IT took some time to relocate all items back into the fridge and clean the pie up off of the floor. But since I had a nap, I was a happy mommy and nobody got hurt. And since I was in a rather cheerful mood I decided to make 6 more pumpkin pies that day- I was planning on doing my Visiting teaching the next day and wanted to take some pie to my sisters. So after much work and rolling out of the dough I produced, with the help of my oven, 6 new lovely pumpkin pies. Well that night Jon was going out to do some visits in the ward, part of being the elder quorum president I guess, and He is always received better into the less actives homes when bringing food, so I told him he could have 2 of my pies. Well as he was going out the door with Mike Barlow he dropped one of my lovely new pies onto the driveway! So he STOLE another pie! The nerve! So long story short… not only do my children destroy my creations but my husband is in league with the little mess makers. At least the chickens enjoyed my pie! I had to make three more pies so I could have a slice…it is good pie!
We decided that on Saturday it would be a good plan to put up the Christmas stuff. Within 24 hours of putting up the tree my kids had removed virtually all of the ornaments, broken several of them, and had me in a fit of tears, rage, regret, and not niceness. I was ready to pack up all of Christmas this morning and tell my kids that Santa was in no way coming to our house! It is a good thing for my kids that I have Jon. When I took my complaint to him he looked up from the lesson he was studying to give today in Priesthood meeting and asked me if I knew what the lesson was. I of course had no clue. It was finding joy in adversity- loving our trials and tribulations-ect. So I relented and Christmas is staying up until after the holiday, and I hope to love my trials, hopefully they will not cause more tribulation over the tree. And Santa will find our house without too much more adversity. But it going to take a large bit of glue to fix the things they broke.
Jon took his first “big” buck whitetail deer this weekend. He is thrilled. The buck is really unique and Jon wants to put the poor dead animal on the wall. He is not a huge trophy, but he is not a small animal either. I told Jon that if Jon really wanted to get the deer mounted, I would have to send back his Christmas present, so that we could afford to pay the taxidermist. Jon was shocked that I already had a gift for him. He asked what it was, and how much I had spent. I refused to tell him what the gift was but let him in on the fact that it was free. So then he said “oh okay so it really doesn’t matter if I get him stuffed or not, I’ll still get my Christmas“. I told him no…if he stuffed that deer I would have to send his gift back. -lucky him I want the gift for myself so he will still get it on Christmas.
This week Marcus and I had a long conversation about the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Apparently they teach that kind of thing at school. We talked about the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock and how the Indians helped the Pilgrims and the clothes that they wore. And Then I asked him if He knew why they left their homes in England and got on the Mayflower. He didn’t know so I told him about the religious oppression the pilgrims faced in England and how they wanted to Worship our Heavenly Father the way they thought was best, and to do that they had to leave everything behind in order to do that. And I guess for me it was an Ah-ha moment for me and my testimony of Heavenly Fathers divine plan for the restoration of the Church. We put a lot of stock in the saints who came across the plains, but I guess I hadn’t thought about those who came across on the Mayflower. I am sure the Holy Ghost was whispering to their Hearts that the best thing they could do was to “get on that Ship.” And I am thankful for their Courage and determination to find a place where they could worship the way their hearts told them was correct, and to make it known though their example to those that followed, and set up our government, and constitution that this country was a place of religious freedo. I am thankful that we still enjoy that freedom today because those Pilgrims had faith, courage and determination when they got on the Mayflower. I am Thankful. So as we Gather together this Thursday and count our many blessings, I hope that you remember that you are counted on many lists. The church is true and we love you and pray for you always.
Love,
Monica and the 6 people she is most thankful for. Jon, Stiles, Marcus, Erica, Hunter, William, and Wyatt.

the white stuff

Dallan, Nov 16 2009
the white stuff fell this weekend. The kids pulled out all of their snow gear and played outside until wet, cold, and soggy. Then they came in and demanded hot cocoa. I obliged. Let me see we did a crazy swap of vehicle and furniture this week in connection with Camille and mom. Millie and I feel like we spent most of the week driving all over eastern Idaho. The Kids were very ready to be out the car as well. We had a good time with mom and accomplished a few of the things we were hoping to. -we had a LONG list. We had fun. IT was a bummer when the day got over and I had to pack up my munchkins and head for home but I feel blessed that I can see my family in not too long of a drive.
Our Americana Chickens have started to lay their Eggs. They lay green eggs- hence DR Seuss book “green eggs and ham.” There really are green eggs! Who knew? Anyway Jon brought in the first egg and held it up to my kitchen wall- remember I painted my kitchen green. And guess what- they are the EXACT same color. So Then Jon made some snide remark about the next time I say “Lets just paint this room egg shell” He will have to say “no, he doesn’t want another green room!” CHEEKY!
Jon has been working hard and working lots-at hunting. He tells me he is not getting adequate time on the river up in his tree stand. I think he is just jealous that his brother Jason, who has never really bow hunted before shot a doe out of Jon’s tree stand the first time he ever sat in it, and took the doe at ten yards! JON left VERY early this morning to sit in a tree stand again. I hope he gets one soon so that he will quit hunting. I didn’t realize that hunting was in the bargain when I said yes to that man. But I am sure there are things about me that Jon is not sure he loves that were thrown into the bargain as well. Pres. Hinkley said something to the effect that Marriage is mutual toleration at best.
Well I know this is short but nothing blew up this week and if it did and I can’t remember I will plead that it happens so often now I just let them all fade into the background and try not to remember how awful it was because it might make me be angry or upset when I really can’t do anything about it except clean up the mess and move on.
We love you very much and we are excited to have Uncle Dallan on a mission. We pray for you always and encourage you to work hard. We will miss you for Christmas but we will have one heck of a groundhog day!
Love you so Much, Monica and the Woodin Nickel Knuckle Heads!

Astro

Well Dallan It is November the 9th 2009. And one more week has gotten away from me. Let me see if I can remember what happened- I took all three baby boys int o get their shots. That was not fun for anybody- but it is better than the alternative.
We added a new addition to the family. On Saturday I met a guy in Idaho Falls and bought his Astro Van for $2000.00. It is gold so now I match Mom, Millie, and Crystal (when she is in the truck). I was feeling like an odd duck in the green van that mom now loves because it doesn’t hurt her to get in and out of. Anyway Jon is not sure I got a good deal. I told him to stick it in his ear. We looked at a lot of different options and while it may not be the fanciest thing on 4 wheels it fills our needs for right now. I am reminded about “This is our hill, and these are our beans” SO I guess I have a “beaner” van.
Will loves to walk and is trying out the talking bit too. He has decided to have a bit of an attitude as well. Nothing aweful, he is just trying to see if he can push it and get away with it. HE loves apples and since he does not have the teeth to chew up an apple he just chews until he has made a good apple sauce and spits it back out. I am having a party cleaning it up off of the floor.
Hunter is trying to talk. He says the word blue. And I think he might know what it is. We looked at a book together the other day that has a little duck hidden on every page. He loved to find the duck. And he is quite good at it.
Erica continues to be SO BEAUTIFUL she changes clothes twice a day and is very opinionated on how I do her hair. She was very cute in the primary program yesterday and every one giggled when she was done with her part. Mostly because Erica was giggling so hard and had a huge perm-a-grin on. She did great.
Marcus did well for his part of the program as well. He had a rather long part. It was about service and how we serve in our families. His class told about different things their families had done to serve others, the children wrote their own parts. Mailai Barlow said “My mom’s friend was going to have a baby so we took their family our roast and we had hamburgers” Poor Mailai didn’t know why every one was giggling at her part. But she drug out the word hamburgers like they were the worst thing in the world to eat. I later told her Mom, Heather that I was so sorry they had Hamburgers the day that they brought us their Roast dinner. But Heather was Grateful that they were able to serve our family and it obviously made an impression on her daughter. The Church is wonderful.
Stiles part was about temples and family history and he did his part well. They all sang but Stiles has finally gotten old enough that he knows mosts of the words to all of the songs, where Erica just knows some of the words to some of the songs and Marcus is a bit shy about singing and doesn’t move his mouth very much when he is not sure of all of the words. IT was a great program about the forever Family and I was in tears a few times during the program. I wish we could have the children teach us more than once a year. It is always such a great meeting,
Jon has been busy, working lots and hunting a little bit. He spent Saturday hunting with his brother Jason, they didn’t get anything but I think they had fun. Jon is a bit Disappointed that the Yankees won the world series- AGAIN. But I am just glad it didn’t go all 7 games. Jon is not too bumbed out that baseball is over because Basket ball is just starting and Football is in full swing. His fantasy team is not doing so bad -or so good. I just feel bad that when the banks and insurance companies and auto industry all had a financial fall out that sports didn’t fall with them. It gets a little old. -in my opinion .
I’m hanging in there by my teeth. Sometimes I use my fingernails to help out a bit. But at the end of the day there is still 4 or 5 loads of laundry to do. A batch of dishes that need washed and 6 kids and 1 husband who all want my attention and the only one I want anything to do with is spelled B-E-D !
The church is true, We pray for you always. And what is this whole don’t Die thing anyway? Isn’t the celestial Kingdom the goal- You know you got to die before you can get there you know! But we will try not to it would just ruin our day.
Love Monica and the woodin Nickel crew!

getting trunky

Dallan, Nov 1 2009 I believe you are getting close to major countdown mode. Is not tomorrow your 20 month anniversary date? Now don’t get TRUNKY! Whatever that means. Let me see I am running out of weeks were I will have a very good excuse to entertain the masses. Or rather When Jon asks what I am doing on “HIS” computer I will not be able to say “Writing my dear missionary Brother a letter.--GO AWAY JON!” Currently when this conversation happiness he usually rolls his eyes and asks if he can jump on the computer just to check scores for a minute. I reply with some speech about how if I let him then HE would be hindering the work of the Lord by not allowing my to buoy up my little brother whilst he is doing his missionary service. Then He pleads again to see the scores and I move aside for a moment so he can check and I call him the agent of the devil or some other thing. He checks to see that sure enough -His team is still losing. When you come home I will not be able to continue to hog his computer on Sunday afternoons like I have been able to these past 2 years.
Okay on to news- On Thursday William decided that he had had enough of eating everyone’s dust and stood up and started walking. He does walk much like a drunken sailor though and I am often humming the tune in my head when I watch him he does revert back to crawling when he is in a hurry but his sea legs are getting used to walking with every step- now I just have to get him to wear shoes.
We have been with out properly working potties in our house for about a month courtesy of William and a bit of Hunter who always is willing to dive into a mess of fun if it involves making a mess. Well Jon wanted to go Hunting to Montana this week and I told him he was not allowed to go until my Potties were properly working and the leak under the sink was getting worse by the minute and I needed that fixed too. So he bought a potty snake at the local home depot and got the main potty regular again, previously it was backed up with a domino game piece that involved a total bowl removal and some toilet surgery to dislodge the stuck 5X5. He took apart my sink and while I installed a Garbage disposal ( yes this granddaughter of a plumber did it!) Jon tore the master potty off of the hole and did some work on that… And guess what we found blocking our path to smooth flushes. A TOY CAR! About the size of your hand. This particular car was a replica of the car from the PIXAR movie “CARS” We decided it was best to throw away DOC HUDSON the Hudson hornet, Marcus was pretty sad -it was HIS toy. The best part was that we had to get Stiles to help us dislodge the toy because Jon and I’s fingers were too big to fit in the hole and pull out the car But Stiles prevailed and now our plumbing problems are solved. However I still need to hook up the electrical to the Garbage disposal- we have to rip out the dishwasher to do that and that was too much for one night.
JON did get a doe while hunting in Montana- That is about all I know, He took it with his bow, and enjoyed his trip with his buddies.
For Halloween Erica was a butterfly fairy Princess. I think she announced to the world the she was “SO BEAUTIFUL” about 300 times last night. She is pretty miserable today. I think that she is allergic to the makeup I put on her and her eyes have been watering ALL DAY LONG! Oops. Stiles chose to be a werewolf and Marcus was Spiderman. Hunter was a COWBOY and William an pumpkin. Wyatt was a dinosaur and Jon went as a construction worker with 6 kids and a tired wife who was dressed as the maid.
I got our family pictures back this week from my photographer and she got a couple of good shots of our family- It is hard with 6 little kids- and Jon. So you can expect to see something cool about Christmas time. By the way I have you this year. WHAT DO YOU WANT? No matter I’ll give you what ever I WANT to give you. HA HA.
The Church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith is a true prophet and restored the gospel. Pres Monson is our prophet today . And Christ is our Savior. We Love you - Work hard the field is White.
Love Monica and the messy kids at the Woodin Nickel.- oh and Jon too.