Niel and Christy

Hi family. The last few months have been crazy. I've been looking for a new job because my current job isn't doing so hot with the current economy. The company has shrunk from more than 200 employees a year ago to less than 30 now, mainly because the company can't meet payroll on time anymore. We're still doing OK, and I still get the occasional paycheck every once in a while, but I definitely need a new job. I've had lots of interviews, and I believe there are going to be some job offers soon. If it weren't for our house and the bad economy, we would've sold by now and moved to Oregon. Maybe someday we'll get to leave Utah.

In other news, Christy has been the gospel doctrine teacher for a few months now, and she really loves her calling (she's really good at it, and her life experiences make her a perfect fit to teach Doctrine and Covenants). I'm still the ward organist and financial clerk. We just had stake conference, and Elder Hales came and spoke to us. He's an amazing teacher and speaker. It was a great opportunity to get to hear from an apostle. Elder Jones, an area Seventy was also there with him.

Christy's starting up as a Stampin' Up demonstrator again, and with all the knowledge she's gotten from her job in the call center at Stampin' Up, she's hoping to be able to turn it into a small business. If any of you want to order stamping or scrap booking products, Christy would be glad to help you out.

Love you all,
Niel, Christy and Charlie

Charlotte and Jared

I'm a bit late, but I thought I'd contribute anyway. At this very moment I have four little boys ages 2-4 sitting at my table playing playdough. Jared's sister, her husband and three of the their kids are going to Salt Lake for General Conf. and we're (I'm) watching their two youngest who are the same age as Drew and Joel for the next four days. I'm just not sure how much giggling about poo poo and pee pee I'm going to be able to take -- when does that stop being funny to boys?

I'm about 18 weeks along now in this pregnancy and I really can't complain. I have it pretty good when it comes to symptoms and side effects, although this time around I have developed a completely non-itchy rash on my face as a bonus gift. If I never looked in the mirror or touched my face, I wouldn't know it was there. And while it doesn't hurt or itch, I do have to look in the mirror periodically and I look like I have a mustache. I'm sure I notice it more than anyone else. The doc says it's just one of the hundreds of random skin conditions that can come with pregnancy.

Jared got all gung ho this last week and mapped out our yard and figured out our garden for this years harvest. So far we've planted the early spring seeds outside, and started some seeds inside.

We're so happy that Casey and Andrea stocked up on food storage for us. We know exactly where to go when disaster strikes! I've been having a lot of fun giving Jillian and Charlotte voice lessons. It makes my job so much more fun when they already have natrually beautiful voices. You are all invited to a recital on the 18th (I guess I should ask Andrea and Casey if that date works --- well, does it?).

Things are great here. We're very happy with our tax returns this year. Because Jared's bonuses get taxed so heavily, we get a lot of it back at tax time.

Can't wait to see you all this summer!

Maria and Kelly

March is over and we are ready for spring. All the snow was melted until we got two inches today. Bummer. David didn't seem to mind. He put on his snow clothes and went out to play with Zoe (our dog). We spent the month doing the usual. Amber and Megan both had choir concerts, Megan had a symphony concert, Steven earned two more merit badges and achieved the rank of first class in scouts. Amber was accepted into the high school honor society! She is applying for the art honor society as well. That girl is smart and talented! The kids all got great grades for their second trimester. Amber, Megan and Kelly went to a young women's winter camp in Wisconsin and had fun walking on the frozen lake and making new pajama pants (the girls). Marissa fell and got a hairline fracture in her left wrist (she is left handed). Luckily, a brace was all that the doctor recommended. She was able to swim with us at the water parks in Wisconsin Dells for spring break, all indoor, of course. David wasn't sure he would remember how to ride a bike since it has been so long since he actually had a clear street and warm enough weather to try it. He remembered, just like riding .... you know the saying. He loves to ride around our cul-de-sac for as long as I will let him. He especially likes going through the puddles so the mud can splash straight up his back! Kelly has been working a lot and keeping busy with the bishopric. Some Sundays are just crazy with all that we are involved in. Two weeks ago Kelly had meetings starting at 9 then choir at 12 (I am the semi-permanent substitute choir director), the choir sang in sacrament meeting, Kelly taught High Priests group, I taught the 10-12 primary class, filled in for primary and nursery music, then Steven had a priesthood preview until 6. Most Sundays are not very restful! We are happy for the chance to serve in our ward, though. We are looking forward to eating in the backyard, taking bike rides, playing outside at the park and feeling warmth from the sun. For more pictures and updates, check out our blog. Just click on our picture at right.

This is a picture of Amber and her friend Jentry Johnson on frozen Clam Lake in Wisconsin













The kids getting dumped on at a water park in Wisconsin Dells.

David won the Pretty Pretty Princess game!

Casey and Andrea

Hello family. Hope your March went well! Spring is bursting here in Springfield. (hard to believe for those of you still in snow). The daffodils are up, the lawns are green and lush, and the plum trees are covered in pink flowers. It's a great time to be in Oregon. Unfortunately, the majority of our Spring Break was rainy. We did manage to do a few fun things though. Our family and the Booren family went up to Salem to play at the AC Gilbert Discovery House. (I attached a few pictures) Afterwards, we rode the carousel and went to Dairy Queen for dinner. It was a lot of fun. In other news, our garage has been completely transformed. We have gotten on the food storage kick and when my dad was in town, he built wall to wall shelves in our garage while my mom and I blew $2000 on food storage. (We'd been saving up for this project for a while) We loaded the shelves and the freezer with food storage. We have a long ways to go to get our years supply but it feels so wonderful to walk out to the garage and see so much food. With the economy being as shaky as it is, we've decided to postpone any major changes to our home and just save our money. We have enough money saved so that Casey could be out of work for a year and we'd be able to pay our bills. It's a good feeling...we hope we never have to use it! We are so grateful for our many blessings. There are a lot of folks struggling here in Oregon. Monaco Coach, Country Coach and I think Marathon Coach have all gone out of business. A lot of members of our Stake lost their jobs in the last month because of it. Casey is trying to throw work at as many people as he can, but our business is down significantly as well. I guess people don't want to throw big corporate picnics and parties in a recession.. Who could blame them? To sum up, despite the economic worries, we are all happy and healthy! We count our blessings every day and are so grateful to be members of such a wonderful and hopeful church. We also love all of you and can't wait to see you in August.

Bryce and Laura Update

Hey family. Hope all is well where you are. We have 70 degrees one day and then 4 inches of snow the next. We can't wait for it to warm up. We almost have everything done in our house. We tiled spencer's bathroom and repainted it as well, and then have almost totally finished our kitchen. All that is left is the can lights in the cieling. Dad was here last weekend and put in our new front door. I just need to paint it. We are also rewiring the garage to add more plugs and then finally rewiring our breaker box and adding a shower surround upstairs. As you can see we have been very busy. We were not sure that we wanted to stay here, so thus the reason we are finally fixing it up. The kids are getting impatient for the summer and have just 2 months left of school like everyone else. It will be great to see all the cousins here for EFY. Hope all of you are surviving winter and are healthy.
Love the Westovers of Salt Lake