PE

Today I taught actual elementary school students. It was a 3rd grade PE class and I must admit that I was real nervous and actually had a bad night's sleep because I was so worried about teaching for the first time. But once I got going the nerves went away and I feel that I did pretty well, but there is a lot of room for improvement. Overall it was a fun experience.

New baby in Hutchinson family

My sister, Kari, delivered her baby yesterday. She named him Noah. He was 9 lbs. and 19 inches long. We're so excited to have him finally here! That's actually about all I know so far. I can't wait to see pictures of him.

No callings : -- )

After Sacrament on Sunday I will only have the call of Family History Librarian. I will be released from Creche and Primary. The Bishop feels that my load needs to be lifted a little right now (so does Dad in fact he told the Bishop that I needed to be released from Primary).

The Lord has already lifted it some by Dad getting a job and then we rented Jocelyn's house on Saturday evening. I just need to be a little more patient with some of the other things. The Lord has blessed us greatly and there is no room for complaints.

President Hinckley

I know that by the time you all read this you will have heard the news. It is just so hard to believe that President Hinckley has passed, but I know that he must be extreamly happy to be with his wife again. I wonder when the new president will be called and if it will be President Monson or not. I love you all and hope that you are all doing great!

Our Callings

I am not sure if we ever posted what our callings are. The first Sunday that we were back from Michigan, a member of the Bishopric came over and gave us callings. Les is a co-teacher in the primary teaching Valiant 9 and I was called to the Activities Committee. I have actually never been on the activities committee before so, I hope that I can really contribute to it. Everything here is also going just fine. My work has moved my schedule up from 2 days a week to 3 days a week. So, on weeks like this one were I worked M W F and then had it be my turn to teach Parkers preschool on Tu and Thurs, it has been pretty busy. Not to mention that I have also worked the last couple of Saturdays for other people. However, it is nice when we get that extra paycheck and are able to do some fun things as a family, when we want to.

Hillary's new calling

I was asked today to be the primary chorister. I asked not to be released from cub scouts yet. I don't think it will be a problem for me to do both. So the first councelor (the one who extended the calling) from the bishopric said we'd play it by ear. My first Sunday leading will be the week after this coming Sunday, so the 10th, I think. I'm excited. I had fun the last time I did this and I think it will be fun this time too. Everything else is going hunky-dory here; just waiting to hear that my sister's baby has been born. She's going to be enduced on Wednesday if he doesn't come naturally before that. We're pretty excited for her.

Employment!

Dad will become an employee of Wal-Mart and it won't be greeting people either. He will be unloading trucks from 2-11pm. He has already said that he will keep looking but it is something for now. Not to sure of the start date because they have to make sure he passes his drug test. Mom

Maybe?

Wally might want Dad. He got a phone call today and his interview is tomorrow. He has desided that he can work on Sunday from 12am to 6am and/or 6pm to 12pm. He told me today that he is feeling a little useless and needs something. We have no idea if it is part of full time but no matter what if it is offered he is going to take it because he wants to do something.

Lexi's opportunity

Lexi was picked to be one of 6 students from her school to compete at a state-wide math competition for 5th graders. She will have to stay after school every Thursday, starting today, to practice and prepare for the competition. It is scheduled for March 11th. She's so excited.

I'm so cold lately. We've had some bitterly cold temperatures here and lots of snow. I feel like I'm cold all day until I get into bed at night. Then I actually warm up. It's not fun! The weather man reported lastnight that we've had 42.7 inches of snow already this winter. The average is 27.1 inches and last year they only had 19.7 inches total, the whole winter. I think it's bogus that we had to move here the winter they would get dumped on. We are supposed to have temps in the mid 40s on Monday with rainstorms, possibly thunderstorms. Just watch, we'll have another tornado!

Wally doesn't want us!

Dad and I have both put in for the new Wal Mart store in Fowlerville. I got an interview but dad didn't. It surprised me that I got an interview because I had already told the store manager that I would not work Sundays. But they called me any way and said that the position was for full time on 3rd shift and wanted to know if I was still interested, dummy me said yes, so they set up the interview for Monday. At my interview they told me that it was a 24 hour store and that they were opened 7 day a week. Then they had me fill out papers again stating the hours that I would work. I gave them 24 hours a day 6 days a week. When I was asked if I would open any Sunday hours I again said no. The interviewer attitude changed and she said that she had to check the board to see what was open because they didn't want to over book people and that if they wanted me that they would call me the next day for the second interview.

What a bunch a bull. I already knew if they wanted me that they would do the second interview right then. I had talked to others who were hired and that is the way that they were doing things.

When I went to the car I knew that I would not be hired and started to cry and wondered if I had made the right choice. By that I mean I should have taken the job because it was full time with benefits. But I pulled myself together and started to talk to the Lord and turned it back over to him. I am trying hard to keep the sabbath day holy and Wal Mart does not need to be open. So we will see what comes up. Dad has his resume turned into another company today but who knows. I have been putting out application to so we know something will come up.

I do love the Lord and I know that he will take care of us for his blessing are sure. (Sound like a song?) We just make sure that we do our part and he will do his. I want all of you to know of our testimony of the gospel. Love Mom and Dad

Insurance!!!!

Well, our prayers were answered about a week ago when my letter came in the mail telling me that I was approved for Medicaid. It is just a secondary insurance since we already have health coverage, but it will pick up what our insurance won't cover. This will really save us a lot of money and is a real blessing. Unfortunately I will have to switch doctors because my Dr. doesn't take that medicaid, but oh well, a couple thousand dollars is worth it. I have my first appointment with the new doc next week, hopefully I like him. Luckily I will still be able to deliver at the same hospital. Part of me wondered if it was wrong to apply for the medicaid since we do have health coverage already. But then I thought about it and decided, no I pay taxes and will for the rest of my life so, I don't feel so bad.

Packers Loose!

Well the great run for the Packers is over. We'll probably have to hear about how sad everyone here in Wisconsin is for the next week or so. Then I'm sure the talk will become all about Brett Favre retiring; will he? won't he? Ooooo, we're all just waiting at the edge of our seats :).

How many of you watched the game and were cold just watching it? I know I sure was. I felt so bad for the teams when they had to go to overtime. How many of you wanted to put something over the Giants' coach's face? Man, he looked so cold!

Too bad the Giants won't beat the Patriots.

Piano

Our ward is a little short on piano players, at least that's what they feel. So the relief society president has organized an enrichment activity that is piano lessons. They are open to the whole ward though. She and the ward choir director are going to be running the lessons. The choir director is a music teacher at one of the local elementary schools. She has 15 keyboards in her classroom and got permission from the principal to use her room for these church lessons. Because it's the school, she has to charge some kind of fee because she is technically "renting" the room for an after school activity. So the charge is $1 per person for the whole 1 1/2 hours she's there. I'm so thrilled. We haven't found a piano teacher for Alexis yet and she's been asking more about it recently. I've also wanted to get Merrit and Makayla started, especially since Merrit's teacher wrote a note on his report card that she felt he should start. This church class really worked out great for us. I just pick the kids up from school on Tuesdays and drop them off at the other school. I'm pretty excited about it and the kids are too. Merrit was hesitant at first, but he tried it at the first class and really liked it. He told me that day he wanted to keep going. I was happy he said that.

New Year's Snow

Just thought I would share some pictures from New Year's day with the kids playing in the snow. Enjoy!

I found so cute pics

I was going through my pic and found these and I wanted to show everyone. I miss you all. I have no luck getting a job but I am trying.

I'm so frustrated!

So I went to pick up the kids from school today. While I was waiting for them to come to the car, I watched Alexis walk down the side walk across the street from me. She's was going to the corner to cross to come to the car. As she walked, the girls who keep bullying her ran up behind her and one of them threw something at her. It hit Lexi's backpack and fell to the ground. As the girl went to pick it up, I got out of the car and crossed the street. She motioned to throw it again, as I heard the othe girl yell something like throw it this way or throw it again. I yelled out to stop her because I didn't know what they were throwing and I wanted them to stop. The girls looked at me and as I approached them I said that that was totally inappropriate and I took the girl who threw the object by the arm to take her with me to the principal. As I took her arm, I said let's go see the principal and motioned for the other girl to come too. She kept on walking and said she didn't do anything. I said yes you did, come on let's go and motioned again for her to come. Then she started to run away yelling you ain't gonna touch me, you ain't gonna touch me. Then the other girl ran too and I turned to go to the principal and behind me I heard the girls saying did she touch you? Did she touch you? We're going to tell? I went into the school and waited for the principal and told her what I had witnessed. She's already dealt with these girls many times before, and I could tell she was frustrated. I asked if there was any way I could talk to their parents. The principal said she couldn't give me their numbers, but she could call them and give them mine. So I went into the office with her and waited for her to call the mothers. The first one she got ahold of was on her way to work and said she'd call me tomorrow. She appologized to the principal and asked her to pass the message on to me. Then she called the other mother and the principal assured me that that mother would call too. The principal was very sorry and tried to console me, but I could tell she was at her wits end with these girls too. When I got to the car, Alexis told me that she heard one of the girls say that I hit her. This was the girl that ran away from me saying that I wasn't going to touch her. I don't know how I was suppose to have hit her if I didn't even touch her.

When I got home there was a call on the caller I.D. that said private name but there was no message on the machine. It may have been the one mother, but I don't know. If it was, I wonder if she'll try to call back. She didn't even appologize over the phone to the principal. I'm not even sure what I'll say to them if they call anyway. I just didn't know what else to do. I want the mothers to know how frustrated I am and how much this is effecting Alexis. I think I'm going to ask them if they have any idea why their girls have singled out Alexis. I really hope that I don't get accused of abuse. It will be my word against theirs because, although there were many people around, I'm sure I won't be able to find anyone in specific who was watching and could back up my story. I suppose this could get ugly. I shouldn't even have touched the one girl in the first place, but I didn't even think about it. It was just natural for me to take her arm to take her with me. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a lesson I learn the hard way. I'm so frustrated with this whole thing. Why can't Alexis just go to school and have a good time and experience? Why does there have to be kids there who pick on her? I mean yesterday someone hocked a loogie on her backpack. Of course she didn't see who it was because she had put the bag down to go play on the playground just before school got out, so we can't even get that person in trouble. But jeez, spitting on someone's stuffs, come on! AHHHHH!

We had our ultrasound today and the tech told us that it is a



Can you believe it? We are all very excited. Les and Grandpa are going to go and have lunch with Bradyn at school today and tell him then. I just know that he will be so thrilled.

Dad is off and flying

Dad will be off this afternoon for Ft. Worth TX. Yes down with Les, Kristi and family. He has a interview tomorrow moring for Motorola. This is good and bad. It is a contract job, so that means no benfits or security and it is to last one year. But it is better than nothing I think. Since we are putting out so much money (We do not know if they will pay us back.) I told Dad to stay down there for a couple of day. He will fly back on Saturday.

When he gets home we both will be putting in our apps. at the new Fowlerville Wal Mart store. There is also another full time position at LCC that I am going to try for. One of us will get a full time job with benfits this year.

We had a bit of a scary evening lastnight. We were hit with a huge storm that produced at least one confirmed torado in Wisconsin. This tornado actually destroyed many homes. There has never been on record in Wisconsin a tornado that produced damage. It was pretty scary. We had to go in the basement twice. After the first one the news casters were saying they felt the worst was over, but some more cells fired up about an hour later and we had to go back into the basement. Charlie just happened to be on his way home when the second round of sirens went off. The second cells were closer to us than the first, but I don't think an actual tornado was produced that time.

So Charlie and I were wondering lastnight... they have this totally abnormal storm in the beginning of January that actually produced a tornado(s) and they've also had record breaking snow fall accumulations for the month of December here, at least 20 inches worth to our knowledge all since we moved here. Is this a sign or what?!?!?!? What a welcome!

Here are some pictures sent into a local news station from viewers and a map to show you where the touch down occured in comparison with us.

Driving Directions

http://www.wisn.com/slideshow/14996809/detail.htmlindex.html?currentSlide=10&taf=mil

School

So school starts up again tomorrow and I have mixed feelings about going back. I am very excited to finally be starting the elementary education program, but two more years of school just seems like forever. I am looking forward to being able to teach school and not be a student myself anymore. So I passed my Stats class! My grade was horrible and it totally killed my GPA, but at least it is over.

Look over here!!!!!!

I would just rewrite it, but I don't really feel like it. So, look at my blog for one of our most recent woes.....

hickstexasadventures.blogspot.com

On our last round of the "sickees"

Jaxson got sick Thursday night. He didn't sleep well, but didn't throw up. He is actually still sick. He has been sick the longest of anyone. He had a horrible night lastnight. I actually had to go sleep in the boys' room on a cot next to Jaxson. He hasn't done much better today. I only hope that tonight isn't as bad as last night. Charlie was the last one to get sick. After Jaxson got sick Thursday night, Charlie said to me that he was thankful for his strong constitution and that he hadn't got sick. He spoke too soon though because he woke up Friday morning not feeling too well. He went to work but came home at about 1 pm and went to bed. He felt horrible. He woke up feeling much better today. Now we only hope that Jaxson will be well soon so we can all be over it, whatever it was.

We start meeting at 9 am tomorrow morning for church. I'm so excited. I really don't like meeting in the afternoon. Not much else is going on here. We have started to look at different houses, but not really enthusiastically. We just don't have the drive right now. It's kind of like we had the wind knocked out of us.

I hope someone will write soon and let us know what they are up to.

Our Christmas vacation

We are home now from our wonderful Christmas vacation. The drive tho Michigan wasn't too bad. Chicago only took about 2 hours to go through. We didn't hit any bad weather. We stayed at Jocelyn's empty house for most of the time. It allowed us room and to be ourselves a little easier. We were also able to go through our storage unit and pull stuff out that we didn't want to move with us.

We spent the first weekend in Flint and hung out with friends. We went to My parents' on Christmas Eve and stayed there until Friday and then we went back to Jocelyn's house for the next weekend. Charlie and I teased each other that most people have their vacation homes in nice, sunny places like the Bahamas, but our vacation home is in Flint, MI. As nice as it was to be able to stay there we still pray daily that it will sell quickly.

Christmas day was fun at my parents' with Kurt, Heather and Harvey. It was very relaxing. The day after Christmas wasn't so much fun. We were suppose to spend the day at Mom and Dad's but the night before (Christmas night) Chelsea threw up and kept throwing up. I woke up that morning not feeling well, except it was coming out the other end for me. We tried to go as a family and got as far as Brighton before Chelsea threw up in the car, all over herself. So we turned around and went back to my parents'. I cleaned Chelsea up and stayed there with her while Charlie took the rest of the kids to Mom and Dad's. They had fun seeing their cousins. Makayla threw up once while they were there, but that was it, thank goodness.

We were suppose to go spend the night with Kurt and Heather Thursday to Friday but decided not to since we had been sick. Friday we went back up to Flint because one of Merrit's friends from church was getting baptised Saturday morning. I had a girls' night with my friends that night and it was great. My friend who was hostessing is a beauty school drop out so she has all the stuff for manicures and pedicures and facials. So we just hang out, eat great food and pamper ourselves.

For New Years Eve we went to a party at our friends' house from church. There were four families there with a combined total of 18 kids. We had a blast playing games and ringing in the new year together. After we watched to ball drop they kids went outside and ran around in the snow and built a snow caterpillar (the balls were too big for the kids to lift them on top of one another to build a snowman). I would have pictures but my camera was at home. My friend is suppose to email me some pictures and then I will post them.

The next day we went to Mom and Dad's to pig out and watch football. The kids played outside most of the time in a giant snow pile that Dad plowed up for them using his tractor. I would post pictures of this too, except the adapter I have for my memory card broke so now I have to go buy a new one.

That night we went to Kurt and Heather's to spend time with them before we went home since we didn't get to go before. When we got there our kids were just fine. That night, though, was a different story. Chelsea got up first with the runs and didn't make it to the toilet in time. So we cleaned her up, then Alexis was up throwing up. Then Chelsea again and then Alexis. They traded back and forth several times. We were going to hang out with Heather and Harvey until after lunch, but we decided we should probably go as soon as we could so hopefully Harvey wouldn't get sick. Jaxson had a really nasty diaper in the morning as well and I was so scared we were going to have the trip home from hell. But no one got sick and no one had to have an emergency bathroom stop, even Chicago wasn't that bad. It was a huge blessing. I just pray that Kurt, Heather and Harvey stay healthy. I felt so bad.

Now we are back to every day life. The kids went to school today. They didn't get as much snow here as they did in Michigan. Everyone seems to be healthy. I was going to keep the kids home today to let them recover longer, but everyone but Alexis complained that they wanted to go to school so I sent them. It has been nice to have some time to myself since I didn't get too much of that over the last two weeks. I'm playing catch-up on laundry and scout stuff. I also got some not so good news about the house we were trying to buy. Our realtor told me today that the sellers have decided to move back to Wisconsin so the house is off the market. How bizarre is that?!?!? It only figures! So we have to start all over. I have to admit I am getting a little discouraged with the whole house hunting thing.

Love you all!