December, 2013

It has been  busy eventful year (to say the least).  It has been a while since I have attempted a family letter so I’m a bit out of practice, but here goes:

As I mentioned, it has been a busy year.  Teena’s work situation has had a lot of ups and downs.  The owner has been positioning himself to retire for some time but he has brought in a new management team whose style was completely different from what the company was used to.  A number of people left the company and some were asked to leave but Teena still has her job.  The new CEO has been asked to leave and it will be very interesting to see how things go from here.

Teena is teaching in the Relief Society.  She must be doing a good job because I always hear about how good her lesson was afterward.

As for me I just passed 40 years with Wells Fargo (or a predecessor).  My boss asked me when I plan to retire and I told him he will have to throw me out.  I'm not ready for my next career ("Welcome to Walmart.").  I work from home most days and it is really nice to be able to do that.  It makes for an interesting family dynamic because I can start dinner before Teena gets home.  She usually gets home around 6:00.

In the Ward I am still the Executive Secretary.  I’m just glad that Tithing Settlement is finished.

Christeena and Doug have had a rough year.  Doug lost his job and so they have had a struggle.  He is currently working for a heating and cooling supply company and then at Home Depot in the evenings and on weekends.  Please remember them in your prayers. 

Hannah is 11 and Tanner is 9 both are doing well and are normal kids.  Tanner gives really good hugs.  Abby is just old enough to go into Nursery and so far she doesn’t like to go.  Hopefully she will get used to it.  She is talking a lot and is the climber of the family.

Matt and Sarah are still in Everett.  We miss them a lot and we miss having Alex and Tyson close.  We went to see them over Memorial Day and that was nice.  I think we may get to see them for a few days this summer.  Matt seems to be doing well at Boeing and I hear encouraging reports regarding the boys and school.  We get to video with the once in a while and that is nice.  We are spoiled though.  Matt uses his tablet and can go lay down and so can I.

Mark is back in school in the evenings.  He is going to Grand Canyon University working on his Masters degree.  We wish him the best.  He is busy with his job and the girls keep him hopping too.  Tara is pregnant with twins (one girl and one boy) and so their life is going to get a lot more exciting around March or April.

Tessa is in school and likes it.  Mallory goes to pre-school and is convinced that she can do anything that her sister can do.  It’s fun to watch them.  They know where we keep the Oreos.

Jacob is still at home.  He works for Southwestern Eye Center and most days he likes it.  I don’t know what we would do without him.  He does all of the reaching and lifting jobs around the house.

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Love,

Doyle / Dad / Papa

June 8 2013

I have been traveling more than usual lately.  I think that's a good thing.  A few weeks ago I spent a week in Charlotte meeting with my team.  It was great.  We spent one day traveling each way so we only met for 3 days but we accomplished a lot.  I met some folks that I have been working with for several years.  My mental picture of them was pretty close in a couple of cases and way off in a couple of cases.

I was home for a week and then Teena & I went to Everett (Seattle) to be with Matt, Sarah, Alex and Tyson for a few days over the Memorial Day weekend.  I was a really nice visit and I love their house.  I is in a little ravine and they have a lot of privacy and back up to a wooded area.

Matt fed us Pho and we were so impressed that we got the stuff and Teena made Pho today.  It was really good. One day next winter we'll make a big batch and have everyone over (it heats up the house too much to do it in the summer).

Just before I left for Charlotte I got a blister on my big toe that got infected and I have been fighting that for a couple of weeks now.  On the downside, I have to wash, treat and bandage my toe twice a day.  On the upside, we are now the proud owners of a temporary handicapped parking mirror-hanger.  I had to go by expensive shoes today.

Here are some pictures from our time with Matt, Sarah and the boys.

April 24, 2013

April 2013

I looked at my blog yesterday and realized how long it has been since I updated it.

I talked to Ken (my brother) on his birthday and when I asked him how things are going he said, “We’re just working and churching.”  That is an excellent summation.  I concur.

We have spent a good deal of time working on our yard over the past few months. 

-         We took out our planter/fire pit in the back corner of the back yard.  That involved renting a tractor and hauling away a load of dirt and “stuff”.

-         We moved the playhouse into the other back corner

-         We got rid of the trampoline (after Mark bounced through it – not his fault).

-         We built a shed in the corner where the planter used to be.

-         We built new raised planters around the back wall and the side wall.  That involved about 5 trips to get dirt and mulch and two pallets of blocks.

I sincerely hope we are finished for the time being.  We have flowers along the back and vegetables and herbs along the side.

It was nice to have our yard done though.  We had a luau for Christeena’s birthday and it was nice in the back.  The kids all had fun.

Jane brought kalua pork and we made kalua turkey (very good).

Well this is shorter than I thought.  I will try not to be so long next time.

July 8, 2012

Yesterday Matt, Sarah, Alex and Tyson left for Everett.  We were relieved to hear that they arrived safely and are settled into their Hotel.

I hope this is a good opportunity for Matt (it sounds like it is) and I am already envious of their weather.

For the next few weeks we have a guest named Charlie at our house.  He is a cute little guy and he and Daisy seem to enjoy playing with each other.

July 5, 2012
Since Matt, Sara, Alex & Tyson are moving it is time for me to start Family Letters again.  But I think the easiest and most accessible way to do that is to start a blog.  So, here goes.

Yesterday I turned 60.  mentally it didn't bother me a lot but my body did not get the message.  My wrist hurts, my back hurts and my feet hurt.  I think it't time for an oil change.  I probably need a tune up but I don't want to go there.

We had everyone over for dinner yesterday for Independence Day (yes, and Tessa's birthday and my birthday).  it was nice.  We had ka-bobs and then played with fireworks a little.  I tried to start the back  yard on fire and Hannah told me that I am a bad influence.  If she only knew. . .

They gave me a Dr Seuss Book and Matt commented that it reminded him of me because I used to make up Suessish rhymes when the kids were younger.  Perhaps I should try my hand at that again.

I will try to find some pictures to post to make this a little more interesting.  In the meantime, we love you all and more-to-come.

Love
Dad/Papa/Doyle