Saturday was a little wiffle ball at the church. I got a good chuckle out of Colt "helping" Tanner...we still have to help Colt some of the time. Tanner mostly wanted to play "Hoop Hoop Hoop" but after a few minutes of watching his brothers hit the ball then run around he decided...ok maybe this is a game and fun too. His little toddler run is the cutest! Cannon's still the fastest but Colt's not too shabby when Cannon's chasing him. They got worn out so...mission accomplished.

Saturday night Cannon was biting on a pillow (??? I don't know, I think they were playing puppy or something) At any rate, Colt yanked on it and that was about it for Cann's other front tooth. He had to work a little to get it the rest of the way out but not much. Then here's his request for the tooth fairy.

Dream on kid. He got 20 nickles. The only other thing I remember from Saturday was just kind-of puttering around getting ready for Primary. I didn't have sharing time, but I had goodies for the kids (and teachers) and thank you notes for my presidency and such. Sunday in sacrament meeting we were released. I knew it was coming. I'd known since I read the letter from the First Presidency to President Church approving the referral that Isaac be called as bishop. So no surprises and obviously Isaac was able to keep be in the loop as to when it would happen but Holy Cow, it was tough. Its all I've done in Kirksville. I just kept thinking that I should be doing cartwheels but instead found my eyes sweating. Hmm. Oh well. And the kids were so dang extra sweet. The new president is awesome and will be fantastic!!! (she's in the the back right, long dark hair holding the little blonde headed boy) ...I told the bishop I'm going to weasel my way back into primary somehow. I really do love it and these people...

Primary always needs teachers! They'll take me back! One of my favorite thing was Jasper (white shirt at tie just to the left of Cann Man up there) turned around in sacrament meeting -I was sitting right behind him- and said "What? You quit?" I said "No way man, I got fired." But it just kind of a cute exchange that made me feel like the kids loved me and wanted me there but...of course, with few exceptions all callings end. So we move on.
Monday's big news was Cannon signed up for Baseball. I said maybe Grampa would have to make the trek out to watch one of his games, to which he replied "Or he can watch me on TV mom." I chuckled and said that I might have to video some and he said "Mom, that would be way too long of a video." So apparently we signed up for the big leagues. Haha.
I don't know when I took the picture below but I'll tell you what, I'm way more on board with the kids building forts out of the couch cushions that are down stairs than upstairs...this show you how much my opinion matters...

Colt kept saying "Take a picture take a picture" I said "You know dad hates it when you climb on the back of the couch, why would I take a picture?" To which little stinker said "Mom!...send it to Grama, not dad!" Haha, I did! And told both Grama and Dad about it.
TanTan has spring fever something fierce! Now if we could just get spring to show up!

Today we watched Adalyn, Colt always has a good time playing with her. Tanner was cramping their style until they started playing in his crib. That many balls is totally his happy place. Eventually it turned into a fort too. 

 

We had our friends the Alder's over for dinner tonight--they invited us but we said "No way--come this way!" It was good to visit and the kids had a blast. We also made cinnamon rolls tonight because I need to make some next Friday for the soup and cinnamon rolls talent show shin dig down at the church and I'm just out of practice. Actually I'm glad a practiced. Tanner seemed to thing the middles were alright. Hmm 

Oh and I guess there's a house update. We're not so interested in this one anymore (after getting the home inspection report back) but that means she is going to put it on the market. The realtor came over today. They've got to take pictures and stuff so I feel like I have a lot of cleaning up to do--and getting LOTS of things off the walls. Family pics of course- but even our pictures of the Savior. I wouldn't want someone to look at it on zillow and recognize the LDS art and think it was a member selling it because...I dunno I just thing that could create a false expectation and...there's a reason (or 50 pages of reasons) we don't want it.
Anyway...another night...and its late.
 

Spring Break

I got telling the story last week and forgot the fun stuff-like Tanner playing "hoop ball" with his bowl and spoon from 6 feet from the sink. (The good news he made both of them, but, Oh brother, the kid is a character!) And he's starting to say a lot more. He calls his brothers by name! "Cot" and "Caaa" Its extra hilarious when he's tattling on them. And if you start a question with "Who wants..." you are sure to get an excited "Me!!!" out of TanO Don't blink, the little guy is growing up!

Saturday probably the biggest news was the landlord called and said "I'm selling that house, so you need to be out end of May."  I was so thankful that Isaac was here so he was able to talk to her because turns out we're looking for a house. She's mentioned it at least 2 times but we were never interested because we thought we were moving back west. But now, maybe we would want it. If the price was right (its pretty good but we are very concerned with resale value and not so sure about the foundation problems that have been "fixed" so we have a little homework to do.) Actually today we had a guy come do a home inspection today (we learned a lot--namely WHY IT STINKS SO BAD sometimes--worth the price of the inspection right there!) It's kind up in the air but either we have to buy it or be out by June 1 so it was kind of big news. Also last Saturday Isaac had bishopric training in Quincy, he left for that I kind a got things ready for the babysitter. We had a volunteer ushering job for the rotary clubs Rhonda Vincent concert (Never heard of her? I hadn't either but I have seen a billboard. Apparently she's the "queen of bluegrass"...and she's originally from just up the road in Greentop. I guess that makes her a big deal??) Anyway it was a good opportunity to do  service in the community.
Then happy spring break, we wake up --an hour early, dumb time change-- to 4 inches of snow.

Sunday was week one for Bishop Ison, it might have been no big deal but it felt like a doozy to the wife sitting down in the benches--4 inches of snow and back roads did the high council speaker and his speaking companions in. Thankfully the missionaries and ward mission leader pinch hit for him! And I have no idea why the sacrament wasn't set ready to go but watching the priesthood scramble as he started conducting kinda freaked me out. But of course they got it together and it was all fine but, whoa, it just felt crazy. 

Monday we headed back up to Honey Creek in search of some indoor water! Maybe we're making a spring break tradition out of it? It's so silly to spend the night an hour and a half away but by the time we pay to get into the water park we figure we might as well...and the kids love it and we're making memories so--game on. And taking pictures of bald eagles...is just what we do!

 

Last year Isaac wheeled and dealed and got us a great deal on a a really sweet room, this year he wanted to go see what they had (and he really wanted our friends to come up...but I don't really know if our friends even wanted to but it was just kind of one of those deals where Isaac gets it in his head that someone else will have fun doing something -I can say it cuz it happens to me ALL the time- anyway so he's bent on making it happen.  But it didn't work out.) All of that to say he left the boys and I out sitting in the car FOREVER. He called once and told me our room wasn't ready yet but we could go down to the water park-but then he quickly had to go. He didn't explain that he wasn't coming to go with us any time soon. Anyway after he finally came back and I got over wanting to string him up for leaving us hanging (and he got over being annoyed that I was annoyed) it was game on and we had a great time.

Pretty sure my little TanTan earned that shiner during the battles that ensued all over the car seats while we where waiting for dad. And for being my little water dog, he sure was timid this time.

Until he found the hoop! Of course! But it was ALL he wanted to do...and Isaac's tougher than me but dang, I got tired of lifting him up. Over and Over and Over again. Temper Tanner threw a major fit when we made him leave. Shocker.

 

The boys also had a great time racing each other on the play station and playing Foosball in the lobby. It was a fun little quick trip to kick off spring break. 

When we got home we filled out march madness brackets. Pres Vorkink invited us to participate in the Kirksville group. Cann Man is super pumped to be in first place right now. He picked Marshal, Buffalo, and Loyola Chicago. Lucky little twerp. (But he picked Mizzou to win it though because their mascot was a tiger so... probably enjoy your first place now Cann) Hooky Booky (Colt) isn't too far behind.

We went on a little "Hike" with the Lingwalls (it was totally more playground time than hiking but we were happy to be outside) and my boys were super excited Teagan could come too. They love Teag! Even Tanner gets excited and calls him "Tee!"
Below we have Colt showing off his Lego spelling skills. Cannon is better at following the instructions and building what they say, but Colt likes the freedom of building whatever he wants his way with the Legos. Maybe its personalities, maybe its age, maybe its both. Tanner like the legos too-he loves to bit the little guys heads off and tell you when they are wearing a "hat!" Whatever works for him right? Then the next picture down...I'm pretty sure that's brother adoration...or something.

Isaac wanted to go on another hike and let the dog run but Cannon was set on a trip to the baseball field so he won. We're a little rusty, Tanner won't set the bat or ball down long enough to swing it and Colt's swing looks a little too much like he's chopping wood (come on mom) but he got a little better and we had a great time. 

 

Besides not setting the balls down this little guy also spotted the hoop at the adjacent park. If almost 2 is telling at all...basketball is his favorite! And Colt was just pretty darn cute in his Ison Cubs gear. I love it.

Oh did I mention it was Cubs vs Card...of course.
Today it was raining and freezing so we went to the church and played a little wiffle ball. Tann puked on the way??? I don't know what got into him but of course he wanted to stay and play so we did for a few minutes. He seemed fine but then after naps he was at it again. Poor little guy I'm not sure what he's got but I hope it goes away QUICK!
I dunno what else.

Oh wait, one more quick story I just got a good laugh out of when I was telling Isaac the story. We made cinnamon rolls-the kind you buy in a tube- Colt LOVES them. As he's licking his lips in anticipation while I put the frosting on I say "I'm going to teach you how to make real cinnamon rolls one of these days bud." To which he replies "I already know-you pop'm open and put them on the pan" duh! 😂When you have a mom (his grama my mom) that makes cinnamon rolls as that are as delicious as my moms...this is a total mom fail! Oh well...the tube kind are really easy. 😏 enjoy buddy! 

Ok-I guess that's good enough for tonight.

Stopped. Dead in our tracks!

You know that hymn that says "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord" how bout we'll stay where you want us to stay???!
Here we are! 

There's such a long back story but I might as well start with the week. Saturday we started out with cleaning the church then headed to Home Depot day-it's been a while (Colt gets so bummed every time we miss it) where we made periscopes! Pretty cool right?

The like that the above pic shows Isaac trying to take it apart. I messed it up because lets be real, I  always just show up and take pictures, I didn't read the instructions, but he was on the phone so I tried to help. I should really stick to pictures. Because look how dang cute these two are of Grandma and Tanner!!

It was a fun project for the boys. After Isaac fixed the one I messed up he started picking up the random pieces of other ones that had been messed up (I'm not the only who can't ~or rather doesn't~ read instructions) But we ended up with two extra periscopes that Cannon was super excited to give his friends.  The last pictures isn't great but I liked that you can see the boys all painting and dad and Grandpa visiting in the background.

Later that day, Cannon went to the birthday party of his best friend in his class at school this year--it was highly anticipated and he had a BLAST. While Cannon went there Colt wanted to ride the motorcycle. Short lived. One little harmless tip over and game over! He doesn't have as much room to turn around here as he does in Huntington so now he says "I only like to ride motorcycles in Utah." I didn't even make it there from dropping Canon off before it was game over-way over-and a melt down to go with it. Oh brother. But with that nixed Isaac, Grandma, Tanner and the dog got to go on another little hike so there's your silver lining.
And then it was Sunday! Finally-not that I want to rush him into anything but we've been sitting on a secret long time! But the Stake Presidency was there and our Bishopric was reorganized, Isaac is the new Bishop! We didn't tell the boys so after Isaac stood up and was sustained as he walked to the stand Cannon said "Dad's the new bishop?!?!" I nodded and he said "That means we can give him our tithing!!" It was pretty cute. Tann started in on the "Dad! Dad! Dad!" Thing and we spent a fair amount of time out in the foyer--especially when it was Isaac's turn to share his testimony. Colt played quietly and nicely right next to Grandma...so on that Sunday--he wins--and his reward: I forgive him for telling me he wanted a new mom later in the week. Ha. Anyway I guess we'll be figuring out the new normal. I heard tons and TONS and TONS of "I knew it" from our ward member friends. Hmm well lucky them. The other question I got a LOT of was "Does this mean you'll be released?" Yes. 
So I feel like there's a whole other story though--A timeline of significant events--maybe it should be a whole other post I don't know. (Its long, REALLY LONG if you want skip it just scroll to the next picture)

I wrote somethings down so this isn't all just from memory but here it goes: Its a pretty cool process that truthfully I wasn't aware of (Pres Church shared it with the congregation Sunday so I feel fine about saying it here) So what happens is the Stake Presidency ponders prays and considers who the new bishop should be then sends their recommendation to the First Presidency, who then approves the recommendation. So its pretty wild to think that the First Presidency--only days after being organized-- (I think the First Presidency was reorganized Jan 14th and Isaac's letter was dated the 18th) was thinking about Isaac-specifically-by name!
So I guess here is as good as anywhere to put in the back story. Last summer...or maybe spring "motivated by outdoor recreation" his words not mine, Isaac started looking for jobs further west. (I was in, but my motivation is definitely living closer to family.) Also sometime last spring or summer Bishop Sorhus and President Church came by our house one evening, but that was like almost A YEAR ago-so I thought we were clear. Anyway he'd been in touch with some schools that had openings which we were open and up front with them about. Oh man I just remembered this part President Church asked us why we thought he and Bishop would have come by, we sat awkwardly in silence shrugged and looked around for a good minute or two. Of course the WHOLE time time from when we found out they were coming we wanted to know WHY they were here! I finally shrugged and said "Maybe an opportunity to serve?" To which President Church said "No, no callings" (I felt so stupid) but then before he left he said "I think the Lord just wanted you to know he's glad you're here." Or something like that. We were like ok cool, we're grateful to be here too, but didn't feel like that locked us in at all. Anyway back to job hunting the chance to visit with schools actually motivated our trip to San Diego last summer as there was a big accounting conference there. Nothing really happened with those two school so he just kept plugging away--finished up his CPA exam and so on. In December he heard back from a school in Denver (a job he'd applied for in the summer if not before but its goofy because they post their jobs but then they don't really move forward until they secure funding--which is a good thing--just that I would have thought that would happen before they posted their jobs) anyway after hearing back from them a job came open at SUU!! Perfect right??? So he applied and was in contact with them and told them he had a campus visit with the Denver school in January. So if they were interested things would need to move quickly. So here on the blog I write some thing like "Isaac was out of town for meetings for work" but really he was interviewing for NEW jobs! So in January-it was perfect because he was able to line up campus visits for before the semester here even started, and piggy backed both trips-ditched his return flight out of Denver to head for SUU. Things went well! He felt good about both schools. We were talking in terms of--if we get an offer from Denver would we pass on it hoping for SUU or just try and buy a little time--that type of thing. I remember thinking we'd find out by the end of January and then my first counselor in the primary presidency would find out where they matched Feb 5th so we'd meet after that and I'd confess that we were leaving. Ha ha ha. Back to the story,  my mom was here--when she came for Colt's surgery and I remember on a Friday we found out (one school both schools? I don't know?? We're checking references-a good thing that happens after the campus visit, I would thought before but shows you how much I know. My impression is it typically is the last thing before an offer is extended. But again, I don't know much!)

That night Isaac was asleep when he got a phone call (asleep but it was probably like 8:30--not late!) I asked him who it was, Pres Church our stake president. He asked if we were planning to go to the temple anytime soon. We had planned on going THAT day as we had my mom there to babysit but then when we found out the temple was only open in the evening we didn't really want to be late-and in the day she would have only had 2 of our 3 kids and one naps and so on, so bottom line-we didn't go. But we were planning to go to Nauvoo the next weekend so it wasn't a big deal we just decided we'd go then instead, but in the phone call with half asleep Isaac, President Church made an appointment to come over the next Tuesday evening (the day we dropped my mom off at the airport--some details I do remember😏). Monday Isaac called him back to let him know what was going on job-wise. Then he wasn't coming. But one of the nights Isaac woke me up at 3:00 in the morning...maybe 4--oh it was Sunday morning cuz I stayed up and got dinner in the crock pot for dinner that day, so it was before he called him back Monday, but he woke me up and said he thought it was going to be a call to be a counselor in our new bishopric (it was a well known fact that a change was forthcoming as our bishop had served for 6 years) so he convinced himself that's why President Church had called and that brought him a little peace-and it was like our friends had invited us over for dinner but its who he had thought the Bishop would be and Isaac thought oh this is it-he's invited his counselors over...I think the poor guys head was just spinning. Anyway so that happened before the Monday this is what's going on in the job world call.  Wednesday morning Isaac asked randomly asked me if I thought he should call and have them pull his name from the SUU job...I was surprised I said "no" why would we bail on the job we wanted and had fasted and prayed for?  I asked why-he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and said when he was reading scriptures he'd read the scripture that said "Seek not to cancel the Lord but to take counsel from his hand." (I feel like him sharing that with me was HUGE, every time I walked by the picture of the Savior in the hallway I would just kind of look at him and say/think "I just want to do whats right" but we still had to figure "what's right" out) Anyway the next day our ward had a temple cleaning assignment and Isaac was going to so he called President Church and said he would be over there in Nauvoo so President Church asked him to stop by when he was done. Sweet Bro Gilchrist who Isaac rode over with (who used to be the stake president...I laugh...he had to know EXACTLY what was going on) he sat in  his truck and listened to the BYU basketball game while President Church interviewed Isaac and gave him a copy of the letter from the First Presidency. It was LATE, when Isaac got home, he crawled into bed and mumbled something about the letter, I was confused "What?" He said "Its what we kinda thought." I asked "A counselor to Bro so and so?" Cuz that was the last I'd heard about what we thought. He said "No, Bishop" I was like "Oh, wow" and went back to sleep. The next morning I read the letter. OH WOW. It was crazy, it was addressed to president Church of course but it was ABOUT ISAAC. It was crazy powerful to read. President Church, aware of the job situation, didn't put any pressure on him to accept, he assured him it was fine either way. Friday (we found out later) the Denver school was supposed to call, but they guy didn't get around to it. Saturday we went back to Nauvoo for the Exodus Reenactment which we planned to attend because we figured it would be our last chance because we were going to be moving. It was good that along with the cool experience of honoring the saints and their sacrifices we both also got to go to the temple. That night we were standing in the kitchen he had been talking to his dad and he kind of shrugged and said mumbled something about accept it, which opened the door for me and I told him I felt strongly that the right thing to do was accept it. He did have a call, and while we expected and anticipated them, we really didn't have any other job offers. After I shared my opinion he said simply "Ok I'll fast about that." I was like whoa whoa whoa no, my opinion matters but YOU have to decide it you can't do it just because I said I felt that way. And he said "I was going to anyway" So we had plenty to fast about the next day. I was a little bit of a mess, and a total tender mercy was running smack into Pres Vorkink in the hall after church, my heart about beat out of my chest and I said "Do you have a minute? Can I talk to you?" (My only mistake was not sending my family home and hitching a ride later because it wasn't a minute-and they had to wait for me.) I sat down with President Vorkink and said "I feel like I'm going to explode and there's not really anyone I can talk to." He, keeping confidences, said "Oh about what?" I was like Uhhhh Oh crud I really don't get to talk to ANYONE (except Isaac) about this? But I said "Oh, well, umm... Isaac met with President Church last Thursday..." And then he knew what I was talking about and we were able to visit and it was fine. But it was REALLY good to visit with him. It calmed my troubled heart. Monday Isaac called Pres Church and accepted.

So that is that, here we are, and I'd say if you've going to be stopped, dead in your tracks, I think being stopped by Heavenly Father really is ideal. I'm sure he has lots to teach us. And ya know...if the stake presidency felt good about it, and the First Presidency felt good about it...I think we can feel good about it and if we do our part, things will work out.

Then reality started setting in Ahhhh

And the housing dilemma...

We had a great time with Isaac's parents in town though, I loved that I got a picture of Grandpa and Tanner reading Go Dog Go together. They had to take off Tuesday morning so it was a quick trip but super neat that they could come and be here. They got out of town just before it got all yucky cold again.

Then we have my little fort builders and treat eaters. I love them.

And somebody found dad's glasses.
So after the novel I don't have much to say. Isaac had church stuff Wednesday, I got to go to the RS birthday party Thurs. And today we had Adalyn. Bout it.
Oh wait the other thing Cannon said was "6 years? We're going to live here when I'm 12???" Well buddy...maybe so-- maybe only 11 I don't know and I'm not dumb enough at this point to think we're in charge. We'll do our best-and trust in the Lord!
Today started spring break!! *spring nuthin* But that should mean I have something fun to post next week.
Oh and Cannon's teacher sent me this with a captions that said "Student of the week!" When I asked Cann about it he said "No mom, I just got a tiger trophy." Ok whatever Congrats either way buddy. 

Grandma and Grandpa Ison are here!!

I love to blog, but it totally sucks when I crawl into bed on Friday night and realize I forgot all about it. Translation-don't expect much this week! 

It's been a heck of a week! If I die and you get to read my journal (that's not this blog) you will have all the details, but for here and now "a heck of a week" will have to do! Of course we always have lots to be thankful for though-and we are! 

Last Saturday we had the Pettit kids, it was nice for the kids to have someone to play with since we'd just been the sick house for so long! Sunday I had to speak in church. Except for "closing remarks" of the Primary program it was the first time since Mississippi. I came so close to avoiding it😉 actually I told them at the start of my talk that the last time I spoke in church was in Mississippi and that week we loaded up and moved here...so if we were no shows this next week maybe we moved but this time we would for sure be going for warmer weather. Ha! 

But truthfully we have had the best weather we've had in MONTHS this week!!! 50's even up into the 60's the wind stinks but we've actually seen the sun! Finally! (Maybe it's a tender mercy cuz the Big Guy didn't want us to move. Hmm, well we whatever we'll take the better weather!) We played in the front yard, went for a bike ride, and even made it out to the park one day!!

Thursday Isaacs parents got here-long drive for them for a pretty quick trip but we're glad they came. Today is Grandma Ison's birthday-she spoils us when she's here, so that's backwards, but we did celebrate by going on a hike! (Her original birthday plans included hiking in St George but we substituted with a Kirksville MO hike-she loves hiking with her kids/grandkids so I think it was still a win 😊) 

The pics:

I guess that's it!