If This Sounds Like a Christmas Letter....

It's because it is! LOL! Seeing how it's been 6 months since my last post, this will be the big catch up post and your yearly Christmas letter... I am sorry I have been slacking! LOL!

Well, we left off in June with life having taken several unexpected turns. As we were unsure about our immediate future and employment opportunities we felt it was in Tekara's best interest to be in one high school for her last 3 years and that ment she needed to be in the care of another sister who was a little more stable for the next three years... so in July she moved in with Gailyn and Nick and it seams to be working out well.

The last 6 months is the first time Tim, Corbin, and I have been able to be a single family unit with just each other- no other extended family members needing emotional and physical support- since we have been married.... it has come with some adjustments, but has certainly been welcome and we are now looking forward to welcoming another child into our home hopefully this next year.

Corbin has been growing like crazy and is nearly ready to celebrate his 4th Birthday. The kid is still sitting in the 90th percentile for height and 50th for weight. He LOVES to play with the neighbor children and names each one in his nightly prayers for the Lord to bless.... it's so cute!
He was thrilled to be Mario for Halloween and still wants to put his costume on and walks around saying "I'm Mario! Mamma Mia!". He's really taken to imaginary play finally and so some of his Christmas Gifts will help in that area. He's also finally decided singing is fun, so each night before bed we sing with him- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a favorite as well as some children's primary songs we have been teaching him.... we are introducing one new song each month. It's so cute to hear him walking around the house singing the songs.

I have been working from morning until night cutting vinyl for my shop. This holiday season has really taken me for a loop as sales started climbing in Ocotober and I have just been trying to catch my breath since then! Yesterday I just passed 1,000 sales since things really got going in April. Running the business has been occupying most of my time.

Here is the BIG NEWS , if you haven't heard already- Tim was offered a fabulous internship with Insitu in White Salmon, Wa/ Hood River, OR area. He starts January 4th, so we are currently packing and will be moving to White Salmon Dec 20th. Well, really, we are dropping everything off in storage there, going to Spokane/CDA for Christmas, and then we'll go back Jan 1st or 2nd and move everything in to the house that the company has provided for us. The internship is 4 months with likely permenent employment following. We feel really good about this and anticipate being there for at least 4/5 years. The company is young and rapidly growing. They manufacture unmanned aircraft/drones for government agencies. Last year they were aquired by Boeing and are now a subsidiary of Boeing. We are just thrilled to be in a warmer, greener climate and excited about the long term possibilities!

So, that's our crazy life in a nut shell!

We have been so blessed since being here and have had so many opporunities for learning and growth as well as many personal blessings. God has truely watched over us and I know my Mom has certainly had a hand some of our blessings as well. I miss her so much and still think of her often.

We have also felt so much love from family and friends going through our trials this year and we are so greatful for them in our lives. We look forward to seeing many of you over the holidays!

We will post pictures of Christmas and our new home as soon as we get there!

We love you all! Merry Christmas and have a Wonderful New Year!

Carisa, Tim, and Corbin

Thank you Everyone & Life updates

I just wanted to thank everyone for your love, support, and prayers during the last few weeks for my family. I can't believe it's been nearly a month since my mom crossed over the veil. I still think about her everyday. After the work and craziness of making her final arrangements and holding her Memorial Service it has been nice to be home.... even if I have been busy.

My little shop has been exploding since getting back from Spokane. Sometimes I wonder if my mom has a hand in it. I went from 2 sales a day to 4 sales on slow days and this last Wednesday I had orders for over 35 decals (one was a group order of 14 for LDS youth in Los Vegas). Its been crazy!

Corbin has been going to Preschool on BYU-I Campus since the end of April and LOVES it. Its only two days a week, but he really enjoys it. He towers above all the other kids though- It's almost comical! There is a room that parents can go into and observe the kids (it has a two-way mirror). Tim was there watching the other day between classes and saw Corbin make moves on another little girl who's mother happened to be sitting in the observation room too! LOL! She got pictures with a camera... I hope we can get copies! LOL!

Tekara is out of school and is spending her time watching movies into the wee hours of the morning and then rising at 1 pm in the afternoon for breakfast! LOL! It was decided that due to Tim and I's transient nature over the next year or two, that it would be better for Tekara to be in a more stable environment for her last 3 years of high school...so in August she is going to be moving in with Gailyn and Nick so she can go to Pullman H.S. and then hopefully Running Start at WSU.

Tim's been applying for interships all over the US..... he's had interviews in Denver and has some upcoming interviews... but no offers yet. We have financial aid lined up for the Fall if nothing comes through... that way he can take a few more classes and get an additional emphasis in his degree. Although he loathes the idea of another semester of college- I don't know what else we could do.

Cobin's Golf and Baseball obcession has moved to a new level. That's all the kids wants to do when we go out to play and now he looks for it to watch on TV! We got him some real Jr. Golf clubs and Tim's taken him out a few times to the Golf course--- he LOVES it and never wants to come home! All I have to say is this better be the beginnings of the next Tiger Woods or we'll be in the poor house coping with these obcessions of his! LOL!

Corbin is also becoming very independent and wanting to do all the dressing himself... This was taken a couple of days ago... he put his shirt on inside out and backwards and his shoes were on the wrong feet! I just had to chuckle... he wouldn't let me help or advice him in anyway! LOL!

The Passing of My Dear Mother

Well, It's been a very long week.... and still not over. My mother passed away unexpectedly on Sunday due to complications related to her Multiple Sclerosis and the family is gathering in Spokane for her Services that will be held on Saturday. She wanted so despirately to go Home and recieve relief from her physical prison her body had become. Now she is free.

I have been in charge of coordinating all of her services. There are ups and downs emotionally each day. Sunday and Monday were hard, Tuesday was okay, and then yesterday I had to go up to the Adult Family Home where she was and pick up her temple clothing for her dressing. That was really hard. Today has been okay as I am wrapping up details for Saturday. Tomorrow evening we will dress her. That will be difficult and bitter sweet.

A Vitual Memorial book as been created for friends and family to leave thoughts and memories of my mother- here is the address:

A Virtual Memorial http://www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com/obit-service-schedule.jsp?site=0417&id=45281
www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com


Her Obituary was published today as well:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/obits/

Everyone's thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. I am finding that as I get older, life really is short and wasting away a day in frivolous pursuits is a true tragedy. I will really miss my dearest mother.

Homeward Bound!!!

Hi Ya all! We are packing up in the morning and heading back to Spokane/CDA for Easter Weekend and a week of fun with friends and family. It will be nice to be somewhere where there is entertainment after 10 pm (That's when Iceberg shuts down....all those poor prego women who have no place to feed their wierd late night cravings...I feel so bad for them!).

So, if you're around up there- we'd sure love to hang out with you! Our few friends down here are all moving on us so we have to get our social needs filled while up there!

Call us 208-227-4910 and we'll hang out!

PS- Tim is golf-hungry so if you'd like to go golfing- definately call

So Cute!! Love these Stick Figure Families!

So, I am offering this custom Stick Figure Families and they are soooo cute! There are 100's of combinations and you choose them to fit your family!

All you do is choose a face, body, and accessories to match! Use them on cars, windows, signboards, chore carts, and more!

PRICING: All stick people must be over 2 1/2" in height and I can cut them up to 6" tall for the following prices:
Each adult/Teen= $2.50

Each child= $2.00

Babies/pets= $1.50

Accessories= .50 each

Additonal Text ( names, family name, ect..)= .35 a linear inc

Aren't they adorable?!! I just love them!

Yes, Yes, Long TIme-No Post

After I wrote that lovely post about tired of being sick, I was able to enjoy about a week and a half of healthy living, then a lady from the ward came to visit and brought us a lovely cold.... So, after 2 weeks of dealing with that, I am happy to report everyone has been healthy for the last week and a half.. . YEA!!

One of the other campus businesses this semester is a group called "Some Guys Flea Market' and Tim and I have had a booth there for the last several weekends. Our first shot we profited about $100 and every weekend we've done it, our sales have increased. This last weekend we sold about $200 in profit. This weekend will be the last one and so hopefully we'll bring in maybe even more. These flea markets have been keeping me busy with custom vinyl orders during the week as well. We are also working with a YW group who need to raise money for Girl's Camp, and we have the potential to profit over $900 with them... So I am working on designs that they can sell to fellow HS students to put on their cars or walls at home. We've also had people coming to us at the flea market with orders in hand looking for us.... so that's good...our name is getting out there.

After last Saturday's Flea Market we decided to take the fam out to BIG JUDD's- oh yea!- I haven't been there in about 10 yrs! Tekara wouldn't let us take her picture....

Now that I am healthy again I am starting my workout regimen again. I am down 21 lbs so far and hope to add another 15 lbs to that before we go home to Spokane/CDA for Easter. At that pace, we should be ready to start working on baby #2 sometime in May/June.

On another note, I am still receiving untold and certainly unexpected blessing from moving down here. Heavenly Father has been so good to us and to me. He certainly works in mysterious ways! I sometimes feel undeserving of these blessings. I am so grateful!

I can't wait until it is really Spring here- doesn't this make you just want to sit under it and relax!

Have You Ever....

Thanks cousin Kim for this- I thought it was fun so I am going to Play along! Copy and paste and highlight the things you've done! Then when your finished add something you've done that wasn't on the list!

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland or Disney World 8.Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18.Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21.Had a pillow fight 22.hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a 1/2 Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31.hit a home run. 32.been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Visited Africa 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44.Sung karaoke 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67.Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone. 78.Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82.Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee 100. Made amends with someone who offended you 101. Flew in a small Cessna plane with just you and the pilot 102. Ran out of gas 103. Eaten fried okra 104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea 105. Peed in a swimming pool 106. Stayed in a beach house 107. Hosted an exchange student 108. Been a Secret Santa to a family 109. Worked on a political campaign 110. Coached a sports team 111. Baked bread from scratch 112. Driven from coast to coast 113. Paid off all of your debt 114. Roast marshmallows over a campfire.115 Cut up a credit card 116. Drove a car through a flood 117. Been on t.v 118. Had braces 119. Been to the twin towers in NY. 120. Have played in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans 121. Been to ground zero 122. Bite my fingernails 123. Likes to scrapbook 124. Hates pie 125.Visited Mexico 126. Seen a Tornado in person 127. Have ever been lost at sea! 128. kisses a frog. 129. Gave birth to twins. 130. Received 2 moving violation tickets in 1 day. 131.Been Life Flighted. 132. swore 133. stranded in a motel for Christmas. 134. Been in 2 countries at once! 135. Adopted a pet from Humane Society 136. Did a triathlon 137. Never received a speeding ticket 138. Live with one kidney 139. Slept on the floor of a train station in Poland 140. eaten rocky mountain oysters 141. Volunteered at an orphanage in Chile 142. Stayed in a Bed and Breakfast 143. Stayed in a Hostel