My thoughts for the day....

So I have been having a really hard time taking in the fact that we may be moving to Wyoming. I sat down and wrote a list of why it is better there and why Idaho Falls would be better. I realized that all the things that are the most important to me are:

1. Having my family together-this includes family dinner, family activities, and my own selfishness of having my husband to lay next to each night.

2. Education-Wyoming has amazing schools, and as far as my education is concerned, I can continue that in Wyoming for my last semester. Then, if I decided to go on and get my masters I can still do that as well.

3. Involving my children in things-Idaho Falls does have a lot more to offer in this area however, what good is it to my children if they do not have both of their parents there rooting them on in whatever they choose to do?

4. Safe community-It may just be because of where I work, but Idaho Falls continues to grow and the crime percentages continue to increase. I am a small town girl to an extent and I do feel that Big Piney is a safer option.

So as I looked at my top 4 reasons, Wyoming came in first..then I started to list my other pros and cons...

5. Distance-Wyoming is an hour further from our families and I hate the thought of that.

6. Employment-Brad has a great job, and I am pretty sure that he would not find anything close in Idaho Falls. Sadly, I love my job and those that I work with. I also have the opprotunity for a Probation Officer position here in the next year or so, so to leave that all behind really stinks.

7. Availability-Idaho Falls has everything that we need and want right there. In Wyoming we would have to travel at least an hour to anything remotely larger. I guess when we lived in Malad, we were use to this so we can make it again I am sure LOL!

8. Expenses-Rent and homes are much cheaper in Idaho Falls as well as groceries and other living expenses.

9-Friends-we have made some really great friends in Idaho Falls. I hate the thought of having to start over..

As I continued on with my list, I realized that the other reasons I was listing, were my own selfish reasons...they really did not include what was best for my children and my husband they just included me...This decision is so hard and terrifying. I am ready for the challenge and I think that once we all get back together, I will know that it is the right thing..right now it is just the unknown that is throwing me for a loop, and the fact that I am comfortable in Idaho Falls. Change is scary no matter what age you are, but if we do not take a chance to learn and grown, what have we accomplished?

Update on Tucker

I took Tucker to the eye Dr. on Wednesday and it turns out that he needs glasses. He has an astigmatizm which can cause headaches. The labs came back on Thursday normal for a child his age, so I am hoping that the glasses will fix his issue. I had someone tell me they thought he was acting like he was having migraines..not sure, we will just have to see. I still think that what the Dr. said may be true, that Tucker is just having a hard time coping with the separation in our family..it made me realize that now more than ever, we need to get our family back under one roof. Tucker is pretty excited to get his glasses, I think that I was more traumatized than he was LOL! He picked out some really cute black ones with square frames. I will have to post pictures once we get them on Wednesday.

Tucker

Tucker has been really strange lately and I can see now more than ever that it is SO IMPORTANT for us to all be back in the same house. Tucker is having anxiety attacks I think...or he does not know how to cope with the feelings that he has concerning his dad being gone so much. I took him to the Dr. today and he drew some blood. Tucker was such a trooper. He saw the needle and started to tear up a little and he said, "Mom cant we go to another Dr.?" He did really well...once he was all done he said, "Well that didnt really even hurt." I took him to walmart and bought him a toy! I am so worried about him!! He is my little man, my whole world!!! I just hope that it is anxiety like the Dr. said....we will know Thursday as far as labs go.

So confused.....

Well Brad and I have come to quite a fork in our road.....he has a really great job and he is making good money. I am making average mula for now...so I applied for a job in Wyoming making $15.00...but it is salary..they are giving me the opprotunity for a phone interview so it could potentionally be a great thing. The complete DOWNER was when I called up and talked to a few daycares! Well it goes a little something like this...$1320-$1360 for my three kids and that is with Tucker being there only after school! I about barfed! So that $1.67 more an hour just flew out the window. Then rent would be about $800.00 a month for a TRAILER in a trailer park, plus utilities and internet and t.v. So we are looking at $1400 a month for rent there. Then my boss and I were talking and I was informed that one of the probation officers is planning on moving as soon as she gets a job where her fiance is...he also told me that I would be the next in line for that position if I were to stay around and apply. And that would increase my paycheck $400.00 a month. We pay $200.00 a month for Brad to live there in rent...at least $150.00 a week for him money for gas and food...and then we spend another $150.00 a month in groceries for him. That is $800.00 in extra spendings that we could save living together again. But he has a really great job, and it has benefits which is something that he will not be able to get somewhere else considering he does not have his high school diploma. So now what? I just do not know what to do..do I see us in Wyoming long term..No! We love it here and what a pain in the butt to have to bring him back here to find a job. It stinks because he makes such good money over there, but having him home all the time would be worth the sacrafice...

Car wash!!!

Brad loves clean vehicles! Tucker takes just right after him. They went out and washed both the vehicles. Brad is very particular and freaks if he misses a spot lol!!!

It was fun to see how they bond together and make work play! They had a water fight and even sprayed me quite a few times LOL.

Yellowstone 2011

This year in Yellowstone the rest of the family could not make it so Brad and I took our little family up and invited our friends Matt and Jenn. They have Matt's boys Cade and Mason for the summer so it was fun...5 kids in one car for hours going through the park...NEVER AGAIN, but it was fun. We love heading out to Island Park and chillin at the cabin. We stayed at the old cabin this year but it was still relaxing and just what the Dr. ordered.
Brad and I decided that we are soooo making sure that the usual Winder Clan goes next year LOL!



First family picture LOL! We are so cute! Brad and his boys are so amazing. I love taking pictures of them.


Cade, Mason, and Tucker...Bryken is MIA...


Brad was IN LOVE!

Our sweet little Remi. She was a good trooper. She hates her car seat so it was an exhausting vacation for her! But she did well all things considered.

This little black bear was over by the Petrified Tree. Sooo cute!

Tucker is such a little poser. I love that kid so much!!!

Even in the Ford, 4 boys was tight in the back. They all fought over who had to sit by the 2 year old. So they took turns. Crazy that a 2 year old scares a 8 year old, 5 year old, and a 6 year old. What can ya expect? He has to deal with Tucker Ray all day!

The water was flowing like crazy!

This hot pot was so pretty that day!!!

Jenn and I..It was fun to have her up!

Brad and the boys again...LOVE THEM.

This year we spent the money and went into the bear and wolf exhibit. It was really neat. The bears were the same as I remembered but they have really expanded the wolf exhibit. In side the museum was really interesting as well.

Last family picture of the trip!

Old Pictures

These pictures were from this March 2011 for the boys' birthday. We did it in Malad and had the family up like usual. The kids LOVE the pinata.

Tucker played soccer Fall 2010 for the AYSO. He loved it and he is really good at it as well. Mom, Bri, Shayla, and Kelty came up to watch a game. It was really fun to have them up!

Kelty and Bryken playing in his room Fall 2010.

I love this picture of Bri and Kelty. This is outside of their home that they purchased last spring.

The babies love this vibrating foot massage penguins that mom and dad have. Look how little Bry was!!!

These pictures are from the 50th Wedding Aniversary Party for Grandma and Grandpa Nelson last March 2010. It was such a great t ime and so wonderful to see how love really is suppose to be!!!