Long over due update.....

I have some catching up to do from the last few months! It has been very interesting for us and it's not over yet. So for now until I relocate the memory stick with all the more recent photos I will just give a quick update on the Havels.

After returning to New Jersey we had some big decisions to make. Zach's seperation date was fast approaching and we just weren't sure staying active duty was what we needed to do. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed traveling the world and all the opportunities that we had, but after a while moving gets old and being away from family for years at a time does too. The boys were also showing signs that the moves were taking a toll. So after fasting, praying and really searching deep for what we needed to do we moved to Cheyenne! Yes it was a huge leap of faith becuase we came without jobs, but we really felt that if we took that leap and did what we knew was right then we would be taken care of. At least we weren't homeless thanks to my parents taking us in.

Zach enlisted in the Wyoming Air National Guard part time the day after we arrived in Cheyenne so that gave us some income. He then was able to do his two weeks up front and then the chief was able to get Zach hired on to fill the full time slot on a temporary basis. Basically all that means is he is working for a little less money and benefits right now, but it's just until the full time job is fully posted and he can apply for it. The guard has a much more laid back timeframe on things, but we know with patience things will work out. He is so much happier than he has been in years! He does the same thing he did active duty, but now he feels more invested into what he is doing.

I started applying for jobs right away.....well after getting the kids immediately enrolled in school! I had several job interviews and offers, but ultimately I held out for a special ed para job at the elementary school Tyler and Ryan attend. Another lesson in patience as I had to wait a full week later than I was told and contact my references to contact the principal in order to get the job. I am absolutely loving it though! Most of my day is spent with two 2nd grade boys. They are such good kids, they just need extra help. It can be very exhausting, but it's worth it.

The boys started school right away. Tyler and Ryan attend one school, but Kindergarten was full so I opted to have Cody go to another school just a few minutes away. My main goal was to put him with better education services and that is exactly what he is getting! I love his teacher and he has great therapists working with him. Ryan's teacher is great too. He is off his IEP! I know this move was hard, but he is showing great improvement at school and doing sooo much better! Tyler is at the top of his class in most subjects so he is doing well. He has a rough group of kids to deal with, but he is a good kid and seems to be doing okay. Everyone that has worked with him comments on how good a kid he is. I am nervous for him to start Junior high next year, but that's life!

And the big news.........we are set to be first time home owners December 10th! We found a nice house that will fit what we need right now. We are missing Lucy so it will be nice to have her back with us (Zach's mom was nice enough to keep her for us) in our 1st home! So that is pretty much ouor Christmas present this year. We want to the kids to pick out paint for their rooms and such so they can make it their own.

So that is our crazy few months in a nut shell. I will work on our blog as I get time to update photos and such.

"Can we keep it for dinner?"

Yes that is right.......the boys wanted to take the catch home and eat it! I told them up front I don't do gutting and stuff so if they wanted it they would have to do it. They had a rough time when it was time to cut the head off. After it was all said and done Ryan says "Well that wasn't so bad." For you maybe! We had it for dinner although I can't say I am a fan of bass. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their fish and even learned how to gut and clean one.........if the need ever rises again!

Fishing Fun

Zach decided it was time for another day of fishing. He was dissapointed when I suggested he take the older two while I did ABA therapy with Cody then we would catch up. Quality bonding time! The day was almost a complete dissapointment since they were only catching small blue gill. Then just as Tyler was about to give up his bobber went under the water and before we knew it something big was pulling on the pole! He fought hard and finally reeled in the catch of the day! We didn't have anything to weigh it, but it was a 19 inch long large mouth bass.

The fruits of labor!

We took on a small garden plot this year at the church. Zach has been wanting a garden for years, but it's never been possible. So he was very excited to get this little plot and of course planted watermelons! Before we went to Cheyenne we had itty bitty little ones and were hoping they would hang on and be waiting for us when we got back. Well we had a nice big one and unforuntaely someone else took it before we did. So this is the next biggest one we had! It was soooo yummy. We have one more still growing and so we are hoping it gets as big as the first and no one takes it this time!

We also planted peas, tomatoes, herbs and peppers. The tomato plants didn't fare so well while we were gone, but they are coming back sort of. I have two banana peppers so those are coming back and the green peppers are not doing so bad either. We had quite a lot of peas so it is nice to have such good luck our first try!

Check out these handsome boys!

I think I have covered most of our trip to Cheyenne. We seemed to do so much in that three week trip that I may have missed things. No wonder i needed a vacation from the vacation! We had a few days with Zach when we got home so decided to get school shopping in before life got even more chaotic. We got some killer deals and found these snazzy new clothes. Okay Tyler is not in his becuase they need altered so I will take another one after that is done. I think they look pretty sharp!

Frontier Days Parade

 

We ended our time in Cheyenne with the Frontier Days parade. Zach had gone to the KISS concert the night before so it was a rough morning trying to get up and going! We ended up sitting right in front of the capital where the parade staging area was. I am not sure why we have about 150 pictures of the parade, but I narrowed it down for everyone to get a glimpse of!

Fort Laramie

 

We wanted to do something with the pioneers and so we took off with Zach's side of the family to Fort Laramie, Wy. there are still wagon ruts so we stopped to hike to them. It was here that I was afraid Tyler had broken his arm. He took a pretty nasty tumble on the uneven rocks, but a few days later he was good to go. I have since learned that his clumsiness is somewhat contributed to age, but he can't see. He has had glasses for reading since 2nd grade, but this time the eye doctor said he is not sure how Tyler has managed so long with such bad vision!

So anyway we spent the day wandering the fort and even stopped in the saloon for some root beer, birch beer, sasperella and cream sodas. Then later we found the much cheaper vending machines and FREE water fountains! Hey it was all in fun so worth the money!