Question

For some reason I can't get any "hard returns" in my blog. I can push enter a bazillion times between a paragraph, and it always publishes all run together. Does anyone know how to change this?

Ten Years?

To Do List Before my 10 Year Class Reunion this Summer: 1. Buy a darling sun dress with a big chunky necklace and strappy sandals that makes me look as though I have been studying fashion for the past 10 years - and that there is no possibility that I am stuck in 1997 wearing what was cool when I was a Senior. 2. Conduct my own research on best fake tanning products and practice non-streaking application tecnhiques. 3. Teach Kyler to play the violin and Halle to speak Latin - so as to look as though I am a very cultured mother who is raising brilliant children. 4. Read a self-help book entitled, "How to not feel the same insecurities 10 years later around the popular high school kids." (Seriously, I have come along ways and even consider myself quite confident...however a chance meeting with someone "cool" from high school at the grocery store and all bets are off.) 5. Memorize high school yearbook in order to avoid painful moments of silence or having to use phrases like, "How are YOU? I haven't seen YOU forever. Nice to see YOU."

Halle's Truck

Dan is one happy camper these days. He has been wishing for a truck everyday since I have known him - that is a true statement. He has been very patient in driving whatever car we have had at the time. He even made a major sacrifice in trading in his SUV to buy the family minivan. Dan has been searching for the perfect truck for quite some time now. Mind you, it has been very tricky meeting his criteria on our budget. Over Memorial Day weekend, he finally found what he was looking for. We bought this Ford truck in Rexburg and Dan has been smiling ever since. Ironically, I do not know who likes it more, Dan or Halle. Halle won't get out of it and is constantly looking for "Daddy's Duck." It has made our whole family smile.

An Inconvenient Tour

I believe I have admitted to being a big fan of Glenn Beck. The first time I heard him on the radio, I was ticked that he had taken over Dr. Laura's time slot. When I was told he was a Mormon, I scoffingly said, "Not a chance." However, something funny happened... I would occasionally turn him on and find myself agreeing with him. Pretty soon I didn't seem to mind him so much. And now a couple of years later, I have dedicated several posts to the Glenn Beck Program. So, you can imagine my excitement when my Mom called to see if Dan and I would like to go to Glenn's "An Inconvenient Tour" in Boise. On Saturday, my Mom, Dad, brother Zach, Dan and I drove to Boise for a day of entertainment. We loved the show and laughed very hard for 2 hours. He talked about all of the inconvenient things in life, i.e. getting your driver's license renewed, going to the doctor, flying with kids, going on dates, etc. We had a great time and are so glad that my family made the trek to laugh with us in Boise.

Memorial Day Weekend

I realize I am a week late on posting these pictures. We had such a wonderful Memorial Day weekend - we were so glad we got to spend it with our families.

Statuesque

What a day! We were so lucky to be there at 1:30 today when the angel Moroni was placed on the top of our temple. I asked Kyler why he thought Moroni went on the top of the temple, he answered, "Because he is faithful and truthful." I had to chuckle at his terminology and wondered how he came up with this. We can't wait until Spring of 2008 when the temple is complete. (I think I will get the picture of Ky and Hal blown up poster-size - I LOVE IT!- be looking for it on the cover of your next primary program bulletin).

Hilary, CEO

So I had a little extra time on my hands....(actually, that is not true, I have never felt as though I have had extra time on my hands). Nonetheless, I decided to try my hand at being a business woman. Dan is always coming up with ideas for businesses; I decided to go one step further, and actually start my own. I have recently opened my own agency working with adults with disabilities. The name of my agency is Western Connections.

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I began the process in October. I had to put together policies and procedures, get the appropriate insurance, prove I knew what was going on, and be approved by Medicaid. This process ended the beginning of February when I was issued my official Idaho Medicaid Provider Number.

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My first job upon graduating from BYU was as a Targeted Service Coordinator. I worked full-time until I had Ky, and then worked a little here and there from home. The last lady that I worked for was tremendously helpful in getting me up and running. She was happy to share forms, hints, ideas, and encourage me.

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I tell people that a Targeted Service Coordinator is like a visiting teacher. I have one face-to-face visit a month with each client and ask them how things are running. I help with whatever problems they may have, make sure they are being treated well, and link them to any new services that would be appropriate. I have to write an annual plan detailing the services they are receiving and fight their case for Medicaid so they can get all of the services they need.

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My goal is to have 10 clients of my own, and then hire other people to work for me. I figured that my kids could handle being left ten hours a month - it might even be good for them.

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Things have actually been going really well - even picked up faster than I thought they would. I now have 7 clients and already have an employee lined up for when my caseload is full.

The start up phase has been quite busy. I will be grateful when everyone's plans are written and things slow down a bit.

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Dan will be doing the Medicaid billing and keep track of all of the books. We will make a great team. Heather has been willing to watch my kids - for which I have been very grateful.

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So wish me luck. If you happen to live in my town, and need a TSC, give me a call because "at Western Connections, we connect you to happiness."

A Temple in our Midst

We are so lucky to live where there is a Temple being built. The new Temple is only 3 miles from our house. Dan drives by it everyday on his way to work. We have taken a few pictures in front of the temple as it has been being built. I thought they would be neat for my kids to have when they are grown up. We have only lived here for one year -and are amazed at the progress. When we first came, the temple site was only a mound of dirt - now look how far it has come!

In August of 2006, before the foundation was started.

In March of 2007 with concrete on the steel frame - and no steeple. (Note - March is not very long ago).

In May of 2007- The white walls went on very quickly and the base of the steeple was done in one week. It has been so much fun to watch!

Kyler is Four!

It is actually quite convenient to have the kids' birthdays so close together. I am already in party mode, I can get by with the same gallon of ice cream for each of their cakes, and it was easy to console Kyler when he was jealous of Halle getting presents - since he knew his day was not far away.

We loved that Kyler's birthday was on Saturday so that Daddy could be home all day. Here are some of the highlights of our day:

Have you ever seen so much Spiderman paraphernalia in your whole life? I was very lucky that the dollar store shelves were stocked with Spiderman. Where else can you get a poster, sunglasses, web shooting Pez dispenser, puzzle, and place mat for a dollar a piece.

Ky's only request for the day was to go to Burger King and get Happy Meals - since they came with a Spiderman toy. I decided it was a good excuse to do it - since I am too cheap to buy one any other day of the year. We ate our happy meals in the park with the Jones' family.

A game of croquet compliments of Aunt Heather.

Tree climbing at the park.

Four candles on a Spiderman cake - the perfect ending to a Spiderman filled day.

Halle is Two!

Yesterday was Halle's second birthday and we had a wondeful celebration. We are now officially in the ranks of the terrible/teriffic two's.

Halle loves sunglasses. She calls them "eyes" and was so excited to get a pair for her birthday. Her darling dress is from Grandma and Grandpa Western. Doesn't she look like a two year-old Diva? Notice the high heels.

I have been planning for months to make Kyler a Lightning McQueen cake and Halle a Sally cake for their birthdays. However, Kyler has recently become addicted to Spiderman and lost his affinity for all things Cars. I didn't want to waste my hours of google searches for Cars cakes, so I followed through with Sally for Hal. It did my heart good that she could recognize who it was without me having to tell her.

We had a great party complete with Grandma and Grandpa Western. We were so happy that they could be here to celebrate with Halle.

Halle's favorite present was a FurReal Puppy from Aunt Heather. It barks, opens and closes its' eyes, and comes with a bottle. Halle wanted to feed her puppy "juice" as soon as it woke up this morning. Thanks Aunt Heather!

We can't wait to turn around and have the same festivities tomorrow for Ky's birthday (he has been incredibly jealous that Halle's birthday came before his).