Monday, November 26, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Josh and I had a great time this year with Tanner's first turkey fest. Thanksgiving is the one holiday that we split between both sides of our family. We started off with the Hallidays, then moved on to the Johnsens in the afternoon. We had a pretty low-key weekend and rounded everything off with Tanner getting his very first cold! We've been pretty lucky that he hasn't been sick once in his entire nine months of life, with the exception of pink eye when he was just five weeks old. I guess I need to be grateful that he hasn't been sick before...and it was bound to happen sooner or later.

In other news, we wanted to announce that we are joining the ranks of all you homeowners! We have the most retarded neighbors in the entire world. About two weeks ago, the jerk yelled explitives at us one morning while listening to church music (can you say hypocrite?). We felt so uncomfortable, and angry, that we skipped out church and went to Josh's parents' ward. The next day we called the apartment owner and asked if anything could be done. Right off the bat, he offered to let us out of our lease, which goes until June. So, that very day we found a house in Harrisville that we liked. We went back up a couple days later, prayed about it, and decided to make an offer a few days afterward. It's a brand new construction, but it's on schedule to be finished right before Christmas so we can move in in time for Christmas Eve!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Cool....


I heard about this blog and so I checked it out. It's been great to see what's been going on with everyone and to see pictures of your families and everything else! I was also encouraged to post an update on myself. However; I warn you, my life right now is somewhat dull and revolves around school, work, church, and a little bit of a social life.


So, school. I am finally graduating from BYU this year with a Bachelors degree in Latin American Studies with a minor in Spanish. After a lot of debate and introspection, I decided not to continue in pre-medicine and will instead pursue law. International Law or Immigration call my attention right now. I may decide to intern with an NGO in Santiago, Chile, this next year and would be working in social, civil and human rights. Another exciting, but potentially dangerous option would be with another NGO in Guatemala, where I would also work in human rights.


Although I may complain about school, it has offered me a lot of great opportunities. Many of you know that I interned in Iquique, Chile, fall semester of 2005. More recently, BYU offered me a research grant to return to Chile. So, I spent most of the summer researching the effects of the dictatorship of Pinochet on religious groups, especially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In other words, I spent the summer interviewing some amazing people! Currently, I am working with a professor to get my research published and prepare it to be presented in a research conference.


Enough of school. Work: it is sufficient to say that there is always a lot of it at General Electric. We'll leave it at that.


Church is exciting. Right now I serve as the Ward Clerk, which means Sunday is no longer a day of rest. But, I'm loving it! It never ceases to amaze me how perfect and inspired the organization of the Church is! My ward is AWESOME, and the bishopric is AMAZING! Early Saturday morning there is usually a group of us, including the bishopric and their wives, that go up to do a trail run. It is a lot of fun!


And last, but not least; I try to make some time for a social life, which consists of some dating, some hanging out-which I know has been discouraged-and making videos for http://www.zoobynews.com/. (Everyone should check it out!!! Some of the stuff is hillarious!) It reminds me of the Kaysville Cow Project experience. And I think that perfectly concludes this post.





Wednesday, November 14, 2007

I guess that it is the Newbolds turn...




I guess that I should take my turn to post. I look at this blog most every day and hope to see new posts.

We moved last week into a new home. It is a rental and it is like a HUD rental. It is not owned by the government, but it is subsidized, so our rent is really low. We went from a one bedroom basement to a brand new, never been lived in, 3 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage house for $150/ month less. It may not be very interesting to anyone else but it is a pretty big development for our family, especially because I am the only one working.

I was in New Orleans last week. I don't recommend it as a vacation spot. I take that back, I thought that a lot of the city was fun, but Bourbon St was so trashy and disgusting morally that I would tell you to avoid it. I stayed in a hotel that was a ways away from Bourbon St but our conference was right on it. It was not very great. I think that of all the people that were at the conference I was the only one that preferred to stay in at night.

Lorie and Claire are doing great. I love taking pictures of my girls. They are the highlights of my life. Claire was a monkey for Halloween. Ever since I found out that I was going to be a dad and that she would be here before Halloween I have thought about what she would dress up as.

My new address is 1731 S. 1280 W. Logan Ut 84321. I also have a new cell phone number: 435-760-9573. Just in case you need to get in touch with me.

Keep posting!!! Xauzinho

Friday, November 9, 2007

Happy Birthday, Jenni!

Happy birthday, Jen, from Josh, Brooke, and Tanner. We hope you have a great day!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Halloween Pictures!

Halloween was lots of fun this year! The weather was great! Allie, as you can see, was Snow White. Detmer was a stuffed pumpkin! Halloween seems to be a month long event lately. I think we had about four parties, so plenty of chances to dress up. It was great!

We are so excited for the Holiday season. We love this time of year! I'm not ready for snow yet but I am enjoying listening to Christmas music!