February Happenings

So far February has been busy.  For some reason February always seems to be full of a lot to do.  It probably has something to do with the fact that Kara is usually in a play and the rehearsals are jammed together and that two members in our family have birthdays.  We were blessed to have the Williams come and stay with us for a few days.  The Williams lived in Vienna, Austria while Coby was on his mission.  Chris was getting his MBA there and Coby hit it off with this family.  Coby served his mission in the same area for 13 months so he got to know them very well. 

I met the Williams when I went to tour Coby's mission with him.  It was fun because we instantly hit if off, but I can't imagine anyone not hitting off with this family.  While we were in Austria we went on vacation with the Williams.  We went to the town of Friesach to a Medieval Festival.  It was a wonderful opportunity.  Now the Williams have moved back to their home which is by Zion's National Park.  They came up to SLC for a visit  and it was fun!

Cute Oliver!

Pictures from after Kara's play.  The play was fun and my brother Matthew and family came to see Kara's play.

Valentine's day!!  Matt always brings Kara flowers and some chocolate on Valentine's day.  I know that it is mostly a consumer holiday, but I can't NOT love a holiday that is about love.  If only we focused on all kinds of love each and every day.  The world would be a much happier place!

Roses Matt got me and that I came  home from work to see.

Trying to remember where I put everything for next year.  I have learned my memory isn't as good as it use to be.

Chocolate, Matt got me.  Matt always goes to one of our families favorite chocolate places that is in Sandy, UT.  It is yummy.  This year I asked him to not get me any chocolate, but after what he had gotten me in years past, he did really much better

Matt had a birthday on February 16th.  It is always fun to celebrate him and how grateful we are that he my kids dad and my husband. 

The only time we could get everyone together was on a Saturday afternoon after Matt's birthday.  It was fun to celebrate with everyone there.

Kara's birthday is coming up  more on that next week!!!!

One of Kara's solos!

Valentine's party

We went to a very fun Valentine's party.  It always amazes me how creative people can be.  This was definitely a time where I was amazed!  I LOVE it!!!

Here is Matt and I's take on Sadie Hawkins.  Matt wanted to be dressed with his Sammy Haggar attire.  We have had the privilege/misfortune to go a private concert for Sammy Hagar in Cabo, Mexico.  I wasn't as impressed as Matt, but I agreed to go Sammy Hagar style. 

We played some fun games.  They were so fun to watch, but I just don't like to make a fool of myself, because that is what I do when I play.  On the other hand Matt,  makes it look easy and he excels.   I was hoping that we played poor enough so that we didn't have to be the final four.  Wrong, Matt just did too well.  Luckily, (isn't that sad, that is my attitude) I had to go and pick up Kara to take her to another party in the beginning of the final four playing so I didn't have to play.  Matt came in second and was quite pleased with himself!!!!

 We have some fun couples in our neigborhood who really know how to have a good time.  I seriously was laughing a lot that night and the crazy things people said. 

Matt's new job

Matt had his first day back to work today. He has always had President's day off so it was a little strange that his first day at his new job was on it.  He is working for a company called Exeter Financial group.

He is really excited to start today, but also a tad bit scared. Anytime you start something new it is scary.  I have always been impressed how easy it is for Matt to find a job.  He does it in record speed.  He is able to find a high paying job fast, because he is that good.  Yep,  I do love my man!!! It is funny when things happen that you think aren't that good, but end up most likely being something that is better for you. Matt has wanted to leave his old job for almost a year.  I kept encouraging him to stay because it was such a good job.  He  listened to me (boy I need to be careful what I say) and he probably shouldn't have.  He hated it there (old company, which will remain nameless) because they no longer wanted him to have a relationship with all the car dealer's his company serviced.  I thought it was insane that they didn't want him to, because he was so good at it and it generated so much business.  His old company had always been called the relationship lender, but they change their ways when they were bought out by a big bank that was so concerned with law suits and corporate policy.  It is really sad because the people they hired could no longer do their job and most felt miserable. 

Matt's new company is fairly new (under ten years), but it is so much like his old company, how they originally started, that is.  Matt loves to interact with car dealers daily and visit their lots and have a personal relationship with them.  This is what he is really good at.   So I am really happy for him.

It was a hard decision for him to decide to work at Exeter.  After he left his old job he had  people calling him (people  he has been helping at his old job) asking him to work at their dealership as a Finance director.   It was hard.  Matt ha always wanted to work at a car dealership, but after praying about it we knew it wasn't the right thing for him. The salaries that he was offered  at the car dealerships were very good, but we just knew it wasn't the right fit for him. We had two additional job offers that weren't  working at a car dealership that both felt right, but this one is the one we decided on.  

I don't know what the future hold for Matt working at Exeter, but I refuse to live in fear of the unknown.  Right now he is the only employee of his company in Utah.  He is supposed to find a office, establish his dealerships (that is his favorite part) and then hire a bunch of people.  He can do business with any of the car dealerships in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  So he will be really busy.  I am happy for him and I am grateful for the curve balls that we are thrown along the way because often times they are our greatest blessings!

Tea time!!!!

Last April  when my husband and I were at the Grand America celebrating our anniversary, I saw that they have a daily tea.  I was dying to go, but  my hubby wasn't at all!  It was a tad pricey so I decided  I would go someday soon.  Well,  I kind of forgot about it until my friend Emily asked a group of ladies in our neighborhood if we would like to go with her.  I was thrilled to put it mildly.  My husband was thrilled because that meant he wouldn't have to go with me!   So it was a win/win. After trying to upload my pictures three times and it didn't work I gave up.  Maybe soon I will feel like trying again.  I seriously am not sure what happened!!!