February begins

Funeral in Utah
We started off the first full week of February with Dode gone to a funeral.  We are very fortunate that as an employee of the Tulalip Tribes, Dode gets five days of paid bereavement leave for extended family members that doesn't count against his vacation time or sick leave.  His Aunt Cathy died in Utah and he was able to travel down there with his parents, and his sisters Sheri, Janice and Janice's husband Matt.  He left early on Sunday morning and got back home just in time for scripture study Wednesday night.  That's a lot of driving for two days of visiting family and attending a funeral!  Dode enjoyed having time to visit with Grandma Dearinger and catch up with some cousins.

While he was gone, I held down the fort and things were pretty much business as usual (code for busy, busy, busy).  Isaac was a big help and each day did one extra thing for me without even being asked.  Although the things he helped out with weren't huge, it was so nice to have him stepping up and trying.

Dode with Grandma D

Dearinger family photo from the funeral

one beautiful lady!

Skiing
Thursday Dode was able to go night skiing with the kids.  This time Jacob went too.  It took me a half hour to drive to three different schools and pick assorted children up in order for them to be able to go.  William and I had a quiet evening at home while they were off.  One thing I realized after I made a run to Costco is how nice it is to have many able hands to unload the car and help put things away.  With just William and I, it was a lot more work!

Miriam loved having "her" Jacob there

Isaac

Miriam

Elizabeth and Anastaya

School Carnival
William and Miriam's school had a carnival Friday night.  The kids had a good time.  It was inexpensive but very crowded family entertainment.  Miriam and William each received a free punch card for the activities.  We bought Anastaya and Elizabeth each one ($5 for 25 punches)  Elizabeth was determined to win a particular cake at the cake walk (A Reese's Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie).  She went round and round, 10 times.  Each time she didn't win, she had to get in the back of the long line again.  In the end, she never got her prize.

Miriam next to a clown her class helped decorate

William got this stick on mustache as a prize, and wore it long enough for the photo!

William playing one of the carnival games

Swimming
Saturday, we took the kids swimming.  We'd planned to go to the high school pool in Marysville but when I double checked the open swim times, we learned they were closed for the day.  We ended up driving down to use the Forest Park pool in Everett.  (I think Dode would have been quite content to have given up after finding out the first pool was closed!)

Elizabeth, Isaac Colson, our Isaac