911, What's your emergency?

Today I got official word that I passed every last test, screening & questionnaire. I will begin working as a 911 operator for the Mesa Police Department on Monday, April 25th. I have made the decision to temporarily drop from graduate school until my training is complete and regular schedule is set. I hope to then restart my Master's at Ottawa University. This was a hard but necessary decision.

I am scared and excited about the new changes and challenges. It should make for an interesting year at the Macdonald home.

I will be stopping my preschool on April 21st, 4 weeks early than planned. Everyone has been very supportive and I appreciate all the kind words and offers of help.

Pinewood Derby 2011

Pinewood Derby March 2011

Tyler was our only racer this year. He chose to make a police car. Grandpa came over the night before the race to work on his wheels and finish attaching everything. Tyler came in 9th place. He was happy. Sadly, I was unable to attend this year because of my school schedule. The boys all behaved well and were treated to Sonic after the races.

Sis. MacLay and Sis. McDowell counting up the score.

Spring Break 2011

For spring break this year we went up to the cabin for a few days. It was perfect weather, cool and sunny. We took rides on the golf cart and Joe took the boys out to shoot the rifles and pistols. They had a great time while Mom took a nap. Happiness all around. Grandma and Papa were there with us at the cabin.

Happy 16th Anniversary

March 11, 1995 Joe and I were married at the LDS Solomon Building on the corner of Solomon and Broadway Road in Mesa, AZ. It's hard to believe it's been 16 years. I'm so glad we made the choice to be married. It was the best decision of my life.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend! I love you. May the next 16 be just a great!

Accident Report

Macdonald Accident Blogger:

The accident took place Monday, March 7, 2011 at approximately 5:25pm. The scene of the accident was the road in front of the Grubbs house. Conflicting reports coming in tell us that no one or nothing was in the road. One witness, the boys older brother Jacob, who was trying to get the victim to come home for dinner, reported that he was riding his bike eastbound on Lakeview when out of no where his bike stopped and the victim's face hit the asphalt. No other witnesses came forward. However, a good Samaritan, Sis. Grubbs, helped once the accident had occurred. She quickly retrieved wet paper towels and sent the crying child home to get patched up. Pictures show the damage from the accident. (Pictures were taken the next afternoon) Luckily it looks as though his nose did not get broken. His upper lip had been swollen the night before, but as a 5 year old that moves at lightning speed, he is healing at a rapid rate. The victim has been advised to avoid any more accidents in that area. However, he was spotted the next day riding the same bike in the same area.

I guess some kids just never learn!

Aaron's Kindergarten Musical

Aaron's Kindergarten Musical was on Feb. 24th, 2011. I've been a slacker getting it posted here. I started graduate school at Ottawa University this past January and just finished the first term this week. That is where all my time has been lately. So I now see that it will take more effort to keep up with this blog. Better late than never!

Aaron is pictured her with his friend from class, the neighborhood and church, Will. They sang songs about going to the zoo, hence the zoo animal hats. It was really cute. I took some video of the show for Joe since he couldn't make it to the school at 2:00 in the afternoon.
On another note, Jared is slowly progressing with potty training. Not there yet, but progress none the less. I am hoping to be done by his 4th birthday this July. Each day we have success and setbacks. But we are encouraged by the progress.

President's Day Vacation Weekend

We took this wonderful President's Day weekend and went up to Grandma & Papa's cabin. We left on Friday and were expecting a snowing weekend. On the way up it began to snow. It was a little worrisome traveling through Forest Lakes. The snow seemed to be coming at us through a tunnel. We could barely see the car in front of us and were glad they kept a pace and path we could easily follow. Our truck does not have 4 wheel drive, but we had chains with us just in case. Needless to say, we arrived at the cabin around 8:30pm safe and sound. It would be a cold night, but no snow at the cabin so far.

These pictures are from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night. I guessed that the snow would start at 5pm. It started to snow around 4:15pm. Our boys went out as soon as they saw snow falling. My brother, Galen, came with his family (Julia, Austin, Dallin & Haleigh) from Snowflake to play for a while. They ended up staying for dinner and a round of dominoes (Mexican train). Austin & Haleigh stayed the night at the cabin. Then on Sunday Galen & Julia came back for dinner. They brought with them Trevor, Dallin and Dallin's girlfriend Adeline. We ate a roast dinner and played crazy dice. Jacob, Tyler, Aaron & Haleigh spent all of Sunday out in the beautiful snow that had fallen the night before. It was perfect powder. Joe and I joined them for a spirited snowball fight. It was a perfect time to enjoy snow at the cabin. We came home today, Monday, Feb. 21st. The roads were perfectly clear. It was a beautiful drive home.

Aaron enjoying the snow coming down on Saturday afternoon. Jacob and Tyler.
Even Jared went out in the snow for a little while.

This was just the beginning. These are the "before" pictures...

Looking out the back yard. The tree before...

The backyard before...

The wood pile before...

The cars before...

It started to snow harder. Tyler was enjoying it.

Haleigh getting in on the fun.

The adults watching from inside where it was warm and dry.

Austin enjoyed the indoors.

Joe, Grandpa, Dallin & Grandma getting ready for Mexican Train.

It getting harder & darker...

More snow

Sunday morning. The cars were covered and all was white and still.

The tree after

The wood pile after.

The lights out front had snow hats.

Aaron had brought his Nerf ax and it was a perfect scraper for getting snow off the cars.

Tyler & Jacob enjoying the snow in the backyard.

Sadly, Jared got some kind of stomach bug and spent Saturday night puking. He chose to stay inside Sunday and watch movies.

Joe, cleaning off the truck Sunday morning.

The snowman & the kids.

The snowball fight.

Jacob stole my new snow boots & good snow gloves. Good thing they fit or he would have been cold.

Looking down the road in front of Papa's cabin. So beautiful.

We were pulling snow out of the back of the truck for the snowball fight. It was perfect powder. By Monday morning it had iced over into a solid block.

The kids decided to build a snow fort out back.

They said they were going to use it to protect themselves from our next snowball fight.

They spent the entire Sunday afternoon working on it. Little did they know, Joe and I were not coming back out for another snowball fight. We were tired from the first one!

It was a great trip. Our boys had never been in a snowstorm like this before. They have gone sledding and seen it come down a little, but nothing like this experience.