busy, busy, busy

Wow, it has been forever since I've blogged! I'm sure everyone knows, but just to give you my excuse for not blogging, we officially are Iowans again. Tucker has lived in 2 states already and he's only 14 months old. Doyle got a job offer (actually 2) at APAC in Cedar Rapids and they wanted him to start right away. He gave Hach his 2 weeks and we started packing. We were visiting family in Iowa for Thanksgiving, headed home for exactly 2 weeks and then moved on the 13th of December. We are trying to rent out our house in Colorado, so until that happens we are living with my dad in Tama. It's an hour drive to Cedar Rapids which is good that we don't have to try and pay for 2 houses, but it's a long commute for Doyle. As soon as the house rents, or we pay off Doyle's truck in April, we'll be moving somewhere closer. We aren't sure yet if we'll rent for while or try to buy right away.

We've had an amazing Christmas season. Ours started with a Spence family dinner on the 20th in Liberty Center. It was great to see that side of the family that we don't see very often. We found out there that there will be a new addition to that side of the family by next Christmas. We spent Christmas morning here, in Tama with my immediate family. Tucker had a great time opening all the presents, not just his! Then we headed down after supper on the 25th to Columbia, IL (just across the river from St. Louis) for the Avise-Rouse and Rouse family holidays. We were there all weekend with, at times, 37 people. We stayed up till 3 am playing "Pass the Marker", played Wii on projectors at the church, ate tons of food, rip-sticked, talked, cried, played, fought, and laughed. Just another normal Avise-Rouse get-together! Tucker and I got sick after that weekend and spent the next 3 days recovering. We played Clue, watched a movie and drank sparkling cider in Tama with the family for New Years Eve. Then drove to Lacona on New Years day for the small Spence Christmas with Doyle's parents, brother and sister-in-law. Tucker again helped open all the presents, this time he tore off one small piece at a time and put it in the garbage can one by one. We played Monopoly and Clue, watched a ton of movies, and played X-box while we all layed in one bed. We got to see both of Tucker's great grandpas and even his great great grandma.

Now we are back in Tama and trying to get onto some sort of schedule. Doyle is at work, my Dad is at work, Korey is back in school and Miah leaves for school tomorrow. Then it's just Tucker and I. I hope he's not too bored! At least he has all his new Christmas toys to play with. Thanks to everyone for spending time with us, we had a great time, and thanks too, for the gifts! Love you all! Jess (and Doyle and Tucker)

PS: I'm going to try and catch up on all the events that I missed blogging. It will be totally out of order, I'll try and remember to date everything!