Dang it we're Texans now, but....Happy bifday to Tu Tu and Bompa...and Gabe in 4 days. Congratulations to Teacher Jamie!!!

Shoot we're in Texas. What have we done!

Yay Aunt Jamie...we wish we could be there but we're Texans now. Nicky's wifey Jamie graduates in choral teaching today. I do have to brag about Jamie a little bit. She is a talented singer. But, Dustin and I really admire her because she's not the type to show it. You'd never guess by her attitude that she's Miss talented. She's one of those rare individuals that can handle fame and stay humble at the same time. We really like being around Jamie....there's nothing not to like! Thanks for loving and taking care of our Nicky, that's a tough job. Love you Jamie and we hope it feels great to "walk" today. So now your like a million bucks to take voice lessons from right?

Happy Birthday Tu Tu, and Bompa tomorrow...and Gabe on the 16th! We wish we could be there, but we're Texasing right now. But we wuv wuv you!!! We miss you. Judy and Paul miss playing with Gabey. Paul misses Bompa's big hands clenched around his head, and Judy misses Tu Tu terribly. She keeps asking if I "promise" that we will come visit you next christmas. Poor girl. She's not mopey though don't worry. We're happy.

A is for Aunt Amber who's birthday it is!

Hope you have a fun day. Happy birthday Aunt Amburrito! I bet Andy and Kylee feel so lucky to have you, especially today.

3 Big Bites!

But...they were in Texas... Was there a cheese ball? What about apple turkeys or sauerkraut? Could April handle such a responsibility?

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Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
Fat turkeys Fat turkeys,
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble,
Fat turkeys are we

We're not made for living
We're made for Thanksgiving :)
Gobble Gobble Gobble Gobble
Fat turkeys our we!

We had the sweetest and funnest Thanksgiving. The dinner including the turkey turned out. We even made Grandma Vickie's fudge -- which tasted great, but didn't have quite the right look. It's been a Balaich tradition to make turkeys with gumdrops and apples since I can remember. So I was prepared to carry out the tradition even though we traveled half way across the country. :) We forgot the apples, so we had to improvise with making the turkeys. We all watched "A Mickey's Christmas Carol" and "Pluto's Christmas Tree" together. Then we napped and napped. We topped off the day with a few rounds of our favorite game...hide-and-go-seek. Jack loved to see dad hiding under the pillows of the couch. He was obviously confused about why that was happening, but he could tell that we were playing.

The main thing I really missed was Grandma Vickie's chips and salsa. I was definitely bummed out that evening, as I had a craving for it.

On a much more serious note:
We did feel very thankful for the many blessings which have been poured out upon us. I felt amazingly thankful that we have had 7 years of marriage in so much safety. Less than a month after we were married the twin towers were destroyed. I never would have dreamed that this much time would go by-- that we could just live out a normal life. I am so thankful that our society is still intact!

I'm so thankful for our great nation. I feel as though my heart will burst at the thought. What a great beginning America had. The goodness of the people who crossed the sea to come here is something that I have deep admiration for. With each passing day my loyalty and pride for this nation becomes more and more intense. I love the United States of America.

This country has always been a light to the world. The constitution, and the economic system contained in it, wss created by God. The law of this land has given more freedom to man than any other place on earth. What a glorious thing -- man has had the freedom to choose whom he will serve. To quote Michel Medved... "This is the greatest nation on God's green earth!" I am so grateful that I can choose what I will do in this holy land. Oh! How much more that means to me now as God has corrected us, and guided us to change our ways.

I've come to an understanding (and it's small) that causes my whole soul to burn at the thought of the miracle that is the law of this land. I am grateful that God sent the great prophet Ezra Taft Benson, whom I am indebted to. It has largely been his teachings that have led me to recognize America for what it truly is. I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing a soul as rebellious and proud as mine to be led to the teachings of His prophet.

My mind is turned to those who are in need in this land and in others. How many countless people are without, suffering, and starving. How awesome a privilege it is, that for the most part, I am still able to choose to relieve their sufferings, rather than be forced to do so. That I can govern myself, and God will hold me accountable for how willing I was to do so. I am thankful that God has forgiven me time and again as I've grown in my understanding of that great commandment. I feel a great weight to be much better. I know that the freedom that God created in this land was no accident, it is the carrying out of His very plan in Heaven. The law of the United States of America is glorious. I am so thankful for his endless mercy towards me and my family!

It's that time of year again...Hate and Anger is in the Air

Hate and anger in the air,
People dying everywhere,
But!
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday!!

Alexandra, already into her second year of adulthood... so we threw a proper party.


I'm so happy that Heavenly Father gave me Alex for a sister. I love her. She's been a good sister to me, and I appreciate how much effort she's made to help me with my children. And I really do need her...how will I be able to buy clothes in Texas without her guidance? :) I love you Alex!!

Vladimir Gog ? ? ?... Come on, this is a lot more interesting than a U.S. presidential election :)

On a lighter note...

I'm definitely not a fan of Bro. Blenn Geck, so please spare me the lecture :). BUT, this prediction looks positve for us :)

My brother Gabe's song- a defininte Gabe song

Gabe is learning this song. He is using sheet music, that makes me happy. He must take piano lessons...the turkey. Mom- Gabe will take lessons if the lesson isn't on a Friday, and if he doesn't have to save from the allowance made from the lessons. I think it's worth it. He could become a great pianist. He's talented!

The First Great Pumpkin Sighting

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Paul used his tough guy gloves for his candy bags. R-2 D-2 wanted to beat Paul up for some reason. It was so funny the kid kept coming after Paul to pick a fight. Our friends the Cox's put teeth and eyes on their "hungry house" and it made Paul feel very reticent for a couple of weeks before halloween. Judy and Paul said that this was their "best Halloween ever!" It was definitely mom's favorite halloween ever because it was sooooo warm! I loved it. Paul said that halloween was "very silly and very spooky" Mom and the kids got to see Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin for the first time. Paul laughed so hard that he fell off of his chair and so we grabbed the camera. The whole rock thing really gave us the giggles for a couple of days.

Mommy's Jack Michael

Jacky is still a very very cuddly boy. He's a little ball of love. When I put him in his car seat he usually is upset and struggling to hug and kiss me in between each snap and buckle. And oh he gets jealous when momma is loving daddy.

Ward Halloween Party

This is Brother Mumm, a good friend of ours.





Dad and the boys were all missionaries. Dad was a nerd junior companion just trying to keep the situation under control. His boss made a suprise showing at the party and took pics of Dustin to black mail him. Check out the hair.

Being good missionaries

Daily ritual

Jacky loves to tromp through Miss Daisy's flowers next door. He's so fast it's hard to prevent him sometimes. Here in the south, you have to say Miss, and then the first name of the woman you are addressing. And, everyone says "yes maamm"--I mean everyone.

A few more southern sayings...A grocery shopping cart is called a buggy. And instead of saying I'm going to do this or that you gotta say "I'm fixin' to do this or that". At the end of a few of our regularly sung primary songs everybody shouts "Yeehah!". And of course Y'all is a singular noun, and all ya'll is its plural and it's something we hear everyday. Monday week, means see you next Monday. A common one at work is "that ain't right" but it sounds like "dain rat."



Every morning mom and the kids walk 1 1/2 mile, and drop Jude off. Then mom and the boys walk back. In the afternoon we do it all again. Well... it would take actual money to buy a double stroller. Anyone who knows Dustin and I very well, knows that we don't part with that green paper stuff very easily. I guess when Paul takes a face plant we'll brake down and get something better. It takes about 2 1/2 hours a day. Dad has been riding his bike to work too. He spends about 40 min. a day, & has done great the past month.


Jude's good friend Stuart is in both her school and primary class.

School just keeps on going and going.....

Here's Dad doing what he usually does night after night, and most of the day Saturday.

Skito bites

Jack had 21 mosquito bites on his head alone last Saturday. Mom and Jack attract the bites more than most people.

These pics are things we see on our trips to Houston that we like or think are funny.

Next time we go to Houston we're going to drive right into the big city. We'll take some pics of the skyscrapers and post them.

The Jack-man is starting to walk on his own

We wish we could be there Kylee!

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Hurrican Ike Around Our Yard

Progress photo-taking it out a bit at a time:

No Damage to any house or to any one. But a mess to clean up, still we count our blessings: the wind was blowing east to west most of the time and our house faces south so tress pretty much fell paralell with the house. Picture below is of our west side neighbor's back yard. Good size tree takes up about half his back yard. Notice the fence at bottom right, it is flat on the ground. The neighbor let me use his chain saw to remove the tree from his yard. The missionaries have been helping us remove the root system--chalking down that service, meanwhile I drag our neighbors over to meet the Elders!

Took out the west fence, nearly hitting the neighbor's house

Got lucky on this one. The tree is pretty, but it must GO! GO!! GO!!! No damage to roof. Neighbors Aaron and Tina and son Ryan helped remove it just after the storm passed. They also helped everyone around the neighborhood!

This isn't meant to replace any aforethought ideas

I think I have cracked the lyrics to this song!
I don't know why, but I am very excited about it...
No clue what the name of the jig is, but it's cool, by Rockapella
My research is backed in libretto format in italics to the side...
My ode to taking a break from school work

I Can ride the 1 up to Yonkers, *A real bus line to Yonkers I New York*
Sun on a yacht on the Yangtze, *River in China-Longest in Asia*
I can feel the breeze off the Mississippi
You only mean everythng to me.

Spinning over Chad in a chopper,
Boogie-woogie in a blimp over Bombay,
Take a batobus through the Gulf to Yucatan. *Batobus is a water bus*
You only mean everything to me.

I could thumb around Thargomindah in the middle of the winter *an Australian artesian well*
(marsupials bedding down)
Do the Louvre in a minute-get a poster in the giftshop
(Mona Lisa gets shrunken down)
Take a suite in Topeka with spiders on the ceiling
I never know what you're feeling
What poisonous fruit you're peeling
What miracle cure you've found

I could ride into Cannes in a tux on a Clydesdale, * city off coast in France*
Bareback on a pack mule to Greece,
I could walk a high wire 'tween the world trade towers. L
only mean everything to me.

Gonna saddle up a manatee and dive for gefiltas *I am not sure about this one, some fish figures? in a story book*
(funny white blob gonna drown) *the moral of the story?? Have to read five little gefiltas…?*
Parachute into paranoia with your mama's dishes
(you better go underground)
Hang-glide on the Hudson with nothing but an Aspirin.
You better know what I'm feeling
What dinosaur's doing your dealing
What kinda hog's in your ground.

Rip the conch from the shell do the Junkanoo Party in Bahama*Junkanoo on the net is indeed a Bahama thing*
(back-to-back)
And they were singing (back-to-back)
They said it was nothing (yeah) but a zombie jamboree yeah
Gonna give a Bronx Cheer with an eggcream moustache. *A Razberry, any phrase in disgust…*
You only mean everything to me.
Gonna give a hot towel to a humble visitor.
You only mean everything to me

We Did It!

Closing for the house went good yesterday. We haven't moved in all the way yet. Water utility will not turn on until Monday. I just got our new phone number today. I will share with everyone via email. It as well will not turn on until Monday. We moved most of our things from the apartment. We have only our beds and a few changes of clothes, and food. The sellers left us a bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne. I was disappointed. I really wanted the Utahan sparkling raspberry whatever. And it isn't right that they make it look like wine...I admit, I wanted to take a drink. We let our realtor have them. We closed with the sellers sitting right across from us. It was a little awkward. We survived with no one throwing any pens. They are good people and did a nice job for us. The house is very nice. We have an ozone machine working in the house right now trying to get rid of the mild smoke smell. We went shopping for some more area rugs and a door mat and we are beginning to get all our business situated here in Texas.

We Talked In Church last Sunday (Aug24)

It's a funny story. So Sun, Aug 10, the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric asks me to speak in church. Ample time to prepare!! But he didn't give me a topic, said he'd give to me during the week, I accepted.

Whole week goes. Sun, Aug 17, he gives April the topic so we think, oh, OK he wants both of us to speak...The topic is great!! Thoughts from President Monson's Priesthood Session talk: Examples of Righteousness--yeah, the one where he wiggled his ears!! CLASSIC!!

Sun, Aug 24 April and I had a great week exchanging ideas. We came to church totally prepared. When we came into the chapel--nice and early, set our camp on the stand, and noticed that the program for the day's services rendered no names for speakers. April and I are like, uh? After a while, the 2nd Counselor came up to me and said, "hey you're off the hook, there was an error in the High Council yakyak schedule, even though they droned us last week, we get the same counselors again!! They were supposed to speak in the Spanish Branch last week!! This week in ours, so they're going to speak to us again!" I'm overjoyed at this point, oh yeah, blessed Sunday of peace in the congreg!! I tell April the good news after she came back from the potty with a little one, she's like k whatever.

Next thing I know the 2nd counselor in the bispado (port. for bishopric, not sacrilege at all) came up to me and April at our new camp in the congreg. And he's all, "uh Bro Strickland, can you speak today, the counselors left." You gotta understand here, the 2nd counselor is an awesome man, i love him to death. But he looked stressed and needed help. I said, "no problem, we're both prepared as you requested to knock 'em dead this morning."

He did a double take at me. "What? You mean you both prepared talks?" I said, "yeah, me and her." And he's all "WOW!! That saves me!!" Turns out, as you probably guessed, he wanted just me out of our family to speak that day. He had lined up another brother to speak with me. This other brother works at a hospital in town and had to leave all-of-the-sudden to an emergency. After this news, the 2nd counselor was informed the High Council was going to talk again. He thought that saved him. Then 5min before Sacrament Meeting began, they had agreed with the Bishop that since they spoke last week in our Ward, and were supposed to speak in the Spanish Branch last week, that they would go to the Spanish Branch this week....Somehow the 2nd counselor did not get the memo. 2+2=4. You see the Bishop knew his Counselor had things all square for that day.

Long story short. We talk, we don't talk, we talk anyway. It all turned out very well. April shared some very good thoughts about how the women of the church are the best "protrayers" of the image of the true church. As long as the women are modest and doing what they should and are showing happy countenances, others will know the church is different. After all one of the synonyms in the Topical Dictionary for Example is "peculiar people." I approached my message with thoughts based on how we can keep ourselves worthy to build boys and mend men. And I, of course urged everyone to buy the DVD so they can see the Prophet of Our Day wiggle his ears....Yes I was a little irreverent as usual--well not irreverent, let's call it conducive with personality....Amen

Judy's First Day of School!!!

She really liked it. She said the food was yummy. Her teacher is good. Ms Ashley. April and I can track her behavior as monitored by Ms Ashley each day by looking at a calendar Judy keeps with her. If there is a green stamp she was good. Red stamp means, you guessed it, not so good. Her first day she got a green stamp. There was one kid who got a red stamp and had to sit out of one recess. Judy talked to us about it. She said she will never get a red stamp...we'll see. Her school is cute. Called Raguet Elementary Pre K - 5th. They have middle schools out here. I didn't get to see her off cause of work, but I left early to see her home.

April enjoyed her day with Paul and Jack. April said she couldn't hold back the tears when she let Judy go to her class. And I had a hard time at work knowing that I will not know how my baby girl is until school is over. April told me that Paul kept asking if Judy was OK, if she had food to eat, and when she was coming home. He said he wanted to play with Judy. April told him he could play with Jack. And Paul said, no, I'll just play with you.

Raguet holds the kindergartners all day. 8:15am - 3:20pm. A little much in my opinion for a little kid. The wait to pick her up (we take her to school) was about 30 min. Lots of cars on a skinny road. And the school buses were all messed up--first day bloopers--only mom understands fully. I couldn't stand the wait in the car, so I got out and verified my ID with the Kid Letting Out Patrol and took Judy to the van, and we drove off. Her sweet backpack is as big as she is!! When she saw me she came running!! It was sooo cute. She had a good day and was very tired after school.

And then he just stood up!!

Getting Ready For More School....at Colorado State

No we're not moving to Colorado now. But I will be taking online MBA courses through Colorado State Univeristy. Got my text books a few days ago. Looking backward to it....yeah.