Goodbye Sundays and Saturday Nights for Will

Okay so here goes my first blog ever. If Matt can do this so can I. I might even add a picture. So we just moved about a month ago and this means the fun of a new ward and new callings. We moved at a great time too. The Elders Quorum has all a president, first counselor, second counsilor, and secretary. The relief society is the same as far as I know. We were a little worried about the young womens presidency but that worry was quickly taken care of. So last night I get a call from one of our high council members and I was playing an online game with a friend and didn't hear him very well and thought that he was from the stake presidency, that makes you more nervous. He wanted to meet with Anna and I this morning at 8:45. I didn't think too much about since I had some domination to dish out but then I finished playing and sat down to eat dinner with Anna. The thought finally struck me what if they call me to the Bishopric? Then Anna lets me know that the first counselor is moving in a couple of weeks, it turns out a week, and I start to freak out. I know that there is going to be something that involves working with the bishopric or an elder's quorum counselor. So I didn't sleep very well last night with the worry of being called to the bishopric in the back of my mind. I got out of bed at about 6:30 and tried to occupy myself and not think about my interview. Luckly 8:45 finally rolled around and I met with our stake high councillman. That was a releaving since I knew that I figured I wouldn't be in the bishopric but I was wrong. I am not a counselor in the bishopric but I am the new Assistan Executive Secretary. So now most of my Sundays are going to start at 7:00AM, Anna and I may actually get close to using our cell phone minutes, and the only thing that I know for sure is that I get to help the counselors with their interview schedules. So we will keep you posted on what I get to do besides meetings and more meetings and more meetings, oh ,and phone calls.

What Will is going to look like when you see him on Sundays.

Getting Ready for Reesey

The one benefit that I can think of of having a baby in between when my sisters are having kids, is that they don't have an immediate use for baby clothes. I have bought and received adorable outfits, but that doesn't even make up half of the clothes that Reese has waiting for her. The majority came from Jessica, hand-me-downs from Ellie. I pulled them out to sort and wash, and found that the "pink" pile was the largest. I'm pretty sure it was at least two feet tall. It was followed by the whites and then the yellows. Throw in baby blankets and our own laundry and I think I did six or seven loads that day. You wouldn't think it would take all that much out of you but, boy-howdy, was I tired!

I know all you moms out there are laughing at me. "Just you wait," you're saying. "Just you wait until the baby actually gets here."

One Last Hurrah

Before the Dickersons returned to Oklahoma, and the Simmons moved to Florida, we got together for one last party with the Faber extended family, just for fun. I for one love hanging out with the family.


Jessica reads to Ellie and Kylie


Will plays with Kylie, following her up the stairs


We sit in Grandma and Grandpa's living room to talk and look through Where's Waldo books


Matt poses for the camera. Will is starting to feel lonelier and lonelier as brothers-in-law move far, far and away

Happy Birthday, Mom

As a birthday gift for my mother, we decided that all us kids were going to get together secretly and get our picture taken as a family. That's 8 kids, 4 spouses and 3.5 grand kids to coordinate schedules with at a time when mom wouldn't suspect a thing. Yeah, we're pretty amazing.

We all dressed in white shirts and brown/khaki pants and snuck out in the morning hours to get together and have a photo shoot. It was all done in record time. After that, however, we had to figure out how to get home, when mom would be awake, and somehow not be suspicious-looking when 15 people came walking through the door all dressed the same. Our solution was that we would not all go home at the same time, and try to get by and change our clothes before Mom saw us. For me and Will it was a piece of cake, since we don't live with Mom, but others went to Krispy Kreme to bide some time, and we met them there to hang out the rest of the day.

The Faber girl's husbands... so far. Taylor, Matt, Will, Todd. Notice Brayden and Kylee in the background looking at the donuts being made. The kids were completely enthralled.

Will and I had to join in the Krispy Kreme hat-wearing, and put one on Reesey, too.

The whole gang.

Babies Really Are A Blessing

Will's brother, Steve, blessed his third child, little Katherine, last month. She's such a sweet little thing, already with the cutest smile. What's more, she'll be Reese's age! Hooray for cousins!

Grandpa Heath with the baby of the hour

Baby's Aunt Cathy and cousin Jessica came to celebrate with her

Katy's sister, Lily.

Cousin Miranda was just as excited as anyone to be around the new baby.

Cousin Gavin and Uncle Will

Baby Shower!

My wonderful sister, Jessica, offered to throw me a baby shower. She noted that the baby won't be here for a couple months yet, but she and her family moved to Florida last week, so she wanted to be able to do it before she left. She chose the week that my other sister, Jasmine would be in town from Oklahoma, so I got to invite all my sisters! We had a lot of fun, and I'm really glad that so many people came that I don't see very often.

My favorite parts, aside from the general enjoyment of socializing, were the pinata (I had to get a photo of my grandma taking a swing) and the strawberries. I insisted on dipping my own chocolate strawberries for the shower because it gave me an excuse to leave work early to get it done, and I find it relaxing.

Before the baby shower I was going to decorate Reese's room in a red and green ladybug theme, but I decided to go with a more gender neutral decor after some baby gifts that had giraffes on them. I fell in love with the giraffe, and decided to go with a jungle animal theme. Unfortunately, once I had purchased the crib bedding, it looked really boyish. I tried to remedy that by throwing pink anywhere I could. I created some wooden wall hangings of animals using the bedding animals as a template, but I put them on a pink background. They aren't all professional or anything, but I am pretty proud of them.

Grandma Faber taking a swing at the butterfly pinata

Chocolate covered strawberries. Mmmmm.....

Zebra, Monkey, Giraffe, Alligator, Elephant

Compare to what the animals are really supposed to look like

Darren's Graduation

My brother, Darren, graduated this past May. It was a race to the finish line for him, but he made it and we're all so proud of him!
In celebration, we went to Sizzler to eat that night. It was quite a fiasco getting everyone together and everything worked out. Many of the clan arrived at different times- the Dickerson's just got in to town and drove straight from the airport to the restaurant. It's a mystery how our family stays sane in such situations.

Darren and Friends

Darren and Dad

Ellie had a great time at Sizzler. Her cousin, Kylie, wasn't in such good spirits after a day of airplane travel.

The Graduate and Family

The Traveling Dickersons

Internet Again!

It's been about a month now since we've had the interned in our home, so I haven't been able to update any blogs. Luckily, in the effort to get our computers set up in our new apartment, we found Will's haircut pictures when he buzzed his head, and now I can share that with all of you.

Before

During

After. What a handsome man.