Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was in Utah this year.  It varied a little bit from tradition because we feasted at Leesa's house instead of Jeremy's grandparents' house.  Because our prep work was pretty simple, Cambrie was incredibly bored waiting for everyone to show up.  She tried to convince us that it was 5:00 and people should be arriving any minute!  I thought it was pretty clever, but unfortunately she couldn't change everyone's clock.  

The food was incredibly like always.  LaMar raised the turkeys up at his property and I thought they were delicious.  I'm not much of a turkey fan, but I helped myself to seconds...so did Dantley!  

We were able to snag some new family pictures with Jeremy's grandparents.  

We also took a cousin pic of Kieran and Kelton.  I love that Kelton has a little buddy to play with at these parties.  

The best part of the evening was also the worse part of the evening.  Lenesa brought out her pies and I couldn't wait to dig into nearly every one of them; the succulent cherry, the chocolately goodness of Kiss-Me, and the sweet pecan....

but it also signaled the end of the feast which meant that it was time for Jeremy to catch his flight back.  It was a crazy vacation for that poor man.  He flew back and forth twice for just quick day trips.  Hopefully things will settle down and we'll be able to figure out our new travel routines soon.  As it was, I was very Thankful that he was able to be there at all!  We have a lot to be thankful for this year, a new job, three healthy kids, and one happy husband.

Camille + Jake

When my sister fell in love this summer, I was very excited for the wedding I knew would be coming.  It came more quickly than I imagined, but that just means Camille and Jake are happier that much sooner!  I was surprised how difficult the wedding planning was for me.  I wasn't even the bride!  I realized how much I loved my sister and how much I wanted to be out there in Utah with her.  It made me incredibly homesick not being able to be there to help put together centerpieces, look for bridesmaid accessories, and give hugs when the wedding dress search didn't go so well.  I was very happy that I was able to go out to Utah almost a week before the wedding to help with whatever little things needed to be finished, and to spend a little more time with Camille before she became stuck like glue to Jake's side.  That week was filled with showers, 

showers, 

and more showers, 

the bachelorette party (no pictures means no incriminating proof of our awesome night), creating wedding favors,

 spot cleaning her wedding dress, ironing wedding party clothes, painting fingernails, 

making the wedding cake,

playing dress up,

playing with cousins,

 and about a million other super fun things. Smile Kelton!

 The day of the wedding everyone got dressed and headed down to the Ogden temple for these two love birds.

Jeremy and Cambrie met up with us for the first time in a week, and then suddenly it was time for the ceremony.  During the sealing I couldn't help but think what a good pair Camille and Jake make.  I am so happy with Camille's choice.  She chose a really good guy.  It was a beautiful sealing and afterwards Jeremy and I headed downstairs to wait with the rest of the family.  Leesa had been watching our kids while we were upstairs and she asked if I was going to help Camille get dressed in the bride's room.  I hadn't even considered it.  I had a vague memory of only the escorts being allowed in there to help with congestion, but I thought it was at least worth asking about.  I worked my way through the hallways until I came to the bride's room.  The temple workers let me by without question and I was able to help Camille get dressed.  Unfortunately I started crying when I saw her. Normally that wouldn't be too big of an issue, but she was trying to fix her make-up and she started crying too.  I pulled myself together enough to help fix her hair, put in her veil, and get her all buttoned up.  I was so grateful that I was able to be there with her.  It is one of the sweetest memories I have with my sister.  As we walked out of the bride's room, Jake was there to meet her.  From then I knew that she belonged with him.  I walked out to meet my family and warn the rest of the crowd that they would be coming out soon.  They walked out to beautiful sunshine,

 and happy nieces ready to give them huge hugs. 

Pictures always take awhile, but my kids held it together pretty well considering that it was pretty chilly.  I think most of us are going to have pink noses in those pictures.  

The luncheon went well too.  Kelton sat next to Leesa and I was shocked to see him sitting still in his highchair actually eating food!  The luncheon became that much less stressful for me.

 I walked around as people were arriving to take some quick candid table shots.  Cambrie insisted on photo-bombing as many as she could.  

McKenzie was already pooped out from the fun and fell asleep towards the end. 

I thought that Jeremy would be headed straight back to Salt Lake after the luncheon to catch his flight back to Colorado.  I was really glad when he told me he had enough time to come up for at least part of the reception.  And he could help with the crazy flower girls!

The reception was beautiful.  I admit that it was a little stressful getting everything set up, but it came together really well.  Camille chose beautiful decorations, and the pictures hanging up everywhere were gorgeous.  She and Jake are just too darn photogenic!  Meanwhile, I was trying to get a family pic with my kids....and I was feeling less photogenic.  But that's what happens when kids are climbing on you, drooling on you, and tugging at your pretty consistently. 

 During the reception McKenzie and Faye enjoyed dancing together.  It was super cute.  

Eyeing the caramel fountain...

Signing the guest book.  Eventually the kids wore out and we set up a movie in another room for them.

With the kids entertained I realized that no one had said they were going to decorate the newlywed's car!  They said they didn't want a lot of mess to clean up, but I'm sorry, we're going to decorate it anyway!  I sent one of Camille's friends to the store and hoped she'd make it back in time.  About the same time I realized I left one last gift at the house and had to hurry home to grab it before the happy couple left.  I flew through the neighborhood just hoping Jake's police father wasn't watching, and made it back just in time to see the sparklers being lit.  I had a quick chance to say good-bye then the party was suddenly over.  

We were exhausted but it was a fun exhaustion.  I'm glad we were able to be there for it all.  Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to witness Ryan eating an entire pumpkin pie by himself!

Not so Comfort-able

There has been so much emotion in our lives lately that I think it's time I get it written down, simply to document what is happening.  Jeremy is trying to switch offices, and it's the scariest thing we've ever done.  

About a year ago Jeremy and I realized that we needed to make a change.  Things in his office weren't going well.  True, he wasn't bringing home the paycheck he wanted, but that wasn't what drove him away.  He was not blending well with his partners.  To put it simply, they have different goals and are each working towards those individually instead of working together as partners to improve their practice.  This has been really driving Jeremy crazy.  There were days when he came home feeling like the only partner who was actually present in the office.  The only one who was dealing with the books, with the supplies, with the assistants, and other daily fires that popped up.  He tried to get everyone working together but it simply wasn't working.  He finally came to the realization that in order to accomplish his personal professional goals, he was going to need to be in a different office.  

At this point we started talking with the doctor who sold Jeremy his share in the office, as well as tried to start a communication with corporate letting them know what was going on.  We didn't expect them to solve our problems for us, we simply wanted their help.  We had hoped that they could transfer us to another office, or at the very least talk with the other partners and let them know they needed to step up their game.  We didn't receive any help at all.  They didn't try to open a dialogue between themselves and Jeremy, they simply told him to tough it out.  What they didn't fully understand was that Jeremy has been "toughing it out" for two years already.  He was already at his breaking point.

In March of this year Jeremy listed his practice for sale.  We had hoped that with new graduates coming out that we would be able to sell it quickly.  Jeremy also did his best to attend the potential partner meetings each month where docs meet to buy and sell practices.  By September we hadn't received one inquiry regarding his practice.  That seemed odd, especially since his is one of the lowest priced Comfort offices for sale in Colorado.  Even if we had received a phone call and the new doc wasn't interested in Jeremy's office we would have been okay with that.  But we didn't receive one inquiry.  In order to buy a Comfort office you need to attend those partner meetings.  What seemed to be happening was that corporate would give their sales speech saying how wonderful each Comfort office was, then in the next sentence explain that the out of state offices are the best idea.  They have the most potential for growth and they're priced even lower that the established Colorado offices.  In essence, corporate was turning against their docs here and undermining their selling goals.

During this time Jeremy was looking for another office out of Comfort.  We didn't want to miraculously sell his office only to have nowhere to go.  He found an office that he's excited about.  The partner is ambitious in his goals and is willing to work hard like Jeremy.  The management is credible and honorable.  They make a practice of helping find the best fit for each doc and helping them work through problems they may have.  This is in very stark contrast to the Comfort management who seems to do a lot of name calling and throwing their docs under the bus.  

This new office was slated to open in July, but due to construction delays is now opening on November 22.  Jeremy still hasn't sold his office and is now out of time.  Because of contract issues, Jeremy can't work at both offices at the same time, and has made to make the decision to walk away from his current practice.  He owns his practice.  He has been making payments on it for four years, and now he simply has to walk away from all that equity as well as what he still owes.  This is not what he wants.  For a year we have been trying to do the right thing and get everything squared away.  It is making Jeremy sick walking away from this office.  When he walks he hurts his current partners, his assistants, the doctor we originally purchased it from, and ultimately Comfort's reputation.  Jeremy has a good heart and the idea of walking away from these people is killing him.  It was not a decision we came to lightly and we really feel like leaving this office is the best choice for us.  

Now we are running into a slew of problems.  It seems as though no one believed Jeremy when he said that he was leaving originally.  Now that Jeremy has given his two weeks notice to corporate and his partners, they are doing everything they can to get him to stay.  They will be cutting franchise fees and interests rates to entice him.  Unfortunately it's too little too late.  Had they offered this a year ago when Jeremy was struggling and frustrated we probably would have taken the deal.  But now other things are in motion and we've made our peace with our decision.  

What is scaring the living daylights out of us is that now that corporate knows we're not bluffing, they are turning mean.  In their last meeting with Jeremy they threatened him with law suits.  Not just one, but multiple law suits.  They promised to make an example of him and prove that doctors can't just walk away from them without a consequence.  They are even going to force his partners, previous doctors, and franchise members sue him.  They are going to do their best to make Jeremy's life miserable for years.   It goes without saying that this is not the kind of company we want to work with anymore.  Now Jeremy has one more meeting with Comfort this afternoon that was scheduled to help convince Jeremy it is in his best interest to stay at Comfort.  I am terrified about what is going to be said at this meeting. Right now I'm praying that corporate has a soft heart and will understand that what we are doing is not intended to be malicious, but just that there was too little communication early on in this problem and it's time to cut ties.  

Unfortunately, nothing is as simple as it seems.  Jeremy's office just qualified for medicaid funding which gives each doctor $16,000.  That is not chump change.  That is bonus money for simply seeing medicaid patients.  Jeremy has been trying to qualify for this funding for months, and now it finally came through.  If we walk, we lose that money.  That money would make a huge difference in our financial situation right now.  For the first time in two years we wouldn't be stressed about paying bills.  But as tempting as that money is, it's just money.  I don't care about $16,000 if it means my husband is still unhappy at work.  That money doesn't solve our problems, but it's hard to let go.  The docs who know Jeremy and his situation are also on the wrong end of this deal.  They don't blame him for going and are sick with worry about what corporate is going to force them to do to him.  It just seems wrong.

I'm just really scared about what is going to happen if Comfort does decide to sue.  What happens if they win the three suits they are threatening to put against us?  I wouldn't be surprised if they totaled one million dollars in restitution.  Who has that kind of money?  How on earth are we supposed to pay back a one million dollar suit plus lawyer fees?  It makes me sick thinking about it.  We are talking with our lawyer about the possibility of us winning.  Jeremy may be having that conversation right now actually, but I don't know the answer.  It had better be yes.  Comfort doesn't care if they lose, they just want to drag us through the mud.  But I definitely care if we lose.  It would be life-changing.  
When first we started with Comfort, current doctors told us that it was like wearing golden handcuffs.  You were paid well, but your hands were tied. We were never really paid well enough to have them described as golden handcuffs.  You can put up with a lot if the pay check is right. We were also told it was like working for the mafia.  At the time I didn't fully understand how truthful those statements were.  I really feel like we are being trapped, bullied, coerced, and threatened to stay with this company.  I do not want the rest of my husband's professional career to be dictated like that.  It is his life and he should have more say in where he spends his days working.  I never knew I could feel this betrayed by a job.  We may have more answers by the end of the day, or we might not.  I just really want the stomach turning, gut-wrenching heart-ache to end.

Primary Program thoughts

This was McKenzie's first year participating in the Primary Program.  She sang all the songs and said her part clearly.  But my favorite part of watching her was watching her wave her arms and conduct like the chorister.  She even used to hands to signal sit-down and stand-up.  She did it through the entire program and it made me smile.  The primary program is always fun to watch.  Kids mess up with the microphone, they say silly things, and they are just cute up there on the stand.  This year our next-door neighbor, Laura, came with us.  It's nerve-wracking bringing someone new to church.  You just hope that no one says anything weird with them listening.  I don't know if it was because Laura was there, or if I would have felt this way anyway, but I was incredibly touched by the sweet spirits of the primary kids.  They all have such pure testimonies.  They know Christ lives, there is no doubt in their minds.  They know what he loves them.  They know that if they live righteously then they can live with him, and their families again in heaven.  No one can explain the gospel as well as children can.  I was overwhelmed by how true this gospel is, and how lucky I am that my children can testify of that.

Happy Halloween

We love Halloween in our house.  I really enjoy putting together their costumes.  They love dressing up.  We have a blast at everyone's Halloween parties.  And everyone loves the candy treats at the end of the night.  Earlier this week we went to our ward truck-or-treat.   We thought it was funny that two of the girls' friends were dressed just like them, they are even sister's too.

And if you didn't step out of your house this Halloween season, you may or not know that this was the year of the Elsa costume.  There were six just at our ward party!  I love it :)

When it came time to carve our pumpkins, we had a little help from some friends we were watching that afternoon; Rylee, Ashlynn, and Easton.  

Cambrie chose a pumpkin that was long and flat, which made it a perfect candidate for a bat carving.  She did all of the design and carving by herself.  

And Kelton's mummy was carved by Easton and Rylee.  He was napping through the afternoon which is a shame, because I think he would have really loved the pumpkin slime.  

McKenzie wanted an Elsa pumpkin, but instead of a face we thought that a snowflake might be a better idea.  She loved it!  

On the day of Halloween the girls were bouncing off the walls before they even had one piece of candy.  There must have been sugar in the air causing them to go crazy.  But before we let them loose on the neighborhood, we had to get pictures of their costumes.  Cambrie as a witch.  Her request for a witch costume was that it had orange fuzzy trim.  We found the spiderweb fabric for her cloak, and she became our cute spiderweb witch.

McKenzie was Elsa.  She was very concerned that her hair should look exactly like Elsa's.  Since it's so short I could get it in a braid but it wouldn't flow the way McKenzie wanted it to.  She wore a wig and didn't complain about it once!  I couldn't believe it.  She looked fabulous.  

Elsa obviously needed a little buddy, so Kelton got to be Olaf.  When I stuffed his costume I couldn't believe how fat I made him.  The first time we put it on him we couldn't stop laughing.  

After that he thought it was super funny to put it on and we didn't have any complaints from him at all.  

All three trick-or-treaters.  

I tried to get a picture of Elsa and Olaf giving each other warm hugs....

but they were very distracted by Cambrie walking in the neighbor's mist.  She looks like she fits right in. 

 It was Jeremy year to take out the kids while I stayed home on candy duty.  I wished them luck, and passed out oodles of candy while waiting for them to return.  

When they got home it turned into a candy free-for-all.  Kelton couldn't believe his luck that we let him eat candy.  Cambrie stuffed her face until it was time for bed.  And McKenzie ate until she had a bellyache.  

Of course all that sugar makes for some sugar-crazed kids.  They ran circles around the kitchen laughing and being silly.  The hot cocoa at the end of the night was almost too much to handle.  Nights like these are nights that I am really glad I get the chance to be a mom.  It was so much fun!