Life with the Baxters

Wow, what a crazy semester we have had! But it's not over yet. Between Austin's projects, papers and sketches, my rather large group of fourth graders, our callings and various other events we've been a part of, I'm surprised we're alive and kicking! Fortunately, we both work well under pressure.
Austin is in his second year of Architecture at ASU. While last year was mostly hand sketches and models, this year he has transitioned mostly to computer rendering. He hasn't decided which is easier yet... But he is very much a pen and paper guy. He was very encouraged when he met a guy in our stake who just got a job doing only hand renderings at a Phoenix firm. That is basically Austin's dream job!! We weren't sure if that really existed! But this man said that clients still want simple, instant sketches and he's pretty comfortable with job security. We hope so!
I have a BIG class this year. My 32 10-year-olds keep me moving. My weekends are spent grading, grading, cleaning and more grading. I have enough to keep me busy during the week, so I pile up all my assignments throughout the week and take them home. Fortunately, I have an awesome sister (and often brother and brother-in-law!) who enjoy "grading parties". On Sunday nights, we all sit and grade and watch past seasons of Downton Abbey. :) What could be better, right? haha
We moved into the Chandler West stake this summer and are enjoying our new ward (Well, we enjoyed both of them. Several wards split shortly after we moved in). I was called to be the first counselor in young womens and Austin is the bear den leader. We are both happy to be working in these new callings, but we have had to quickly learn how to manage time appropriately. There are very, VERY few lazy moments around the Baxter house. We just don't have time for it! And as such, when I do have a down minute, I haven't been searching for pictures and blogging about it... Well, this is about as close to a journal as I come, so my goal is to update far more regularly. We shall see how that resolution goes.
Here are a few pictures about our past 6 months...

This is the maxi skirt Janie and I made during fall break. Looks simple, but sewing something correctly is a big deal in the Macdonald family!! We were quite proud.

We lived at my parents for a few weeks this summer in between leases, and Quinton and Indy became very good friends. They get up to all sorts of shenanegans.

Apparently I only take sideways pictures of Jan. This is my classroom, all shiny and clean before school started

My room is full of owls and Harry Potter :) my favorites! (Dang, this is definitely before school started. You can actually see the empty top of my desk...)

Bulletin Boards and more owls

Over the summer, one of Ciara's mission companions, Laura, came from France to stay with the Baxters for a month. It was a blast getting to know her! Here she is with almost all our family. Mom Baxter isn't in this picture due to that scary hospital stay. We are happy to report that she is doing so much better months later

Elder Macdonald

My brother Kyle left on his mission to Nagoya, Japan on June 13. He is doing very well and working so hard! I am incredibly proud of him :) We all are! Kyle says that after just two weeks in the MTC, they are only speaking and practicing teaching in Japanese! But despite the hard work, he says he is loving it and knows he's in the right place. He is such a good example to us!

Kyle flew up to Utah day day before with his friend Trennon who happened to go into the MTC on the same day. My grandparents picked him up and held a small open house for UT family and friends to visit. Kyle said it was great seeing so many familiar faces again!

 Preston will be on his way to the MTC soon!

 Brianna and Lilly

 Quinns

Pat and Frank

 Ortons

 Lambs

 Pastrami burgers at Crown Burger before MTC

Grammy and Grandpa

Elders

At the drop off

Last shot!

I know Kyle will be a fantastic missionary. He is a hard worker with a strong testimony. The people of Japan are very blessed!

I'm a terrible blogger

My mom pointed this out to me yesterday :) But she's right! I always feel like I have nothing to post, but honestly there has been plenty going on this past month!
At the beginning of May, we were in California for Janis and Kevin's wedding. It was a wonderful, but very busy weekend. Their sealing was Friday morning. It was a wonderful service and so many of our family members were able to be there! We then took pictures with family at the temple (San Diego Temple!!!) and then headed over to the luncheon. Maybe if Janis Shoemaker updates her blog too, you can see the pictures here :). (at least I'm not the only horrible blogger!)
After the luncheon, we all jumped in the car and raced back to AZ to finish setting up the wedding reception for the next day. Fortunately, we have a great home ward who helped TREMENDOUSLY.
Saturday was just as eventful. We were back at the church that morning, putting on finishing touches, printing wedding pictures and, oh yeah, Graduating!

As luck would have it, my graduation was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the same day as my sister's wedding reception. Fun! But my parents were great and very willing to come and support me as well. I'm very thankful :) Completing my Masters degree is so important to me! I am very proud of my achievement.
Then it was back to Chandler for the reception. It was a great day, and night!

SO that was the beginning of the month. Since then, I have also gotten a job!! I will be teaching next year for Benjamin Franklin Charter School, likely fourth grade.

 I'm so excited!!! I went to Franklin as a student and I can't wait to return as a teacher. I actually got the job before I graduated and as I sat in the arena looking at the thousands of other graduates, I was immensly grateful that I would not have wait in anticipation like so many others. We have been very blessed :)

And even more excitement is coming up in the next few weeks. My brother leaves on his mission to Japan in just 4 days. I can't believe it... more to come.

Bridal Shower

Janie's wedding is in less than a week! But her shower was on April 14th. Because of her love and shoes and her new last name becoming Shoemaker, we themed the shower appropriately...

Janie's favorite food is bagels and cream cheese, so we of course had that at the shower as well :)

Instead of playing the usual groom answers, bride answers game, I instead interviewed Janie and Kevin and asked them to share their version of several important events in their time together. I also made them think hard and remember what shoes they were wearing so I could match the story to the shoes. It was no problem for Jans of course!

 Can't believe it's coming so soon! We leave for California in 4 days...

 On another note: Thesis is passed, Student teaching is completed, job applications filled out... I graduate on Saturday!!!!!

California!

Over Spring Break, we were able to go with my family to visit CA for a week. We sailed for 3 days, then spent the last 4 in Newport Beach.  The oldest of my brothers, Kyle, went through the Newport Temple while we were there. It was a fantastic trip!

 (Oh, this was the birthday cake that Janie made for Logan. He is a pokemon fan and we found this on Pinterest. I though the fire-breathing dragon was cute!)

 Newport Beach

 It was cold! but there was lots of sun.

Catch up

In the three months since I last posted, life in the Baxter house has been its usual busy!
I am student teaching this semester and writing my "thesis". Well, it's not exactly a thesis because I don't have to defend it or be passed off by a board. Yay! I just have to make my presentation to my committee. Student teaching is going well. I'm still at Humphrey Elementary and enjoying it very much. I am counting the days until I graduate on May 5!
Also May 5 is my sister's wedding! And a month after that, Kyle leaves on his mission. It is busy busy around my parent's house! There are so many exciting things going on. I'm glad that we are close enough to be a part of it all :)
Austin is doing well this semester. He is still working full time and going to school a few days a week. His design classes are going well and he is really thriving with all of these architecture projects. He builds models and creates site plans over and over and over again, but still claims to love his program! We will find out sometime this summer if he is accepted into the full program for the next three years.