Let it Snow

In my quest to catch you up on the last 8 months of the Bartleys, here are a few pics from the winter. We don't get a lot of snow in Dallas so it was a pretty big deal to get 3 inches or so in early March. We hardly got any snow or ice all winter, but just as we were getting ready to move into Spring we get a snowstorm. If memory serves it happened on a Thursday and we didn't get to play our soccer game that Saturday. We had to reschedule a lot of games (both soccer and baseball) last Spring due to rain-outs, but this was my first snow-out.

Also, if you remember my theme from my last post, I was working a lot. Well, most of the finance staff on our floor panicked at the snowfall predictions when it started shortly after lunch and left early for the day. My department??? We stayed until about 10 PM that evening because obviously moving numbers around on a spreadsheet is much more important than employees arriving at their home safe and sound.

I know for many of you 3 inches of snow is no big deal, but it is out of the ordinary here in Dallas so the kids went out after school and had a great time playing in the snow and made a snowman just their size.

Reviving the blog... again

As usual my ADD kicked in and enthusiasm for updating this blog waned, but I'm trying to renew the blog and begin updating it again. It's been 8 long months since my last post and a few things have happened since the last post. Here are the highlights.

• I finished the playset.
• I worked a lot.
• The boys started Kindergarten.
• I worked a lot.
• Claire celebrated her third birthday.
• I worked a lot.
• Julie traveled to Calgary, Canada with the Richtones to perform (as outgoing Champions) at the annual Sweet Adelines International Competition.
• I worked a lot.
• For Halloween, Claire was Snow White, Grant was Darth Vader and William was a Ninja.
• I worked a lot.
• We traveled to Oklahoma City in late December to visit our new nephew. We also celebrated the boys' 6th birthday there.
• I worked a lot.
• Christmas at our house.
• I worked a lot.
• Spring sports started with Soccer. I'm coaching William and Grant on the Cavaliers again this season. They continue to excel at soccer.
• I worked even more.
• The boys' school, Lewisville Christian School, held their annual auction and carnival. We came away with some great stuff including a new pet hamster. We named him Munchy. We also got a one night stay at a new hotel in town called the Great Wolf Lodge which has an indoor water park.
• I worked a lot.
• After a lot of energy, effort and prayer the boys have been accepted to and enrolled in Prestonwood Christian Academy for first grade next fall.
• I worked a lot.
• Baseball season has started. I'm not the head coach, but am assisting with the Tigers. William and Grant are both playing. It's coach pitch, but after 3 missed swings, the kids get to hit off of a tee. I'm the pitcher and am feeling the pressure. I haven't yet beaned a kid, but am waiting for the moment when a wild pitch hits a kid in the head and an angry father runs out on to the field unleashing profanities while swing an aluminum bat at my head--not that I've had nightmares about it or anything.
• I worked a lot.

Well that pretty much sums up the last few months for our family. Oh yeah, one other thing...

I was told last Thursday that my job had been discontinued and I would no longer need to show up for work after June 14th. After I got back to my cube, I did the happy dance (No, there is not a YouTube link to see my performance). In case, you couldn't tell, I was working way too much and needed a change. When one door closes, another opens and though I was offered a very nice severance package I've also received an offer for an internal transfer which I'm going to accept. It will offer new challenges and a much better work/life balance.

Anyway, I will try my best to keep my ADD under control and to consistently update this blog. I will try to get some pics up soon of the kids. You won't believe how they've grown (unless you're reading this post in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area and see them on a regular basis).

I do appreciate those of you who've consistently checked in on the blog with your fingers crossed, hoping I had posted an update. Hopefully, my extended absence has not completely discouraged my already small audience of readers.

All the best,

Dennis