March & April- New ventures and tax season complete!

April 30, 2018

Out on a walk by the Teton River

Ahhh!! What a feeling it is to be done with tax season! No more long days, crazy clients, wanting to take a hammer to my phone or stab myself in the eye when someone complains they are getting a smaller refund than they thought... Don't get me wrong though, I love tax season, but some day's are definitely better than others. I'll give you an example.
It was the last week of tax season and I had a client come in and was very upset with me. He blamed me for everything and said I never sent him the proper forms that he wanted online. (he was an older gentleman) I sent them to him back in February and he comes in the week before tax season and claimed I never sent it. (You come into the office a month and half later to tell me you couldn't get it to work?!) I told him it was on his portal for our firm. He did not like the answer. He told me some things that were not nice at all and left. I had a break down. Not once has anyone come into that office and blamed me for something this big. (which it was not my fault by the way, he did not look in the right place) I really took it to heart and had to convince myself that I would be okay. I called Mikal, I talked with my boss, and my office manager. It still to this day bugs me the hurtful things he said to me. (ugh, the joys of tax season!)
This was my 4th tax season I have worked and my 3rd with Smith, Kunz & Associates. It has been a good few years with them. I enjoy working with my co-workers and being able to take the time off I need after tax season.
The day after tax season, we close the office. It was a nice break to get! I worked in the yard, started a wood project and made a good meal for lunch and dinner. The next day I found out that Peter's dad passed away, but Kira had to get ready to go to Portland for Everett's surgery. I called Peter and asked if he wanted me to help. I left work a little early to take the shuttle down to Salt Lake City. I had Jenn Rogerson pick me and up and I stayed the night at her house. It was fun to be able to chat with her! I haven't seen here since we lived in Washington! Peter picked me up in the morning and we headed down to St. George. The getaway was nice. I missed playing with Wesley. He is a little goof ball. I watched him while they all went to the viewing that night. It was good because Wesley did not really want to go. Saturday I hung out with Amber, Amy and the kids at the Dixie kite festival. It was a beautiful day! They I went out to see Brianna and the new little addition to their family! Babies are just so cute! Later that night and went back to Peter's family and hung out with them for the evening We played some cards and ate dinner. It was a good time! It was a nice little get away. Mikal had to stay and work on the truck since it has not been working properly since late December.
Mikal did a lot more plowing in March. It was a different winter, but he was able to work enough to make the money he needed to pay for things. His clutch on his truck decided to go out and we had to spend quite a bit of money to get that replaced. It is not cheap to fix vehicles. He slowly bought the pieces he needed and once it stopped snowing, he went out to his uncle's house and had him help him replace it. It was nice of him to help with the project and to be there to help Mikal. It took Mikal about a month to get the truck back working properly. He would get it all back together and it just would not run properly. It was very frustrating and stressful on Mikal. I am glad he finally got it fixed a couple nights ago so he has a truck to drive to work!
He is working now out at an Elk Ranch in Sugar City. He likes the job! It loves animals (especially wild animals) and learning more about how the ranch works. It is sort of similar to farming. The only thing that he does not like, is that he is getting older and does not have the best body. He is always in pain. Right now it is his knee and elbow/forearm.

We are so grateful all the info people send our ways regarding adoption! We have done a lot of work looking into leads and learning more about all this adoption process. Keep sending us anything you got!
Sage has been loving this warm weather outside! She has been going to work with Mikal. She definitely has needing to know who is boss in this house. With both of us being gone most of the winter months, she went stir crazy and was always getting into trouble and not listening very well. Mikal has had to work a lot more with her to remind her. We still love her very much! Mikal has been starting to work with her finding antlers again to get her ready for this week since it opens! Mikal took her down to the river bottoms and she found some antlers! Mikal was so proud! One was even a set 😊

My friend Sammi came down for General Conference and Easter and we had a great time visiting and going to Fall Creek, hiking up Crest Creek Trail and eating a nice Easter dinner with her and some friends! It was nice to have great friends come a hang out!

Fall Creek Falls, Swan Valley, ID

We put together a little Shutterfly book for an adoption family. It was fun getting some pictures of Mikal and I when we were little! It is a small, simple book that just explains a little bit of you we are. I will add some more of the pictures so you can see some of Mikal and I when we were little ones!
There was not much to say about March and April, but work, work, work! We have lots planned for the summer so keep an eye out for my next blog!