No Love in Farmington

Well, we finally heard back from Farmington, and I didn't get the job.

So the hunt continues, both for a job along the Wasatch Front and for housing that we can live in until we find a job. It wouldn't be so bad living here if it wasn't completely beyond our means. The cost of living out here is just so unjustifiably high that we don't understand how anyone can stay here.

When we were hoping for the Farmington job and the Summit County job, we were looking at housing in the Ogden area, just so that we could know what we'd be looking at if we did move. We found a 5-bedroom 3-bath house (fairly new, btw) for $275 less per month than we're paying for the 2-bed 1.5-bath poc condo that we're in now. And our ceiling is about to cave in! Is there really any wonder why the schools in the county can't get teachers to take jobs here? Not really.

As a planner, I see this housing shortage as a real issue. And there are some (not many, but a few) developers who want to put in apartments. But there is such a huge outcry against them everytime they bring in a project that we can never get them passed. I say that as though that would matter. In reality these developers want to bring in these apartments only because they can charge extraordinarily high rents here. The difference between supply and demand here is so high that adding a little to the supply side doesn't really change anything.

A guy in our ward just sold his house for $170,000. It's a WWII-era house with 2 small bedrooms and approximately 900 square feet. Can you imagine paying $170,000 for a house that small?

Anyway, enough complaining about things we can't change (yes, I know, if any one person could do something about it, it should be me, but it's just not possible). The bottom line is that the search continues. Wish us luck, and keep us in your prayers.

Oh, and by the way Mom, I really did expect to get this job. When the letter came, I honestly thought it would be a job offer. So much for the secret.

Greg Teaches Toby a Classic

5 Months Old

"I can't believe I drank the whole thing"

A drool frozen in time

Hanging with Grandma

Toby's not happy

Toby's Walker!

Lately Toby has been straining to sit up on his own. Today Greg surprised us by going out and buying this walker for him. When we first placed him in it, he immediately showed signs that he loved it! He can't touch his feet yet, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Growth Charts

Currently, Toby's weight is in the 9th percentile. Considering that he eats twice as much as the books say he should, that's pretty amazing.



Currently, Toby's length is in the 91st percentile. So that's where all the food is going!

What Should Be the Caption?

Post in the comments what you think the caption to this photo should be...

Toby's 4 Month Doctor Visit

Toby had his 4 month visit on Monday, Feb 11th. He had to have 3 shots and he had a fever for a couple days, but he's fine now.

What was strange at the appointment was finding out Toby's weight and height.

He weighed in at 12 pounds 7 ounces, up 2 pounds from before. But he eats almost twice as much as he should! I was expecting to hear that he was gaining more weight than he should, but the doctor said Toby is down to the 27th percentile for his age. Toby eats about 50 ounces of formula every day, and that's with it diluted because Toby demands 6 ounces of fluid at each feeding (still every two hours about, except at night).

Where is it all going? Must be going towards his growth because he's tall for his age. His height went up about 3 inches(26 inches), giving him a really high percentage for his age - 95%.

So I guess I don't need to worry or limit his food intake. Actually we think Toby is ready to start rice cereal and maybe that will calm his hunger down a bit!

Good News About Taxes

It almost seems impossible that one would get good news about taxes, but that's what happened to us today.

In 2004 I lived about half the year in Arizona. I moved back at the end of the year when I was forced to leave my job. When I filed my taxes that year, I filed as a part year resident. Well, the tax commission questioned that and brought an audit against me, levying more taxes for that year.

I appealed the decision and had a preliminary hearing a few months ago. I had a follow-up hearing today. In the interim the state Attorneys' General Office was going to review the case during that time, and if they thought my appeal had merit, would drop the case against me and let me know. So, when I didn't hear from them, I prepared to argue my case before the judge this morning. Well, an hour before my hearing was to begin, I got a call from the AG's office, and they have decided to drop the case against me. The tax commission is amending my liability to $0, and the whole back taxes thing is going away!

I am so glad that I went with the appeal rather than paying the $450 claim last year!

The Tele-Toby Family

Just having some fun with Photoshop!

Toby Tobster