And so it begins. Part 2

So we watched the "weak" hive over the summer, checking to make sure the new queen was laying. It still didn't appear to be expanding as we figured it should.  Late Aug 2015 we tore the hive apart and had a real thorough inspection, and we found lots of Drones and Drone cells. So after much discussion we decided to get rid of the queen and combine this hive with the other hive for the winter. We felt the weak hive just didn't have enough bees to survive the winter.  Winter was quickly approaching so we had to move fast.
Near the end of Aug, we found out this was the time to check for Varroa Mites, so we did that. Then on the 30th we prepared to combine both hives. We were instructed to "disperse" of the queen, then  remove the top cover and inside cover of the good hive, place 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper over the box, then place the box from the weak hive over that. Place the inside and top cover on it and leave it for a few days to a week.
After a few days the bees from both colony's chewed thru the newspaper and by then they were accepted in and the weak hive accepted the other queen as theirs.
In the beginning of November we compressed the bees into 2 boxes for the winter and wrapped them up.
This spring we were excited to fine the hive was in great shape and the plan was in June 2016 we would get a second queen and do a split.
I can't believe what I learnt this last year from having a few problems like that. You have to learn real quick or lose the bees. I am far to stubborn to let them die without giving it my best. And this time it worked.

Checking things out

Appearing a little Beewildered