Just asking for general advice on money I have received

I have received a check from oil royalties on some land I use to own in the amount of $40,000. I have yet to deposit the check. A couple of questions I have regarding what to do with it, but since I'm gonna have to ask questions and not be able to answer questions right away I'll explain my financial situations a little bit.

I am married with 4 kids, in my early 30s, and make between 45,000 to 50,000 a year working 2 jobs. As of now wife doesn't work but will take on part time work next year. The decision for her not to work the last couple years was more mine than hers as daycare is really expensive, especially for 2 kids. My other 2 are alot older.

My main job I will be fortunate to have firefighter retirement and I also add about $200 a month to a 457b plan. We bought our house in 09 for about $180,000, and now owe about $130,000 at 5%. No credit card debt, 1 vehicle paid off, and other owe about $8,000 with 4.5%. I figured up about $8,000 for 6 months of living expenses. My plan was to put $10,000 in XOM, do the DRIP, and just leave it there for maybe 10-15 years. That's what I was gonna do with the 6 months living expense as I just added a couple thousand to it to make it 10 grand. Then I figured another 8 grand and put it in the best savings acct I can find, along with taxes owed, and leave it there. Ok, Ive got 2 questions out of all this

1. We actually get good returns on taxes with 4 kids and EIC,(although I know many people look down on that). With wife going back to work next year this will be the last year we will qualify. Could we wait until January to deposit check and show that income for next year instead of this year? Or will the 1099 pretty much mean we would have to show it for this year? Basically, should I might as well deposit check now or good idea to wait till next year?

2. Do ya'll think XOM is a decent investment to go with? Not trying to be extremely aggressive but not to conservative. I'm not fooling with penny stocks or anything like that. Don't want the hassle with real estate. Or would mutual funds be a better options, maybe setting up another Roth? My wife has one but obviously not much goes into it right now.

This should as far as I know be a 1 time check, I don't think I'll be receiving another one. Check was written this month and good for 180 days. I'm in Louisiana. TIA

Also, we will be putting money in renovating bathrooms and replacing all the windows. Fortunately I have a really good friend that's gonna help me and I'll be out mostly just parts as an expense. I've replaced many, many windshields for him and his family at cost, so he offered to help me with the bathrooms. Our house was built in 79 and windows are single pane and I don't know, just suck.