We Miss You Dad!

The kids are missing their dad. Last night after talking to him on the phone, Sydney cried for about half an hour, telling me how much she missed him. She made up a song for him about how "it's just not the same since he went away." It was heart breaking. So we made some signs and pictures for him today. This is going to be a long eight months.

The end is near...

Well, it's true...I'm getting old. How do I know? I had two things happen at church this week that are sure signs. First, the Young Women were doing a musical number in sacrament meeting when Syd leans over and asks why I'm not singing with them. I told her that it was the young womens group and I'm not a part of it. To which she says, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "Oh yeah, you're in Old Womens." Thanks Sydney.

Second, in Relief Society (a.k.a. Old Womens) later that same day, the teacher passed around a basket of treats. Without even thinking about it I chose the Special Dark mini candy bar. Dark Chocolate!! I passed up peanut butter cups, rolos, and kisses for dark chocolate...on purpose! When you start preferring dark to milk chocolate, the end is near. Next thing you know I'll be reaching for black licorice.

VT Lunch

I decided to have the girls I visit teach over for lunch, partially as a distraction, and partially because I just really like them. The guests included my partner, Janelle, her friend Kris, Becky, Elyssa, Ashlee, and Brooke--plus their kiddos. We had a great time, great food, and it was good to have adult voices in the house.


Pictured:
Becky and Eva Nelson

Janelle and Ali Eyring

Gone Daddy Gone

Christian left this morning for Combat Skills Training. He'll be gone for six weeks and can only hope that he gets to come home before shipping off to Iraq. I don't know how we'll bear it.

SOLD

After a few short days on the market, but months of preparation and worry, we have sold our house. I have been in love with this house since the day we looked at it two years ago and am really sad to let it go. The family who bought it are nice people and have agreed to let us rent it back from them after we close next month. That is a huge blessing and means we can stay here until Sydney finishes kindergarten. This experience has once again shown me that Heavenly Father has a plan for our family and knows I can only handle so much. If we can't take the house with us to Japan, at least we can take the memories.

Jacks turns FOUR!

I'm finding it hard to believe, but Jackson turned four on Saturday. Since Christian was set to deploy on Sunday morning, we spent the day together as a family doing all the things that Jackson likes. He chose french toast for breakfast, followed by a rigorous schedule of S&L Bounce; Build-A-Bear (he actually selected a webkin whale, named "Whaley", from next door); and McDonald's play land. Then we picked up his ice cream cake that Aunt Jeri ordered for him (thank goodness the ice cream was pink!), and went home to open presents.

He is my loving, funny, and sweet little boy. Sometimes I wish he'd never get any older. He agrees, and tells me that he doesn't want to grow up because he never wants to leave me. My heart is officially melted.

Baby in the sink

Once again, Soren pooped all up his back and arms so I stuck him in the kitchen sink for a quick clean up. He had so much fun that I had to let him play.