Firsts

I think our house might have been the LAST in the U.S.A. to finally buy a big, modern, high definition television. We had our ancient (almost 10 years old) and tiny television up until black Friday. On that day we took a great leap forward and my very kind father-in-law waited in line at 5:00 in the morning for 2 hours to get me this beauty at a bargain. Am I excited? Yes. All I want to do now is watch movies and absorb the vivid new colors. (Yes- I am also a geek)!

Last week I competed in my VERY FIRST official race. The Ft. Lewis Turkey Trot. I ran the 10 K with my high school friend, Emmi. It was a blast! I can't believe I waited this long to enter a race. I placed 6th in my age division. I loved it so much that I signed up for another race in December. Izaac is still immobile. He screeches if he falls over and gets rescued so quickly by one of his siblings that he hasn't even begun to learn how to crawl. This is not a complaint. Just the opposite. I am so grateful that I don't have to baby-proof or chase him around yet. He is in the delightful stage of happily playing in one spot. Easy for me!

This child is driving me nuts. That's not a first. He is the male version of that poem, "when she was good she was very good and when she was bad she was horrid." We have good moments. Like when he gets out of bed for the umpteenth time to tell me he has "tons and tons of hugs for me." I will blame the bad moments on his complete lack of understanding as to why his Dad-his best buddy- has been gone for so long. After he hugs me he always tells me that he'd rather hug his Dad. Wouldn't we all.

Ellie has just lost her 4th tooth since Dad left. "All she wants for Christmas is..."

And I will follow up with more later...

From Iraq

Jaylon is attempting to have internet again from his CHU. These are the first pictures he's been able to send me since he left. Jaylon designed this right over his dental chair so his patients have something to look at while their teeth are getting yanked. Ha!

The vehicle he rides in on convoys.

A growth he removed from somebody's mouth.

The operatory.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

I've wanted to take the kids to Northwest Trek since we moved here. On Veteran's Day we finally went and had a great time. It was cold but not raining so I can't complain. We saw lots of animals: owls, wolverines, elk, big horn sheep, lynx, mountain lions, grizzly bears, black bears, and many more.

I cut the strips and Ellie tied this fleece blanket for a humanitarian project for our stake. She was pretty proud of herself! I am really enjoying the extra help she gives me. She won't come within ten feet of the kitchen but I can't really blame her for that. The kitchen is a big black hole. She should avoid it as long as possible. The one time I made her help me with the dishes she was literally screaming and terrified that her skin would come into contact with anything yucky. That's when I realized that I have made them wash their hands too much. My kids are afraid to get dirty. Or maybe they're just really good at manipulating me. Probably both.

Litmus Test

If you laugh- you are mean.

P.S. I laughed

For Real

It takes a REAL man to wear his daughter's PINK hat and SUNGLASSES on a public beach. Awwwww, to have my REAL man's arm around me once more. Could time POSSIBLY go ANY slower? What a DRAG this deployment is. I despise being separated from my SWEETHEART.
Let another weekend CREEP along...

I AM OUTNUMBERED

They look innocent. But like all predators...when they sense weakness they go for the KILL.

You will hear me crying across the world when my angel Mother leaves me all alone to fend for myself against these darling, ferocious, terrible little TYRANTS.