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4月23日

Kenzington Nicole Anderson!

     I am finally getting around to blogging again!  I have a good excuse- on April 11th our daughter was born.  Kenzington Nicole Anderson came into this world at 3:59 p.m. on Wednesday April 11th, 2007.  BOY IS SHE A CUTIE POT!  She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz. and was 19.5 inches long.  She has lots of dark curly hair.  She looks a lot like Boston and Holden did when they were born.  If her eyes are open, her tongue is poking out looking for food! 
     I had a c-section and I'm recovering well, all except for THE ITCHIES!  I had an allergic reaction to the steri-strips and my skin has been freaking out BIG TIME!  I guess the itchies are the only thing STILL bothering me.  I don't look so very happy in the photos at the hospital because I was constantly throwing up for the first 15 hours after surgery and also because I had a very itchy face from the anesthesia.  The things we go through to get these cute kiddos here!
     But she's beautiful and she is WORTH IT ALL and then some!  I am soooooo grateful she is here, safe and sound and that she is HEALTHY!  It is nice to not be sitting around the NICU wondering if she will be okay the way we did with Holden.  We are truly blessed and watched over.
     I'll add more photos soon!
2月21日

All That Jazz

So, today Andre Korilinko of the Utah Jazz paid a visit to Middle Canyon Elementary School where Dave teaches and Boston attends second grade.  The kids earned a visit from a Utah Jazz player by reading their little hearts out over the last month.  They read nearly a million minutes total!  I was so proud of Boston.  She PERSONALLY read more than 3200 minutes! (I don't remember her total!)  Middle Canyon Elementary took 3rd place of all the schools in the state which was not an easy feat!
 
I uploaded photos that Dave took today as well as some photos that were still on my camera.  You know, pulling them off my camera has NOT been a priority nearly as often since I acquired a 1gb card!  There were still photos from Christmas.  Dave's and Boston's cameras need a clean out too, and I KNOW there are a few cards floating around here that I am unsure what they might hold.  Anyway, I guess I am just as bad as the neighbors that haven't put their Christmas decorations in their yard away, right? (why does that bug me?)
 
So- enjoy the pics!  Included are Christmas, a little of our move (very little, we were busy!) a little of life since then, and then recently- the Monster Truck Show that Dave took the kids to Saturday (I got to go with my mom to a Women's Conference instead! yeah!) and Mom's 56th birthday.
 
By the way- only 56 days until the baby is scheduled to arrive.  I am panicing a bit, but Dave has been SUPERMAN lately and has got much of the framing done for the 2 rooms we need to finish downstairs.  I'm so proud of him!  He's done such a good job and learned a lot doing it.  Now if there weren't so much still to go til they are done!  And if it all didn't cost so much $$$!
 
2月5日

It's Been Too Long!

     Sooooo much has happened since I last blogged.  I barely know where to start!  I guess I'll just aim for somewhere in the middle!  We did sell our home and move about 3 blocks away from where we were before.  We didn't move to the house I mentioned in my last entry, but the home we ended up with will be better for us long term.  We are FINALLY starting to feel settled a bit, although we still have a LONG way to go before we are all unpacked, put away, etc.
     We have had lots of work to do and still have much ahead!  The people who lived here previously were smokers and had 3 stinky cats here.  We've had to strip out carpets and paint every room, and it has all taken longer and been harder work than we thought it might be.  We've got 2 bedrooms to finish in the basement VERY SOON because I'm scheduled to have the baby on April 18th!  That is less than 2.5 months away!
     Speaking of which, our baby is A GIRL!  Her name will be Kenzington Nicole.  Boston is thrilled to know that it will be a sister.  I'm pretty excited about it being a girl, too.
     I'm going to TRY to get some photos posted soon, to catch you up on all that has gone on.  Check out my albums!
Valerie
 
 
9月30日

La Vida Loca

Life is crazy sometimes!  We've decided to sell our home and if all goes well, move to a home that is about 2 blocks west of here.  Dave joked with people that he works with that his commute (a block and a half) is just too far and that is what makes a move necessary.  Goodness!  If our offer continues to stand on the home we are hoping for he'll only have a block to walk to work!  Giggling! 
 
I'm about 10 weeks along now and doing well!  I have headaches and a bit of nausea here and there, but for the most part things are pretty melow so far this pregnancy (knocking on wood!)  I have an appointment in about a week and a half and hopefully I'll get to see the little gummy bear on ultrasound again.  Last time it was looking rather blobbish.
 
The kids are growing like weeds and it is a million miles an hour like always!  Boston has a play today.  I've been doing sort of an openhouse for our house today and Dave has the boys over at the school so our house will stay clean.  It is very QUIET around here right now!
 
My baby girl is going to be 8 years old on the 4th.  Can you believe it?  Kamden will turn 4 10 days later and before you know it Holden will be 3.
 
We were able to go to the temple yesterday and see our friends Kimberly and Brent have their adopted daughter Kendra sealed to their family.  It was beautiful!  I bawled all the way through it.  It is soooo neat seeing things come full circle.
 
Then we decided at the last minute to go to the circus with my mom.  The circus sure has changed a lot!  The kids loved it and my mom did too.  She is such a kid at heart!  It was fun.
 
Life is good!  It is still just soooo nice having Dave home and sometimes I wonder how we got through the 18 month deployment!  I praise Heavenly Father every day for the gifts and blessings, as well as the trials past and lessons learned that I've had in my life.  Life is good!
8月27日

Dying to Share!

We Are Expecting A Baby!
Soooooo Excited!
 
8月20日

Schooool Daze...

Tomorrow begins the 2006-2007 school year for my husband, who teaches elementary school, and for our daughter Boston, who will be starting 2nd grade.  Both had a bit of a switcheroo of plans this last week.  Dave was planning to teach 6th grade.  Boston was planning on a specific teacher.  Enrollment #s changed both plans.  Dave will now be teaching 3rd grade.  Enrollment #s also made it so that our school will require a 2nd-3rd split.  Boston will be in the split class with a different teacher than we had in mind.  The opportunity will be good for her because she will have an opportunity to learn 3rd grade curriculum as well.  Yet we have all spent the week "changing gears" in preparation for the big day tomorrow.  We ALL spent many long hours helping Dave prepare for what tomorrow will bring.
 
My little girl has grown up on me a LOT lately.  2nd grade!  Wow.  I imagine the upcoming year will produce yet more change.  I am proud of who she is becomming.  I love that girl.
 
Here's to the new school year and some NORMALCY (whatever that is) in our lives. 
8月1日

Family Reunion

This Friday I picked Dave up from the airport after 2 weeks in Oklahoma at a Captain's course and we headed to North Fork camp grounds up Ogden Canyon for his annual family reunion.  His plane was originally scheduled to get in after 8 p.m., so we booked a night at our time share that is close by rather than plan to pitch a tent at midnight.  Well he arranged to have his flight changed, but we decided to keep the condo and I am very glad we did, although we didn't really get a chance to enjoy it much!
 
We checked into our time share and then headed up to be with family for a bit before bed.  By the time we found the campground and got parked it was just starting to get dark.  We'd gotten jackets onto all the kiddos and were just starting to visit with family a bit.  I was sitting with Kamden at the fire helping him with a marshmallow when I noticed Holden walking on the opposite side of the fire with his back to me.  Dave's Aunt Tammy stopped and was talking to him and then he suddenly was face down on the ground! His arms were at his sides- he hadn't tried to catch himself or anything!   I ran around the fire and in the mean time Tammy scooped him up and turned him over.  Oh no my poor boy!
 
Holden had Pulmonary Hypertension at birth.  He was a VERY sick baby for about 3 weeks and we had some close calls in the first 3 days.  He has been quite healthy actually, ever since, considering what he went through, but one lasting effect he seems to have is that when he is really upset about something and crying, he will hold his breath for UNBELIEVABLE amounts of time!  Well apparently he was upset about something and was doing that and I didn't even know it as his back was turned to me!  I have ALWAYS worried about him doing it long enough to pass out and he has gotten close before, but this is the first time he has actually done it!  Anyway, this was a rough place to have it be his first.
 
There was blood everywhere and it was hard to tell at first where it was coming from or if there were multiple places.  He also had dirt and small rocks everywhere, up his nose, in his mouth, EVERYWHERE.  The blood was coming from a huge gash in his forehead that was clear to his skull.  Lovely.  What a fun family reunion this was starting off to be!  We quickly cleaned him off a bit and then Dave and some uncles gave him a quick Priesthood Blessing before we headed for the hospital.  It was soooo nice that Dave was home and could give him a blessing!  I have missed the Priesthood in our home so much! We quickly got in the truck and headed down the mountain.  I sat by Holden's car seat and held the wound shut as well as I could on the bumpy curvy ride down Ogden canyon.  We took him to McKayDee Hospital where he got 5 stitches and a CT scan to make sure his skull was not fractured.  The ct did show superficial damage to his skull, but nothing the drs. were worried about.  Thank God!  It was about 2:30 am before we left the ER and headed back up the mountain.  We had left our other children and our dog with NOTHING other than a jackets and a kennel!  Thank goodness Dave's sister Tammy was such a good little momma to them and took care of them!
 
We got the kiddos out of bed and headed to the condo.  We were ready for some real sleep, I'll tell you.  On the way to the condo I told Boston that I was proud of her for being so good while we were at the hospital and for handling everything so well.  She told me that when we first left she was quite upset and crying a little, but that she went off by Saydee's kennel and said a prayer to Heavenly Father that her brother would be okay and that she would be comforted.  She said after that, she didn't worry anymore and everything was fine.  I am so proud of her!
 
By the next morning, Holden was up and running around and acting like NOTHING happened.  Oh- and I was FOLLOWING him around trying to get him to hold still and be careful!  Giggling!  The rest of the reunion was fun and uneventful.  And I remembered, once again, why I would have been a horrid pioneer...
 
NO BABY WIPES!  Giggling.  Among other things.
7月20日

a gigantic leap for mankind!

So I am not sure when or how it happened, but it did.  I wonder if it was one of those things that happened in an instant and then there was no going back, or if it took place a little at a time with a bit of, “which do I like better???” going through my boy’s mind.  But it truly has happened and to most it means nothing, but to me, it is a very big miracle that brings me to my knees.  It is the simplest of things!  But for my boy who looks fairly normal and will be expected to be fairly normal by all of those who don’t love him and expect him just to be the best him, it is a great accomplishment.  Kamden can now alternate which foot takes the up-step in going up the stairs!  There is no more shuffling and step together step together.  He walks up them like a very big kid.  Like an adult!  With confidence!  Several tiny up-steps for Kamden, a gigantic leap for mankind!  Well, in my mind anyway.  Giggling.  He’s turning into such a little man.

Valerie

7月18日

Tonsils, Adnoids, Wedding, and Oklahoma...

OOOOoooooookeydokey.  Kamden had his tonsils and adnoids removed last Wednesday.  Things have gone SOOOO much easier for him than they did for Holden!  He has been really good about all of it.  Don't overlook the photo album of him at the hospital.  Many of the photos he took himself.  Funny kiddo!
 
My Brother Brian married his sweetheart Friday.  I have a few photos from that as well.  I was sad that we didn't get ANY good ones of them, but I am sure he'll share his soon.  Congrats Brian and LaShelle.  It was beautiful.
 
We had a busy runaround of a weekend and on Sunday morning I dropped Dave off at the ariport for him to go to a Captain's course in Oklahoma.  It is so strange being without him again!  He JUST BARELY made his flight.  Yikers.  He is doing well there and phones often, but DANG we miss him.  It is nothing like having him gone for 17.5 months though.  We KNOW for sure he'll be home in about 10 days.  This is piece of cake so far, but we still miss him.
 
I've been busy cutting vinyl!  Lots of orders these days, which I will NOT complain about.  I am currently working on some logo decals for a local tennis team to use as a fundraiser.
 
It has been HOT HOT HOT here.  Thank goodness for nice AC.  I am glad Dave is NOT in the heat of Iraq right now.  Yikes! 
 
Val
7月10日

Catching up!

Goodness!  It has been quite a while since I posted anything.  MY HANDSOME HUSBAND IS HOME!  I want to hurry and jot down some of what has gone on in the last couple of weeks.
 
Dave flew into Cedar City on the 22nd of June.  His parents, sisters, granmother, Aunt Chloe, Aunt Diana and 2 of her grandchildren were all there. 
 
Aunt Diana locked her keys in the car and nearly worried herself to shambles about it.  Someone went to have a key made for her and it didn't work and I really thought she might have a nervous breakdown!  Thank goodness that a key that worked finally arrived.
 
It was a VERY warm day.  Holden kept begging people for a drink!  Kamden and Boston stayed in one spot with their signs and flags for a LONG TIME watching for Daddy's plane.  General Tarbett came looking for our family and several people asked if they could take photos of him with our children!
 
It was SOOOO NICE to have Daddy in our arms at last!  None of us wanted to let go.
 
My friend Heather who is a photographer came and took pictures for us that day, and Dave's sister Tammy took many as well.  Most of the photos posted were taken by the two of them.  These photos are priceless to me! It was SOOOO NICE to have Daddy in our arms at last! 
 
We went to IHOP in Cedar City afterwards to eat.  Boston and Holden blew bubbles in their water!  We all enjoyed just visiting.  The kids did something they had wanted to do for awhile, right there in the middle of the resteraunt: give Daddy "knock-me-over hugs!"  Of course I had the camera rolling!
 
We stayed in Richfield that night because Dave had meetings and SRP there the next day.  After SRPs there was a family dinner, a parade, and a small program.  The kids loved the parade because they were in it!  Richfield Fire Dept. took all the soldiers and their families on the fire trucks to welcome them home.
 
We came home the next day, Saturday, and were greeted on the outskirts of town with our own fire truck!  Tooele Fire Department put Dave up on top and the kiddos all inside and gave Dave a hero's welcome all the way to our house.  Holden fell asleep!  Following them in the truck and seeing many pull over and wave and honor my husband brought tears to my eyes!
 
Christine and Bethany had put up all of our banners and bows and flags and the house looked so nice!  It felt really good for ME to be home, so I am sure it was ten times as nice for Dave. 
 
We had friends over that night for rootbeer floats and then family and friends over Sunday evening for a BBQ.  It was so much fun to have everyone here!
 
We've just been enjoying life as a family since!  It has been so nice having Dave home!  I can't even describe it!  It is like I was stuck in my own little "Groundhog's Day" and could't break out of it until now!  I think I was caught up so much in just surviving able to really enjoy anything as much as I should. 
 
We went to Stadium of Fire at BYU on July 1st.  We had free tickets ON THE FIELD!  The night was amazing.  The entertainers were great, seeing other 222 wives and families TOGETHER was great, and just enjoying each other was great! 
 
Our niece's blessing was in Fairview the next day.  It's really funny, actually, but we just planned on getting a hotel between Provo and Nephi.  Well EVERYTHING was booked solid!  We ended up getting a hotel in Ephraim at about 1 am.  It was nothing special, just 2 queens, but cost $90!  Holy China!
 
Tooele City asked us to ride on their float on the 4th of July.  Dave was so honored that they asked!  Then we had friends and neighbors over for a "BBQ"- well, for dinner anyway!  It rained all evening and we did all the cooking indoors.  The rain broke long enough for our fireworks and I think the rain is part of what kept most of the neighborhood home.  We had so much fun visiting and goofing together that night!
 
I have never never ever had more of a feeling of patriotism than I did this year for the 4th of July!  There were times when It caught me offguard!  I am so overwhelmed by the blessings we share in this country!  I hope that one day the people of Iraq will also be overwhelmed by the blessings of freedom upon them! 
 
Dave has been a HUGE help around the house!  I'll go to load the dishwasher only to discover that he's already done it.  It is so nice having an extra set of hands to help with the kiddos, too!  The kids adore him and it has been fun watching them all get reaquainted again.
 
We took the kids  to Hollywood Connection on Saturday because Kamden had been begging to go there since Dave was home on leave.  We hoped he would have his fix for awhile!  Well we weren't even on the freeway again when Kamden asked if we could go to Hollywood Connection again!  Giggling!  What a nut! 
 
Holden has been talking more and more and I think Dave being home has a lot to do with it.  Some of the things he says lately are "how are you doing?" and "I want some chock-lot (chocolate)!" and "scuuuzme! (excuse me!)"
 
Boston has been enjoying her and Daddy's  nightly race to her bedroom when it is time for tucking in.  She has also enjoyed more time with Mommy alone and teasing with Daddy.  Dave and I both commented the other day that she is really growing up on us.
 
So Dave leaves on Sunday for 2 weeks in Oklahoma for a Captain's course.  I don't want to send him off again, but 2 weeks will be a piece of cake.  Then he'll be getting ready for school to start and doing summer camp with the 1-145.  The busies are going to set in!
 
Life is good!
 
 
 
 
 
6月26日

Priceless!

The last 5-6 days have been absolutely priceless!  Dave is HOME!  A picture says a thousand words!  Enjoy all 170 of them!  Life is good!
 
Valerie
6月14日

HE'S IN THE USA!

wahooie!

Dave is in the United States!!!  At 3:39 I started getting text messages.- they were obviously all written earlier and just didn’t send until then.

1.        I am in Germany

2.    I am in Iceland

3.    I am in USA!

I was thinking- boy, you are traveling fast!  Giggling.  They are in New Hampshire.  Dave says they have been puddle jumping basically cuz their plane is little.  I can’t believe THEY ARE ON US SOIL!  Woohoooie!  I guess Clayton (a friend of Dave’s) started singing “We’re coming to America!” as their plane got in. 

HE’S REALLY COMING HOME!

 

LOVE-

Valerie

 

6月9日

The next leg of the journey

Dave is safe now in Kuwait and on his way home soon, although it will be a while yet.  The next leg of his journey is a rights of passage, so to speak.  I hope he will take the time on his flight to reflect on the last year and to look forward to what the future holds.
 
Life is a journey...
 
While we are both unsure of what the next leg of the journey entails, here are some things that I have had on my mind...
 
I fully anticipate a little "honeymoon" phase after Dave gets here.  Now I am NOT talking about the bedroom folks- I am just thinking that we will just not be able to get enough of just being next to each other, holding each other's hands and happy to be together.  We will OBVIOUSLY have some readjusting to do.  Just like when ANYTHING in life changes, we will need to find the new norm...
 
The new norm for us will include a few things more than previous times Dave has been away.  For one thing, Dave has lost a LOT of his hearing in the last year and a half.  I will need to readjust to that because I swear the man had selective hearing problems before!  Giggling.  I am going to need to learn to speak more loudly and clearly and NOT get upset if I have to repeat myself 3 or 4 times.  He is going to need to learn to say WHAT? and not pretend like he heard if he didn't!  We'll figure it all out.
 
It will be sooooooo nice to have the parent/child ratio be a little better around here.  The kiddos have missed their Daddy so much and the anticipation of his arrival has been tough on them a bit.  I am sure it will become even moreso as the time draws nearer.  I think we will sit down together and evaluate what the kiddos each need from us right now and what we can work on with them.  I think we will take time to spend one on one time with each of them seperately.
 
And I am thinking a bit about going back to school...  In what?  I am not sure!  I have always wanted to teach Special Ed.  I am still thinking about that one, but also thinking about regular ed a bit and other options too.  I actually think that maybe I'll look into real estate a bit.  I don't know.  I am just thinking that now might be the right time for me to get some more education.
 
What else does the future hold?  I don't know!  There is bound to be some ups and downs and fun times and not so fun times.  I am positive that many challenges lie ahead.  To quote Woody off of Toy Story #2  (does that tell you how cultured I am?), although life's challenges lie ahead,  "I wouldn't miss it for the world!"  I am ready to take Dave's hand in mine and tackle them each head on, TOGETHER!
6月7日

Can't put it in writing-

I cannot fully sum up my emotions right now.  It all seems too hard to believe.  This deployment is coming to an end.
 
It has been a journey for our little family.  One that I am glad to be coming to the end of.  But what journeys lie ahead of us?  I do not know.  I am sure it will also have it's fair share of ups and downs and holes and ruts and cliffs and water.  But I truly know that no matter what it holds, we will face it together and the Lord will help us through whatever it entails.
 
Because life is always a journey.
 
I have tried really hard to not be the kid in the back of the car saying, "are we there yet?" the minute we started.  Although- ask Dave- I have asked, "can you come home now?" more times than I should have.  What I mean is, I have really tried to enjoy my children and life in general along the way.
 
Yes, it is always a journey and I wonder where the next one will lead us.  And I am happy that my traveling companion can  be close enough to hold my hand through whatever lies ahead.
 
Val
 
- The thing that matters most in the persuit of happiness is choosing the right traveling companions.-
 
 
6月4日

"Not that potty!" and other stuff!

So- Kamden needed to use the potty yesterday while we were in Home Depot.  I knew we'd be passing the display toilets on our way to the restroom so I watched him closely as we went past.  Well, not closely enough, I guess, because I thought we were past them and there was actually one more.  I had let my guard down and, sure enough, the boy downed both pair of pants and was preparing to take aim!  SOMEHOW I prevented too many others from noticing and the floor from getting wet!  Giggling!  Goodness!
 
After a week or 2 of Dave and I shopping online together to decide what we wanted, we picked up Dave's new truck the other day!  It is a 2001 Dodge Dakota and it seats 6.  If you ask Kamden what color it is, he'll tell you "silverware!"  but it is in fact, silver of course!  It is very nice!  I'll post pics of it soon.  The kiddos all really enjoy riding in "Daddy's truck!"  I can't wait to pick him up in it!
 
We are getting soooo close!  I have a bazillion things I need to do, yet none of them are getting done!  I guess Dave's going to have a long honey-do list when he gets home!
 
Boston had a little play the last day of school that she was the narrator in.  Also- her teacher gave awards to all the children that read 100 books this year.  The kids that could read chapter books could count each chapter as a book.  Boston had the most of anyone in her class with 477 books (or chapters) and I know there are plenty we did not turn in!  What a little woman!
 
Enjoy the pics!
Valerie
5月28日

STuff!

I posted new pics of the crazy kiddos.  Holden is especially funny these days!
 
Yesterday I took the kiddos to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point.  But- I forgot the camera!  I wouldn't have taken many photos anyway cuz the kiddos were always going in different directions!  Oh well.  They enjoyed it.
 
Saydee has been sick this morning.  Not fun to clean up after a sick puppy!
 
Dave and I have been truck shopping online.  I think we found it!  I'll solidify everything in the next couple of days.
 
I can't believe Dave will be home soon!  It is so nice to be on this end of things!  I have so much to do to get ready!
 
Church was really nice today.  We didn't go last week because we were traveling.  I should have worked harder to be back in time becauese I really missed going.  Those 3 hours a week make such a difference to me!
 
I'm going to work really hard at making more time for scriptures and sincere heartfelt prayer.  I NEED to be able to feel the Spirit everyday!
 
Enjoy the pics.  My kiddos are crazy!
 
Boston has a field trip Tuesday and then Thursday is the last day of school!  Holy China, that means we have JUST about made it!
 
Val
 
 

Fear not, thou didst them unto me!

Words: James Mont­gom­e­ry, 1826.

Music: “Man of Grief,” George Coles (1792-1858)

 

A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.

’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”

5月15日

Yard Work

OOOOOOOOOoooh- the yard work is never really done.  But- I am getting a lot done.  Today I even managed to get on top of housework, too!
 
My girlfriend Christine lent me her tiller and I tilled up the garden so tomorrow I can get it planted.  I got a good portion of the flower beds (around perenials) in the back tilled up, too.
 
Boston says NO PUMPKINS this year!  Giggling.  I think the squash bugs were a bit too much for her last year.  We'll be planting her garden club garden very soon as well.  Summer is JUST about here.
 
Kamden has been helping plant the annuals in the front flowerbeds.  It is soooo cute.  I'll say, "Kamden, I need a flower!"  Then he'll unpot one while saying "one fwowew, coming wiiiiiight up!"  He's a cutie pot helper.
 
Oh- it is bedtime.  Goodnight all.
 
V
5月13日

39 (ish) days...

I decided that if I accomplish NOTHING else today, I need to blog.  I need to get some feelings and memories down on "paper" so I can have them to look back on. 

 

39 (ish) days...  Just 39 (ish) days.

 

There have always been times in my life when I was “waiting” for something.  Like when I was in Florida working while engaged to Dave and it felt like the summer would never ever end (but guess what, it did!)  Or like when I was pregnant with Boston or Holden and it felt that the 9 months would go on forever (but guess what, they didn’t!)  Or like the time between when we picked up our son Kamden and when the adoption was finalized and he was really 100% ours (and has been ever since!) that I worried something could take him away from us forever.  During all of these times a favorite pastime of mine was to lie in my bed and imagine that day that felt so far from being here and happening for real.  And somehow that gave me the “umph” to deal with life in the meantime.

 

Somewhere along the way, I quit doing that.  I am not sure why.  I think for many reasons combined.  For one thing I don’t seem to be able to find the time.  Or is it make the time?  I am not really sure.  Maybe it is the tv in my room.  It is easier to fall asleep thinking about nothing special and watching the news I had tivoed (with one eye shut) than it is to think.  Actually, I can’t tell you a THING about the weather lately, and I seem to be waking up to find the tv still on more often than not these days.  I dare say I am out cold 2 minutes after my head hits the pillow.

 

But wow.   39 (ish) days...

 

Maybe I can handle it now.  Maybe I can allow myself to spend the time longing for him and to imagine what it will be like when he walks off that plane.  Maybe I can allow myself to daydream again.

 

But in some ways I think it was part of a conscious decision.  A decision to be happy along the way.  A decision to not wish away this moment in hopes of the next.  To enjoy my kiddos getting older and changing ALL THE MORE because my husband had to miss out on it all.  And a decision to not let the miles become a divider between Dave and I, no matter how hard they try to.

 

My babies ARE growing up.  Not all at once, but a day at a time.  This blog used to serve as a way to let their Daddy watch them grow up a bit, although he can’t be here to witness it himself.  I don’t know how it went from being a spot I put all my thoughts to a place I seldom visit these days.  I think perhaps that is also a part of my survival mode cycle.  I JUST DON’T HAVE MANY THOUGHTS these days!  Giggling!

 

I am so rambling and I am here and there and everywhere.  But know what?  This is my blog and it is for me and it is for Dave.  So honey, here is his glimpse into our children’s recent lives...

 

Boston is continuing to be Mom’s biggest helper and Miss Smartie pants!  She is getting more independent it seems, every day.  She is THRILLED (and so is Mommy) that Daddy will be teaching at Middle Canyon next year!  She loves to watch “The Sweet Life of Zach and Codee” and ride her bike.

 

Kamden is fun to watch when he doesn’t know you are watching.  He is currently outside twisting up an empty swing so that he can watch it unwind.  He says HILLARIOUS things and I swear I can see the wheels turning in his head if I look closely enough.  Last night he begged to sleep with his new “Carz” shoes on because he loves them so much.  He got his first big boy bike (with training wheels) a few weeks ago and LOVES to ride it.  Every now and then I am overwhelmed at the things he is doing that I wondered if he ever would.

 

Holden is Mr. Attitude!  He is talking more and more and as always, making sure his opinions are made known.  He recently got his first big boy bed and has been sleeping in it well., although quite often he is up really early and climbs in bed with Mommy.   He is in love with Thomas the Train shows and asks for “choo-choo on peez” constantly.  I bought him his own sandals yesterday because I thought they might look better on him than Emma’s little flowered pair he keeps wanting to wear!  Last night he said “night night Barry” and “night night Teeni” to our friends as they left our home.

 

39 (ish) days...

 

We can do this!  I am going to allow myself time to daydream about it from now on.  Time to imagine the excitement as the plane is landing.  Time to imagine that first HUGE HUG and KISS as we embrace for the first time since leave.  Time to imagine getting back into the swing of things with my husband by my side and finding the new norm together.  And time to imagine conquering each new obstacle that comes our way, hand in hand, heart to heart, together.

 

I love you Handsome Hubby!  Can’t wait to have you here in my arms!

 

Val

4月28日

Crazy Busy

     Agggh!  Things have been totally crazy around here!  Holden finally IS feeling better and he is starting to have an appetite again.  My vinyl business is getting busier and busier, but I am not complaining.  Officialish (my new favorite word) plans have come down for when Dave will come home in a few months finally!  Boston has one more month of school with lots being packed in.  She is getting ready for her play with the Misoula Children's Theater which will be "Robin Hood"- she is a skunk.  Life is busy but that's good!
     I'll write more soon.
 
Valerie