Retarded

Ok, so it's more than a couple days since my last post, and still no pics. Here's the thing. Apparently my parents hadn't considered the possibility that I would need to upload pics from my camera to one of their computers at some point when I would be visiting them in AZ and not have access to a different computer, since none of their computers have SD ports, and I can't go through their camera because my sd card is bigger than theirs. How retarded is that?! So, I guess I will have to wait until I get home to upload pics, but there will be a slew of them. Here's a quick update: While in Utah, I took the kids to the Railroad Museum in Ogden. That was nice. They enjoyed seeing all the trains. They have a room where a mini train track is set up and kids can play with the trains. That was their favorite part. We left last Wednesday and drove to Las Vegas where we spent the weekend with Cassie and Jake. That was fun. I know Cassie thought it was boring because we werent partying every night, but I really enjoyed the time we spent. The boys really liked spending time with Brooklyn and Brielle. Congrats again, Cass. I am so excited for you and Jake! It will be fun to get together again in March.
While there we took the kids to the Town Square, which is at one end of the strip and is a square block of shops and a kids' play area in the middle. The kids had a blast. Then we went to the MGM to see the Lion feeding. They really liked that too. Next time we are going to go see the fountains at the Belagio. That will be fun.
Monday we left and drove to Pine, Az. I have enjoyed being back at my parents' house. I hadn't been back since our wedding reception, so this has been nice. Yesterday we went into Payson and I visited my old work and stopped at the high school to see my drama teachers. That was really nice. WE probably visited for a half hour and we took some pics. Other than that it has been pretty low key. I feel like for the first time on our trip I am able to truly relax. It has been wonderful to be with my siblings and all their kids, and Cass and her kids, but there's always extra stress when you have extra kids. Here, mine are the only kids in the house. Thanks to all my family for letting us crash at your homes. It has been a great trip so far. I am almost ready to go home. I miss Whit and I wish he could be with us. I know he misses us lots too and that gives me comfort; to know he misses me as much as I miss him. I don't think he expected it to be so hard being the one home all by your lonesome. I love you, babe!!
We will be here till Friday, then spend the weekend with Diana ( I still need to verify that), and head home the following Monday. We might take our time going home though, and cross to Carlsbad, then work out way up the coast to home.
Oh, for those I haven't told, we are having a Graduation party for Whit the weekend he graduates (May 15th or 16th). We hope you can make it. I haven't worked on details but when I have them I will send out the word. Put it on your calender. WE love you all and can't wait to see some of you when we get home!

Snow, snow, snow

Well, I am in Utah and there is a ton of snow!! THe kids love it, well, Jacob anyway. He has been so excited to play in the snow. It was fun to have my parents and younger brother here. They left on the 2nd. It was also nice to have my sister here. She left yesterday. It was great to have a chance for all of us to be together. That hadn't happened for a couple of years. I wish Whit could have been here too, though. I know he is busy when he's at the academy and that he spares a thought or two for me. I am glad though that he was alone this last weekend so he could get some much needed rest. He was trying to recover from being sick and it would have been much harder if the kids and I had been there. I have been taking pics and I will upload a few in a couple days.

Ho, ho, ho

I just wanted to say to everyone, have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! We love you all and hope you are doing well.

On a happier note

I know after last night's post it might seem like nothing good has happened lately, but that is not true. Sarah has been exploding in the development stage. Just this weekend, she started pulling herself to her feet against the furniture. She can flip herself out of her Bumbo, she can go from a stink bug position straight to her booty, and according to Whitney, she said "Dada". It was more of a "thatha", but Whitney wanted to count it. I wasn't going to shatter his illusions. Jacob and Jared love Sarah so much. They love having her in their room to play and have a bad babit of waking her up when she is sleeping. They are good boys(for the most part) and they are good big brothers.

The kids playing in the leaves in the front yard.

Sarah joining the boys.

My cute kids.

My strong boys. We took family pics too, but I didn't like any of them enough to use. We are taking more this weekend.

ALways a first time

So I realized that I was feeling pretty smug about how I have been handling Whitney in the academy. I thought, oh this is not as hard as everyone says. So he's gone all week. At least I get to see him on the weekends.
I was already used to having him gone at night from the night shifts he worked. But it was not seeing him at all that was hard, and I was handling it pretty well. And then came Friday. I swear, everything the kids did that day just drove me nuts. But 3:30 I am watching the clock because I know in an hour and a half he will be starting his leave and on his way home. Then what do I do while he is home? I spend the next 12 hours criticising everything he does as pertains to the kids. What is my problem? I couldn't wait for him to be home, then I'm stressing because are making me insane, and then I get upset and frustrated at everything he does. No wonder he was pissed at me Saturday morning. We worked it out and are fine, but I felt like such a shrew. I have decided it will be good for me to get away for a few weeks. I think I need the break. I could tell he really didn't want to go back tonight, and as he got in the car with Jimbo, I started crying, but I didn't let him see. I didn't want him to feel bad. He already felt that our Christmas will be a lot less than we planned because his check was a lot smaller than we thought (hoped) it would be, but there's nothing to do. We will have Charlie Brown and always remember it. It will give us a chance to really focus on the Savior. And that is so easier said than done, gosh dangit.
Wow, talk about emotions. I just feel like I am getting worse every week. I feel more stressed and tense with each passing day. I pray and ask the Lord to help me but I still feel tense and stressed all the time. What am I doing wrong? Why can't I be strong like everyone thinks I can? Why can't I stop snapping at my kids and feeling like a horrible mom? Why can't I just be better? How am I going to make it another 23 weeks?
Okay, I am going to go to bed before I soak the keyboard. thank you all for your love and support.

Week 1

Wow, has it really been a month? I am BAD!! Well, three important things have happened. One, Sarah has two teeth. TWO!! She is 5 months old! But she has only bitten me twice whie nursing and I'm sure she is very sorry. She is such a sweet baby. And so dang happy!! Except, of course, when she's not. Two, Whitney started the ACADEMY!!! I am happy and frustrated at the same time. He just started week 2 today. Week 1 went well. He said it was better than he thought it would be. But when you're expecting hell week, I guess anything is better than that. However we have heard that it's actually going to get worse, if you can believe it. He's tough; he'll do well. I thought it would probably be easier if he had done this while still single and I told him so. He said he would have no motivation. I asked him what he meant. He said that when he was on the floor, thinking he couldn't do one more push up or one more crunch, he would think of the kids and I and remember he is doing this for us. I have no doubt that he could do this on his own, but it is nice to know that he needs me just as much as I need him. Sometimes I feel like this need is more one-sided. I prayed last night that nothing would happen to him. I know that the Lord knows best and we will do his will, and I pray that whatever happens I can accept it with all my heart, but I pray for him, everyday. I know there is not much risk while he is in the academy, but once he is on the road, anything can happen and I pray every day that the Lord will protect. I never want that phone call or have to sit through a funeral where they give me a flag.

Sorry about that. I guess it's on my mind, just a little bit.

Okay, third thing that happened is that between Friday night when Whitney got home and Sunday evening when he left, Sarah is now crawling all over the house. She can barely sit up!!

She goes eveywhere now. NO place is safe. However the boys have been wonderful. They have wanted her in their room while they play. They never hit her or push her away. Sometimes in their enthusiasm there might be cause for concern but I know they would never do anything to hurt her. They love her so much. I love seeing it.

This picture Jacob took. He's taken some good ones. As to last week, Sarah got thrush and is now feeling better. Jared threw up Friday night, twice before Whit got home and 3 or 4 times after. And so far this week (it's only Monday, mind you) Jacob is now throwing up. Oh, the glamorous life we mothers lead. I love my children and my husband and I know all of you are supportive and reliable shoulders should we need them. Thank you. If I don't post before Thanksgiving, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

One more

Since most of you live in California, you are well aware of the Prop 8 issue. I guess you could say I had my first encounter with the opposite opinion today. We have a sign in our yard to vote yes on 8. well today I am sitting on the couch when I hear noise outside. I usually have the window open slightly on days like this. So I look out the window and see some kid throw a mangled sign in front of the window. I hop up and get out of the house as fast as I can so I can blister him verbally. I went out and gave him a piece of my mind. I keep waiting to see if he and his friends will pass by and take down the two new signs I put up. Since we have plenty in our garage, for every one that's taken down, we will put one up.
I don't understand. They say they are just after equal rights. And yet people will infringe on my rights to express my opinion. It's called the first amendment. In being faced with this issue I have realized that if Prop 8 is defeated, it will do much damage. In changing the meaning of marriage, our school systems will teach that about same sex marriage. In Mass, parents had no right to object to their children being taught that. They also had no right to know when the schools would be teaching it. They were teaching it to 2nd graders!! If Prop 8 is defeated, churches who don't accept same sex couples will lose their tax exemptions. Priests or bishops who refuse to marry same sex couples could be sued. I have nothing against same sex couples. However, I don't think it is right for them to define marriage for the rest of us. Anyone have any questions on what else would happen, visit http://www.protectmarriage.com/. I usually don't pay attention to politics or really the issues that we are voting on, but I won't ignore this. Neither of the presidential candidates support same sex marriage. I worry for my children who will be starting school in a couple of years. It is not the job of the school system to tell my children about marriage. It is my right and duty as a parent. As domestic partners, same sex couples have all the rights that a married couple does. Look up the facts and find the truth before Noevember, I urge you. This is an important issue. Those judges in SF shouldn't have turned over a decision that Californians already voted on. Help us protect the sanctity of marriage. This is not a civil rights issue, its a moral issue.