A Fun Trip Home

We had an awesome, and effective, trip home.  It was great.  Two family reunions, so we pretty much got to see everybody (except my brother Kyle who is on a mission :)) and family pictures with my husband’s side of the family.  We did 5 generation pictures with my great grandma, and visited with her for a while.  Lots of fires, marshmallow roasts, four-wheeling, and trampoline jumping.  Massages from my mother-in-law, and the best company in the world.  I helped my sister clean so she could move and got to hang out with my adorable nieces, met my new nephew :), went to track districts, caught up with a couple of friends, helped clean out the basement, and generally had a great time. Time flew and it wasn’t nearly long enough, but I’ll take what I can get. 

On the way there we flew standby on a C-17 (military cargo plane).  A new experience for sure, and very different from a commercial flight.  The 13 hour drive to Idaho from Travis AFB was…well, much longer than 13 hours.  I would have to think about whether I’d do things the same way again.

On the way home we stopped at the Ramada Inn by the Spokane airport.  I picked it for three reasons: the shuttle to the airport, the swimming pool (with waterslide) and the in-house restaurant.  We didn’t have a car so we weren’t going to go somewhere else to eat, and I wanted the kids to be entertained.  They were only in the pool for about 3 hours, haha.  The food was great, for a hotel restaurant, and didn’t give me indigestion as many before have.  They also had enough food for my boys.  Often the “kid’s menu” comes with little enough food that the boys could each eat two of the meals.  The hotel had no problem with all of our family being in one room, and a crib was there for us.  I think it’s my new favorite stopover in Spokane.  Accommodating and convenient.

Flying Allegiant was much better than anticipated too.  We brought all our own food, and water, because their prices were ridiculous for both, but that was expected.  They seated our family together because we had little kids, the flight was on time, and they didn’t have a problem with my one-year-old constantly walking up and down the aisle.  (It was that or listen to him scream.)  It all worked out, and the price was great.

Time to plan the next vacation!

Why do I always have to think up a title for my posts...it's more trouble than the actual posts!

I've tried to post several times in the last couple days, but something has been wrong with this page.  The kids and I are at my in-law's while they are in Florida :).  Everyone's doing pretty well I think.  Incidents have been kept to a minimum, and I'm learning a lot!

I've found some great books lately, and I've actually been getting a lot of reading in because I haven't been feeling up to lots of cleaning and walking around.  My ankles have decided that I'm putting too much weight on them...so I've been sitting down a lot.  Who knows, maybe I'll get that nesting instinct in the next 3 weeks, but for now I'm pretty sedentary.  And glad to have help from Lena and Demetri :).

The boys are enjoying their time here, don't quite understand the idea that we're only going back to California for a month, but are pretty excited about Texas.  They're making the most of the snow and the hot tub.  I told Shawn someday we may have to get a hot tub, because I think my children are half fish.  A pool might be a little more appropriate but I'm pretty sure they'd get by with a hot tub, haha.  On the other hand I feel children are drowning in privileges today and it's not good for them.  I guess I may rethink the idea.  

2012

Welcome to the new year!  I managed to average about 4 posts a month last year so I guess I’m not doing all too badly with this blogging thing.  I didn’t put up as many pictures as I’d wanted.  Maybe I’ll get the hang of that this year.  We had a great holiday.  I wrote several blog posts in the last couple of weeks but they all just seemed to seep into my journal.  So we’ll start over with how the last couple of days have been and then the new year. 

Yesterday we (okay, Shawn) made homemade pasta in our electric pasta machine.  It was quick (compared to the days I used to do it by hand!) and tasted gourmet.  I’m thrilled to have it instead of stocking up on the boxed stuff!  Today I de-junked.  I threw away huge amounts of old papers, organized clothes, moved things around, labeled boxes, and I’m fairly satisfied with how much I got done…even if the house looks worse than when I started.  It’s still better, trust me. 

I’m so excited about this year :).  In three weeks I’m leaving for Kamiah- there to stay until this baby is born.  Only 10 weeks to go!  Then I’m coming back here to pack up for Texas- where we’ll be for the summer after Shawn graduates in May.  From there- who knows.  I’m already packing for both Idaho and Texas.  Our stuff will all be in storage over the summer…a too-familiar situation.  It’s nice to be moving on though. 

I used to dislike the idea of New Year’s goals and didn’t make them as an act of rebellion against the norm.  I guess I’ve since decided that anything that encourages people to make and keep goals is a good thing.  And there isn’t necessarily a better time to do it either.

I have my goals all written out for six months.  (For the later part of the year it’s just a little hard to plan because I don’t know where we’ll be!)  Of course, many have to do with timely packing and being ready for all the changes we’ll have this year.  I picked up the Body-For-Life book and I’m looking forward to using the program.  I did it in high school a little with a friend, but have lost the habit.  Unfortunately, losing weight and toning are going to have to be put off for a bit this year.  That’s okay- it’s part of the pregnancy process I guess.  I’m realizing I now have too much stuff!!!  I’m working on downsizing a little, and using up the things we have (mostly referring to homeschool supplies, kits, etc).  I want to read the scriptures every day, a goal that is helped along by having all the resources I need on my phone.  I haven’t used it as a phone much yet, but it comes in handy for reading and shopping/ to do lists :).  I think I’m going to try my hand at an indoor garden this summer.  I’ve looked up a few methods and we’ll see how it goes. 

We have education goals with the kids, and I need to find something to help myself continue to learn as well.  I have a couple of vacation and traveling goals- but all of those kinds of goals have become so tentative that Shawn says I’m not supposed to tell anyone (even the kids usually) that we’re going to go do something or go somewhere anymore.  We just never know if it will materialize.  I have goals to pay off more debt and rearrange finances a bit.  We’re hoping for good things this year.  All in all, I’m rather an optimist this time around.  Unusual for me I assure you.  But life seems to be coming together and our circumstances improving more quickly than I’d thought.

Life on the coast

Back in California; getting settled in again.  We had to catch up on grocery shopping and menu planning, and I’m hoping today is going to be a bread making day.  I have several lists of things to do…I didn’t realize a trip would put me so far behind.  We’ve redone the chore charts and we’re working on a homework/chore schedule. 

Teddy alternates between calling me Mom and Grandma.  The children are working on retraining the parakeet.  I have been tying and retying blankets which are acting as capes for my three batmen.  Well- Teddy says he’s a guard helper.

Maternity pictures appeared on my facebook instead of my blog.  I don’t have the originals to put them on here. 

We had a great trip!  We got to see everyone, and we were so grateful to be able to see lots of family we haven’t seen in quite a while.  We spent time with grandmas and grandpas, and had a blast in general.  I was sad to come home, but surprisingly re-energized and newly motivated to be a good wife, mother, and homemaker.  I got to catch up with Mandi, who just moved back to Kamiah.  Yes, I’m jealous…but I’ll work through it :).  I finally met her adorable daughter, and seeing how happy Mandi is was wonderful.  We were able to stop by the Grants house on the way home J which provided a much needed break for the kids- who were happy to run off and play, and some great time with Jenny!  I love seeing my friends.

Shawn and the kids are playing hide-and-go-seek.  Olie just asked Shawn, “Where’s a good place to hide where you won’t know where I am?”  Silly boy.  They are having so much fun!  Demetri’s excited about working on his Pinewood Derby car with Dad.

Okay, break’s over.  Back to homework. 

Life while traveling

Last Tuesday's Post...posted a week late, went something like this...

It was a good weekend. Busy, but good. We went to a graduation (kind of…the screaming baby/toddler kind of made us miss the actual graduation part) and visited with a lot of family. Life is good.

I’m sore. Very sore. But I’m learning about motivation. I really didn’t want to play volleyball until I was actually playing it. Then it became fun. I get like that. The hardest part is starting something, except for the cases where the hardest part is finishing.

The kids are enjoying their trip. I’m helping my mother finish a quilt, and trying not to let my children destroy her house. Working on the quilt is the easier of the two, although the kids are extremely entertaining. Especially when they spontaneously break out into song. Who says musicals aren’t like real-life?

This week's post isn't quite so upbeat...

So much has happened in so short a time. Everything can change overnight. At the moment I'm just playing it all by ear, and trying to make myself useful. I'm not ready to go back home; I want to stay and make sure everything is okay here. But I suppose I should...while we talked about postponing the baptism and me staying a while longer, I'm sure everyone will be just fine without me and I should go clean my own house and take care of my husband. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

I learned how to make rice bags (scented even) and had a good Saturday making them with my mother and sister. I also visited my grandma and great-grandma over the weekend. I'm glad I did. While it took more time than I was planning, I learned quite a bit, and great-grandma appreciated seeing her great-great-grandchildren. She doesn't get to see many of her grandchildren very often. She turned 89 last month.

I've come to the unhappy conclusion that exercise is good for me. I've spent so much time avoiding it that it doesn't seem fair, but I feel better since I've been playing volleyball.

Sad that I'll miss my little brother's high school graduation and Eagle Court of Honor, and trying to think of all the good things about living in California.

And for lack of anything more important or relevant to say, I'll go back to my homework.

Home, not unpacked yet, but home.

I'm home. I was not sick for about 2 days in the last two weeks. Thankfully long enough to drive home. Now I'm getting sick again. I'm drinking tea, searching for my vitamins, making a point of not eating sugar, and going to bed before 11:00. And just hoping it all works out.

I have so much on my brain that it feels like it's spinning, much like a carnival ride. I guess traveling really throws off a schedule too, so I'm working on taking one day at a time and engrossing myself (well, attempting) in the domestic life for a few days.

At the moment I'm having shipping problems with this not-even-fledgling-yet business of mine. I'm working out some related financial woes, and trying to keep the whole deal from stalling for another several months. Optimism is key. I'll just smile and tell the shipping clerk it's all okay, rub my magic ring, and he'll stamp everything "okay" and send it on over. Okay, okay, I'll do the research on the shipping companies like I'm supposed to.

The semester is pretty much over, at least for me. No finals and all of my homework (except a couple of little quizzes) is done. A needed respite at the moment so I can concentrate on the work at hand.

I'm cleaning my house up, mad at the guestroom bed- I know, it does tons of good to be mad at an inanimate object- and now looking for a futon, attempting to get back into menu planning, and wondering how to get a very nasty smell out of a rug. Trying baking soda next. Also slightly more than irritated at some cute little Army regulations designed to drive people nuts. Ah, well, I'll just keep watching my good old movies and pretending that the Army is like it is in the movies. Some days reality just isn't my thing.

The kids had a great time at Grandma's. And they have absolutely no concept of time. Olie wanted to come back home to see Dad. We're back, saw Dad. Now he wants to go show Grandma a new toy, so he wants to go back to Idaho. I don't even think they remember the drive! Oh, but I do. And it'll be a little while before I voluntarily take it on again. Yeah, like, a month.

Demetri is super excited about getting baptized sometime in the next couple of months. The date keeps changing but I think we're pretty set now with May 21st. The other family whose child is being baptized as well asked if it could be changed to then because they have family flying in from Hungary. Sounds great to me; I like being flexible.

Uh oh. Make that getting to bed by 11:05. I'm going, I'm going...

Decent day, even if the weather was kinda housy.

My headache is gone. My husband said he cleaned the house today, so it will be nice when I get back...whenever that will be :). I got some of next week's homework done. Life could not better be.
Well, my friend is moving to a place where I'll pretty much never see her again. :( But maybe it'll be an excuse for another trip. Hmmm, maybe. We'll see how this traveling with the kids thing keeps going. So far so good. I do like to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible with no stops, but my sister-in-law made me think maybe I shouldn't be in such a hurry all the time. Maybe it would be nice to stop play for a bit and not rush to wherever I'm going at the last possible minute. I dunno, that would be awfully new to me. :)

My children are sick, but at least my mom is feeling better. It's really not fun to be watching little kids when you feel lousy. I've worried about her all week. I'm going to wait until I see how they're doing before I plan my trip home.

Cold. I have been cold all day long. Okay- bedtime, have to leave early in the morning. Goodnight.

What Sad News

I haven't had time to blog. After a long trip to Idaho I am now on a long trip to Salt Lake City. My trip to the Philippines has been canceled, due to unforeseen natural disasters and the ensuing widespread damage in Japan. We will go later, and meanwhile pray for all of the people in Japan who are suffering. A friend recently said that "they must have done something really bad for God to have done that." I don't buy it. That's like saying when I lose a baby it's because I did something wrong, or when anyone has anything bad happen to them for that matter- that they must have offended God. It's a test. Bad things happen to good people and the test is how we react to our own and others' trials. It may be easy to justify not reaching out or loving others by saying they deserved it or brought it on themselves, but in the end it may not only not be true, but that part is none of our business. The part that is our business is comforting, helping, supporting, and loving.
(On a side note comforting others is one of my own mini trials. When I try to comfort others I become tongue-tied, or ramble on, generally saying the wrong thing, about on par with a teenage boy asking for his first date. It's just that I have no idea what to say in most sad situations, and get very tense and nervous. Handing out hugs and holding a hand is especially hard- mostly because I hate it when others do that to me when I'm upset. Hopefully, I'll improve with age.)

Back on track. It's very sad to see others suffering and not quite know what to do about it except pray. In this case, I will trust that my church will know how to distribute contributions.

In other news, I will be home sooner than I thought, unless I decide to stay longer, or go do something else. (Read, as usual, I'm not yet sure what I'm doing. And I'm okay with it.)