Camping

We are finally back up! The internet is running in our new house and most of the packing is finished. Homeschooling is underway and my afternoon run is in the schedule. I feel like I am functioning, mostly, once again, so I found a few minutes to blog. I know so much has happened since I blogged last and you are all anxious to read about the news, but in true Lexi fashion, I must finish what I started first. So... back to August... 2nd week, while Dave was home on leave, we took a few days to go camping. It was a nice chance to get away, play some baseball, shoot some bow and arrows, eat some smores and just have fun with one another. We took nature walks and listened to Laycee continuously complain that her "puppies" couldn't keep up (those would be these imaginary puppies that are very important to her lol). It was a great trip and a nice close to Dave's leave.

Another digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

Diamondbacks

Another thing Dave wanted to do while he was home was go to a Diamondbacks game. He is loyal to Arizona sports. We got there a bit early so we wouldn't have to fight the traffic and parking to get downtown.

Luis Gonzalez was having his number retired so they had a ceremony for him
Laycee loved having her pom pom in her hair.

Those two chillin.

We are so fun!

Dear sweet Laycee, I know you love me.

Haylee got the shirt there that night, and she had to put it on right away.

I am thankful Chase field is an indoor stadium because it is hot even when they have the AC running.

The retired numbers

Peace

Peace out!

I was the picture taker and Trent was sitting on the other side of Dave, so I suppose I missed all the pictures of him. I was impressed by the children's patience during the game. I think they all really loved it and again, it was something they have not done since they were babies (or at all). It was an enjoyable evening.

Drive Ins

Dave really wanted to go to the drive-in while he was home. So one night, we went over to the drive in. It was a double feature, but we only stayed for one movie. We are getting so old. The kids thought it was great fun, until they passed out of course. However, I have some advice for all those Arizonians out there... do not go to the drive in, unless you intend on sitting in your AC car. That was my only complaint is even at 11 pm, it was super hot. But it was fun and so neat for the kids to experience the drive-ins!

Amazing Jakes

Photo album customized with Smilebox

So Logan and Haylee's date were kind of a family date. We went to Amazing Jake's which is amazing in Arizona. It is an indoor arcade, buffet, lazer tag, putt putt golf, bowling alley, go kart racing kind of place. It has so much to do. So Haylee wanted to go bowling with Dave and Logan wanted to go golfing. So we took Kevin along and while we were there, Dave took Haylee bowling and Logan golfing. We played for hours and had so much fun.

Build A Bear

Dave had a goal of taking all of the children on a "date" or outing with him while he was home. Its hard to squeeze four kids alone time in when there is so much more going on in 16 days. But he started with Laycee. She wanted to go to Build A Bear Workshop.

She picked an adorable pink bear and put a heart in the bear. She still tells us that the bear has a heart.

She picked out a cheerleading outfit.

Named her Yukimomo (after my mom's dogs)

And she walked out with her bear packed up and her hand in daddy's in adoration of the time she got to spend with him.

Haylee's Baptism

We scheduled Haylee's baptism for July 31st. My dad was heading back to the Middle East the next day and we were all just praying that Dave would make it home in time. Thankfully Dave made it and the evening was so special for Haylee.

Here we are gathered together as a family.
All set before the evening began.
It was so special to watch as Haylee made the choice to be baptised. I was worried as it grew closer to time that she didn't know the full scope of the choice she was making. But as she sat in her interview, I was amazed at what she knew and understood. It was so special to have Dave here to baptize her. It was a true blessing to have my Dad there and Dave home at the same time so we could all be there to participate and support Haylee.

Best Day

July 31st, Dave made it home for 16 days of leave. We were so excited to finally be seeing him after 10 months. We dressed up and went to wait at the airport.

A few other soldiers came up the hall, so they were peeking around to see if they could see Dave coming.

He made it! (The video wouldn't upload) and Laycee could do nothing but stare at him nonstop.
They all were gathered around and Laycee is still staring.

Dave found a way to touch all of the kids on the way through the airport.

This was the beginning of a great 16 days.

Try Something New

So Mom and I needed a change in our diet and she ran across this cookbook.

It has been amazing! There were some weird looking foods and so many things we have never heard of before, but there was probably only 2-3 meals we didn't like. The book is a menu plan for roughly 1500 calories each day for 30 days. We have really enjoyed it and are working on our second time through (after doing The Biggest Loser 6 Weeks to Success). During the middle of our first 30 days, I went to girls camp and I was so upset that I didn't have my gormet food! So here is a picture of one meal.
Halibut with mushrooms and red peppers. YUM YUM! A surprising favorite of mine was portobello pizza.

On goings...

I rarely sit and just write a post, but I have no pictures to post at this moment of sitting here. I was reflecting back on my blogging days, starting when Laycee and Logan were just a few months old, and the changes that have continued through the time. I still hope to one day publish the blog as keepsakes for my children, but again that takes time. So, since time is short, today I will write.

What has been going on over here? Well Dave came and went. I think to many 16 days are insignificant, but that was the precious time we spent with him. We tried to make each day count. It was such a nice "vacation" and a much needed break from the monotony of our lives without him.

Since he has left, life has been in full swing. I debated about when to start homeschooling the kids and I just decided that the day he left, we needed that distraction, so I started. We started school after the kids here in Arizona, but still before the kids in Washington. It was a topic of internal debate for so long, but this is what they needed. I set up a "classroom" in mom's loft with Dave's help so he too could be a "part" of this. The program is amazing, but it has taken us some time to figure out a functioning schedule as well as all the enrichments that the course offers. I felt like an idiot when finally, after 6 days of teaching, I figured out what the little symbols in the teaching manual meant and where to find the corresponding material. But I keep trying to tell myself, this is a learning process for us all. Haylee is loving school of course and she really thinks that I don't offer her enough work. Trent, on the other hand, loves math and that is about the extent of it. Haylee starts at 8, Trent at 830, the twins at 9 and we finish most days about noon. I make them all wear uniforms and they get to change after they are done so there is some distinction between school and home. I have many great ideas on where I want to go from here, but as everything, it takes time and until we get moved and settled, I will make do with what we have.

Speaking of the move, we will be heading out in a few weeks. I haven't told Dave's parents the date just yet, so I don't want to announce on here, but we do have a plan. I thought I would be very excited and ready for this day, but I have come to decide that I am not really excited or ready. It feels so bittersweet. I am ready to be back together with Dave. I am ready to be a family again. But leaving behind our families and this life we have come to love is proving to be more heart breaking than I anticipated. The move is another thing of much time and energy. I find it very amazing how much "stuff" we have accumulated in the 11 months since moving here. There is no way I will be able to move everything back. So I am sorting and donating and sorting and donating and sorting and donating some more.

Dave seems to be happy right now. I think the visit home considerably improved his morale. He was ready to go back and get this deployment over with. They are making preparations to return home and he is excited about that.

That is about the best update I can offer. I have many pictures to post from Dave's visit and I hope to post those soon. We are anxiously awaiting the changes ahead, but dreading them all the same. Life may be a little hectic but we are thankful each day for the many blessings that are present in our lives. Hope all you out there in the blogging world are doing dandy!
Ciao for now

Trent's Surgery

We recently decided to get Trent's tonsils and adnoids removed. The adnoids were the bigger problem so she did both. He had his surgery at the local children's hospital. I love it there! They have this chess set in the lobby. It's so fun. Trent was then taken up to a second waiting room. Then into the hopsital room, operating room, recovery room and eventually his bedroom. The surgery went smoothly, his recovery went pretty well. It took probably 10 days for him to eat real food again, but he did well. The ENT said that his tonsils and adnoids were much larger than they appeared to be so she was glad we took them out. There have been some improvements since he had them removed, so I am glad about that. Next up... Logan is scheduled for Aug 23rd!

Hangin Out

After Trent's birthday party, I took all 12 kids (I was babysitting for Joe and Lynnae so they could go on a date and Loni was at work) over to Dave's brothers house to hang out. His sister was in town so we wanted to visit. They had a pool in the backyard, the kids got to play and there was another birthday cake for Trent's birthday. It was awesome! We had a great time visiting with so much family in one day!

Trent's Birthday

Trent's 7th Birthday was July 1oth. He first got a card in the mail from my grandma! He loves getting mail, thanks grandma. Then he gets Mouse Trap in the mail from Dave. He was thrilled. On his birthday, we had a bbq and swim party. There was hot dogs, cake, presents and lots of water fun. It was Lynnae's birthday coming up, so she got a cupcake too. It was a great day and the kids had so much fun!

This picture collage made with Smilebox

Some days...

We just aren't up to it.

Logan looks pouty, but he allowed me to put my hand on his cheek and cuddle with him. He loves to have his face touched, he just loves it. Even though he was mad at the world, I was thankful for a moment to spend with my little man.

4th of July

I know, I am still 6 weeks behind on blogging, but hopefully I will catch up soon. So for the 4th of July, we went to Schnef Farms in Queen Creek. They have fireworks and a bit of entertainment.

Here are their church outfits. We got the dressed from The Children's Place in the after Easter dress sale.
Before we went to the fireworks, we let the kids make some harmless, messy explosions in the backyard first.

While we were waiting, we took a hay ride around the farm. The kids LOVED it.

Gotta have come kettle corn to fill the bellies.

Kevin and Sylas loved the popcorn.
Linzi was in town, so we got to spend some time with her and Eddy.

Here is the fam.

It was a great night and we couldn't have asked for better.