Being a Single Mother

It's true, when we moved here and Doug started working for MasterControl, we knew that travel was involved. However, in the three years we have been here, Doug has never been gone this much! It came out of nowhere, and at a really inconvienient time (although I don't know that there would have been a convienient time to basically become a single mother).
Doug was home for one week in March, he should be home a couple weeks in April and then one week in May, and one week in June. He flys in on weekends for a day or two, just long enough to remind me that I actually do have a husband, and then he's gone again. In May/June he will be going to Thailand, so he will be gone for three weeks straight, and for my birthday too!
Thanks to my wonderful friends, I have still been able to coach soccer, which I love! I suppose I have learned that I can survive without my husband, although that doesn't mean that I like it. I really do miss him. There really is a lot to be said for marriage, having a partner to be there for you to support you and be there help out with things.
I do have to say that it is nice to be able to talk, text, and video chat while he is gone! Gotta love technology!
The hardest thing is to find a balance sometimes when he is home. There is so much we want to squeeze into a weekend, or a day, or even a week. We want to have family time, one on one time with the kids, time for us as a couple and then we have so many fantastic friends that we would like to hang out with, but it is really hard to find a balance with all those things.
I am sure we will get the hang of it......someday. I just have to focus on the benefits and hope that they are worth it. San Diego in June and Florida in November! Maybe someday the bonus checks will go towards something other than debts too! Fingers crossed!

My Chunky Monkey

Today Griffin fell over and Landon went to help him up. Well, Griffin is a heavy boy and Landon looked right at him and very sincerely said, "Griffin, I can't help you, you are too fat!"
Having kids can be so entertaining!

Missionary Madness

Back in December, my brother Jeff opened his mission call. Three weeks later he was off to the MTC. We had a wonderfully crazy few weeks, including a beautiful day where we went to the temple with Jeff when he went for the first time.

His setting apart was the night before he left, and it was an amazing and powerful night, where we all felt so strongly that Jeff was doing what the Lord wants him to do and going exactly where the Lord needs him.
He has been on my mind a lot lately, since he just flew to New York on the 14th of March, and he is currently serving in Queens. We are so proud of him.


Jeff flew out just one day before my brother David came home. Everyone was so excited to see David again! Check out the welcoming committee. My kids had so much fun making posters to welcome their Uncle David home. It's been great to have him home, and he looks great.
What a good example my brother's are to my kids, and myself! It is an amazing blessing to have brother's serving the Lord. I love being able to share spiritual experiences with them and hear the ones they are having as they strive to do the Lord's work!

A shout out to Gavin's birthday

Yes, I know that it was two months ago, but it's still worth writing about.
For Gavin's birthday he invited some friend's to go play lasertag. They had such a great time! It was such a fun day!









The night before, we had gone bowling as a family, with my parents, my brothers, and my niece and nephew. The kids were so cute and had such a great time!






Gavin is thrilled to be 9!

Sledding Fun!

With Spring coming (hopefully) I was reflecting on the winter fun we had. It would have been nice to have a little more. If it is going to be so cold, it would have been nice to have some of the nice snow to sled on or build snowmen with. We didn't get enough of that this winter for me. I know, usually I am saying we got way too much snow and can't wait for it to go away, but I guess that is how it goes. It's either too much or too little. I love to see my kids having fun, and sledding at Silverlake Ampitheater is always fun.




While I was busy taking these fun pictures I actually had a kid run into me and knock me on my butt. I wish I could have got a picture of that. I couldn't help but laugh, although I had a sore bottom for a week.
Well anyway, I am hoping that winter is over now, because I am ready for spring now!