Happy Birthday Mo!

Today is my very best friend, and my sis's birthday. Mo is the very best friend that I could ever have. I couldn't ask for a better sister! It has been the best thing ever having her move down here to Meadow. We live only a few blocks away from each other, and I love it. I know that there was a reason that she moved down here when she did. There is no way that I could have made it through the past year with Jeremy in Iraq without her here. She was truly a lifesaver. There wasn't a time when I needed to run somewhere or go on a weekend trip or whatever that I knew my kids were going to be well taken care of. She was always so willing to do anything to help me out.

I have to say that growing up, I didn't think that I would be saying this. We didn't get along too well, like most sisters I think. But the older we got, the closer we got also.

There isn't a day that goes by that we don't talk on the phone at least 5 times. And my very favorite thing to do is our daily 10:30 coke run. Oh, and we do stop and get the mail too.

We have so much fun together... especially after a long shopping trip and we start getting tired, everything seems to be so funny! We get silly and laugh and laugh at the dumbest things.

I am so glad that we had the opportunity to go on our cruise to Bermuda together! I think that was seriously the funnest time we have had together. (And I still remind her that she owes me the rest of her life for taking her with me:)

Happy Birthday Mo! I hope you have a GREAT day! I love you!

Blaze Game

Last week we were able to go to the last home game for the Utah Blaze. This was my first time to go watch an arena football game, and it was so much fun. The guys had all been to a game before on a "guys night out". We went up with Gary Robins and his grandson Tyson, who is one of Carson's best friends in school. We had awesome seats in the lower bowel, courtesy of Aaron Boone.

Of course we couldn't go home empty handed, the boys got to pick out something to buy, and later get signed by the players.

Carson, Tyson, and Bryson ... being wild and crazy as always!

This is Cheif, the mascot. He came out dressed in this big balloon suit and put on a good show. We had a lot of fun watching him.

Here is "Boone" the boys hero! They got to go down on the field after the game and get his autograph and of course he had extra special things just for them in his pocket. He was great!

The boys posing with Cheif on his Harley.

A Wonderful Homecoming

I know that there are a lot of you that have been waiting for me to blog Jeremy's homecoming and I am finally doing it! Sorry it has taken me so long, things have just been a little hectic around here the last week.

Jeremy flew in on Memorial Day and let me tell ya, we were all so excited. My kids were so excited and Bryson just kept saying, "I can't believe dad is really coming home!" I felt the same way. I couldn't believe the day was finally here.

We got to the airport, or the "slab" as they call it in the military. The atmosphere there was full of total excitement. The flight was about a 1/2 hour early, so we didn't have to wait too long.


It was the BEST feeling to see Jeremy step off the plane!


After getting off the plane, the guys walked through the flags and then went to greet their families.


Carson, Lisa, and Tylie waiting patiently after the plane had landed.


Carson and his Uncle Ky watching for Jeremy.


Lisa and Tylie when they spotted him!


Bryson hugging his daddy.


Our family ALL together again!


Daddy's little girl.


It took Tylie a little while to warm up to Jer, but as soon as she did, he couldn't leave her sight. She has always been a daddy's girl.


Bryson wanted to carry Jer's backpack, but I think it was as big as him.

All the family that was there went out to Chili's for dinner after we left the slab. We had a good time visiting and catching up a little bit. When we finished, my parents took the kids home and we stayed up in Salt Lake because Jeremy had to go back the next day for some more briefings and paperwork.


When we got home the next day, my sis Mo had taken all the kids down to our house to hang signs and decorate it all up for us. The kids had a blast decorating it to surprise us. They even drew big pictures on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. They were so proud of themselves.


Mo lined the sidewalk with flags.


Jeremy right back where he belongs... AT HOME!!!

I just want to thank EVERYONE who has helped us in anyway this past year. We have the BEST family and friends possible. Those of you who know me, know that I am a 'little' bit stubborn and don't like to accept any help. I try to do everything by myself. It has been a learning experience for me to accept help when I have needed it. Whether it was helping out with my kids, helping in my yard, shoveling snow, or just calling to chat, it helped out! Thanks to everyone... WE MADE IT!!!

I have the best friends and family ever!

I just wanted to take a minute and thank my friends and family, they are the best! Thursday I hurt my back and have been in bed ever since. This just happens to be the WORST possible timing for this to happen since Jeremy is coming home tomorrow! So since I was in bed on muscle relaxers and pain pills, I obviously couldn't take care of my kids. Mo and my mom have been awesome and have had all 3 of my kids since Friday. They played, had sleepovers, the works. I know that has not been easy, especially for Mo because that meant she had 6 kids to deal with at her house, and of course the "Terrible Twos" (Tylie and Carlie) struck again. This time it was with fingernail polish everywhere! She said that the girls had been very quiet for a while so she asked Carlie what they were doing and Carlie told her "Ty's piggies mommy." Well, that is exactly what she was doing, painting Ty's piggies. I am sure that Mo will post the pictures because they are great. Polish everywhere... the entire top of her feet, and the bottom, all over the tile, and Tylie decided to run from Mo when she found them so a little got on her carpet too. Oh, and Carlie got it on her face! I don't know what we are going to do with those two!

The next people I want to thank is my BFF Leighann and her daughter Aubrey, My brother Shad and SIL Julia, my brother Kyle, and my dad. They all knew how stressed I was about having my house and yard all cleaned and nice for Jer to get home, and since I couldn't do anything, they all came over and worked for the entire day helping me. I sat in my bedroom and bawled because I couldn't even help. They washed walls, scrubbed my wood floor by hand, scrubbed bathrooms, cleaned out my garage, mowed the lawn, edged the lawn, cut down all the weeds in my side yard, took loads to DI, and the dump, and whatever else needed done. I seriously have the best friends and family in the world. They are so selfless and would do anything for anyone. Julia had also already come over earlier in the week on Thursday and totally cleaned my room for me. She is the BEST organizer and de-junker around, so she got a sitter for her kids and came and went to town.

I can't say thanks enough for everyone who has been helping to make this homecoming such a special time for me and our family. It truly means more to me than I can ever tell you, and I know that I will never be able to repay you, but I am sure going to try. THANKS, I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Back in the US!!!

I got the best phone call tonight. Jer called me from Minnisota on his way to Texas. YEA!!! As soon as the phone rang and I saw that it was his buddie's cell phone I was so excited. They were stopped to refuel so he got to call. He left Kuwait yesterday afternoon, and was on the first flight out of there. I can't even imagine that long of a flight. It is such a relief to know he is back in the US. So if everything goes as planned, he will be on the first flight back to Utah on Monday! I honestly can't believe that we are that close to being together again. Woo Hoo!!!

The Best News Ever!!!

I finally got a phone call from Jeremy this morning at 4:00 am and it was so good to hear his voice. He is now in Kuwait and waiting for a flight to come back into the US!!! I am so excited! Then this morning I had an email telling us that it looks like they will be flying in on three separate days, starting on Monday! I feel like a giddy little school girl today. But at the same time, I am really trying to keep in mind that this is the military and you never get your hopes up when they tell you a date because it can change at any given moment.

We decided before he left that he wasn't going to take the two week R&R leave they give them, and that worked out good for us, so it has been a whole year since we have seen him. This has definately been a learning and growing year for us as a family. I can honestly say that this deployment has made us so much stronger as a couple, and as a family. We have not even had an argument since he has been gone. I look at some of my friends who are constantly fighting with their husbands who are over there and wonder "why" ? Why would you waste your time that you get to talk on fighting? To me that is just plain crazy, but that just tells me how strong we are to just trust and rely on each other to get through this.

Another thing that I have realized through all this is how strong I am. I have always known that I could deal with almost anything, but having to do it for a year alone without Jeremy has made me realize that I am strong, and I can do whatever I need to.

I am so excited to begin this new chapter of our lives together as a family. We have both grown so much from our experiences, and we have learned not to take anything for granted, especially the little things in life, and especially in our marriage. We have made it a goal when he gets back to attend the Temple once a month, and I really hope that we can stick to that. It is so hard sometimes with the craziness of life, but I know that if we do that, we will be truly blessed.

So I will keep you posted on a definate date as soon as we get one!

Flashback Friday!

Monica, Lady, & Lisa

This was our favorite childhood pet ever! Her name was lady and we all just loved her (probably too much) and she was really good with us kids. It is so crazy how completely different Mo and I looked when we were younger, and now we can't go anywhere without people asking us if we're twins. We don't see it, but obviously others do. Mo was always the scrawny one growing up, and I was the chunky one. This picture reminds me of Tylie a little, probably just the pudgy arms and face! What fun memories :)