It's been a while...

A lot has happened since December 2008...

Big J came home safe and sound from his deployment on February 8, 2009. We have all enjoyed having him home. And just as expected he is completely wrapped around little miss SJ's finger. He has started back at Domino's already and starts back at his military job on Monday, April 13th. He undertook a home improvement project as well. Shortly after we moved into our home almost 8 years ago the ceiling under the master bath started to show water damage. We had the home builder come out to fix the damage. Long story short; the home builder tried to say it was our fault for not caulking, but the parts that weren't caulked were the parts sealed under the jetted tub. They fixed what they thought was wrong, but 7 years later the ceiling started to show water damage again. Big J took off the side of the tub and ripped up the flooring to try to figure out what was leaking. He cut a hole in the ceiling and after much searching we discovered that the overflow drain on the tub was what was leaking, it was never sealed. Since he had some of it torn out anyway he decided to tear out the rest of it and redo the entire bathroom. I have a lovely bathroom now with tiled floors and the entire tub and shower are tile as well. We have pedestal sinks and he also installed shower doors. We have a little bit of work to finish still.

While our bathroom was torn apart I decided I wanted new living room furniture. We went to Ikea and RC Willey and now my living room feels like mine. We moved the old couch down to the basement and a friend took the old entertainment center. The whole room seems so much bigger now, I love it.

In March Big J and I got to go on our Hawaiian vacation that he has been promising me since we got married 11 years ago. It was so nice to get away from the kids for a whole week. We went with some close friends and had a blast. We stayed on the island Oahu. During our stay we went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, toured the Polynesian Cultural Center, walked around Waikiki, visited Pearl Harbor, snorkeled at Turtle Bay, and got tattooed at North Shore Tattoo. The guys also went golfing. We hope to make it an annual trip to Hawaii and want to go to some of the other islands as well.

Little Miss SJ started on rice cereal the other day. She isn't so sure of it and wants nothing to do with it if she is really hungry.

I just wanted to post an update... I will post pictures separately when I get a chance. With two little ones at home all day I don't get a lot of spare time before the older two get home from school.

211th Aviation Batalion Christmas Party

The party was held at the AASF in West Jordan in the Apache Hangar. The soldiers of First and Second Batalions combined for the event along with their families and the families of the deployed.
The kids got to see Santa, climb a rock wall, get balloon animals from a clown, and play Pin the Nose on Rudolph. We got to spend time with friends and eat food, and have yummy cookies. And someone tried to climb through a vent in the hangar door...

Alphabet Tag

A--Attached or Single: Attached... And wouldn't want it any other way
B--Best Friend: Big J & MJ
C--Cake or Pie: Cake, chocolate cake
D--Day of Choice: Sunday, get to spend it with the fam
E--Essential Item: Shower
F--Favorite Color: Yellow
G--Greatest Accomplishment: Being a wife for the past 11 years and a mom for 10
H--Hometown: Eagle Mountain, UT
I--Indulgences: sweets
J--January or July: July, I prefer the summer
K--Kids: 4... Little J, B, Little S, and Little Miss SJ
L--Life is incomplete without: My husband and I guess the kids too
M--Marriage Date: November 26, 1997
N--Number of Siblings: 1 full brother, 5 half brothers, 1 step brother, and a step sister... plus my adopted family of two sisters and two brothers
O--Oranges or Apples: Apples and oranges with raisins and walnuts
P--Phobias or fears: Losing Big J
Q--Quotes: "Happiness is a cconsequence" -Unknown
R--Reason to Smile: My kids
S--Season: Spring, love to watch all the flowers bloom
T--Tag 5 Friends: C Horne, J San Nicolas, E Bingham, A Smith, M n B Bettilyon
U--Unknown facts about me: All of my kids are named for people who have influenced our lives
V--Very favorite store: Old Navy
W--Worst habit: Being a clutter queen
X--X-ray or Ultra Sound: Ultrasound, I'm not usually in pain when I get one of those
Y--Your favorite food: Italian
Z--Zodiac: Aries

Saying "Good Bye" again...

We got to have two whole weeks with our Soldier and this morning we had to take him to the airport to say farewell for approximately 99 more days. It was really hard to say good bye again, even though the end is in sight. This time the task ahead of me involves 4 children, 2 of which are in diapers. Although it will be tough, I know I have the support of family and friends to help me through.