Football Season Ends

Tiger record was 4 and 3. Our defense wasn't scored on in 19 quarters- I think my husbands bribing as the defensive coordinator of candy bars is what motivated the boys to block.

It was a rough start for Tanner. 4 days a week practices and Saturday all day events. He wanted to quit. His helmet hurt.... it was hard. I felt bad for him. Ryan told me he'd figure it out- it would be good for him.

We "encouraged" him to hang in there.

Ryan had to go to all the practices- he was one of the teams 5 coaches.

About mid-season Tanner started to get it. He started on offense and defense. He was reliable.

Coach at the end of year award party said Tanner was "the most improved and one of the nicest kids out there."

I enjoyed watching Ryan coach. During the game a coach is allowed on the field. Ryan would pull the kids around, switch them by arm pulls between plays and always always patted their helmets.

Tanner is number 41.


The sideline. Ryan said it took a force of nature to get us out the door with all our snacks and chairs and umbrellas to get us to games on time. I did little sitting, mostly tried to keep kids off the field!


The game ending tunnel. Tanner's up front.

Discussions at our house

1. When can we get a dog? Or a cat? Me: But whose going to clean up after the poop? How about we get one that doesn't poop?- says Emma. Brilliant idea.

2. When is Emma going to like Kindergarten? Thank you to the Grandmas who put her name in the temple. She now says, "I only have one butterfly in my tummy." and, "I am famous because everyone is praying for me." Tanner stayed home legitimately sick. She wanted to know why his butterflies let him stay home. I told her his aren't butterfly's. She said than they must be sharks.

3. When is Charlotte going to poop? She has gone over 10 days. I took her into the pediatrician. She's fine and not to worry he says. But we do worry! Especially about when and where we are going to have that blowout.

4. When are we going to Disneyland? (at least a couple times a day this is asked). We don't know I say. But really, we bought our airfare and hotel. We've booked our surprise vacation for the end of January!

5. Can I go to football practice? Ryan is the assistant coach. I love that guy. The head catholic coach says he looks at coaching as a ministry of sorts. Lots of fatherless kids. Moms have called Ryan to talk to their sons. I try to keep the little kids home so Ryan can focus on the team. Tanner started the last two games. It's clicking. Can't wait til it's over. :)

6. Where's Jackson? Who has Jackson? JACKSON! He's a stinker right now. Into everything. Way worse than my other kids. But he's funny. He's my best talker and cracks jokes back at us. And he likes the fridge. Butter is like candy or something.

7. I have to excercise. Whose gonna give me some time alone- I say? I'm trying to change my diet. I'm working out everyday. I'm starting to like to run. Almost 8 weeks at it. I ask Ryan all the time, When is it going to drop off? When are my last 100 pounds gonna melt out of me? He's over me. He tells me to keep it up. It is coming off. But he can skip lunch and now weighs what he weighed in High School. Such a crock I say. I serve him big portions. Of pie especially.

8. When you gonna get a ride on a fighter jet? Me to Ryan of course- this is called an Incentive Flight. He rolls his eyes at me. He tells people I wish he was a pilot. Not really ;). But still, I asked if he can make some "connections" so we can take our family Christmas picture on a jet. He came home recently and told me two things. First, he was nominated for some award. He had to go before some interview panel. He didn't know some current events about the military. He said he "bombed it but whatever". But he won. He was recognized. I asked if his award was an Incentive Flight. He didn't know. Maybe if he makes it to DC he said. BUT, the second item, He made those "connections". We get a family picture on a jet. We're imposter's, I know.

Letter from the Principle

Got this sent home with the kids last week.

"...I would like to explain the situation with the Active Shooter exercise held in the old primary school yesterday."

Let me clarify, the old unused school is just a few feet away from the new (but still old) primary school building that is being used. They share the same parking lot. As I was dropping Emma off to the kindergarten line I was crossing the parking lot and heard fire. I thought we were under attack. I stopped, looked around. Grabbed the kids. Wondered if I should run or duck or call 911 or what. But everyone seemed calm. And I figured since I was new to base, and no one was running in fear, it must be an exercise or something. But it was unnerving. (Jackson kept saying, "what's that mamma?what's that?") Especially, in light of Fort Hood last year.

back to the letter.

"we received some concerned calls from parents who were upset that we had not informed them of the exercise. Just to be clear to everyone, the exercise did not take place in our building. And no on was informed, because I was directed not to inform parents. The integrity of the exercise was important and since there was no threat to our students, this direction was followed. If you have concerns, please contact base leadership."

Just my 2 cents, but I think it is pretty scary for kids that have had parents deployed in combat. Which is a huge percentage of our base. And thus, the location of the exercise is insensitive. And second. I think I should kick up my reaction skills. I guess I would know how I would behave if under fire.

Where I've been

At Landon's Birthday Party.

We had a family one for him. I postered the kitchen and set the traditional birthday table for him. His dad took him out to lunch here on base. He's four. But I still get him home for 2 more years.

Where I've been

At school.

Emma goes just 3 hours, from noon to 3. I can see the school from my house. Tanner goes to school in the morning with the Walkie Talkie so I can check in on him when he picks her up and walks home with Emma. (Ryan thinks I'm an overprotective nut. He teases me about this Walkie Talkie thing.)

Emma has had a hard time with school. She was not too fond of it- ie, ripping at my arm and sobbing when I left her. I could hardly bear it. Ryan started swinging home and picking her up to drop her off. Since the hospital is just right around the corner I have been able to count on him to help me. I love the base. So much more convenient for us.

I still feel like I have 4 at home- half day kindergarten doesn't even count! Oh the days are demanding. Everyone needs help. Everyone needs me. I can't imagine not having this mother calling- what did I ever do with my time before them!

After school. Snack time and I get Tanner to help me with Charlotte.

Where I've been

At the Boise State Fair and Boise Hot Air Balloon Festival. (two different events)

Dinosaur Exhibit. Iphone pic.

This kid needs a leash backpack. He tries to "walk" himself with his own leash.

Where I've been

Football. Football. Football.

Ryan is one of the Assistant Coaches. So Ryan's there too. 4 nights a week plus weekend games.

Tanner on the Boise State Blue Field

Jackson wants to play. He yells at the kids just like the coaches do.

Where I've been

Swimming at my moms.

happiest place on earth

for Charlotte is in the pouch- like she is here, hanging on me. And I love seeing her smile up at me.

My Favorites- swaddles, storage, slides

1. Swaddling blankets by Aden & Anais. They are 100% muslin. Extra large for wrapping babies. Lightweight. I just wish I'd had them for every baby. The nurses in the baby nursery at the hospital asked me "where did you get these"? Target sales them for the best price around online. You can find them at Land of Nod and other boutiquey type stores as well. In a pinch, I use them as a nursing cover as well. A discovery I found from a friend.

2. This thing was ugly. I need a long (6ftish) narrow (30 inch) cabinet for my kitchen area. I hunted on Craigslist. Finally I found it. Ryan and his Dad drove into boise and picked it up. Ryan said, "are you sure? this is ugly. this is heavy." That's the one I told him.
My 38th- almost- in-labor-week, we refinished it. I took some inspiration from here at Shabby Nest. Really, just minimal sanding required. I used a wet paint sand prep. A 3-4 hour project on and off a couple days.

Each kid has a school drawer. The arts and crafts all have a spot. The junk drawer is full already. And 2 years from now when we leave this base and Air Force life, I will garage sale it. Or maybe Ryan will use it as a work bench area in the garage. It won't hurt because it didn't cost much.

3. My Banzai Lagoon. This thing is sturdy. Goes up so fast. The blower is quiet. It has a sprayer that my little boys like off- but when it's on, the slide is fast. We've had it almost 2 weeks (I was waiting for it to go on sale at Walmart). I love that you don't have to get out of the pool to climb the ladder to go down the slide- keeps the pool cleaner. Except when Jacks throws pebbles in it. My kids have loved it. Just like I knew they would. Well, well worth my pennies. (Walmart is clearancing them down below the original cost of $399- I got mine for their cost of $225). Snow cones and nursing (just like I said.) Now I just have to get Ryan on it.

Our Road Trip/ Family Reunion

(This is a dandy of a post. I've been working on it for days. )
As a preface. Even though we had this trip on the calendar for a while. Having Charlotte (5 weeks old when we left) and then the move to base and kids home from school made me all a bit wore out. I almost talked myself out of going. I am so so glad I listened to Ryan, who guilted me by saying he couldn't go to his family reunion without me. He could have. But I would have sent him with all 4 kids. :)
We started off heading to Salt Lake to have a Kentucky reunion! We stayed over at our friends parents home (thank you Gold's!). We arrived Pioneer weekend realizing that this was indeed a true holiday. Bigger than the 4th maybe? We visited the animals at Lagoon, went to the Farmington park festival (was it Farmington or Ogden or Orem or where were we? )and met up with Kristi and her beauty twin babies and caught Jamie G. in town as well. Such a good visit. Love you all!
Kristi, baby Ben, Angela & Jed

We left Salt Lake for a stay over in Reno to break up the drive to Hillsborough, California, just outside San Francisco.We arrived to my young Aunt Julie's home on day 3. She has the most beautiful home and was so generous and thoughtful and had everything on hand to make our stay there so welcoming. She never made me haul all our kids out to dinner either- which was such a relief. Homemade dinners were awesome, cousin Maddie tolerated my kids adoration, her animals were fed well by my little boys (a bite for me and a bite for you), we went to the park and visited and my sister Summer and her kids were there the whole time. It was a perfect visit.

Julie's home, elusive Julie, awesome park

We left Hillsborough for Pismo Beach, California on day 5. Ryan's grandma hosted a family reunion and treated us all to almost beachside suites. I am so so glad we were there, so many good memories made and babies and family member finally met! Ryan's grandma (in the tie dye) had a heart bypass and had been sick, but her wish was to have this family reunion with all her living children- 6 daughters and as much of their families as could make it. Ryan's mom, a daughter, and the rest of us were in the red shirts.

The Williams clan- missing the Cory part for sure!

Ryan's Grandma, holding the 2 newest great grand babies. Charlotte's on the left.

Ryan's mom is the young blond ;). Lots of cousins.

We had a talent show on the beach.

Our kids performed to a hannah song.This was serious business for Landon.

Cousin Macee had the dance down so well (maybe because her mom was the director?)

Ryan's brother Barry, our BIL Nate and Ryan's brother Sean

Is is okay to mention that I love these guys? Such good uncles.

Ryan's sisters, Jill and pregnant Angela. I tell them I love them. I hope they know it.

Cousins Brock and Mckenzie

My father in law. Such a blessing to me. Taught my Ryan how to be.

beach time, chilly and breezy, but still fun for the kids.

We had a hot dog roast on the beach the final night. We also had an auction and all the proceeds went to the church humanitarian fund. We left Pismo on day 7 and headed over to bakersfield where I got to see my long lost dearest friend Stephanie! It was a fast visit at her home- which is so nice. We met her fun Grant and had lunch and got back on the road again to Fresno (really Sanger). No matter how much time passes since we lived in Bakersfield, my life stills feels connected to that place. Emma was born there. And Stephanie makes it so too.

stole this off Steph's blog...

Grant, Christian & Elyse

We arrived at Ryan's childhood home, the Sanger Farm, and stayed overnight. We enjoyed Ang's taco's. Nate graduated from PA school and Ang threw him a graduation party. The waterslide they brought in was a hit.

cousins Brock, Grandpa on the tractor with Tate and Kynzlee, Mckenzie

Uncle Nate's ride, Jackson wants to drive it.

On day 8 we blessed Charlotte. We've never blessed a baby outside the church, but I loved that we had a good portion of our family there to help Ryan.

Emma's blessing dress as well.

3 generations

She always smiles the best for her Dad.

I'll love this picture forever.

Brothers shaking hands after the blessing. Made me cry.

We packed up and hauled it back with the kids kicking and screaming to stay. We stayed the night in Reno and had the longest almost miserable ride home to Mountain Home on day 9. Charlotte was done in the car and the drive is desolate past Reno. But you know what? It was all worth it. We saw so many people we love.