Figured it's time to post more pictures . . .

Jacob decided that he was thirsty so he got himself a cup out of the drainer and the milk from the fridge. I had been in the living room changing Joshie's diaper and didn't realize what he was doing. He almost made it. He filled the cup about half way and then I hear "oops". Joshie decided that he was hungry and went and got some baby food. (I do feed my kids, I promise!!) On the way to Battalion the day he deployed. I asked him how he felt at that moment and this is the look I got. A little crazy.

Following Daddy to his office. Our Soldier Blake took some pictures with the boys. Take a look at those eyes! Joshie is wearing Jacob's shirt in all these pictures. He threw up all over his own before we got there and this shirt was the only extra one in the car.

Our last family picture for a while.

Joshie has developed a whine-cry. And it looks like this. I laugh every time. Look at those lips!

Blake hasn't even been gone a whole week but it feels like so much longer. People are constantly asking how I'm doing and I can truthfully say, "Just fine." He has had so many little (month long) trainings in the two years that we have been in the army that it just feels like that. He's usually gone during the day anyway - the hard part is when there's only me and the boys at the dinner table and after the boys go to bed the house is so quiet. I don't think I've ever watched so many movies before bed before. Since he's been gone I've been watching a movie a night. I have two months free of Netflix so that has been my bedtime companion for the last few days.

We figured that when Blake gets back, he'll have been deployed for half of Joshua's life and time-gone-for-entire-army-time (does that make sense?) for half of Jacob's life. Oh well. C'est la vie!
We knew what we were signing up for and the benefits far outweigh the negatives. And even the negative for us (him being gone for a year and missing so much of our lives) is a benefit for the Afghani people. They get him for a whole year to help their country. I'm so proud of Blake and his willingness to fight for others freedom.

More pictures from Mom and Matt's Tropical Vacation

One of the things Matt really wanted to do while in Hawaii was to try to climb a coconut tree.

My Mom tried too. (She needed some help.)

Matt and his friend, Brent, learning a Tahitian dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Right before the Luau.

Jacob decided his flowers needed to be cut up into pieces. He didn't actually eat them. Whew!

Matt trying Poi for the first time. He didn't like it.

At Pearl Harbor Memorial there were some fun things.

Jacob's leg got a little dirty. He was NOT happy.

Yummyness in a box

On my mission I had a German companion who introduced me to tea. This is the only kind that I like. When I asked her recently about the name of it she said she would send me some. She even sent some candies and cookies! So stinkin' excited!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Mom and Matt's Tropical Vacation

For Christmas, Melissa and I gave Matt and my mom a trip to Hawaii. Of course I provided them with a place to stay. :o) Matt came late Monday night and we were able to hang out together until my mom came on Saturday night. Here are a few of our activities until this point.

Matt's friend Brent goes to BYU-H and he met us at the temple to hang out for an hour.

We didn't have enough time to go to the beach one day so we went to the pool instead. This was Josh's first time swimming. Didn't like it so well.

After my mom came we went to Waikiki and walked around all the shops. There was a guy with trained birds and he would put them on people (hoping to get money.) He kept calling Matt "my husband" and Jacob's "Daddy". (Sorry Blake!) Probably because we were together and he was holding Jacob's hand. Jacob DID NOT like the birds AT ALL!

Matt took a picture with the Duke.

Matt's First Hawaiian Pineapple. He picked it.

We went to Matsumoto's Shave Ice MANY times during our trip. Jacob's goal was to eat as much as he could from all of us, so while we were taking pictures he was trying to eat.

And of course when you are in Hawaii (especially in January) you need to get to the beach. We went to the Air Force Base where they had a really calm area which was perfect for kids. Josh LOVED splashing in the ocean (guess he just didn't like the pool.)