Memorial Day Weekend

Slowly, but surely, I WILL get caught up on blogging! Back to Memorial Day weekend. After we spent Saturday up at the Denver Temple, we spent the rest of our weekend the the Jewell family. Our barbecue on Sunday included the kids riding around in various Barbie vehicles...

Of course, Abram felt it easier just to push some of them...

The kids love playing with the Jewell's dogs... Brewser and Barley. And here Mali is with James. At this point she was loving him. Although, now I think she just loves to fight with him!

Monday we took their boat out to Pueblo Reservoir. The girls LOVE boating!

As does Abram! We have gone out on the boat quite a few times this summer and remark every time how fortunate we are the the kids are SO good on the boat. Pretty darn uncommon to have a 6 month, 16 month, 2 year, and 3 year old behave so well for hours out on the water!

Lest any of you wonder if David ever smiles... all you have to do is get him out on the water tubing and he's happy as a clam!

The girls watching "Papa" tubing. Adorably, Kaela calls David "Papa" also...

Malia sitting in the tube with Papa...

David at the helm. Someday we WILL have our own! In the meantime, he gets his kicks out of trying to throw James off the tube...

The girls hanging out in the tube...

Papa being naughty and sharing his DP with Abram...

This line up was back in one of the coves... I found it amusing...

On the way home Abram was so tired he was being a NUT! Silly boy...

Good times, good times! We love hanging out with the Jewell family. True to Army form, they will be moving soon. Guess I better get used to making friends, and then having them move! In the meantime, we will enjoy our time with them. The girls' birthdays are only a few days apart so we will be having a big combination party in a few weeks. Fun, fun!

I Love to See the Temple

On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, our little family went with our ward for a Primary Activity at the Denver Temple. David had just gotten home three days earlier, so we were super excited to be able to go as a family!

For some reason, this is the only picture I got of the temple! This is the backside of temple...

Inside the visitor's center... Malia and some of the other Primary kids...

David and Abram out by the fountain in front of the temple...

After our tour of the grounds and the visitor's center, we went across the street to have a picnic with the ward. Here are my men... I think Abram is trying to look tough...

Malia enjoyed running around, spinning, and even rolling down the hill! Here she is mid-spin...

Afterwards we checked out Deseret Book. Later that night a friend of mine took the kids so that David and I could have a date! We had a nice, relaxing, QUIET dinner at Applebee's and then did some shopping at Walmart. I know, I know... exciting, huh? It's what we wanted to do! The point was that we were together!

Abram's 1st Haircut

Anyone who got to see Abram during the first year of his life can attest to him having quite the "mop" on his head! The plan was to give him his first haircut in January during David's R&R, but it never happened. I toyed with doing it while David was gone but it also never happened. So once David was home and Abram already 14 months, a first haircut was definitely in order! Don't get me wrong, I loved his hair. Although most days he reminded me of a teenage boy with his hair everywhere. While it was charming, it was just getting too long. I could even put it into a ponytail!

Abram's luscious locks...
Before shot...

Pile o' hair...

After shot...

It took us a bit to get used to. I kept looking over at him wondering where my little baby went. He grew into his new do in no time! Now I can't imagine him the other way. Not to mention I now don't have people telling me what a beautiful little girl I have! So much less maintenance as well. Especially since the other day Malia slathered his head in mud! Now he and papa have the same do!

Tea Party for Three

The morning after David returned home, I got to sleep in. Little Man Abram also slept in. Little did I know that Mali and her Papa were out and about! They walked over to the PX and Mali got her Papa to buy her this tea set. Of course when they got home, a tea party was in order!

Home Sweet Homecoming!

On Wednesday, May 26th David returned home to us. The Homecoming ceremony was at 10am and we could get there as early as 8 am. That morning waking up... It seriously felt like Christmas! I don't know if I have ever been so excited! It had been a LONG year, and at the same time it felt like he had just left. Strange, huh? When we got to the Special Events Center they had a bounce house set up for the kids. Since David got bumped from Main Body 4 to Main Body 5 he came home at the same time as my friend Monika's husband, James. It was nice to have her and her kids with us. Our friend Allie Wallace also came to assist with the much appreciated photography. Here comes a barrage of pics!

Waiting in the stands with our sign...

Malia clapping... They had just played "Proud to be an American"... Now just waiting for the soldiers to come in...

And here they are! I have no idea which one is David! All I know is that my heart was SO full and I was bawling like a baby. I was so incredibly proud of all our brave soldiers...

Malia cheering for her papa...

After a few moments of pandemonium... we found each other! Sweet Reunion! Malia gets first hug...

And there is me with the crying face... I couldn't help it! I just couldn't believe he was home...

Malia getting kisses from her papa... She was so excited! She had no problems whatsoever attaching to her papa...

Abram on the other hand was not so sure about this guy with the funny looking hat! Note the big fat tear on momma's cheek...

Our little family back together again! I love that Abram is still staring at David...

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER...

David and his babies... Such the proud papa!

The ceremony was relatively short and soon we were out the door with our hero. All he had to do was grab his bags. While he was doing so, I loaded the kids into the car and Abram was out before David even got back!

We stopped at home, gave David a tour of his new home, and went out for lunch to Red Robin. I can't even believe his home! Still two weeks later, I just catch myself staring at him in awe. I know I am so blessed to have him return safely. I am loving every minute having the man of the home back where he belongs. Malia is SO in love with her papa. If I had a dollar for every time she has said, "Papa I missed you SO much!", I'd be a rich lady! Abram took a couple hours to warm up but is now super attached. If David is hugging me, Abram pushes us apart and goes to David! I love my little family with all my heart and am eagerly awaiting our summer of FUN!

Homecoming Preparations

One week ago today our hero came home! Here are a few of the things the kids and I did in preparation for that glorious day!

A few inside decorations... Signs compliments of Brittney's family...

The sign I made to take to the Homecoming ceremony...

Outside decorations... A friend said she lined her walk with little flags for her husband's homecoming... I found these flag pinwheels and did the same... Malia loved helping me... Although the wind tore them apart a few days later...

A sign for our front step... Malia helped by putting the foam star stickers on...

And the fun doesn't stop there! Besides inside and outside decorations, we each had shirts on expressing our love! I know... a bit cheesy. But hey, we were super excited...

I also had a free banner made that we hung on the back fence. Plus the banner that you saw in a past post that we hung on the fence outside post. If there was a homecoming preparation to be had, we did it! It helped pass the time while waiting.

Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Sunday

Last Sunday was one of my least favorite days... EVER! It started off being a rough day just because it was the day that David was "supposed" to come home. Main Body 4 was returning that day, but they didn't have room for everyone and needed some to wait and go with Main Body 5. No one offered to stay, so my husband, being who he is, volunteered to stay. I was impressed he stepped up, but super frustrated that I had to wait even longer. I got the kids up and ready for church. There was lots of wailing, whining, and gnashing of teeth. A perfectly wretched morning! I was still fighting off a lingering cold and was feeling completely miserable. I finally got us all out the door and loaded into the car. I went to start the car and had to look around to see if diesel truck had started at the same time! I got out and looked under the car to find my exhaust system lying on the ground! How the heck?! No idea. I unloaded the kids, traipsed back inside, and had myself a good cry. The first of many that day. A friend offered to come get us and take us to church, but at that point I was in no condition to be amongst the masses! And then... my back went out! I was bent over like a ninety year old woman in incredible pain. Another good cry. And then the buses of Main Body 4 went by. Another good cry. Just one of those days, I guess. No fear... it got better. I have amazing friends and family that buoyed my spirits. Not to mention my kids crack me up... as seen in the pictures taken that day. Our super diligent Home Teacher came over and took a look at the car. Diagnosis... cracked catalytic converter. He spent a couple days during his lunch and after work working on it. Had I taken it in, it could have cost me near $1000 for parts and labor! $25 and a few days later, the car was good to go! I made it through that horrible, no good, very bad Sunday. Good thing David didn't come in with Main Body 4, I wouldn't have been able to pick him up! It all worked out for the best in the end. Things always do.