Where do I begin????

I am just going to hit all the highlights of the month so far in order to catch up...This is going to be long folks so forgive me!

First, I am back to work (for the first time in about 10 years-outside the home at least. I of course babysat some sweeties I miss sooo much!!) and I really like it so far. I work part time...technically...at Bi-Lo. I say technically because last week I had 32 hours and this week I will have 37! I have been able to work mostly while Jake is at school, and 2 evenings a week when Aaron is home. It has worked out perfectly so far. They are totally family friendly and most of the people (including the young kids) have worked there for years! I thought turn over was big at grocery stores but not this one! I am going to be a cashier starting the beginning of March, but right now I am updating everyone who comes in the store over to the new "Fuel Perks Bonus Card" and it really is fun. I get to chat with people all day and they pay me. Totally works for me! Wednesday is the best day because it is senior day and all the cute seniors love to really chat it up. They are so awesome. I seriously wish I could have a video camera to document their amazing stories! This job came at a perfect time because Aaron found out he is not going to be able to get his unemployment...BIG wrench in our plans but we are rolling with the punches and working it out. I put applications out and didn't hear anything until Bi-Lo called a month later. I literally got hired the day we got the letter in the mail saying he wouldn't be getting unemployment. Thank you again Heavenly Father for being mindful of our family! I will post a picture of my lovely uniform (I am being extremely sarcastic..) soon and tell you Jake's sweet reaction to it. I love that boy!

Okay, so that was me rambling...I have to post a few pictures to show the love and support our families are to us. Aaron told his parents the not so good news about his unemployment and they rallied right behind us to show us their support in Aaron being in school. I actually wasn't supposed to start at Bi-Lo until Monday the 8th, but they called me on the 6th and asked if there was any way I could come in (someone was sick), because they were just kicking off the new bonus cards. So, off to work I went and when I got home this is what I saw:





My wonderful in laws drove up from Spartanburg (1 1/2 hours a way) to stock our pantry for us. And these pictures don't even show all of it! Thank you for helping me convince Aaron that this wasn't the end of the road, that we can make this whole going back to school thing work. Thank you for reminding us that even though it may not be easy, we are on the right path. Thank you for loving us and supporting us in all we do.

I forgot to take a picture of Pooha! Or as Jake used to call here when he was little "Poohba". We are watching her while Aaron's parents go on a cruise. She is so sweet. She loves to curl up with anyone sitting down. And if you are covered with a blanket (it is cold in our/my parents house. It is an adorable historic home with tons of character...and old homes equal drafty windows and little insulation. Plus we are cheap so we have the heat turned REALLY low. But that just means hot chocolate and cuddling which totally works for me!), Pooha likes to crawl under it. She is so sweet!

Lets see...whats next? Oh, to go along with the house being cold I had to post a picture of Aaron studying.

Nice hat in doors right? I guess when you have very little hair covering your head you have to keep it warm some how!

We FINALLY had snow here (Jake was so bummed every time he heard how much snow you all were getting up in the mountains) TWICE! The first was equal parts ice and snow. We played the first day when it was snow...And then looked out the window wishing we could play in it, but it was no fun for 2 or 3 days after that! Snow is fun to play in...ice not so much. Jake did get a day off from school Monday the 1st and 2 hour delay the next day so it was pretty awesome! Here are pictures from snow #1:






Snow #2 was PERFECT! The light fluffy stuff that accumulates in no time at all and makes the best snowballs. And as quickly as it came it left within 2 days. Don't you love the south? Enjoy playing in it and then poof it is gone. I love it that way!!! Here is snow #2:






Okay...My head is starting to hurt...I will break this up into parts to make it easier. Consider this Part One. Tomorrow I will do Super Bowl Party, Jake's TOTALLY AWESOME Valentine Card box for school...and some other stuff I can't remember right now, because my brain has shut down for the day! :)

Week 7 results

I am not surprised to report that I stayed the same this past week. I hardly got to exercise at all because I am getting into the swing of juggling work, laundry, Jake's homework, etc! I will blog more later today and update all that is happening in our world but right now I have to clean one more room and get ready to head to work!

Week 6 Results

I am in a hurry so I will make this quick! I lost 2 pounds! Yippeeee! I have to get ready for work now, which is another thing I will blog about later. Along with snow, making Jake's Valentine card box for school, etc.! I will catch up soon...

Week 5 Results: I stink..

...I really do stink right now because I just worked out and REALLY need to take a shower. It was one of those "work out so hard your whole had is wet" work outs. For good reasons I worked out that hard...I got ELIMINATD from my Biggest Loser Wii. You read right I actually got eliminated! I slacked BIG TIME last week and gained 4 pounds!!!!! So not only do I stink from needing a shower, I stink at week 5! Aaron was like don't worry usually you do bad week 3-at least you made it longer this time...Is that really a compliment? I am back on it people-BIG TIME! Let this be a lesson to all who are reading (which may be no one...) If you slack and eat a little too much life is not over if you are working out. But if you slack at eating and exercise you WILL pay the consequences...I stink...I have to go take a shower...

..One more thing...actually 3 more things:

1. My parents are on the way to the MTC as we speak!!!! We love you and are so proud of you! Good luck!!!!

2. Jake said "Mommy can't you change the picture at the top of your blog? It looks like I am getting more and more tired every time I look at it!" (he has "the blues" as we call it in this picture. If Jake is tired we know because he gets dark circles under his eyes instantly or "the blues")

3. You will probably be happy to know I won't be blogging for a few days until we get our internet up and running. I am not sure anyone will even notice I am gone because I don't think anyone even reads my blog any way (that's okay though you all are busy and I have been RAMBLING lately!). But I did reach my goal of blogging all of Jan. by Jan. 31st. A lot happened in Jan. sorry for the post overload but this is my journal/scrap book so it had to be documented. I can't wait to see what all you post when I get back! Good bye for now!

C-ya in 18 months!

After the Jeep got repacked and we ate lunch (Aaron had to say goodbye before they left because he had to go to the dentist), we said our goodbyes. We took a few photos and hugged a bunch. It was strange because I think we all expected it to be sadder or more emotional than it was. We are of course going to miss them, but it had already hit us when they got set apart that it was really here. We cried our tears then and now we were just saying goodbye or really c-ya in 18 months. It could have been saying bye as they went out to dinner or something. Plus we knew they were on their way to the bank down the street. We had a deposit to make too so we waved bye and then went and jumped in our Jeep to surprise them one last time! It was pretty funny and it gave Nee another chance to sit and cuddle Jake one more time.



I am so excited for you Mom and Dad! You are going to be great missionaries. We are going to miss you so much but we know that you are where you are supposed to be-or at least you are on your way! Good luck as you enter the MTC tomorrow. You will be just what Seattle needs!

What's the hold up?

Like I said before my parents were going to leave after breakfast on Friday but didn't leave until after lunch. This is one of the reasons why...

Full up here...

Is that door going to be able to shut?

No more space here either...

...And this stuff still had to go in the Jeep too...

..and this too..


It is hard to pack for 18 months! The only thing their apartment has (besides furniture, thank goodness!) is plates and silverware. So while Papa repacked, Nee played with Jake and..

..and cuddled with her four legged grandchild.

Jake's gift

Still Friday 22nd...Nee and Papa had a gift for Jake Friday morning. Nee thought a little distraction would make them leaving a little easier. It worked. Nee and Papa got Jake the "Night Raven" from GI Joe.

Friday morning...

Jake and I got up Friday morning to make our last meal (or so we thought!) with Nee and Papa. Not to mention Aaron's last meal with all his teeth. (this was the day he went and got his tooth pulled...poor guy)
Jake with his chef hat on. It didn't stay on for very long but he was ready to cook!

Papa and Nee eat the same thing every morning. I started out taking pictures and then got to busy making 4 omelets, oatmeal, toast...etc., that I had to abandon it. But here are a few shots. Papa has an omelet with tomatoes and onions. He then pours flax seed and ketchup on top (these are both for his prostate cancer that he has been treated for. I forgot to get the ketchup in the shot...) Nee eats oatmeal with walnuts on top and toast.

I love my camera...I even got him cracking the egg. The old camera would still be hesitating to this day!

And the whole gang enjoying breakfast!

The Last Night...

On Thursday the 21st we didn't feel like cooking and then having to clean up after so we had a healthy meal of Papa John's pizza and ice cream! There was a lot of packing, reminiscing, and Mario "Karting" going on.



Aaron and Dad packing up the Jeep. Just wait until I post the Jeep all packed...


Jake decided to look through his treasure box and realized about 95% of the things inside had something to do with Nee and Papa. Cards Nee made and sent to Jake, souvenirs from our trip to Mexico, wood from camp...

Mom decided even though she was a missionary one more round of Mario Kart with Jake would be okay. The concentration on their faces totally cracks me up. I have 2 or 3 more at different times that pretty much look exactly the same!

Lunch at Jake's school

My parents went and had lunch with Jake on Thursday, January 21st since they wouldn't be able to do it for 18 months! They also signed him out of school early which he was thrilled with of course. Here are a couple of shots just for the memories. When they get back Jake will be almost 10...I am hoping he won't be "too cool" to have people come eat lunch with him then!

Pack Meeting

Have I mentioned that Aaron is the Cub Master and I am the Wolves den leader? Well, we are and it is a really fun place to be since Jake is in Cub Scouts. We had our first pack meeting, which turns out to be the first one in like a year for this troop so everyone loved it. Jake got his Bobcat badge and his first 2 beads for finishing 6 achievements. We did a little tug-a-war to show the parents what their cubs can accomplish with their parents help. I think everyone had a great time and it was a nice distraction for us since just a few minutes before we watched my parents getting set apart as missionaries. Which was awesome don't get me wrong, but it was really the first time it sunk in how soon they were leaving.
If you assumed I took pictures you are right!

Cooties

So, Jake is in need of an anatomy lesson. I thought we had cleared this one up a couple of years ago, but apparently not. Let me start by saying I have no idea what we were talking about, because as soon as Jake said this we couldn't stop laughing. He said "girls have big cooties". While saying this he is holding his hands out in front of his chest for emphasis...No we weren't talking about breasts when he did this. Like I said I have no idea what we were talking about. When he was little he heard someone say boobies and thought they said cooties. We told him then that neither was correct, but apparently since it is not a subject that comes up very often he didn't retain the correct name for them...He is going to be so happy I documented this in about 10 years. :)

Jake's Reaction to his Report Card

Jake got his report card today and in the car told me he got all A's except for one B that may as well be an F...Okay...He really wanted to make the A honor roll, not the A/B honor roll again. I told him that was a great goal and I know he can do it...(this is where I made my mistake)... but if he tried his hardest and only got a C we would still be proud of him. He then said "Great now your telling me I should get a C!"...I explained myself better, but I still don't think he really got it because he was too busy being depressed about his B. I guess he gets that from Aaron because he sure didn't get it from me!

My Parents Getting Set A Part As Missionaries

Wednesday January 20th my parents got set apart as missionaries. It was a really awesome experience and the Spirit was so strong. It also hit us that in 2 days they would be leaving. Jake started crying when Nee was getting set apart. Right after it was over he slipped out the door. I followed him and he just couldn't hold back the tears. He and my parents are so close. It was so great to be able to live with them for a little while before they left. It worked out perfectly for everyone that our house sold and my parents didn't want to have to sell their house but couldn't leave it empty either. We are going to stay in their house while they are gone and it benefits us all. My parents didn't have to sell the house they love in a bottomed out real estate market and we don't have to rent some little apartment for $1,000 a month while Aaron is in school. But I am starting to really see how mindful the Lord is of us. He knew Jake needed to spend this time with his Nee and Papa so that letting them go for 18 months wouldn't be quit so hard. How many kids can say they got to have their Nee lay in bed with them for a few minutes almost every night and chat about what ever you want to chat about? Or after school, driving through the neighborhood you see your Papa walking your dog and you get to jump out and take a walk with him while your mom drives home. How many people can say that they got to kiss there Nee goodbye every morning before school-and a lot of those mornings she drove a long with you and your mom to drop you off? Who has played so much Wii with their Papa that sometimes it was hard to tell it was an adult and a child playing and not two buddies? We also got to see them grow even closer together as they prepared to serve the Lord. We have been extremely blessed to have spent the time before their mission with my parents. It was just what we all needed.

My dad and mom right before getting set apart as missionaries.

Bishop and Sister Gleaves, President and Sister Cheney, and my parents.

Us

This is an "I am going to really miss you" hug for sure.

After he cried in the hall I told him he would feel better if he hugged Nee. He didn't want everyone to see him cry. I told him it was okay to be sad they were leaving but we have to remember they are serving the Lord and we need to support them. He really is happy for them. But in this moment he was just sad because he knew how much he was going to miss them.