Officially a Teenager

Well, it's official.  We now have a legitimate teenager in the home.  I guess that makes me an old woman, right? 

Happy Birthday to our Poogy girl this week!  

Aubrey has decided to wait and celebrate her birthday when her dad gets home.  So these are all the pictures I'll have to show for now.

However, here's a letter Jed sent to her:

Happy Birthday Poogy Monster!
       Wow, a big 13.  Crazy!  I want you to know that I am very proud of you and the person that you are.  You are the best daughter ever!  As you grow you will always be my little poogs and I hope that you will always remember how much I love you.  I know that this deployment has been difficult for you but I have seen you grow in so many ways.  There will be a time when you look back with gratitude for this time and the opportunities you have had to progress as a person, a daughter, and a child of God.  You are wonderful and I am so thankful that you love me.  You are the best, Aubrey, and hold your own little place in the deepest area of my heart.  Have a great day and I will talk to you later.

Daddy Monster

I am lucky to have such an awesome young woman for a daughter.  She is right there by my side, willing to do whatever I need help with.  She is loyal, loving, unselfish, affectionate, strong, and clearly the BEST DAUGHTER EVER!

All I can say is what a priviledge it is to be her mom.  I don't fear what will come, I get the feeling that Aubrey will be a joy to raise during the next several years.  *knock on wood*

Happy Birthday, sweetheart.

Gettin' Our Feet Dirty

Yesterday was a perfect day for getting our feet dirty.

It was time to plant the vegetable garden.


Actually, we help plant the garden at my parent's house, so it's really a joint effort.  During the last several years, my dad has had two knee surgeries and my mom has had back surgery, so gardening can be physically difficult for them.  Since we don't have a garden at our house, my family helps plant, weed, and harvest my parent's garden instead.  It works out great for both of our families.

By now, the kids know that this large area of dirt will be a good portion of their work detail for the summer.

So excited, can you tell?

Actually, Aubrey has gotten to the point where she doesn't mind working in the garden.

Connor hasn't gotten there yet.

I still get a few grumbles from him.  Ah, just wait, he's gonna get worse come weeding time.  I'm ready for it - whining equals extra rows to weed. :)

Since Ronin already had a previously scheduled playdate with a friend, I didn't make him plant with us.  But don't worry, the weeds will soon be popping up, requiring lots of attention ALL summer long.

Besides, it helped keep Rigdon entertained for a little while.

Meanwhile, the afternoon warmed up and somewhere along the way Connor's shirt came off. 

During this portion of my life, I actually take pleasure in gardening....


...but when I was young, I was more like Connor.  Every morning in the summer my siblings and I would all wake up to individual chore lists hanging on the refrigerator that my mom would make before heading off to work.  It always involved weeding, weeding, and more weeding. 

But I eventually learned that having a bad attitude towards chores (aka - weeding) and complaining instead of doing always made the day much more miserable and long.

I didn't have it near as bad as my mom though.

As a child, she grew up on a farm and had to weed FIELDS!  Fields!!!! By HAND!!!!   Not a small garden spot in the backyard.


She and her siblings had to work much harder than we ever did.  In fact, she told me years ago that she never knew that the 4th of July was a holiday until she was a teenager because they were always sent out to work in the fields....no picnics, no fireworks, no day of fun....just work.
I quickly realized after that how easy I had it.  So no more complaining from me.

This is easy-peasy work in comparison.

One day, this little guy will get to start helping out too.

I am very grateful that my parents instilled the value of work in us kids .


I want to my kids to learn this concept as well.  I don't want them to have it easy.

Poor Connor, he got such a bad sunburn by the end of the day.  Since we only get a few months during the year where we actually have warm sunny days, our white skin burns so easily upon exposure after being covered by layers of clothes all winter long.

Well, Rigdon did end up helping out a little bit.  He brought out more water wells for the tomatoes with Grandpa.

Happy gardening, everyone!

Who I Am Thinking About Today....and All the Other Days

My excitement is beginning to BURST and BuBbLe all over the top.  And for good reason. 

It's been a VERY long 8, almost 9, months since Jed left for his deployment to Iraq.  However, in just a few weeks, I'll get to be back in his arms again, even if it is only for a very short while.  I'll get to have my husband back for two whole weeks!    C.A.N.'T   W.A.I.T!!!!!

I can't tell you how many times throughout the day that my mind turns to him.  Wondering how he's doing, if he's safe.  I can't help but imagine what it will be like to finally see him, touch him, kiss him, make sure he is real and not just a smiling face from my computer screen. 

One thing is for sure, I'll be a complete mess when he walks through those doors at the airport.  *Note to self: Must wear waterproof mascara*

The kids are full of anticipation as well.  They all know that they will each get to have a "Daddy Day" with Jed.  They've all made their own special plans - some of which involves going to movies, fishing, camping, sipping huckleberry milkshakes together, and motorcycle rides.  Yep, pretty darn excited.

I must say, I've never seen Jed so excited either.  Even with all the "fun" adventures he's having there, there isn't a conversation that passes without him saying (several times) how much he is looking forward to being home, being with his little family, drinking real, COLD milk, having a good night's sleep without the worry of being rocketed with mortars and not being allowed to do a dang thing about it. 

So you'll have to excuse me when this time rolls around, I will be M.I.A for awhile.  We'll be busy just being together.   ;P