Back to school 2015-16 and moving

Brecon is in second grade this year and will be in Mrs. Uhorchak's class. He got a new backpack with a handle and wheels that he is very excited about bringing back-and-forth to school. He has a few friends from previous classes that he knows. 

Connor will be in all day kindergarten with Mrs. Gurris. He is very excited and ready to learn.  This summer he really exploded in reading site words and being able to sound out different letters and words.

And then there is Cael in the six grade at the middle school. He seems very nervous, it's hard to get him to talk to anyone let alone his new teachers. Ahh--who am I kidding, that kid was introducing himself on the open house night and cracking jokes, telling the teachers that they need to earn six figures and a raise, that Summer vacation should be longer so the teachers can have more time off, etc.

That means I have three boys in school all day and my Cannon and Brielle at home to help me run errands and take care of the house. It has been a crazy and busy week so far, but we are beginning to settle into the new house and get into a more firm routine.

The week before school we had gone on our trip to Maine, and we had a few days to get ready with school starting on Monday. That would also be the same day we would be signing for our new house and moving over the rest of the week. I had no idea how I was going to be able to be helpful at all, with the new baby in my arms it was difficult to get half of the things done that I wanted to do. A huge blessing was my friend Miranda was staying with us while they waited for their apartment down in Manhattan. Her cute little boys were great entertainment for my boys and she really was a huge help.

Miranda was able to be over at the new house, only 10 minutes down the road, and tell the moving company where to place the boxes inside well I was stuck at the other house getting things ready and taking care of the baby. She also began unpacking the boxes and putting stuff away in places where they needed to go. My house was practically unpacked by the time I made it over by the next day. It was incredible and such a blessing to have her here. She told me the morning before she left how much this helps to realize the hand that Heavenly Father has in our lives. She wanted so badly to be in her apartment, but the time that she was able to help me with such a blessing. She said I must be doing something right, living righteously, to have Heavenly Father take care of both of us!

End of tour ceremony

Ben sent a few pictures from Africa. These are from the end of tour ceremony they had on the beach. This is always a good event showing all the hard work that everyone has done on the deployment and is indicative that these soliders are  getting ready to go home.

"I didn't mean to pull in Earl on this one"

"That is me in the middle on the front row"

-- love his descriptions

Africa pictures from Ben

A week long training for volunteers and other people who will be taking care of the medical facilities to treat Ebola patients

Ben has been able to send us a few pictures from his latest Army deployment to Liberia. He has tried to keep busy helping the soliders who are feeling sick, but most of the day "just goes by" he says. I have to laugh because I am talking to him on the phone during the day more than when he is here at home. This humanitarian mission is also less worrisome and he is able to talk about what is going on, where he is going, and other topics. While he was in Afghanistan, our conversations were very one-sided and I never knew when he was going to call. Lately Ben has been able to call everyday, one or two times.

Some of the cool bugs and creatures in the area. Ben talks about the lizards that are everywhere... long and fast climbing up the training area walls.

At the week long training, Ben talked about how they finally got some food, instead of eating MREs for three meals a day. I know it can get pretty old eating that same thing, so he was excited and enjoy something that was brought in.


His first delicious dinner in a very long time.


 

Our FLORIDA trip