Catching Up Part 2 - Utah

We arrived in Smithfield safe and sound and had a massive lot of help unloading and unpacking from Todd's sisters Missy, Laura, and Kelsi, and Kelsi's husband David.  My in-laws sure did a fine job teaching their kids how to work!  I couldn't believe how much got accomplished that day.  Meanwhile, Hazel and Jack had a heyday with their cousins.

My dad was anxious for us to arrive while there was still plenty of snow on the ground so he could take my kids sledding on the little hill on the side of their house.  They had a great time.  Hazel went out a couple more times with Grandpa during our first week out here.  Jack might enjoy it more next winter...

Todd was home with us for just a few short days, which we spent busily unpacking and setting up home.  I was heartbroken the day we drove him to the airport.  He'll be in Texas until mid-May.  Then we should have him home for a few days before he leaves for Afghanistan.  That'll be our last visit from him.  It was rough seeing him cry as he said goodbye to the kids.  This deployment is going to be harder than the last one, for both of us, because of the kids.  

My two bright spots for this year are the house we're living in, and being close to family.  The house is a massive tender mercy.  The owners have been trying to sell it and took it off the market for a year so I could rent it and live here.  It is in my parents' (very small) ward boundaries, so I'm only a couple blocks away from them and get their help in church every Sunday.  It is 3,000 square feet, plus a yard, so we've more than quadrupled our living space.  When Hazel gets mad, she runs and hides in a random room and I can't find her right off the bat.  That is incredibly strange and exciting for me.  She and Jack chase each other all over the house and have more than enough space to have a blast in.  We've got plenty of space for visitors, hint, hint!

I am loving being close to my family.  My parents have been over here helping me every single day.  My mom babysits one or more of my kids at the drop of the hat, so I will never have to buy groceries with all three kids in tow.  My dad comes by on his way home from work each night and brings books from his school's library to read to the kids.  He is often here during the crazy dinner hour, and everyone knows how priceless another adult is at that time of the day.  In addition to that, the kids have been struggling at bedtime and really taking advantage of the fact that I'm usually nursing Gemma and trying to get her down for the night right after I put them to bed.  So my parents are tag-teaming it, and one of them comes over every night to help with that as well.  They are truly my angels.

Hazel requests "spooky stories" daily.  She asked Uncle Scott to tell her one, and he really got into it.  I LOVE the look on her face.  She was enraptured!  

We made a trip up to visit my Grandpa and Grandma Bingham last week.  It had been too long since I've seen them.  They were sure excited to meet Gemma.

Uncle Chris came up to visit last weekend.  Hazel gave him a serious workout, asking him to chase and pounce her constantly.  I think he loved it.  She sure did.

Gemma is absolutely adorable and a delight to be around ... but is still having a hard time figuring out bedtime.  Baby bootcamp starts on Thursday, her two-month birthday.  Cry it out, little one.  It's time to be asleep...  But how can you not love that face?  Seriously.

Hazel and Jack are the best of friends, and the worst of friends.  They play together so well, but they can fight like the dickens.  I love it when they're happy together.  Hopefully they'll be buddies for life.  Hazel told me Jack is her best friend.  Hooray!  Here they are pretending to sleep in the "mouse house" they built yesterday.  They are finding endless creative ways to play with the bar stools.