{Quick Catch-Up}

It's been awhile since i have posted! Let me give you the run down of what is happening...

1)We have been working hard at getting all of our papers turned in and getting all the dental and medical exams done for clearance. We turned everything in and we should be getting our orders ANY DAY now. That means i will get to put our name on the housing list for ON-BASE housing and that also means we can set the date to fly to Japan! :)

2)Shane's parents came in town for about 5 days. We had lots of fun. We had nice bonding time through conversation. We went and rode go-karts and played at the arcade. We showed them the prairie dog exhibit. We ate at Golden Corral TWICE(it's shane's and his dads favorite place). We had fun having them here with us. It was nice too b/c they were so helpful while they were here...helping with keeping things cleaned up. I had forgotten how nice it can be to have HELP. Shane's just been so busy that i don't get much help around here. And i was able to get out and exercise!! Ride my BIKE! And RUN OUTSIDE! Ohhhhh so wonderful!

3)Gavin had his last day of school, on Friday, while shane's parents were here. It was a very exciting day. Maybe more exciting for me than it was for Gavin. I was so excited to not have to do the crazy routine every morning anymore. And to have to drop him off and pick him up every single day. I am pretty positive that since we will be living on base in Okinawa that gavin will be able to just ride his bike to school. That will be awesome for both of us!

4)Gavin finally decided on his OWN that it was time for him to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. His friend Coby came over and Gavin noticed he was riding without training wheels. Gavin came running inside and said "come watch me!! i can ride without training wheels!" Sure enough...he was out there riding without training wheels and was sooooo proud of himself! We were so proud too and so excited to watch!

5) Auntie Holly came in town to visit us for about 5 days. The boys LOVED having her here and i enjoyed it as well. I was able to go exercise. I had some help around the house. We talked. Did our nails, watched movies, played with our hair, layed out in the sun, etc. It was lots of fun.

6) While she was here Jaydon had his SECOND b-day!!! CRAZY! After he went to bed, the night before his b-day, we blew up about 50 balloons! Before we went to bed we quietly put all the balloons in his room! When he woke up and realized they were in there it was fun hearing his tone in his voice! He started yelling "Maahhhhh(mom)"!!! ALL of us busted in and sang happy b-day to him and we threw all the balloons in his crib. It was like one of those bouncy ball pits! He LOVED!! it. It was so fun for him. For his birthday he got a new bike helmet(from sza sza and papa and auntie holly). He LOVES helmets. He loves buckling them and unbuckling them over and over and over again. And he likes wearing it. He got a new bike(from mommy and daddy). It's a bike, but without wheels. So, he gets himself going with his legs. They are so cool!! And he loves it. And then he got some LEGOS(from sza sza and papa and auntie holly). The boys have loved playing with those more than Jaydon has. He had a really good birthday.

7)I have a mini triathlon coming up this Saturday. My parents get here the day before, on Friday. They are going to come watch me!! That same day is my 30th B-DAY!!! eeeekk! I don't like that i am turning 30!! That is why i found a triathlon to do on my 30th birthday! Take the focus off my b-day!

8)My boys are getting so big. I really am enjoying Gavin being home from school for the summer(at least for now). He keeps Tanner busy and he is becoming a good helper with Jaydon. He is growing up so big! We get the FRIEND magazine and he decided he wanted to draw a picture and send it into the FRIEND magazine so that it could get posted in it. We just sent it off today and he is excited to see his picture in the magazine. He drew a picture of Joseph Smith with a Book of Mormon next to him and then wrote at the top "Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God". I didn't help him. He thought of it all on his own. That was a fun moment for me watching him do that. We are staying busy by playing out in the pool, watching movies(and eating popcorn), having fun with doing our chores everyday together, coloring, reading, listening to music while we dance, riding bikes, etc.

9) I have been reading some great informative books lately about parenting, finding Joy and losing the guilt, and finding satisfaction with what you have. They have been great reads and i feel like they have been so helpful and i am learning so much. I read one of my books each day, the scriptures and the Ensign. Heaven knows i need the help and boy it is all helping so much! I love it.

10)After my parents leave, my best friend is coming in town for about 4-5 days. Then after they leave we are heading to Idaho for awhile. Shane has a Friday and Monday off of work for the 4th of July. He asked his commander if we could take and additional 2 days off during that time and surprisingly he let him! So he will get five days in Idaho, and i am staying out there with the boys for an additional 6 days. Then we are flying straight to Minnesota from Idaho. We will be there for 2 weeks. Then we will fly home and pack and load our stuff and probably head to Japan August 10th. We plan to get out of here FAST. :)

11) Every Friday we have homemade pizza night. I make the dough and i make my own sauce. It's a fun tradition we have started. I also planned on having doughnut day the first saturday of each month. We have done it once, but i forgot to do it this last saturday. The boys remembered the day before and reminded me, but forgot the day of. haha...

12)When we read scriptures we try to make sure Gavin reads a little bit each time. He really enjoys doing it and pays attention a little bit more knowing he gets to read. :)