{Christmas Break}

We bought tickets for christmas break way back in February 2013. We had been planning christmas for almost a whole year. The time finally came to leave and the boys and i were off. We left Dec. 9th. Shane wasn't with us, again. :(  At least not for the flight. Let's just say...good thing we are moving back to the states this summer because i wouldn't do that flight again by myself. NOPE. Even if it meant a whole year and a half of not getting back to the states. It's hard. Especially when you add in a sick, puking boy(on the flight and in the airport), the 2 1/2 hour drive back to grandma and grandpa's house right after that extremely long flight, and the drives back and forth from logan to blackfoot. And adjusting to the time change. ugh. We spent two weeks in Utah/Idaho, and then we spent two weeks in Minnesota. The flight back to okinawa was painful. Literally. Gavin got sick again(im convinced he has air sickness), and my tailbone/lower back was in a lot of pain from all the sitting. It's been hurting ever since. Stupid flight. I am soooooooooooooooooooo glad i only have to do that one more time(one way), and my husband will be with me this time. :) If he ends up not being with me, then i think i will fly alone with the baby, and he will get all three boys. :) I would take tanner along with the baby. But i will let him keep jaydon and gavin. hahaha! okay, sorry. This has been nothing but whining, but i feel i really need to express the pain and torture involved with such a long flight and all the travels, alone with three boys, and pregnant. It's rough man.

IDAHO

Now that i got that out....let's move onto the good stuff. It was soooooooo good to see family again, and at christmas time. We had tons of fun with our family in Idaho. The kids were able to get in some good playtime with the cousins. There are getting to be so many of them now that it's starting to become chaotic when they are all in the same house. It's fun though. We had a blast. Papa pulled the kids on the sled behind the 4-wheeler. They played in the snow, which they loved. We went on a horse drawn sleigh ride to tour a nativity set outside, while sipping our hot chocolate. Santa came and visited all the kids. We had a fun family christmas program where all the kids put on some kind of performance. And we did a lot of hanging out and chatting. Oh , and the guys and gals were able to get in a few basketball games.  It was so good to be with family.  I cannot wait to move back to the states. Even if we end up in florida....man, that is still so much nicer than where we are now. And i can't wait to take road trips to see family, instead of paying for plane tickets. We are already looking into a van that will be durable enough to travel long distances. :)

MINNESOTA

After two weeks with shanes family, we headed to Minnesota. All i can say is BURRRRR. We experienced the cold like we have never experienced it before.   Some days were -50 wind chills and many days were in the negatives. It was painful to go outside. Luckily there were a couple days we could go outside without freezing to death. On those days the boys went sledding down hills. They loved it. We also went to the Mall of America, which is now tradition with each visit. The boys ride all the amusement rides in the mall. Papa spoils them. :) While we were there we also played a lot of darts, ping pong, and xbox. The adults had our traditional Texas Hold'em tournament. My dad gives the 1st ,2nd, and 3rd place winners a certain amount of money for keeps. Shane got first and i got 2nd.  Last time we did this tournament with them i WON. We love our traditional Texas hold'em tournament. It's fun. And since we spent christmas day there, the boys spent lots of time playing with all their new toys. They had most fun with their new NERF guns. They got some pretty awesome nerf guns. One of them is the longest nerf gun in existence. And it hurts when the bullets hit you. My brothers LOVED the guns and they even played with them. Shane and my brothers said they want a nerf gun next year for christmas. :) And i guess if they come  to our house for Christmas next year then we can have NERF gun fights. My mom and I had fun cooking and sharing recipes, which is a hobby we both share.  And we did TONS of shopping. Oh my. I cannot wait to move back to the states. :)

...While we were there we found out some information that was going to help us decide wether to stay in the AF one more year or get out. It turns out that we will PCS and spend one more year in the AF in the states, and then get out and start pediatric school.  That also means we get to move in June, in 5 months!!!! WOOHOO!! SO excited. We should know by march where we will be stationed. We have the baby in April, and then we will be doing lots to get ready for our move in june. The next 6-7 months of our life is going to fly by and be crazy! I am excited for the adventure, probably because i am just so excited to be back in America. :)

PREGNANCY

I am just about 7 months along now. The baby is quite the mover and the kicker.This little guy actually hurts me when he kicks and moves. The other boys weren't this rough. And so many times i wonder if he is even sleeping because he is moving ALL THE TIME. Ever since we have been back in Okinawa i have been organizing our house and getting rid of things we don't need. Speaking of, i need to go do some of that right now.

It was hard to come back here after such a fun vacation, but being back makes me realize we are that much closer to living in america again. It doesn't feel like its actually going to happen, but i know it is....and im so excited. :)