While Daddy's Away: Day 1

Sam left for India yesterday morning. He got there this morning (12 hour difference from Arizona), and he said he got only a few hours of sleep on the plane so he was exhausted.

These kids are going to miss him like crazy:

(Getting ice cream a few days before he left)

And he will miss them too. So I decided to post on here each day what we are up to... Hopefully he won't miss us too much that way! Or maybe it will make him miss us more?? Who knows?

Today the kids played non-stop. 

Ellie and Eve like to play together, but they are also both so strong-willed that they get on each other's nerves sometimes. It's funny to listen to them talk to each other.

Nathan had a hard day. Lots of his day was spent like ^ this. The poor little boy is getting used to not having his daddy around and to having so many friends around to play with. He absolutely loves Hyrum and Micah though. They taught him to say "fin, noggin, dude." It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Jonah continues to charm the pants off of everyone he meets. Not only is he a perfect little chub, he's so content. He's happy to sit in the swing, or in the corner of the couch, or to be carried around. He just enjoys life - especially when people talk to him. He just lights up and "talks" back.

Of course we have been spending lots of time in the pool! Ellie and Nathan started out really cautious, but they are warming up to the pool thing. Ellie even told me today, "I closed my breath, and I put my face under the water!" She's learning how to kick in the water, and she walks all around the shallow part of the pool. Nathan loves to sit on the steps and play with the pool toys. He will also walk around in the shallow part, but the water is up to his chest, so it is hard for him to keep his balance.

Nathan is all about balls and splashing people.

Ellie went in the floatie today and actually had fun. On Saturday she was a little bit afraid, but today she really liked it.

She stayed up late to watch a movie with Hyrum and Evie, and she was out like a light a minute after I put her to bed. Note to self: put a pillow case on that pillow! Yuck! :)

We are so grateful my family is kind enough to let us stay with them for a few weeks. We are really enjoying being here, even though we miss Sam like crazy!

Cake and Candles

I can't think of anything wonderful to say other than I love all four of these people! :)

Happy Birthday Sam!

Happy Birthday (and Father's Day yesterday) to Sam!!!!! 

28 never looked so good. :)

First Kiss

Last night for a Relief Society activity we hiked "R" Mountain which is just a few minutes from here.

It was fun to talk with the ladies from the ward and get to know each other a little better as we hiked. It was also nice to have a little break from the kids. I'm so grateful that Sam is willing to take care of them so I can do things like that, and the kids love being with him.

As we hiked I remembered the last time I hiked "R" Mountain - when Sam and I were dating.

We hiked it once in a group of friends, and then again as just the two of us. "R" Mountain is an old volcano, so there is a huge bowl at the top from when it erupted several million years ago, and Sam thought it would be fun to hit golf balls from the top of the mountain into the bowl. I hadn't been golfing since Achievement Days when I was 9, so needless to say, I was terrible. My golf balls didn't go very far at all! 

After our failed attempts at golfing, we sat on this rock ^ and enjoyed the view. The view from the top is absolutely beautiful! You can see Rexburg, Menan, the snake river.... You really can see forever because it is so flat.

We talked and talked and talked until it got dark. Once it got dark, we looked at the stars and found constellations. Apparently the reason we were sitting there for so long was because Sam was trying to work up the courage to kiss me for the first time. Finally he just asked "Do you mind if I kiss you?" (And we always laugh about my response...) "If you want to." (Yep, I have a way with words). He took that as a yes, and that was our first kiss.

As I stood at the top of the mountain last night I reflected on how far we have come since that first kiss. I can't believe how blessed we are, and I couldn't be more grateful that Sam took a chance and decided to kiss me that night.

Just Like Daddy

One of Sam's favorite snacks is "chips and cheese." The other day Ellie didn't want a sandwich for lunch, so I figured I would give them their Daddy's favorite. 

They liked it as much as he does.

Jonah's First Haircut

Jonah's hair was starting to get out of control. It had started falling out on the sides, which made it look like he had a massive comb-over - not my favorite look - so I decided to give him a haircut.

Before:

After:

Happy as can be!

And since he was being so good, I had to try out a few silly hairstyles.

The final result. I think he looks pretty handsome!