Congretional Hearing

 Alexis and her class worked  SO hard this year to learn a lot about the constitution and other things about our government.  It was going on before the election, so it was so neat to see how much she was learning and how much she really knew about it.  She could come home and have a great conversation with me about things that were bothering her about the election, or how she really felt about it. 

 Her subject was freedom of religion.  She did such a great job on her speech and when the judges asked a question to the group she would answer almost ever time.  I was really impressed with the entire class.  They all knew so much and did such a great job presenting everything they had learned.

 Alexis and her BFF

Alexis with her great teacher Mrs. Tueller, and her two cousins Rett and Shylee. 

I am a VIP

Brytlee was the vip at her class room a while back.  She was able to make a poster and tell the class some of her favorite things and what she likes to do.  All the things she said she loved was her family and her sisters!  (so cute)
She loves to play sports, she loves school, her teacher, and to color.  She loves to read books, and her favorite foods are german pancakes, and watermelon. 
Brytlee is doing really well in school, and she really loves going and learning new things.  (even if sometimes it is things like... I am sexy and I know it and I am not afraid to show it)  (she came home from school one day saying this over and over until I had a little talk with her....

once there was a snowman

 I am still wondering if this is all the snow we are going to get this year.  It is so crazy to have such nice weather this late in the year.... it is December already and it feels like fall or spring.... so crazy.  But we did get ONE day of snow so the girls all took advantage of it and played ALL day outside.  They played with the neighbors and built a little snow house

 Then they built this cute little snowman all by themselves. 

 They all wanted to have a picture with the snowman by themselves.... it was funny because they all tried to jump into each others pictures.  I had to crop them out of the ones I put in but I thought this one of Brytlee was so funny I left her in. 

Crash

Why is it that you can do so good on eating and health, and then once you cheat a little... you almost can't stop yourself??? I am so mad at myself right now, I was doing so well, and then I feel like I have just given up almost.  Why can't it just be easy......

funny story

I put Adison's name on the wall of her room, and Ryan said, "I am surprised you didn't spell it with two d's"  and I said, "that it really should be spelt a.d.d"  then he said, "I don't want her to have A.D.D." 
(as in Attention Deficit Disorder)  So now we all know why Ryan spelt her name the way he did.  I thought it was really funny.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home

 I have not gotten any new pictures with the girls now that he is home, but these were before he left, and they are some of my favorite ones. 

The girls and I are so happy that Ryan is FINALLY home!!!!  It has been the longest 3 1/2 months of our lives.  It was really funny the first night Ryan was home, Brytlee woke up in the middle of the night and came to my side of the bed and said.... "um mom, who is in the bed with you?  (pause) is that dad?"   I had to ask her who else would be in bed with me, and she just did a funny little laugh. 
Adison has been following Ryan around and doesn't want to let him out of her sight.  When he is gone she just keeps asking, "where Daddy go?"  Today Ryan dropped the girls off at the gym in the daycare and when I checked them they were fine, but about ten minutes later I could hear Adison screaming and crying.  She just kept saying "daddy" over and over.  Even when I picked her up she wouldn't stop crying for him.  We had to make a short trip out the work to show her that he wasn't gone.  Then she was fine......
Church felt like a dream having someone else to help out with the girls.  I couldn't stop smiling, and was just so happy.  A few people noticed and had to point it out. 
I am so glad that this is all over, and that we can be together again.  It all feels like a bad dream now that it is over.....  I am so thankful to have such a wonderful husband that takes such great care of us, and is such a good dad to our girls.  He was so excited to see them the next morning, and they are all still on cloud nine to have him home again! 

photo booth

 Alexis has really enjoyed our new mac computer.  When she gets on she always goes to the photo booth and takes lots of funny pictures.  It is really addicting when you get started and we can get laughing pretty hard at some of the really funny ones.

 this was our kissy face...

 love Alexis's eyes and mine, and then Adi's head.....

 I thought this one was so cute!  I just have such pretty girls and it makes me so happy to see them get along and play together.

Adi loves to see the birdies and say "tweet tweet"  she is such a talker and can tell us so much now.  It surprises how smart she is and how much she knows and understands.  I can tell her to go and look for something and she will go and do exactly what I say.  Kids grow up way to fast!!!

school pictures

 I don't know why her hair went flat... i think they took this at the end of  the day cause when she left the house she had lots of curls and it was puffy...  But she still looks beautiful!  Alexis school picture in the 5th grade!

 Brytlee Kindergarten

Elizabeth 2nd grade! 
So lucky to have such sweet, smart, beautiful, wonderful daughters!

Halloween

 Judy had a Halloween party and I was able to go to a little of it before I left to ND.  The girls look forward to this every year and always have so much fun.  I was really sad that I missed Halloween this year with my girls, but I had to take the chance to go and see Ryan while it was there.  I know they all had fun....(except for Adison who wouldn't put on a costume and was sick the day of Halloween)....

I am so grateful to know that I have family and friends who are willing to help me out in times I really need them.  I didn't have to worry about my kids and knew they were being taken care of, and having tons of fun with their friends and cousins. 

North Dakota Trip

 I was able to make a trip to North Dakota to see my husband.  I had not been with him for about 14 weeks... and it felt like the longest three months of my life. 

 I took these pictures the morning that I left.  The girls were being so cute and so happy.  I walked out of my room and saw Brytlee sitting on the top of the stairs.  When I asked her what she was doing she said, "just watching the sun rise.  I love to watch it."  What a cutie pie!  Then one by one they all woke up and gathered on the stairs so I had to get some pictures. 

 What sweet girls.  They were all really excited to go and stay over at other peoples houses.  Brytlee was a little scared and asked if Elizabeth could please stay with her.  I had planned on leaving Elizabeth with our neighbors but ended up having her stay with Aunt Alecia so they could be together.  Alexis stayed at her bff Ashlynn's house.  While we were gone the older girls did great.  I ended up staying longer than I thought I would so I called to have Alexis go to Grandma's house so she wouldn't be a bother to the Marlows.  They said that she was being so good and had been so easy that they wanted to keep her.  It is so nice to hear that your kids can behave and be good for others when you really need them to.  Adison on the other hand was not so good..... she got the flu and threw up... woke up a lot in the night for everyone... and was such a little bully.  Pulling everyones hair and hitting.  I really do not know what to do to get her to stop or why in the world she has started doing it..... but it is really frustrating to say the least.

 before I went to ND I was able to spend some time with my family.  I had missed Annette's birthday so we went out and celebrated. 

 On our way to Watford ND we had a few wrong turns and even ran out of gas.  A 10 hour drive ended up taking 12 hours.  We only stopped for gas (but we did do that a lot... only getting 7 miles to the gallon)  but it was the longest day of my life!!!! 

 I had to take this picture for Elizabeth.  Ryan sent her a clock that is one of these oil machines.  They had one right outside the trailer door.....

 Ryan busy at work.  We didn't have any time to play and hang out.... this was a working trip!  We would wake up, go to work.... eat whenever you remembered and then go to bed late and I was always very tired.

 While we were there we were able to help them get all the rooms ready for painting and everyone worked their tails off so they could get all 10 units done in one week.  The carpet came while we were there and they were flying so we had to really push and get everything ready.
 
this was most of my job.  After it was all textured they would put up all the doors, base, and trim and then I would help fill all the holes, caulk, and do a really good clean up.  Then get it all taped and ready for paint. 

 I rod up with Kim and his job was to do all the excavating for the sewer.  He had to put in 14 lines and he flew through those also.  He was done by Tues. and I was not ready to leave.  We found out that a guy from Preston was going to be there and leave on Monday so we arranged to stay and ride home with him.

 This is the man camp.  They the very last two trailers are Greg's and his partner.  It is nice that he can stay by Ryan and help out when he can.  Everyone kept telling me how funny Greg is, and how much they like my brother.  I really don't know how Greg can do what he does.... I think I would go crazy.

 It really was like Heaven being with Ryan again.  I am so in love with Him!!!!

 One of the first day's I was there I was cleaning up the trailer a little and fell off of a chair..... ended up with this beautiful battle mark.

 The first few days were warm and they luckily got the rest of the siding done.  But the last part of the week was snow and rain and just yucky.  The little green outhouse by the trailers was the ONLY bathroom we could use.  It was soooooo cold to sit in a outhouse, and I had to train myself to not drink to much, and hold it as long as possible.... I usually have to go in the middle of the night.  So I would wake up and just lay in bed and make myself go back to sleep.... there was no way I was going to Big John.

 the first time these guys have sat down all day and it was 10:00 at night. 

 so this ended up being our ride home.....

 It was really loud so we were lucky to have ear plugs.  I really didn't mind it because I laid down and slept a lot.  It was a little scary not being able to see anything or know where we were.  But we made it home in great time, and we are still alive!

 Adison has been such a happy girl sense I have been home.  She has been so sweet and giving me and her sisters so many hugs and kisses.. It is almost hard to believe she could ever be such a bully.....

 kissy face! 

Now that I am home it is almost harder to be away from Ryan again.  While I was there I had a little melt down... I have felt like I was going to have one this whole time he has been away.  It really really sucks that it happened while we were together and I really ruined one of our days together.  I have still been going over it in my head and trying to figure out what was going on with my hormones and emotions.  But I have no clue.  The only thing that I can figure out is I needed to cry and get it all out.  Because after I did I felt a ton better but now I feel really dumb about it. 

I know that this has been so hard on me and also on my girls.  We are so ready to have Ryan home.  I am not good at being alone and I have no clue how I have made it through this.  It should only be a couple more weeks and then this should all be over!