Now you see him, Now you don't

It was a quick weekend here at the Young's.

Friday started out as every other day. Breakfast, the gym and then to Freddy's for some lunch and shopping. While we were shopping we picked up some poster board on the off chance that we would actually have some time to make a "Welcome Home" sign to take to the airport. Well we did and the results are below. The girls had some much fun coloring with mom's markers. Our kitchen table didn't fair to well, but I think I want to refurbish it anyways right?!?! :)

After getting Jason it was time for presents and some dad time. I made some enchiladas and we just stayed in for the night. It was pretty nice.

Saturday Jason and the girls took me to their date spot that they go to for breakfast. It's the Original Hot Cake House on Powell. It was amazing. One of those dives of a place, but the food is amazing. There were all walks of life...gangstas to college students to the hoyti toyti enjoying their food. After breakfast we played downtown where after an hour or so Taylor informed Jason and I that she HAD TO HAVE a Starbucks's. It was too funny.

Sunday was relaxing and full of cleaning. We tivo'd Conference so we could watch it without having to drive the Spirit away by yelling at the kids to be quiet :). We did catch bits and pieces and can't wait to watch it all. After conference we went to my folks for tacos. If you've never had Schofield tacos, you are missing out!!! They are the best.

Then we played Killer Bunnies with the Johnston's....crazy game. Now he's gone again. He won't be home until Friday Night.

I want to take this chance to spill out some of my feelings. As I have had my husband leave, come home to wash clothes and leave again, I feel that I am getting just a glimpse of what military wives and children go through. I know Jason going out to recruit for the school is nothing compared to our service people going out and risking their lives for their/our freedom. Although, I feel as though I've had a taste of the emotional ups and downs associated with the loss of your spouse to traveling, work, medical school, whatever it may be that takes our loved ones time.

I was kind of in a bad funk all weekend. I cleaned so much today hoping that if I stayed busy, I wouldn't notice each hour that passed by. Once the girls were down, it became all to real that he was leaving. I was glad to have some friends and a game to take my mind off it.

Everything happened so quickly. The game ended, Dave went to get the car. Jason kissed us girls and then he was gone. On his way to another week long trip and I am now here, wishing things were different.

Last week was lonely. The girls are usually in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. I almost want to keep them up until we all pass out on the couch just so I'm not alone. It's hard. It's hard to have a companion with you every night and then have that taken away. It's hard to be a single parent. It's hard to be the entertainment and the discipline all at the same time.

With all that depressing stuff said, I have to say how happy I am to have friends and family close by. What a support system I have here. May we all reach out to those families who are separated for whatever reason and help them in whatever way we can!!

Here's to another week!! Look for daily posts as we keep Jason up to date on what's going on with his girls!!

Mandy

She warmed my heart

Tonight as Rilee was laying in bed talking to Jason on the phone, I laid down next to Taylor. My sweet 3 year old reached over and began rubbing my head. My eyes instinctively closed. Rubbing my head is a sure fire way to get me to relax and fall asleep. What a wonderful way to have my daughter show she loves me. It warmed my heart.

Thursday...the last and final full day

I have to start by saying that I'm a bit sad, in a way, that this is my last "daily" post. I've really enjoyed reviewing our day and documenting it. It does take some time to do every day, but I hope to keep up better than I have in the past.

Our day started out the same as all the others. However, the girls did sleep in a bit after the fun filled day that we had yesterday. So at 8:15 Rilee came in and we headed down for breakfast. Taylor needed a few extra minutes of beauty sleep, but joined us shortly thereafter.

After breakfast we headed to the gym for spinning. Can I just say that after working legs yesterday, spinning just about killed me. I've been walking funny all day because my legs are so sore!!

Anyways, after the gym, we ran home to pick up Jessica who had just gotten to our house to join us for our day of fun. After getting her, we were off to story time. What a blast. I'm amazed at the abilities this lady had to capture the kids in the way she did. They did everything she asked them to do. It was great.

Next was lunch and quite time for the girls. Jessica and I did a couple of scrapbook pages. We probably could have gotten more done but the girls just couldn't help themselves...they just had to give us a hand.

My mom came over after she got off of work and we headed downtown. P.F. Changs was on the menu for dinner and then some shopping at Pioneer Square. When given the choice between ice cream or Starbucks, the girls chose to have their strawberries and cream drinks from Starbucks. They drained my penny collection into the fountain, but had a blast doing it. Once Jessica was done shopping, we were headed home and then to bed.
What a day!! I'm sore, tired and a bit cranky, so I think I'll head to bed :)
See you TOMORROW!!!

Wednesday

Today was our busiest yet. I'm sorry to say that I don't have many pictures to document our events of the day, but it is what it is.


We were up at 7:45am (that's a full 12 hours of sleep for the girls). We had breakfast and then headed to the gym for a quick workout. After the gym, it was off to OMSI. Thanks Tiffany for the pictures. I had locked my camera in the locker that costs .50 cents every time you open it. The cheapskate in me wouldn't give them another dime to get my camera out.



After OMSI, we headed to my mom's house. Jessica (my niece) is in town to hang out with us before she heads to Argentina for her mission. How exciting huh?!?! Anyways, once my mom got home from work, we were off to the temple so that Jessica could make a stop at the distribution center. The girls and I had a blast walking around the temple and looking at the beautiful plants and flowers that they are able to grow there.


Once we were done at the temple, we went to Desert Book. I have a confession. I bought the book "Twilight". I've read so many blogs talking about this series and how great it is. I am sceptical because it involves a vampire. Anyone who knows my movie preferences knows this is SO NOT something I would read. On the off chance that I would actually like this story, I'm giving it a chance.


Now that we each got our books (the girls got new Disney princess books) we were off to dinner at the cheesecake factory. LOVE THAT PLACE!! I think I took Rilee to the bathroom about 20 times during dinner, but she stayed dry. That's what counts right?!?!


The little dolls are now passed out in their beds and I'm heading up to mine. This busy day has worn me out. It's time to get ready for tomorrow...gym, storytime at the library, scrapbooking with Jessica and farmer's market!!


ONLY 2 MORE DAYS!! Friday can't come soon enough :)

SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT! YA!!

Rilee did it. She is potty trained. She's been pretty much there for the last few days, but I wanted to wait until she put the poops in the pot before I declared it offical. Well today was the day!! She was dry the whole time at the gym and hasn't had a diaper on, unless she's sleeping, for almost a week. What a big girl. She's just barely two, but was ready for sure!!I'll spare you all the talk about how cute her little butt without the diaper, but trust me, she's got a good one :)

I'm so proud of her.

Tuesday

Today was off to a scary start. The girls ran into my room screaming about a bug on their floor. What a way to wake up huh!?!? It turned out to be dead already, so that was an easy fix. After cleaning up the bug, the girls wanted me out of their room so they could "do their thing". After a while I went in to get them dressed and asked what they were doing. Taylor said "we are reading and farting. We have some big farts mom!" I just about died laughing. Too funny.

Anyways, we headed downstairs for breakfast and then off to the gym. It was so nice to be back in the routine of going to the gym in the morning. After the gym we did these fun things:

Played Wii

Cleaned up the backyard before the next big rain
Stomped in some puddles

This was a game Rilee played. Taylor was super frustrated with her(if you can't tell by the look on her face) because she was trying to go on a date with Matilda (Rilee's Cabbage Patch Baby) and Rilee followed her everywhere. Funny thing is that as soon as Rilee got board and ran to do something else, guess who was doing the following?!?!Finally, we did bath's. They each got to pick a color and ended up with a purple bath :)

MISS YOU JASON!!!

Monday

Today is the first day of our long, hard month. Jason is gone all but one week this month doing some recruiting for the chiropractic college while he waits to take the last part of the national boards and the Oregon boards. I'm so glad he gets the opportunity to do this because he loves chiropractic and, surprise to most of you, he likes to talk and share his point of view :). This leaves me home alone with the girls all day and all night...YIKES!! But we will survive. I figure a good way to keep Jason up to date on what's happening here at home is this blog. So, here it goes...

We actually had a really good day today. Nothing to exciting, but sometimes that's good. By the time we finally got the paperwork Jason needed overnighted to him, it was almost lunch time. I couldn't pass up the fact that we were right by PartyCity, and the girls still needed their Halloween costumes. So we made a quick stop and came out with these: Cinderella and Aurora

After lunch and a quite time movie, we did some coloring, ran to Freddy's to pick up some stuff, came back home for dinner (Taco Soup), I chased them around with the vacuum and finally it was time for baths. I love their new jammies that Grandma Freeda sent home last night. The girls do too. Rilee was fascinated that she got to wear "shoes" to bed :)

I'm not the only one that's tired :)

We missed Jason all day and can't wait for Friday!!!

LOVE YOU!!