Ok, one more thing about our trip to New Jersey...Paige LOVES ME!! She doesn't love the ocean so much, it takes her a couple of hours to even get brave enough to let me put her down. This video is of her the first hour of our first trip to the shore. In case you can't understand her, she is saying "Jenni, Jenni, Jenni..." over and over again because we were too close to the water.

We are leaving the beautiful state of New Jersey in the AM. It has been a wonderful trip that included a three hour boat ride into the Atlantic in the hopes of seeing a whale, three trips to the Jersey shore, one movie, one dinner out with my sister, and of course the base (or post depending on if you are army or air force) pool. The pool has a wicked new waterslide that I would recommend to anyone except those subject to neck problems. We have had a wonderful time! Allison and her girls have been so patient hauling us all over the country side. We are hoping we will get one more trip out here next summer to play in the ocean.


When we returned from the shore tonight, Allison had a letter from the Office of the Seventy waiting for her. Of course when she left it open laying on the kitchen counter I had to read it! (I take comfort in knowing she would have done the EXACT same thing!) It was a very touching letter from Elder Robert Oaks, letting her know that he knew Chris was overseas serving our country. He thanked Allison for her sacrifice and let her know of the prayers and blessings that go with those men and women who choose to defend our freedom. Not much brings me to tears these days, but reading those tender words, and seeing first hand how much those girls, especially their mother, miss Christopher made my eyes water. I am so grateful for the sacrifices they are making on all our behalfs. The letter brought home to me the seriousness and reality of this 'war business'. Please keep Chris and all the service men and women out there in your prayers, that they will be able to return home to their families that miss them and need them.




Ok enough of that I am going to attempt to post some pictures of the shore - there are about a hundred, but I will pick the top two. The first one is of me and Mallory challenging the waves. Then Garrett and Mallory heading out on their own.

Really, would you let this girl out of the house? This is Mallory going to her first stake dance. Did I mention she was a little relieved that I was not going to be chaperoning?? All of the sudden Dad storming into the church pulling her out doesn't sound like a bad idea.

So we are moving on to another phase in life. Garrett is done with elementary school and moving on to middle school. Mallory is on her way to high school and is just wrapping up her first youth conference. This video is the shortened version of Garrett's continuation. There were a few tears shed, but not by me. Mallory is going to her first stake dance tonight. I told her I was chaperoning and you should have seen her face. She was seriously mortified! I let it go on for about 10 minutes and when I finally told her I was only kidding, she threw her arms around me and said, "Oh Mom, I love you!" I am trying not to take that personally. After all she has not personally witnessed my incredible dance moves including me kicking my leg over my head...

One year later...

Mallory has finished Middle School, Garrett is done with Elementary. I am trying to load some videos from the cool new video camera we got for Christmas. This one is from our trip to New Mexico to see Daniel and Miriam. The first night we got there it took the kids awhile to warm up to us. But after dinner Bubba and Garrett found something in common. Make sure your volume is all the way up. Bubba is trying to burp and Garrett is really burping right back at him. You gotta love boys.