The Rest of Our Week and an Anniversary

Yesterday this little lovely piece of equipment came in the mail. It is the beginning of the end of exploring for the little ones. It may help Savannah and Lincoln keep away from each other too...hmmm!


In the big, wide openings of this room there soon will be the continuation of the above project. Today in the mail came two (2) nice, sturdy, wide gates that will now be utilized as a small, wide open, and sturdy prison cell for the little ones, and potentially anyone else who parks them self in the front room. Watch out!


This picture and the next illustrate why we just spent a small fortune entrapping our children. Cael can now stand, yes stand. No, he can't get there by himself, and he's got little desire to figure that out, but there you see him, standing without any help, for minutes at a time. How did they get so big?




This is a picture of Lincoln and John's pinewood derby cars. They had the unfortunate luck of racing each other twice, and John defeated Lincoln both times...Better luck next year, Lincoln. John, watch out! :)




These are the awards that Lincoln's car received. I can't tell you why he received the orbit one or the rules one...but we know it had the best workmanship!


And what recent post is complete without a picture of 'THE PROJECT'? Here you see the big hole in the floor, there you see that it's starting to get covered up. Oh, and in case I failed to mention it before, we now have 100% new plumbing under our house. Seriously, not kidding...and yes, I'm happy about it, and no, we weren't planning on replacing all of it...maybe one day soon we'll get to OUR list of projects.



And the biggest news of all, one year ago today I landed in this picturesque place called Midland. I thought it was perhaps the World's worst April Fool's Day joke, and then reality set it. I moved from the beauty of Utah, with it's four seasons, it's mountains, lakes, hills, valleys, pollution, population and shopping/dining out diversity to the flatlands of desolate West Texas with it's beautiful warmer weather, two seasons (windy and windier), isolation, clear view of everything around from the top of the overpass, and warmer weather (wait, did I already mention that?).

I left behind my family, great friends, opportunity and a piece of myself, but I've gained something too. We've had the chance to grow stronger relations with each other and family, make new friends, see new opportunities and I've learned a whole lot more about myself. The hole I left behind is still there, and it still aches with homesickness on occasion, but when weighed against the things I've gained, the things I've learned, and the weather...I think all was for the best. Plus, we do get to go back and visit, so maybe I can have my cake and eat it too!