Update on Combat Training

Mario has one more week of training and he is really enjoying it. He was telling us about one of the aspects of training where they put you and 3 other guys in a Humvee. Then they flip it and you have to get yourself out. Sounds pretty easy but Mario said that it was much harder than he ever imagined and no wonder so many people drown when there car flips into a lake. He said that he was totally disoriented and couldn't find the seatbelt latch or the door handle. Mario estimated that it took him and the other guys at least a minute or two to get out. That scared me because if it were me and the kids in the car, there's probably no way I could save them (or myself...which I probably wouldn't want to anyway if my kids all drowned. I guess I better not think about this or I will have nightmares.)

The only time Mario was really cold was on Friday when they had a full day of shooting. Today he gets to learn how to clear a room. I guess that means he goes into a building and has to shoot at targets representing the bad guys. Mario said he has a much greater appreciation for the army after this training. He knows the army has training 100 times harder.

The kids and I are fairing well, actually better than expected. I have gotten along well with all four. Zach still tests me to see if I will be consistent. But so far, so good. Nathan asked me yesterday if dad was going to church in Wyoming. I told him no, he had to work. He said that he wishes he were dad so he didn't have to go to church because as he put it "I don't like church." When I told Mario this he said maybe we need to relax a little and when he gets too restless in Sacrament meeting take him out for a walk (I think Mario wouldn't mind getting out for a walk-right to the van for a snack.) That is the opposite of what I thought. Time for him to learn to sit reverently. In fact, I sat them all down on the couch before church and laid out some new ground rules for church. They always fight on who gets to sit by me. As much as I would rather sit by the big kids (because they are quiet), I have to sit between the twins so everyone else can enjoy the meeting. The twins bring paper to draw on after the Sacrament has been administered. They like to sit on the floor and use the bench as a desk. I think they are old enough to sit correctly now...bottoms on the bench, backs against the back of the pew. Maybe this is why Nathan told me he doesn't like church.