Glad I Don't Homeschool

Today is one of those mornings when I say to myself, "Glad I don't homeschool." On these rough mornings, when the kids are unbearable, I gladly drop them off at school and chuckle as I leave and say, glad the teachers get to deal with them all day and not me! Fortunately I know that they are only unbearable with me. They are perfect little angels for their teachers. So I don't feel too guilty.

One Year Anniversary

Today marks one year that Mario has been home from Afghanistan. It has gone really fast, but I know if he had been gone for that year, the time would have dragged.

We got to celebrate the year anniversary today by doing absolutely nothing. His work has an exercise this week so he has to work the night shift starting tonight. So we had all day while the kids were at school to just relax and we got absolutely nothing accomplished. It was great having a nice quiet house. It reminded me of our college days. At the time, we thought those days were tough, but now we realize those were a piece of cake.

His next assignment will hopefully be a joint so he won't have to deploy for those 3 years. Then he'll only have 3 more years until retirement.

Next Assignment

Mario asked to teach at the Academy even though he knew it would end his chances to ever become a Colonel. That has never been his goal anyway so it didn't matter. But the Air Force said no, he must go back to Communications and be "groomed" for promotion (all because he got into a special program at NPS.) They want him to take a job at Scott (Illinois), Barksdale (Louisiana), or Offut (Nebraska). I don't mind Scott, but the others were not desirable. Mario asked for Belgium, Germany, or Maryland. But after a little research, we decided to give in to the Air Force and give Nebraska a try. That is where the big kids want to go anyway. Plus there is a temple within 20 miles of the base. That is probably the biggest selling point for us. Eric may be influenced by the no under 18 driving in Europe, and he can start driving at 14 in Nebraska. Not sure yet why Erin is so interested in Nebraska. I hope she enjoys watching corn grow.

Mario will call the assignments coordinator tomorrow and try to finalize plans. Hopefully we'll find out soon if Omaha is really the place Heavenly Father wants us.

Mario came across these scriptures today that brought him a lot of peace while we make these hard decisions.

D&C 78:17-18
17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

Potstickers

Erin got an Asian cookbook for her birthday from her friend, Hsin-Yu. Erin goes to her house often and cooks with Hsin-Yu's mom, Ming. So that was a perfect gift for Erin.

Erin made me a list for the grocery store and it included things like bamboo shoots and ginger root. I have never bought these ingredients before so it took me a while to find them. She made Sesame Chicken last night and Potstickers tonight. The food was all delicious. Mario told her she is going to make her husband one happy man with all her cooking.

Erin's Prayer

We are still waiting to hear if Colonel Sanchez was able to talk the AF folks into letting Mario out of Communications to teach at the Academy in Colorado Springs. If not, we have a backup list of places that we may want to go. They include places like Maryland, Illinois, Okinawa , and possibly Germany. Maryland would be my top pick so far. It is outside the city, so the commute for Mario wouldn't be bad. The official list of job openings comes out tomorrow.

After FHE last night, Mario asked the big kids to pray about our next assignment. This morning he asked Erin if she prayed. She confidently announced that yes she did pray and we will either be staying here in Tucson or going to Colorado Springs. I laughed aloud (which didn't go over well with her). I asked how she knew. She said those were the places she asked about and she was confident Heavenly Father would give her what she asked for. I said what if I prayed for Maryland or Okinawa. She told me, "Dad said that Heavenly Father answers kids' prayers more than the adults' prayers."

Well, if that is true, I sure hope we are going to Colorado Springs, because I already have it in my head that we are leaving Tucson the day school is out next May.

Favorite Temples

Yesterday at a Super Saturday activity, I taught how to make nativity puppets. One class I attended was putting Temple pictures on wood blocks. Each kid has a different favorite.

Eric likes San Diego
Erin likes Gila Valley
Nathan...Salt Lake City
Zachary....Hawaii

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Home Alone

So tonight there is a big youth fireside that my mom wants to go to (note the *youth* part. Somehow I don't think she qualifies). She wants to go with me instead of my dad even though my dad is the *youth* leader. So I told her they could both go and leave Erin home with the twins.
Well, Erin is a youth now so she is invited. My mom asked the twins if they could stay home alone. Nathan replied "Yes, because I'm 7 and Zach is 7, so together we make 14."
I replied "Wow, you could have gone to the dance last night."

Posted by Eric

Erin's "Unofficial" Birthday Party

I don't really like having big parties for the kids' birthdays. Usually we just celebrate with our family or a friend or two. This year Erin begged to have a real party and I kept saying no. Finally she convinced us to have a few friends over just to "hang out." A few turned it into 8. She had 4 friends from church, 3 from school and Emma, our next door neighbor. My house was very LOUD last night. Sounds like they had a lot of fun making homemade pizza, playing charades, hide and seek in the dark, and singing around the piano. I had envisioned a quiet movie night. But it was good to see kids do other things besides watch movies. I really should get out my good camera to take some decent pictures.

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First Dance

I really wish I could chaperone. But I am home chaperoning a bunch of 12 and 13 year-old girls.

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Happy 12th Birthday Erin

Erin's birthday started out a little rough this morning. She asked us to take her to the Gila Valley Temple for her birthday. This morning the van wouldn't start. We had to wait for the store to open and install a new battery before we could take off. Then while waiting to go, Erin made herself some monkey bread. She forgot the pan handle had been in the oven and when she grabbed it, she burned her hand really badly. After getting a blessing and fixing the van, we convinced her that she would probably feel better as we drove. She was fighting back tears all morning. But fortunately, she felt well enough to do baptisms.

We made a quick stop at Taco Bell and the LDS bookstore. She got a new CTR ring and a Jenny Oaks Baker CD. Then we made it back just in time to get the boys from school.

For dinner she chose turkey burgers with cheese fries. Mario made her an ice cream cake. Now, Erin is off to Mutual for her first official night.

Her gifts included Harry Potter piano music, Mickey Mouse t-shirt, ring, and CD. She got a frisbee from Nathan and $1 from Zachary.

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Happy 14th Birthday Eric

New Adidas shoes, sunglasses, Forrest Gump DVD (favorite movie) and Nerf tomahawks, swords, & ax (all to play with the twins). Those were the birthday gifts from the family. They were all on his wish list. Oh, almost forgot the $1 bill wrapped in granola box from Zach. Eric requested egg, bacon, and cheese burritos for breakfast and taco salad for dinner. Mario made him an ice cream cake.


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Hermit Crabs

My boys bought crabs several months ago with their own money. The fun wore off really quick. Now they only feed and give them water when I remind them which is evey few days. We are always afraid we are going to find them dead. So I told the boys we have to give them to a family that will take care of them. Zach took the news hard when I told him I found a home for them. He was quite upset I was giving them to my friend Rachelle's 4 year-old. Apparently he doesn't think she'll do any better taking care of them than he has.

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Breakers

The kids read 36 hours this summer to earn tickets to Breakers. Since birthdays are Monday and Tuesday, Eric and Erin invited Cameron and Dawna to join us. We had lots of fun and Nathan even braved all the waterslides that Zach went on. Hooray Nate! Some bribes did the trick...I owe him a Happy Meal next week.

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Possible PCS

Mario came home yesterday and said he is on the list to PCS in the spring. We thought we had 2 more years here. Mario has asked his colonel about transferring down to Sierra Vista and then commuting the 120 miles (roundtrip) each day so the kids could stay in the same school district for 6 years. Both Mario and I are ready for a change and a move but we feel bad for the kids. So our first priority is to stay and commute. But if that doesn't work out, looks like I may finally get out of the desert. Does it make me a bad mom to hope it doesn't work out? At first the kids were opposed to the move, but we told them Scott AFB may be an option again. We were there from 2005 until 2007. We showed them houses in the area and the beautiful green lawns. Eric and Erin put in a request for woods behind our house and both agreed to move...not that they have a choice in the matter. Mario is waiting for a list of options to come available and then he'll start working the system. I hope for Scott or somewhere that is close to the ocean. Alaska is NOT on my list and nor is North or South Dakota.

I love the excitement of moving. I love the guessing game of where we will go. I love it even better when we know and can start our research on homes and schools.


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