Finally Caught Up!

I just went to post a new blog and tried to upload our latest pictures, only to realize that for the first time since I've started bloggin, I am finally caught up! Since it is April 19th and I just finished my post about Easter, I'm sure there are things to report, but apparently no pictures. I guess life has been rather mundane since Easter. Nathan has started working like a mad-man again, as he is on his "in-house" rotation until June. Last week I had the pleasure of seeing him for half of the day on Saturday and Sunday, and a few nights when he actually got home a little before bed-time. YUCK. I miss him when he is gone and was really spoiled the past few months to have him here more often. I can't complain however, because as ever Holland has so eloquently said:

"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

I love that quote!

Things here are rather routine, which helps me and the kids have a feeling of normalcy even when Nathan isn't here.

Carter is getting really good at writing his name and numbers and appears ready for kindergarden. We had his physical for registration this week and he had to get 4 shots, one in each arm and leg. I always thought that Kaylie was a drama queen, but Carter has taken it to a new level. He even tried to limp two days after the fact and whined more than any sickness he has had. It was pretty entertaining. Yesterday, his teacher, Sister York, got released from Primary and Carter got really upset. He was ranting about how much he'd hate his new teacher (even though they haven't called one yet) and that he was going to punch them in the face. I unfortunately wasn't shocked to hear him talk that way, but I am trying hard to train him to not want to punch people or things when he gets angry. After his ranting, he actually got teary-eyed and it was a tender moment as I realized how much he really liked Sister York, despite his constant complaints about how much he hates church. I made sure to tell her how much he liked her and that I appreciated her patience with his class (there are 4 rowdy boys just like Carter in there!). I keep praying that Carter will show some signs of liking church and I think I've figured out that he likes church alright, it is just the getting dressed up part that he hates. At least I hope that is all it is.

I've been feeling more and more like a single parent lately and feel very badly for those poor people that really are. What a hard lot they have. I complain when Nathan doesn't help wash the dishes, take out the garbage, or put his dirty socks in the laundry, but how dare me! Oh how I miss him when he is gone for more than 80 hours a week. In fact, I miss him when he is gone for only 35 hours in a week, or maybe even less. I'd love to have him home all day every day. He is my best friend and soul-mate and I am so very fortunate to know that at the end of the week or a long day, I will at very least get to here his voice and know that he will say, "He is here for you... he will always be here for you." or "He needs you" or "He is proud of you". (Nathan likes to refer to himself in the 3rd person.)

So, yesterday was the first day since before Christmas that I planned on having a choir practice. I had taken for granted the fact that Nate is always here on Sundays and wasn't expecting him to call 10 minutes before church to tell me he wouldn't be able to make it home or meet me in church. I somehow managed to have a practice after the 3 hours of meetings and the kids were somewhat content in the back eating their rather unhealthy last-minute lunches. However, when it turned 4 pm and Nathan still wasn't home and we had the missionaries coming in an hour, I was growing worried. I'd been slaving away in the kitchen to get a nice meal prepared and I didn't want to have to cancel on the missionaries or waste all my hard work on my family alone. I was relieved when Nathan walked in the door a few minutes later and started to help the kids clean up the house. What a man! I just don't know how I would do it without him!

Okay, so I guess this is getting a little long for a blog. Just remember, this is my one and only journal for now, so if you feel like I'm getting too sappy about my husband, don't read! I guess that absence makes the heart grow fonder after all!

I am looking forward to having my sister-in-law, Leanne, and my mother-in-law here in a few days. They will be here for 5 days and I'm sure I'll have more pictures and stories to share then!