Christmas Pics!

Hummer#1 Thanks Aunt Lindi!
Sofia's First Christmas, she just wanted the bows and wrapping!
Grampy Wrestling with Zeke and his cousins, Zeke constantly says "Grampy wets wrestle" Scarlet of course needed to get in on some of the action!

it's been awhile

Since we have been misplaced for about a month now it has been really hard for me to blog! We have no routine or sense of normalcy so my time just does not go to bloggin!
Since Dan has been back we have been so busy with sickness and family get togethers and trying to wrap up all the details of life in Riverside. Our Christmas was great, this was the first Christmas where Zeke anticipated the day and what it would bring. Sadly he knew presents were coming and for about a week before he would ask if it was Christmas yet and if Santa was going to bring him a Christmas hummer. And yes Santa brought 2 of them! Anyway our families blessed us so much, and we are grateful for our time with them.
The time is coming closer when we will be leaving for our trek up to Redding and it is starting to set in. I got sad when we were at my parents house during Christmas just realizing I won't see my mom and dad every week and I won't just go hang out at my parents house whenever I want to. My sister and I won't live around the corner from each other anymore & Zeke won't be able to hang out with his cousins ever week. Little things like that are starting to set in and they are things I have not thought about until the past few days.
So it is with mixed emotions that we wait to leave, we are anxious to start new and get into life in Redding but we are so sad to leave our families and friends and a life that has been everything we've known for so so long.
Hope your Christmas was a great time with family! Happy Birthday Jesus!

sick baby

It has been awhile since I have had a sick baby and I forget how much attention and care is needed when your little one is not up to par. Sofia has had a fever and sore throat for about 3 or 4 days now. It is so sad when they are in such pain, she was not eating or even wanting to drink her bottle for almost a day because it hurt her so bad to swallow. Her fever finally went down yesterday and we seem to be on the mend, thank goodness!
I have a blog friend Amanda who has been caring for her daughter who had a huge surgery and they were in the hospital for weeks and now home care for weeks, I do not know how she does it all, I am so amazed by her great attitude and the love this family has given to their new daughter. Thank the lord that they brought her into their family and have gone through so much pain and effort to help their daughter heal!
I am so thankful to be at my parents house because they are helping me so much, my mom after a long day at work comes home and instantly helps me take care of the kids. Sofia just loves my mom and my mom is spoiling her with rocking and holding time! So this is why my blog has gone so long without posts. By the time the kids are in bed and asleep I end up falling asleep on the couch watching a Christmas movie with my parents, (who also fall asleep nightly on the couch!)
Anyway this has been my life this last week so nothing else has been accomplished! I think it is ok sometimes to not get things done, only sometimes!

lights and MORE lights

Last night we drove around Riverside to pass some time in the evening. Evenings are hard, the kids get restless and poor Sofia's gums are killing her, she had a fever yesterday and is just restless and hurting, so we went for a drive. I am not sure if any of you knew but Zeke LOVES lights! We drove through our old neighborhood and there are a ton of lights around there, it was so pretty and Zeke was so excited! His excitement did not waver from the first lights we saw to the last ones as we drove back into the driveway. He was so cute, he would describe each house we past. "Did you see those mama, look at those green, red, candy canes, snowflakes, flashing ones, santa, etc etc. Each time he would shout there is more, and there is more, MORE and MORE!! It was so sweet the way his amazement did not end after the first 10 houses! I was just so blessed by his love and wonder of lights. Something so simple fills him with joy and excitement, it made me cry a little, just because I do that, and it is Christmas and things are changing and hard. But it was a good cry because there was so much joy in the car! Sofia didn't cry until the end when she was so tired and feverish, but the whole time I think she just watched Zeke! Yay for simple pleasures like Christmas lights!

does zeke need new socks!

Zeke does not have one pair of socks without holes in it! I have been holding out for Christmas stocking stuffers! I know I am cheap, but when I know he will get some soon it is hard to go spend money!
Well today was finally a good day! We had an awful day yesterday and I didn't know if I was going to make it the whole 16 days without Dan, but today Zeke had a much better day. We are working so hard on obedience and speaking kindly to one another. He just struggles so much with things changing and Daddy not being here. The thing I need the most with him is patience and that is what I am lacking in the most! I am so grateful for family, they are so encouraging and positive. Thank goodness because I need it right now. Thanks mom and Dad for letting us take over your house, leave messes, be way too noisy, and eat all your food. It feels really nice to be home with my family during this season. Now I just need Dan here!

two days down 16 more to go!

So dan left yesterday morning at 3:45am with our massive Uhaul truck and the car attached to the back! He actually made great time and the drive he was dreading was not too bad. Thank you Jesus! I was so worried about him all morning but it went so well.
Myself and the kids are staying with my parents and it is so nice to not be alone and to have people to help. It is only day 2 and we are having a hard time, so much change has been really hard on Zeke and he has a hard time whenever Dan is gone. Plus Sofia just got another tooth and has been in so much pain today, it is so sad to see her uncomfortable all day long!
I spent about 2 and 1/2 hours cleaning our empty house yesterday and it was kind of sad and lonely to be there with every sound echoing. It felt good to be done with that and such a relief to be on to the next phase. Now I just have to get through 16 more days without my husband!
For all of you waiting to hear from Dan I am sure he will write in a day or two, he has been a busy bee setting up our new home, how lucky am I to skip this part!