what the crap?!!

Rikk is stuck in Seattle tonight and it sucks! He called at around 11am and told us he was in Michigan and that he would be stuck in Seattle for the night. Hunter instantly started bawling his poor little eyes out. He was soo upset that he wouldn't even talk to Rikk, the poor kid. He has been crying here and there throughout the day and is sad again now that it is bedtime and Rikk isn't here. We talked to Rikk again tonight and he said that he is for sure a go to come home tomorrow at 3:38 pm. He promised Hunter that if he wasn't he could punch him as hard as he wanted!!! Such a dad! Rikk gets to see his parents and brother who all happened to be in Seattle for business, so that should be nice. But we will just be soo thrilled to see him walk off the plane! I personally think I am jinxing everything by telling everyone when he's coming home, because every time I do he ends up not! And yet again, please keep Rikk, his pilots and our boys in your prayers. I don't know what I am going to do if I have to break their little hearts again tomorrow.

delayed...again

So Rikk was delayed getting out of Germany. On the way to Germany he said their plane was making all kinds of noises that just didn't sound right. Then as they are getting ready to land the pilots announce that they have lost control of the steering, that the steering wheel (don't know the official name for it) wouldn't move, so to basically prepare themselves for a bit of a bumpy landing. Rikk says as they are getting closer to the ground, he looked out the window and their were about 30 fire trucks lined up and waiting for them to land. Not a very comforting sight! But they landed okay. He called as they were heading to the airport to leave Germany and were hoping that the plane had been fixed...fixed, I'd be getting on a different one! He said that if they didn't make it out on time and were stuck in Germany he would call me back later, if not, I should hear from him when he hits U.S. soil in Baltimore tomorrow. It has been almost 8 hours and I haven't heard from him yet, so hopefully that means he is on his way. Once again, please keep him and the pilots in your prayers and the boys too...I don't know what they will do if he doesn't get in sometime tomorrow.

Another Rikk Update

No, this is not due to another "blonde moment" although I am sure some are probably thinking so! Rikk left Iraq late due to a sand storm. STUPID SAND!!! So he will now be getting in on Friday the 20th at 1538 (3:38pm). I am sad that it is 15 hours later, but happy that the boys aren't going to have to stay awake ALL night to see him. So...everyone please say a prayer and cross your fingers that there are no more delays, that his pilots stay alert and awake and that he just gets home!!!

A late Happy Father's Day

I realize that this is late, but I felt that I should post anyway. I wanted to post this on for my dad and Rikk, for they are they two dad's in my life.

My dad has been the best example of what a father and husband should be...not just when I was little, but still to this day. My dad has been there many times to help whenever needed, to give blessings to me and my kids when Rikk has been deployed and a daddy's blessing to me even though I am married with my own family. My dad has been a great example to Rikk (and every man I know) on being a worthy priesthood holder and for that I am thankful. When I was having my c-section with Kyler I told my dad that he could look if he wanted. His response was, "I am right here to take care of you, to make sure you are okay and to keep you company." How sweet was that?!! My dad always says to me when with my boys, "I'm glad I'm the Papa!" I am glad you are the Papa too! I couldn't have picked a better Papa for my boys and dad for myself. I hope that you know how grateful and thankful I am to have you as my dad and how much you mean to me. I LOVE YOU BIG MUCH!!!

Rikk is my best friend! He is such a wonderful daddy and husband. The boys want to be just like him when they grow up and why wouldn't they. Rikk can be rough and tough with the boys and he can be sweet and cuddly too. In fact, he says that he can't wait to come home and cuddle with them. I am so proud of Rikk and all his accomplishments with work. I am proud that he is a worthy priesthood holder and an example of that for our boys. Rikk, you have no idea how thankful I am to have you in my life, how proud I am to be your wife and how glad I am that you are the daddy of our boys. WE LOVE YOU BIG MUCH!!! Now hurry and get home, we are missing you like crazy!

gettin' it straight

So the last couple of days I have been way confused about when Rikk was coming home. I was telling my dad that it was Thursday, the 19th at 0013. My thinking was that it was Thursday night/Friday morning...but then he said, "You mean Wednesday night/Thursday morning?" I said, "Oh...I guess you are right." So all day today I was telling people that he was getting home Wednesday night at midnight and I was wrong. He is getting home Thursday night/Friday morning at 0013...I double checked his itinerary!!! So, I would prefer to blame my confusion on being overly excited about him getting home...although it was probably just a blonde moment!!!

5 days and counting

We found out that Rikk wil be home the night of the 18th!!!!!! I don't think there are enough exclamation points to express how happy and excited the boys and I are about that. Hunter and Walker have everything planned out for his time off...staying up and playing video games, computer games, watching Ben 10 and Caillou, coloring, a water fight, Chuck E. Cheese, swimming and the list goes on and on and on. I don't think that Kyler cares what they do as long as Rikk is holding him. But just thought I would share the good and exciting news. I also want to say thank you to all of our family and friends who have been so kind, loving and caring to us while Rikk has been gone. The kids and I definitely couldn't have gotten through this without you all and your help. You really have no idea how VERY, VERY, VERY grateful and thankful we are for you and all that you have done for us.

GOOOOAAAAL!!!!

Hunter my little soccer player was quite the little star the other night and I forgot my camera! What a horrible mother I am! Hunter scored his very first goal EVER and was so proud of himself. But that's not it, he scored two more in a row. That's right, my little soccer star scored three in a row! The best part was seeing his cute little face after each one. He had this look that was half "That's right, I'm the one that just made that" and half "Hey mom, did you see that? I just made a goal!" He was trying to not smile and show how proud of himself he was. It was sooooo cute! He couldn't wait to talk to Rikk the next morning to tell him all about it. When he told Rikk, Rikk was of course proud, but then asked me if Hunter was telling the truth when I got to talk to him! When I said yes, he was even more happy. But Hunter can't wait until this Monday to play his next game.

Kyler...that stinker!

So lately Kyler has been full of all kinds of surprises. I'll start with the cute things. One of his new things is wearing sunglasses all day. He even tries to wear them to bed. He was just "lounging" with them on and I couldn't resist taking this picture. He had this serious/I'm to cool for you look going on. I love it!

Then there is this one where he was showing his Papa how talented he is. He was attempting and accomplished getting this cupcake shoved into his mouth basically all at ones. Papa was soo proud!

Then there was this LOVELY moment of surprise. I was in vacuuming Hunter and Walker's bedroom and when I came out I saw some white stuff on the floor in the living room. I look to my left and it starts from the far side of the kitchen at the twirly (lazy susan) and goes clear across the kitchen into the living room and ends at Kyler, who has his back to me. I say his name and he turns around and this is what I saw. He was covered in flour, his fists were clenched with flour in them, he was grinning and giggling and he had also drawn me a VERY lovely picture on the couch...how thoughtful is he! Well, since I had the vacuum out, I just vacuumed him off and he also thought that was a lot of fun. Good news is he knew he did something bad and put himself in a time out!

He has been potty training and for about the last two weeks we have had dry diapers while at home. WAY TO GO KYLER!!!He goes #2 more in his diaper than the toilet, but he still occasionally does on the toilet. And the last couple of days he has decided that he doesn't like having #2 in his diaper. So when he finishes his business, he just takes it off! Thanks Kyler. What am I going to do with him???

needles and prizes

Walker and Kyler had to go and get some blood drawn today to test for animal allergies. We were supposed to get it done on Tuesday after their doctors appointment, but the girl at the lab said that we had to come back at another time because there wasn't enough people to "help" (hold/pin them down!) her. So I had to go and pick up Walker's seasonal allergy medicine today and stopped by the lab again. A different girl (the one who is the BEST at the lab) was there and said doing both of them would be no problem. We did Walker first and he held my hand and was a champ. He cried, but didn't try to pull away or hit anyone! He stopped crying as soon as they pulled the needle out and was happy he to pick a prize from their treasure chest. Kyler was a champ too. He also cried, but as soon as the needle was out he jumped off my lap and opened the drawer himself to get a prize! He picked a sucker, something eatable...no surprise! They both went around the rest of the day showing and telling anyone who would listen about what happened. I have such BIG boys!

fun in the sun

While the boys were outside playing today and I turned the sprinkler on to water the lawn. Next thing I know Hunter and Walker are running through it and having such a great time. Kyler wanted nothing to do with it and stayed as far away as possible. In fact, I think he was still hoping that it was winter time!

"The Mighty Bees"

If you have never been to a soccer game for four and five year old kids, it is the funniest thing you will ever see. You should go, it's free and great entertainment. Some kids are chasing bugs, picking grass, hanging from the goal (there is no goalie in this age group), standing there bawling their eyes out because they don't want to play and the others are in a HUGE pack chasing the ball. And if it goes out of bounds the kids don't care, they just keep right on playing.

Hunter had his first soccer game on Monday night and he did awesome. I am so proud of him! His team named themselves "The Mighty Bees" which was Hunter's suggestion. He played the whole game because he wanted to make a goal for his dad. How sweet is that?! He didn't make a goal that night but came really close. Plus, he had a really good time and that's all that really matters.

Update on Rikk

Rikk just sent me this link so I thought that I would share it with you all.

http://www.eielson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123101083

Rikk may be able to get home as early as the 15th and as late as the22nd of this month. If the person taking his place gets there and is there for 5-7days, then Rikk can be home as early as the 15th. If not, he has a ticket into Baltimore for the 20th and then it will take 24-48 hours for him to get home. He is doing good though and appreciates all the emails and packages he has gotten while over there. And he still hangs out with Flat Stanley! But he can't wait to get home to play with the boys and I.