Soooo....It's been a while and I feel super guilty about it. So much time has passed that I'm honestly not even sure how to catch up. I'll just try to remember some highlights so that this last eight months doesn't disappear completely from our memories. haha
We took the Amtrak up to see Trey compete in June. The train is so much fun. It is a way better method of travel with children than a car or an airplane (at least for short trips). It took us about three hours to get up there and then we took a short cab ride to our hotel. Nana and Papa met us there for the meet and we had a wonderful family weekend. Chelsea, Frankie and Chelsea's mom, Jani, were also there. We discovered lots of new wonderful places to eat and fell in love with Sacramento. Who knew it was such a neat place! Trey won the national title again and we were all over the moon. Did I mention how incredibly hot it was? I think it was well over 100 degrees each day of the meet. The kids handled it like champs though thanks to Nana's last minute purchase of every wet towel that Dick's had. We also visited the Train Museum while we were there--highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in the state capital.
A little later in the summer, we drove cross country with three children and two dogs. Yes, we are crazy. We drove from Lemoore to Destin, FL where we met my dad at an amazing beach house that he rented. There we spent three glorious days enjoying the best beaches in the whole world with dad and Deborah. We ate at all of our favorite spots and swam until we were exhausted. After the three days were up, we drove up to Birmingham (and of course got some boiled peanuts along the way) where we spent almost ten days. We saw old friends and again ate all of the food. That's pretty much what we do on vacation...just eat our way through town. After a wonderful visit, we made the four day trek back to California. We were glad that this was the last time we'd have to make the East to West journey.
Speaking of that...have I mentioned that Josh got orders back to Virginia Beach? Insert happy dance. We will move at the end of May, as soon as the kids are done with school. Hooray!!!
In the fall, Reagan started 2nd grade (with our beloved Mrs. Stone) and Wyatt started 4th grade (with Mrs. Michaud). Loyal started his first year of preschool at First Baptist Playschool, which is the same place that Wyatt and Reagan went. So far the school year has gone well--both Wyatt and Reagan have been selected as Student of the Month at one point or another and we have survived the 4th grade mission project. It's hard to believe at this point they only have less than three months of this school year left. Time has flown by.
I am still the Children's Director at my local Community Bible Study chapter which keeps me pretty busy. There is always a craft to get ready, snacks to buy or supplies to track down. I sure do love it though and am going to miss it so much when we leave.
Josh has started being a volunteer pilot for the Kings County Sheriff's Department. He has always wanted to volunteer in the community somehow, and when this presented itself it was the perfect fit. He flies an F18 by day and nights and weekends he flies the teeniest tiniest little plane I have ever seen. haha
Josh and I went to the Strike Fighter Ball again. My mom generously flew out to watch the kids for us so that we could spend the night up in Fresno. Josh bought me the most gorgeous green ball gown and I wore these amazing canary yellow drop earrings. I really hope I get a chance to wear them again. I think it is my favorite ball outfit yet. The day after the ball we all, mom included, loaded up and drove to Paso Robles because Trey, Chelsea and Frankie were in town visiting Chelsea's parents. It was so nice to see them and get to spend some time with Frankie (who is the most adorable little girl I have ever laid my eyes on).
In December, Loyal turned FOUR and Reagan turned EIGHT. I know I say this every year, but time is flying and it does not seem possible that they can be this old. I think I'm definitely going to shed a few tears this summer when Wyatt turns ten. Double digits. Ugh.
Over Christmas break (2017) we planned a trip home to Ohio. For the first time since we've been married, we had a white Christmas. The kids were overjoyed! It was so beautiful. The day after Christmas we hopped in our rental car (which would not stop vibrating) to make the drive down to Virginia to house hunt! Our original hope was to find a house in one of the historic neighborhoods in Norfolk and have the kids attend a private Christian school. All of that changed after our school visit. The school and the people were lovely. But after the meeting neither Josh nor I had peace about sending the kids there. So after some discussion and prayer, we decided against it. All of the other private schools in the area cost more than college, so our house hunt changed and became dependent on school system. I'll spare you every detail, but the Lord ultimately led us to Chesapeake and to a neighborhood called Culpepper Landing. We picked out the house plan we liked, picked our options and signed a contract on January 2nd. They actually just broke ground on our house this past week. I cannot wait to get there and see it finished.
Not too much has happened over the last couple months...we've just been picking out all of the options for the new house (flooring, tile, cabinets, etc) and doing our normal routine. The kids are currently involved in tennis, basketball and ballet so that keeps us pretty busy in the afternoons. Baseball will get kicked off here in a couple of weeks.
The dogs are doing great. Buck is starting to show his age. He has slowed down a little and has some arthritis in his hips. He's still his sweet, happy self. The vet says that he's looking great for a dog of 12. Moses is ginormous...as expected. Last I checked, he was 33in at the shoulder. If I had to guess, I would say he probably weighs 140-150lbs now. I haven't weighed him so who knows. All I know is that if he steps on your foot, it hurts! He is a really sweet dog and loves to just be with you. I have started referring to him as my velcro dog--since he's always attached at my hip.
That's the update. I'm really going to try to be on here more often. I can't make big promises during the move, but once we settle in Virginia I should have a lot more time on my hands...
