Dear Craig,



You have now been gone for one whole week and since you have been gone Jace got kicked out of his Sunday school class for being naughty and had to sit with me in Relief Society, Brooke cut her own hair again, and I got pulled aside by Jace's kindergarten teacher because he keeps spacing out in class and not paying attention. We miss you. Jace is obviously having a hard time coping with you being gone. As for me, I miss you like crazy and I am tired, tired, tired ... I put a movie in for the kids every day just to get an excuse to lay down with them and have quiet time. I've been barfing a lot lately too. Anti-nasuea medicine worked for a few days but I'm started to get sick even with it now.  This too shall pass, right?  It stinks but .. life goes on. We went to the zoo again the other day. We spent the entire time at the splash pad because it was just so dang hot. We're already to 100+ degree weather here on the surface of the sun. The kids are also enjoying swim lessons. Jace is doing so well. He is actually swimming ... not for very far but he's swimming and he loves it. Brooke just bobs around happy as can be oblivious to what is going on around her. She's not even close to swimming on her own even after an entire month of lessons every day. Her time will come I guess. Maybe she's just not ready. I started walking Jace to school in the morning. It's the only time it's cool enough now. After I drop him off Brooke and I do a 3 mile loop back to the house. Brooke always brings her purple stuffed elephant. In fact her baby elephant has become a new member of the family. It's high time I introduced you two. She named it Birdwatcher?? (I know - weird) and it goes everywhere with her. She feeds it in the morning, takes it on walks in the back yard with the doll stroller, she puts it down for a nap, and sings to it. I think it must be transgender because it changes from a he to a she on a daily basis so I'll just call it 'it'. 'It' has consumed her life and has become her new luvie. She even insisted on bringing it to the grocery store today and to Peter Piper Pizza (which is like chuckie cheese but with better food). I promised Jace we could go there if he was better behaved... which he wasn't really but I caved. He just got less tokens. It's the first time we have gone out to eat since you left. I think less than me trying to save money it's just pure laziness. Which sounds weird. You would think it would be easier to go out to eat then to cook every night but then I have to get the kids ready and deal with them by myself in a restaurant. That doesn't sound easy or fun ... so I've been cooking every night. The last 2 nights in a row I made my mom's spaghetti and her clam chowder - comfort food. I guess I need comforting since you are gone. I do like being able to see your face on skype every night but it's just not the same as you being here.

I love you, babe. Come home to us soon.

Here is some of the kids artwork to cheer you up! :)

Brooke painted these rainbows for you! :)



These are some super cute art projects that came home in Jace's backpack.

LOOK!  Jace got 100% on his spelling test.  + 6 bonus words.  I'm super proud.  I especially liked his chosen sentence "Do not do that."  He must hear that a lot. ;) wink, wink...

As you can see Brooke has bangs now.  She cut her hair again but I was able to fix it into bangs. 
I think it looks cute.  Life is bliss when she sleeps.  She's such a busy little bee.

Brooke's Brood: Pooh Bear, Chico, Fuzzy, Birdwatcher, Buttercup, and Hippo Baby.  She loves them all.  The other night I found her asleep in bed with 2 of them and the rest were tucked into a bed she had made on the floor of her room.  She is a very nurturing little momma.  It makes me smile.



Swimming lessons!  I wanted to get one of Jace swimming but my battery ran out.  I'll get one on Monday.

 Oh, I almost forgot.  I finished p90x the day after you left.  YAY!!  I'm officially a p90x graduate.  I lost 9lbs. lots of inches and even fit into a pair of pants that have been sitting unused in my closet for 2 yrs.  Looks like I got into shape just in time to get fat again. :)  Well, at least now I can exercise during my pregnancy and hopefully loose the weight fast afterwards.  I recommend it to anyone looking for a challenging fitness program.  It rocks!

A little blurry.  Brooke took this for me.  Look - I have a bicep! :)

We LOVE you, Craig!!! 

Love,

Heather, Jace, Brooke, and the bean. :)

P.S.  this just in ...

Yes, that is Brooke and yes she is in her Sunday dress on the slip & slide in the backyard...  we had a wonderful time at church today.  The kids were extra well - behaved ...

so they made sure to make up for it when we got home.  This is what happened while I tried to get some dinner on the table.  I'm pretty sure it was Jace's idea.

Look at Jace's expression.  The look of mischief!!  What stinkers.  Get home, Craig.  I need help with these 2 monkeys.