End of Year Craziness!

​As always, the end of the school year is crazy busy. This year is no different. However, I have been spending my weekdays in Mountain Home with my parents, while Chris handles things at home. 

My Dad entered the acute rehab facility on Tuesday, May 12th with the goal of helping him regain some mobility. About two weeks ago he had a steep decline and lost all mobility and muscle strength. It was really terrifying. After talking with his neurologist, we discovered he wasn’t getting the proper dose of medication through his pump that he wears. So we’ve adjusted that but his recovery has just been slow. Home health came to evaluate him  and said he’s a great candidate for the Acute rehab at the hospital. So after he got accepted, we brought him over to the hospital and got him all checked in. Currently the plan is for him to be at the rehab facility for 2 weeks. I’m anxious to see the progress he makes because it’s been really hard for him to lose his mobility. Not to mention, Laura and Mom have both injured their backs trying to help him. 

So, now he’s at the hospital full time- and I’m here during the weekdays to keep him company and give my mom a break. I’m so grateful that Chris is able to run things at home so I can be here. 

However, that meant I had to watch Tanner and Bailey’s end of year concert through a video call. Which was still good but nothing like being there. 

I did make it back in time for Tucker’s concert on Thursday though. He was very relieved that I wasn’t going to miss it. 

So with Chris handling things at home and me in Mtn Home, May has felt strange. But I’m trying to be here for my parents as much as I can while still being with my family when I can. Joseph comes over on the weekends and we switch off so I can spend time with my family. 

Dad is making great progress and I’m so glad. With our Alaskan cruise just over a month away, we really want him to keep improving so he can really enjoy it. 

So anyways- that’s the end of school craziness right now. I will go home for our last day so I can pick up my kids and celebrate with them. But right now, I’m getting so great quality time in with my parents and the hospital staff. 

Mother’s Day

​I think this year was one of my best Mother’s days yet. I’m not really sure why- but it really just filled me up and I felt so much love. 

Chris spoiled me as usual and I’m so grateful for him. We went to church at 9:30 am. Church was good and during Relief Society, we enjoyed a delicious snack bar put together by the Elders Quorum. It was so sweet. 

When we got home, Bailey and I left to deliver some gifts to our ministering sisters. That was so fun and I love any opportunity to teach Bailey about the joy of ministering.  After we finished, I drove Bailey to a couple of “little free libraries” (LFLs) to see if there were any good books she could trade for. Bailey loves LFLs but most of the ones in Centerton aren’t within walking distance, so we drove to them. This is how she wanted to spend her time with me on Mother’s Day. 

When we got home from delivering our gifts, Chris had brunch ready for us. He had made delicious peach-puffed pancakes. They were perfect and totally hit the spot. 

Then I got to take a really nice nap. I was perfectly snuggled up in my bed and then I woke up to Chris coming in with a charcuterie board he had put together for our movie. I told the kids I really wanted to watch “Remarkably Bright Creatures” with them for Mother’s Day, so Chris put together a snack board and we all snuggled up to watch together. It was so cute and I loved the movie!

After the movie, Chris made a delicious dinner of Lobster ravioli with his homemade Alfredo. It was so good! Tanner made some amazing garlic breadsticks and Tucker helped put together the salad. It was the perfect meal and I ate so much. 

After dinner I spent time with each of my boys doing whatever thing they wanted. Tucker and I worked on his Lego house together. We love doing Lego together and since he had just got this set for his birthday it was perfect. We didn’t finish it, but we got closer. 

Benson wanted to play Minecraft with me. While Minecraft is not my favorite way to spend my time, I allowed him to teach me how to play and even thought I’m terrible at it, we had fun. I even learned how to build a picket fence and I hatched some baby chicks. It was cute. 

Then Tanner wanted to play “Overcooked” because he loves to stress his mother out! That game is the most stressful game I have ever played and Tanner thinks it’s so funny when I panic. We did have fun though- even if I was a crazy person. 

It was such a great Mother’s Day and I really just am so grateful for the little humans that made me a Mother- and for my husband- who is so good at celebrating and supporting me. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all my favorite mothers out there!

Chris’ 47th’s Birthday

​We celebrated Chris’ birthday a little early because this year it fell on Mother’s Day. And because my husband is a saint, he always willingly agrees to celebrate his a day later or earlier as to not steal any thunder from Mother’s Day. Isn’t he the best? 

So we worked hard to make sure he felt loved this weekend. On Friday night we went out to “Flying Fish” for his birthday dinner. It was so yummy and we all really enjoyed our food. Afterward, we walked around the Bentonville square and then went to get ice cream. 

That night we watched a movie together and just hung out.

Then Saturday morning I woke up early to make him breakfast. We had fried eggs, hash browns and sausage. He worked in the garage on Tanner’s truck most of the morning and then we had lunch. We also frequently filled up his cup with different soda and syrup combinations - because Chris is a Herb and nothing says “I love you” like a Diet Coke. 

That night we went out again for dinner and got sushi as a family. My parents had sent some money to me for us to celebrate the end of my semester at NWACC and my good grades. So we used that money and continued the celebration weekend. 

Saturday night we ate cake and ice cream and Chris opened his presents. Then we watched another movie together. We’ve been really into re-watching the “Harry Potter” movies lately. We are on the 7th one now. 

We had a great time celebrating our favorite guy. I’m so incredibly grateful for my sweet husband. He is literally the best. He takes such great care of us, works so hard and is just my favorite. Happy Birthday babe!

Fun & Field Day at ETE

​Today I got to attend Benson’s field day at Elm Tree Elementary. I only have one year of field day left after this year, so I’m trying to soak it in. 

Happily, it was the perfect day for field day and we had the best time. Benson has the cutest little group of friends and I was cracking up watching them together today. 

They played hard and I’m just grateful for Benson and his happy, friendly little personality. He makes being his friend so easy. 

He had a blast at field day and I was so glad I could be there. 

BRUH- Tucker is 12!

​Can you even believe it? Tucker is 12!

It feels like yesterday he was my little train- loving two year old. Time is a mean thief. 

But Tucker is an awesome kid. He works so hard and is so tender. He’s artistic and creative. He loves to bike and play pickleball. He loves lego and drawing. He is a great student and every teacher’s dream. We are so grateful for him and we had a great time celebrating his birthday. We kept it small this year with just a family party but I did set up a little table of his favorite snacks and drinks  and I picked him up from school by blasting the “Happy Birthday” song and stuffing my van full of balloons. He loved it all and told me it was his best birthday ever!

Chris was also able to take him out to lunch on his birthday. Tucker loved eating ramen with him.

Because currently, every other word out of Tucker’s mouth is “bruh”- this birthday theme seemed appropriate. 

So I don’t know how we can possible top that next year- but I’m glad he felt so loved. Happy birthday Tucker-boy!

Life and whatnot

​I just thought it was time for a quick life update on normal stuff. 

Don and Deveney were able to stay after the promotion ceremony and spend some time with us. We enjoyed having them here even if life was a bit crazy. I’m still in school and Chris was able to take a day off work, but not the whole week. It wasn’t their most exciting trip, but we just enjoyed having them here. The little boys really enjoyed getting to have lunch with Mimi and Grandpa while they were here. 

Tucker had a camp out recently with his deacons quorum and had so much fun. He came home completely filthy and exhausted so I think those are hallmarks of a good time. 

We’ve also been enjoyed time at the temple- together and with friends. 

 

High school band is about to start back up and so we are preparing ourselves for that mayhem.

school is winding down with only a month left. We are so excited. 

Mostly, we are healthy and happy. 

Major Herb Reporting for Duty

​Yesterday we drove down to Little Rock to attend Chris’ promotion ceremony at Camp Robinson. Nanny, Papa and Aunt Laura also drove down to meet us there, and Don and Deveney flew in from Oregon. It was so fun to have everyone together to celebrate my hard working husband. 

The ceremony was pretty short but so sweet. One of the public affair officers read a short bio about Chris’ military service and it reminded me how long and hard he has worked. His military serves has spanned more than two decades, beginning as an enlisted soldier and culminating in his current role as commander of the 119th MPAD. His service includes a deployment in support of operation Iraqi Freedom and command of the 875h Engineer Battalion support company. He has completed multiple trainings and attended school at Fort Lee on two different  occasions. This promotion was a long time coming and I’m so proud of my man. 

During his speech, he acknowledged and thanked me for all the hard work and sacrifice that happens at home while he is away and it had me reflecting on the many years of annual trainings and weekend drills- especially when are kids were little. It was hard. But we did it. And I’m so proud of us but mostly him! 

Chris deserves all the acknowledgment and respect and I’m so glad we had this day to celebrate him with our loved ones.