We have been busy lately and I haven't updated in a bit. Here's the last couple of weeks in review. We went to the beach and stayed in a nice condo for a long weekend. My aunt, cousin, and her husband flew up from Cali to spend it with us. We were blessed with warm weather and went to the tide pools which were great! We came at the perfect time, by accident, because the tide was out and we found lots of star fish and other little creatures. We were climbing these huge rocks and were so into it that we didn't realize the tide had come in. I, being the mom, panicked and started screaming to get the kids. We sorts of threw Kali back to sand and then I realized that it was my turn. I had my nice Canon and I just started freaking out screaming, "Someone please catch this camera because Aaron is gonna kill me if I drop it." My camera managed to get to land dry but I didn't.

We found that Bend has a kids water park. My close girlfriend, Aya who is kidless, came and said, "Look at all these kids! You said water park, not water world!" LOL. It's huge and had a water slide and cool water features. The great thing about it is that the deepest area is 3 ft. It gradually slopes down so Maddy can play in all the area and Jackson will sit and play for hours. It's so warm like bath water. So we practically live there. I finally told them we needed a break because I got burned on a burn and have been wearing a shirt over my suit for three days but it's not getting better. We'll probably end up there tomorrow though.

Last weekend we drove to Salem (about a 2 1/2 hr drive over the mountains) for a birthday party of my close friend's daughter. It was fun just hanging out and seeing people that I went to church with when I was little. We then drove to Silverton where I grew up. I thought that it would be so cool to show the kids the street that I grew up on and the house Papa built. Pretty much they could of cared less. I parked in front of the house and just reminisced about old times. It's amazing how things look so different after you grow up. We then drove up to Aaron's parents house and had dinner with them and just spent the evening. I love his parents! I'm so lucky to be related to amazing people who love Caleb and Kali like their own, well they are now. It's fun to watch Aaron's dad, Mike, turn into a kid when the grandkids arrive. LOL. He gets so excited and runs around with them and wrestles. Fun fact: I didn't know this until this trip but Aaron and I grew up 24 miles from each other!!!!! I remember our soccer teams playing each other, which he was the goalie, but we never knew each other. I guess it wasn't our time. Anyways, we spent the evening with Nettie and Mike and said our goodbyes for our long drive home.

I wish that I could post some pictures because we are all super dark, even me- the whitest half Mexican girl you've ever seen, ME! I'll post our vacation pictures later though.

Some things that I've realized on our trip:

1) I used to comfort my loneliness in Alaska by looking forward to this trip. I thought that I was probably just so lonely because I was always by myself and just needed some family around. Wrong. I'm here among my family and still feel unbelievable lonely at times. I realize now just how much I miss my husband. Home can be anywhere in the world as long as we're together. I miss him terribly. He phases next month so we are half way done with pilot school. Hopefully just another year left.

2) I have great friends in Alaska!! I have had several of them checking up on me and my house. Stephanie was even willing to battle a burglar when we thought my house was being broke into. ;) I will forever be in debt to Jeanne for helping me keep our family a family of six ( HA HA THANK YOU!).

3) I'm not as bad of a parent as I think I am. I think sometimes I'm so hard on myself and it's been nice to have my mom lovingly help me realize that my kids are amazing at making me feel guilty for punishing them and I shouldn't. I feel more empowered as a parent.

I need to finish this book by thanking my Father in Heaven. A couple of weeks ago I was searching for a whole day for a ticket for Aaron to come to Portland so we could spent 4th of July weekend together. The kids haven't seen him since December and all of them long for each other. So I started looking. Everything was around $900. I called the airlines and pretty much begged for help. Everything was booked up. I felt so hopeless and just started pleading to my Father for help. After using Orbitz all day I thought that I would go there just one more time to try. I put in the same information and I had and just hoped for a miracle...and one happened. A ticket for fourth of July weekend came up for only $300. I felt confused at first and then realized a prayer was answered and wanted to cry for thanks. I told the kids, "Dad's coming!!!" Maddy was confused and screamed, "DAD!" and ran for the front door and opened it. So he'll be here next Thursday at 8pm and leaves Sunday at 5am. Hey, it's better than nothing. I'm so grateful that we having a loving Father than answers even the smallest of prayers. We'll be spending the 4th with his family and I think we're all excited to spend time with Aaron and make lasting family memories. Nettie reserved us a gazebo at the park right next to the water park. It's going to be great.

Okay, I'll end this book. I have about one hour left and my bestest, yes bestest, girlfriend will be here with her daughter. Meagen and I have been sisters for 15 years now. I can't wait to see her!