All is right in the world again.

at least in our world. 

:)

Couple of things on my mind.

1. Being a single parent is hard.  I have gained a whole new appreciation for parents who carry the tremendous load of raising their children by themselves.  It is emotionally, and physically draining.  Although, I have not found it to be spiritually draining.  Probably because I have been so humbled.  Parenting, I find, is humbling by nature.  Single parenting - multiply that humbling 10 fold.  It is impossible to do this job alone.  So grateful for the knowledge that I am not alone.

2. I am so grateful for the women in my life.  My emotional needs have been met by a sweet mother who takes time to skype with me, listen and offer counsel, and a sister who is willing to skip planned parties and come gab with me until 1am instead.  Sometimes I just need to talk....a lot. Women need women. There's just no way around it. 

Zina on the 50th day of school dressed up like the 50's.

  This also happened to be 11.11.11

3. I was pretty homesick for my Canadian Remembrance Day.  I am usually homesick for the farm.  For the family and grandpa's farm.  But this day I was homesick for Canada.   For the red poppies, and "In Flanders Fields,"  For the hometown to slow down to a stop, gather together and remember with a moment of silence.

I was not just a little disappointed with Zina's school.

Remembrance day was SUCH a big deal growing up.

I'm sure it is a big deal here.  Veterans Day.  

I guess I just thought that having a school aged child would warrant....something akin to my childhood.

Since I failed to find, or make it to (since I know programs and such were happening) anything that satisfied my cravings of remembrance I bundled the kids up and hauled them to the veterans memorial at the Spanish Fork cemetery.

We talked about our freedoms and what people sacrifice and have sacrificed so that we can be free. 

I am eternally grateful that I was able to enjoy those freedoms as a child and that now my children can enjoy those freedoms.  I hope they and I always remember and not take them for granted.

3.  Only 5 more days until I get to hang out with my best friend again while enjoying the Arizona weather.   There are no words.

Pleased as punch.

She's been saying "Chrithmath" over and over and over and over.

:)

School Pictures!

Sure do love my kindergartener!

Home again Home again...and some Halloween!

And then he came home!! Can we get a hallelujah chorus!!

When the kids saw him at the airport they ran and gave him a great big hug!  I wasn't sure how Sammy would react but he wiggled out of my arms and ran and wrapped his little arms around Mark's neck and laid his head on his shoulder and seriously did not move for 15 minutes.  It was very tender. 

We missed our daddy!

We spent Mark's week home just enjoying each others company.  We went for bike rides and runs along the river bottom

Hiked up to a very chilly grotto and had a picnic in the fall leaves of Payson Canyon.

snuggled

snuggled

and snuggled.

Joel and Angela watched the kids one night for us.  

We went and finally got life insurance (woot woot)

and then just went home and made dinner together. 

It was seriously awesome and I realized that I really

love doing stuff with my hubby. 

Um that sounded really ..... duh!

But I think I got a revelation (after 7yrs!) that while some girls like flowers, 

snuggles, or words of affirmation, (um..honey..I still like all those things too!!) 

that I like

working on projects with Mark.  Like working toward and running races together, doing yard work together etc.  I loved just being in the kitchen with him making our dinner.  It was the best part of the evening.  He had the menu all planned out and made us tortellini with prosciutto, Parmesan, buttercup squash and Pepita's. So good! except I couldn't find the Pepita's so we used hazelnuts.  (I may have found the Pepita's yesterday in the bottom of the freezer)  I made a spinach strawberry salad with candied almonds, red onions and poppy seed dressing.  It was delicious.

and romantic. :)

For FHE that week we got in some stellar pumpkin carvings.

And while we were singing the Halloween song some wily ghosts snuck some ghost food (muddy buddy's) into our fridge!

Wilson was so enthralled that we had to have a little family home evening lesson after on how it wasn't really ghosts but really it was a tricky papa.  And then it led into whether or not ghosts were real and we were able to give a sweet little lesson on the devil and his followers and the power of obedience and Jesus Christ.  It actually turned into a great teaching moment and the kids were right with us.  So grateful for the gospel!

Our ghost food with a note.

"To Zina, Wilson, and Sam. From the Ghosts. Don't be scared!"

We were also able to go to our very first PARENT/TEACHER conference! Wow.

Grandma came and tended the boys and it was so fun for both Mark and I to be there.  Can you tell Zina's the 1st child! :)  I am really loving how Zina's school is helping the kids take charge of their work. She came with us and was the one to show us what she's been working on and talk about her progress.  I have been a little concerned that her teacher hasn't really been pushing her. (her homework consists of learning the alphabet.. really!?)  Her teacher addressed that and said that Zina is the only one in her class who knows all of the sounds including short and long vowels and really should be reading. (Mark and I  exchanged knowing looks at this point..she read's scriptures with us every morning before school and reads words like behold and consciousness)  Her teacher admitted to being behind on pushing Zina because she has kids who are on the opposite end of the spectrum so hopefully we will see a little bit more action out of kindergarten now! (if not I guess we'll just keep reading the scriptures!)  Zina is the only one in her class who gets to start bringing reading books home from the library!  She was pretty excited about that. :)

Mark and Zina had a little Daddy/Daughter date one night because I was asked to be on a committee for our R.S Mother and Son's Halloween party.  It was a little stressful getting it all put together at the end but it turned out to be a great success. So much so that I had to call Mark for an emergency run for more pizza.  We had a great crowd and all the boys had fun bonding with their moms.  I felt a little bad that it wasn't really "bonding" time for me and Wilson and Sam, but I guess someones got to be in charge!

A monster, a doc, and a mummy!

Love these boys! 

Even if they do drive me completely crazy sometimes!

We made it to our first annual Thomas Halloween party. 

Where the kids all beat up on poor Aunt Trisha the angel.

My little vampire-ess.

The newest sweetest little Thomas - Marley Joel the ladybug.

And our only bit of Halloween with the resurrected Captain Hook!

He drove off Sunday morning to his next month long expedition in Tuscon.

:(

Aunty Liz came to hang out on Halloween night.  We had a quick and crazy dinner with Marilyn and kids and then they ran to their ward trunk'or'treat and Aunty Liz
 let Zina do her makeup for trick'or'treating. 

:)

My little monster, mummy, and vampire!

And it's always more fun if mom dresses up too!

Zina and her best bud Aidan at our ward trunk'or'treat.

Seriously needed some tips from our ward in AZ  We

 were just a little(or lot) disappointed. 

It's a good thing we got to trick or treat to Grandma's after to make up for it. 

And it was nice to catch Grandma's reaction too. :)

We went around to a couple of Grandma's neighbors and then to Uncle Travis's and then called it a night.  It was a good Halloween.  Great would have been to have our Papa with us but we'll take what we can get. :)

And Grandpa's pretty close. :)

The day after Halloween we headed back to Grandma's to do some more canning. Hurray for free apples because my kids were already going through the apple sauce so fast we only had 6 bottles left.

Funny story.  

Wilson was helping me with the strainer.  He was turning the wheel to make the applesauce while I was pushing the apples down.  All the sudden he paused, looked and me and said,"Mom will you turn the crank for awhile?  I have to go save the world!"

Then he jumped down and proceeded to "save the world."

Oh the imagination of a 4yr old!

I bought these costumes for the kids when they went on sale after halloween.  I think they have worn them everyday this week. :)

But I have to admit.  

I would have preferred to buy a "Captain Canada" costume instead.

:)

Before Mark came home...

We tried to pass the time by making sugar cookies...

and then decorating them

We celebrated a birthday. and a 7yr anniversary.

I turned 29.  wow.

The actually day was a little lonely.  I had two meetings and took all the kids with me.

We did manage to go out for ice cream,  but

everyone who is usually around to show some love was far far away.

Except my little monkeys. 

Who banished me from the family room and then came running into the kitchen to give me

this.

Wrapped with a ribbon and all.

Inside were 10 pictures carefully colored on for Mama from Zina and Wilson.
they even sang me happy birthday.

It was very sweet.

and a heart warmer for sure.

My birthday week was great!

Before Mark left for Florida he hid my present in his closet.  I happened to find it while searching for the halloween pillow cases. :)  But i left it there in anticipation for the actual day. :) It's just a handy little attachement for my bosch - the food processer. :)

I.LOVE.IT!

Before Liz left for New York she invited us over for dinner and while her and the kids made dinner she sent me off to her favorite salon to be pampered for an hour.  I love my new haircut and dinner was delish and seriously she was leaving for New York THAT night! 
A great haircut can make you feel like a million bucks!

Thanks Liz!

AND before Judy and Jay left for Arizona they dropped me off a little birthday present that I was super excited for.  When Judy asked me what I wanted for my birthday I told her it was really boring. 

BUT I love getting things like this.  It just makes me feel at peace to know we are prepared. or getting prepared. :)

Haha. 

50gallons of water storage right there!  Don't ask what we are going to do when we move and no longer have 2 storage rooms. :)

I seem to remember last year I got a new mop for my birthday. :)

Don't worry.  I went shopping yesterday and spent the birthday money that I haven't gotten yet. :)

I'm not 100% practical. 

:)

And while this was all happening Mark was enjoying our old roomies from Rexburg (I guess technically it's housies?) Jake and Suzanne.

They live in Jacksonville for Law School so Mark spent a weekend with them.  It helped take his mind off of the thousands of miles between us. :)  And he had a great time!

Hmm, warm beach anyone?

Mark was able to stay with a family that he met at church the day he flew in. Seriously it was such a tender mercy.  He was going to stay in a filthy apartment in the ghetto for $700!  When he went to church they visited with him and then just offered their spare bedroom for free and a bike to get to and from the school.  Seriously we owe them so much.  They made his stay go from unbearable to completely successful.  He really liked the school and all the residents in the anesthesia department.

He felt like his interview went well and it is definitely on the list for our next 4 years!