Happy Easter!

Things have been very crazy and hectic. We are getting into a schedule, and are doing great! We're so busy, that I don't think I've had a chance to think about the stress of not having a hubby. Of course, it probably helped that he would work all day, come home for an hour (and mostly nap for that time) and then either leave for refereeing basketball, or to baseball until 10:00 p.m. For the most part, it doesn't seem much different, with the exception of weekends. Only 48 more of those to go!

I did fall off the ladder the other day trying to secure the shutters that flew out due to a storm. I was pretty scraped and bruised, but felt very blessed that I didn't break anything. I pushed the ladder out of the house and I was at the very top of the second floor. I saw the railing coming toward me and didn't want to fall on that, so I pushed myself toward the house and slammed into it and slid down the brick. Then I landed on the legs of the ladder on the cement. It took me a few days to recover and then I started my workout routine.

I've been going to the base everyday and working out. It helps relieve the stress, compensates for my stress eating, and gives Elayna an opportunity to play. They have a gym just for parents and there is an enclosure with plexyglass and a lock. She loves playing with the other kids and on the slides. So far, I've been good about going and I can feel the difference ... now if I could only see the difference!

Our life is mainly baseball, baseball, baseball! I have been so blessed to have parents so willing to help out. I usually just take Rylan to practice and his coach brings him home. He gets home around 10:30 p.m., so I'm glad I don't have to leave and get him. I worry about Rylan getting burned out on baseball. He has practice for the Jr. High team everyday afterschool until 5-5:30. He was having batting lessons on Wed from 6-7 and then going straight to Sandlot practice until 10-10:30 and on Fri. lessons from 8-10:00 and then Sat he had pitching lessons. However, any spare minute he has, he is outside with the kids playing ..... you guessed it! Baseball! He is working very hard with Bradly since we just signed him up for a rec league. It's fun to watch Rylan "coach" him. I'm actually quite impressed with his coaching skills!

This last week we got ready for Easter. Mon. we decorated Easter eggs, Tues. Rylan had his first Jr. High game. He pretty much rode the pine, but I attended anyway. Morgan had "Tiger Talents" so I took all the kids. We had to leave due to Addison's behavior, and so I told him he'd have to take the cel-phone from now on and call if they play him. Being a 7th grader, I don't expect much play time. Wed was baseball, and the last day of school for the kids.

Thurs was supposed to be the first day of a tournament they had. It was kind of rainy, but dried out. Salt Lake usually has a bit warmer temp then in Ogden, so we headed out. We got all the way there and found out that the game got canceled. I had to go to Salt Lake anyway, because a friend was fixing my computer and I bought him a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory as payment (much cheaper than Best Buy!) Thurs. night Richard's parents arrived at our house. It was fun to have them come for the weekend, and Rylan enjoyed having his Grandpa watch his games and I LOVED having Grandma stay home with the kids. I think that'll be my last time to sit and watch an entire game! We stayed up way too late each night playing games and Fri and Sat was filled with games. The kids played awesome on Fri, but very disappointingly on Sat. It was good experience for them.

Sat the Easter Bunny comes to our house and since I had to get up at 5:30 to be ready to go by 7:00 a.m. for Salt Lake, the Easter Bunny left a note saying how busy he was and would come a little late that day. Then when we got home from the tournament, I sent them outside so the Easter Bunny could arrive without being seen. I make clues for them to find their baskets (about 3 each) and they enjoyed finding their baskets and presents. Rylan got a new bat bag, Bradly got a spiderman kite and batting gloves, and the girls all got matching Easter dresses.

Sunday we went to church and headed to Richard's sisters for a huge family dinner. They put together a little egg hunt (with plastic eggs) and we stayed late playing games. Richard and I have been trying to do Live Messenger so we can chat with web cam but I was having some problems. Ben (our nephew) worked on my computer until 10:00 that night and we finally got it to work. ... I've had fun chatting with family online with the web cam, but we have yet to see Richard. He can see and hear me off my web cam, but we can't see him .... just hear him. He may have to buy another web cam. It does eliminate the 2 moral calls a week problem!

This morning has really been the only day that has sucked! I spent too much time this morning talking with Richard and didn't get ready for working out early enough. I decided to still go, but 1/2 way there realized I forgot my Mp3 player and water ... oh well. Decided that even though it's 10 am. and no supplies, I was still going to go. I had a good workout, and stopped to get gas on the way home. I had Richard's truck and Elly's carseat doesn't fit very well in the back and it slid part way off the bucket seat. So as I was filling up the truck I put her in the front and then top off the tank. I go to get in (let's just review a little .... frezzing cold day, rain, look like crap, and tired from working out, as well as it is 11:00 a.m. now ... airman are going to lunch now!) and she locked the door!! I kept saying, "Push the button" as I would mimic pushing the unlock button and she kept copying me by pushing her finger at the window like I was. Ahhhhh! What am I going to do? 15 min later I borrow a cel phone and call my Sister in Law in Kayesville. However, she can't get on base! So I call the shop chief at Richard's shop and ask if we can call him when she gets to the gate and someone get her on base to get me my keys ... however, she lives 20 min from my house and she's watching 4 of her grandchildren and it then takes 15 min to get out to base. I went to tell the person parked behind me that it would be a while before he could get up to the pump, and when I turn around the sweet man who lets me borrow his cel phone has the door open where Elly was. I guess he was able to convince to push the right button and push it the right way. My purse was dumped out and she enjoyed chewing a brand new pack of gum, but I got home by noon! Of course, she fell asleep on the drive home, just to wake up as soon as we got home and so she basically has had no nap today, and I have a ton of housework to do, since it's been neglected with visitors for 5 days!

Where's my calgon? Well, that's about it for now. I'm putting the slideshow at the top of our pictures for the week. Talk to everyone later!