Grandma and Grandpa Webster

Being in a military ward in Hawaii was great. It was great to meet so many people but sad when it was time for friends to move on. The support the ward gave each of us military was awesome. Our ward was made up of military and locals. There was a great missionary experience that I benefited from. It was a senior couple missionary that was to serve in military relations. They were to help the military with a focus on the deployed families. They came over for the first time while David was gone they gave he kids coupon books from McDonald's. They told me that they were here to be the kids grandma and grandpa and they were. They also were there to help if need be. They came over a few times to visit while David gone. They always had hugs and smiles for the kids. They let them climb all over them and just listen to them. They came over and started sharing rootbeer floats with us. They would come over when david was home also. We grew a great fond of them and the kids loved there grandma and grandpa webster. When it came time for us t leave they called to see if they could come see us. We stayed in Waikiki for a few days before we left. They happened to call the day we were going to a magic show at the hotel. We told them what we were doing and they came down and came with us. They are a couple that really meant alot to our family. The kids always smiled a little brighter when they came over when david was gone. They told us many stories of the people in the other wards that they were helping as well. I know that not just my family was benefited from them but also many others. The kids and us will always remember our second grandparents the websters.

early birthday party

happy Birthday Buddy

Landon will b 5 on may 16. I cant blieve he will be five. I decided to do an early party since we will be traveling on his birthday. He wanted a friend party with his friends from school and his other friends. So we did an early birthday party at the bowling alley. He wanted to go to the bowling alley. We went to the bowling alley for a game of bowlig then headed to the park for a pinata and cupcakes. Of course the party he wanted was star wars. I got a darth vader pinata and tried my best to do star wars cupcakes. It was fun to have a party for landon with his own friends. He has completely come out of his shell since starting pre-school. He has meet some good friends.

landon, wyatt, and kown

black frosting with silver sparkles

can he be any cuter????

darth vader amigos

All done

I have been waiting three years to post this and write about the last three years I have had. David is all done with submarines. I cant tell you how thrilled I am about this. I want to write down the good times and the bad times we had while David was gone. I want to look back on all this and say I can do it. I can do hard things.

Simple facts:

Davids first trip was the summer of July 2005.

The longest I didn't hear from him at one time was 42 days.

He visited some cool places, Japan, Guam, Singapore, the Philippines.

The longest he was gone at one time was 4 months.

His last trip was in august of 2010 and lasted until November of 2010.

The longest he was home in between trips was 6 weeks.

Out of1095 days in three years he was gone about 700 of those.

He missed Dawson's 1 and 2 birthday, Brooklyn's 6 and 7 birthday and two Christmas's.

I was fortunate to go visit Utah three of the times he was gone. Before Brooklyn started school.

Things I conquered while he was gone;

Taking the kids camping with our ward twice by myself

traveling on an airplane three times just me and the kids

trying the MAC flights

my fear of killing cockroaches

Mowing the backyard

Taking the garbage can out every Monday and bringing it in every night

Keeping the kids quiet in sacrament meeting

Oil changes and other car maintenance

Just a little snip it of what I think about the last three years

When David first started subs I had no idea what to expect. I was so full of positive gusto and guilt when he first left. I felt guilty the kids didn't have there dad around. I had guilt that I wasn't going to do a good job. I had guilt anytime the kids cried for any reason. I had guilt thinking that I could call my mom, sisters and friends when I was having a bad day. The first day David left I remember so vividly. He gave us all blessings we took him to the airport then got the kids panda express since that is their favorite. Came home put a movie on for the kids, went upstairs and balled my eyes out and called my mom. I felt like I had a huge mountain in front of me and I had no idea how to tackle it.
I tried to wake up each day with so much gusto to just relax about the little house stuff and just go have fun all day everyday. It was a fun summer. M friend Ashely came out to see us. It was so much fun. This was the first time I took the kids camping for our ward camp. My friend chantel was husband less to so we helped each other out. I have to say it was very empowering and awesome to do it. Everything was still so fresh and new I still felt a little overwhelmed but we did our best.

As the next trips came and went we got into a groove. I realized what it was like to not hear from him. Every time I got an email I think I called my mom and told everyone. I cherished those emails that I got. Obviously you don't have the best communication when they are in a sub under water. The first charisma's we spent apart I was in Utah because I was not that strong to do the holidays by myself. The second christmas apart we stayed here. That is one holiday I wont forget. It was the hardest thing I have done in a long time. I have always had a great group of friends here and a great support system but it was still the hardest thing I have had to do. On the other hand I have a whole new appreciation for the reason we have Christmas. I have had to ask for help and take huge step out of my comfort zone. There are definitely days that I wont forget and here are days were I was is tried and grumpy I wish I could forget because I was so tired and grumpy. there were alot of proud days were I was happy for how things were going. There are distinctive days I remember were when I was at the end of my limit a friend would stop by, someone would call, or something would happen to turn things around. I was in good hands while David was gone.

Every time David was gone Landon went through something. He wold throw up at night for the first week, one time he got cold sores on his gums, he got a rash all over once, poor kid is so sensitive and internalizes things differently. All the kids were great through it all. I often think that they helped me more then I helped them through it all. When they are all I had and I was all they had it brought a new approach to things.

David is the greatest. I hated being apart from him. It made me very humble how he had things set up for us while he was gone. I grew a deeper apprecaiton for him and all that he does for us.

I am glad for all that I learned, thee trials and the good times we had while David was gone. I am even more glad to be all done.

A memorable way to end spring break

Me and shirlyn ended our trip in Utah and decided our best try and getting a military hop back was to drive to california to travis afb. It is outside of fair field California and by Sacramento sort of it is like 40 minutes away from Sacramento. Shirlyn was awesome at finding a car rental that would do a one way from utah to california. She picked up the van for us and we were off for the long drive back to california. The kids did great in the car. we were doing really well on time so we decided in Reno to let the kdis get out at chuck e cheese and play around. Thank goodness we did because as we started up donnors pass it started snowing and they told us there was a big crash at the top and they were only letting locals through. So we turned around went back to the town of Reno and found a hotel. We were both so glad that we let the kids get out at chuck e cheese or we would have been in the snowy mess in the mountains.

LOVE TO BED JUMP

When I checked into a hotel there was a couple on front of me who said that they were on the mountain and were forced to turn around because of the snow. They were making cars turn around and have chains put on if you had them. They said that a semi in front of them was Jack knifing. Crazy stuff. So Tuesday we woke up with a new outlook there was a flight from Travis to hickam Hawaii that had 73 seats. We were sure we would get on so we made our way to the store to get hains since all the highway reports said that f you were going into Donner pass you needed chains. We set out and of course since we had bought chains and listened to reports it was sunny skies in the mountains. We did see alot of snow though. It was taller then the car and some road signs.

one more long ride in the car

donnors pass

so much snow

We made it to Travis and thought we were for sure gettinng on the flight. Well needless to say we didnt. There was a delay from a few days ago so there were a lot of people trying to get out so we headed to the hotel were he already had a two night reservation. The next day we were trying to decide what to do. Travis didn't have anything good out for a few days and the hotel didn't have any rooms available for the weekend. There was a lady we meet at travis that told us about a military fare site for tickets so we got some for the next day out of Sacramento. We decided to make the most of it we took the kids to the jelly belly factory and hit up some outlet malls. The jelly belly was fun to go and see. The kids had fun sampling flavors like booger,bark and canned dog food. My personal favorite were the chocolate dip ones. The chocolate orange ones were delicious.

.

Thanks shilryn for asking me to do the mac flights with you. It was a great spring break and it was a great week spent with you getting back. It was a great "girls trip with kids."

Fun on spring break

While we were in utah I really didnt have anything big and specific to do except shop, find a love of raspberry diet coke, eat at cafe rio, hang out with the family, have the kids play with there cousins, go to st george, go to disney on ice, and just relax. It was a great ten days. There was alot of laughing, eating, and just having fun

Disney on Ice

luke and landon loved playing star wars lego

the boys playing games

silly dawson

brooklyn at my parents new condo in st george

the girl cousins

laughed alot

Sprinng Break 2011

The gang

My friend shirlyn wanted to go to Utah for her brothers wedding which happened to fall over our spring break. Her husband deven is in Washington D.C. right now and she wanted to go to the wedding She asked if I wanted to take a mac flight( a free military flight on there cargo planes). I had done it before and didn't really mind it so I said sure I am always up for a trip. We really lucked out and got on one that went all the way to salt lake city Utah. When you fly the mac flight or space a or taking a hop. It is all the same thing. There are 6 different categories. Since we were traveling with out our spouse/sponsor then we were category 5. There were only 25 seats and we were a party of 7. We were very nervous and I think we both lost sleep for about 2 nights. usually the chances aren't good if there aren't alot of seats. We were thrilled when we were the only ones that when they said who is gong to salt lake city we shouted as loud as we could we are. we got a few stares. I guess salt lake city isn't a hip place to go. There were two other girls that came on the flight. So total there were9 of us on the plane. It was so cool. It was one of the greatest airplane rides. The kids laid down and slept therefore I was able to lay down and sleep. The kids could run and walk around. Me and shirlyn just talked as the kids were walking and running around. The crew was very fun with the kids. This plane was a re-fueling plane. They were re-fueling four f-15 through out the flight. The first time they re-fueled that asked if Landon wanted to go see it. He was the only one awake. So I took him to the back of the plane, went down a few steps, and laid on a single person mattress with the open air only a few feet away and a big asuare door that was open that we could see the f-15 fly up to the plane we were in get refuel up and then fly off. Really the coolest thing ever.

the F-15 flying up to the plane

almost to our plane

It only took 5 1/2 hours to get to salt lake from Hawaii. We landed at the air national guard base. It is around he airport. When we landed and as we were waiting for our families to pick us up the kids thought the snow on the ground was the coolest thing ever.

Our plane

who has snow for spring break?

Ft Meade maryland

Well it is official orders have been written and signed. We will be leaving the great state of Hawaii and moving to Maryland fort Meade. We are very excited, nervous, scared,anxious, all sorts of emotions going on right now. I am ready for the change. I am really looking forward to the history out there, the things that we can show the kids out there that we don't have in Hawaii, meeting up with old friends that are out there, ready for David to not have to be on a submarine, ready to get a fresh start with out him coming and going, and many more opportunities that hawaii us out there. I will deeply miss our friends and our support system. Our friends out here are our family. As of now we are leaving the first week of may and will be in Utah for about 40 days then David will leave and head out to Maryland and set up with housing. Then the end of June me and the kids will fly out to Maryland. It will be a great journey.