Fishing

We like to fish with our friends the Mathews.  But they are moving very soon.  So we had to make sure to get one last fishing trip in with them before they left.  Last night was the night.  Always a good time.

At one point Brynn was excited and told everyone there was a sea urchin right by them and she bent over to look at it.  Annndddd.... she fell in the water.  As she stood there screaming she called over to me in disbelief that I hadn't jumped in the water and wasn't rushing over to save her life.  I calmly replied that she needed to calm down, notice that she was standing, which meant she was okay, and to turn around and climb herself out.  Then Tyler noticed that she was not concerned at all about "his" fishing pool that she had dropped in the water.  So while she was screaming for her life (cause you know that sea urchin was still in the water somewhere by her) he was yelling at her to knock it off and get the fishing pole.  Oh my. 

Don't worry.... everyone and everything survived.  She did get Tyler's fishing pole.  And she has a nice cut on her leg.  But you can see the water line on her clothes... she wasn't drowning or anything so I'm not a bad mom for being worried about her.  And its not like her dad jumped in either... just saying.  Thankfully it didn't cross her mind that we've personally seen gators in that water before :/

Deployment Notification

Tuesday, after our Memorial Day Weekend getaway, we of course got right back in to our school and work routine.  My day consisted of babysitting two different times (for two different people) and making dinner for some neighbors - so I was pretty occupied and busy.  But about mid-morning I got a call from Preston at work.  That's not normal.  We sometimes text during the day but rarely, if ever, call.  So I answered and asked what was up.  He explained... his commander had come to him and told him that he had been tasked to deploy.  This wasn't uncommon at this point.  He had been tasked to deploy about 2 other times previously this passed 6 months but the commander had shut them down right away because the clinic couldn't legitimately afford to let him go, he's too valuable to them - and she had only mentioned to Preston in passing on those occasions that that had happened.  But this time was different.  And he wanted to know why.  She said that while she wanted to make this one go away too, she realized that this time she felt the need to get his input.  That if he didn't want to go she would proceed with making it go away.  But that if for some reason he wanted to go she would somehow make it work.  He told her he would need to talk to me and asked if that was okay.  She said yes, but that she needed to know his decision by the end of the work day.  And so he called.  And I answered.  After he explained what had transpired he sat quietly on the other end of the phone waiting for my reaction.  Remarkably, I had felt an amazing sense of peace and calmness come over me as I had listened to him talk.  And my one question, "You want to do this don't you?" was met with a simple, yes.  So nothing else mattered.  I knew that it wouldn't be easy to admit that he wanted to leave us and go have this experience, but I knew he did.  I also knew that every time his commander didn't accept the deployment for Preston, another person (who had probably already had to deploy and leave their family), had to take his place and go again.  We knew what we had signed up for years ago, and we knew the price that was involved, but it was a choice that we made anyway.  It was a small miracle that he hadn't had to go already.  Preston was ready and willing to take his turn serving.  And I was ready and willing to let him.  He started bringing up the logistics of how we would make things work, or the plans this would alter.  But I wouldn't discuss it, not then at least, not on the phone.  Because none of it mattered or would change our decision.  I said not to worry about the details, just tell your commander you will go, and we'll work everything out.  Preston expressed to her that he didn't think he should be treated any different than anybody else.  No one else would have been given the choice whether to take a deployment or not, so he didn't see that he had a choice either.  He would go.  
Most people are given, on average, about 6 months notice of deployment orders (sometimes as little as 3 months).  Preston however, was given barely 8 weeks.  Annnddd out of the next 8 weeks he will be gone for three of them.  He is here a week, and then he will be in Georgia for a week for a training.  Then he will be home a week.  Then he will be gone a week in Texas for another training.  Then he will be home a week.  Then he will be in Utah for almost a week.  And then he will be home for about a week and a half before he is scheduled to leave.  His Report-No-Later-Than-Date is July 23rd.
My one request when working through the changes we needed to make with our summer plans had to do with his Utah trip.  He had already booked an important trip to Utah for mid July.  He had planned to take Brynn out there with him, and leave her there.  She was going to spend a few weeks with the Detros and then we were going to meet them in Colorado in August for Grammy Pepers Memorial Service and bring her back home with us then.  He had also agreed and arranged to take/fly our friend, Berlyn Sharp, out there and give her to family that she was going to visit.  And he had set up 3 job interviews for when we move there next summer. I needed this trip to still happen somehow.  If he was leaving for 6 months, and returning approximately in early February, with us planning to move in June, I wanted him to already have his job lined up before he deployed.  And Lyndsay and Madison would have killed us if we didn't get Brynn out there ;)  Work wouldn't/couldn't let him go during his original time frame because he wasn't allowed to travel that close to deployment.  But they did allow him to go if he moved it up.  So he was able to reschedule for the 4th of July holiday and the several days after - not ideal timing since that is one of my favorite holidays but it was a sacrifice I had to make in order for him to get this trip in. 
Breathe.  It has been such a blessing to feel at peace during this whole experience.  We know it won't be easy - we've spent years watching our friends have to go through this trial.  But we can do hard things.  And we can come out better because of them.  And honestly, I'm glad they didn't give him much notice.  If he is going to go I just need him to go.  And then to get back.  Let's do this...

Memorial Day Weekend Trip

Memorial Day weekend Preston had not only Monday off of work, but the previous Friday as well.  So we excused the kids from school on Friday and headed down to Orlando on Thursday night :) We didn't have any huge plans - this was just our monthly temple trip - so we just picked a resort with a nice pool and amenities and invited some friends along!  We had a blast all weekend playing at the pool and eating out.

Friday the boys went golfing so Cyndee and I spent the day poolside with the kiddos.  The guys joined us when they were done. 

They had a bunch of organized relay races and Tyler was all over that.  He tried his hardest and would excitedly run up after each relay to show me the prize he had won.

Then that evening us ladies did a little shopping before meeting up with the families for dinner.
Kids were definitely worn out each night...

Uh... don't worry we weren't going far (only around the resort) with this many kids illegally packed into one car. 

Yummy!

Saturday morning the men got up and attended the temple first thing.  Then we switched and us girls went while our friend, Jesse Hayes, was going through the temple for the first time.  She had originally asked me to be her escort.  But then her cousin surprised her and flew in for the occasion, so of course I let her have the privilege.  (Pictures:  Katie Hochhalter, Me, Robin Wettstein, Cyndee Young).

Sunday, we went to all three hours of church and just hung out in our room.  Then Monday we played a little more at the resort pool before cleaning up and heading home. 

Checkertail Crossfit

There is a free Crossfit Gym on base.  Preston has wanted me to do his crossfit workouts with him.  But I know us... that would only end in frustration for him and tears for me.  But he persisted that I needed to start hitting the weights - and he's right.  So I told him no, I couldn't work out with him.  But that I would try going to the 9am MWF class at the gym because I knew several of the ladies there.  He committed me to do it for a month before making my decision about whether I like it or not.  Its been a month.  And I'll stick with it for now.  Its a great group of ladies that push me harder then I'd push myself and challenge me to do exercises I wouldn't normally know to do. 
I've been told by the instructor that I have an amazing natural strength... and I don't necessarily disagree with her.  She's been very impressed with my squat form.  My lower body can be quite strong - my arms not so much.  My biggest problem is that I'm lazy and I don't like to be uncomfortable.  And to progress and improve you have to get uncomfortable.  Whatever.  These pictures are from a Cinco de Mayo workout we did.  No very flattering but once again... whatever ;)

Box Jumps.  I told myself, especially after seeing Preston take chunks out of his shins, that I would never do them.  But I gave in to peer pressure this day.  A little part of me realized that maybe I could make it.  I started by stacking plates... and the higher and higher I got I realized that I maybe could get my feet higher off the ground then I thought possible.  And so I eventually did it.  It was a small box, but to me, it was a big deal.  It has shown me how weak I am, and yet, how strong I am (or can be).

However, the very next week they were doing handstand push ups.  I scaled down to walking my feet up the wall backwards.  They said that was harder then just doing a handstand.  I said no way.  I said go away from me.  I said absolutely not.  I was not giving in to peer pressure this time, and believe me they tried.  But I was not about to try flipping my big old self upside down on my weak arms, for the first time in 2 decades, in front of a bunch of people (with hard objects all around).  In no way was that going to end well for anyone involved.  So I ignored them and continued to walk my feet up the wall backwards.  So.... whatever.  Baby steps I guess.