Don't cry!

So, this Monday marked three months since my sister passed away. Yes, it was a hard day...and so were the days leading up to it. I was having a cry session and although I look at Ginger's blog all the time, I found myself looking on our private extended family blog which I hadn't done for a really long time. As I scrolled down looking specifically for posts from Ginger, I immediately came across one that she had entitled, "Don't cry, Heids!". Of course, I cried even harder, but then had to smile as I could almost hear Ginger telling me those exact words at that very moment. She had posted it a long time ago sharing her amazing view of the ocean from her home. She knew how much I missed the beach and sunshine, and didn't want me to be too sad as she shared her excitement for this luxury in her life. And even now, she didn't want me to cry, or even be sad, but to be happy, and to remember that we would be together again, that this separation was but a small moment. How grateful I am for these sweet, comforting experiences.

BYU Ballroom Dancers Come to Port Orchard!

The BYU Ballroom Dancers were coming to our hometown so I thought it would be fun for Don and I to take my girls for Babysitter Appreciation night. When I suggested it to Don he insisted that I go ahead and make it a special "girl's night" and he would sacrifice and stay home with the younger kids. Wasn't that sweet of him? We invited Brittani, and her daughter, Brinsley and Ginger's friend, Jasmine, to come with us. It was a very impressive production and a lot of fun. The girls were hilarious at the end trying to get the dancers autographs. You would have thought they were famous movie stars the way the girls reacted over meeting them. It was so cute.

My little "Wheat Thin"

That's what we like to call him. A few months ago, a group of my friends got together and started a preschool for our little ones. I was excited for the opportunity to host it in my home every once in a while and to allow Ethan one morning each week to be with children his age, while learning and having fun in the process. Before it even started I was almost positive that Ethan would have a hard time going. He is super shy and only knew a couple of the kids in the group. But, I thought I'd give it a shot and see how he did. The first day all the moms stayed with their children, and Ethan was quite clingy. He talked about "pre-school" all week long, making sure he would get to go again, and making sure that I'd be staying. The next week I did stay as the helper, but the third week, he actually went on his own and didn't even cry! I was so excited and so was he. Well, this was right around the time that we found out we'd be moving and life started to spiral out of control. I knew I had to drop some things or I'd just go insane, expecially with my husband traveling so much and trying to keep my home "ready to show" at all times. Pre-school was unfortunately one of those things that had to go. I figured Ethan only had a month or so before we moved anyway and I wanted to give someone else a chance to take his place as early as possible. I told my friends and then broke the news to Ethan. This was one of those moments you never forget because you feel like the worst mother in the whole world. I really didn't think he'd be upset about not getting to go anymore, but when I told him he wouldn't be going to "school" anymore, he just stared at me for a second, then his lower lip and chin started to quiver and he barely spoke as he said, "But Mom, I really wanted to go to pre-school".
Then the tears began, for both of us.