aaron.anica.emily.isabel.claire

Salt Lake Tribune Check us out here on FOX 13 News: Utah soldiers return from Afghanistan after year deployment

I may be in huge trouble for posting this story one day, but it is a classic and must go down in our family history. Emily has a lot of strengths, but when it comes to her bladder it is perhaps her greatest weakness. Shortly after Izzy was born we went on a trip to the sand dunes with my family and after driving down the road a few hours, we realized we had forgotten to pack something important - Em's pull-ups. So we stopped at the last convenience store before our destination and bought the only size diapers they had available, which happened to be about three sizes too small. For the entire weekend, I had her lay down at night so I could put the diapers on her, thinking perhaps that having her wear actual diapers would encourage her to stop wetting the bed. They served their purpose and I had her use the last few when we got home. I always chuckled to myself when I would see her laying on the floor putting her own diaper on. One day she approached me and said, "Mom, I t...

WARNING: This post is not suitable for children under the age of 13 and is rated PG-13 for language. Emily is new to Girl Scout's this year, and so it is understandable that she is also new and inexperienced in the art of selling. Unfortunately her salesman of a dad isn't here to teach her his technique so she had to set out on her own. We went to the meeting, learned ALL of the rules, signed my life away on all the forms and now she's ready to begin. So rather than send her door to door, I hand over my phone with an overview of the phone book and the family members she should call to "practice" her little schpill. Most of the conversations went something like this: Family member: "Hello?" Emily: "Hi" Family member: "Oh hi Emily, what are you doing?" Emily: "Uh just selling Girl Scout Cookies." Awkward pause . . . Family member: "Well what kinds do you have?" Emily: "I don't know. Mom what kinds are t...

Updates to come . . . maybe in January I'll find time :). Anyway I'm attempting to send Christmas cards out. Leave me a message with your address if you'd like one. Also I'm sure Aaron would love to receive mail from any of you. His address is: Aaron J DeHart 971st Camp Marmal APO AE 09368 It goes through the Army postal system so don't write "Afghanistan" on it or he may never get it. I sent him a package and it took about a week to get there, so not too bad. He's doing well. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Happy Holidays!!

Other than missing Aaron everyday, things are well. We've got our routine and despite each day's challenges, I continue to feel quite blessed. I'm lucky to have such sweet little girls and feel it's a blessing that I get to focus entirely on them and their needs in a way that I otherwise wouldn't get to experience if I shared the parental responsibilities with Aaron for this year. Emily is an awesome big sister. I am amazed at the compassion that she has not only for her little sister, but for those around her. I couldn't do it without her. Sometimes the things she says are quick reminders of how much responsibility she has taken upon herself in caring for Isabel. And Isabel, well she's just full of it. She becomes more and more spunky each day, not to mention the temper she's developing. But man is she fun! I've been blessed to have such wonderful friends, family, and ward members check in on me which helps me not feel so alone at times. ...

Day 1 of the next 400 days. I have to say I've been feeling something I completely didn't expect to feel today and that is blessed. I woke up at 3 a.m. to take Aaron to meet up with his unit. Came home, couldn't sleep, and woke up again at 7:45 to my beautiful girls' faces. The shorter one of which happened to be covered from head to toe (literally) in poo, but her little smile shone beneath as we scrubbed her down in the bathtub and Emily attempted to go to the bathroom while holding her nose and dry-heaving. Got a phone call later in the day from Aaron to say he'd made it safely to Fort Lewis, WA where he'll be for the next 3 weeks or so before heading to Afghanistan. He also gave me his address to overnight the list of things he'd forgotten. :) I can't blame him, how would you even begin to pack for a trip like that? This evening I've been reflecting on how grateful I am for all the love and support of friends and family that I know I can dra...