July 2017

Jacob and Kayla made this right before he left. I think this video helped us all while he was gone. No telling how many thousands of times we watched it over those 2 months!

Jacob's last meal request before he left for basic training was Whataburger. Kayla was having fun playing at the table.

Henley and Harrison were there to say goodbye to Uncle Jacob

One last pic before he leaves. He was obviously thrilled :P

Swearing in the next morning.

Ok I guess this was actually our last pic. He had to report to a hotel the evening before, and I wasn't sure what the morning would be like other than watching him swear in. We ended up getting a few more minutes together. My Dad's office was a block or two away so the kids and I met there first. And he came down with us to watch Jacob swear in and say our final goodbyes for the next 2 months.

I think I've been avoiding blogging for the past 6 months because this was such a rough time. ...tears as I go through all of these pics and think about it all again.

After we left from watching Jacob swear in, we drove back to Bryan. The hotel he had to report to and the MEPS office where he did his final swear in were in Houston. Anyways, some of Jacob's family had all just come into town. He had enough time to say hi, go to bed, and leave the next morning. His Aunt Laura, Uncle Russ, cousins Jessi, Anna, Caleb, Levi, and Levi's wife and daughter, Bonnie and Eleanor. Plus Adam, Carly, and Ryan who live nearby. It was actually a huge blessing to come back to town and have them all there. I don't even know if they realize it, but it really helped the kids and I make it through what could have been the hardest week. Jacob's cousins are so much like him in how they interact with their kids, and how they interacted with our kids all week. It was exactly what we all needed. That and having all the company, and activities, and distractions. First up was finger painting for the little girls.

Kayla had a blast!

The next day was 4th of July. We started with a breakfast that Mike and Janice's ward always does in the morning.

It was pretty rainy on and off that morning.

Didn't stop our fun though. Uncle Russ had some fun giant bubble making contraptions. It was a hit with the whole ward!

cute girl!

We all enjoyed getting those few months of so much grandma and grandpa time, while we lived with them. The kids would always run up and greet them both when they'd get home from work. It made everyone so happy. We're really happy to have Jacob back, and be in our own home. But those were some special memories and time we were able to have.

I was such a mean Mom and wouldn't let her play in the nasty wet sand :P

Uncle Russ also put a little swing together in the backyard. It didn't end up working very well for the little ones. Some of the adults tested it out though.

At the George Bush Library and Museum.

So there's this Facebook page (Air Force Wing Moms) with lots of info for families with someone in basic training. One of the things they kept posting was an address template. A few days after a trainee arrives, they call home to give a little scripted call with their address. I kept seeing it and finally decided to write it down that morning. On the way to the museum, I got Jacob's call. I happened to be at a stop light. It was perfect. I pulled out the little template and was able to get all the numbers I needed. If I didn't have that I would have been a disaster. It was so hard hearing his voice, but not really being able to talk to him. Although at the end of the call he did say "love you, bye". I don't know if he was allowed to say it, maybe it was just habit, but I needed to hear it. So many tears the rest of that drive. We had a good time at the museum, though. And it was a relief to hear his voice and to no longer have the anxiety from waiting for the call that could come anytime.

Next up on the agenda was playing in water. It's stinking hot in Texas in the summer. Anyways, I was too lazy to change Kayla into a swimsuit, so I just let her play in her clothes. I took her out and back inside to dry off and change, so we could go watch fireworks. Then we went outside so I could grab the stroller, and next thing I know she's back in the tub of water in her not so-dry-anymore clothes. Ugh. Russ mentioned something to me right about then about having so much patience... I was just trying not to break down in tears in front of everyone. I guess I can laugh about it now though! Haha.

Watching fireworks that night. Kayla and Eleanor are less than a week different in age. It was a lot of fun seeing them together.

Kayla, me, Eleanor, Bonnie, Ryan, Carly, and Adam.

Me and the kids watching fireworks

Russ and Laura also brought this game with them.

I think this is the only pic we got of all of the little kids. Lol. This was the last night all together, before everyone left.

She had been in a crib until we moved in with grandma and grandpa. She transitioned like a champ!!

Oh HEB. We miss it so much!! I let Kayla choose this cart. Mistake. Every time we went in after that, for the rest of the summer, she insisted we get another one.

Grandpa's guac. So good! And Kayla decided it was all for her. She just sat there with a chip and the big bowl in front of her. So happy with herself. Lol.

Cute boy getting squeaky clean!

The next weekend we went to a firework show that Mike's boss puts on every year. It's always amazing. This year they had a big parking lot set up at the back of the property. We got there right as the show was starting, so we just sat outside the truck. And it was still amazing from there!

Rick's firework shows does not disappoint!

Sweet girl feeding her baby brother

Ready for church. She looks huge!! And that big backpack on her cracks me up! Love my baby girl!

Wilson finally mastered this step!

And about a week or so after Daddy left, Wilson started walking. Happy for Wilson's milestone. Sad Jacob missed it. (And so glad that's all behind us now.)

Being so sweet playing together. I would say this is the start of her actually playing with him... but 7 months later it's still a struggle. Lol.

She was pretty proud of herself wearing the baby doll shoes. Haha.

The struggle is real trying to get them to take a pic together.

Group pic to send to Daddy

Every once in a while she'll put her self down for a nap. Lol. When she starts acting up and I know she needs a need, I tell her to go lay down. One day she was upset about something. She probably didn't want to eat lunch. So she went to bed... and actually fell asleep. I was happily surprised.

Playing with puzzles. I love watching this little girl use her imagination. I remember playing with barbies and stuffed animals for hours and hours, just in my own little world. I love seeing her start to do the same thing.

Cow appreciation day!

One of the workers at Chickfila was so sweet and gave Kayla this stuffed cow and a blowup beach ball. She was thrilled!

Something about the target shopping carts... he always does this. Only in them though! It's kinda cute... and kinda frustrating, but now that it's *mostly* in the past, we'll go with cute ;)

Did mention we love HEB? Kayla got like 4 instant winners from her HEB Buddy Bucks over the course of the summer. It was awesome!

I guess we love chickfila too. Who doesn't love an indoor playground when it's hot as Hades though!?

Out! I love when babies sleep good!

Kayla loves Ruby. So does her Daddy and Papa. This one we had to take especially for Dad, who we figured was missing both of these girls ;P

Yogurt mustache. Kayla sure got a kick out of me saying that. Also, she loved when Grandma would sing "messy, messy, messy" to the tune of the beauty and the beast song (the line "tale as old as time")

More car shopping carts. Lol.

At Grandma and Papa Ruske's house. Papa was spinning them around.

Kayla was riding the Barbie horse around the living room. Lol.

She got her yoga moves down

We met Adam, Carly, and Ryan for snow cones one afternoon. This girl left covered in dirt. Oi. 

Determined to play in the suitcase that I thought I put away from him...

Playing at Meineke. Super grateful to Mike and Andre for taking car of the truck for me while Jacob was gone. Lol. But seriously...

Made a visit to Dallas. What's summertime if you're not on the lake?

Kayla had fun tubing for the first time!

And driving the boat!

Cute, cute cousins!

Those chunky cheeks!

Story time at chickfila. Everyone needs a Mrs. Peggy in their life! 

A big book of stickers. Look at all of those stickers on her shirt. Lol.

Exploring Aunt Missy's backyard

More boating with more cousins!

Aunt Missy saved a bunch of big boxes so that the kids could make their own cars for an indoor drive in movie.

They had a blast!

bowling with cousins

So excited for her Poppy necklace

Look at that cute face!

Sisters and matching shirts!

When we first got to Dallas we went to a playgroup and some of the kids had scooters. Kayla loved it and did such a good job, so I ordered her her own.

oh that sweet little baby!!

and my cute girl!

I just want to squeeze him!

Home made slip n slide fun!

Sweet Alyssa reading to her little cousins

Finally got a real phone call from Jacob!!! Best 10 minutes!!! (It was supposed to be a 15 minute call, but ended up only being 10 because he had forgotten his password. Haha. It went so fast, but I loved every second!) This was about 4 weeks after he left... 3&1/2 more weeks until we got to see him.

Wilson is a big fan of the scooter too!

Big boy car seat!!

And I finally put some shoes on that kid. Lol. It makes him look so big!!