We are Home!!!

So we made it home. I don't know why it seems to take so much longer to get home than it does to drive out there. I have had a hard time getting back into the swing of things, especially laundry.

When we got home, Jared had a couple of days to get ready for scout camp and Madeline and I painted the kitchen while dad was gone. We set up our 3 room tent that we have had for 5 years and have never opened. Maa, Carter, Rylie and Lady camped out in the backyard. If you can believe it Lady (10) fell asleep 1 1/2 hours before the three 3 year olds, even with them running around and over her. They had great fun.

Then we sat around like zombies watching the Olympics until our Ward Campout. We have never taken Maa camping so we thought it would be a good time. She had so much fun with all of the kids. The older girls included her in everything they did and when it got late, she and the other little ones ran around with flashlights like they were so cool. I love watching her have a good time.

A few days before camping Maa decided that she would give her binkies away to her favorite baby in the whole world, Selah's little brother Blake. She wrote his name on an envelope and covered it in stickers and stamps and put them in the mail box. She had been talking about it for a couple of days so I went to the store and got her a big stuffed monkey that had 2 baby monkeys and wrapped them up all pretty with a card from Blake that said, "Thanks for the binkies, and here are these monkeys for you to sleep with so that you don't miss your binks."

Later that night after she mailed her binkies I put the gift on the step for her to find. She was so excited. She was so happy to be a big girl. Despite the excitement of everything it was a pretty terrible night. She cried and threw fits and changed her mind about giving away her binki. But, after about 4 hours she gave it up and fell asleep. The next night was only a bit better and the third night was camping, a very bad combo. It was the worst night of camping I have ever had. I think that I wanted her to have the binki more than she did. But then the sun comes up and she talks so big about what she did and what a big girl she is...... until bed time comes again. Tonight was night five and it went very well. Nap time is totally gone. That is a little sad, but we are at least a year too late getting rid of the bink. So now it is done. Are you happy Kenna?

Jared started school today and he is pretty excited for this year to start. He has been involved in some changes that the school is going to be making this year. I couldn't begin to explain them, you'll have to ask him, but he has become someone that the faculty looks to for leadership. He has an amazing talent for teaching. Jared cannot just go to work. He is always involved in making thing better for him, his students, and the other teachers.

I am very proud of Jared and I admire the passion that he has for what he does. I am also proud of my Maa for being a such a brave big girl to give up her binki. My little family is the best. I love them so much it makes my eyes leak.