Hal and Keyton Left

Today, Hal and Keyton left with my mom. They left their house and our neighbors. It was sad to see them say goodbye to each other. I posted some pictures to capture their last minutes with their friends. The above photo is a picture of Hal and Keyton with our next door neighbor girls. These two girls are so sweet, Hal and Keyton have spent a lot of time with the two of them.

Hal and Kendal. Hal adores Kendal. I think Hal wants to be Kendal someday. This one makes me cry!
Malot and Maru, are our other next door neighbors. Maru and Malot moved next door this last November; they were adopted by our neighbors Kelly and Luke. Maru is the same age as Keyton. When they first moved here they could only say a few words in English, but now they can speak and understand English like pros.

Keyton took a picture of me in my bedroom--since I took some pictures of the kids in their bedrooms. That is me and my windows that look out into our backyard. I am going to miss that view, big time.

Another picture Keyton took of me in my bedroom. Ruby wanted to be in the picture too since it is her bedroom also. Keyton and his bedroom. He loved his room. I took this yesterday, as it was his last day here.

Owen's bedroom. He won't remember what his first bedroom looked like. I love the corner windows. Owen also has a view of the forest. Finally, Hal in her bedroom. Her girly girl bedroom.

It was sad watching my children say goodbye to their friends. I think the hardest part was---we moved to Eland Court thinking we would spend the rest of our lives here. I know things happen and change for a reason, but I am not sure what that reason is yet--- and it is driving my crazy. When Jess's old company shut down last year, right after Owen had been born three months early, our lives drastically changed--it wasn't long after, when the hospital I was working at called me and told me they didn't need me to come back; that I knew this house and Minnesota weren't meant to be. When Jesse got his new job, which allowed for him to live any where in the country, I knew we were supposed to go back home. I just don't know why I am feeling so strange about this up-coming move. It's true, I am sad. I will get over it though! ND here we come.....again!

Speedo Man

I am getting more excited about the move home. I can't believe it is almost time to leave. My mom is coming on Saturday morning. She is going to take Hal and Keyton home with her--they will arrive in Williston a week before Jesse, Owen, and I.

Jesse and I played a trick on Hal and Keyton tonight. It was funny---so much so I thought I was going to pee my pants. On our ride home from the store this afternoon, we passed a man who was standing on the side of the road. The man had this sort of speedo thing on and he was wiggling his butt. It was hysterical. I don't know what this man's story was, but Keyton and Hal looked shocked. Later that night, as we were eating dinner, I told Jess I was going to go pick up the man and let him stay at our house, because it soon would be getting cold and I didn't want the man to freeze in that little outfit he was wearing. Jesse played along with me and told me that he thought that I had a fantastic idea. Hal and Keyton's eyes grew wide. I told them I would be back in a few minutes with the man. A couple of minutes later I popped my head into the computer room, where Hal and Keyton were watching a movie on the computer--I told them that I had picked up the man, and that they needed to be quiet because the speedo man was now taking a nap on our couch. Hal and Keyton both got up and ran into the living room, where I had stuffed a bunch of pillows under a blanket. I also had placed Jesse's laptop under the blankets, which was playing a sound that imitated a man's snore ( we had downloaded this sound from some website). Hal and Keyton stood there silent, thinking that the speedo man was laying under the blankets sleeping. I couldn't keep it together, I broke down and laughed---loudly. They continued to stare at the blankets and listen to the snoring. It was an amazing sight. Finally, I lifted the blanket, and when they saw the pillows they laughed too. I love playing tricks. I can't help it....if an opportunity such as this presents its self, I am like a kid, and can not resist the urge. Thankfully, my children have a sense of humor and find me to be as funny as I think I am.

Mess

The picture below is what my living room looks like at this very moment. I thought I would document this mess....for future reference...like when my kids complain someday that their children made a huge mess. I am messy, so I understand the problem of messiness. I am not complaining---what I am doing is making memories....or......just nicely putting it out there, that I had worked hard to clean this exact space this morning. I even vacuumed and dusted. I had just went upstairs for a couple of minutes to fold a load of laundry, and this mess is what I was welcomed back to downstairs with. UFFDA! Hal saw me take this picture. While I was looking at the picture on my camera, Hal asked, "Why did you take a picture of that?" I replied, " To send to the mess police." She then yelled " WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?", I laughed, and then she asked, "Are there really mess police?" I need to remember that I have a daughter who is prone to worrying--about things such as the existence of police who patrol messes. I did tell her I was kidding.

Below is a picture I took of Owen yesterday. He looks so sweet and innocent in this particular picture. He is almost 14-months-old. I am amazed and in love with the little boy he is turning into.

Below is another picture of Owen (taken yesterday also). If you look at Owen's face, you will see the mischievous expression he has. He gets this expression often. I think, when he makes this face....he sort of looks like "Chucky"(the character in those cheesy horror movies from the early 90's). Just saying. He is a sweet boy-- however, he can be sort of naughty. I am thinking this is the child that is going to keep me on my toes.

Yesterday at the park, Owen experienced sand for the first time. He was playing in the sand, when a curious little girl (about the same age as himself) crawled over to scope him out. The little girl looked sweetly at him and even patted his face gently. Owen picked up sand and threw it at her. I thought, oh he didn't mean to do that, which he didn't, but he did it again, and again, and again---with the same expression that he is sporting in the above photograph. YIKES: was what was written on the face of the little girl's father.

Jess got extended today,this means that he is not coming home like he is supposed to (tonight). He works one week on, one week off. He should be home tomorrow night instead. He stays busy while he is away at work; as he flies across the country numerous times during the week. Jess flies the fastest jet there is out there ( so I am told), besides some military planes. He is flying a jet that now has high speed internet on board. Crazy to think about. I could send him instant messages now if I wanted to---while he is flying, which he could receive at 45,000 feet in the air, but I won't, because I am worried he would get distracted and miss his destination.

I was talking to my dad on the phone tonight, I had a question to ask him about grilling steak. I had put some steaks into a marinade the other day, I needed to make sure that it was still okay to eat them; as the steaks had sat in the fridge for the last three days marinading. As I was talking to my father, I heard Hal and Keyton in an argument,which eventually escalated into a screaming match; as I checked on them I saw that there was toothpaste all over the floor of my main-floor bathroom. Why was Hal brushing her teeth before dinner, downstairs? This is the same question I asked my dad: his reply, "I do not know.....ha ha ha." As I was telling my dad about the mess my daughter had made, Owen made his way to Ruby's dog dish and proceeded to throw pieces of Ruby's dog food all over the mudroom. I told my dad, " Owen is in the dog food!", my dad's reply, " I think I will let you go, so you can take care of your kids. Ha ha ha!". Surprisingly the steak kabobs I made, turned out delicious.

It is now 11:27 p.m., which is way past the promise I had made myself just yesterday--- that I would start going to bed at 9:30 p.m. I think I will leave that gigantic mess until tomorrow.