When you chance to meet a frown-

Daddy Help Me!

I seem to have lost my smile since you left. Little things just make me so mad and my "stink face" has been showing up a lot.

Ryker's personality has taken Rhett's deployment especially hard. It breaks my heart when he just melts down in tears for Daddy. I wish I could do something to help him. I have started to let him carry around his daddy doll more lately and I can only hope that it will change back when Rhett gets back in a week.

He wakes up crying for Daddy at night and we have made countless 2:00 a.m. phone calls to get him calmed down. That has been nice with his training that the time difference he is awake and able to calm down his son.

Ryker has ALWAYS been a daddies boy and we will be okay, but right now he is expressing himself with his angry face more often than not. I am trying to stay calm and in charge while still being comforting to him while he is confused as to why Daddy doesn't just come home. I have high hopes for the next 7 months that we will be able to figure something out. :) But for now I will just have to learn to enjoy this handsome new facial expression he has come to own. lol

Oh and the kid can throw a tantrum like no ones business! This one was over getting his own bag of cotton candy at the derby fest. I bought 2 bags for the little boys to share which in my opinion is 2 bags too many when you're married to a dentist, but that wasn't enough for Ryker. He wanted his own. I stood my ground and was only slightly embarrassed as people stared at me like I'm the worst Mom ever. I even had someone offer to buy him his own bag. I politely declined, thanking them but letting them know it wasn't about the money.

 I am still getting used to doing things by myself and can honestly say that the nights I end up in bed in tears are getting less. I am not saying any of this to make anyone feel bad for our situation because honestly this is MILITARY life, but I just need to vent for a second. THIS IS HARDER THAN I WANTED IT TO BE! I will always be more aware of the sacrifices the military has given me and have a new found knowledge of the beautiful families that stand behind all of those brave soldiers! I had the honor to go to the deployed spouses dinner and enjoyed seeing that I am by no means alone in this endeavor. I also have had many blessings come to me in terms of service. My neighbors went out and mowed my lawn the other day. I also bought a basketball hoop for the little boys and went out to put it together. I was struggling and near tears and I cursed all the little things I have taken for granted that Rhett does. As I struggled... two guys in uniform came over and quietly took the tools from my hand and without saying a word took over my job of setting up the basketball hoop, but it didn't stop there. After they got it all set up and secured it with sand bags they grabbed the basketballs and played with my little boys who are so deprived of male attention right now. I broke down with gratitude as I went to bed thinking of how lucky I am to know such great people. I AM BLESSED! I have had countless offers to babysit. The military sticks together and I am so grateful that they have taken me under their wing and know if I need anything I only need to ask. Sometimes.... I don't even have to ask- people just seem to know! 

Anyway, enough of that! :) We are all doing well and are looking forward to Rhett coming home to out process before he leaves for good. It will be a month of bliss! 

My package finally came-

Two and a half months ago I woke up one morning and was freezing. I opened my drawers looking for a pair of pants and everything I tried on was complete trash. I then hopped on the internet and was excited to see a kohls coupon. I was so excited to get some new clothes. Well, fast forward to yesterday.... two and a half months since I ordered it. I got my package. I only wish I had thought ahead and ordered shorts instead of pants. Oops! Oh well, I will be ready to wear these babies in seven months when it actually gets cold enough again! Lesson learned- kohls ships super slow to APO. 

Anyway, the babies always get so excited for packages so they offered to take it inside for me.

It took them nearly as long to get it in the house as it took kohls to ship it here. lol

Fukushen Garden-

A few weekends before Rhett left I got down on my knees and BEGGED to go to Fukushen Garden. It was a little chilly and the kids were being a lot buggy and honestly we just needed to get away for the day. I made a big breakfast and skipped out on dishes so that we all had full bellies. That is one thing that I've learned- when I take the time to do the dishes they are all hungry again when I finish. 

Anyway, we were off. We had a ball playing near the waterfall and walking around this beautiful garden.

Isn't this place gorgeous?!?

They had all these fun little trails around the waterfall. The kids had the most fun just running and seeing where they would end up. We did have one little mishap where Ryker got lost and started crying. We found him though and gave him extra cuddles to calm him down.

Taylor's favorite part was going right behind the waterfall. It was so hilarious to him that he was "in" the waterfall.

 Daddy strolled up to the top to see the view.

Then, he spotted this guy and had to give it a try. lol. It was so funny because then all the little boys had to try to do the pose.

It was a lot of fun playing at the garden and I am so glad that we took the time to do this together. It was nice to just hold hands with Rhett and enjoy a few minutes of quiet while the kids ran and played beside us. It was one of those moments where you just think.... This is the life!

My favorite boys across the water from me!

 We spotted some really AWESOME trees on the way back to the car and knew we just needed to climb them for awhile. My boys are REALLY into climbing trees right now and I can spot them at least 5 times a day out in our tree. It would make a great treehouse. I love that they love the outdoors. It is so much nicer than them always playing video games.

While most of us were climbing the tree I glanced over to this. He cracks me up so much, but who wouldn't want to stop and dance with a beautiful girl? Thanks for always making me laugh Rhett. I miss you!

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

We miss you so much so Mom said we can write you a letter to tell you about everything we have been doing.

We have really been enjoying the outside weather lately. It is so fun to go outside and ride our scooters, climb the tree, or just jump on the trampoline. Mommy loves to bring out her kindle and watch us play even though she says it's really hard to read when we want her to watch us all the time. We still love bug hunting and we love to squirt all the bees with our squirt guns. Hunter stepped on a bee the other day though and it HURT! He cried and cried. We called him a girl and laughed. He stopped crying after snuggling Mommy for a little bit.

Taylor and Carter are busy playing basketball.... pictures to come soon from this. We are really getting good Dad. I got 2 rebounds and made a shot at my last game. (Carter) I dribbled it down and got the ball 2 times Daddy. (Taylor) He also got knocked down several times and Mommy got mad. She yelled at the ref that they were playing basketball not football and made another Mommy mad. 

We really miss you Daddy and sometimes we think you're here. The other day we were coming home from the babysitters and saw your car and got so excited. We forgot that we dropped you off at the airport until Mommy said you still weren't home. We miss you the most at night time. Mommy sometimes gets annoyed when we ask for 35 drinks of water or to go to the bathroom 5 times, but not you. You always let us come out and give you extra snuggles. Mommy also said that we can't buy donuts everyday. She is so mean, but don't worry Daddy we make sure to tell her that she is mean and that we love you the best. She tries to fake crying to get us to change our minds, but we just laugh and laugh. She is so funny.

We had a camp out the other night in the living room because it was so rainy. It was lots of fun to play games and watch movies so late at night. The next day we were extra grumpy and Mom said, "No more late nights." She is not a very nice Mommy. 

She is trying to do everything you told her to do though. She has been taking us to basketball and besides when Hunter fell off the top bleacher we have all survived it. 

Sometimes when we are really missing you she does fun stuff with us like tickle time, pillow fights, and playing basketball on the trampoline. She is actually a pretty good shot and almost always wins when we play pig. We can tell that she misses you a lot. She has a hard time sleeping without you so and we can hear her cleaning at night. We offered to come and sleep with her, but she was sunburned and we just ended up hurting her in the night. Now she says we have to sleep in our own beds. 

We love you Daddy! We can't wait to see you in a few weeks and lets skype again. We love to see your face on the computer. It is so funny. We love to put our faces super close to the camera so you can see us really well.

We have attached some pictures so you can see what we have been up to! 

You took our little phone so we are learning to share. We like to play the games together. Sometimes we fight over it, but then Mommy takes it away so we are starting to share better.

Mommy bought us a basketball hoop and put it by the trampoline so that we can make a basket. We practice almost everyday and love to play with all the friends.

I'm so good I can even dunk it!

(Carter)

 We like to play on the bleachers while the big boys are at practice! Look how silly we can be.

Hunter scared Mommy to death when he fell off. He popped right back up though and after a few hugs felt better!

She even let us put soap and make the trampoline super slippery. We had so much fun in the sprinkler.

Mommy had a rule that no one could pick up the sprinkler, but I did it anyway to squirt Carter and Taylor. They got so mad, but I just laughed and laughed..... until-

She put me in time out.

That is pretty much all that we have been up to while you have been gone. We love calling you everyday and love when Mommy goes through pictures with us. Come home soon Dad. We miss you!

Love, 

Your little boys!

Carter's Baptism

I am literally in tears as I write this post. If you read the post from last week my computer crashed. I thought I had lost all of these pictures from his special day and I seriously could not be happier that the apple store was able to save them. I will try to remember this when I get the bill. lol.

Anyway, Carter had the opportunity to be baptized April 1st at Toguchi Beach. He was quite the trooper as the water is still a bit chilly. We had a wonderful program and then Carter was welcomed as the newest member of the branch. It is hard to be so far from home and family, but we have the most fantastic branch and felt the love of all the people that came to celebrate this great moment with Carter.

A few pictures with Mommy and Daddy before heading to the beach-

 

We then, took a few pictures after Mommy set up all the refreshments. 

The whole Olsen Family. 

Carter I just want to take a moment to tell you how proud of you I am. You have made a great decision and I know your Heavenly Father was smiling down on you that day. 

You are such a blessing to our lives and am so happy you're in our family. Keep your head up and choose the right. I love you kiddo.

Carter was given a very special jar to collect some sand and shells to remember this special day. Taylor and the babies searched high and low for the very best shells to add to his collection. Taylor was really mad at Rhett when he said he couldn't take his junk home. lol.   

Brother Wilson is Carter's scout leader and has been a big impact on Carter's life.  

What a handsome boy. 

Here is our some of our branch family that was able to share in Carter's special day. Thank you all for being there and showing your love for our family when we are away from home. We LOVE this branch!