Trip to Utah: Riley's Farewell

Ahhh Jordan! That man is sure fond of surprises. At his insistence, we secretly booked flights back to Utah in order to attend my youngest brother-in-law's missionary farewell. Elder Riley Gisseman has been called by the Lord to serve the people in the Netherlands/Belgium mission. He will leave his family and his home for two years to share his testimony of Jesus Christ and to help bring them happiness by declaring there is a Savior who died for us and because of Him, we can return to live with Him again in Heaven if we follow the Way the Savior has set for us. I am beyond amazed and humbled at what this young guy is giving up as he leaves everything he knows and puts his faith in Heavenly Father, that he will be taken care of, and that he will find people willing to listen to his message of glad tidings.

Since Jordan could only come for a couple days, I felt like it would be more worth it for the kids and me if I stayed a week, splitting the time in half with my family and my in-laws. This is the second trip I've taken with two kids by myself and I was more than a little nervous. It was an evening flight and my first flight out of San Antonio was delayed by an hour. The kids were spectacular on the flight, but we had to run from one gate to the next to make it to our connecting flight (which they were holding for us). It was pretty stressful, but once we were on, both of the kids fell asleep and we soon landed in Salt Lake City. I am nearly convinced that there are fewer problems on morning flights and I've vowed that next time, even if it's an early morning (I shudder at the thought) flight, that I'm going to try that instead.
My parents picked us up at the airport and we headed back to my home in Ogden. My parents were in the middle of renovations and it was fun to see the improvements that were happening. I'm so excited to go back again and see how the house has changed! My parents so deserve this!
I hung out with my sister Nicole and we took the two girl cousins to Tona (an AMAZING sushi restaurant where my oldest sister Chantelle happens to be the manager), and then to the Treehouse Children's Museum, where the girls had a blast running around together.
We went over to Chantelle's new house in the evening and had fajitas that she whipped together. It was so nice touring her new home and seeing how happy she and her family were living there. They were also due for an upgrade!
The next day we took the kids swimming at a public pool and wore them out nice and good! I loved playing with Lily and Olivia! Those girls adore each other and I love seeing all the cousins play together! They all love to hold Romney and they make Olivia feel so big and important! I'm so grateful that they could have time together and for the insta-friends Romm and Olivia have with their cousins! Unfortunately, I couldn't take too many photos because my phone battery is on it's last life and pretty much has to be plugged into the wall at all times. :(
On the last day, I went out with my Mom to Farmington Station for some shopping. We had some Costa Vida and tried The Baked Bear (a delectable ice cream cookie sandwich shop). We rushed back home and picked up my Dad so we could all go out to the Lodge at Maddox together where I had a savory filet mignon steak and soft, buttery rolls. (Can you tell we're big foodies in this family)?
Back at my sister Chantelle's home, we had cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday" to Olivia since her 5-year-old birthday was only days away. They gave her a super soft, luxurious pink blanket and a hip cat pillow. This girl is definitely spoiled by her aunts and uncles and grandparents!

 Romney LOVED Bear! But most of all he reveled in riding him like a Stallion! Bear's such a sweet dog for allowing Romney to fulfill his dream of becoming a true Texan Cowboy.

 Brent and Romney were pretty much best buds on this trip. Brent may look a little tuff, but he's a big softy when these babes come around! 

 At Maddox with the family! Sorry you couldn't be there Nicole, but thanks for suggesting we go so I could finally share in this deliciousness! 

She sure is loved! 

That night, Jordan flew into SLC Airport where Jake, his brother, picked him up, clandestinely, and took him back home where he walked into his parents' bedroom and surprised them! There was screaming and hugging and crying (so I'm told) and everyone was thrilled by his arrival. Truly, Jordan knows how to make a big surprise. We were so happy we could make this work out and that we could be here to support our family.  The next day, I came over to the Gisseman home and got to be there for Riley's open house! It was a big affair and he had so much support from family and friends and neighbors. Holli and Dave served Belgian waffles in his honor and they were gobbled up! Riley is loved deeply and I know there will be many prayers said for his safety while away and for a safe return home in two years. I'm so grateful for Brittany Palmer, the woman behind the camera, who captures such beautiful moments! These picture don't show the half of the people that came to support Riley.

 Incredible support from his friends! 

 Jake is solid. You want this guy on your side! He's loyal to a fault.

 Brothers AND Pals = Recipe for success!

 These guys have been through thick and thin together. Daniel Bytheway will be serving a mission in Peru!

We went to Riley's farewell address on Sunday and he spoke like an experienced missionary! He thanked his family for their love and support and sacrifices and then after, his whole extended family came over for cookies and to say goodbye one more time. This part of the trip had been especially emotional for all of us as we realized that we wouldn't be seeing him for a long time. Jordan asked Riley to give him a blessing and Riley complied. There was a sweet spirit in the room as the youngest brother laid his hands upon his eldest brother's head and spoke in the name of the Lord. Words were spoken of Jordan doing well in his residency and being a good father and husband. They said a tender goodbye and I took Jordan back to the airport with his parents, while I stayed back in Utah for a couple more days. We played games in the evening and had a nice time being a family.
The next day was a state holiday (Pioneer Day). We went to support Grandma Goosie, as she walked the 10K for the 5th year in a row at 85 and a half! It was a little scary as she crossed the finish line and she was leaning heavily to one side, being supported by her daughter, but she made it through and she's healthy and A-OK. This will very likely be her last year walking and I can't believe how strong and determined she is! She's a powerful lady and the sweetest person you'll ever meet! I'm so glad I get to call her mine!
We went swimming with the extended family at Randy and Deb's pool and the kids really enjoyed themselves! Olivia even refused to get out of the pool because she knew she wouldn't be coming back for a while and she didn't want the fun to stop. I can't blame her!
Dave and Holli took the kids and me out to dinner and Olivia was able to watch some fireworks being set off at the neighbor's house! She and Doniel (the neighbor boy) are thick as thieves and they love seeing each other when Olivia comes into town!
The next day we packed up, stopped by to see Grandma Goosie once more, played outside and drew on the table with water with Dallin while we waited for our ride to the airport, then hopped in the car and drove away. Holli, Dave, and Riley took us through the check-in line (which was crazy long), and we said our tearful goodbyes. Olivia was most distressed and cried all the way through security. Every now and then she'd get a little choked up as she thought about leaving her Utah family. She loves with all her heart! I love that little girl of mine!
On both flights, I met extremely nice people who helped me out! I've met WAY more nice people than mean people at airports (I'm ecstatic to report) and I couldn't travel alone without the help of these friendly strangers. People hold my baby for me, get things out of bags for me, play with my kids, help me through security, grab my stroller for me, among other things! It warms my heart to come into contact with so many nice people!
On our last flight during the descent, the flight attendant announced that it was Olivia's birthday and that she was turning 5! We got in at midnight on her birthday! The attendant had us all turn on our assistance lights, and then we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her and they even made her a little cake out of pretzel bags! It was too cute and so considerate and I'm sad to say Olivia slept through the WHOLE THING! That girl wouldn't wake up if there were jets flying right next to her ears! She is the heaviest sleeper I've ever known.
Jordan picked us up from the airport and we went home! It was so nice to see Jordan again, even though we'd only been apart for a couple days. I'm just not complete without him. Everything is truly better when we're together! He helped me put the kids to bed, then I worked on decorating the house for Olivia's birthday (even though it was past midnight), because I'm crazy like that! Romney had jet lag, so he stayed up until 2:40 a.m. with me until I was done decorating, and then I insisted that playtime was over and he HAD to go to sleep now. I'll talk more about Olivia's birthday in my next blog post!
I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to return back to Utah. I felt the bonds of family so strong and I truly am lucky and blessed with the family and friends that God has put in my life. It was a nice, but short, trip and I can't wait to see their faces again! God speed Elder Gisseman and bless you on your journey! We love you! You have matured and grown so much and I can't wait to see the person you grow into on your mission! You will be an incredible missionary!

 Goosie coming to the end of the Race! 1st and only in her age group! 

 Grandma Holli will go wherever this girl asks her, even into tiny houses.

 These kids adore Dallin and Caitie! 

Cousin buddies Olivia and Brindslee! I loved hearing them play mermaids and half the game was them describing what their hair and tails looked like! 

 

Nothing better than a snooze and books with Grandpa! 

Time for Grandpa's nails to be done again! He waits for Olivia to come because she's the best nail stylist. 

 Riley gave Romney the bib and Olivia a Jazz stuffed Hedgehog! He's so thoughtful! 

 We had the row all to ourselves! A rarity and a treat! Romney slept in the middle the WHOLE TIME! 

Romney is 8 months and family update/4th of July!

This boy turned 8 months old two days ago! He has his two front bottom teeth (which is all he wanted for Christmas, so I'm off the hook ;) and he is starting to pull himself up from a sitting to standing position using the furniture. He loves to scream and babble and he just started waving yesterday, but alas, I cannot get a picture of it. He loves playing with his sister and following us around the house scooting. He has started to bear-crawl and is still just a generally happy guy! In the pool he's a born fish and is already learning how to blow bubbles. He pretend-swims everywhere in the pool, especially when he sees the cute lifeguards. He's such a big flirt! He's the life of the party and we love having him around! Love you Romney!

We had a great 4th of July celebration this year! We went to our church pancake breakfast in the morning, then got to listen to a Patriotic concert, then walked over to the Windcrest parade. It was too hot to stay at the festival, so we went home and got ready for our BBQ with friends. I made crock pot baked beans and a beautiful berry trifle.

We went over to the Anderson's and let the kids play in the kiddie pool in the backyard all afternoon and they had a blast! Jordan particularly loved filling Romney's swimsuit up with water balloons, which gave us all a good laugh! We played games, watched fireworks from the backyard, played with pop-its and glowsticks, and had lots and lots of yummy food. It was all very patriotic and American. We sure love this country and love getting together with our friends! I wish I had more pictures of the day, but my phone battery is ridiculous and died on me :(

As for family updates, Jordan did his first 24-hour shift and got to deliver 2 babies on his own. During this month he's been on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, which we call REI. He loves to joke about how he gets to impregnate other women haha. Here's a picture of him leaving for his first day of work (he has to wear either his combat uniform or his Army work out clothes to go into work):

At the end of the month he'll switch to Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). He's got a really busy first half of his intern year and we're trying to take it in stride. I've already set myself up for disappointment once and I'm quickly realizing that I should just NEVER expect Jordan to be home early or to make it to events, and if he is there then wonderful! It's just the kids and me a lot these days, which is cool, because they are fun to be with most of the time. 

Olivia is turning 5 THIS MONTH! Where does the time go?!!!! I can't get over the fact that she'll be starting kindergarten next month!!! She's also looking forward to starting ballet/tap next month. She's been doing swim lessons and moved up a level, which means she's in a different class now! I'm so proud of her! Her swim teachers love her and tell me that she is very attentive, asks great questions, and is amazing at following directions. It only took her three classes to advance! She got to ring the bell and got a medal and a coupon to the swim store. She kept asking me when it would be her turn to ring the bell and I'm glad her hard work has paid off! She just went to her annual check up and she's doing great! She's 50% for weight and 22% for height. She's going to be a shorty, but that's ok! As long as she's taller than me! Really only time will tell.  

As for me, I've been hitting workout goals and weight loss goals this week and eating healthier, so I'm very proud of myself! Working out hasn't been as hard for me as eating healthy. I always feel like if I cut back on food that I'm somehow hurting myself or chaining myself down. It's hard to stay in control of my eating habits, but I've finally captured "THE SPARK" again and I'm holding on for dear life. One day, one choice at a time. I truly want to eat healthy, but I get it into my mind that I should be able to eat whatever I want and however much of it I want and then I lose all of my self-control. I'm grateful to have THE SPARK back in my life. 

I've also been called to be the second counselor in Relief Society in my church, and that deals a lot with planning activities and teaching. Thank GOODNESS for PINTEREST because I am so NOT good at coming up with creative ideas. This new calling is overwhelming, but it gives me a good challenge in my life, which keeps me busy and out of trouble. I'm grateful and humbled to be serving my sisters in the ward. I know this will help me to get to know others quickly, which I desperately need. 

Unfortunately, I've also been dealing with back pain and it's been really debilitating. I had to sit and rest for two days and could only pick Romney up if I squatted down. Luckly, the pain has gotten more tolerable, but it hasn't subsided completely, so I finally went to see the doctor about it and get some professional help. Man, I feel old!!! Don't give out on me yet, body!!!

I'm also starting a book group at the end of this month and I can't wait! I've missed having people to talk to about books and I can't wait to hear all the suggestions! 

Well, that's all for now, but I do have a little surprise for you: 

Kiddo Update

Olivia is so much fun these days! She is constantly writing words down and especially loves to take a notebook to the store so she can write new words. She gets mad at me if I try to move away from the aisle where she's copying a word. She has the biggest imagination and it's quite hilarious. She is married to a giant stuffed chicken whom she calls "Chicky" and she has many children. Her baby doll is now named "Dolphin" and her bunny is named "Flower". Her favorite show to watch is "Phineas and Ferb" and her favorite songs to sing at bedtime are "Book of Mormon Stories" and "Nephi's Courage." Her favorite food is pizza and her favorite colors are red, pink, and purple. She is so witty and sassy and I am really enjoying this stage right now. She's super helpful and has a desire to please people and do nice things for them. She has just started swim lessons again and is already 3 levels into her age group. It amazes me how well she listens to other people when they're trying to teach her something. We've also decided to put her back in ballet/tap dancing in the fall. She really loves playing with her brother. I know it won't always be like this, but I'm always going to remind them how much they loved each other when they start fighting. I'm glad I have proof of their friendship because I know I'm going to need it one day. Olivia is quickly making friends here in San Antonio and my little social butterfly couldn't be happier about that.

Romney is 7 months now! He started scooting at 6 months and he is so fast! Today he started crawling on his knees and he also pulled himself up to a standing position from a sitting position! I'm practically crying for someone to give me my baby back! He loves to eat baby food. He loves sweet potatoes, but he's not so keen on peas and green beans. He is happiest when he is playing with his sister. He can't fall asleep without his muslin blanket. He has started giving sloppy wet kisses and I've been teaching him sign language, which he is starting to respond to. The other day I was talking to someone and he laid his head on my shoulder like he was saying, "this is my mom, I love her." I love his little personality and I love how affectionate he is. It warms my heart to see how much these kids love each other and I I'm so glad I get to be their mom. These kids give me a lot to smile and laugh about.

Jordan's Graduation/Commissioning Ceremony

Paging Dr. Gisseman!!! Captain, iceberg ahead! 

It's crazy that Jordan received two titles in one day. After we moved to San Antonio, we headed back to Houston to hammer that last nail in the coffin and attend his commissioning and graduation ceremony. Both sets of parents came from Utah and we had such a good time hanging out! We felt incredibly blessed that our parents could be here to celebrate such a huge life event. The kids loved having their grandparents around and we loved showing off our new home and new town. I won't talk much about the visit, as I want to dedicate this blog to the details of this day celebrating Jordan.

The morning of his commissioning we went to get kolaches and then headed back to get ready. I ran to Dollar Tree and made him a candy bar lei. The parents were awesome at helping to get the kids ready and then suddenly we were running out of the hotel room so we wouldn't be late to Jordan's commissioning. We got there right on time (as if they could start without us) and I was taken aback by how many people were in attendance. Baylor's PR department were all set up and taking pictures and assuring us they would send us videos of the the commissioning. A friend of mine sent me a screenshot of Baylor's instragram newsfeed with Jordan as the headline. He was the star of the day! 

Dr. Porea, who was Jordan's military advisor, spoke at his commissioning and swore him in with this Oath of Office. Dr. Alicia Monroe, Dr. Klotman (the president of Baylor), and Chief of Staff at the VA hospital Dr. Kalavar all spoke. 

Of all the speeches I heard, the most memorable excerpt said that although Jordan was now a captain, he needed to gain the respect of those that have been in the Army and that may be his subordinates, but have been in the Army much longer than him. I have gained a much deeper respect for the military and especially for those who enlist in the Army just to serve our country. This was what had drawn Jordan to serve in the military initially and all the perks of the scholarship just helped him leap into it. Since we've moved to San Antonio, I have met a lot more people in the military and my love for this community has only grown. We may be sacrificing a lot to be in the military, but there are many who have sacrificed so much more than us and we are humbled to be around so many awesome people. 

Another speech spoke about the sacrifice we, as a family, had made allowing Jordan to serve in the military and as a doctor. It was nice to be recognized and I won't lie: there have been some hard times already with Jordan not around and I have a lot I need to learn to be self-reliant and independent. I'm so glad I'm around a lot of ladies who have had to learn these things already. 

Anyway, back to Jordan....The commissioning ceremony was so nice and they even had a nice cake afterwards. It was a whole affair, and I felt honored to be apart of the fanfare. 

When the commissioning was over we headed out to The Original Ninfa's for some amazing Mexican food, and then off to graduation. The kids were great and it was so satisfactory to see Jordan walk across the stage and recite the Hippocratic Oath. The day was a wonderful tribute to all the hard work Jordan has put in the last four years and thank goodness it's over! I'm so excited for this next stage of our lives together. 

Jordan has always striven to put family first. He does every menial task I pile on him when he gets home and he is so great at playing with the kids. I know he is going to be an incredible doctor and an honorable soldier. He is also a really good husband! I am so lucky to have him and I'm glad I can write this post before Father's Day to honor him. 

 

Moving to our new home!

Since we moved with the military, they hooked us up with a full-service move, which was great since after we came home from California, we only had a week to prepare. We had to take all the decorations off of the walls and take apart all of the electronic items. First, we were told that they were coming for two days, then we were told they were only coming on the last day to pack and load the truck, then we got a phone call the day before they were supposed to come and they said they were outside waiting to come and pack us up! It was crazy! I threw myself out of bed and into action! Thank goodness we had prepared almost everything to be moved already, but it was still chaotic. It wasn't a terrible experience and I was really grateful for all of those people who reached out and offered to help. We got to sleep on our bed that night and then the next day they loaded the truck. It was weird to see all of our stuff in towers of boxes and trying to still live in a place that was basically lifeless.

The next day they loaded all of the boxes into the truck and I cleaned the rooms as they cleared boxes. Although we weren't supposed to be out of the apartment until the next day, we were done cleaning the apartment by late afternoon and we were itching to get to our new home. We convinced our apartment to let us leave a day early, then we were out of there! We got to our new place in the evening and walking in to our new home felt so good! Our real estate agent was there to greet us and give us our keys and then we were alone in our new home. Empty though it was, it looked better than I remembered and it felt better too. The first couple days it felt like we were invaders in a home that belonged to someone else, but we met some of our neighbors and soon we started to feel like this is where we belonged. We made countless trips to Home Depot, At Home, Walmart, and Target to get our house ready. There was a lot to do and I was grateful for the five days we had without our stuff so we could settle in before the movers came. It wasn't the greatest experience sleeping on an air mattress for those five days, but we survived! 

Our dog Loki loves the squirrels he is constantly chasing and jumping after. Our cat Stella is eager to make a break for it the first chance we aren't watching her and sneaking onto the couches. Olivia loves running around in the sprinklers and swimming in our HOA pool. She loves coloring with chalk on the patio and having her own room again. Romney loves it when I open the blinds next to the changing table and (right on time) has started scooting EVERYWHERE like he has a motor attached to his bum. He is super fast! I've already had to baby-proof the house! I love watching the lightning storms in the backyard and dreaming about what we'll plant in the future. Jordan loves the new grill his parents bought him and loves fixing all the things in the house and dreaming about future home improvements. I think we all LOVE the abundant space of our new home. If there's one thing that has made us feel better about our move, it's having such a nice home to move into and the fact that I can find EVERYTHING I need on one street. It's been really easy learning to find my way around, which, if you know me, I have a terrible sense of direction and learning new places makes me nervous! Thank goodness for Google Maps! It has saved me so many times! 

Our new church has been so welcoming and we truly feel like we are where we are supposed to be. Transitions are always hard, but I know that soon we will make San Antonio our home, just like Houston.