Hello everyone!

Yes I'm home finally. Sorry its taken me so long to post, it's no excuse but i've been feeling pretty sick this past week. I don't know why but whenever I change time zones by a lot i get sick. Oh well, guess that's going to do me well in this job hehe. This week has been very nice, they give us a week off when we come home from deployment. Its nice just to rest and not fly so much. Though in between now and the next deployment i'll be going what they call tdy, it stands for temporary duty. I can go anywhere from alaska to australia, or from italy to hungary. Mostly tdy's last from 3 to 7 days. So I will still be busy flying around unfortunatly. I will be able to see some pretty cool places though I'll be missing out on some really fun family time.

Crys, as you have already seen, has been doing an amazing job raising and teaching Amber. She has changed so much, she's like a real person now. She doesn't just sit there and make noises every now and then. Now she is everywhere all the time. Luckily she's singing wherever she goes so we always know where she is. She's so tough too, she rarely cries because she has fallen down or something like that, but take away something she wanted or tell her no and she might shed a few tears. :( She's pretty freaking cute though.

Our dogs are as crazy as ever but we have them hooked up outside now which makes them and us much happier. Kodah is 85 pounds and 9 months old, he's the brawn. Jake is 65 pounds and 2 and a half years old, he's deffinetly the brains. Kodahs really sweet but really dumb, though he's starting to learn. Jakes a pretty good teacher. We did have to get Kodah a shock collar because when he's outside he has this annoying yappy bark. When he barks once is shocks him on low and for every bark after the first within 7 seconds the shock value will increase. He barked three times in a row before he realized what was going on and jumped straight into the air yelping. It was sad but you couldn't help but laugh because he was so "shocked" by it. (Yes that's a pun) He did it again a few times until he finally figured that if he wasn't barking he wasn't being shocked. Now we have a peaceful street again.

On the way back home we had 36 hours on the ground which was very nice. Most crews coming home get min-turned is what they call it. That means they have the minimum time on the ground before they have to take off again, which is 13 hours. Since we had they extra time we made use of it by spending a day in London. It was so much fun. We went to the Westminster Chapel, Big Ben, Parliament and we also road on The Eye. It was pretty amazing. The Eye if you didn't know (i didn't) is a gigantic ferris wheel from which you can see all of London. It was pretty amazing. The deployment definitely was not fun but the way home was.

Its very nice to be home and am not looking forward to the next time i have to go out which I will find out probably on Monday. I love you all.

Love Nick

Old-Timers Disease...

By the way Cheryl, I'm still waiting for that information I was tryng to get. Just didn't want you to think that I was not on top of it. How goes work? Is this a super busy time of year? Are you somewhat seasonal in scope or always goin' sixty? I was so pleased & proud to know what a big company you work for. I ecxpected it to be somewhat smaller but wow - was I surprised. Tell them I think you are due another raise for all that you put up with!! Hey Chris, I hope that your job is still going great with Panda Express. Garry has taken me there several times & I like their food. I think the Peking Cafe is still my favorite but that's because of multiple items for dinner plates. Do you have the same thing? I grew up on it, too, which makes a big difference! I never really looked at the menu for it - just got the same things that we always get because we like them the best. Good luck with school starting next week & keeping up with super grades this year, particuarly. You can do it! Hope your truck is running well. Stay cool & be all that you can be. We all have confidence in you!

Lots of love,

Mom & Garry

Greeting One & All!

Just a note or two from us before we watch a DVD of You've Got Mail. I've seen it sooooo many times & now Garry has, too, but he is going to read one of his books while I watch it again.

We are going to be starting our mission on the 13th now as most of you know instead of the 1st as we were first advised. We thought that we were just going in for some OJT before actually starting the 26th or 27th but they are counting from then, evidently. We are looking forward for a chance to serve & this should be a great opportunity. We have been told our responsibilities will be heavy duty - so that should keep us awake while at the computer!! There is a new program that the church has developed for the referrels I'll do & Garry had decided to put all the Missionaries on bikes, so no worries about cars!! Ha Ha.

It was good to be with each of you & look forward to seeing you again, soon. We do truly love each of you & hope that things smooth out in your lives for awhile . You've all been so brave with each of your ups & downs & we are looking forward to a little respite, aye? So grateful that both Dan & Michael came thru their surgeries soooo well. I'll get back in the saddle soon, & get some genalogy names in the computer to enable you to do any whenever you'd like. I've put a few names in on Garry's line that he recently gave to me. It feels so good.

Nick - it's great to have you back home - in the USA & in your sweet families' arms!!! How 'bout that big girl, Amber? Isn't she a trip? Crys, we will keep you in our prayers for Friday's surgery. It will go well & as it should, Sweetheart!

We hope you are having a wonderful time in Hungary, Utahna & Tom. We will take good care of Lexi & Cole, as will everyone else, I'm sure. Look forward to hearing all of the great details!

We love you all - each & every one!

Mom & Garry

He is REALLY on his way!!!

Just an FYI, Nick is REALLY on his way home. He left Qatar early this morning and should be landing in England sometime soon. He should be home Monday sometime. I'll let everyone know how it goes. Love you!

Crys

Update...as of 12:05 am

Ok...so latest update...as of 12:05 this morning. Nick is still coming home this weekend. But I am not holding my breath at all. I'll wait to hear from him in England and know that he's on his way! :) I love you all and hope things are going well. Oh...this afternoon Amber said her first word...other than Mommy. Too bad it was "NO!!!!" (while shaking her tiny little head!) It was so cute that I started laughing. But mind you, it's her first time. I know very soon it will be far from cute! Anyway, love you all...be happy!

Love, Crys

ANYONE...Anyone....anyone.....

HELLO....HELLO....HELLO.....
ANYONE OUT THERE?.....OUT THERE...OUT THERE....

I don't have anything interesting to say, but thought I'd say something anyway. This is the boys last week of summer break coming up. Elijah starts kindergarten! I think he is really going to like it and I think Isaac will enjoy some one on one time. Elijah will only be going 1/2 day, so I don't think Isaac will struggle to much. I'm going to be watching a kid on Monday's. That will give me a little play money. A massage here or a pedicure there. :) Good luck Crys, with the Biopsy and Nick getting home. Good luck Mom and Garry with your Service Mission. Good luck Utahna, getting ready for your FUN trip. Good luck Cheryl, with work.
Love-
Dori

Waddaya know? Two in a row! :)

Hello again, Family--

As you can see, I'm up late the night before the big day.  (or should I say early the SAME day).  I just wanted to thank you all for your love and support and for your prayers on my behalf.  I know it's going to be a tough summer, but I'll get through it and will be stronger because of it.  Thank you for your unwavering love and offers of support and encouragement.  I can't wait to see you, my sisters, next week either.  I hope I won't be too drugged up from the painkillers and will be decent company.  Notice I said 'company'; not hostess.  I promise I will 'chill' and not stress about what I or my house looks like when I see you!

Travel safely, Dori and Cheryl and families!  Crys, it was so good to see you and Amber today! What fun you all are going to have together next week. You travel safely to see Nick's family, too, Crys!  Mom, thanks for lunch and great to spend some time with you today, too.  Garry, hope the deck is near finished and you can relax and move onto your next project! :):)

Love you all!  I'll talk to you in a few days!!  Thanks for being my family!

xoxoxxo

Utahna