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Far too long again

I know. I know. I am working on this blogging thing. I think about it. But sitting down and doing something about it is a work in progress.

So here is what we have been up to lately.

We had out annual cider making fest with friends. It was sad not to have Seth there. And I spent the next three days trying to figure out how I could mail him some of the delicious cider and have it make it to him without going bad. I have yet to figure it out.

The apple crop was not as abundant this year as in past years, mostly because of late season winds and rains that knocked off most of the blossoms on the tree this year. But we were able to get enough apples to each take home a jug of the liquid gold.

Also at the beginning of this month, I was able to go on a little adventure to New Orleans and see Seth while he was on a four day (that really ended up being 5 days!!) leave. I traveled with some friends who also have husbands in the military, Mindy Lewis, Julie Christensen, and Katie Drollinger. We left early on a Saturday morning and arrived in New Orleans that evening, picked up our car rentals and drove to Hattiesburg MS, where we met up with our husbands waiting for us. We then ventured for the next few days to Vicksburg, MS, stopping at the Vicksburg Military National Park. We then drove to New Orleans for a two day stay, but on the way we did stop at the Baton Rouge Temple (didn't get to go, just walked around the grounds) and stopped at a haunted plantation, where we ate a delicious lunch and took a haunted tour of the house........no supernatural sightings....much to our dismay. New Orleans had DELICIOUS food! Our favorites were VooDoo BBQ, where we ate twice it was so good, and the other was Zea's Rotisserie, where we just kept ordering more food. Then it was farewell to the guys and we all headed home.

I think the second was goodbye was harder (for me) than the first. I don't think it helped that, until this trip, in the 11 years that Seth and I have been married, we have never been away just the two of us. Never. It was a great vacation.

So it has been a little more melancholy around here. We recently picked up the life-size cut out of Seth that Sign-O-Rama did for all the families of deploying soldiers, (for free) and Andrew and Calvin keep talking to "him" and kissing and hugging "him." They are taking turns having it in the room. Me? It keeps freaking me out a little. I keep catching it out of the corner of my eye, and makes me jump. We took it over to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner with us, and everyone made sure it was included in the days' events.

We got to all Skype with Seth on Thanksgiving, though it was a poor connection, we all got to get in a "hello" and "be safe."

A year has never sounded so long.

Making the most our time together.....

Knowing throughout this year that Seth was going to deploy, and our time was limited, we tried to make the most of all of it.

Earlier this spring we traveled down through Utah and saw the Harris clan in Cedar, and then over to California where we spent time with the Kohlers' and went to Disneyland with them. We were able to go to Lagoon this summer with the Severes' and then went on hikes and huckleberry picking with the Bjornns'. They boys went on hikes with Seth and Seth and I were able to go see friends and a show up in West to the Playmill. It was good times and I am so glad that we were able to make some really great memories. We are looking forward to doing all of it again in a year, when Seth comes back home to us.

Seth's deployment

So yes, Seth has deployed. At this point in time, it is a bit redundant information, but am blogging about it anyway.

A week ago Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Seth officially began his deployment to Iraq, by getting on a plane, leaving us in tears and waving goodbye. We woke up at 5:00 a.m. and drove to Idaho Falls airport. The streets were lined with American flags and yellow ribbons. There had to have been at least 4 blocks of them. It was very emotional as we watched, not just Seth, but other friends and their families being separated, they said goodbyes and boarded the plane. The airplane hanger where we waited and the soldiers checked in was packed and a bit chaotic. It was surreal. Though we had been preparing for that day for more than a year, it always felt like it was still a couple of weeks or at least days away. Mom and dad were there, as well as Seth's dad. We waited and watched till we couldn't see the plane in the air anymore. Then there was nothing left to do, but go home and try and maintain as normal a life as we could knowing what we did; that Seth and so many others were gone. At war.

The concept that this isn't just another drill weekend, or training he has gone to hits at funny times. Like when I am doing laundry and storing clothes away, rather than trying to get them washed and ironed for a regular work day when the weekend is over. It's getting texts, or phone calls I know won't last too much longer (As we don't really have an international calling plan)

But all in all, we are holding up alright. We pray a lot. Read scriptures a lot. And the love and support by so many family and friends is priceless. We couldn't do it without all you. And we don't! Your love and prayers are felt daily. Thank you for your continued concern and support. It really has made things far more bearable. It is still the beginning. We pray for a speedy end.

And then we will all celebrate at Disneyland. :)

My Apologies.....

Alright. I am going to take this time to apologize to the woman I told off today, and all of the witnesses in Albertsons. I will explain:

I was at the said store today to purchase some produce with my children in tow. I was trying to make it quick, with a promise of a pack of gum purchase as a reward for well behaved children. As I was at the self check out, both boys earned the coveted reward of selecting, and even scanning their little purchases. I was scanning my own items "with help" and trying to keep order so that the scanner knew which bar code to read and that Calvin's weight on the bagging scale was not actually anything I was lifting from the store, the chaos intensified as Calvin grew ever more frustrated that his pack of gum would not scan. Helping him, was the wrong move. I manipulated his hand around the pack of gum so his hand was not obscuring the bar code and could be read. He had a melt down.

Now in the wake of Seth's departure just 9 days earlier, and being overly tired, all emotions were running high. He flailed, and lashed out at me. I dodged and he tripped and fell.

Now my melt-down begins.

I picked him up and was focusing all my energies on maintaining what little cool I could. I zoned in on keeping my very tired emotions in check, I sat Calvin on the floor in front of the scanner in a "time-out."

He wailed louder.

I was attempting to find the produce number for the pineapple, (all of which came up "item unknown") and growing aware that we were drawing many looks, including that of the supervisor of the self checkout, though he made no move to assist me with the number for the pineapple. Calvin was screaming "DON'T LEAVE ME MOMMY!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!" despite my reassurances that I would not leave him, I loved him and was not going to leave him.

Now those of you that know me......well or just casually, know that I have a voice that carries like a foghorn on a ship in distress........I like to think that I just have really good projection, from "years of theatre training"......*ahem* so in spite of my attempt, and even feeling like, I was keeping my voice to a minimum, I have no doubt that I could be heard on the opposite end of the store.

At this moment, I noticed a woman, who gave me a very disgruntled look, and a "Pff!! Oh my gosh!"

To which I replied, "You know, my husband just left for deployment, and my children and I are still feeling the emotional effects from saying good-bye, so if the peanut gallery has some suggestions for me that doesn't include criticism or judgement, I'm all ears!"

Then the self-checkout attendant quickly put in the pineapple number, saving the store from anymore embarrassment, I paid, and departed. (with both children I will add.)

Now I am ashamed of 2 things here:

1. That I lost it that much and was so focused on my own frustration, I could have been telling off my best friend or mother, and not realized it, I was so blinded. And

2. I was so vindictive, I used Seth's leaving as an excuse to take my frustrations out on another. (No matter how justified I may have felt.....or perhaps still do)

So my apologies to that woman, and any other innocent by standers there may have been. Too bad I don't have pictures to add for this one......

Cider Season

A few weeks ago, we decided to get together with some of our friends and make some apple cider, from the apples on our trees. We got a bit of a late start and worked till after dark. We roasted hotdogs over the fire pit and had a lot of fun. Everyone chipped in. Even the kids helped pick the apples and cranking the press. We made almost 30 gallons of cider in about a 4 hour time frame.....that's a lot of cider. And we didn't even come close to using all of our apples!

Andrew had his Halloween carnival and went as Darth Maul and Calvin as a Clone. When he put his huge helmut on, he looked like a bobble head. Seth put on the Vader helmut and we had fun. No, I didn't go as Padma, or Leah or anyone else, unless you consider my carrying everyone's stuff, including Calvin's helmut and Calvin.....I could have gone as a pack mule. We did see a Princess Leah there though. A little girl from Andrew's class was went as the Star Wars Princess.

New Beginnings

Alright so I have not kept up my blog like I had intended to......or at all for that matter. But I am rededicating myself to the cause.....

So here is what is going on most recently in our lives.

Last August, in a bit of a spur of the moment decision, Seth began working with his dad in insurance and things are going well. The decision was made after some discussion of what would happen with current employment if he were to be deployed. (We were in a deployable year, so the question seemed more pertinent now that it had previously.) The idea had apparently been on both of our minds, and so when the discussion came up, we were way ahead on coming to a decision together. We felt that it was an answer to prayers and concerns about the possibility of deployment. Action was taken, and wouldn't you know, a week after things were under way, we got the fateful call. Seth's unit was a year out and officially "on alert." In other words; The military is required to give 365 days notice, before actual departure, so that affairs can be put in order. Their 365 day notice was given. Last Sunday, Seth and I attended a "Yellow Ribbon Meeting." It was 8 hours of sitting and listening to people tell us how to get ready for deployment, and how to support your soldier, before, during, and after a deployment. And how to get all our affairs in order; health insurance, life insurance, wills, finances, power of attorney, bla, bla bla. Amidst the death by powerpoint presentations, it was also depressing. BUT!!! We are trying to stay positive. We knew this was a possibility way back when he joined......I mean he DID join in wartime. And that this is what he was training to do. And there is always a chance (a very small one, but still a glimmer of one) that he may not go. So no need to stress over something that may not happen. And we know that Seth did the right thing by joining. There has never been the hint of hesitation on that topic with either of us EVER. We knew this is what we needed to do. Therefore, the Lord will watch over us. Seth is way awesome about it. He feels honored for the opportunity and feels that there is a lot of good that he can do. And I can't disagree. Seth is a positive influence where ever he goes and with whomever he meets.

As for me, I am keeping myself busy. I have my many projects. My latest being vinyl cutting. It has been fun, and somewhat profitable. If there is anything that anyone wants done, let me know. I also drive car pools.....it seems all day, everyday. Seth and I teach the CTR 5 and 6 year old class in church, and we have the sweetest class. We are partial to that Andrew Myers boy that is in our class..... Last Spring I had the great and amazing opportunity to be in John Bidwell's final BYU-I show. He was directing his favorite play, The Rainmaker by N Richard Nash. John had directed it in 1993, and when I saw the show, the part of Lizzie Curry became a dream role. So when I heard he was going to direct that as his last show, AND had asked my dad to come out of retirement to design the set (which he had done for John in 1993, and is one of my favorite sets he had done) I was determined to take out anyone in my way to get the part. Gratefully I wasn't required to go to such dramatic lengths. It was such an amazing experience and we had the best cast. I have never worked so hard, or been pushed out of my comfort zone so far, as with this part. But like with most things, the things that come the hardest, are also the things that are most worth it. It was John's final show, with an amazing set that my dad designed, and, I was blessed to be in it. I got to fulfill my dream of playing Lizzie, and she is easily one of my favorite roles and The Rainmaker one of my favorite plays. Seth was so supportive and encouraging. I couldn't have done it without him. And I feel especially blessed to have someone, that knew how much this show and part meant to me, and I think was more excited for me do get the part, than I was. I am so grateful to him!!!! What an amazing husband I have!!! Now that that is over, I am doing the mom thing and trying to start getting all the things talked about in that Yellow Ribbon meeting taken care of. Gratefully some we already had covered, because it is exhausting. I am blessed to stay home and take care of my family. I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Andrew is 6 and in 1st grade!!! It is so amazing how fast time flies! He is reading on a fourth grade level, and picks up on things so fast, it's hard to keep up with him so he doesn't get bored and lose interest. He is taking piano lessons, and tae kwon do. He LOVES piano, and has a love/hate relationship with tae kwon do. It depends on the day. He is a good example to Calvin and teaches him everything.......including everything Star Wars. My boys are obsessed with it. More so Calvin I think, but it is Attack of the Clones at our house. We are swarmed with clones. Clone costumes, helmets, masks, action figures, guns, coloring books, story books, posters, cartoons, Lego's, cards,......you name it, we got it. It is eat, breathe, sleep clones and Star Wars.

Calvin just turned 3 a few weeks ago, and lives up to his name. He even carries a stripped kitty around with him, and can't go without. His love for Star Wars is only to be matched by his love for his stripped kitty and his "silky" (a blanket that is fuzzy on one side and satin on the other) He broke his right arm last Jan. Ironically only 2 hours after Seth left for a drill, he fell and cried so hard (something that he rarely does) that I knew something was wrong I just didn't know what. When I tried putting his pj's on, and took hold of his arm, he screamed in pain, and I knew. I texted Seth a picture of a tired and delirious Calvin with his arm in a cast. He texted back asking if the picture was real. (It did look like Calvin had on a paper towel roll on his arm) Only 2 weeks later, I left for Cali to help my sister with her kids, and the night I left I got a text from Seth; A picture of Calvin in a hospital room with BOTH arms cast. He was climbing up the bunk beds in the dark and fell. He knew what happened and told Seth "Ahm Bowken." Sure enough, my dad ran over to sit with a sleeping Andrew (bless my wonderful parents) so Seth could take Calvin to the ER. I texted back asking if the picture were real. It just didn't seem possible. I had been gone for 6 hours. When the first cast came off 6 weeks later, Calvin went through withdrawals, and would put socks on his hand and arm. He would even choose socks the color of the previous of current cast. It went on for about 3 weeks after the second cast was removed. The following summer, I had put him to bed and after going in a few times to settle him and Andrew down, laid down on the couch and started dozing. I awoke suddenly to someone trying to get in the front door, but it was locked. Wondering who in the world would be trying to get in the house without knocking, I got up to look, and saw a small figure going down the steps and turning like he was going for the side door. I opened it to find Calvin, in his pj's in the pitch black running around. He had climbed out his window, and had managed to climb over the deep window well just below it, and had been running around for I don't know how long outside. Calvin still climbs everything, and bounces off the walls, and is into everything. He sees every attempt to keep him out of things, as a challenge. I have laid down the gauntlet, and he will divide and conquer. He is a ball of energy. He is going to preschool and his best friend and parter in crime is our neighbor across the street Kyler. There is usually mischief going on at some point with them. I don't need things like Brain Age to keep my mind sharp. All the conspiracies my boys come up with keep me on my toes. I love it.

So I am determined to be better at this. So stay tuned to more Misadventures of the Myers Mob.