Once bitten, twice shy

I chose to believe that when Ferber came back from his last deployment that he was home for good. In my brain I knew that wasn't right, but I let my heart believe it. I guess it was just easier that way.

Here we are again. Although this deployment isn't for as long, it's just as hard. For some reason I thought it would be easier. I don't have a clue why I thought it was going to be, but I did.

We had supper with Tracy and Ferber last Thursday night. It was just like old times. The boys ganged up against us and Tracy and I acted as if it weren't happening. When we left that night, we decided that we weren't going to say good-bye, not yet.

I wasn't going to go to the Activation Ceremony. I didn't like it in 2003, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it in 2009. Then, I realized that I was being selfish. It wasn't about what I wanted to do, or not do in this case. It was about showing my friend(s) that I support them and care for them.

So Natey and I went. I did well through most of the ceremony. Then I lost it....and I couldn't get it back. Heath is a police officer and works with Justin when he's not on active duty with the guards. He spoke at the ceremony. He got chocked up - and that's when I lost it.Here are a few other pictures from the ceremony. Caymen wasn't really into it. She was into seeing what Grandma Sandy was doing, then what we were doing, then what her Mom and Dad were doing - and so forth. ;)
No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't get this picture to go the other way. So there.

I was so very proud of our community. I was happy that the gym was just as packed for this as it would be for a basketball game.This young kid, 18 or 19 years old, was being interviewed right in front of us. I couldn't hear all of what he was saying, but Ferber confirmed that this kid just finished up Basic and volunteered to go with the unit. He's 18 or 19 years old! I couldn't commit to a basket of nachos when I was his age. His actions are commendable.Natey spoke to Grandma Sharelle that night. He told her all about the ceremony. I don't know exactly how the conversation went, but Nathan couldn't believe the "Governor of Pierre" was there.

And so was John Thune.

Both men shook hands with all the soldiers. I was very happy to see that they looked each and every one in the eye and said Thank You to them. Nicely done gentlemen.

Here are a few more that I loved......

Saying good-bye to Ferber on Saturday night sucked. I bawled and bawled. Natey and Claire gave him a hug too, and said good-bye. Poor Natey bawled all the way home. When we got home he said "I missed my dad when he worked at the fair for a week. We won't see Mark again until Clarie's in kindergarten" as tears fell from his face.

I thought this time would be different. I thought it would be easier. I've been friends with this man for 12 years. He's been my buddy for an awful long time. And I was wrong. It hurts - again.

I asked Tracy to take a picture of Ferber and I before we went to the football game Friday night. I didn't want to wait and take it on Saturday when I knew for sure I'd have cry eyes.

Not many things or people can bump Keith Urban off my wallpaper. However, this did.

Pray for Ferber, Heath, and the 111 other soldiers of the 211th Guard Unit. Pray for Peace for their families.....and friends.

Science at the Meyer house

Natey's 2nd grade class has been busy raising caterpillars to butterflies in their room. Nathan could get extra credit by bringing caterpillars to school, but instead, he thought it was more important to show the process to Claire and Jack.

One day we went caterpillar hunting and found 7 of them. I've never done this, so it's been as much fun for me as it has been for the kids. Even Jack's into it.

We've been waiting for the caterpillars to make their chrysalis'. Can you believe I caught one in action? Holy smokes I was excited!!! Natey says they'll stay in their chrysalis for 10-14 days before they hatch into beautiful butterflies. I'm SO excited!!! Stay tuned!

September 11th

There are 2,823 reasons to remember this day.

2,823.

Remember it.

Honor them.

Do.
Not.
Forget.

Remembering Chad

On Saturday, I took Nathan and Claire to Sioux Falls to see the Canaries play. None of us had ever been to a game, so the excitement level was through the roof.Chad Mechels' children got to throw out the first pitch.

After the kids threw out their pitch, the announcer told the crowd how he was Chad's roommate in college and started to read a poem. I was already a bit emotional watching the kids, but when this guy read his poem, it was game over. I lost it. Bawled like a baby - and turned off the camera.We had a great time. There were some girls from the US Women's Softball team there as well.

It was a bit chilly so we didn't stay for the whole game, but we enjoyed sitting in a group of people that loved Chad and wanted to show support for his wife and children. It was a fun time and I'm very, very glad we went.

Do you remember that I said that Jack has become a gamer? I'm not even kidding.

It's bad.

Bad.

Don't even make the mistake of thinking that you're getting on his computer. It would be a huge mistake. He'll scold you, throw a fit, maybe even hit you, then tell on you.

It's bad.

Bad.

But really, when the kid says the word computer like a foreign exchange student, who wouldn't give him a turn?

First day of school

Here are some pictures of the kids on their first days of school. Nathan started 2nd grade last Thursday and Claire started her second year of pre-school on Friday. They were both excited. Natey really likes his teacher again this year. Claire not only likes her teacher, but she also likes that her new classroom is in the big school. Last year her pre-school was across the street from the school, so they would have to walk across the street to get to gym and music. This will be better for sure. In the first picture it kinda look like Claire's gone gangster, but she really hasn't. :)

Nathan has decided that he wants to wear his hair a little longer for a while. He likes to spike it up a bit (like Jeff from Big Brother) to give it some style.

So far - so good!

Trampoline = FUN!!!

When I was young, the people next door and across the street from us had a trampoline. My sister and I spent countless hours jumping and playing games with our friends day in and out.

As you know, Natey is a gamer. He doesn't want to go outside and ride his bike because 'it's too hot'. He doesn't want to go play catch outside because 'it's booooring'. He has a million excuses as to why he doesn't want to do anything other than be inside the house all day.

That got me thinking. I decided to price trampolines and found out they were kind of an expensive toy. Expensive, maybe, but great for exercise.

I found one on sale on Friday and went to Sioux Falls and bought it. On Saturday Tracy and Grandma Karen (Tracy's mom) came over to help me put it together. I read on the Internet that some guy put it together on his own so I thought the 3 of us for sure could handle it together.

At the end when you're putting on the springs, things get a bit tricky. Thankfully, right at that point, Ferber and Grandpa Randy walked in. Yes!

Finally it was time to jump, jump, jump!

I love this one!
Here is Tracy taking her turn. She even did a front flip.
I put on facebook that I was a back flippin' fool. That, of course, peaked your curiosity. Well wonder no longer. Justin informed me that it was only a half back flip, but until he shows me his back flip, I'm taking it. (Actually, today I landed on my feet....mostly because I ROCK!)

We had the tramp for less than 24 hours and Natey can do this.

We're having so much fun!!

Trip to Bemidji

The weekend of the 8th we went to Bemidji. Natey kept saying Burmidji and it was cracking me up. I forgot my camera, so all these pictures are from my phone.

It took us six and a half hours to get to my sisters house. The kids traveled very well. We were quite surprised. We left on a Saturday and came back on Monday. On Saturday, Justin, my brother-in-law, and one of his friends went fishing. I sent him a message and asked him if they were catching anything. He sent me back this picture.....

I started bawling. Apparently it was harder for me than it was for him. It was something I know he would have called his dad about. The conversation would have gone like this... "I caught a 6 pound bass todaay - what did you do?". I was so happy for Justin I bawled then beamed.

While the guys were out fishing, Shannon and I took the kids to a place called the Science Center. It was really cool. The kids had a great time.

Here are some pictures.....

Here is Claire "building something".

The kids were scared to death of this guy. He was walking around the center like he owned the place. You could tell where he was because not far from him/her you'd hear a shrieking Meyer.I found it interesting that they were scared to death of a turtle they could by far out run, but they enjoyed the rabbit and .... whatever that other thing was. YUCK!Remember the Spirograph? This is the same idea just a much grander scale. It was fun!

Here are the kids (minus Jack) in the astronaut cutout.

Nathan

Evie

Claire

Izzie

Before we went to the Science Center, Claire and Izzie had a picnic on this fun table at my sister's house.

Izzie was a huge Aunt Kerrie fan. She's so stinkin' cute!

When Izzie was a toddler, she was quite the spit fire. She went from one thing to the next getting herself into trouble. After we got home from Shannon's, Nathan said "Mom, Izzie isn't naughty any more". That may or may not be the case, but it wouldn't hurt her to say a quiet Thank You to Jack for taking any of the naughty attention off of her and putting it on himself. As you can see in this picture, he provided the entertainment for our family that weekend.Before we left Bemidji, we took some pictures with Paul Bunyan and Babe.The next time we make the trip, we'll have to stay longer. It's beautiful country up there, but not near warm enough for me. The next time we go, I'll for sure remember my camera, too. We had such a good time in spite of it.

The Twin Cities

Here are some things you've missed due to me not blogging. Jack has become a gamer. Yeah, he's 2 1/2 and addicted to the computer and anything else that he can get his hands on. If I can't find my cell phone the first place I look is Jack's hands.

We went to the Cities the weekend of August 1st. These wind farms creep me out. I'm not talkin' a little - I'm talking BIG TIME.Do they have to be so big and slow and.....creepy? Ack!

The motel we stayed in was beautiful. I've never stayed in a Hilton, but it was very nice - and inexpensive. Jack could have sat here all day.....

One guess at what was out there......

That's right. The airport. It's a very busy airport, so about every 30 seconds to a minute he'd clap and say "Come meeere! Dare's another one!!!" He was in heaven.

Justin took Natey to his first Angel's game. I wasn't sure if Nathan would watch the whole game or if he'd get bored. I sent his PSP with him just in case. Justin said he was content through the whole game. He loved every second of it. Justin was kind enough to take a few pictures for me. Mike Napoli is Nathan's favorite player - or one of them at least. He's the catcher. He signed Nathan's ball. Natey was beside himself with excitement because there were a couple of other kids standing next to him with their Twins garb on and Mike only signed Natey's ball. I would guess it was because Natey had his Angel's stuff on. He loved it!

While they were at the game the little kids and I went swimming. The pool was just the right temp and the kids had a ball.

The next day we went school clothes shopping and then to the Mall of America. My sister sent us passes for the rides so the kids could hardly wait to get there and ride, ride, ride.

At first Justin had the camera, but his shots were, um, interesting at best. Here are a couple of examples:
It's ok, you can laugh. I did. I decided to take the camera back so I'd know what I was getting. I got Justin and his mini-me's and a bunch of other fun stuff. We had a super duper great weekend!