Pool time!!!

You will probably see many more pictures of us at the pool with how hot it's getting. Before the kids and I go anywhere I have to go start the car up and blast the air conditioner for at least 5 minutes so the leather seats cool down and so that it's not 106! It's so hot that sometimes the pool water even feels warm and muggy---which sucks!
Trinity is a pro at swimming, last year in Hawaii she completed all 5 levels of swimming classes and passed the diving board test. This is thanks to daddy. So many people wanted to sign up for swimming classes that even though sign up didn't start till 8 am he was there by 5:30 and he was still the 3rd in line! Crazy. Andrew is passionate about the kids learning how to swim so he does everything in his power to make sure it happens.
Anaiya has also learned to swim with out floaties too so she will be starting swim lessons next month. Little Cyri is our water baby, she's quite the pro with the floaties on giving her a false sense of her true skills (or lack of) so sometimes we take the floaties off and she tries to push away from us so she can swim by herself.

Camping at Hoochie Creek in Georgia

During Memorial Weekend we decided to take the girls camping. Daddy was sure to remind us that by Wheeler Men standards this was "sissy stuff." I have to admit, it was pretty comfortable though. We had air condition, shower, fridge and stove and comfy mattresses to sleep on. Other than the sweltering heat and mosquitos we had a good time except for the fishing trip. Daddy swore to never take us fishing again but the girls were only miserable because of the weather. Our little boat didn't have any cover to keep the girls cool in the 100 degree noon day sun plus we didn't catch a thing.
Andrew even went as far as buying live minnows for bait so as to increase our chances of success but still nothing. Not even a tiny bite! Then after an hour of stuggling with lost bobbins, Cyri almost falling into the water a few times, all the snacks and drinks gone-and still no fish, we called it a day. As we are pulling up to the shore we see two old women sitting on the bank with a bucket full of fish they had just caught with fake bait!!!! Argh! I don't know when my dear husband will give up fishing and admit defeat.

My favorite picture of our girls.

Cyri loved this swing. She wanted to be in it all the time.

All cheese!

Up, up and away!!!

Well, not really but it goes to show how long this post has been operating training soilders. After all it is only "THE BEST ARMY INSTALLATION IN THE WORLD"!!!! I write these words in total mockery and with all the sarcasm I have in me because they really do have these huge words painted on an overpass so you can read it and remember always as you are entering and leaving post. It should really say "OLDEST AND MOST DELAPIDATED INSTALLATION IN THE WORLD" They even have a phone number for you to call for comments below. I picked up my phone and dialed the number and told Andrew I was going to call them, and just incase they were unsure, reinforce to them they were indeed THE BEST ARMY INSTALLATION IN THE WHOLE FREAKING WORLD!!!! He said he would kill me if I actually did so I had to hang up. Where is his Army pride? I'll take a picture of it one of these days just to validate my story.

Long overdue....

This post is way over due. Nearly 3 1/2 days after leaving Utah we arrived at Fort Benning, GA on April 6th, all thanks to our wonderful chaufer, Grandpa Wheeler! It was so nice of you Dad to sacrifice all the time and patience it took to get Andrew's girls back to him. My poor father in law, in that week and a half he went cross country twice and drove about 3 million miles. (or at least I'm sure it felt that way) Dad, I can't thank you enough. We love you so much. And of course, we can't forget all the wonderful and gracious Bed and Breakfast we stayed at along the way. Thank you Kim, Marc, Great Grandpa Wheeler and Hilda for all the delicious warm meals and comfortable sleeping arrangements. It might have been what saved me and the kids from going insane. My only regret is that I didn't think to bring a camera and so I don't have any pictures to show off our great big road trip.

Also, let it be noted that during the road trip Grandpa and Trinity made a "pinky swear" pact that she would never moan and utter the words..."I don't want to visit my old stinky grandpa." I bear witness to this- so Trinity-we have made it official.

Here is daddy and the girls rock climbing at the gym. The best perk to this post is that there are tons of different parks and rock climbing and the pool at the gym is free!

For the love of....Family

Well, here comes the floods. Hopefully I will get through this and be able to say what I can't say in person to my family cause when the tears come it all turns into blubbering and no one can understand anything. My family....what can I say except I love you so much. Looking back I feel sad that most of my time here in Utah was wasted because of so much time at work but I guess that's life, I am just so grateful for everyone stepping up and being there for my kids while my husband and I were MIA. Anything I do for my family is never to "pay them back" because I know I never could do enough but instead to just say thank you.

Although it's been crampt living spaces no one ever complained, my kids made the mess, everyone else picked it up, Trinity had a book report due, Cyri crapped her pants again...there was always an uncle and aunties or grandma to the rescue! Uncle Steve, your time, love, patience and playfulness with our girls has impacted their life in a way they may never realize because they are still too young. I know you never meant to or wanted to take the role of dad but in essence you did just by loving them. This year without their daddy may have been very different with out a father figure or man around. Being in the army I've seen all too many times, fathers deployed and their little children randomly reaching out to other strangers in the store or even little children I've babysat chasing my husband around the house when he came home for a hug or attention from a man. Because of you my kids fortunately have not had to suffer through that. You will be a great dad someday to some very lucky nieces and nephews of mine.

PK and Christine, my baby sisters. I can't believe that you are graduating H.S. so soon and I'm heart broken that I won't be there to cheer you on but I will be there in spirit and think of you. I really can't think of better or more obdient teenagers I've ever dealt with than you two. Sure there is the occasional yelling and arguing here and there but hey, we're girls, that's what we do for fun right? I just wanted to let you know how proud I am and I hope that after living with us you will forget the not so good examples we've sometimes have been but instead take the good times we've had and the tools we've tried to give you guys to suceed and "be all you can be" (so not orginal). I'm sorry for being so hard on you guys at times but sometimes you love someone so much all your emotions may not come out in the most positive light. I could go on and on cause that's how my love will always be for you two but to wrap things up, you girls have made rightous decisions and now alot of opportunities have opened up to you so continue on this path and you will truly be blessed with all you need-trust me, you will need all the help you can get being a poor, starving college student but I know you will be ok. Thank you for taking such good care of my girls and with the same gratitude I have for Steve, my girls never missed out on anything even though I was working so much because they had a wonderful Grandma and great Aunties who took great care of them.

The love of family truly is life's greatest blessing. I'm thankful for the gospel in our lives and the eternal family we will always be whether we ever get the opportunity to live closely together again or not. I sure love you guys.

Early visit from the Easter Bunny

Since we will be on the road during Easter Sunday the easter bunny paid an early visit to the girls. We put some obvious eggs on the floor for Cyri and told Trinity and Anaiya they were not allowed to grab those and we made them look for the hidden ones. Poor Cyri didn't understand why someone would run around and look for anything else when you could just enjoy them as you go. She would open one egg at a time and sit there and enjoy the candy before moving on to find the next one.

Andrew's version of R&R!!!

After being stuck in the cold, muddy field for a week Andrew and a friend decided to take a much needed RR bike trip. He said the trails weren't as nice or challenging as Utah or Colorado but still decent. They were 3 hours north of Chattanooga....where ever that is.