We're Home

We had such a wonderful visit with Gabriel (and Alayna) in Florida; I'm very thankful I went in spite of it being a bit tough on the new girls. I remember being exactly at the six months point with Tori when I had to leave her to return to Liberia for Ben and Julia. I felt so bad, but literally had no choice. This trip was optional, so I felt more guilty leaving; but after Gabriel got orders to San Diego, I really felt it was the right thing to prioritize him.

Selah did OK once she was told to knock off the crying. She has a tendency to cry if Bella cries, until you tell her she's too big to keep crying and then she turns it off. Bella on the other hand is a bit of a basket case; she did decent during the day, but turned on the wailing at night. She was pulling things I've never had with her - like getting out of her bed after bed-time and refusing to take her medicine. In the words of one of my daughters, "she acted like a real brat, Mom". Thankfully, she doesn't pull that with me and we will work on listening to others. I guess it should have been a clue when the Sunday school teacher told me that when she asked Bella to do something, Bella would just say no.

Today was back to the grind - cooking, laundry, a trip to the elementary school and four kids to the doctor. I found this little guy at the end of the driveway to show Selah and Bella.

Selah has no fear of anything and is thrilled with everything. It makes little things fun.

When we let him go on the edge of the woods, I had to break it to Selah that she couldn't kiss him good-bye. I assured her there would be other turtles this spring.