By request...

How to survive when Daddy is gone....

Call your Mom
Call your Mother-in-law
Call all your sisters
Call your Dad
Call your Grandmothers
(Don't go over your minutes)
Go to the park every night so the kids wear themselves out and fall asleep right away
Watch a good chick-flick....or 5
Don't forget to read your scriptures
Call Mom again
Deep clean one area of the house
Find a project
CALL HIM....(if you can)
Be a little more patient with the kids
Have a movie day if the weather is bad
Go to the library a lot
Make 'welcome home' signs/cards
Take lots of pictures
Do LOTS and LOTS of fun crafts
Skip naps if you need to so the kids will go to bed early
(Maybe I am a cruel parent, but when I am on my own, I love early bedtime. Usually because I have a sinkful of dishes I want out of the way before midnight)
Visit some friends
Invite a friend over for dinner, or keep her kids so yours will be entertained while she enjoys a night-out with her hubby

Okay, that's just off the top of my head. It can get pretty tough at first, but it is always worth the work when you grow closer to your spouse and your kids. Besides, it is soooo fun when he finally does come home!!!

Did that help???

Do you remember...

This?

Day 2

Thanks for the ideas. Today also went well. It was a rainy morning, so I was prepared for the worst. My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is curl up with an old Disney classic (Cinderella, Robin Hood, or even something new). Once again, I won. We survived with a morning of cleaning and Swiffer-mopping (I'd like to meet the brilliant housewife who thought that one up!) and an afternoon of Sam's Club shopping, and late-napping. We had an equally wonderful evening of bedroom cleaning/playing, eating, and walking. Great day. The only thing that would've made it better would have been having Shawn home. That ALWAYS makes things better. Anyway, I am still open for more favorite activities, or even childhood memories....

Day 1...

I decided it was time to break free of the tv and have a 'no movie week' for the kids. (Not me...I fully intend to watch every episode of the Cosby Show: Season 3, disc 2, coming in the mail from Netflix tomorrow). I felt like I was being a little lax and letting them watch too much tv because it was just easier some days. Today went well. We played at a terrific park for a couple hours, browsed around a few office supply stores looking for laminating stuff (no luck), and played with a little friend during the afternoon. They were all wiped out by the time bedtime rolled around. Since I am not quite that tired, I am going to do the dishes (woo-hoo) and then pick a book from Shawn's collection. Any other great tv-less activities you have enjoyed with your kids?

A long time ago...

This was taken a few years ago. 5 to be precise. It was the weekend I first met Shawn's family before we were married. We used to sit at the piano together a lot. Now we always have our hands full and don't get to sit down as much. I really love that man and all the adventure he has brought to my life!

An angel...

While we were making play-doh snowmen, he was takin' it easy!

Not a shiner!

She was running away from me at church and hit the prickly wall in her excitement and my attempt to stop her. She's fine, but was trying to give me her best sad face.