Buffalo or Bison?

This isn't something you see everyday. Josh, Lily and Kerrigan really got a kick out of seeing this family walk by the car in Yellowstone.

Kids love Bullwinkle

Lily was a bit excited to see her first moose. We saw this one up in a mountain pass between Sheridan and Cody Wyoming. It was a great start to our trip to Wyoming where we linked up with Julie, Nancy and Junior Mint (aka Ariel). We thought we'd be far too tired to enjoy Yellowstone after five days on the road but we were so wrong. Julie was already in Cody and we were staying in Sheridan so we got together and did the park together. It was awesome!

Workin' at the Car Wash

They're still young enough to want to copy everything we do...and they want to do anything they can that's not in the car!

Mt. Rushmore

Another great spot. The Black Hills are beautiful...still don't know why they call them the black hill but that probably has more to do with us rushing through the area so fast! There's so much to see and do. We did the National Park area and spent a little time in Keystone but then had to move on. Lily just loves the camera!

Cowboy Cookin'

Today was a full day. We drove through Badlands National Park and saw some beautiful country and then spent a late afternoon and evening at the Circle B ranch to experience a little western life. Lily loved the Pony rides, Josh loved everything to do with the animals and Kerrigan had a great time as a member of the posse chasing down Juan the Biscuit Bandit. Leigh Anne and I laughed watching it all. What did we cap the day off with? The nightly trip to the pool left the kids completely exhausted!

Lily's wants a little house on the prarie

I should have never joked with Lily about our new home being an old log cabin. At Winter Quarters there's a one-room cabin inside the visitors center. I joked with Lily that it was our new home and that I wanted to let her see her new room. She loved it! Unfortunately she was confused when we left and had a hard time understanding it wasn't really our new home. I felt bad. Every day she asks when we will get to our new house. I'm not much different than her -- I'd like to know myself.

Our new home

We are headed up to Missoula but don't have a home yet. As you might guess, this has us concerned. We decided to check out an area our agent didn't show us and this is what we found. What do you think?

Lily thought this place was great and was actually disappointed that it wouldn't be our new home. It had to be the front yard that she loved the most. She and Joshua fed peanuts to prarie dogs the whole time we were there. It was hilarious fun. Great stop at a historical homestead just outside of Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

Council Bluffs and Winter Quarters

It's sad leaving TN but we've made the best of it. One of our favorite stops along the way has been Winter Quarters near Omaha, NE. Each day is a long day of travel with the kids but taking extra time this was well worth it. We toured the Kanesville tabernacle and learned all about the area the saints settled after their forced exodous from Nauvoo. Pioneer stories are certainly inspirational but these ones seemed to really hit home. It sure put a stop to any complaining we had about our "trail of tears" going west. And of course, the kids enjoyed the stop too.

Trail of Tears

Little Bear is moving on. We're on our way to Missoula, Montana! We've been on the road now for 5 days. In some ways it has been our own little trail of tears. We already feel the loss of missing our friends and family in Tennessee. In time there will be new faces to meet but it's just impossible to replace good friends -- it can't be done.

Even boring is fun!

Even mundane boring things are fun lately...I hope the novelty of being at home again doesn't wear off too soon...

Remember the spelling bee?

Kerrigan is doing well in school. She was one of the best spellers in her class so she represented the second grade in the school spelling bee. I had not idea there would be so much drama at a spelling bee! She did great -- made it into the fifth round but got tripped up on the word remeber. Bummer!

Bizarre Birthday!

I've been having plenty of fun with the kids since I got home. Yesterday was Logan's birthday and the day before was Madison's birthday -- Lisa had birthday arrangements all squared away but it was still a great excuse to make a cake. Kerrigan and I made this crazy messy cake -- looks like something from a Dr. Seuss book to me! Jen, this is what we did with the Wonka bar -- it was all I could do to not let Kerrigan cover the whole thing in the pop rocks you sent! She was the "Designer". Anyway, nothing like excessive frosting to make a cake tasty. Oh, and I have to take full blame for this cake being what we had for dinner that night too...so much for promoting good nutrition but it was good fun. We slapped a couple of "7" candles in for the 5 and 8 year old, they blew them out and then we chowed down. Good times.

Home Again

It is SO good to be home! I've been back for seven days now. I've had to go in to work every morning for just a few hours but I've got the majority of every day to be with the family. I haven't done much -- just spent time with Leigh Anne and the kids. It has been great. They've changed so much. When I left, Lily never said a word and Josh could only roll over. Now Josh climbs up everything and Lily talks constantly. Kerrigan was barely learning to read and now she is an avid reader. Leigh Anne is the same as ever -- beautiful and great company. It's just good to be home with family. I appreciate home now more than ever before.

Rumor has it....

That little bear (and Craig) will be home on Tuesday, February 10th!

Home

It won't be long before I'm home again. As the end draws closer I think more and more of the things I've missed from home. When I'm talking with the other docs we ask each other silly questions like, "What's the food you miss the most" or, "Where will you go on vacation when you get home?". Then conversation turns to "What will you be glad to never see or hear again?!?". When the conversation is over I think of the little things I miss about home. I miss reading bedtime stories to Kerrigan. I miss walking barefoot over the cool kitchen floor in my pajamas in the early morning before everyone wakes up (as opposed to never barefoot anywhere, never in pajamas, no kitchen and somebody always awake in my hut). I miss sitting in our big chair with Leigh Anne. I miss music without headphones and I miss running through farms and down by the river. I miss sitting in church with Lily on my lap. I miss carrying Joshua when he's asleep and seeing his constant giant grin when he's awake. I miss tickling the kids! I miss the silence and calm of mornings outside.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder! It seems like seeing home from so far away somehow helps me to see it all so much clearer. I appreciate family and home now more than ever before. I'm glad to be alive and I'm grateful to be healthy. I'm excited to come home. I remember how it felt when I was younger to really want to have things or to go places or achieve seemingly unattainable goals or to really be insanely in love with some girl I hardly knew. Those desires seemed so strong. But it all seems so weak compared to how I YEARN for home now.

These are a few of my favorite pictures from deployment. This is what I miss most. I love my family.