We recently decided that it would be good to keep a journal of our time here in Virginia. At least keep updates by month and more if possible. I thought it would be a good way for me to start a blog. Which i've tried before and wanted to do but then just didn't get to it. So I'm trying it out and hopefully it will also be a fun way to share our experiences with friends and family back home!
June:
On June 15 we set out on our long 3 day journey to Newport News, VA. We went to breakfast with Mom and Dad then off we went. The boys were really good on the drive! They did so well for how long they were in the car! About 10 hours one day, 12 hours, then about 8 hours the final day. We arrived on Sunday evening and they were definitely excited to get out of the car and we were glad to finally be here. It was really exciting especially the first month being here.
I was so grateful Sam was here and didn’t have to work yet. I couldn’t imagine getting everything unpacked and gathering furniture without him. We found a table at the thrift store, couches from someone in V.A. Beach area, bought chairs at Costco, and the best/funniest place we found something… the dumpster! Sam pretty much jumped into the dumpster to grab a tv stand table out. It was awesome we were glad to get something for free! :)
We spent most of our free time exploring the beach, went down to the Yorktown beach a few times, went to V.A. beach once, and met the neighbors Jim and Jean. They’re an older couple that this right across from us. And they have a dog too. The boys have loved that! One Sunday after church, the door was open and Ben escaped out the door, ran over and threw himself into Jim’s door. Of course they opened the door and Ben let himself in. Jim and Jean were super nice, ended up inviting us all in, and we talked for over an hour, the boys messed up their apartment, got out all the dog toys and Aaron stuffed his pockets with almost the entire candy tray. I kept apologizing and Jean was so cute and told us a story that basically came down to “A clean house is a life wasted”. They’re the sweetest we had fun getting to know them better.
When Sam started work I was sad I wouldn’t get to have him around all the time, helping me out with the boys, and especially just to be able to go do fun things whenever and explore new places. But we’ve been really lucky with this schedule this month. His first rotation is Allergy. Which originally was supposed to be a place holder he was going to change to Radiation Oncology but was told he wouldn’t be able to change till we got here. Soon he found out that that was false and so he had to stick with Allergy. It’s turned out to be actually quite interesting to him, the doctor he’s working with is really nice, and one of the best parts is the schedule. He works a couple full days and the other 3 are usually days he’ll get off after the lunch meeting and be home around 1 or 2pm. It’s really great! He hasn’t really had to spend that much time studying either so it’s really fun that when he’s home, he’s home.
We had the missionaries over for dinner once a week. Aaron and Ben really love it when they come too.
One night for FHE, Jenny Lewis from the ward texted me and invited us to go down to Newport News Park and ride paddle boats with their family. It was really fun and so nice of them to invite us. She and her husband Justin are really nice they both are part of the Army in the bands. That’s how they met. They have 3 kids, 2 boys around Aaron’s age and a little baby girl. The boys had lots of fun on the paddle boats, except Ben kept wanting to jump in the water :) (which wasn’t allowed).
July:
On July 1 Mom and Dad left for Canada for their mission. Seeing everyone’s picture with them before they left made me a little sad that we weren’t also there seeing them off. They arrived safe and have been super busy ever since. Traveling to lots of places, meeting all the missionaries, and giving their welcome to them and getting to know them all. Mom and Dad both are always saying what amazing missionaries they have and they’re doing so well.
Mom has had some weird dizziness issues that have bothered her a bit. It’s happened twice where she feels really dizzy and can’t stand up without throwing up. We fasted for her last Sunday and hope they get that under control and figured out.
One stressful thing we were dealing with the past few months is my medicine. With getting onto medicaid and off my parents insurance, the medicine wasn’t covered so I have been off it for a while. But finally I figured out that it would be covered with our new insurance and that we still qualify for the $0 copay so we get the medicine free this year. What a blessing that saves quite a bit of money for us. So now i’m back on the medicine and relieved to have that figured out.
July 4th we hung out at the house for most the day and then we decided to go down to Yorktown Beach for the fireworks. I don’t know what I was expecting of the day but was kind of disappointed we didn’t get out and do much else that day. I think I have been so used to there always being lots going on like parades and stuff and had that same kind of thought for the day here. Anyways we got to the fireworks and found a spot to sit right down by the beach it was great. The boys really loved it it was fun the fireworks were right over the water.
Last Sunday, July 20, I taught the RS lesson on Baptism from the manual. I was really nervous and I know it wasn’t my best lesson. But it turned out pretty good and everyone was really nice and telling me it was good. Aaron has loved his Primary class. His teacher is so nice and on our second Sunday here she even came to where we were sitting in sacrament and took him to class with her. She’s really sweet and Aaron always comes out of primary holding lots of papers that you can tell she’s put so much effort in preparing for the kids to help them remember the lesson.
This is Sam’s final week of Allergy rotation. Then next week he starts Internal Medicine. He’s on that with Caleb so that might be fun for them to have that together. Apparently it’s going to be a bit of a rough schedule so i’ll prob have to hang out with Courtney a lot! I really hope he doesn’t have to work many Sundays. That seems to be the most difficult day with the boys, still need to figure out how to help them be reverent and still during sacrament.
July 18 was Ben’s Bday. He turned 2! We can’t believe how fast that’s gone and that he’s already 2 years old! He’s got such a fun happy personality, learning to talk much more, and he’s always making us smile. He and Aaron have gradually started to become better friends since all they have to play with is each other most the time. They still have their moments of course. But it’s really cute the times when they are talking and playing nicely together.
I was a bit emotional at times that day. My parents called and I think I was just missing the family and sad no one would be here to celebrate with. My emotions were close to the surface most of the morning.
We were lame and hadn’t thought of something to get Ben till the actual day of his bday. We wanted to get him some kind of scoot toy/bike. I went to a couple stores searching for something that would be good. Finally we decided we didn’t want to get him just some toy that he’d grow out of quickly, so we found a strider bike similar to the one Aaron has only red. Ben’s been practicing on Aaron’s bike for the last week and is picking it up quickly. I’m excited for them to have riding bikes as something fun they both have and can do together hopefully without contention :)
Today is July 25 and hopefully the bike will get here. I’m anxious for him to have it and be able to go to parks or wherever and bring the bikes along. Lately when we go out for walks it’s just Aaron riding the bike and Ben running after him. We did bring the scooter but that’s still too difficult for Ben.
This week I took Aaron in for his preschool screening appointment. There’s a preschool here for 4 year olds called First Step. It’s a free program they offer here at several elementary schools. Some of the locations are strictly preschool classes in the whole school. The program accepts students according to the highest need first then accepts others. Aaron did really well at the screening! So we’ll see if he’s put on the wait list or he gets in. I’m really hoping he gets in. I think it would be a great experience for him and he’d really like the structure and everything. At home i’ve been trying to work a little bit with him too. We’ve been using ABCmouse.com. (I signed up for a free month trial, which may turn into a membership. Especially if he doesn’t get into the preschool.) Which has been fun and good for him i’ve already noticed an improvement on his counting especially. I for some reason was feeling a bit stressed out realizing that he wasn’t very good at counting and saying the ABC’s. We’ve been going to the library once a week and I’ve really tried to help the kids enjoy reading and learning. With the ABCmouse it’s good because there are fun games that he likes to play that are actually helpful.
Ben also has been loving the books. He’s really good at just laying still in bed and listening to the book. He’s not fidgety and I can tell he enjoys it. He asks for books every time he takes a nap/goes to bed. However, the actual process of going to the library with the kids can be a bit stressful. Mainly with Ben. He doesn’t like being strapped in the stroller the whole time but if I let him be free he runs all over the place and is really loud. Not to mention it’s a double stroller so i’m pushing that huge thing through the isles of the library. Add Aaron not listening and doing what I ask on top of that and it can get frustrating. I often get looks from other people, especially when the boys are having a moment. There have been some nice people tho, who express their understanding when I apologize for the roudy-ness. One time, the security guard (yup there's a security guard at the library), kept on eye on Ben while I went with Aaron to pick one last thing. I’d love to let the boys explore, walk around to choose books and play with the legos/puzzles, but Ben is just not at that stage yet.
