Well I thought I would post to let you all know that we are all alive and well. I have had a very emotional week. I do not even know where to begin. I am not sure if I am grasping at straws or just board in general. I don't know how I can even be board.
Bens Aunt Merri-Ann was in the hospital last week. Karen decided to come for a visit and that way she could see Merri-Ann too. Merri-Ann is doing good now. I really enjoyed seeing Karen and Abby. My kids played and laughed with Abby, They really had a great time together. Not once did they argue or fight. The kids truly love each other. We were able to visit with Merri-Ann, And my kids were actually QUIET in the hospital! WOW There really is a god. Seeing the kids play together made me start thinking about my childhood and how close I was to all my cousins. Even though Uncle Ray and my Aunt Karen lived in SLC I was still able to see my cousins a lot. I really want my kids to know their family. I am so thankful that my kids will get to know Merri-Ann now that we are only 40 mins from her. I want them to grow up in a home that we don't have to move away from. I do not want to have to ask someone permission to put up any outdoor toys for the kids, I want to be able to hane flower pots from the porch beams, I want a darn garage! I want to settle down, grow some roots and stay put. I do not want my kids to have to move to a billion different schools. All this may seem silly to you, but all these silly rules adds up. I feel like okay Ben has been in the military for 8 years now and I am done. Its like been there done that lets move on. So I am already thinking all this then Ben decides to tell me that he thinks he "MIGHT" want to volunteer to go to Iraq for 1 year and be an interrogation officer! HELLO?? WHAT?? ARE YOU NUTS?? Now I am really scared. What can I really say. It's his job and his career. With this news I have decided that the military is no longer for us. With Scottie already not ajusting to the move and now Ben wants to go to a danger zone for a year. This is not the life I want anymore. This is not the life I want for my kids. I mean if Ben were just handed orders there is not much I can say. BUT to volunteer for something like that is just crazy. So we will see what happens. I do not think I will be able to change Bens mind about being in the military, I will quietly with a smile on my face support him and hope he stays out of harms way. I hope that my children do not look back and think that we messed up their lives by living the military life, I hope that they know that Ben has done what he thought was best and I hope that they will be as proud of him as I am. Ben has agreed not to volunteer after all the bickering I have done this weekend! THANK GOD I am still not sure what the answers are. I hope and pray that they will come to us. But for now I thank God my family, for the life and the opportunities that we have now. And I warned Ben not to throw anymore crazy surprises at me, I freak out and loose my mind.
So we found a new friend outside today! This thing scared the crap out of me! I have never seen something so creepy looking.. Well okay that snake and the Japanese flying beetle were pretty bad too! Saturday we took the kids to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. We drove down to the Metro. The kids and I have never been on the Metro before. IT WAS SO COOL!! I absolutely loved it. The kids rode for free and Ben and I each paid like $1.60 each way. It sure was worth it! I want to try to go other places using the Metro. We had a great time at the museum. I didn't bring my camera because I forgot to charge it! YES I am blonde!! Next weekend we are going to meet with Merri-Ann and either take the kids to the pumpkin patch or an apple orchard. I am excited to be able to spend time with her as are Ben and the kids.

Thanks for letting me bicker....
Good night!