Since Chris left on deployment a lot has happened

So 4 days after Olivia's birthday, and just one day after returning home from Grandma's house, Chris deployed again. He is working a long rotation this time (4 months instead of 3), but it means he will be able to take A LOT of down time in the 3 months after returning. We are excited to have him home for the holidays again this year.

The short of it -- Since Chris left, Caden and Olivia have both started a once a week tumbling/gymnastics class. Caden likes it, but not something we will continue for him. He really just wants to play and he can do that on the playground. Olivia loves hers. She doesn't really like the social aspect but is already able to do all of the things asked of her and surprises the teacher and other parents (and me) daily. At free time, when all the other kids go straight to the blow up bounce thing, she goes back to the balance beam and then the bar etc. . . She really likes to do these things. Caden has also been taking a Toddler Spanish class at the Rec Center. He really loves his Spanish class, and actually dresses up in his "church" clothes to go. He says he doesn't "look sharp" in his play clothes. Ezekiel is taking an art class and really enjoying it. The art studying some contemporary art styles. Zeke also officially finished fourth grade.

Russell graduated from 8th grade at FUMA (Fork Union Military Academy). Although we learned a few things this year, I do not credit FUMA with any growth or development in my child. He made a few friends, but for the most part he is happy to be home and has no desire to return. We are all happy for him to be back home with us. The house runs so much smoother with everyone here, and little ones REALLY missed him. Now there are three of us running every day. Russell will be playing football for the Frederick Christian Eagles in the fall, and is excited to be playing high school ball. Even more excited that daddy will be home for the entire football season. He is looking forward to starting high school as well.

The Realtor we hired to sell our house in Florida has really turned out to be a disappointment. She never answers my phone calls, and takes days to return emails. It took her a month to get a lockbox on the door, and our friend who checks on the house for us says that in 3 months she still hasn't managed to get a sign up out front. At this point we are planning to refinance the house since it looks like we will be keeping it for a while longer. We are not ruling out the possibility that God could work to sell this house despite her shortcomings, we just aren't counting on it. The contract with her ends in Sept and if it is not sold by then we will hold onto it until the following spring and perhaps list it ourselves. Only time will tell.

We said NO to Russell and Zeke's father. Ezekiel has had problems going to spend time with his father since immediately following the divorce, and Russell has NEVER wanted to go. Early on, around ages 3 and 4, Zeke would have nightmares and bed wetting problems for days after returning from his house. Then it turned to migraines around age 7. This quickly turned into spontaneous crying in the days leading up to a visit with migraines all the way through the visit (he would call me begging me to bring him home). They would both gain weight on the visits, from lack of activity, poor eating, and nervous eating. Last time Zeke gained 10 pounds, and Russell gained 24 pounds in 2 weeks. Then there was the fighting between the boys that would last for weeks after their return. They argue and fight here and there like regular siblings, but when they would return from his house it was like WWIII for several weeks.

The boys had finally had enough this year. We were able to get them out of Thanksgiving because we could not afford to go down there, and he would not pay his half (by the agreement). Then,we went down for Spring Break. The boys didn't want to stay the night with him so we managed to keep the time to a minimum of a day and a half during the day. He was not happy with it but . . . Then we finally came to the summer break trip. Ezekiel had been begging not to go, and of course Russell has never wanted to go. The plan was for them to tell him they weren't going back again at the end of this trip. For 3 weeks leading up to the trip Ezekiel was in my room almost nightly begging not to go and crying. I am trying very hard to take care of the boys and limit their exposure to him while still staying out of trouble with the law. I just encouraged him that if everything went ok this would be his last trip. We were to meet him in Bowling Green KY since we were already scheduled on a trip to pick up some furniture from Great Grandma's house. He was going to take them to see his mother for the first time in almost 7years. The night before Ezekiel was crying and puking about the trip. SO, we decided enough was enough. I told the boys that I would support their decision not to go, but they had to stand up to him and tell they didn't want to go and why. Legally it is better if it comes from them and not me keeping them from him.

So, the boys told him. Ezekiel told him that he was Never spending the night with him again, but that he could come up to WV and they would spend time with him during the day for a few days. He told him this was because he was afraid of him and that he was mean. They also told him they did not want to miss their art classes, and Tae Kwon Do, and Drums, and football to be in Florida for 2 weeks. They told him they were tired of going down there and doing what he wanted to do. That he never listened to them and they didn't have fun there. They only got a few things in (The list was so long). Everything they said he called them liars and was in their faces and very confrontational, but they stood their ground and I was very proud of them.

In the end he said they should have discussed this with him before he took a day off work, and that his feelings were hurt that they made up lies about him and didn't want to spend time with him. He told them goodbye mumbled I love you turned and left. I sent Russell after him to tell him something and he would not respond to his calls -- got in his car and would not even look our direction -- and left. We are hoping that this means he has walked out of their lives for good, however the boys know this could be a fight and know he could take it to the courts. They are prepared to fight him yet we pray every day that it does not come to that. Russell is still anxiously awaiting turning 18 so he can change his name.