Dear Scott, 14 March 2011

Dear Scott,

Sorry I haven't really sent a letter in a while.  I hope that you get my St. Patrick's card this week.  Life seems to be so busy and it is hard to make the time to sit down at the computer to write.  There hasn't been anything new or exciting going on just the same kind of things.  Play-dates, working out, Little Gym, Church stuff.  Our book club did have our first meeting this past week.  It was very enjoyable.  We were at the Bartlett's house.  It was great to have a visit with the girls in the ward.  Friday night I also went out to dinner with Brandee and some of her friends.  She has great friends of course and I really enjoyed myself.  The kids love playing at Dan and Brandee's house with their cousins.  Jack is great to watch over all the kids.

3 Super Friends!! Red Power Ranger, Buzz Lightyear, Black Spiderman

 aka Rubie, Reid, Eric  

 Before Reid started coming over I don't think he enjoyed dressing up.  He finally seems to enjoy it.  Eric gets all his friends to dress up and play super heroes.  Yesterday Eric even dressed as "super dog".  His costume was part Ninja, part dalmatian. 

Instead of our regular play date with the Pendleton's this week, we went to the Dinosaur Museum.  It seemed to me that Carly was trying to get lots of stuff in before the baby came. (Which by the way, the beautiful baby was born Thursday morning.  9 lbs + with lots of dark hair.  Name Isabelle.)

Aunt Dellitt's birthday was this week.  Last week at Family Home Evening at Angela and Brett's house we did take cards to Dellitt and Alec.  We sang Happy Birthday for Alec and enjoyed pie and ice-cream.  Yesterday your Mom and Dad had a birthday dinner to honor and celebrate Dellitt's birthday.  We enjoyed visiting and celebrating.

Eric and Rubie started the party by taking a nap on Grandma's bed.

Braden, Spencer, and Hadlie

 We have not seen cousin Hadlie in a while.  She came and had a big announcement for us. Hadlie and Spencer eloped on Friday morning at the court house.  Hadlie is expecting a baby in September.  Braden is Spencer's nephew.  Spencer seems like a good guy.

Eric and Dan enjoyed some play time together.

Happy Rubie.

Lighting the candles.

Dan having fun with the boys.

Singing, blowing out candles.

Andy and Beth.  Beth was such a sweet-heart this week.  She came over on Thursday night after work and took care of the kids so I could go to the temple.  Not only did she play with the kids and have them ready for bed, but dinner was cleaned up, the dishes were done, and the house was picked up.  Can you come over every night Beth?  You are so wonderful and I really appreciate you!

Hayden supervising the cutting of the cake.

Happy Birthday Aunt Dellitt!

We are looking forward this week to some fun things.  We are spending the day at the Tullett's as normal.  But tonight we are all going to see a play at the SCERA theatre--No Dogs Allowed.  Then Wednesday morning we are heading to South Ogden to stay with our friends the Warner's for a few days.  Then Saturday is Aunt Tai's baby shower in Farmington.  It's going to be a fun week.

We hope you are having a great week.  We pray for your success and happiness.  We know that you are an example to those around you and hope you find opportunities to share the gospel.

Eric is sitting here on my lap as I type this.  From Eric: You are my best Daddy in the whole wide world!  I love you to play with me.  I want to cuddle and watch the news with you.  And play heroes with you.  And do coloring and drawing with you.  And I like making letters and doing my name with you.  I love to play Spider man!  Be a good soldier!

I love you!  I am so looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks.

Love always and forever,

Jennifer
and Eric and Rubie

 

Wed, 9 March 2011

Dear Scott,

So there is an issue with our taxes.  Dale needs a W2 from the military.  The only way to get one is to get it from the myPay website.  For that you need a Login ID and password.  Have you created an account for yourself on myPay?  If you have not, then I think that I could do it as if I were you.  Unless you have somehow registered one of your email addresses with myPay.  Which in that case I will be prosecuted and fined if I try to create an account and don't have the correct email address.  Which I also would have to create the account using my email because how do I access your other email addresses anyway?  Although if we had a power of attorney someone at one of the three numbers I called that was given to me by military one source might have been able to help me.  Also, Dale would really like us to have a power of attorney but most likely you signed everything you needed to with him.

So what I am asking for is did you create a myPay account?  Do you remember your login id and password?  What email address did you register with myPay?  Can I access that email? I should not have waited this long to ask you these things, but I didn't think it would be so complicated to get your W2.  I have an appointment to meet with Dale tonight, but without the W2 it will have to be re-scheduled.  Hopefully we can at least get our taxes filed on time.

I know I didn't get a letter written this week.  I always write on Sunday night but we had FHE at Angela's house and by the time we got home it was time for bed.  It was such a long Sunday for me that I was more ready for bed than the kids.  Anyway, I'll get a letter written soon.  The kids also went on a picture drawing spree for you.  So you will have plenty of pictures to look at for a few days.

I love you so much!

Jen

Received from Scott, 2 March 2011

Scott writes:

Family:

More standing around again today.  It's beginning to hurt my legs, ankles and feet.  We had a run this morning.  I think we did 3 miles.  I hate running in formation.  I hate running with the Lt. Colonel, Captain, First Sergeant and a group of Drill Sergeants telling me how to run.  You know how little I enjoy working out with others, imagine my disdain of PT at Basic.  They have us divided into three ability groups A, B and C.  The Alpha ran at a 7:15/mile pace and B ran at an 8:15/mile pace.  I came in just behind the main group.  As always in the first mile a lot of people are out in front of me and by the last mile I'm passing soldiers (many of which are walking).

We also went to a new range and shot.  I did pretty well.  We were practicing shooting at targets that popped up at 75, 175 and 300 meters.  We also had to use different shooting positions; prone supported, prone unsupported and kneeling.  I scored 27 hits out of 40 shots which registered as a pass for the exercise.  A lot of people didn't do so well.  The two most important qualifiers for a soldier to graduate from BCT are physical fitness and shooting a weapon with lethal accuracy.  The bulk of our training is centered around these skills.

I got the Valentine card from the kids as well as one from Mom Jeppson.

Last night reading the scriptures I found a couple of verses that I really like, especially as I sit here with several weeks of training ahead of me.  We often quote 1 Nephi 3:7 where Nephi expresses confidence that God will provide a way to fulfill His commandments.  Well later in the chapter he is trying to convince his brothers to not give up after a couple of set backs in their mission.  1 Nephi 3:15-16 "...we will not go...until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.  Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord."

Nephi didn't only show commitment and enthusiasm at the beginning of the mission.  He persists even in the face of opposition and apparent failure.  I can personally say this is extremely difficult to do.  As one that is full of ambition I have seen relatively few successes.  It is though to maintain belief and continue to put yourself in a position to fail.

I'm just laying down on my bunk.  It's 1923 hours on February 18th.  I just got out of the shower and I'm still sweating.  Today is D.S. Wells' last day with us.  Next week he has a military school he starts and he won't be back for the remainder of our cycle.  For his farewell he took us into the female bay and smoked us.  This was the real deal, old school BCT work out.  I thought it was just me that had not only soaked my entire shirt and pants but also had a pool of sweat on the floor; it was the entire platoon.  It was to the point that we were slipping in our own sweat.  At the end Drill Sergeant Jordan (3rd platoon) came in and D.S. Wells let him have at us for a few.  When we left and as we walked through 2nd Platoon Bay they had these wide eyes and were making comments about how nobody in the company  has been smoked that long.  I think it ended up being about 45 mins.  We were all so pumped, everyone was practically giddy when D.S. Wells told us to go into the bay.  We all had big grins on our faces and the biggest was the Drill Sergeants.  We all love him and will miss having him as a mentor and a coach.

The major accomplishment of this week was qualifying for BRM.  I scored 36 of 40 which qualifies me for "expert" level which is the highest of the 3 possible (marksman, sharp shooter, and expert).  Of 200 plus soldiers only 2 in the entire company attained that status, me and Wagner.  He's also in my platoon.  We both shot 36 in the first round and then he beat me in the tie breaker I shot a 28 and he got 30.  The platoon and D.S. were pretty pumped about it.  Today D.S. Wells told us that the "hard part" to BCT is behind us and that from here there should be no reason for us to not graduate.  next week we start ARM (Advanced Rifle Marksmanship).  Everything builds to the major event "Victory Forge" which is a 3 day field training exercise where we use all of the training in battle scenarios.  It's supposed to be pretty awesome.

Wow a lot of time has passed since I last wrote.  I should have put this in the mail earlier this week, but we have been so busy!  Today is Saturday Feb. 26.  We spent Thursday and Friday at ranges.   Our platoon was duty platoon this week which meant we were responsible for logistics.  Thursday morning we were supposed to do a 12k march.  About 2 minutes before we headed out D.S. Wall told me and another soldier to fall out.  She took us and a few of the "broken" soldiers to get the range set up for 200 soldiers to fire about 14,000 rounds of ammo.  It was my best day yet at BCT.  My post evolved into me being in charge of the ammo point where we guarded the ammo and had to pre-load the magazines then hand them out as soldiers entered the range and then exited and we had to collect those magazines again.  That was the longest since reception, I worked hard but the time passed and I had the most fun.  It is amazing what mentally engaging activities can do for the soul.  I realized how much I miss my civilian life where I experience that everyday.  Here at BCT it is a mindless experience; we are told what to do, say, think, etc.  Friday was another range and based on my performance the day before I was given even more autonomy and accountability over the ammo point and an equally fulfilling day.  D.S. Rottman told me I am a dweeb when I explained how I had calculated the number of people loading magazines, the number of rounds to be loaded, the number left over, etc.  Anhow, what I'm supposed to be excited about (and it was cool, don't get me wrong) was the fact that we shot M4 rifles with Red Dot laser scopes and night vision gear.  It would have been "cooler" if it were equipment that was permanently issued to me and I could have adjusted everything specifically to me.  As it was the entire company of 200 soldiers shared 30 rifles and night vision gear.  Really it was just a taste of what high tech war fare is like.  All suited up I looked like someone out of an action movie.  Today I chipped my tooth doing combatives.  I'll go to the dentist sometime next week to see what they do to fix it.  I wish I could have written more during the week because I feel as though I'm leaving a lot of detail out of my week.

I got the letter where you talk about Eric playing dress-up.  It was very touching to hear about Rubie and Brother Oakey.  I worry about Eric and Rubie forgetting their Daddy.  I also worry about the adjustment when I come home, I hope they will want me around after so much time away.  Last week's call was hard for me as I was really looking forward to hearing them since they were asleep the call before.  When they didn't want to speak I was real sad.  It was so nice that they finally did open up.  SPC Harris is a female in my platoon and her daughter refused to speak because she feels as though her mom betrayed/abandoned her.  Harris was in tears and my heart ached seeing the pain.  I know it's tough for her to leave her children.  Anyhow, I pray daily that the children will be emotionally cared for and I rely on Heavenly Father to look after you and them.  This experience has revealed to me what my core is made of emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.  I know now how completely my entire life and being is meshed with my family.  That is to say that everything I am and do at it's core is about my wife and children.  There is nothing in life I value more than you.  As I go through my days and I think about the BCT experience and the Army experience I've come to appreciate the individual experiences we have and yet at the same time this is our success or accomplishment.  A lot of focus is put on team here at BCT and perhaps it has caused me to think along these lines but I like the idea of our family is similar to a team.  That we win/lose, succeed/fail together.  I am so blessed to have each one of you in my life: Mom, Eric and Rubie.  As I imagine what our future holds I envision great things.  I am especially inspired by the potential I see in Eric and Rubie, they truly are "noble and great spirits"!  A lot of soldiers are here to make their parents proud, I hope to be a father Eric and Rubie can be proud to claim.  I miss and love each of you.

Love Forever,

Dad

Snowshoeing with the kids

This is a picture from our first snowshoeing trip together of the year.  I took the kids to Jolley's Ranch in Springville.  Eric was excited to try his showshoes that he received for Christmas.  The bear claws that Rubie has on were there in the yert and I knew that she would want to try them out.  Our total trip was just over a mile and it took us over an hour.  We had to play on the snow covered playground before we took to the snow shoe trail.  Rubie gave up on her snow shoes after a while.  She kept tripping over them.  She is so lite she just walks on top of the snow anyway.  

We went back a few weeks later this time with our friends Carly, Reid, and Link.  This time after playing on the play ground the kids decided they didn't need snow shoes at all.  That allowed them for freedom for exploring.  We went a little further this time and spent just a little longer.  With friends the kids seem to last longer or have more fun while working.

Dear Scott, 28 February 2011

We are loved.  These are Valentines from Andy & Beth, the Tulett's, Rubie, Eric, Scott, and Grandma Jeppson.

Dear Scott,

I wish I had a good report to give you about my weekend ride, but I don't.  I'm feeling very disappointed in myself.  The weather report was for really bad weather all over the state on Saturday.  The forecast called for 90% rain and a high of 35 degrees in St. George.  My mom tried to talk me out of going, but I was determined that you can't back out based on the conditions until you are right there.  So I still took the kids up to mom and dad's and John and I still went to St. George knowing that we may not ride based on the weather.  I didn't really have a great feeling about leaving the kids at my parents just because my mom ended up having her knee scoped, her meniscus needing repairing, that very day, on Thursday.  But Jared and Chantel were in town and Chantel offered to help with the kids on Friday.  So that put me a little more at ease.  Anyway, I took the kids up to my parents on Thursday, we all spent the night there.  Then I came back Friday morning, got myself ready to go and John and his son Jyson picked me up at 1:00.  I didn't get away from my mom's until 10:00 even though I planned on leaving at 8:00.  It was so hard to leave her with the kids.  She needed to rest and the kids always need so much.  Of course she assured me it would be fine.  The weather was great driving down to St. George.  Just a little cloudy and cool.  That would have been the day to ride.  The website for the bike ride said that no matter the weather the ride would go on.  John and Jyson dropped me off at my grandma's house and they went to stay in St. George at a hotel where Michelle, John's wife had been for a few days for a work conference.  Only Grandma was home when I got there but soon Aunt Wan, CJ, Mar, Tess, Jody (one of CJ's friends) and later Sarah all showed up at Grandma's.  It was quite a party.  When I got up in the morning at 5:45 there was pouring rain and wind.  And it was cold.  John and I decided to wait until 7:00am to see if it let up a bit before we decided to ride or not.  It only got worse so we decided not to ride.  At the time I felt fine about that.  I did not feel like going out in the rain and getting on my bike and being drenched immediately and through the whole ride.  I wondered how many other people would actually show up and ride.  After the other ladies in the house got up we made a great breakfast and decided to go into Zion to "chase waterfalls".  CJ says that during rainstorm there are so many cool waterfalls to see.  By 10:00 when we left the house I was really feeling guilty for not being out on the ride.  But the rain had turned to snow.  As we drove up the rode to Zion I was totally surprised at how many cyclists we saw.  I really felt disappointed that I was not out there.  But there was also a part of me that was relieved.  The cyclists looked absolutely miserable.  Many had plastic bags on their hands, feet, and heads.  Some were dressed for the weather and of course some were not.  No one was riding together to help get threw the rough weather.  Some I'm sure finished the 100 miles, but we saw many ending their ride at the mouth of Zion.  I thought why couldn't I have at least committed to ride the 30 mile option.  But I was having fun with the girls.  It was amazing to see Zion canyon in those conditions.  The misty clouds were hanging low and a layer of white snow outlined all the layers of the red rocks.  There were other hikers, I was surprised.  We brought quick drying clothes, rain coats, and ponchos.  After dropping Grandma off at the lodge where she could be warm and read her book, we hiked the Emerald Pools trail.  There were no waterfalls because it was snowing big snowflakes instead of raining.  But it was beautiful.  At the upper pools there was a huge stalagmite of ice where water was dripping off the wall to the pool.  It was huge.  I really enjoyed seeing Zion like that because I don't think I have ever been there while it was snowing or had such low hanging clouds over the whole park.  On the way back out I don't think we saw any more riders.  Either they had finished or were on to the next part of the ride.  Though I loved spending time with Wan, CJ, Mar, Tess, and Grandma, and seeing and experiencing a bit of Zion during a snow fall, I am totally disappointed in myself for not even going to the ride and beginning.  I felt guilty too that I left the kids with mom in her condition.  I also did enjoy riding down with John and Jyson.  Michelle was with us on the way back and it was enjoyable to visit with her too.  I also finished my book for the book club which I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to because I got it in the mail on Friday right before John showed up.  But it was an easy read.  We got back to Orem about 8:00pm.  The weather leaving Toquerville was bad.  We hit spots of bad snow.  But for the most part the roads were not too bad.  When I got back home I headed up to Farmington and got there about 9:20pm.  The kids were happy to see me.  Eric had a hard night on Friday.  Mom said he cried and cried for me.  He was very sad I was not there.  I guess that Friday Chantel did come over for a little bit.  She took Eric to her parents house in the afternoon and he played with Faith and their dogs.  Saturday Jared and Chantel did come over for a little while and Jared was good at wrestling and throwing the kids around.  Grandpa took Rubie for a walk but Eric didn't want to.  We came home Sunday morning and didn't go to Church with them because I could tell how tired Mom was and needed rest and they needed their quite house back.  I feel like I need to find two races to do this month to make up for my lack this month.

I hope all is well with you.  We are so proud of you.  Eric and Rubie say you are working hard in your work at the army.  I booked a flight to come see you for your graduation.  I'll be arriving on Tuesday evening 6:00pm to Columbia.  I'll be leaving early Friday morning.  One friend was saying that her friend went to visit her husband at his graduation and they couldn't even hug or anything.  I don't think he was at Fort Jackson.  Is it that way?  I saw some pictures on Facebook of some graduations and there were people hugging and kissing.  Have they talked about graduation yet with your families?  Are you allowed to spend a Wednesday and or Thursday night with me?  Your cousin Joy saw on Facebook that you were at Fort Jackson.  She said they are not far from you and would love to come to your graduation.  Since I was given 4 passes for graduation and will only be using 1 I said that she could have the other 3.  We will figure out how to meet up.  Is that okay with you?  Is there anything you want me to bring out to you?  I'm super excited to see you.  Good luck with all your upcoming challenges.  

I heard a song that has been in my head and keeps me thinking of you, it goes like this:

Do you hear me, I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean, under the open sky...
Boy I hear you in my dreams, I feel you whisper across the sea.
I keep you with me in my heart, You make it easier when life gets hard.

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend,
Lucky to have been where I have been,
Lucky to be coming home again oh...

They don't know how long it takes, 
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye, I wish we
had one more kiss.
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will.

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend,
Lucky to have been where I have been,
Lucky to be coming home again, I'm
lucky we're in love in every way,
Lucky to have stayed where we have
stayed, Lucky to be coming home someday.

And so I'm sailing through the sea,
To an island where we'll meet,
You'll hear the music, feel the air, I'll put a flower 
in your hair.

Though the breezes through trees, Move
so pretty you're all I see.
As the world keeps spinning round, you
hold me right here right now.

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend, 
Lucky to have been where I have been, Lucky
to be coming home again, I'm lucky we're in love
in every way.  Lucky to have stayed where we 
have stayed, Lucky to be coming home someday.

I love you, Scott!

Love, Jen

"Presents" Day

Yesterday was President's Day.  We were getting in the car to go and Eric says, "Mom is it still giving day?"  I was a little confused and didn't quite know what he meant.  I asked if he meant like Thanksgiving, a holiday.  He said sure and I said yes it is a holiday but it is President's Day.  He said okay, but then asked to go to a toy store and get something.  He is always asking to go to a toy store.  Later he asked if it was still giving day.  Again I told him it was a holiday.  Again he said okay.  Then even later he asked again if it was still giving day.  I said it is President's Day.  This time Rubie piped up, "A present for me!?"  Then I realized what Eric had heard me say.  "Presents Day."  He had been expecting a present all day long.  I then tried to explain what President's Day is all about.  Their eyes glazed over and so I basically said it is a holiday, but we don't give presents.  Well that was disappointing.

Dear Scott, 21 February 2011

We're playing girl.  I'm Tina, this is my sister Anika.

Dear Scott,

Saturday I was doing laundry.  Eric and Rubie were playing in Rubie's room.  Finally I was done putting things away and was making up the beds and just picking things up.  They closed the door to the room and I didn't hear much noise.  They were playing together well.  And though I figured they were probably making a mess or something, I left them alone for a few minutes.  When the door opened they came out.  Eric came right up to me and said, "We are playing girl.  I'm Tina, and this is my sister Anika.  We want to watch a Barbie movie."  Aren't they cute!  I told Eric how Jessica and I used to dress up Uncle Joe as a little girl.  We would put a leotard and tights on him too.  We put bows and clips in his hair and called him Josephina.  Eric decided maybe Erica would be a good name for him, that also happened to me the name of the Barbie in the Barbie movie.  I don't think that Rubie encouraged this though.  But not to worry.  Within a few minutes he was tired of playing girl and couldn't wait to be spiderman and some other hero again.

We had a few nice weather days last week, but Saturday and Sunday morning woke up to snow.  The weather was just bad both of those days.  The kind of days you just don't want to leave the house.

eric rubie     4 2                      bvcxzsdf5hghytfvxdsew                mnbhgytre mnjhbgvfcdx

That was from Eric.  He wanted to type some letters too.

Not much to say.  We had a good week that was busy again.  We had Young Women New Beginnings Meeting this Tuesday.  Beth came over and watched the kids, or at least Rubie, Eric was asleep by the time she got here and was asleep for the night.  I was supposed to speak/teach about doing personal progress on line.  I had Tyler Thorstead help me the Sunday before to make sure we could use the internet and things would work in the Church building.  One problem, on Tuesday, we were set up in the Relief Society room, we were sitting outside the bishopric offices on Sunday, right near the router.  But far away, down in the Relief Society room, we couldn't get internet connection.  So I spoke about doing personal progress online without the use of the internet.  Oh, well.  What else, we had the Riley's kids over, Julie has to be in bed for a few weeks with her pregnancy.  So I missed a workout to help her out.  Friday we had preschool over here.  That takes up a whole morning, but it is fun.  The kids really like getting together.  Our letter was R, so we did some races.  The little kids are so funny.  We had Reid Tulett come over and join us also.  Eric, Reid, and Rubie loved the races.  I had to talk Emily, Hannah, and Kambri into doing the races.  They weren't sure they sounded like fun.  The first race was to fun across the room to a bowl of marshmallows, stuff two in your mouth, chew them up, run back, and the next kid go.  Reid, Eric, and Rubie couldn't wait to go, but the other girls just wanted to run and get the marshmallows and bring them back.  They didn't want to be forced to eat them, and especially not fast.  We had another one in which I had some little lunch bags of pictures.  One picture started with the letter R, the others were just random little pictures.  They had to run down and search through the bag and find the picture of the item that started with the letter R.  Again, Reid, Rubie, and Eric were jumping to go.  The other girls didn't want to race, they just wanted to look at the pictures, they especially wanted the picture of ring, and then they wanted to go sit at the table and color it, and color it pink.  All the races went like that.  Oh, and Rubie did all the races in her pink and purple princess bike helmet that she got on Thursday night, and wore all day Friday, and all day Saturday too.  

Saturday while I was riding my bike on the trainer, Rubie insisted on having her bike in the house also.  So we got out a little towel and laid it down next to the towel my bike is on.  Then we brought in the bike with the training wheels.  She would sit on that bike for a few minutes or so, but she was biking with me.  And she couldn't wait to bike outside with her helmet, which also came with a little bell that I installed on her bike.  And a water bottle with a holder.  That is on the training wheel bike though.  So on Friday after preschool we went out to ride her bike.  She is getting better and I even raised the seat for her.  She has grown a few inches since last summer.  Then later after lunch she wanted to bike again.  She almost wanted to sleep in the helmet but I convinced here that was uncomfortable.  She is getting to where she can put it on and click the chin strap herself.  But she needs help undoing the chin strap.  She is so funny!  I love her!

Eric and I had a fight Sunday morning.  I let him watch TV so I can get myself and the kids and the bag ready for Church.  Well I'm not going to let him watch TV next Sunday morning.  He throws a fit when it is time to turn it off and won't get his clothes on or come to church.  So then because I'm bigger and can physically control him, I get him in his clothes and in the car but then we are both angry and crying by the time we get to Church.  Of course we had a big talk about it and he has promised to be good and be obedient when it is time to do something besides watch TV.  But we are going to try next Sunday morning without TV.  We'll see how it goes.  It may be more of a punishment for me than him.  You should see him with the ipad.  He can totally navigate around it to find the shows he wants to watch, even hook it up to the TV.  I have also put some kid learning games on there and he is really good at those.  The games help him learn letters, numbers, and other preschool concepts.  There are some that work with reading and math and we still need to work on those a bit.  Those concepts he has to work a little harder at right now and so those aren't as fun.  But they will come.  

Eric told me last night that he misses you because he wants to cuddle with you on the couch and in bed. They kids were at the Oakey's yesterday while I went to a meeting.  Kendall, brother Oakey, was there of course.  Usually when the kids are over there it is during the week and he is at work, so Rubie has never met Emily and Jason's daddy.  Amy told me that when Rubie saw him she just looked at him for a few minutes and then said, "Your Emily's daddy."  He replied, "That's right."  Rubie then said, "I have a daddy too.  He's just at the army."

I'm so proud of you.  We pray for you each day.  The kids talk about you and even what they want to do with you when you get home.  Eric wanted to buy some pickles the other day and leave some out for you on a plate so you could have some when you get home.  People in the ward always ask about you as well.  I'm surprised at how many people have been in the service, either army, navy, or whatever.  Everyone has some story to relate.  We know you are doing your best and hope you are having good experiences every day.  I love you.  Eric and Rubie love you.  They painted you some beautiful pictures last night.  I know they are kind of big.  I tried to get them to do something smaller, but they just wanted to paint you a picture.  I guess the painting is more special because I don't just let them paint everyday when ever they want.  We always look forward to your letters.  I treasure each one.  May our Heavenly Father bless you with strength, endurance, a positive attitude, the ability to be an example, and opportunities to share the gospel.

Love forever,


Jen