Bring it!

I can handle all of this...that is to say WE can handle all of this, right?

Lets start from the beginning.
The last day of June we found out that we were expecting another baby.  That's right folks, our last two children are only going to be 13 months apart... if we are lucky.  I was NOT happy about it.  We had discussed the possibility of having another child in a few years... maybe... but not any time soon.  So it isn't as though this child wont be "wanted", just a little (a lot) too soon for us.  We decided not to tell anyone, at all, until after we were given the "all clear and healthy" from the Dr.  and I scheduled the first appointment as far down the road as possible.  It probably seems pretty negative as you are reading this.  I will admit, I couldn't find anything nice to say about it for weeks, but it is, ever so slowly, growing on us and sinking into reality that it might not be the end of the world. Not completely anyway.  I am going to work on

Latest trip to Utah

We recently made another trip down to Utah.  We went down again to see Chris' baby sister Courtni for her farewell before she heads out on her mission.  It was really more like a mini McDonald family reunion.  All of "the McDonald kids" and their families came for the festivities. Our numbers seem to be growing rapidly. Just since last year there has been two new additions with Emilia and Issac. 

Chris Made TSgt

So much has been going on this month.  I think it is going to take me a few blogs to catch us up on June.  There is no way that I will be able to remember everything and get it into one.  So I thought that I would start with one of the more exciting peices of news for us. 
It has been about a week since we found out Chris made Technical Sergeant.  He was so So thrilled about it, and with good cause.  Since his step into the new role at work he has been feeling the stress of needing that rank.  He mentioned on a few occasions over the month that he would feel he deserved his position a little more if he had made Tech last year.  Now that he has made it he still can't believe it.  The emotions

What's new in the McDonald news...

Quite a bit has been going on since I wrote last.  I should really keep up better so that I am not always playing catch up.  It seems fitting that my last post was on patience and blessings, this post should relate well to that.
Let's sum up; We went to Utah to be with family for Easter, as well as have the rest of the family in Utah meet Millie. Unfortunately on the way home we were involved in an accident that totalled our truck and damaged the piano that I finally had the courage to move up to Montana (luckily nobody was really injured).  Chris' troops showed their love with a gift card for dinner and a date night, babysitter included (thanks Silsley).  Duncan got his first set of stitches (probably the first of many) right down the middle of his forehead.  We had our first yard sale in our first home (it only took us three years after buying our first home). Chris received a HUGE (and hopefully fairly temporary) promotion at work.  We are finally seeing spring in great falls.  Millie had her four month old check up. A new McDonald boy was added to the family, on my birthday!  Apparently we survived the Apocalypse, or at least nobody that I know was taken, and May isn't even close to over yet.

Patience and Enjoyment

I am truly envious of those who have learned, or perhaps have yet to forget, how to enjoy even the smallest detail of a day.   I continue to remind myself to smile daily. Sad really, when written down (or typed as this case may be).   I am NOT a sad person in general, but I think I may have forgotten to enjoy as much as I can.  Something to reflect on.

March Reflections

March happenings, Hmmm...

Chris took his PT test. He improved from 75.4 in December to 90.3 in March. That was a big relief for everyone. All of the early morning hard work paid off. Chris also took his promotion test for Technical Sergeant in March. He thinks he did well, but we won't know for sure until the middle of June. Hopefully the third time is the charm. He also started on the over 30 basketball team for his squadron. I still smirk a little with that one =).

Lets see, what else... Daylight savings started again. It has been pretty nice to have some light outside later in the day. I don't really like to give up that hour most of the time, but this year it didn't seem to bother any of us so much.

The weather warmed up in March. The snow was gone by the end of the month, but winter is still lingering. We did get quite a few days of decent temps. Warm enough that we were able to take Duncan and Millie to the park. Duncan needed it almost as much as I did. It was so nice to finally be able to play OUTSIDE without having to spend half an hour dressing for it.

How To Tame a Lion

Duncan roars. That's right, roars.
I am not sure if I can pinpoint when it started. I am pretty sure that it started with Halloween. Duncan was a lion for his first Halloween costume. We would say "roar like a lion, ducky", and he would. Only it was in a very shy, and quiet little voice and often followed by covering his mouth and giggling. It progressed with the movie The Jungle Book. From there it was a game with daddy... "Duncan, show me your Big Bear Growl". Duncan would roar, Chris would roar louder and scare him, we would all laugh. After a few times I didn't find it as funny anymore. When Duncan STARTED to roar by himself I thought it was cute, but by the time the movie The Lion King was seen I was over it. By then he had learned to use his imagination, which is a wonderful thing in a two year old, unless it turns on mommy. When he started roaring AT me the game needed to come to an end. Only it hasn't... sigh*