You Say Goodbye and I say Hello!

June was a month of Hello's and Goodbye's.
I already mentioned the comings and goings of the boys in June in the last post, but I thought I would share more picture with you of the big events.
In early June we said goodbye to Kody for two years as he left to serve in the Argentina Buenos Aries North Mission, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

After some final goodbyes to the nephews we were off to the airport, where we wait for six hours because our flight was delayed. Kody refused to go back home and wait. He had already said his goodbyes there and he had waited for this day for too long, he just wanted to sit it out. We did get him to leave the airport to get lunch, but was all. Kim took a nap in the car while Kody and I sat in the airport waiting. Once we arrived in Salt Lake we got the last rental car, actually van that was available at the airport. Kim informed us that he had forgotten to reserve a rental car, but not to worry they never run out, yes they do! No one could explain it but they had been very busy and no one had any cars left, except we finally got and twelve passenger van! Oh the memories! Kody and I could not believe our eyes when Kim pulled up in it, we thought it was a joke! We will always have a good laugh when we talk about that day.

We stayed in the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake, I love that place! Kim wanted Kody's last night to be in luxury and I was not going to argue. Kody hadn't eaten in almost two days because he was so excited and nervous and the way he looked at the room service menu we thought he would order it all!

After a restless sleep, there was last minuet packing and a little shopping to be done.

The traditional last meal at IHop then on to the MTC.

Kassey, Will and Baysil joined us for the morning adventures, why not there was plenty of room in the van! Kody was in the second week of curb drop offs at the MTC and you can only bring one car so we tried to fill it the best we could. We parked the car across the street and walked over to take the classic pictures.

Then back to the van and we drove through the MTC for the drop off.

Kody couldn't wait for us slow pokes. "Come on guys!"

I started my goodbyes in the parking lot and the crying kicked into full gear for this mom.


Last minute instructions were given by the hard working volunteers. This was only their second week of the curb drop off, but they were very organized and things went really smooth.


Then the real goodbyes and hugs and more hugs.

Bay's face says it all

"Now you're sure you are going to take care of my baby boy?!?"
No one at the MTC could shake hands or touch you because of the swine flue so they bumped elbows. Kody said it got old after while and you just wanted to shake hands or give someone a hug.

Then before we could think too long about it, Kody was off and in the MTC, no looking back. It was good I wasn't my makeup where it was suppose to be by then.


One week to the day later came the Big Hello and Welcome Home to Kyle!

We were at the airport and ready for him. We waited and waited

Then finally there he was, I spotted him across the airport and I took off running. Kyle had come from a different direction then the rest of the people and yes the rest of the family were a little embarrassed and I did look funny, but I wouldn't do anything differently.

A mom knows her baby anywhere!

Mack was a little confused. I think Kyle looked a little different that his picture on the frig and besides granny was acting a little strange.

Kloe remembers her big brother even if she looks different to him! Mack is still a little confused as Kyle tries to share pictures of the place he loves so much.

The happy group!

Once home the sisters continue the hugging and the sisterly teasing begins. They had been saving up and had two years of harassing to waiting for him.

A little before and after. We had this poster made for the girls weddings and used it at every family gathering. We are so happy to have our Kyle home with us! We miss our Koderman, but know he is where he should doing what the Lord wants him to be doing right now and he is loving his mission.

That's only the beginning of our June Goodbye's and Hello's! More soon!

May Through July

I am way behind with the blog , but I have lots of good reasons, lots of good reasons. For now I'll give a quick catch-up and hopefully life will slow down just a bit and I will give more details soon.

In May I ran my first, and hopefully not last, 5K. Thanks to my good friend Deana Rosell and the support of Kerin and Cory, I made it all the way without stopping once.

June had major events every week, or so it seemed.

The first week of June Kaira and her boys got into town and the fun began.

 

On June 10th Kody checked into the Missionary Training Center to prepare for his mission to the Argentina Buenos Aries North Mission.

One week later Kyle returned form his mission to the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission. When I say one week I mean one week to the day. 

A few days later Kloe was promoted from 6th grade.

After a weeks rest and relaxation we were blessed with a new beautiful grand-baby. Winnifred Darling was born June 29. I got to go up to Utah and stay a week with Kassey and family and kiss, cuddle and play with our granddaughters.

 

After being home for another week the girls and I were off to church Girls Camp.

 

Now that we are home, I can get the house sold and pack for our move to Mukilteo, Washington. Oh did I mention Kim changed jobs and we are moving? Kim started work in Washington the week after Kyle got home and Kyle followed just 2 weeks later. We are all very excited about the move and the adventure it will be. If I am counting correctly this will be our family's 15th move, but before we move we have one more event, the blessing of our sweet little Winnifred. Luckily we will be close by when grand-baby 5 is born in February. You guest it, Kaira and Tyler are expecting their 3rd!

Oh My Man, I Love Him So

Cheesy I know, but I can't help it. Kim and I celebrated our wedding anniversary this month and I needed to devote one post to the man that caught my eye when I was 14 and a true dork in yellow gingham checks and ruffles. I'm telling you I was a true dork. Kim is grateful he doesn't remember our first meeting. I thank his cousin, Kurt for introducing us. It was years later that I found out I was Kim's token "wall flower" dance that night. At every youth dance, he and his buddies would ask a girl to dance that would probable not get asked to dance by anyone else. They were so kind hearted, they wanted to make sure those sweet "wall flowers" would have at least one dance. These are the same friends I devoted a post to last month.

Our paths crossed several times in the next five years. Just a month before Kim left on his mission for our church, we went on our first date. I had lost a little weight and learned how to dress by then and he didn't recognize me as anyone he had ever met before.

After his mission we dated again and 28 years, med school, residency, Air Force, 7 children, 4 grand babies and 15 moves later I am still head over heels for the man I love.

Kody's Mission Call

Kody's Mission Call is HERE!!!

Kody was at the mailbox for three days straight and we were all relieved the day the large envelope finally came, but the wait wasn't over. Kim was having a rare golf day and we promised we would wait until he got home. Kody couldn't wait until the men were done golfing so he made a call and Kim was on the road. I think that was a long half of an hour for Koder.

We didn't even have time to get all the sisters on the phone so they could hear him read his letter, Karly and Kloe were home from school just before Kim got home. The minuet Kim walked in the house the envelope was opened.

Kody has been called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been assigned to labor in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission for 2 years. He is to report to the Provo Missionary Training Center the 10th of June.

It only took a few minuets for it to sink in and then Kod started texting and calling family and friends. He is very excited about his mission call. Like his older brother he has had the desire to serve a full-time mission since he was a little boy. He did the happy dance, gave out hugs and then he was off with the boys to celebrate. The mission call came the afternoon of Kyle's "P-day" and it was too late in the day for him to get the email, so Ky had to wait for a letter in the mail. 

It will be an interesting month of June around the Porterfield home. Kody leaves and the next week Kyle gets home.