Long time no post

I haven't posted in over a month! But I have a good reason: there hasn't really been anything going on with us. :) But I've found a few things to blog about. First is the kids' school pictures. I will say that I'm not overly impressed by them, but they aren't bad. We didn't get to pick out background color or pose or anything like that. I think Will looks super cute, as always. I think Jenna's picture is okay, but it doesn't entirely look like her. She thinks her face looks crooked, and I see what she means. On top of that they did pictures after recess, so her hair was a little messed up. What I'm getting at is that the picture didn't capture was a gorgeous girl she is! (Although that's not shocking for school pics, eh?)

This week the kids have fall break; an entire week with no school! We started the week off with a new haircut for Jenna on Monday. This was her first "real" haircut; I've done all of her cuts before this. It was fun to watch her get it cut. She looked like such a little lady. She's got a cute little bob with some layers.

Yesterday we went to an indoor amusement park. A friend gave us a tip and we were able to get $1 wristbands for everyone! The kids had fun riding all the rides and playing in the giant play area. Joel and I rode a few rides with the kids, as well. Will was even a trooper and wasn't scared about going on any of the rides. (A few years ago he rode one ride at the carnival and they had to stop it because he was screaming his head off.) They had a great time!

For some reason we weren't able to get any good pictures from Joel's phone (I forgot the real camera), and we tried to take a few of the kids while they were on the rides, but they were moving too fast!

Here you can kind of see Jenna's new haircut! Fun!

Hangin' out with the hippo.
I got Will to hold still just long enough to snap this one.
Adam wouldn't go down to slide, so Joel was trying to coax him down. A nice shot, right?

Finally Joel made Jenna just push Adam down the slide! Aren't we nice parents!? He didn't mind too much once he got to the bottom.
I think the kids are enjoying their fall break and all of the playing they are doing. Next week we get to look forward to seeing some family from out of town AND William's birthday! We can't wait!

We got a nice surprise in the mail yesterday. A manila envelope from the Army. I'll admit, I had a little "yikes" moment like I do when we get anything official looking from the Army. Last month- September 11th, to be exact- Joel's obligation to the Army was done. Finished. The End. But I didn't feel as relieved as I thought I would on that day. I realized that it was because I knew he was done, and Joel knew he was done, but I wasn't positive that the Army knew he was done. Let's face it, there is a lot of paperwork involved in anything dealing with the government, and plenty of room for error. I was still worried that next week or next month we would get some letter or phone call saying "Joel, you're being deployed again." And we would say, "But he's done!" and they would say, "No he's not."

So imagine my relief when I opened the manila envelope to find this...

There it is, in writing! Joel is honorably discharged from the Army National Guard! I know that Joel felt bittersweet about it, but my only emotion was pure, unadulterated relief. I don't regret Joel's time in the NG, and I know he doesn't either. They paid for his college degree, and both of us learned a lot in that year he was deployed. But that doesn't mean I want to repeat it! Knowing that that dreaded phone call or letter won't come is such a wonderful feeling!