I figure it is finally time to sit down and blog. I am looking at about 12 days until I fly to Korea. I have to say it has been a very enjoyable month leading up to my departure. We have learned over time in the Army, that with separation, it is best to leave the emotions to last and just enjoy the time you have.

The adventure across the country with the U-haul was thankfully uneventful. We spent all our bad luck in Columbus when I picked up the U-Haul from the rental place and proceeded down the freeway to Fort Benning. That was when I looked back to the rear of the 26-foot truck and saw the trailer hanging by one chain flying back and forth across three busy lanes of traffic. Cars swerved everywhere to avoid the impending catastrophe which fortunately never transpired as the chain held on long enough for me to slow down. Lifting the large trailer back onto the hitch with two blown out tires and seized brakes on a shoulder the size of a Hot Wheels track was largely a matter of earnest and successful prayer. Turns out the hitch on the trailer I had been given was faulty. I had to literally drag the trailer (because of the seized brakes) to another nearby U-Haul to get a replacement. It was a bit of a Planes. Trains and, Automobiles event pulling into the place with tires smoking and a bashed trailer.

Besides packing the U-Haul on the hottest day of the Georgia summer, everything else went great. It took us five days to get to Washington from Georgia averaging 40-45 mph. Marion, IL --> Lawrence, KS --> Denver, CO --->Twin Falls, ID were our stops. In Denver, we stayed with Brooke's brother Adam. For the evening, we went to a local amusement park that has been in Denver forever and got ourselves ill on thrill rides. Actually it was great fun with an authentic "Coney-Island style" wooden roller-coaster. Safety was in the back of my mind, however, after taking Sadie on a fairly fast ride. As we were getting set to start the ride, all the "carny' chic did was yell out "Is everyone ready?!' Never mind she could only see about 3 of the 20 or so cars from her vantage point, and that 3 and 4 year olds were in some of the cars BY THEMSELVES! No checking seatbelts here! Or, for that matter, tickets:) Yes, pretty much every ride was free. Funny place, but we had a memorable time.

On arrival, many helping hands assisted us in getting everything unloaded into Brooke's parents daylight basement and to our storage unit. We spent a fun day out at the Washougal river getting wet at Brent's in-laws. Kim's wedding was beautiful and I thought the backyard reception with Mom and Dad's great backyard was perfect. It was great seeing you Marnie and how much and adult you are now. I know that sounds funny, but you have to remember, I watched your birth! It is very good to see you having a successful and fun life.

The following week we took off for a Utah vacation. Because of all the driving we had done we decided to stop outside Boise on the way at a hotel next to a water park. We got to Boise early enough we were able to take the kids (including my nephew and niece) to the waterpark and spent 6 hours there. It was a fantastic idea of mine:) It made the trip so easy and enjoyable! In Utah we attended two of Brooke's family reunions which included 9 holes of golf. This was honestly the first time I really considered never golfing again because it was so frustrating. Of course the golf gods decided to allow me a perfect 250 yard drive ( a first for me) on the last hole so that I would play once more. They are really coniving. Following those events we went to Eden to visit Dick and Martha.

WOW! What an incredible place the have built. So well designed! We were treated to a great tour of the surrounding area and a wonderful lunch at The Oaks in the canyon. We stayed two nights and could have stayed a year. We got to see Jake, who is really doing well. Martha was very gracious listening to Jane who talks and asks questions at least as much as I did at that age. Reminds me of very memorable times I spent with Aunt Beppie. Dick is obviously in pain but taking it very well. No Moose sightings however. I guess we will have to wait for the reunion for that.

The rest of the Utah time we spent down in Crappy Valley. Actually, we were very happy Peter and Anne and Geof and Darla were there to keep us sane. We had a blast going to movies and the waterpark. Too bad Anne was playing volleyball 25 hours a day or we would of hung out with her. Peter is a good guy to hang with though, so we were all happy. I am glad Peter enjoyed Jane's curiosity, it never ends!

The drive back was an all-nighter non-stop (except for gas). I hate doing that. I always feel like I am pushing safety to the edge. It was fun to do when you didn't have the kids in the back, now it just feels irresponisible. So that was the last one. Day driving when going cross-country from now on. We did arrive safely and I have since recovered from the lost sleep.

Since we have been back, we have spent a lot of time just hanging out at Mom and Dad's. Very fun. Dave cooked some awesome NY steaks last night. Sadie is always asking when we are going to "gramma barb's to play with my best buddy Morgan?" I have really enjoyed hanging out with Isaac, Tay, and Parker. Good kids. We are going to take them to the Lewis river today to cool them off on what is to be a hot day up here.

Brooke is busy trying to get the basement looking like a home. Jane had a fun lunch with "Papa and Gramma Barb" yesterday for her birthday. Sadie is always delighting us with her funny comments or driving us crazy with her moodiness. Ellyn is finally an official walker! I am trying to get some books read. The last book I read was fantastic but I can't recommend it in the traditional sense. It is called "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. It is the most riveting book I have read in a long time. However, the content is very mature and disturbing (it is the autobiographical account of recovery from severe drug addiction). So if you can stomach it, read it. But, I don't officially recommend it. Right now I am reading Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything (Recommended by Lexi), which is very good although it has been a strange transition from the style and content of Frey's book. My PC is enroute to Korea so I have lived this month pretty much game free, except for small bits of XBOX time. My PSP has also filled that void. Mostly I am just enjoyimg spending a lot of good time with my girls.

So..that blog should be long enough...if any of you made it through this far. It is really long to serve the dual-purpose of a journal entry for the many events of this month. That is why it may seem a little dry in places. I hope Mom is still printing these out! Love you all!

Mike