Emily’s Musings

There are 10 kids in my family, all from the same two parents (yes, that means no step or half siblings) who will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary next month.  We are all married with children, except for Brian, my twin.  Getting all of us together is a huge undertaking since we all have families of our own, and some members of the family live out of the state of Utah.

Two of my sisters, Rachelle and Ang, planned a family reunion up at Bear Lake which is on the Utah/Idaho state line.  Originally, David and I hadn’t planned to attend, but our schedules were worked around and we were able to go.  This only posed a tiny problem . . .

See, my very organized sister Rachelle, rented a Lake House that would accommodate all the families that planned to attend the reunion.  And since David and I kind of decided to attend at the last minute . . . well . . . let’s just say that we were one bedroom shy of perfect accommodations.

My mom rented another condo down the street for my family to stay in so we would have a nice place to sleep.  On the afternoon of our arrival, she checked in to the condo for us and brought back the key.  With a very stressed out look on her face, she proceeded to tell me about the condo.  The unfinished furniture . . . uncomfortable chairs, tiny room, nasty wall paper, etc.  Knowing full well that I might have a gasping-for-air moment the second I stepped foot into the condo, she was positive we couldn’t stay there.  (I totally agreed.  If she thought it was bad, then so would I.  The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.)

In an effort to accommodate us, she asked my bachelor twin if he would give up his room and take the condo instead.  He graciously agreed. I owe him BIG time for that.

(this is my twin, Brian, making his very late grand arrival to the lake)

Poor Brian, the bed was so terrible and nasty, he slept on the couch, which was also nasty.  David mentioned how the place must have really been sub-par if a single guy wouldn’t sleep on the bed.  But then I had to remind him that this was Brian we were talking about.  You see, Brian isn’t just any old bachelor.  This is a guy who is more persnickety than I am.  He lives in Provo’s version of high-rise downtown condos, drives a black BMW, and his condo looks like a model home.  He even took the time to change all the lights in his condo to soft lighting.  It’s the artist in him.  It’s things like this that make the chicks dig him.

Aside from the sleeping arrangement drama, we had a wonderful time at the reunion.  I have 22 nieces and nephews, so the house was certainly busy with activity.  Hannah LOVED every second of it.  She mostly loves kids (of all ages) and all of her cousins were vying for her attention.

This is the Bear Lake in Idaho.  The silhouettes in the picture are my sister’s-in-law and some nieces and nephews.

This is my sister Rachelle playing with Hannah.  Hannah LOVES Rachelle and Rachelle LOVES Hannah. She tells me all the time that she needs a “Hannah Fix.”  I’m sure glad she played with Hannah in the mud because heaven knows I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

This is Hannah with her cousin Becky (who is now 18) and Ammon.

Rachelle and Brent brought their sail boat.  I didn’t sail, but David said it was awesome.

This is my brother Ben.  This is one of his classic looks.  You may not be able to tell here, but he is actually having a great time.  He brought up a boat for our enjoyment.  David went water-skiing, and said it was awesome, but kind of like skiing on the ocean.

This of course is Hannah.  She thinks she is the same size as all the big kids.  She tried really, really, hard to boogie board, but her only success was looking cute while trying.

We had a great time and we wish we could do things like this more often as a family.  Our time in Utah is running short, and it was so nice to squeeze in some family vacation time.

Thanks Rachelle and Ang for organizing this, and working out all the details for all 32 of us.

Thank you mom for understanding my standards and making other sleeping arrangements.

Thank you Brian for taking the bullet.  I owe you.  If I made you a cake, would that make it up to you?

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Dear Hannah,

You are now 22 months old. Our family has had some big changes in the past two months, so this letter will have many pictures to show your development, and the major life changes you have endured like a champ.

First, your daddy graduated from the basic science program at Saba University School of Medicine. What does this mean? He is half way through med school which makes him half a doctor, or as we like to to call him, a “tor.” He will earn the “Doc” part when he graduates in 2010 when he becomes a REAL DOCTOR. We all can’t wait for that day.

With all big accomplishments, come big changes. That meant we had to leave our beautiful home on Saba, in the Caribbean. Saba was your first home. You have grown up as a Caribbean baby, playing with rocks, geckos, iguanas, and swimming in the ocean. As much as we loved it there, the only reason we could live in the Dutch West Indies for an extended period of time is if your dad was in school. Since he finished the program (thank goodness for that! I I would DIE if he became an eternal or professional student) we have moved back to the states where he will do clinical rotations.

(This is what a Caribbean baby tan looks like compared to a Utah baby tan.)

The whole family (including the whining dogs) arrived in Texas at the end of April. You traveled so well. It took 19 hours to get from our doorstep on Saba, to Daniel and Lydia’s doorstep in Texas. Not once did you have a meltdown, or cry, or bother the other passengers traveling on our plane. I owe you BIG TIME for that. Someday you are going to read this, and I’m sure you will remind me of how you were such a calm and easy baby, and then your are going to ask for something BIG. I know it.

We went sailing with a friend of ours in Texas. (Who is a dentist and tried relentlessly to convince your dad to go to dental school instead of medical school. He now refers to your daddy as a “real doctor” because apparently, dentist’s aren’t real doctors.) You LOVE boats, and the ocean, so we thought you would be very excited about this sailing excursion.

However, about five minutes into the sail, you said, “All done?” SEVERAL TIMES. Then you would point out other boats on the water and say, “SEE EM!” with all the energy you could find in your little body. I don’t think you realized you WERE ON A BOAT. When I pointed out the water, and told you we were on the ocean, you shook your head and said, “No?” I know I was telling a little white lie, like moms do from time to time, (like when you demand more marshmallows, and I tell you they are all gone even though there is an entire bag waiting for you in the pantry). You are smart enough to know the Caribbean ocean is CLEAR, and turquoise, not dark blue, and murky. When your daddy took you to the front of the sail boat, you looked back at me and said, “FUN!” Good, I’m glad you finally figured out what were were doing was fun.

It has been very interesting to see the world change through your eyes. The first couple of days in Texas, you asked me to go swimming, and you kept looking out the back sliding door asking me about the ocean. You would say, “Ocean? Go?” Again, and again. It broke my heart to tell you the ocean was all gone. You no longer talk about geckos, iguanas, the ocean, or going swimming. It makes me sad to think of the life we left, but it also gives me comfort that you have adapted to your new life of BIKES, WALKS, and SWINGS. THIS IS ALL YOU TALK ABOUT. ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.

(I’d like to point out that your dad put your hair in pig tails on this day. He is multi-talented.)

You are still obsessed with “messes.” Part of having fun at the park is cleaning off EVERY WOOD CHIP, ON EVERY STAIR.

Texas is known for BIG TRUCKS. In fact, I think Texas alone supports the BIG TRUCK industry. Driving around town, you would yell, “TRUCK!” every time you saw a truck. Which was like every other vehicle.

While eating at Taco Bell, (I had to have it because your baby brother was TOTALLY craving it and I had been deprived of such fine cuisine for over two years) you noticed some balloons tied to the back of all the chairs. I am embarrassed to say this, but at almost two years old, YOU HAD NEVER SEEN A BALLOON. You looked very thoughtfully at them and then exclaimed, “CIRCLES!” Yes, they are indeed circles that float up in the air. You poor thing, I will have TONS of balloons at your birthday party in two months. That is if my pregnant brain can remember something that important. You affectionately call them “a banoon.” Yes, you put an article in front of “banoon” every time you talk about them.

You are an excellent sleeper. In fact, I think your grandparents might start asking you for advice on how to sleep 12 hours a night. There was one night of adjustment when we got to Texas, and you had a meltdown when we put you in a Pak N’ Play at Daniel and Lydia’s house. I would ask you, “Where is Hannah’s bed?” and you would point to the portable crib, and cry, “Hannah’s bed!” Then I would ask you where mommy’s bed was, and you would point to the bed and cry, “Mommy’s!” After establishing the bed assignments, you relented, and went to bed just fine.

You were an excellent traveler driving from Texas to Utah. You sat for 22 hours, and really, I don’t even have the patience for that. We are now staying at your Grandma and Grandpa Lesher’s house in Utah. You made yourself at home quite quickly, living by the “toddler rule” which is, “WHAT’S MINE IS MINE, AND WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE.” Several times throughout the day, you will say, “Hannah’s!” Just to make sure that I KNOW WHAT YOUR PROPERTY LOOKS LIKE. It is amazing how much stuff is yours anyway, like kitchen utensils, tweezers, and the T.V. remote control. Speaking of the T.V., you never showed any interest in watching it on Saba. However, since finding grandpa’s (who you call “Demnis”) “Chase Lounge Chair,” you LOVE to watch T.V.

You’ll watch anything really. You just love to relax on that piece of furniture and tell grandma “watch it!” Because obviously it is grandma’s responsibility to turn the T.V. on for you. You follow your Grandma Gloria around all the time and tell her what to do. We refer to you as her “shadow.” You usually convince her to go for a walk, or to the playground by saying, “COME ON!” No one, even your grandma who has a bad back and is recovering from knee surgery, can resist your enthusiasm and charm.

You used your special charm on your grandpa “Demnis” by talking about bikes, ALL DAY LONG. You would look at him and nod your head yes, and say “BIKE!” with such enthusiasm, that he could not resist your darling little face. It only took two days of taking about bikes, and Dennis drove you down to the store and let you pick out a bike. WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO HIM. WE COULD NOT LOOK AT YOUR INNOCENT FACE ASKING ABOUT A BIKE ANYMORE.

You love to give us updates on your whereabouts or physical wellbeing. You point out when you get a “bonk” and then say, “Okay?” Just so that we know you are indeed, OKAY. If the injury is in need of a kiss, you will walk up to the closest adult and say, “kiss it?” Most of the time, we don’t know you had a “bonk,” but we are always glad for the update.

You are very sweet to me, and point out where baby brother is ALL THE TIME. Probably because you can’t miss my belly, and that is indeed where he is. You kiss my tummy, and then point out that you also have a baby in your belly. Fortunately, you just have a belly with no baby.

You love to exercise on Grandma and Grandpa’s machines. You have named one machine “Daddy’s” and one machine “Mommy’s and Grandma’s.” Because obviously, those are the only machines we work out on.

Your hair was a mop. Well, more like a BIG MESS, and I know how you feel about messes. Your aunt Rachelle cut your hair the other day, giving it some shape. You had no idea what was going on, you just wanted to play with your tea set. You didn’t sit very still, but your hair turned out darling.

You attended nursery at church for the first time a few weeks ago. I knew you would like it, but I was totally wrong. BECAUSE YOU LOVED IT. What more could a kid want besides toys, other kids to play with, and snacks? When I went in to pick you up after your first time attending, you took one look at me and said, “GO AWAY!” That’s always a nice way to greet your mom. WHO ENDURED 30 HOURS OF LABOR, 40 PREGNANCY POUNDS, AND MAJOR MASTITIS FROM THE GET GO. Maybe you turned out to be such a good sleeper and traveler to even the score. I guess I don’t owe you big time anymore.

A few weeks ago, your dad and I had a Family Home Evening (commonly referred to as F.H.E. where we talk and learn about gospel principles) and I showed you a picture of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. You took one look at the picture and said with exuberance, “JESUS! SWINGING!” which really means “swimming.” You are so innocent and darling, your dad and I couldn’t help but laugh. And yes, Jesus was indeed sort of swimming in the picture.

You are bursting with words every day, and copy everything we do. We love you so much, and we hope you will happily share us with your little brother when he arrives in a few weeks.

Here are some of your new words:

• I need it!
• See it?
• Get it?
• See ‘em?
• I did it!
• Watch it!
• Prayers
• Truck!
• Flag!
• Close it
• Church
• Focus
• Make it!
• Come on!
• Come ‘ere!
• All done?

We love you so much!

Love,

Mommy

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I am indeed alive. Life has taken some crazy turns in the last few days, and I have not taken the time to sit down and write about it. Here’s the crazy stuff: I am currently in Utah, which was NOT part of of the plan as of last Sunday. I am on “extra rest” (not to be confused with bed rest), and I actually had to live without internet access for TWO WHOLE DAYS. That was torture.

Why am I in Utah? Why is it mandatory that I relax? And WHY ON EARTH DID I HAVE TO GO WITHOUT THE INTERNET? Yeah, I’m still bummed about that last one.

I ended up in the emergency room on Sunday night. I learned something interesting about being pregnant. If you are pregnant, and end up going to the emergency room, you are treated like a V.I.P. You don’t actually wait in the “real emergency room.” You are taken to the maternity ward and are seen immediately. That was nice. I’m not a night person, so sitting around waiting and waiting to be seen by some doctor was not something I had to endure. Because this is a public blog, and there are many readers I don’t know, I will not go into all the personal gory details of why I went to the emergency room, what happened, and what I was told to expect throughout the last eight weeks of this pregnancy. I’m just not that kind of girl that spills all of my personal health issues to perfect strangers. Even if they are interested.

However, I will say that I had three ultrasounds on Sunday night. Each machine fancier and more detailed than the previous. The baby is fine, but I need “extra rest” (which shouldn’t be a problem since I mastered the art of LAZINESS in the Caribbean), and I can’t lift anything over 10 pounds. Hannah is a TANK, weighing in a 31 pounds, so I can’t lift her. This posed a problem when I told the doctor my husband was leaving the next day (Monday) to drive to Utah with our two dogs, all of our hud, and I was staying in Texas for a couple  more weeks to help a friend of mine with her new baby (who was due yesterday, but still hasn’t delivered.) I obviously couldn’t care for Hannah 100% (since I couldn’t lift her into her crib) and I would have big problems at the airport because I couldn’t lift/carry anything over 10 pounds (which is probably what my purse weighs), or carry Hannah through security, or lift her onto my lap while flying.

I felt terrible to leave Lydia at such a crucial time in her life, but I knew I had to take care of myself, or I could very possibly end up with a pre-term baby. We arrived home from the ER at 12:30 AM, and by 1:00 PM Texas time, the whole family (including one sedated dog, Kyaha, who vomits in the car unless given drugs) headed for Utah.

We made the 19 hour drive in 22 hours. We stayed overnight at a ghetto Motel 6 in Albuquerque, New Mexico (because it is pet friendly) and my skin just crawls with yuckiness as I think about it. I’m just not a Motel 6 kind of girl. Never have been, and never will be. As per doctor instructions, we stopped every two hours so I could walk around for 10 minutes. But trust me, my 7 month pregnant bladder was the boss of this trip, and at times, two hours was a VERY LONG TIME between potty breaks. Hannah and the dogs also enjoyed all the stops. We all got to walk around many different parking lots, like crazy people, walking in circles, with no purpose.

Hannah was an excellent traveler, and she only protested getting in the car once. After 20 1/2 hours of driving, she had ENOUGH. She told us in toddler terms (you know, like a TANTRUM) THERE IS NO WAY YOU’RE GETTING ME BACK INTO THAT CAR SEAT! We were in Price, Utah at this time, and we convinced her that grandma had toys, and LOTS OF THEM. She talked about toys and grandma for 90 straight minutes. The second she walked through the door of David’s parents’ house, there was no “Hi!,” or hug from Hannah, she immediately demanded, “TOYS!”

Boy am I glad this house is stocked with good toys. I’m sure Hannah would never have forgiven us for lying to her about such an important thing.

We obviously had no internet while we were traveling for 22 hours and of course, the ghetto place we stayed did not offer such a luxury. We couldn’t even pick up the wireless from the lobby. Maybe they don’t have internet. I wouldn’t be surprised.

We have been in Utah for three days now. David took a day to do a bunch of paperwork (like getting us on insurance) to get us settled in here as residents. I have unpacked everything, and as of this afternoon, we don’t have piles of stuff on the floor of our bedroom. I can’t live with piles. Everything has a place, and when I’m too tired to put things back in their place, I tell my full time assistant (David) to put things back in their proper place. He is very good at tasks I give him. I’d like to think that he feels the same way about clutter that I do, but something tells me he doesn’t like the crazy person I turn into when things are out of place. Whatever the motivation, at least the job gets done. Right?

It feels good to be settled. I meet with the doctor next week who I plan to use to deliver this baby, (I sure hope I like him. At 32 weeks prego, I can’t be too picky and change this late in the game) and hopefully he gives me good news. I don’t mind the “extra rest” business, but I really want to pick up my daughter. I hope these restrictions are just temporary and not for the next eight weeks.

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Anyone who is anyone, knows where all the great shopping is in Dallas. Right after David and I moved to Texas, I met a girl at church and I complimented her on her jewelry. Very casually, she said she bought it at Sam Moon, like everyone knew that store. When I asked her, “What is that?” she GASPED and said, “You don’t know what Sam Moon is?” Um . . . NO I DON’T.

She went on to tell me all about it and of course, I HAD TO GO THERE. My cousin that lives in this area also LOVES to shop at Sam Moon, (as well as the entire Metroplex) and she also gasped when she found out I had been living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for two weeks and HAD NOT BEEN THERE. It’s like not knowing where the airport is, and the equivalent of never hearing of “The Gap” or “Target.”

Sam Moon is located in an Asian community of Dallas. It is about 45 minutes away from where I lived, and where I am currently staying. It is full of handbags (perfect for me who LOVES handbags), jewelry, accessories, and really, anything you can think of. When people visited us in Texas, going to Sam Moon was definitely a tourist stop. When people returned to visit us in Texas, Sam Moon was the first place they wanted to go! I used to fly an employee of Allyse’s Bridal down to my store a few times a year to help out at bridal shows, and I swear to you, the ONLY reason she would come (other than to hang out with me) was to go shopping at Sam Moon.

It is normal to feel overstimulated when you walk through the doors and see THOUSANDS (okay, more like HUNDREDS) of women shopping around like maniacs, picking up great finds at great prices. My previous business partner, Allyse (who used to own Allyse’s Bridal at University Mall) described the shoppers as ants on an ant hill. That is how busy it is. She too was amazed at the cheap prices.

Obviously, a visit to Dallas would be totally LAME if I didn’t go to Sam Moon. David (who didn’t complain at all about all the shopping) and Hannah went with me just to see what we could find. I was looking for a purse that I could use as a diaper bag. Because really, why do you need a vinyl one? It’s not like your kid actually uses the bag. You just need a bag big enough to hold all your purse crap and baby necessities. This is what I found:

Now, I would like to make a comment. I really like this bag. However, others obviously do not share my same taste. Some people, (ahem, Jenn, Jess, and Lydia) think this bag is not cute. Maybe it’s not the style in Southern California, but I will say that I saw several styles of this bag, in this print, in Miami last week. Plus, it is big enough to hold all my junk, and both of my kid’s junk. Price $22. Now do you like it?

Also, I bought another bag that could double as a diaper bag (you know, because ONE bag is not sufficient) and this is what I picked up:

This bag was $8.

If you have an opinion on these bags, let me know. I still have time to exchange them before I leave Texas. I don’t want to be that girl walking around with the atrocious bag, and everyone knows it, but her.

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We’re in “The Republic of Texas.”  It only took 19 hours to travel from our doorstep on Saba to Daniel and Lydia’s house in Texas, but hey, the whole family made it, including Paris and all her whining.  Hannah was an excellent traveler and only had one melt down on the way.  She was SICK AND TIRED of being buckled into her stroller, and being confined at all times.  SHE JUST WANTED TO GO ON A DANG WALK, and meet new people, and say “hi!” to everyone, and dance, and shake her bum-bum, and ALL of the aforementioned activities are almost impossible to do when you are strapped down in a stroller, with parental supervision.

It was a very stress free day of travel.  What a relief for us!  David and I were both able to get on the same flight leaving Saba, and ALL of our luggage and both dogs were also on the same flight.  THAT ALONE IS A MIRACLE.  The airline that flies in and out of Saba only allows one pet per flight, and luckily for us, they made an exception.  I’d like to think the favors given to us by the staff at the airport were because they liked us, or knew our names, not just our faces, but that probably isn’t the case.  I think it’s because Hannah is a charmer.  She always smiles, waves, and says “take care!” to the employees when we leave that tiny airport, and I think she is the reason they felt so compelled to give us a break.  We weren’t charged for the dogs, or overweight luggage.  I want to go back to Saba just to say, “Thank you” to them one more time, for making our trip that much easier.

Flying from Saba is always complicated in some way.  Fortunately, the winds were favorable enough for the plane to land (they were projected to be unfavorable, making it impossible for us to leave the island) and we were at the Sint Maarten airport at 8:00.  We had a WHOLE LOTTA TIME TO KILL with a toddler, two dogs, and four pieces of luggage.  That’s right, our whole lives fit into FOUR pieces of luggage.  In fact,  we had extra room in the luggage, (which is just a shock really) and I was able to bring home my vegetable steamer.  Which I love, to death.  Honestly, I wasn’t concerned about my blow dryer fitting into the luggage, but the steamer, that was a priority.  I couldn’t live without it before moving to Saba, and leaving Saba was no different.  Initially, I had just planned to leave the steamer and buy another one when we returned to the states, but since there was room in the luggage, I just saved myself some money!  Which could go toward something else I need . . . and I just can’t start naming other things that I “need” because after being on a glorified camping trip for two years, I “NEED” everything!

Being a toddler is BIG WORK and Hannah is happy to show you just how hard it is to hang out in a stroller, saying “hi!” to everyone, and dancing to the Caribbean beat.  Since we had SIX HOURS to kill, she decided to take a little snooze at the airport.

Hannah requires four items to go to sleep.  If one of the items is missing, then the delicate balance is ruined and she JUST CAN’T SLEEP.  She has to have her Pooh Bear, soft tag blanket, her bear blanket (not shown) and her DANG BINKIE.  She HAS to have her binkie to go to sleep.  It is the only time she gets it, and every time she lies down for a nap she says, “BINKIE!” and every time she puts it into her mouth we tell her “You don’t need this DUMB thing!” but then we have to give it to her because we know she will fall asleep within minutes.  And really, this is a battle not worth fighting right now.

Arriving early for our flight made check in a breeze, and American Airlines was so helpful.  They didn’t charge us for the extra piece of luggage we checked, and they took dang good care of our dogs while they were out of our care.

During our LONG wait at the airport, we David took Hannah, and our girls for a walk.  He was the designated walker, and I was the designated spectator photographer, sitting with the luggage, and the kennels.

If you want to know how hot it was, just check out the dogs’ tongues.

When we arrived at DFW airport, we were so excited to see Daniel and 8 1/2 months pregnant Lydia (who professed she would never have kids . . . Ha!  Ha!) I got a second wind of energy.  Our pups were excellent travelers, and I was so relived to have all our luggage, dogs, and family together, in one place.  One piece of luggage went missing in Miami during customs, but it magically showed up on our doorstep this evening. We are very happy to be here, in one piece.

I can’t believe the time has finally come for us to move on from our life on Saba.  I have seen so many friends and students move back to “reality” during our two year stay, and I am so happy our turn has come!  Yesterday was full of bittersweet emotion as we left our house on Saba, but I do look forward to the next chapter in the “Adventures of the Leshers.”  Whenever I think about the beautiful island life we left behind, I have to think, “I can buy grapes, bananas, milk, and ANYTHING I can imagine, ANY DAY of the week.”  That thought alone will keep me going. 

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I know, I disappeared. I have been sick. Not just kind of sick, but the really sick kind of sick. Since I have been sick 90% of the time, the other 10% of the time when I feel somewhat decent, I have to be a mother, wife, house cleaner, chef, dog caretaker, and entertainer to Hannah. I feel somewhat behind on life, but life certainly has not come to a standstill. A few things have happened in the last few months: we watched New Year’s fireworks from our patio from three different islands, we ACTUALLY left Saba and spent Christmas on Emerald Isle, North Carolina, and oh ya the sick thing . . . it’s not the contagious kind of sick, I am pregnant!

This pregnancy is very similar to my pregnancy with Hannah. I have to keep looking at Hannah to remind myself that feeling like trash is part of the program. Baking a baby is big work! I kind of forgot how exhausting it was until I got pregnant again. I am due on David’s birthday in July. Hannah was a birthday three days later, so they will be two years apart. I am in my 13th week of pregnancy now, just 27 more weeks to live through. YUCK.

David’s brother and sister-in-law own a beach house on Emerald Isle, North Carolina. David’s parents surprised us and bought us plane tickets to go out there for Christmas with them and his sister and her family. We hadn’t seen either his brother (who lives in NC) or his sister (who lives in GA) in over five years. They both have kids we had never met. It was great to get off this Rock and actually be with extended family for Christmas. This was David’s first time off Saba in a year, and his first time out of the Caribbean in two years. I was expecting him to have some culture shock (believe me, it happens to everyone, even when you have lived in the states your whole life), but it never happened. It may be because he never left the beach house. Maybe it’s because he didn’t got to Walmart with me on the Saturday before Christmas. Maybe it’s because he only saw a handful of people when he did actually leave the house to attend church. Maybe this is why his mind wasn’t overwhelmed with choices. Like all the candy available. Everywhere. Specifically Swedish Fish, and Red Vines. Let me rephrase, fresh Red Vines. Soft chewy candy, what a luxury!

We traded our ocean view on Saba, for another on Emerald Isle. Except, the beach house has private beach access, which is more than that I can say about my house. In fact, David and I ended up in “opposite world”. Pretty much everything we don’t have on Saba, we had at the beach house.

Let’s just note some of the differences:

Emerald Isle Beach House: 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, four floors, media room, sauna, hot tub, pool, two kitchens, three automatic dishwashers, ocean view, private beach access, kid play room, adult game room, and an elevator (because who wants to carry their pesky luggage up to the four floor?). Oh ya, and plenty of sea shells by the sea shore. You can rent this beautiful place for $12,000 a week. It can sleep up to 30 people.

Saba house: Two teeny tiny microscopic bedrooms, one “convenience” bathroom (where you can shower, go to the bathroom, and wash your hands all at once because it is that small), one “grand” room consisting of the kitchen, dining, and family room. Oh, we also have a large 13″ TV. Not flat screen, of course, but I know somewhere out there, someone is feeling better about their house after reading about ours. Our house does provide a beautiful view of the ocean and five other islands. It really is amazing. Our place can sleep up to four people and would rent for about $200 to $400 for a week.

Not only was it nice to get away from paradise, but it was nice to spread out. All over the house if I wanted to. Hannah was IN LOVE with the stairs, all four thousand of them. That meant that someone had to be on “Hannah stair duty” at all times, and since I could pull the sick prego card (which was legit) that left it up to David most of the time.

Here are some photos of our Christmas getaway:

Hannah and her cousins Ara-Jean and Micheal watching a movie.

Hannah and David on the top story of the house.

This is the front of the beach house. If you look closely, you might be able to see David!

This is the back of the beach house.

This is the view of the beach from our bedroom window!

Dennis, Gloria, and some of the grandkids out on the beach.

Most of the family out on the beach. I was on camera duty . . . so I got to watch most of the fun.

Hannah on her beach stroll.

Hannah and her Daddy on the beach.

This is Jake, Mike and Mary’s dog. He lives at the beach house and this is his turf.

Jennifer and Eliza walking the beach.

The ocean view from the balcony off our bedroom.

The back of the beach house.

One of the only pictures of Hannah and me. Proof that I was actually in North Carolina for Christmas.

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While I was visiting the great state of TEXAS, it was very obvious how “everything is Bigger and Better in TEXAS”. My world on Saba is so small: 1,500 people, five miles big, nine miles of road, one gas station, four grocery stores, and a few restaurants. So, everything in TEXAS seemed THAT much bigger. I had to take a picture of Central High School, which is located near my old house in TEXAS. There are over 3,000 kids (or more) enrolled in this high school. Ahem . . . that is like THREE times the population of Saba. The school probably sits on five square miles too . . . Nice to know that my entire world could fit into this ONE school.

Central High School, Keller, TEXAS

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Lydia is so dang thoughty. You see, while she was in Los Angeles last month, she came across my favorite candy in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, and I am not exaggerating. I discovered this particular candy, HI-CHEW (aptly named for being really chewy) in Taiwan. You can find it all over China, because it is a candy made in China; not a Chinese candy. It’s kind of like how our kids favorite toys are not “Chinese toys”, they are just made in China. Trust me, I have been subjected to all kinds of NASTY food in China, and I can honestly say, Chinese people (real ones, the ones that live in China, not the Americanized ones) do NOT like this candy. This is an American candy. The kind that will rot your teeth right out.

David loves this candy as much as I do, and his only request when I would return home from Asia: HI-CHEW. On one business trip, several of us (from our previous business) were being driven to the Taiwan airport, and we were running late. However, I knew I certainly could not show my face to David without bringing home a Texas sized supply of HI-CHEW! I distinctly remember asking the driver of our car to PULL OVER! When I spotted a store that sold this wonderful candy. We basically raided the store (I can’t really call it a gas station, it certainly wasn’t a grocery store, but it was a store that carried HI-CHEW, and LOTS of it!) We literally dumped entire boxes of HI-CHEW into our bags, and depleted the store of it’s entire stock. The cashier watched us very closely, waiting to see if we were going to rob the store too. When purchasing my stash of HI-CHEW, the cashier asked me, “You like?” Um, obviously “I like”. I asked him if he liked the candy. “No, No. I NO LIKE“. Great, this confirms that HI-CHEW isn’t a nasty Chinese candy, but a fantastic American Candy!

Ahem . . .it has been brought to my attention that this mouth watering candy can be found in highly populated areas of the United States. And by highly populated, I mean big cities, with diversity, you know, like lots of cultures and lots of people in those cultures; enough people to make an entire town, like “China Town”. So, if you find yourself in such a city and are wondering what to buy in a town like “China Town”, search every store high and low for the best candy in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. It is TOTALLY worth it.

It comes in many flavors. Thanks Lydia!!!

Fruit-tella is a poor imitation of HI-CHEW, but it will give you an idea of what HI-CHEW is like.

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I feel like a celebrity. Everywhere I go, people are welcoming me back to the island. They all seem to know where I went and for how long. This “welcome” back to the island took me off guard at first. I had forgotten how everyone seems to know the comings and goings of the island. I know I am not a celebrity, but this must be similar to how they feel when people ask them about their travels.

I was certainly missed around my house. Not only did David profess his undying love for me in attempt to convince me to never leave him again for that long, but Paris’ and Kyaha’s hearts practically lept out of their bodies and basically had a heart attack right there on the patio. Crazy, excited dogs. My fridge also spoke to me, “Please, clean me out, give me a bath, and feed me!” Judging by the food in the fridge, (or lack thereof) I am 100% sure David ate like crap while I was gone. And I don’t mean crap like junk food, because at least that is food. I mean crap like a sleeve of Ritz crackers for dinner, or whatever else he could find that was stale and unfulfillable. Yuk. Good thing I’m home to reclaim my post as “family chef” and “family maid”.

I am back in the swing of things, which is pretty much like being on vacation. I have been busy this week working on a few projects that I will post pictures of later. I promised to post pictures of my trip, so here are some of the highlights:

This is my twin brother Brian. I know, David and I look more alike than he and I do.

This is my sister Jenn and her husband Scott (with Hannah of course). I visited them in Southern California.

This is a photo of Hannah her her cousin Zack (9 years old) who lives in California. He is so cute holding her hand!

This is my best friend Katie. She now lives next door to my parents in Utah. Very crazy. She mentioned to me that we have been friends for almost 20 years. YIKES! I don’t think I can be that old!

David’s sisters Janine and Sheri and his mom. This was taken at the (Janine) Harmon Ranch house in the Provo Canyon.

Saba isn’t the only beautiful place to photograph. This is some of the fall foliage up Provo Canyon.

This is Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon. I used to bike up to this waterfall from my parents house.

Um . . .ya . . . this is the Porsche Cayenne Hannah and I got to drive around for a bit. It actually belongs to Angie, my sister-in-law. It was nice to drive something so nice. Our car on Saba is such a piece of junk compared to this!

This is the kitchen in the “mansion”. It is so beautiful, this photo does not do it justice. I enjoyed cooking up a few meals for my brother and his family in this amazing kitchen.

This is Hannah with David’s parents. Check out Hannah’s mile long lashes!

Hannah playing Daniel’s piano in Texas. She was quite good!

This is Ashley and Melanie Bonnett (well, her last is now McNutt). Melanie’s baby, Elizabeth, is exactly nine months younger than Hannah. We saw them in Texas.

Yes, this is Hannah and Redd (Caroline and Orrin’s kid) making out. Aren’t they cute?!

I had a wonderful trip to the states, but I am glad to be back in my own environment. I am glad to get Hannah back in her crib and happy to have my two dogs following me around like my shadow. It’s nice to be home.

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Dirt, humidity, plants. Yep, it smells like Texas. I have such fond memories of this place. I really feel like I am “home” here. I have been staying at Daniel and Lydia’s house, which is right next door to the house David and I sold before moving to Saba. Our old house still looks like our house, and I want to run in there move all my stuff back inside, but it’s not our house. It is a very weird feeling. Unfortunately, the people that bought our house, leased it out to some renters who did not take care of the house. The renters wreaked havoc on the house and I am sad to see the house now. It is vacant now (thank goodness), but it feels like someone vandalized my personal property! It probably doesn’t help that I see the house everyday (I am just next door), and reminisce about my previous life. My, how very different my life is on Saba. Part of me LOVES being in Texas, and I am ready to reclaim my previous life. But the other part of me, longs for my simple life on Saba.

I am still a big city girl. Driving over the crest of the freeway last night and seeing a sea of lights, I must admit, I still love it. There are museums, parks, and friendly people here! Not to mention shopping at Sam Moon . . . And truthfully, Super Walmart here is as good as Super Target. I couldn’t find what I needed at the Walmart in Utah, but I certainly found everything I needed here!

Lydia and I attended at Yoga class Thursday night at 24 Hour Fitness. When the class began, the instructor asked “Is this anyone’s first time doing Yoga?” Feeling like an idiot because I have never done yoga in my life, I declined to comment. The instructor then said “Phew, good! Lets get going!” I was saying “PHEW! GOOD!” to myself! It’s a good thing I didn’t admit to being a yoga idiot. The class started and things were going well. It’s like playing “following the leader”. I am pretty coordinated and somewhat flexible, so the beginning of the class was fine. Then we started “posing”. Um . . .I don’t usually hold an “eagle pose”, or an “open apple” pose that often (ahem . . . like never), and I was beginning to wonder if I was giving myself away as the “yoga idiot”. Good news for me, it looked like others in the class were in my same predicament. At one point, while were were sitting in an “Indian pose”, the instructor said, “Just relax and enjoy the sensation in your right hip.” Enjoy the sensation? Relax? Is that possible? I thought I would need a fire-hose to blow out the fire in my left hip! I looked at my watch and the class still had a half hour to go. Half an hour? Yikes. I had some serious hip, leg, and arm burning to endure. I am officially still sore. After attending this class, I noticed that Hannah does Yoga ALL DAY LONG. The “down dog” position is her favorite. I wonder if Yoga was designed after the lifestyle and movements of a toddler. They are in really good shape, have endless energy and can (and will) eat almost anything!

Last night I had dinner with Orrin and Caroline. They are such a great family. Orrin is a pilot and flies for some private charter company out of Alliance Airport. Caroline is pregnant and due in two weeks. She is having another boy. Their little boy, Redd, is a lot like Hannah. He is five months older, but just as calm as my little one. They are both very affectionate and basically hugged and made out the entire night. We couldn’t stop laughing! I have some of their kissing moments on camera. I will post the pics when I get back to Saba and have access to my computer. It was fun to catch up with them and see their growing family. I hope to see them again in April when we pass through Texas on our way to wherever.

I leave Texas tomorrow morning. Which means that my stay in the USA is over. I am happy and sad. But I am mostly excited to see David! At this point, I don’t care where I go, I just want to see him! We have been apart for five weeks. That is the longest we have ever been apart. It is too long. Poor David, he has been living on crackers and water for the past month.

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