they're back & they're disgusting

Remember a little over a year ago... on

this day

It was truly one of the most wonderful days of my life!

I hugged my boy, kissed his face, cried tears of joy, took it all in... ahhh.

Then I said to him,

"you smell....... bad."

He replied-

"thanks mom."

But the fact is - he stunk-

I eventually narrowed it down to a mixture of smoky & mold.

Yucky. Eww. Gross. What is that smell?

We decided the smell was the smell of his mission. You see in the part of Chile he served in- it's very moist & rainy. The people there don't have clothes driers- or indoor heating in their homes. Everything is dried/warmed or heated by the fireplace or propane stove. His ties & suits would grow fungus if he didn't rotate his meager wardrobe.

This is all completely foreign to me- living in the dessert of Utah.

I did grow up in Seattle- but with a clothes & hair drier & indoor heat - PLUS a fire place.

Anyhow....

after the missionary got home-

I started cleaning (and throwing away) his clothes.

Some of them shrunk in the drier- sorry- some of them were just holey & warn out.

Others (like his monogrammed towel I sent him with) came through it after a couple of washes.

One of his favorite things he brought home was his Mission Jacket. The whole mission had matching rain jackets with the mission name embroidered on the front.

The mission jacket- it's special.

Unfortunately... the mission jacket- got hung up in the coat closet (just off the garage & just behind the kitchen) without being washed. A month or two after the big homecoming event I noticed little moths in that area of the house...? Where on earth were these months coming from? They were tiny- not like any moth I had ever seen? really small, maybe 1/4 the size of your usual moth.... hmm weird?

Then one day I saw it... took it out... smelled it-

OH NO- the mission jacket was never washed!

Ever since- we have had moths.

I thought for a bit we had gotten rid of them.

I bought moth killer at target- the kind you hang in the closet.

They were gone for a bit.

But now they are back!

There are little squished moth carcasses all over the back pantry.
They're back & it's disgusting.
Any hints out there on how to get rid of Chilean moths?
Please don't tell the food & drug administration.
If we brought on a moth killing food frenzy-
I'm so sorry.
It's wasn't on purpose.

is it already december?

1. brian is home and
2. having a really difficult time transitioning to non missionary...
3. it's tough- he's crazy bored - his friends are gone or busy
3. so he has me-
4. poor kid.
5. he has decided to definitely move out in January for school and hopefully a job
6. just as jack moves home.
7. Last week we found out that Hailey made the H.S. Musical!!!!
8. cats
9. I'm not joking
10. A promise of no spandex has been made.
11. I am so excited for her!!!!
12. I feel like it's time for spring cleaning
13. which is not good when it's time to get out a load of Christmas decorations aka: mostly junk
14. I scrubbed every inch of the downstairs bathroom yesterday
15. and the kids upstairs bathroom today
16. along with working on some Christmas gifts that
17. will never be finished.... but are going to be so pretty.
18. I've decided I am a crappy house keeper-
19. I hate that about myself.
20. is there a balance? without paying for help? how do you do it? I just can't seem to keep up.
21. I feel like I was being selfish wishing brian home
22. He is miserable-
23. I feel bad for him...
24. I wish megan was here
25. I don't know what to do for him
26. I do know that I've been sleeping like a baby
27. and could have sleep for days last week.
28. completely- emotionally- spent
29. relief-
30. didn't last long
31. I'm tired. maybe I shouldn't have written this post tonight?

eight for friday... wait it's saturday, but feels like a friday

1. last monday was the first real snow of the season. I think I like snow... until March- then snow makes me overwhelmingly angry. 2. After Brian spoke at church about gratitude- we had a light lunch at our house for the load of young adults & teens that wanted to come by to see him.

3. I would've been a complete mess except for so much help from my nieces & wende & brett & my girls... & the blogger moms... so many helpers- thank you!

4. this photo confirms the inevitable... I need to go on a diet in a big way. Please don't anyone send me dieting tips- I know what I need to do- but thanks anyway.

(hailey & friends)

5. The blogger moms brought pots of soup or desserts & saved my bacon (again). Janae brought mint brownies. I've wondered for a while, but now I know Hailey must have been switched at birth... no child of mine would declare they don't LOVE her mint brownies! What in the world?

6. I love that wende brought here kids because I put them right to work- I can boss them around like my own & they were so GREAT! Allie was in charge of rolls & the boys helped with chairs etc.

7. Brittany was here & trent declared her "brittany the school teacher brittany," to help with the multiple brittany dilemma.

8. Our home computer is on the blink- which means I haven't been able to blog much because I have to wait & fight for my turn on my own laptop... aaargh! I hope we can fix it soon, or that school starts or something! It's rough...

home again

Being gone 2 whole years- 2 whole years dedicated to serving others- takes a lot of faith, commitment, hard work, and dedication. Coming home after all that- I'm learning- isn't easy. We got home Friday afternoon- and it was just that -

not easy for the missionary.

Oh don't get me wrong, he wanted to be home... kind of. He knew his time was up- but he didn't want it to be. We drove into the driveway opened the garage door & we all got out. Everyone went into the house- Brett & I stayed back & helped get out the luggage. Brett carried it in- surely he thought we would be right behind him. He was wrong. Brian stood there and stared. Stared at the neighborhood- dazed.

You okay... ya.

Everyone started coming out wondering where he was.

He wasn't ready to come in yet.

After 15 minutes or so- we went in. After a couple of minutes in- he went into the office & started to cry. Brett went in with him, shut the door & there they stayed for a good hour. Emotional.

After that--- we opened some birthday presents we had bought him - new clothes.

Trent was like an obsessed three year old wanting to help & open. Not nice when your ten- sheesh- for heaven's sake! In his defense, the whole day was difficult for the little guy. So much going on- so many emotions- it was a lot for him to process.

Elder Miller came by. He was one of the missionaries great friends from the missionary training center. He stayed for dinner- pork roast, baked potatoes, a big salad with ranch dressing, brownies & ice cream... with root beer all by request.

We left for the church building where the missionary was officially released from service. Another rough time. He was asked to take off his mission tags- it took some time.

We made it home- just as the friends started arriving.

Rye bread & Whip

aka: ryan & greg - for some reason- years ago I gave all of Brian's friends nick names & they stuck with me?

Jaelynn all the way from Utah State!

Jaelynn, Whitney, Rye, Brian (notice the change of clothes?) and Laura.

It was a really fun night & weekend- more to come!

words... not needed

He's home......