To the Point

Dear Jonny,

            It was nice dining with you on the living room floor last night (now last Thursday because it took me a while to finish this letter).  Our meal and time together was very worth the wait.  You're unofficially finished with Medical School.  The boys slept peacefully in their beds while we dined on fajitas and seven layer bean dip to celebrate.  Sometimes it is nice to eat without them.  It is much easier to enjoy what I have cooked when Aaron isn’t turning his nose up at it and JJ isn’t spitting it out.  Plus, I love that you love my fajitas.

            My mind is quite boggled, of late.  I’m going to blame it on the move, a little on you, and a lot on me.  For some reason it’s hard to keep my head on strait when everything in my house gets crooked.  Also, you are now done with class…which means you are home…which means that all I want to do is hang out with you.  What a good reason to be boggled.  Nevertheless, I want so much to keep track of all that is awesome and adorable events in our lives.  So, seeing that my mind is a scattered mess lately, here is a disorganized bullet point version of our lives lately:

• We went to Moab—loaded up Grandpa’s truck with everything we could possibly need to camp with a 4 year old and an 18 monther…including the port a crib, where JJ and I spent most of the night.  Aside from having a groggy momma, the weekend in the wilderness with the boys was awesome.  Jared loved hiking the backpack.  Aaron loved seeing just how far and high his legs could carry him.  It was always much farther and higher than I wanted him to go.  But, then I got my turn to spook the boys when I climbed Wall Street.  You did too, twice!  And, you biked Slick Rock.  But, I got to go to Arches and play in the slot canyon sand dunes with the boys, so I’m not jealous of your adventures.  In fact, I changed JJ’s diaper beneath Sand Dune arch.  If that isn’t awesome, I don’t know what is.
• Last week I learned that we can extend the warranty on Aaron’s cochlear implants.  It costs a pretty penny, but much less in the long run than replacing parts that occasionally go on the fritz (just the controller cost about $1500 and we have replaced three of them under warranty….costing nothing).  It was a fabulous day!  We won’t even have to worry about navigating whatever exclusions and excuses insurance companies throw our way.  Very good news.
• Aaron learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  And, he is SO proud of himself.  He is still holding his chin high, telling all his friends, teachers and acquaintances that he now rides on just two wheels.  He learned on Easter Sunday while we visited Paul and Amy.  The only bike available was Beckah’s (without training wheels), so you told him that was the only option.  He hopped on and you jogged along side, guiding him when necessary.  I looked out the window from the kitchen and saw you two on the side walk, then raced out with JJ to find my boy on two wheels.  A thrill shot through my whole body.  It was an awesome sight to behold.
• We are endlessly (it seems) exploring the Salt Lake Valley.  We know where we will be living for the next year, and we can’t wait for our lake-side “retreat.”  But, then we’re coming back.  Shall we come home to an apartment behind the Cathedral of the Madeline, or to a home of our own in Centerville?  Isn’t it fun to dream?!  Too bad it’s detrimental to packing plans.
• You and Aaron spent an afternoon last week rigging a bike rack onto my car.  And, you did a fabulous job.  Aaron loved being your assistant, and you both are pretty proud of your work.
• Jared throws things when he gets angry.  He throws his food when he doesn’t like it.  He throws toys when Aaron disapproves of the way he is playing.  And, when we take something away from him (toys shoved in the mouth, tortilla chips and other dangerous household items), he finds something to throw to express his biter frustration.  This is not news.  But, most recently, we have discovered how much he loves throwing for fun as well.  We broke the mini basketball hoop out of the storage room and he knew just what to do.  He darted for the balls in his room and dug out the “bababall,” climbed atop the foot stool and jammed in a few shots.  He was so proud of himself, and it is so much fun to watch his eyes light up when Aaron joins in the basketball madness.
• We are the proud owners of “Lewis Hamilton,” the rare Cars 2 car.  He was hard to find, and when you and Aaron spotted him on your trip to the grocery store, you couldn’t resist buying him—even though Aaron hadn’t quite earned enough money to buy him.  So, you struck a deal: you would buy Lewis, but Aaron had to leave him in the laundry room until he earned the full amount.  The next few days were the laziest and whiniest days of Aaron’s little life—spent lying down on the laundry room floor, holding the package in his hands, talking to Lewis, having play conversations with him, etc.  And, you and I found ourselves begging Aaron to do jobs here and there so he could open the darn package and resume normal life.  Finally, when Aaron dressed himself in his play clothes after church on Sunday, he earned the final quarter he needed to “buy” Lewis.  You have told me about the look on Aaron’s face when he came out of the building door, holding Lewis in his hands: eyes bulging, mouth stretching into a wide-open smile, arms raised victoriously.  He mouthed to you, “I earned Lewis Hamilton,” and you gave him a big two-thumbs up grin.  Lewis has been part of play time almost every day since.
• We are going to live in a lovely little lake house in Spartanburg, and we can’t wait.  Especially because we hope people will come visit us.
• We had the best Easter Sunday a few weeks ago.  We split the celebrations into “Bunny day” and “Easter Morning.”  On Saturday, I loved the fun of the egg hunt and the thrill of watching Aaron take a bite out of his chocolate bunny.  And, then I loved hearing his choice to save some for later.  I loved hearing JJ say, “egg!” with excitement, and then watching him shake it until it broke open.  And, on Sunday I loved spending Easter Morning at church with our little family.  They woke up to new Sunday bags and a new outfit for Aaron.  He was very proud of his Sunday attire—dressed handsomely in a new beige suit and vest.  What a heart breaker (out dressed only by you in your wedding suit).  JJ is always adorable, even in his hand me down sweater.  We had an Easter ham cooked by my dad (mom was in Canada and your parents were in Arizona), and then spent the evening talking and watching the kids play at Paul and Amy’s home.  That night Aaron resurrected his two-wheel courage and learned to ride a bike without training wheels.  We are so proud of our boy. 
• Last weekend we “took” your dad out for his Birthday dinner at Tepanyaki restaurant.  I say “took” because he didn’t end up allowing us to really foot the bill (ignoring all our protests).  Awe, some day.  But, it was so nice to have a night out to eat just with Dad.  (Amy took the boys and had a fabulous cousin night they are still talking about—JJ especially keeps repeating his cousins’ names at random).  I loved hearing of all your scouting adventures I had never heard before.  I loved listening to a few of Dad’s Japan stories.  And, I loved sharing a meal with you.  Then, we had a blast watching Hunger Games in the Mammoth theater afterwards.  Someday I want to write a cool book.  But, you already know that.
• On Sunday it started to sink in that we are leaving so many wonderful people we have come to know.  In primary on Sunday, the primary president said, “moving” during closing exercises and Aaron yelled out, “I am moving to South Carolina for one year and then I will come back!”  It made me tear up.  We probably won’t come back to the ward he has grown up in; the ward where he used to crash cars along the nursery table, where he used to wail for a little while when we left him in nursery, and the ward JJ was born into, etc.  But, we will come back to Utah, and that is a good thought.  Student wards are always changing, and things will never really be the same (even if we do come back), but we have been blessed to grow alongside the families we know here.  I’m especially sad we don’t have more time with the Nielsens.  I adore their family.
• We were an amazing packing team yesterday, putting our box count into the thirties....at least!  Go us.
• You are a very focused road biker lately—mapping out your rides, planning your way to being the fastest up this or that mountain.  You are awesome.  (And, I love seeing you in your tight bike gear).

I’m sure that more has happened, but I just can’t think of it now.  So, for the time being, this list must suffice.  I love you more than all the blossoms at blooming on the trees.

Love, Melinda Jill