Waiting for June

Andrew is doing really well at the academy, he is totally in his element, learning laws, shooting guns, running obstacle courses, he was made for this job. We are so proud of him. Sadly he didn't pass the Spanish test, it sounded like it was really hard, even native spanish speakers didn't pass. So this means he won't be done until May 29th, which might as well be June. I'm trying to look at the positive, this will give us more time to save money to buy a house, I get to spend more time with my family, and Andrew will be able to speak spanish at the level he needs to. I'm still sad that we have to apart for 18 weeks, 2 down 16 to go (not that I'm counting), and it breaks my heart every time Malachi walks around the house saying "Daddy, Daddy," the poor kid needs his wrestling partner back, but we get to talk to Andrew every night and it's so good to just hear his voice. I feel bad feeling sad about this when I think about all the women who send husbands to war for much longer than Andrew will be gone, but it's hard to be without your other half. It's making me stronger, it's kind of empowering really. My first empowering experience was that first Sacrament meeting after Andrew left, for all you moms out there you know what I'm talking about, getting a kid through sacrament is probably one of the hardest things, at least for me it is, Malachi and I walked into the chapel and he started looking for Daddy, I almost started crying right there, but we sat down and with a lot of help from above we made it through the whole meeting, I didn't have to take Malachi out or anything. After that for some reason I knew I could do this, I knew if I could get through sacrament I could do anything. That sounds so ridiculous but it's really how I felt and continue to feel. I didn't mean for this to be so long and kind of personal, that's really not like me, I guess I needed to get it out. I just want to thank everyone who has helped us so far, especially amazing parents who are letting me live with them, yep I'm sleeping in my old room, it was originally just going to be for a week but has turned into a permanent thing. I'm grateful for the gospel and the comfort it brings, and so grateful for my amazing husband who is working so hard so we can start this big adventure!

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Au revoire

Andrew and Malachi at the airport sharing a bagel.

This was the first try of this picture, like father like son.
We did pretty well at the airport, Malachi was more interested in looking at the cool glass, which was probably the best thing, if he would have been crying I would have been a mess! We are all doing well, Andrew is doing well at the academy, he takes the spanish test next Wednesday, we are praying he passes, because if he doesn't he will have to stay there another 8 weeks which would be awful! Malachi and I are doing well, we've been staying at my parent's which has been so nice. I need to start packing things up, so if any one has any boxes or knows of where I could get some that would be really helpful!

Funny baby!

Papa's shooting ear muffs, I found these and think they're pretty hilarious!

Eating my toast in just a diaper, is there any other way?

Where's Malachi?

There he is!!! (Yep that's some Friends playing in the background)

Crazy hair in the tub!

I love the bath!!!!

New years goal chart

So for mutual we made these super fun goal charts. I never do the whole resolution thing, I might write something down, but then I forget and nothing ever gets done. But one of our advisors has done this since she was a little girl. So every time you get a goal accomplished you get to fill in the corresponding shape, this is totally down my alley, I need the instant gratification. So here is a picture of my goal chart (please don't judge my artistic skills, they are lacking! Michelle I think you could make an amazing goal chart, craft diva extraordinaire!)

Graduation!!!

It was sooo exciting to see Andrew graduate. Poor guy was so ready to be done, those last couple months were rough. We are so proud of him, and think he looks very dashing in his graduation regalia!

Before graduation. Malachi didn't get to go to the graduation, he got to go play with the Yoder babies, thanks Cathy!

The graduates, this is just a few of them, Andrew is in there somewhere if you can find I'll give you a prize!

The commencement program.

Andrew and his mom, she came to see Malachi, the graduation was just a bonus.

So Andrew really wasn't that excited about doing the whole commencement ceremony thing, but afterward we went to parent's and they had a little present for him, I swear he was more excited about the gun than he was about graduation! Thanks Dad.

That night we went with some friends/family to this delicious Japanese restaurant called Kyoto's, it's so fun! They do the whole hibachi grill thing with the funny Japanese guys. Joel is catching a shrimp with his mouth, way to represent the army!

Everybody who came to restaurant, we were all very full here!

Trimming the tree '08

So this is really belated, but here is our decorating the Christmas tree extravaganza!

Andrew bringing the tree in from the garage, do you see the excitement in his face?!

This was Malachi's favorite thing to play with while we put the tree up, I think he thought it was a broom because he kept putting it tree side down on the floor and trying to move it like a broom.


I love these ornaments, Andrew's mom gave them to us when we got married, they're old glass ornaments and so fun!

Our Christmas pickle, also a favorite straight from Germany!

The finished product.

Leaving on an airplane

Andrew is off. I can do this right? 10 weeks that's not that bad, that's what I keep telling myself. He'll do great, and he is so excited! We are so proud of him!

Will the Yoders be bigger in Texas?

Big news! So we're moving to Texas, Eagle Pass to be exact.  Andrew heard back from Border Patrol and they offered him a job and he's taking it.  We are so excited to be moving on to the next stage of our adventure!  Andrew will be leaving for the Academy on Jan. 12, I know that's really soon, he'll be there until the beginning of April.  Malachi and I will be here while he is in training, I'm trying to think of lots of things to do so Malachi can see and hear his Daddy while he's gone, videos etc (any ideas would be appreciated), it will be hard but so worth it and luckily my mom is right down the street!  After Andrew finishes at the academy we'll all move to Eagle Pass, it's right on the border, has a population of about 25,000, has two branches, one spanish one english, and should be like living in another country, nothing new for either of us.  So there you have it our big new years news!  Hope everybody had a great Christmas and has an even better 2009!