Varoom-Varoom. Daddie's plane.

I know that I should ask permission before I do things like this but as the old saying goes, it's better to ask forgiveness than it is permission.

Below is a letter that grandma Susie wrote to us yesterday about our boys. I took out some of the unimportant stuff but other than that it's literally straight from the horses mouth:

Hi you two beach bums,

We are all hoping you are having a great time together. I just wanted to give you an idea how the boys are doing. Yesterday, I went to Betty's Spa to help her with some paperwork on the laser treatments she is doin, while Uncle Aaron masterfully entertained and held Calvin and Galima ran herd on the 3 Amigos who played and napped like crazy. When I walked in the door, all three of them squealed- yes, squealed and made me feel so important. They were playing and running and giggling-- Having a grand time. On report from Aaron and Galima all of this great fun was mixed by an occasional "benching" since the kids, of course, needed reminding of the rules. This usually involves Sophie climbing on something DANGERous, Max deciding to go ahead with something he is tempted to do (like trip Sophie), and Briggie deciding a grand tantrum is in order.

Brigham is having such a good time. In the morning, a crew of men and a teen-age boy came with a real John Deere tractor to clean off the 8+ inches of ice and slow that had been packed down on the driveway before Aaron & Galima moved into the new house. Brig had a really messy diaper, so he was just getting out of the tub when I heard the tractor in the front yard. I took him to the window and he was glued to the action below. We opened the window a crack so he could hear the big tractor for a few minutes. It was fun to watch him watch the men and his cousin Max. Max wielded the small red garden shovel I had given him a couple of summers ago and I was surprised at how well a young Arizona boy knew how to fling snow. I am sure those two Texas boys have a better idea about snow after a month in Idaho.

Calvin is my little sweetie pie. He has learned to trust me and let me comfort him. I can easily tell when he is hungry or tired. He doesn’t complain much but I can tell he wonders “Where in the heck did my Mom go?” He is eating well and loves his cousin Ava. They are so completely
adorable together. I think they are just amazed by each other. This afternoon, they were playing at the toy kitchen sink (in the playroom) and handing each other cups and lids. They shared a few goldfish crackers, but liked it best when Alex scratched on the glass door and barked at them to let him in. They are both getting good at feeding Alex their crackers and dropping food from the high chair for him.

Well, anyway, I am tired but I have had a wonderful time with your boys. It has been exciting to see them interact with Sophie, Max, Ava and baby Jacob. They are so cute. Brig is quick to say Thanks and Yes OK. He is learning a lot from watching Max and Sophie following directions and seeing them respond to the "Sophie 1,Sophie 2,Sophie 3" thing. We have been using it with Brig and he now is getting the idea that if they get to three, it means a time out but acting sooner keeps that from happening. Oh yeah, this morning he was quite creative. He was hungry and breakfast was almost cooked but he decided we were too slow, so he removed a gallon jug of milk from the fridge and went to the dining table and carefully poured a large plate to the brim. He didn’t spill any until I said “oh no.” Actually, Galima and I spilled more milk trying to get the plate empty and off the table. That child has skills- pouring skills, determination skills—you know what I mean.

I love you both very much. Thank you for trusting your most prized possessions with us. Calvin is spending the next few days at Kristin and Paul’s house. Paul has some time off and I must get back to work for a few days before I get so far behind the boss notices. Anyway, Aaron and G are coming to Salt Lake early before Felicia’s wedding but wanted to keep Brig a day or two. Ava & Calvin are having a little Rasmussen cousins’ birthday party on Saturday morning so we will just let them play and dance to Russian music and have fun. (ByTheWay: Calvin and Brig must be part Ukrainian or something because they both sure get into that Eastern European (stuff. Those) kids are intrigued by red). Have a great last few days and we will see Michelle early Sunday morning.

Love, Mom/Susan

And today she sent this follow up note:

Subject: RE: Update on your sweet boys

I knew hearing about them would be both hard and good. Believe me, they both miss you and Adam tremendously. Confessions of a Grandma: When Briggie was working on going to sleep for his nap on Sunday, he was laying in the port-a-crib looking at a book and then I heard, "Varoom- (airplane sounds) Varoom, Daddie's plane, varoom, Daddie's coming, get Briggie." I almost cried but he didn't sound unhappy, he was just stating what he wanted. I bet Adam's wonders if the boys will even remember him- they will. You two are their life!

Is this deployment over yet. I need to get in my plane, fly home and get my boys.

dAddie and mommie.