It's been a while...

As I titled this post, "It's been a while" I instantly thought of the song by Staind. Don't worry--I did not know the actual name of the band that sung that song until I looked it up. As much as I do not like that song it seemed appropriate to begin this post with such title.

Where to start... well, at 7 months Channing started sleeping through the night--I knew then I could survive! Getting sleep makes for a new person. Easter was awesome. Then Channing and I took a trip to Santa Barbara to see one of my best friend's Stacy. It was a fun filled week of girl time. Josh got into a study abroad in Tour, France where we also toured around France and visited Italy. Josh served his mission in Quebec, French speaking. Josh was awesome at translating as the only thing that really stuck with me from the French DVD/CD's was, "ou se trouve la banque." Or "where is the bank?" Occasionally I mix it up and change "bank" for "baby" or "house". Something stupid to get a rise out of Josh and the couple we stayed with in Tours.

I have always had a love affair with Italy. My Dad served his mission there. I have been raised in a home filled with tapestries, marble statues, and other artifacts bought back from his mission. I heard stories of that beautiful incredible place and always felt that a part of my Daddy was there that I wanted to discover. The day we were driven into Rome by a member that we stayed with I had tears streaming down my face because my parents were with me in my heart. All these years later they have not been able to return. But there I was there without them. I could imagine him leaving his apartment across from the Vaticano, 19 years old passing through the streets dressed in a suit and tie in 90 degree and 1000% humidity weather. IT WAS HOT!

Channing turned 1 in Tours. We celebrated!! We returned and had another celebration here with family and then went to Utah to visit my family. We are back in California where Josh has started his second and last year of getting his MBA. He is rockin' the books with a tough semester. He is taking over the full credit amount and allowed to because he has awesome grades; not going to lie--wish I was as smart as him.

We took a weekend trip to Arizona this past weekend to see two of our best friends, Jason and Michelle, who have had little Deacon since we last saw them! The boys had a great time playing together. We had so much fun reminiscing, ice blocking, eating at Pete's (which we had heard so much about) on the grass in front of the Temple, got caught up on youtube videos (compliments of Jason), made carmel apples (amazing tradition with them), we saw a lake with no water, we went to a water park with no water, swam at Jason's parents new place, walked around the mall, got to experience Buffalo Exchange, and went to Pita Jungle--with no babies!! It was awesome! On the way back at 11:20 at night we lost power to our car. To make a very long story short we are so grateful to be alive but are going to have to put in a new engine in the car as metal shrapnel was blow all throughout the engine after the vvt and/or timing chain went out. We have had the 2003 Nissan Altima, for just over a year. In the end it is just money, money we do not have, but money nonetheless. Better that then our lives.

Also, over the weekend my parents 8th grandchild was born, Lauren Emma Goddard to my brother Jacob and wife Sarah. She has spent the week in the NICU with pneumonia. Thank you for all the prayers, she is getting better. Thanks be to God on High!

Hopefully pictures will follow soon--but if not there is always facebook.

Love, peace, and joy to all of you!