I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve written. Life has just been all over the place. Ben’s job has been so rough, and we are shocked at the level of utter chaos it has brought down on our lives since January. And here we thought leaving Alaska and coming back to Colorado was the best decision for our family. If we could turn back time…
But we can’t, and live moves on. We are praying something drastically changes but so far the answer to that has been a firm NO.
Archie is 15 months old, walking and climbing on everything in sight. He doesn’t talk much but he has plenty of ways to communicate with us.
Emery started preschool this year and absolutely loves it. She goes two days a week and it’s all she talks about! She has always been a social butterfly and she loves her friends so much.
We have managed to take the Airstream out a few times this summer, all the while learning how to navigate the kiddos while on the road and on the trails. The trip I was most looking forward to this summer is this weekend to Bryce Canyon in Utah but sadly a chipmunk got underneath Ben’s truck and chewed wires making it completely unable to drive. We are without the truck, and several hundred dollars, while it waits to be fixed at the shop in another town. So no end of season Airstream trip. This just a few weeks after my car was out of commission due to the chipmunks, as well…. Thankfully, we are now taking every step we can think of to exterminate them after all of our other methods of control have failed. They have been so costly!
I guess the biggest news, by far, is that I am four months pregnant in a few days. We are having another baby boy. I have all the feels about this pregnancy. Any child is a blessing, and we can’t wait to meet him. Even so, I can’t say I’m not worried about how we are going to stay here in this house and this town and add another to our family. Lemon after lemon. I just figured all of these job issues would have been solved by now, and things would settle. I couldn’t be more wrong. If bad luck can follow someone— it follows Ben.
The weather is changing quickly here and I am a bit nervous for winter. Last winter was pretty rough— it started the first week of November with a huge snow storm and it lasted until early June. Relentless wind from January to June, 5/7 days a week. We had beautiful sunny, warmer days sprinkled throughout but winter at 9k is not for the weak…. And the older I get the weaker I feel and the easier I want things to be 😂 I think after years of hardship with moving and career stuff it would just be nice to have a bit of a break. We have so much to be thankful for, of course, and I am not lost to that fact. We’ve just had some challenges that are soooo unnecessary! A break would be nice 🙂 I will have to figure out how to get myself with my pregnant belly and the kids completely outfitted for the winter so we can spend some time outside. Being indoors all of the time is not easy with two littles. I’ve been dreaming of moving back to California for months…. I so wish we could. Maybe some day 🙏🏻
| jenn at home | 
Hi Jenn, What a happy surprise to open my email and find YOU!!! Thanks for taking the time to give all the scoop, although I must say some of it doesn’t sound too happy. So sorry to read about all your troubles; I know how you were so excited to be back in Colorado and get settled with the kids and Ben’s new job. If you feel like sharing the details, I’m a good listener and a great pray-er! I won’t ask for details about your house or Ben’s job but I will say a big CONGRATS! on the new baby boy coming your way! How have you been feeling this time around? You certainly have your hands full with the 2 littles, your house problems, your job, and your never ending concern about Ben’s job and future. You sure didn’t need chipmunks entering the picture. And everyone thinks they are so cute. Yeah, right! They’ve obviously not encountered any of the problems you’ve had. I’m so sorry for you and Ben to have one more problem on your plate. Thankfully the kids are doing well and are happy and healthy, especially your little princess…or I should say Queen, of her preschool at least! Life here in Roseville has been fine; just a huge adjustment without Uncle Jack but at least we had months to prepare for his dying….as if we can ever really be prepared. Doing ok though; surrounded by many loving friends both from being active in our church and living in Roseville for 48 years. I do miss having any family nearby. Greg still has his house here but for 5 years has lived in Texas with HPE and has another house there. He comes home for a few days each month. The last few weeks of Uncle Jack’s life Greg was here the whole time working remotely….that seems to be an accepted way of doing business these days. I talk to our Manteca gang occasionally and Jerry more often. He’s really spoiled by all his kids being right there…and I believe he loves it! I think the only time he leaves Manteca is to go to the doctor in Stockton or Tracy. Oh yeah, he did go with someone, probably Jennifer, to visit your mom in Modesto when she was down and out….the big outing…. Again, I’m sorry life in Colorado is not what you had expected it to be and praying for all of you that things will improve. Especially praying for a healthy baby boy in a few months. And I hope the siblings are more loving than my big brother was when I came home from the hospital…jealous Jerry knocked the bassinet over. Or tried to; neither of us really know the true scoop other than he did not like having a little sister!!!! Love you all and praying always! Aunt Carol XOXO