I am so glad I can't handle everything on my own right now, because we never had this much fun or support when I was in charge

Hey there! I'm trying to write once a week and I'm a little behind....what else is new! Well last week, I rented a storage unit and started downsizing and sorting what I will use in the next year and what will stay. It was especially stressful because little Waylon had an ear infection, I've never heard of an infant having an ear infection. It was horrible. I literally wore him in the ergo carrier for two days. It was exhausting. So much so, that I thought I would cash in a groupon I purchased for some yoga classes. I've only taken a class at the Y and I have some Giam videos so I'm very much a novice. But I discovered, I LOVE hot yoga! It could be that I am just wound a bit too tight lately or that I am just in the perfect place in my life where I really need something to help me relax and clear my mind but I am a huge fan. In fact, they gave me the first week free so I have been recruiting babysitters to go back as often as I can. Love it! On another note, we ended our weekend visiting some friends at their ranch in the desert. It was such a beautiful drive out there, I've missed that desert drive this season. Once we got there, we took a hike around the property and went into a real cave that my friends have fashioned into a wine cellar. At the end of the cave it looks like a dead end mine and they threw in a fake skeleton, it really freaked Houston out, but it was funny. We  kept whispering "Chester Copperpot." Then we relaxed and had a barbecue and later shot bee bee guns. The boys had such a good time and Waylon was in a much better mood. It was such a great way to end the week. Once again it showed me all the people who are coming along side us to get  through this time right now. Whether it's helping me pack a box, watching the kids or showing the boys how to shoot a bee bee gun. Thank you.

Surprise!

So it's the kids Spring Break and the thought of keeping the kids entertained seemed a bit overwhelming, seeing as we just got through "Presidents Week." So I planned to visit my mom in Maryland. So that meant I had to brave a 4.5 hour plane ride with the kids alone, but then we'd be smooth sailing at Grandmas House for a week. Unfortunately, it also meant not seeing Ian for a month between his work schedule and my out of town schedule. So I got through the flight! Waylon slept in my arms for about 3 hours so I felt extremely lucky and sore and buff at the same time. The older boys played video games the whole time. We made it to Grandmas house! We spent the evening goofing off with my brothers and sister in laws and stayed up way too late,  it was so fun but it wasn't the same without Ian. I woke up the next morning and made my way up the basement steps towards the coffee, when I opened the door, I saw my husband asleep on the couch. Even now it makes me tear up. I was so confused in that moment, I thought for a split second I had been living in a dream and we really weren't living so far away from each other and then it hit me...reality,that is...he hopped on a plane after work changed flights and drove 2 hours to my moms house just to be with me. I am still in shock, that my husband who HATES flying, has become such the traveler, for me. I felt so grateful that I can experience that overwhelming love. Being the planner that I am, my old life never had room for unexpected reminders like this. I feel so grateful for this. I feel I should post this, for the simple fact that, I don't want to glaze over this memory. I was truly surprised. My mom and husband really knocked my socks off with this one...

Here We go...

Wow, been a while since I checked in, there's a good reason for that. Waylon was born in the end of January and now I have three boys and were down a parent so it's a bit crazy. The hubs has been coming home every other weekend, since we figured out once a month was way too long. Now that I have an almost three month old, I'm crawling out of my hole and starting to rejoin society.Thank you to so many friends and family that have come to my rescue with dinner, or coffee  creamer or shuttling the boys to school/baseball or driving me to a breastfeeding support group. Who would've thought there was more to learn  by the time you have three. I am so grateful to you all. Big news here, I may have lost my marbles because I've agreed to take the family on the road, starting in June, and follow Ian in his apprenticeship. So we will be moving from our two bedroom beach cottage in sunny Oceanside. California and moving  into a fifth wheel starting out by Salt Lake City and going wherever we are called. The territory the apprenticeship covers is Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. The kids are so excited, we've camped before in our old trailer in the desert and they think it's just an extended camping trip. Lets hope they stay this optimistic after the move! This is something I never  saw myself doing. Sure, maybe if it was just me and my man but with kids? Well, it turns out I miss him more than I thought I would, there's a good reason we got married almost ten years ago. I knew he would travel and I thought "well he works 6 days a week 12 hour days, I don't really see him now!" There is a big difference between that and seeing him for 48 hours every other week. The kids miss him terribly and he is crushed by missing these early days in Waylon's life. We all know this first year in a childs  life flies by so fast and then its gone forever. Well we got to thinking, there will be a day soon when my kids may protest a trip like this. When junior high starts homeschooling will be much more difficult, I expect. Also, the bigger the kids, the more cramped the trailer will get right? Not everyone has this opportunity either, many couldn't if they wanted to because of jobs, commitments and the list goes on. For us, things have fallen into place and we're going to seize the day and be a family on the road for the next year. We plan on meeting new people, experiencing new things and allowing ourselves to enjoy life's adventure. I am actually very excited. I have discovered that we are by no means the first family in this trade to try this, I feel lucky that I can ask others about their experiences and pick their brains, I'm so grateful I found powerlinewives.com what an amazing support for wives of lineman. I expect to blog about our adventures, how convenient to have already started this blog, guess I should actually tell my friends and family that it exists. Can you believe I typed this all one handed with Waylon in my arms...yeah I'm talented.

Moustaches

So I'm not a fan of showers. I'm not the most social gal ever but in an attempt to make new friends over the years I think I have become the girl that people invite to their showers. I went to a fair share of them and after a while it felt like I only heard from some gals when it was their bridal shower and then their baby shower and then their kids birthdays and you know what I made a rule. The rule is that you have to hang out with me at least twice between your showers or I don't come. It seems like my real friends that invite me to parties I don't have to even check my rule.  I am not a shower machine and I don't like to fill in your guest list. That being said I start to wonder, "Does anyone really enjoy showers?"  Well this being my third child and it's my bad for not keeping my baby stuff (my last baby was 6 years ago) and my outlook on showers I was kindv'e  hoping to worm out of it.  My friend and fellow linewife Tanya would not let me off the hook so easily. So I invited my most favorite people and we had a "sprinkle" which was a blast. My wonderful sister in law decided it should be moustache themed which really took everything to a new level. We had moustache chocolate pops and pretzels dipped in chocolate which were actually cigars...For games we had teams and each team made a diaper out of toilet paper on a volunteer, so much better then guessing how big around I am. My friends painted on onesies for Waylon and yes did I mention our food was all shaped like moustaches. I really loved it, I don't know if it's just because it was my shower or if it was just because my favorite gals were there or maybe it was because how can you not have fun eating a chocolate moustache? Anyways a great big thank you to Tanya and Michelle for making my shower unforgettable. And if this post didn't make much sense, well it's late and my pregnancy brain isn't connecting all the dots so good night!

Journey to the center of the...wait where are we going?

There are many women out there who know what it means to be a linewife, I am not one of them. I am learning day by day what this life will mean for me and my family. My family. I have been married for almost a decade. For the past few years my husband has been trying to become a lineman and I have been by his side searching the forums and figuring out how to get a commercial drivers license and coming up with plans a b and c. (none of which have been put into action) I know others have waited far longer but finally we got the call. Timing has never been our strong suit and as I was 7 months pregnant when we received this opportunity, I stayed behind in Sunny and 70 California while my best friend packed his bag and headed for Utah. Also holding down the fort is our oldest son Wrex and soon to be middle child Houston. Oh don't forget Buck! Our dopey black lab, who has turned rather shameless since my husbands departing. So we've made it through the first 2 months of the apprenticeship, something I'm told takes roughly 3 years to graduate from. I'm sure I've used all the wrong terminology and I probably will not have the most graceful journey thought this experience, but as I am now 9 months pregnant and everyone is turning to me asking "what's next?" I feel compelled to document it, even if it's only for my benefit. I am not the first, nor the last linewife, but this is my families journey if you care to follow