Idaho and Back

My sister moved to Rexburg to attend BYU-I. Have I mentioned that? Well she moved there and last week there was a flood in Rexburg and her apartment ended up in four feet of water. She had floating furniture and everything. She was not home at the time and everyone is safe, but not their things. My Mom and I packed up my grandparent's car and drove two days to get to her. She and her five roommates were living in filth. Literally. The apartments had moved them into an empty unit, but dumped all their stuff in a pile that the roommates were sort of going through. But not really, unless it included clothes.

And so I visited my birthplace for the first time since my parents moved when I was two weeks old. And I spent it cleaning dishes, going through flooded-moldy things, packing boxes, and practically dragging my sister to her finals. I spent it stressed to the max because I had left all three kids behind with my husband for the first time ever, because I was inexpressibly tired, because I am no longer twenty and stay up all night socializing. Come to think of it, I didn't exactly do that when I was twenty.

I also spent it drinking in the fresh mountain air, soaking up the view of the temple just a short walk away, sleeping without any kids climbing into my bed, enjoying the generosity of my friend's in-laws, and getting to know my sister and my mom that much better.

Sure, I've been playing catch-up for the past few days. I've been cleaning, regulating ornery children, returning library books, throwing away spoiled food in the fridge, cooking, and getting the house back into order. I have to add here that Carlin cleaned the kitchen before I came home and he HATES cleaning the kitchen but he knew it would make a less-stressed Aubrey. It did and I love him for it.

Jacob keeps trying to eat an old hot dog out of the trash and Samuel and Lillian got into a fight over a puzzle which resulted in a bloody nose for Samuel. I don't wish to be back in Idaho though, because I learned a few things about myself:

1. My Mom and sister have a relationship that I will never have with them and I'm slightly jealous, but I love them and I think they know it.
2. I missed Carlin like crazy. It felt like I had left a piece of me behind, I was seriously incomplete. This both scares and thrills me.
3. I LOVE being a Mom. I love my kids and the craziness they bring to my life. I will take bloody noses and poopy diapers any day over roommate drama.
4. I'm still that independent, self-sufficient girl (even with #'s 2 and 3). I managed to get myself, my Mom and my sister back to Oklahoma. I might have been turned around a bit in Rexburg, but I can still read a map.
5. Lastly, I miss the mountains. So, I've decided I am moving my family to Colorado. You're welcome to join me.