My Isaiah Joseph,

I love and miss you terribly.

After talking it over with your siblings, Ellie seems to be fine with not going on another hike before we move. That actually makes things a little easier for me to schedule in. I can do some of the hikes your brothers want to do on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Ellie is at school.

I don’t think they understand where they’re about to move to. It’ll be funny to watch them adapt to the cold. I already know I am going to try and carry an electric blanket around with me.

I was building a marble track with Elijah today. His way of playing is making sure everything goes his way, with everything. He does it all the time during Rudy and did it today while we built the marble track. He looks at it with this “I’m not judging you, but what the hell are you doing” face and it’ll be followed up with an “ummm”. Then he will tell me whatever I’m doing won’t work and he will show me how to do it. He wanted to build the one tower that you used to where it just kept winding down, but had trouble putting it all together.

A year ago today we went to visit the USS Missouri. None of you were excited and Lucas was terrified it was just going to set sail. You guys absolutely loved it and your siblings want to go back before we leave, but that would be a hard trip for me. It would be particularly hard in the sleeping quarters and just picture you climbing into the beds.

I’m going to put Elijah to bed because he’s just talking away. I love you more than anything, my baby. Goodnight and sweet dreams.