20 September 2015

Sometimes quail let me pick them up...

This week felt really unbalanced.  I swear when I get one area of my life under control another flies completely out of whack!  So Monday was a teacher in-service day and the kids didn’t have school.  Since I had to work, the kids got to spend the night with Nana and Papa and spend the day with them.  I had made some pretty lofty fitness goals at the end of last week and was still managing to stick to them this week which included getting up at 4:45 AM and reading my scriptures while I waited for the sun to come up.  At 5:30 I headed out the door and did three miles and then came home to shower and head to work.  I picked the kids up after work and we went home to have family home evening.  We had a lesson on some strategies to avoid media that is inappropriate.  I showed this video and would highly recommend it to anyone as a tool for talking to your kids about pornography and what to do when they encounter it. 

Click Here for Video

Tuesday was full of reading and homework and all the busy things that go on in a typical weekday afternoon.  Wednesday was rushed as I had Activity Days to teach at the church at 6 PM.  I taught a lesson on Gospel Standards and we made bookmarks.  It went fairly well and by the end of the evening I didn’t find Arlo wandering alone in the parking lot having escaped Helen’s watchful eye; so I considered it a successful evening.

Thursday couldn’t come soon enough!  Last day of the work week, yay!  Friday the girls had a dress up day at school.  Helen's was "decades day" so she could dress from any decade, Felicity's was 80's day.  I didn't try too hard, but they participated!  I ran, cleaned, did grocery shopping, meal preparation and all the other things I have to get done for next week to run smoothly.  In the evening we read and had our traditional pizza dinner.  Life is good.  Saturday came and I slept in, it was glorious.  We didn't have any where to be anything to do.  The house was clean, the laundry was done, the chores were completed.  We played, we watched movies, we read, we just enjoyed.  In the evening we went for a walk and then watched our usual Saturday night movie together with popcorn and candy.  Even though there wasn't a big event or activity, we were happy.  

One of the goals I made was to run five miles each day, six days a week.  This week I was successful and ran a total of 32 miles and took 141,200 steps.  I was a little more than perturbed when I stepped on the scale to find I only lost 1.8 pounds.  I'm just going to keep working and I know my hard work will catch up to me.  

 Sunday morning we were up and at church.  The kids were really very good, for them, during Sacrament meeting and we enjoyed our classes.  I'm taking a Family History class second hour which has been fun and is starting to motivate me back toward delving into my records again.  I seem to go in spurts when it comes to family history, but I know its time to research again as I have finally completed all the work that I submitted in the last spurt.  We had dinner at Nana and Papa's Sunday evening and even though I'm not ready for another week to start, it will whether I want it to or not.  

13 September 2015

You have to love a week that starts with a holiday, right?!  Lamentably, the kids weren’t home for the Labor Day holiday, so I used the time to get some things taken care of around the house.  I did yard work, cleaned, prepared meal, all the stuff I have to get done before a busy week.  I also had time to craft in the evening and get a head start on my Christmas gifts.  I picked the kids up just before bedtime.

Tuesday we were all back to work and school.  After school we had dinner out and then went with Mindy to the high school to watch Kayla play volleyball.  It was fun, although the kids were a little restless.   I worked from home on Wednesday and we worked on homework and the like in the evening.  Thursday I had a girls night out and had such a good time.  

The kids were back at their father’s for the weekend Friday night, so I kept myself busy by running and taking care of chores.  Saturday, I baked and went into Tucson with Mindy to watch Kayla’s volleyball tournament.  It was fun to spend time with Kerry, Mindy, and Monica; I appreciated the distraction of being kid-less.  We went to dinner after the tournament and then I spent the evening crocheting. 

I picked the kids up early on Sunday morning since their dad had to work and we were actually able to get home, get bathed,  dressed, and to church on time.  We enjoyed our meetings as usual and went to Nana and Papa’s for dinner in the evening.  It was a pretty bland week, but that’s OK.  These days the less excitement the better sometimes! 

06 September 2015

We had a busy week.  It was back to school and work Monday morning after our fun vacation.  On Wednesday I was excited to head to the Intermediate school for Felicity’s assembly where she earned the Bobcat of the Month award.  I am so incredibly proud of Felicity.  In the afternoon we went to Activity Days. 

Thursday was equally busy.  I had a follow up appointment with the orthodontist to check my retainer.  Everything is looking perfect so I only have to wear my retainer at night.  The end of the journey!  Helen got to stay after school for a student council meeting.  She was elected to the student council from her 2^nd grade class.  She was excited to tell me all the things the council discussed and voted on.  She enjoyed sharing her ideas and feeling control over some of the events at the Primary school.  What a great opportunity.  In the evening I taught a gardening class at a Relief Society activity and I think it went fairly well.

Friday was an “out of dress code” day and the girls were happy to pick their own clothes.  I wasn’t entirely sure of their selections, but its only one day!   I kept Arlo home with me and he ran errands, cleaned, went grocery shopping, and had lunch together.  We tried Panda Express.  The kids were picked up for the long weekend by Jeff on Friday evening.  I cleaned the house and finished up my chores then settled in front of the TV while working on a sewing project.  

 Saturday morning, I slept in and then headed to the Gilbert temple.  I really enjoyed myself and the weather was lovely.  I stopped for lunch on my way home.   

Sunday I substituted for the chorister and then I substituted in Primary.  In the evening I went with Mindy to her parent’s house for dinner and we had a fun time riding quads in the wash and being together.  I appreciated the much needed distraction from worrying about my babies.   

 I’m so grateful for so much in my life.  I’m grateful for my job, our home, a vehicle that gets us where we need to go.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a mother and for my children and their health.  I’m grateful for friends and family and loving support.  I'm also so very grateful for the temple.  This image of the Tucson Temple grounds being cleared made me so happy this week!

30 August 2015

So I'm sure there were fun things that happened this week, but all I can remember is the awesome time we had in Rocky Point over the long weekend!  I'm going to make this the short version and let the pictures tell the story.

 Wednesday I went out to the Elam's and  learned how to change my oil.  We also checked my tires and fluids and made sure the truck was ready for our trip!

 Melynda and I went shopping Thursday night after I got home from work for groceries and supplies and then loaded up.  Friday morning we were off a little before 4AM.  The kids slept pretty much all the way to the border.  I got stopped on the Mexico side of the border, but after successfully answering some questions we were on the road again.  The kids changed right into their bathing suits and the tide came in a few hours after we got there.

* It was hot and humid with little reprieve except to sit under the fan or to be in the water
* Arlo thinks he can breathe underwater and knows no fear or boundaries
* Sand dollars, sea shells, and crabs, Oh my!
* Bean burros
* Tamales
* Sunscreen, lots of sun screen
* Enjoy our pictures!

 

Helen napping in her bathing suit, floaty, and goggles.

 Felicity could not ask for a better friend than sweet Fyn.

Arlo appeased us by using the floating for the first 30 seconds before shedding it and trying to "swim" on his own.

 

It was too bad Arlo was asleep and didn't get a picture with us, but I don't care if he is three, you don't wake a sleeping baby!

  

Arlo and Eliza are best friends, and by best friends I mean partners in crime.

 Helen and Felicity got up early to walk out and find crabs and sand dollars and shells.

 Arlo discovered he LOVES the beach; the water, the sand, the sun.

 And before we even got to the US border on Sunday afternoon...

23 August 2015

Where did August go?  We had a very nice, albeit busy week.  Helen had her 7 year well patient check up.  She did great and is healthy and happy.   I love my pediatrician so much.  Each of the kids has seen her since birth and I love that she really knows them and asks about the kids that aren’t at the appointment too.  Helen’s in 33 percentile for height which sparked a great conversation about genetics and the kids heights.  We looked at trends and their growth curves.  Dr. Shultz speculated that Felicity’s adult height would be about 5’2”, Helen’s 5’4”, and Arlo’s at 6’0” with an inch or two on either side wiggle room. 

We had family home evening on Monday, and I honestly don't remember the lesson.  I'm sure it was good though.  We played ball in the backyard as our activity and it was a lot of fun.  I'm not entirely certain as to why Arlo didn't have clothes on, but most of the time I just go with it.

Tuesday was a pretty typical day.  I had time to sit with each of the girls for piano practice and that really helped everyone.  Helen and I are enjoying Charlotte’s Web while Felicity and I are finding it difficult to make any real progress on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  We will overcome!  Homework went well and Arlo is doing very well in school.  I was happy to hear when I picked him up on Tuesday that he was a good helper in the afternoon; listening well and helping to pick up.  Oh, thank Heavens!  We had Activity Days on Wednesday.  I have pretty much given up on trying to make Arlo and Helen sit in the room with us, so I let them play in the gym.  About 20 minutes in, Helen finds me to say she lost Arlo, so I have to go looking for him.  I found him, in a Wolf Den meeting, sitting in a chair introducing himself.  Sigh, I hope people give me a little latitude when making judgments!

Helen was excited to spend her birthday money, she made quite the haul this year.  First we counted how much she had, pulled out 10% for tithing, 10% for savings, and then we headed to Walmart.  She had a ball deciding what she wanted.  She also managed to spend every last bit of her money, down to the last quarter on the gumball machine on the way out the door!  Thank you again to everyone who gave Helen gifts for her birthday.

I worked half a day on Friday since I'll be taking the 28th off.  It was quiet in the office and I got quite a bit done.  In the afternoon I took my tire in to be patched, went grocery shopping, and made lunches and meals for the upcoming week.  We had pizza and a movie in the evening when the kids got home from school.  Saturday was spent cleaning and getting the laundry under control. I had had a cold all week, so I hadn't stayed on top of things like I normally do.  The kids helped me, and this time, instead of having to manage all three kids and keep them busy with chores, we played a game called mommy's helper.  The kids drew numbers and then they each helped me for an hour in the order they drew.  It was fun to work one on one and I didn't have to keep on them. 

Our Sunday was nice and quiet.  Church went well and the kids eagerly told me about their classes.  In the afternoon we went to Nana and Papa's for a visit.  We hadn't been in a few weeks so it was nice.  We are so grateful for so many great blessings in our lives, family and friends, health and comfort.