27 August 2023

 Thankfully we've been getting a little more rain at the ranch in the last couple of weeks and so the Colorado River Toads have come out.  I was caught off guard on Monday when I noticed this fellow under my plant stand having a staring contest with my little metal toad that normally sits on the plant stand.

Phil was working on Tuesday and our evening was fairly normal other than I had a stake temple and family history committee meeting.  We're planning a stake-wide event next month, I feel like I always have my hands in a lot of different projects!  The kids were excited for a half day on Wednesday which was nice as I like to have them home early.  We didn't have anything else going on and Dad was home and the stars aligned so we had Family Home Evening Wednesday night.  At this stage in life we pretty much do it whenever we can fit it in.  We had a lesson from Come, Follow Me and then the kids voted unanimously to play Monopoly.  Why?!  We have a whole closet full of interesting unique games, but they had their minds made up.  I had them promise me, specifically Arlo, there would be no fighting and certainly no crying (Arlo, I'm looking at you).  Well we only made it 5 minutes before the bullying started (thanks Helen) and we got an hour and half in before the tears started to roll.  Sigh.  Maybe in adulthood they'll remember that Family Home Evening was a fun time of bonding and not the stressful brawl that I often feel like it is! I won by the way.

Phil was working on Thursday so I was grateful that my mom was available to watch Jude while I had a dentist appointment.  My appointment was kinda cruddy if I'm honest, usually the hygienist reminds me to floss more and then she cleans my teeth and we're good.  I go home with just enough guilt to re-commit to better flossing and the rest of the cleaning is pleasant.  Not this hygienist, she used the WHOLE cleaning to berate my oral hygiene.  Ok, I'm not totally gross, I promise.  I have a permanent retainer and it is near impossible to floss my front bottom teeth in any meaningful way because of a bar stretching across the back of the teeth and it was those four teeth that set her off.  Listen lady, that retainer has kept my teeth straight for almost 10 years, #TotallyWorthIt.  Anyway, I left my appointment, cavity free I might add, but pretty deflated.  I picked up Arlo and Jude from Nana's house, Arlo enjoyed being able to walk over there from school, and we headed home.  

The girls had band practice until 6 and then they drove across Tucson where Felicity had a hair appointment.  She had mentioned to me that she wanted to cut her own hair based on a TikTok she had seen...uh, no ma'am, that's a terrible idea.  I told her I would make an appointment with Jessa at Cutting Edge Salon where I've been going for years. She killed two birds with one stone, getting a really cute butterfly (whatever that is) hair cut and in the process she talked to Jessa about shadowing her for her senior exit project.  

Friday was my "off Friday" and I had it filled with things, as usual.  I met Leona first thing in the morning for some girl time.  We had smoothies and chit chatted for an hour and a half.  Then the kids had dentist appointments and I needed to go grocery shopping for the neighbors.  Phil took the kids to the dentist and I did the grocery shopping.  Everyone had a good report from the dentist, except Arlo.  Ugh, he's almost twelve and I guess I need to be brushing his teeth for him! In the evening Arlo and Helen went to visit their dad and Phil and I went on a date and grabbed dinner at Oreganos.  We had a nice time.  He worked an overtime shift on Saturday so it was just Felicity and Jude and I, except Felicity had band practice all morning and then went to a birthday party in the evening...so really just me and Jude.  Goody!  I set out early and went to Joann's for some fabric for a new quilt, I stopped at the fire station and said hello to my sweetheart, and then Jude and I did our family's grocery shopping.  I was happy to be back home when I was done.  I did some chores and worked on my quilt.

On Sunday I got to sit in on Cienega Ward's Relief Society meeting and enjoyed the lesson and when that was over I hopped into our sacrament meeting.  Phil had volunteered us to be in the nursery second hour, so we hung out with eight  two-year-olds, ours included.  I think Jude needs to play with kids his own age more often, he was STRUGGLING with sharing and navigating a room of other little kids...he doesn't have to share his toys at home.  We survived and enjoyed the rest of our Sunday.  We picked the kids up in the afternoon and got ready for another fun-filled Comaduran week!

20 August 2023

 I survived!  Mostly.  Jude had music class on Monday and it was nice that Phil was home to take him since I had a lot of tasking and meetings at work on Monday morning.  He put out a lot of little fires for me at home, which I appreciated.  Tuesday he was back at work and I did a stupid thing.  Its a stupid thing I do a lot, then tell myself "that was stupid" and then three or four months go by and I do it again.  I had the carpet cleaned in the house again.  The carpet in our house is old, but it was in good shape until Jude joined us (aided by a cat with a temperamental tummy).  Regardless, I had the carpet cleaned and threatened everyone that Jude was not to eat or drink ANYTHING outside of his high chair in the kitchen.  We'll see how long it lasts, I'm not optimistic as after two hours the cat has already thrown up on it.  Why do they make cat food bright orange?!

Wednesday was busy, busy at work and then in the evening I participated in conducting a training for a new leaders in the single adult ward.  Phil wanted to go with me as he was gone so much last week and was heading into a four day stretch of work this week.  The training went well and when we were done Phil and I had a "date" which means we went to dinner after the training.  We went to Bison Witches on 4th avenue since it was open late.  We were quite the pair, in our Sunday clothes, having just come from giving a church training, sitting in a campus bar enjoying gourmet sandwiches and a Diet Coke at 10 PM.  I sure do love my sweetheart; here's a cute picture of him that pretty much captures him perfectly.

Phil worked overtime Thursday, Friday night, Saturday, and then his regular shift on Sunday.  The kids and I managed.  Jude, he struggles to "get with the program".  On Thursday he was overly tired and refusing to take a nap.  I finally took him to his room and laid him down and locked the door.  He screamed and screamed.  About 15 minutes in I checked on him via the baby monitor and he was still beside himself mad, so I used the microphone feature on the baby monitor to tell him it was ok, that he needed a nap, and to get back in bed.  I asked him calmly a couple of times to get back in bed before he came over to the camera, looked at it suspiciously (not knowing exactly where my voice was coming from) and turned the camera off.  Heaven help me!

My Friday was a working Friday and I was super busy both at work and otherwise.  I had to do my neighbor's grocery shopping and do some food prep and other prep for our Stake Relief Society activity.  For added fun, Jude locked me out of the house by turning the deadbolt when I went to get something from the shop.  I panicked for a minute, tried to coach him into unlocking the door, then I tested some of the other doors and was luckily able to get in the back door.  I will be making sure to take my phone with me if I go outside.  

On Saturday we had our Relief Society activity in the evening, but our presidency was there earlier to set up.  We offered multiple enrichment classes, a service project, and then a dinner and keynote speaker.  I gave a class I titled "Ministering for Introverts, Procrastinators, the Overly-Busy, and Everyone Else with Good Intentions".  Haha, we talked basically about overcoming roadblocks to effective ministering.  I think it was a pretty good class, I taught twice.  The rest of the evening was lovely and we were very pleased with how many sisters came.  Here's a video clip I used in my lesson, it made me laugh out loud so I thought you might enjoy it too and can maybe relate:

 I was BEAT by the time I got home after cleaning up after the activity and then turned around and had to be back at church at 6:15AM for a Stake Committee meeting.  I was able to catch all of my ward's meetings after which was nice and in the afternoon the big kids went to hang out with Nana.  I hope next week is a little less crazy and I get to see my husband a little more!

13 August 2023

Jude had his first music class of the semester on Monday and he really enjoyed that with Daddy.  It was nice to have Phil home, although I feel bad there is usually a pretty long list of things I'd like help with when he does make an appearance at home.  The girls had afterschool band practice until 9, so I don't think I saw them all day on Monday!

Phil was working overtime on Tuesday and didn't get much sleep as they had to work a fire in the middle of the night up by the mine.  They put the fire out and went back to the station only to get called back when it reignited.  That's the way that goes sometimes!

Wednesday was the best day for our family to celebrate Helen's 15th birthday.  Her actual birthday is on Saturday, but she'll be visiting her dad this weekend.  We took the whole crew out for dinner at Red Robin, one of our favorites.  Jude was a little unruly (a lot unruly), but otherwise we had a great (albeit expensive) time.  We came home and opened gifts and had cake.  I think Helen was a little disappointed she still didn't get a phone, but I'm holding out as long as I can.  One day I hope the kids will understand my anti-kids-having-phones-early policy.  I can't believe Helen is 15!

I did a lot of running around at lunchtime and after work on Thursday.  I picked Arlo up off the bus and he had a follow up appointment with the psychiatrist to check on his new meds.  We showed up, told the doctor everything was working great, and then we were out of there! I bought the kiddos an ice cream cone for being so good at the appointment (the incentive was mostly for Jude).  Jude made a huge mess of his ice cream so I had to hose him and his car seat down in the front yard before I let him in the house.  In the evening I attended the parent meeting for Helen's drama class.  More fees!

I was off on Friday and did all my running around in the morning.  Phil was working so I didn't have help in the evening and decided to skip the Copper and Navy scrimmage game.  The girls said it went well and they enjoyed being in the stands again.  I'm hoping to attend more football games this year, we'll see how that goes; I wish Jude was a more "go with the flow" kid!  Phil worked on Saturday too, picking up an overtime shift.  Helen and Arlo went to visit their dad and Felicity had a choir banquet and then a birthday party.  So it was just me and Jude all day.  I'm sure its taking years off my life!  Phil worked his regular shift on Sunday, so it was another 72 hour stretch without him.  Felicity is enjoying her new calling as the ward chorister which left me alone with Jude in the congregation.  I used to fight him crawling under the benches or climbing over them, I NEVER used to let the other kids be so disrespectful, but now I'm like, "well, at least he's quiet".  Forgive me!

06 August 2023

 We've been back in school two weeks for Arlo and a week and a day for the girls and already we have a day off.  Go figure! On Monday, I enjoyed having the kids home as they ran defense for me with Jude while I worked.  Work has been stressful lately.  Two of our business units merged and in that merge my position and my supervisor's position are now being filled by our counterparts in the other business unit.  I've very fortunately been able to continue managing the project (with its very large number of team members) that I had been previously, with expanded responsibility; its a lot of work.  I'm grateful to still be able to work from home though and am hopeful that things will quiet back down a bit. 

Even though I had extra help in the house on Monday, Jude still managed to sneak into the bathroom and flush ANOTHER toy down the toilet.  UGH!  Just typing that causes my blood pressure to take a little jump.  Luckily for us when Phil got home from work on Tuesday he was able to take the toilet apart and remove the toy (a little plastic flag that goes on top of the Fisher Price Noah's Ark) thus saving us several hundred dollars in plumbing fees (again).

Phil was back at work on Wednesday and I had a little bit of time in the afternoon to make Jude some new onesies.  He is still routinely taking his diaper off and peeing on things so we have to keep him in a onesie almost all of the time, sometimes snapping them OVER his pants.  It is getting harder to find them in his size since he's at a "should be getting ready to potty-train" age.  I'm not ready to tackle that one with this super stubborn toddler yet!  So custom onesies it is

Phil worked over time on Thursday, so we had to do without him again.  In the afternoon Jude and Arlo came with me to grocery shop for our neighbor and Green Valley Fire was at Fry's getting signatures for the annexation.  We stopped to say hello, and Jude got his own fireman's hat.  Phil worked his regular shift on Friday so it was a three day stretch without him this week.  I met with the special education team at the middle school to discuss a path forward for helping Arlo with his ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia.  All his teachers had great things to say about him, it also seems his new ADHD medication is helping to relieve a lot of his symptoms.  We decided that an IEP wouldn't be the best option for Arlo, in other words he doesn't need to leave the classroom, missing instruction time, for special ed services.  I'm comfortable with the decision, especially since private tutoring is going so well.  We're going to meet again next month to discuss a 504 plan which would give Arlo classroom accommodations to help him, which he does need.  This might look like getting longer to complete work, more reminders, sitting at the front of the class, etc.  I will say that Arlo has loved middle school so far.  Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Phil had a short stint at home on Saturday so we took advantage of the opportunity and went to see "Go West" at the theater as a family. The kids love the older Studio C so they naturally wanted to see this and it just so happened to have a limited number of showings in Tucson.  We took Jude with us because I stupidly thought he would sit with us and eat popcorn and be mildly interested in the movie.  He was not.   He immediately was climbing all over everything and walking up and down the aisles.  I was secretly praying nobody else would come into the theater, but they did and I couldn't handle Jude being a distraction to others.  Phil graciously took Jude out into the mall to play in the kids' area.  The movie was as expected, hilarious in some places, ridiculous in others, and overall rather juvenile.  Fun was had by most.

Phil was back to work on Sunday and the rest of us enjoyed church.  We had a pretty relaxed afternoon, and Jude enjoyed playing with his Tonka trucks in the living room.  When I asked him to pick up his toys, he wanted to do it with the front loader...it was painfully slow, but it got done.  We are ready for another week. 

30 July 2023

We are officially fully back to school.  The girls had their first day of seminary on Monday and I'm hoping they set a goal to actually show up on time this year!  Phil was working at the fire station so I held down the fort.  Arlo had tutoring after school and its going really well.  I'm very pleased with the progress he's making and he loves to go.   We did get a little bit of afternoon rain on Monday and Jude had to go out on the front porch and check it out.  We have had a slow start to the monsoon season so I'll take any rain we can get.

I have to brag on my Maggie girl.  I was taking the recycling out to the street and as I was headed back to the house I realized that Jude had followed me out there and had walked almost to the gate, but there was sweet Maggie, right by him to keep him safe.

Speaking of Jude, I cleaned the family room, so he promptly went over to the toy box and dumped the toys just to lay in the mess...this is why I can't keep the house clean.

When Phil got off of work on Thursday morning he headed to his nephew's fire academy graduation ceremony.  He's obviously very proud.

Not my image, scanned from a purchased print Ziemba Photographic Arts

In the evening Phil and I along with his mom and his brother's family attended the family night for his nephew's graduating class.  It was neat to watch the demonstrations and see all the things they had learned during their academy.  The highlight of the evening was last demonstration where three firefighters approach a gas fire, protected by a wall of water, and get close enough to turn the gas off.  Typically a captain will lead two recruits in the demonstration; however, Phil and Kirby got to take Quaid through the demonstration: three Comadurans.  It was a fun night and great to see a wonderful legacy continued.

Not my images, scanned from purchased prints Ziemba Photographic Arts

I was off on Friday which meant I had a ton of chores and appointments to keep.  First up, I took the girls to the orthodontist.  I picked up my new retainer and the rest of our time was for the girls to get their braces installed (applied?).  If you recall from a couple of weeks ago we had an orthodontist visit and decided to start Helen with braces and reinstall Felicity's to fix some shifting she's had.

Our Saturday was occupied with "have tos" and other chores and Phil got called out on a wildland assignment.  Tis the season!