Blog Blog Blog

I should get back into blogging ... I should .. I should ... I should...   I should make it a priority...  like I did.  It is a great way to keep a family history...  It is GREAT!  

So I should... yes I should... I should I should I should.      

I will be so happy that I did...    

So, I SHALL... LET IT BE WRITTEN AND LET IT BE DONE!


So, to begin...  

Last night,  I rushed with Jonathan to Brighton High School to watch him SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM  before the big Senior Night Basketball game.   He did AWESOME!  I even took video.   I think this is the THIRD time he has been asked to sing the National Anthem before a BHS event.

Jonathan is a busy guy....   yesterday he tested out of Lifetime Fitness, after school, after which he ran over to the ACT Prep class and then ran home.. did homework, ate a quick dinner, ran up to BHS to sing, then ran back home to play a basketball game with his way cool, awesome basketball team.  His team is made up of all of his favorite friends in the world, Trevor Aiken, Zach Kush, (Kushlan), Parker Lundgren and a bunch of other cute boys .. whose names I cannot quite recall in this moment, but I love them all... they are sharp boys!

This basketball team is just so funny and so good.   To them this is all a big joke (you should see their team pictures.. so funny)  Their main purpose is to have a lot of fun, and guess what they kill everyone they play, usually beating them by atleast 20 points.     So, anyway, Friday night they play the championship game and we are excited to watch it.

Busy busy Boy Jonathan....

His social life is crazy, he has tons of homework, he is involved in so many extracurricular activities, he works a part time job and he serves on the Stake Youth Committee.. and they elected him to be co-chairperson (or something like that)  all I know is he came home, moaning, "too much responsibility, too much responsibility..."  Oh poor baby.   He will do fine.

I just can't believe we only have a year and a half left with him before he flies away.... on a mission or to a semester of college...  So, we try really hard to love each and every day..    even during those typically self centered, the universe revolves around me moments.   It all goes with the territory and we love this boy.   And, we are grateful  he tries so hard ... and is working so hard to figure this thing called LIFE out.

 

September Catch Up

This is obviously a year ago..... oh

Went horseback riding with these cute cub scouts.

FHE... and Warm Fuzzies....

We did something we haven't done in awhile as part of our FHE lesson last night.  Everyone wrote something nice on a little piece of paper for each person in the family.  It was really fun to see what everyone came up with.

Here are a few examples:

• Scott is observant and smart and asks good questions
• Scott, he's my carbon copy (written by Jon)
• Scott is a bundle of joy
• Scott is his mother's comfort and joy

• Jacob is a motivated, energetic kid
• Jacob is really funny and generous
• Jacob, he is trying to be like me (written by Jon again!!!--silly  boy)
• I love Jacob because he is determined
• Jacob is always on the move
• Jacob is willing to work hard and is driven to excel at anything he sets out to do

• Michael, he's mellow most of the time.  Good at being quiet
• Michael is kind and generous and patient
• I love Michael because he is fun
• Michael helps me be calm when I am stressed
• Michael brings peace into our family.  It is so nice to be around Michael and just talk.  

• Jonathan --I am sorry to report that he lost his little slips of paper before I could write this post.  I do remember that awesome things were written about him...noting his enthusiasm and passion for life.  His optimism and confidence that shows in everything he does.  

• Joseph is loving and fair with others
• Joseph is funny and nice
• Joseph can be a great gaming buddy
• Joseph is very nice and cool
• Joseph is my conspiring buddy (ofcourse written by Jon)

We include Eric ... even though he is on a mission... an send the papers to him!!!   He may be gone but he is not forgotten ever....  :)

• Eric is so kind.  He is optmistic, strong and positive.  He can laugh in times of stress and has a great sense of humor.  He is always willing to help. 
• Eric is a gentle spirit
• Eric is nice and loving
• I love Eric because he sets a good example
• Eric is totally sick on the piano
• Eric is kind and unselfish and that is what I am trying to be

• I love Mom because she is willing to help.
• Mom helps me with everything I am doing
• Mom is loving and amazing
• Mom can be a great laughing buddy
• Mom is a strong spirit
• Mom's my Holy Ghost

• Dad loves his family with all of his heart.  He works hard to help us be the best we can be.  
• Dad is helpful and kind
•  Dad is committed to what he believes in 
• I love Dad because he is responsible
• Dad helps me with projects
• Dad's my angel    

A typical morning at our house this year

As the years go by, I have noticed that our mornings have a different twist .. depending on who leaves when and how old our kids are.

Last year our morning routine was like this...

6 am-up, breakfast for Joe,
6:30-off to the bus at 6:30, and continue a quick walk/fun until about 7 am
7am-  I would make breakfast, pray and read my scritpures.
7:30 am - Breakfast for Jon, Michael, and Jacob.
7:40 am - Take Jon to school at about 7:40 ish.
8:00 - Take Michael and Jacob to school
9:00-ish. Scott would get up.  (I know this is so late.)

Years ago I was up at 6 am to walk with a dear friend Jennifer Spinti... that changed when Eric started middle school.  I loved started my day this way.

This year..has been a bit more crazy.

6am- Joe and Jon up at around 6 am.
6:20 am- Jon showers and grooms, get ready for the day.   Yes, it takes him about an hour.
6:35-Prayer at the door with Joe as he leaves for the bus.
7:00--ish  Breakfast with Jon.
 7:20 am Prayer at the door before we leave for Brighton High.
7:30 am-Michael and Jacob up.
8:00 am Breakfast with Michael and Jacob.   We try to leave at 8:10 am, so I don't need to make two trips to Silver Mesa Elementary.  Jacob's school starts by 8:20 am.   Michael gets on the bus at the church across the street from the school by 8:30 am.
8:30 am Then I run back home and begin waking up Scott at 8:30, get him dressed, fed
9:00 am Scott off to preschool.

Whew!  I breathe a big sigh of relief when I pull in the garage after the last child has been delivered to their designated school.

That is how it goes on a good day.  But, many days this year this is how it really went:

7 am -I sleep in  (stress)
6:15 - am Jon is already up showering (he gets up at 6:15 or so)  I go downstairs and try to rouse my senior in highschool out of bed.  Sometimes Jon too.. (but rarely)
7:25 - am Joe finally rolls out of bed.
7:40 - Eric to takes Joe or Jon to school. We have a very rushed prayer at the door.. but we do it.
7:30ish am-If I am taking Jon to school, he drives the car to school with me.  I drive back home...
7:45ish - Michael and Jacob are still not out of bed even though I woke them at 7:30 and even though they have an alarm clock too!  They roll out of bed, have a quick breakfast, prayer, and leave for school at about 8:15.. which made Jacob late a lot in the third quarter of school this year.  Then I sit in the car and chat with Michael until his bus comes at about 8:30.  Then I hurry home and work to wake up Scott who was up yet again too late... and we get him to preschool about 5 min late almost every day.

No.. I am not proud of this.  But this has been reality this year... yes... that is how it is sometimes.

I am bound and determined to make things work better next year... even though it is only the end of May, I am already re-thinking and making new plans...

Ahhh such is life.

Fall 2009

The after school schedule is a killer....

Every single day I drive children multiple locations.

Football pick up and drop off every single day
Scouts-two cub scouts two separate den activities
two sets of piano lessons, one in which I must sit and watch
pick up a carpool at Churchill Jr High twice each week
drop off at friends
Soccer practice each week
Oh, and let's not forget the musical at Hillcrest.  Lots and lots and lots of afterschool rehearsals requiring pick ups.

There are literally days when it is physically, logistically impossible for me to do it all.

We always close our eyes and push through September, October and November.  By the end of November the musical is done, and football and soccer winds down.  Then we just go back to our less insane schedule of JUST carpools, piano lessons, scouts, atleast for just a couple of weeks until basketball begins!

We have tried to figure out how to simplify... and can't see how we can.  If each of our boys chooses a sport and a musical talent to participate that is all it takes to make my after school life INSANE.

I just try to move along and enjoy it all... really suck the marrow out of life and love each and every one of my boys and support each one of them.  It will all end soon enough.  For now, getting enough sleep is important.  And the use of a good crock pot helps too!

Where is my Daughter Moment

you should  know I love my boys...

but there are moments in my house when I feel like a stranger in a strange land.  This can happen when the boys are hoopin it up, wrestling each other to the ground, or there is a high speed chase going on around and around.  I mean it is all good and everything, but there are times when I just feel so lost and alone.   I am the only girl in my house.  Sometimes I really feel that...  Where is my daughter(s)?

 I know wahhhh.... whine...whine...whine...    But, really where are those Christmas dresses, bows in the hair, a little companion to go with me to the Nutcracker Ballet (and actually love it) ?  I feel this loss ...especially during Christmas.  I guess it is all those things I thought I would do that I am completely missing out on.  

And, hey I have sweet boys.  I have had and do have little boys who love to cuddle and enjoy hanging out with Mom.  I have a few boys who love to cook with me and I have had some fun sewing with a couple of my boys.  I have a couple of boys who like crafts and who notice anything new I do to the house.  I have a son who has an eye for decorating and notices details.  This is all cool stuff and I am grateful but it just doesn't fill that empty spot.....  that need I have to relate to someone who just sees things from a feminine view.   Who approaches things with the feminine touch, who talks and thinks like a girl.   Girls are just so different from boys...I sense it every time I am around my nieces.  I hear about it when I talk with my sisters and my friends who have daughters.

Life isn't fair as we all come to find out...  I know that....   So we just deal... and count our blessings.

Football Season 2011 Begins......

August was also the official killer start of Football.  You can see Jonathan's reaction to one of his daily 5:30 am practices here...