Not only am I glad it's Friday, but I'm glad to have survived the past two weeks! I have felt pretty strung out with all the things I was trying to do and committed to do. Having Jon out of town for the past 10 days has also contributed to the added stress. I really appreciate having his help with kids' homework and evening dishes! Not to mention I just like his company.
Two weeks ago tomorrow, our loving, very loved family cat died! She has lived 11 years, which to me doesn't seem long, but I guess it's getting up there in cat years. She hasn't ever had any health problems and I only had her in for a check up and immunizations just three weeks earlier. So, it was very unexpected when we took her in, because she hadn't been acting herself for a week or so, and found out that she had three tumors involving her small intestines and the main blood vessels that feed them. The Vet called during surgery to tell us that they couldn't fix the problem and they wanted to allow her to go peacefully during surgery. Of course, I gave my consent, and the kids and I went to see her at the Animal Medical Clinic in Bountiful a short time later. The kids held her and cried. I was glad Ashley decided to drive down from Provo, with Randy, who had been there to visit, when I told her that Daisy was very sick and with me at the Vet's. She was the first to arrive after Daisy passed away. It is strange still to not have her around the house; sleeping on our bed, meowing to go outside every morning, drinking out of our bathtub faucet, and making threatening noises whenever the dog tried to leave his end of the house. We all miss her. She was a very good pet.(It was a bummer that I had to leave during Ava's Baptism to take the Vet's phone call, while I was sitting at the piano between songs!) Jon and Jacob were at a "Hunter Safety" class that afternoon.
the last two weeks were also stressful as I prepared and took the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) and delt with Head Lice on Sarah, Ashley, and Aimee. Talk about a big, meticulous, time-consuming, annoying, problem to have! I spent $80 at the laundry mat in a two-week period, washing all the linens, towels, and dirty clothes in "hot." I spent hours and hours, late into the evening several nights, going through very small sections of the girls' hair with a "fine-tooth comb," and spent money on both over the counter shampoo as well as special shampoo I ordered on-line. Hopefully our first experience with Head Lice is also our last!
I took the four hour GRE test last Friday. I scored close to my goal, so I felt pretty good about it. Of course I would've liked to have done better, but I am glad to have it behind me. I feel confident that my essay scores will not hurt my overall score, but should help it at little... at least I hope! I need to move forward with the application process for Graduate school. The dead line is in December and there is still plenty of paperwork and letters of recommendation to worry about.
The other part of the stress is being the only parent to help kids with homework projects and math problems, and be in charge of Cub Scout Packing Meeting, and meet my commitment to Sam's class to read a book assigned to a group of kids and lead a "Literacy Circle" each Thursday. Sam has had more homework in 4th Grade Spectrum than Sarah has had in 7th grade on most days. He has been feeling a bit overwhelmed and it has been a lot for me to worry about as well, in addition to piano lessons, basketball, softball, volleyball games, violin lessons, and Ward Choir each Sunday. I was so ready for this Friday to come!
I guess one other factor that added to my stress this past week, was my work commitment. I worked all day last Saturday (9am to 7pm), Sunday night from midnight to 3:30am, and Monday night from 6:00pm to 3:30am, all while Jon was out of town. Sarah was home sick from school this week as well, 4 1/2 days. I am not sure if she has the H1N1 virus or not, because she really hasn't had the high fever and the body aches, but she has some nasty virus causing cough, sore throat, stomach pain, nausea, and fatigue. Hopefully the other kids don't get it. It is nice that the kids are old enough to know to cover their coughs and sanitize their hands!
Well, I better take my mom to get a bite to eat, before I head to the airport to get Jon. I will go with him too, but I wanted us to be able to go alone and mom really wanted to go do something. Last weekend we thought we were going to go to dinner and a show, but Ashley needed a ride to Provo on Friday night! Mom was a lot of help getting set and decorated at the church for Pack Meeting last night!
Later,
Kerri Exhausted Erickson
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My Newest Goals and Commitments
I have to say how relieved I have been to have Ashley off to College, living the life she has wanted to live for the past couple of years, but definitely more matured and ready for the added responsibilities... I hope!
The crisis the first week of school was that we found out the she no longers had the scholarship that she was awarded, and had planned on, for her first year at UVU. I guess she never signed and returned the contract agreement, so they cancelled it in April. We didn't know until two days before classes started, when I went with her to campus to meet with her academic advisor and to talk to the scholarship office! To make a long story short, they re-instated her scholarship after I helped her type up an appeal letter, along with proof that she went down to Provo on February 27 to sign a housing contract and talk to someone in the scholarship office. We were truly blessed and watched over in this instance. First of all, when I went to campus with her that first week of school, we happened to run into an old BYU friend of mine, Elder Matt Holland (President/Elder Jeffrey Holland's son - who had served a mission in Scotland and who I was introduced to by a former mission companion of Jon's.... we ended up playing a few friendly games of raquetball together at BYU). He just happens to be the new President of Utah Valley University now, and when Matt saw us on campus and I introduced him to Ashley, he told her to "stop by the President's Office if you ever need anything!" I decided to send him a copy of the appeal letter and asked if he could check into it for me.... well, he did and replied a few days later that "Ashley was taken care of!" What a relief! Her scholarship was worth almost $2,000. She really owes him big, for whatever influence he had in the matter!
Ashley is doing well, enjoying College life and good roommates and friends. She has come home for a visit the past two weekends, mostly to go out with Randy (Everett) each Friday night. It has been fun for the family to catch up on how she is doing.
Aimee loves having her own room now! She took over Ashley's room immediately after Ashley headed to College. When Ashley is home now she either sleeps on Aimee's old bunk bed (which she claims is really uncomfortable) or the hide-a-bed couch (which isn't any better!) Aimee says she "has never slept so good" as she has since taking over Ashley's bed! Maybe we need to break down and buy new mattresses for the bunk beds.
I have spent countless hours bottling peaches, jam, and applesauce this week! It feels good to produce something for future use, although I am always relieved when the canning season has ended. My shoulders and back and neck are really feeling the brunt of the work! I am having more symptoms of radiating pain and numbness again from my degenerating discs in the base of my neck. It happens when I do too much of anything that causes me to lean over alot and strain my neck, like sewing, sweeping, ironing, cooking, etc. I have to be so aware and careful of my posture, even when I drive and at work. My symptoms were quite minimal for a while. I need a good anti-inflammatory medicine. The Naproxen stopped helping me a long time ago. This week I've just taken Ibuprofen when it's really bad. Sitting at the computer doesn't help, but oh well, I really don't do this often.
All of the kids are doing well in school. Jacob has Physics and Calculus, which he seems to understand- he got 100% on his Physics test this week! Aimee is enjoying her friends and school, for the most part. She is enjoying Honors English, reading a lot, and she is doing well in Trigonometry. She will be in the school musical theatre in the Spring, which should be fun for her. She has decided to not continue with her clogging, which she has done since she was six years old. I guess she is ready to move on and try other things. She and Sarah enjoy being involved in Volleyball and other sports with the Young Women.
Sarah is doing well so far in the first year at the Jr. High. It has been an adjustment to get used to having 7 different classes and 7 different teachers. She has had quite a lot of homework to do each day, especially in Math and History. She isn't sure she likes school Orchestra, but at least she was moved up from beginning to intermediate Orchestra. She seems to still enjoy her private lessons with Tamara Tanner, but she still isn't great about practicing without me reminding her to, which she hates!
Sam is in the 4th grade Spectrum Program at Centerville Elementary this year. He has had a ton of homework! A couple of his spelling words last week were even a challenge for Aimee! He ended up just missing one on his final spelling test, which was "Librarian." He isn't sure yet whether he really likes the change in schools, friends, and the increased work load, but I know it is what he needed. He does so much better when he is challenged! He does have a few cousins with him at Centerville; Ryan Trump, Grant Thompson, and Lily and Ava Erickson. He left a few other cousins at J.A. Taylor, Olivia & Eliza Trump, and Trevor Trump. I signed him up to play Jr. Jazz Basketball this fall with Grant and Ryan, which should be fun. Aimee and Sarah are playing softball again, but luckily I am not coaching this time around!
Jon is nearly to Manchester, England by now. He left early this morning, for 9 days. It has been so nice to have him around for most of the summer, although he has worked a lot of late nights and some Saturday afternoons in the past month, preparing for a couple of work trips.
I am in the process of planning and studying to take the GRE test, to apply for Graduate school. Kim and I are both looking into going back to school to receive a Master's Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. BYU seems to have the program we want to do, for the least amount of money. It will take 5-6 Semesters, I think 52 credit hours, to complete. I realize it will be a ton of work, but it is something I really feel strongly about doing. I will be so much more valuable to my family, extended family, community, and the church with more education. I am excited, but nervous because they only accept 15 applicants into the program each year. This year they had 45 people apply! I am scheduled to take the GRE on October 16, at the UofU campus. I really need to buckle down and spend more quality time studying. Tomorrow I work for Cindy Royall for three hours, I will be home Tuesday, then I work 9-10 hours on Wednesday, and I work 6 hours on Thursday. My other commitments involve house work, helping kids, shuttling kids, tennis lesson (for fun), and possible more applesauce! I think I am about out of bottles though. Janet already gave me a stash that I used on Saturday, when I bottled applesauce (from mom's two trees), working from 9am to 6pm straight.
Well, I better get to bed! I have to be out the door when Sam leaves for school tomorrow.
Wish me luck with my new goals! Jon and I just were called and set apart last weekend in new callings as well! Jon is sad to no longer be the Scoutmaster, which he did for 5 1/2 years! He is now the Cub Scout Master and I am the Cub Committee Chair, besides still conducting the Ward Choir. Sam is excited for us to be in charge of Pack Meetings! Our first is supposed to be just two days after Jon returns from England!
Oh Boy! A lot to think about!
Take care!
Kerri
The crisis the first week of school was that we found out the she no longers had the scholarship that she was awarded, and had planned on, for her first year at UVU. I guess she never signed and returned the contract agreement, so they cancelled it in April. We didn't know until two days before classes started, when I went with her to campus to meet with her academic advisor and to talk to the scholarship office! To make a long story short, they re-instated her scholarship after I helped her type up an appeal letter, along with proof that she went down to Provo on February 27 to sign a housing contract and talk to someone in the scholarship office. We were truly blessed and watched over in this instance. First of all, when I went to campus with her that first week of school, we happened to run into an old BYU friend of mine, Elder Matt Holland (President/Elder Jeffrey Holland's son - who had served a mission in Scotland and who I was introduced to by a former mission companion of Jon's.... we ended up playing a few friendly games of raquetball together at BYU). He just happens to be the new President of Utah Valley University now, and when Matt saw us on campus and I introduced him to Ashley, he told her to "stop by the President's Office if you ever need anything!" I decided to send him a copy of the appeal letter and asked if he could check into it for me.... well, he did and replied a few days later that "Ashley was taken care of!" What a relief! Her scholarship was worth almost $2,000. She really owes him big, for whatever influence he had in the matter!
Ashley is doing well, enjoying College life and good roommates and friends. She has come home for a visit the past two weekends, mostly to go out with Randy (Everett) each Friday night. It has been fun for the family to catch up on how she is doing.
Aimee loves having her own room now! She took over Ashley's room immediately after Ashley headed to College. When Ashley is home now she either sleeps on Aimee's old bunk bed (which she claims is really uncomfortable) or the hide-a-bed couch (which isn't any better!) Aimee says she "has never slept so good" as she has since taking over Ashley's bed! Maybe we need to break down and buy new mattresses for the bunk beds.
I have spent countless hours bottling peaches, jam, and applesauce this week! It feels good to produce something for future use, although I am always relieved when the canning season has ended. My shoulders and back and neck are really feeling the brunt of the work! I am having more symptoms of radiating pain and numbness again from my degenerating discs in the base of my neck. It happens when I do too much of anything that causes me to lean over alot and strain my neck, like sewing, sweeping, ironing, cooking, etc. I have to be so aware and careful of my posture, even when I drive and at work. My symptoms were quite minimal for a while. I need a good anti-inflammatory medicine. The Naproxen stopped helping me a long time ago. This week I've just taken Ibuprofen when it's really bad. Sitting at the computer doesn't help, but oh well, I really don't do this often.
All of the kids are doing well in school. Jacob has Physics and Calculus, which he seems to understand- he got 100% on his Physics test this week! Aimee is enjoying her friends and school, for the most part. She is enjoying Honors English, reading a lot, and she is doing well in Trigonometry. She will be in the school musical theatre in the Spring, which should be fun for her. She has decided to not continue with her clogging, which she has done since she was six years old. I guess she is ready to move on and try other things. She and Sarah enjoy being involved in Volleyball and other sports with the Young Women.
Sarah is doing well so far in the first year at the Jr. High. It has been an adjustment to get used to having 7 different classes and 7 different teachers. She has had quite a lot of homework to do each day, especially in Math and History. She isn't sure she likes school Orchestra, but at least she was moved up from beginning to intermediate Orchestra. She seems to still enjoy her private lessons with Tamara Tanner, but she still isn't great about practicing without me reminding her to, which she hates!
Sam is in the 4th grade Spectrum Program at Centerville Elementary this year. He has had a ton of homework! A couple of his spelling words last week were even a challenge for Aimee! He ended up just missing one on his final spelling test, which was "Librarian." He isn't sure yet whether he really likes the change in schools, friends, and the increased work load, but I know it is what he needed. He does so much better when he is challenged! He does have a few cousins with him at Centerville; Ryan Trump, Grant Thompson, and Lily and Ava Erickson. He left a few other cousins at J.A. Taylor, Olivia & Eliza Trump, and Trevor Trump. I signed him up to play Jr. Jazz Basketball this fall with Grant and Ryan, which should be fun. Aimee and Sarah are playing softball again, but luckily I am not coaching this time around!
Jon is nearly to Manchester, England by now. He left early this morning, for 9 days. It has been so nice to have him around for most of the summer, although he has worked a lot of late nights and some Saturday afternoons in the past month, preparing for a couple of work trips.
I am in the process of planning and studying to take the GRE test, to apply for Graduate school. Kim and I are both looking into going back to school to receive a Master's Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. BYU seems to have the program we want to do, for the least amount of money. It will take 5-6 Semesters, I think 52 credit hours, to complete. I realize it will be a ton of work, but it is something I really feel strongly about doing. I will be so much more valuable to my family, extended family, community, and the church with more education. I am excited, but nervous because they only accept 15 applicants into the program each year. This year they had 45 people apply! I am scheduled to take the GRE on October 16, at the UofU campus. I really need to buckle down and spend more quality time studying. Tomorrow I work for Cindy Royall for three hours, I will be home Tuesday, then I work 9-10 hours on Wednesday, and I work 6 hours on Thursday. My other commitments involve house work, helping kids, shuttling kids, tennis lesson (for fun), and possible more applesauce! I think I am about out of bottles though. Janet already gave me a stash that I used on Saturday, when I bottled applesauce (from mom's two trees), working from 9am to 6pm straight.
Well, I better get to bed! I have to be out the door when Sam leaves for school tomorrow.
Wish me luck with my new goals! Jon and I just were called and set apart last weekend in new callings as well! Jon is sad to no longer be the Scoutmaster, which he did for 5 1/2 years! He is now the Cub Scout Master and I am the Cub Committee Chair, besides still conducting the Ward Choir. Sam is excited for us to be in charge of Pack Meetings! Our first is supposed to be just two days after Jon returns from England!
Oh Boy! A lot to think about!
Take care!
Kerri
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Greater Understanding
Our assignment for our Relief Society Journaling class is, to write about a break-through moment you had with someone that finally made that connection you'd been missing and needing that caused the two of you to become closer. It can be as simple/small a moment or as big/tender a moment as you wish to share.
I've been thinking a lot about it this week, but can't think of a real earth-shattering experience to share. I know there has been many moments through my father's illness and sinces his subequent passing that I have thought back on my childhood, especially my teenage years, and the perception I had of my dad at that time in my life. Now that I am a mother of teenagers, I realize that my dad understood more that I thought he did and everytime he set limitations, boundaries, curfews, discipline measures, it was all because he loved me and wanted me to be happy.
My kids think that when I impose certain boundaries, curfews, or discipline measures that I (or Jon) do it out of a desire to "control their lives." They think we don't have a clue about what goes on in the life of a teenager. I realize more all the time that what we do in offering guidance and direction for our children is simply because we want them to reap the blessings of good decisions and not have to live with the consequences of bad ones.
I guess it is important, as a parent, to learn to encourage and direct without taking away the freedom of choice and especially without protecting our kids from the natural consequences of their decisions. I guess we have to have faith that if we do our best to teach correct principles that our children will be able to eventually get where we want them to be, even if they stumble and make a few mistakes along the way. It is vital that we are allowed to make mistakes and learn from our mistakes. This allows us grow in ways that would not otherwise be possible, that is, if we were protected from choices that lead to pain or regret. Afterall, that is the great plan that was laid out for us by a loving Heavenly Father!
I've been thinking a lot about it this week, but can't think of a real earth-shattering experience to share. I know there has been many moments through my father's illness and sinces his subequent passing that I have thought back on my childhood, especially my teenage years, and the perception I had of my dad at that time in my life. Now that I am a mother of teenagers, I realize that my dad understood more that I thought he did and everytime he set limitations, boundaries, curfews, discipline measures, it was all because he loved me and wanted me to be happy.
My kids think that when I impose certain boundaries, curfews, or discipline measures that I (or Jon) do it out of a desire to "control their lives." They think we don't have a clue about what goes on in the life of a teenager. I realize more all the time that what we do in offering guidance and direction for our children is simply because we want them to reap the blessings of good decisions and not have to live with the consequences of bad ones.
I guess it is important, as a parent, to learn to encourage and direct without taking away the freedom of choice and especially without protecting our kids from the natural consequences of their decisions. I guess we have to have faith that if we do our best to teach correct principles that our children will be able to eventually get where we want them to be, even if they stumble and make a few mistakes along the way. It is vital that we are allowed to make mistakes and learn from our mistakes. This allows us grow in ways that would not otherwise be possible, that is, if we were protected from choices that lead to pain or regret. Afterall, that is the great plan that was laid out for us by a loving Heavenly Father!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wow!
No matter who you were voting for in the 2008 Presidential election, it was pretty exciting to follow it in the news and watch the voting results come in! Now, as every election before this, we are called to "come together" as a nation and support our new President. We are so blessed to live in this free country, where we have the privelege to vote and to voice an opinion! I was hoping that John McCain would win, although I thought his chances weren't great, mostly because he is Republican and President Bush has fallen so out of favor with so many people in our country, but I still felt like he was the most qualified and sacrificed the most to have the privelege of leading the country. I thought he gave an amazing concession speech, it really showed what he was made of. I know he has a lot of admiration and respect of people across the nation and he will continue to do good things in the Senate. I was also impressed with President-elect Obama's acceptence speech, and could definitely understand the historic and personal significance of this election in the lives of so many people, especially those who consider themselves the minority or the underdog. He is a great icon and inspiration to a lot of people. I only hope that he can surround himself with many wise and prudent people, as he moves our country forward in the wake of many serious challenges! Only time will tell what he is really made of and whether he will represent all of the people in the decisions that he makes.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Exhausted!
It is early Sunday morning and I just returned home from taking Jon to the airport. He is heading to Germany for the next 9 days. He said he would be coming home on November 11. It is a bummer when he has to be gone over two Sundays. His last words of advice for me this morning, when we said good-bye were, "Be careful not to over-commit yourself this week." He usually says, "Don't spend any money," when he leaves town. I've been thinking a lot lately about my commitments and the many ways that I get myself really busy with many things. This past week was a very stressful one and I experienced a wide range of emotions, from discouraged, to anxious, to worried, to satisfied, to hopeful, to over-whelmed and tearful. I guess motherhood in general does that to us, but I definitely bring alot of the stresses of over-commitment and anxiety upon myself.
I guess I tend to do a lot of what my mother did, for her children, in order to feel like I am doing everything that a good mother should do, or at least, "if my mom did it for me, I should do it for my children." I find myself at times wondering "Why?" Why do I feel like I have to sew an elaborate Halloween costume, at least for the one child who's "turn it is" to have the "one" that they have always wanted. I didn't say "no" to the first child, so I can't say "no" to the rest, I guess. Boy, I really started this over-extending myself about 18 years ago. I remember on many occassions my father-in-law, Steve, telling me that I need to "be careful" and "slow down" and to remember the health problems that my mother got into, by just trying to be a good mother. I have tried to be very sensitive to my body and my feelings of emotional stress, but I do find that when I have my mind set to doing something for one of my children, I can't stop doing it until I have done it right... whether it is good for my emotional health or not.
I think Janice was right when she said that "God intervened when you were not called back to be in the "Wizard of Oz," production at Roger's Memorial Theatre. I really don't know what I was thinking when I went with three of my kids to audition. I guess I just thought it would be a great opportunity to do something memorable and fun with a few of my children. Obviously, it wasn't meant to be, and I am glad about that. I am excited for Sam to have his first opportunity to be in a musical at the theatre. I hope he has a good experience. He is going to be "a lollipop kid" munchkin on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights in January.
I started Sarah's "Belle" costume a couple of weeks ago, and really wasn't too concerned about finishing it on time, but it turned out to be soooo much work and stress for me. (It was a bit discouraging to barely finish the hem in time for her to leave trick-or-treating, as her friends were waiting for her, only to have her come home that night with mud on the skirt and chocolate smeared on the bodice front.) Aimee's "Sleeping Beauty" costume has faired much better. Probably because I had time to threaten her with her life to be extremely careful with it. In Sarah's case, she was in such a hurry to get going and I was so busy trying to help also get the other kids off, that we really didn't have that discussion. I just said to her, "I hope you are careful not to trip on it, and to lift it up when you are walking." I hope I can get it clean again. I didn't even get any video of her wearing it for the first time!
Let me back up a few days and go over my roller-coaster week with you....
The day after Ashley's birthday, I had to go into work for my annual evaluation. It went well, I had done all of the educational requirements for the year and they were pleased with my "notebook" and were very praising of my skills and commitment as a Pediatric nurse. I am grateful I enjoy the people I work with and the work that I do, or else I wouldn't have continued to spend a small portion of my life away from my family. It has been a good thing for me. Late that night, I picked up Charlie from the pet nanny, because our floor was nearly 100% cured (following the refinishing the week before.) I really didn't miss him. I went to work Friday morning, for another nurse who had a class to attend, from 7:00am to about 2:00pm. The kids were home before I was, because of early out schedule, but it was Friday... no homework, friends and play day, yeah! I decided only then, that I would print a couple of audition forms and call Roger's Memorial Theatre for an audition time, for myself and my kids who were interested. I was only home for about an hour when I had to be to the Tolman ball field, to coach Sarah's softball team, in their last season game. We found out just before that game, that we would have a double-elimination tournament starting the evening before Halloween and ending the day after Halloween, with several games scheduled on that day!
Saturday I went to work for another nurse from 9:00am until 1:30pm, then Sam, Sarah, Aimee, and I headed to the theatre at 3:00pm with audition forms, music, and newly taken and printed "headshots" of each of us. Wow! What a whirlwind day! I think I've already typed about the audition experience. Sam was the only one they were interested in returning for a "call-back" (a blessing in disguise.) We went straight from the audition to Sarah's Suzuki Grand Concert at Layton High. Phew! I breathed a big sigh of relief when that was done. Jon and I went to dinner together that night, then stopped at Dick's to get a few things we needed for Sunday dinner.
Sunday was the Primary Program, I wasn't in charge of this year, thankfully. Then we had Jon's parents and my mom over for a nice roast dinner. Jon's mom made wonderful rolls and my mom brought my favorite jello salad, from my childhood days. (She was sad it didn't turn out like it usually does, but it has been a very long time since she has made it I think.) It tasted great to me! It was a nice day.
Monday morning I went to the South Davis Rec Center and ran 4 miles, did weight-training for 45 minutes, and swam laps for 30 minutes. Heather joined me for the last mile of my run, and the rest. I did laundry, ran errands for Halloween, printed a F.H.E. lesson off the LDS Living website, and took kids to piano lessons. On Tuesday, I took my sewing machine and serger to Kim's, since she had the day off work, and we both sewed Halloween costumes for a few hours, and watched some old "Donny and Marie Show" re-runs she had on video. That was fun. She made cinnamon rolls, "comfort food for me," because I was feeling bad about not getting a call-back from Roger's Memorial, to audition for a part in "Wizard of Oz." I headed home when school was out and took Sarah to her violin lesson. I took Sam to Roger's for his call-back at 5:00pm, picked him back up at 6:30pm, then went to Enrichment Night, which was a good stress reliever. I am always glad when I make the effort to be there, even when I feel like I have a million other things to do.
On Wednesday morning, Kim and I decided to go to the South Davis Rec Center, to work out, before we got heavy into the sewing. Kim did get some sewing done while I ran a bit of laundry and made a run to the fabric store for the right size zipper for Sarah's costume. We didn't get to our work out until about 10:00am. I ran 4 1/2 miles, while Kim walked around the track, then we changed into our swim suits and we both swam laps for 30 minutes. I really enjoy swimming laps after running. Just as Kim was pulling herself out of the lap pool, her foot slipped on the side of the pool and she slammed her shin into the edge of the pool and cut it open. I immediately pinched it together and motioned for the lifeguard to come over to assist us. I had to hold her leg up and pinch her shin, with a small guaze pad the lifeguard had in his fanny pack, as we assisted her to the first aid room. She was pale and dizzy and I continued to help her as the lifeguard got me the necessary supplies to hold it and stop the bleeding, until we could get to a doctor's office. I can't believe this is the first time ever that Kim has cut herself and needed stitches! She tried to call her doctor's office, from the dressing room, but they said they couldn't see her until 4:00pm. So, I called Dr. Cope's office. They didn't answer the phones, because of their lunch break, so we just showed up at the front desk 10 minutes before their lunch break ended and asked if Dr. Cope would be willing to stitch up her shin, like he had done my knee a few weeks earlier. Kim and I were both very grateful that he did. He did a great job and we had an enjoyable conversation. He said at one point, "this is really strange, (talking to Kim) I feel like I am talking to her (me) when I am talking to you." I don't think he ever knew before that I had a twin. He has been our family doctor since Jacob was a baby! We found out that he grew up in LasVegas, he has a sister living in Pheonix, and that his oldest son is on a mission in New Zealand (and that there are a higher percentage of LDS people there than there are in the U.S., or was it in Utah?) Needless to say, that was a significant delay in our plans to get Halloween costumes done that day!
I was really upset that Ashley came home in the middle of the day, a couple of days, to study for her AP Psychology test, missing her P.E. Lifetime Activities class. She is getting a C- in that class, merely from lack of participation. That was supposed to be an easy A! Jon and I really don't understand her a lot of the time!
Thursday morning I had to go back into work, for a couple of hours, for a staff meeting. I went to Kim's house to do some more sewing afterwards, then went to a hair appointment for myself and Jacob at 2:30pm. Sam had Scouts after school. Then Sarah and I had to be at the Tolman ball field, for a practice at 4:00pm, before her first tournament game. It was good to have that practice time, with the girls that were able to be there early. We won our first tournament game, which was very exciting! I went back to Kim's later that night, after we had our traditional "pumpkin carving" night with our kids (and two of their friends, Michael Langston and Kelsey Layton.) I didn't get back over to start sewing again until about 11:00pm. I finally gathered up the dress, that only had hand-work left, and my sewing machines at about 1:30am.
That next morning was Halloween, the kids were out of school, and I had arranged with Janice to go running with her that morning. Aimee was supposed to tend her kids, but they ended up being really sick. So, I got up at 8:4oam anyways, and drove over to Janice's house. She gave me her ipod nano to listen to, on an armband, and her GPS unit that tracks miles and speed as you run, and also a water bottle. I went myself 5 1/2 miles! I knew if I didn't just do it, I would feel bad, because I was doing so well to run every other day and I knew it wasn't going to happen over the weekend. Janice said she was "very proud of me," and that she now knows that I really am going to run with her in the half-marathon in St. George in Janurary. She was so excited that I really am committed to doing it! Even though I still think I am a little crazy, I now have more faith that I really can do it! I was only home for about an hour, just enough time to shed a few tears of discouragement about the lack of progress that had been made on the "disasterous" house (otherwise known as a "pig sty,") by the kids in my absence. I started some cleaning and laundry, got the kids going on their jobs, and then took Sarah and Aimee to their hair appointment at 12:15pm. Ashley was supposed to go to, but "wasn't ready" and never came out to come with us, after we waited for her for at least 10 minutes. I decided she would have to re-schedule it herself and get herself their, if she wanted it done before family pictures the next day!
The rest of the Halloween day was extremely stressful for me, with trying to get Sarah's dress done, and help Jacob and Aimee and Sam with what they wanted help with, in preparing for their party plans. Ashley wanted help too, but I told her I had done it for her for 18 years, and she was going to have to be on her own this year. She attempted to fix what she didn't like about her Daphne dress the day before, with my old sewing machine, but resorted to blue painters tape inside the neck line, when she couldn't get it to work out the way she had hoped when sewing it. It wasn't obvious she had used tape from the outside, and she wore a scarf around her neck anyways, so it looked fine. She was cute as "Daphne" when she headed off to work that afternoon. Of course, once again, I had to stop what I was doing to take her to get her car that her dad had taken and parked at the shop, supposedly "unhappy that she had parked on his side of the driveway when he tried to pull in after work...," at least that's what she claimed provoked him to take it away. I personally think it was because she had come home from school and missed a few classes during the week. I think we need to take the car privelege away more often than we have done, when she abuses the privelege of driving a car to school. Anyways, I caved into letting her take her car, because I really didn't have time to drive her to work and finish Sarah's costume. By the time the kids started trick-or-treating, I just wanted to go crawl into my bed and go to sleep! Instead, I hopped in the shower, while Jon cleaned up the kitchen, answered the doorbell, and fed the kids pizza. After my Uncle Bryce dropped the boys back off at our house, we took Sam, Grant, and Ryan, as well as Aimee and her friends, with us to Jon's parents and my mom's house. I hope that next year I can enjoy Halloween more than I did this year! I did manage to make some zucchini bread, to take to the people I visit teach, a couple of days earlier. I finished making those deliveries about 9:00pm. I know... that was one more thing I shouldn't have worried about! But my visiting teachers actually brought us dinner in the crockpot on Thursday night, which was the only good meal (that wasn't left-overs) that we had all week!
Now, to finish off my exhausting week, yesterday was Saturday and should've been a relaxing, stay at home, day after the holiday, sort of day. But, it wasn't.... It was a very crazy, busy, stressful day for both Jon and I, like the week leading up to it has been! Jon went to work early in the morning, to finish getting ready for his trip to Germany. I got up late, at 9:10am, only to realize that Sam was already ten minutes late to his first "Wizard of Oz" rehearsal! I had to quickly throw on some clothes and run to Kim's house, where he had stayed the night with Grant, and get him to the theatre. He was 20 minutes late, but luckily the kids and parents were still filling out their "bios" that would be printed in the program. Sam's is very short, and doesn't say really anything about who he is, but we did what we could do in the short time and feeling stressed to get it done, since they were asking everyone to get them turned in. Then, they asked the parents who weren't in the play to leave, which made Sam a little sad, but he was okay about it when I explained to him and he could see that most of the parents that were there were actually leaving as well. I just felt bad that I didn't make sure that he had eaten breakfast, brushed his teeth, and at least had a water bottle. I'll have to have a little backpack ready for him for his nightly rehearsals this week!
I hurried home to start setting out and deciding on clothes for everyone to wear for our family photo shoot, scheuled for 4:00pm that afternnoon. Aimee and I ran to Khol's to get a top for me and see if they had any jeans for her. We didn't have time to make a definite decision, or buy anything, when I had to get home to take Sarah to her second softball tournament game, which started at 11:30am. We ended up winning our second game, which allowed us to have a lunch break before it was time to play the championship game at 2:30pm. So, I took a few of the players home with me, they fixed macaroni and cheese for lunch, and I finished trying to decide, with Ashley's help, what everyone was going to wear for pictures.
Sarah, Melissa, Jessie, Lilli, and I, headed back to the Tolman ball field at 2:00pm and played another game, which extended into an extra inning, because of a tie! We didn't get done playing until 3:50pm! Jon made it down to watch to tail end of the game, which we barely lost, and then Sarah and I had to leave to get dressed and head to Salt Lake's Memorial Park, for family pictures! Sarah was so upset, because we had one more game to play (the same team that we just lost our first tournament game to, which was to decide 1st and 2nd place!) I really felt like family pictures were way more important that missing that game, but Sarah wasn't so sure! I knew that if we rescheduled the photo shoot, we wouldn't have fall leaves or good weather, or even maybe have another chance for several months to get it arranged again. We had already talked and planned for it for the past two months!
We found out, from Memorial Park, that our team won the championship and first place! It sounded like it had been a pretty exciting, eventful game too! I was proud of the team for sticking together, encouraging each other, having good sportsmanship, and just doing their best. It payed off and they couldn't have been more excited! It has been really a fun team to coach, having so many friends and cousins to Sarah on the team. I feel bad that the only game I missed all season was that final one, but I am happy that Bryce was there to take my place and that Megan was able to play a good game, with her arm in a cast! (From her 4-wheeling accident a week earlier. She had surgery last week for a broken nose as well. I really thought she wouldn't be able to play again! Bryce let her play Rover and she made a couple of amazing catches! The last game I was there to see, she caught one in the field and then threw the ball to first base for a double play! That is the most exciting play I have ever witnessed in girl's softball! What a thrilling moment for the whole team! That made the second and third out for that inning!) I would've loved to have had that on video!
Well, we managed to get to the park in Salt Lake in time to get some good pictures, before the sunlight was gone, and I was so happy that we did! Andrea Dansie, who is actually Sarah's Primary Teacher and the painist for the Ward Choir, took the pictures for us. She is training to be a professional photographer and I really think the pictures will be great. She picked up Ashley at 3:30pm, while we were at the game, and took her alone to get her Senior pictures first. Then, we were able to meet them there. We were much later than planned, because of Sarah's game going into overtime and I had to run back to Kohl's for something for me to wear and a shirt for Sarah and a tank top for Aimee, but we made it.
I am so grateful for daylight saving's time. Jon and I both needed that extra hour of sleep. He was up so late last night, finishing his list of things to do before leaving town, doing laundry, and packing! He was out tilling the garden using the back yard porch lights to see, at about 9:00pm. I know he spent several hours over raking leaves at my mom's house yesterday. He is such an amazing son-in-law! I don't know what my mom would do without him! As we were going to bed, early this morning, he just felt really bad that he hadn't made it over to visit his mom. He really planned on doing that before leaving town. She had called about a jacket he had left there on Halloween, and he told her he would be by, so he felt bad he hadn't made it. His dad has been gone out of town pheasant hunting this week.
Ashley wants to make cinnamon rolls today, to take to Ryan, who has been gone hunting with his dad and Ashley's Grandpa Erickson. She has decided that she really likes him again, I guess. She found out first hand that Derek was not at all worth her trouble! That's good. Doug and Janae have tried to tell her that for a long time. Last night, Aimee took a treat to a boy on our street (actually he is the Bishop's son, Blake) for his birthday! Oh boy! What can I say? Here we go again!
I guess I tend to do a lot of what my mother did, for her children, in order to feel like I am doing everything that a good mother should do, or at least, "if my mom did it for me, I should do it for my children." I find myself at times wondering "Why?" Why do I feel like I have to sew an elaborate Halloween costume, at least for the one child who's "turn it is" to have the "one" that they have always wanted. I didn't say "no" to the first child, so I can't say "no" to the rest, I guess. Boy, I really started this over-extending myself about 18 years ago. I remember on many occassions my father-in-law, Steve, telling me that I need to "be careful" and "slow down" and to remember the health problems that my mother got into, by just trying to be a good mother. I have tried to be very sensitive to my body and my feelings of emotional stress, but I do find that when I have my mind set to doing something for one of my children, I can't stop doing it until I have done it right... whether it is good for my emotional health or not.
I think Janice was right when she said that "God intervened when you were not called back to be in the "Wizard of Oz," production at Roger's Memorial Theatre. I really don't know what I was thinking when I went with three of my kids to audition. I guess I just thought it would be a great opportunity to do something memorable and fun with a few of my children. Obviously, it wasn't meant to be, and I am glad about that. I am excited for Sam to have his first opportunity to be in a musical at the theatre. I hope he has a good experience. He is going to be "a lollipop kid" munchkin on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights in January.
I started Sarah's "Belle" costume a couple of weeks ago, and really wasn't too concerned about finishing it on time, but it turned out to be soooo much work and stress for me. (It was a bit discouraging to barely finish the hem in time for her to leave trick-or-treating, as her friends were waiting for her, only to have her come home that night with mud on the skirt and chocolate smeared on the bodice front.) Aimee's "Sleeping Beauty" costume has faired much better. Probably because I had time to threaten her with her life to be extremely careful with it. In Sarah's case, she was in such a hurry to get going and I was so busy trying to help also get the other kids off, that we really didn't have that discussion. I just said to her, "I hope you are careful not to trip on it, and to lift it up when you are walking." I hope I can get it clean again. I didn't even get any video of her wearing it for the first time!
Let me back up a few days and go over my roller-coaster week with you....
The day after Ashley's birthday, I had to go into work for my annual evaluation. It went well, I had done all of the educational requirements for the year and they were pleased with my "notebook" and were very praising of my skills and commitment as a Pediatric nurse. I am grateful I enjoy the people I work with and the work that I do, or else I wouldn't have continued to spend a small portion of my life away from my family. It has been a good thing for me. Late that night, I picked up Charlie from the pet nanny, because our floor was nearly 100% cured (following the refinishing the week before.) I really didn't miss him. I went to work Friday morning, for another nurse who had a class to attend, from 7:00am to about 2:00pm. The kids were home before I was, because of early out schedule, but it was Friday... no homework, friends and play day, yeah! I decided only then, that I would print a couple of audition forms and call Roger's Memorial Theatre for an audition time, for myself and my kids who were interested. I was only home for about an hour when I had to be to the Tolman ball field, to coach Sarah's softball team, in their last season game. We found out just before that game, that we would have a double-elimination tournament starting the evening before Halloween and ending the day after Halloween, with several games scheduled on that day!
Saturday I went to work for another nurse from 9:00am until 1:30pm, then Sam, Sarah, Aimee, and I headed to the theatre at 3:00pm with audition forms, music, and newly taken and printed "headshots" of each of us. Wow! What a whirlwind day! I think I've already typed about the audition experience. Sam was the only one they were interested in returning for a "call-back" (a blessing in disguise.) We went straight from the audition to Sarah's Suzuki Grand Concert at Layton High. Phew! I breathed a big sigh of relief when that was done. Jon and I went to dinner together that night, then stopped at Dick's to get a few things we needed for Sunday dinner.
Sunday was the Primary Program, I wasn't in charge of this year, thankfully. Then we had Jon's parents and my mom over for a nice roast dinner. Jon's mom made wonderful rolls and my mom brought my favorite jello salad, from my childhood days. (She was sad it didn't turn out like it usually does, but it has been a very long time since she has made it I think.) It tasted great to me! It was a nice day.
Monday morning I went to the South Davis Rec Center and ran 4 miles, did weight-training for 45 minutes, and swam laps for 30 minutes. Heather joined me for the last mile of my run, and the rest. I did laundry, ran errands for Halloween, printed a F.H.E. lesson off the LDS Living website, and took kids to piano lessons. On Tuesday, I took my sewing machine and serger to Kim's, since she had the day off work, and we both sewed Halloween costumes for a few hours, and watched some old "Donny and Marie Show" re-runs she had on video. That was fun. She made cinnamon rolls, "comfort food for me," because I was feeling bad about not getting a call-back from Roger's Memorial, to audition for a part in "Wizard of Oz." I headed home when school was out and took Sarah to her violin lesson. I took Sam to Roger's for his call-back at 5:00pm, picked him back up at 6:30pm, then went to Enrichment Night, which was a good stress reliever. I am always glad when I make the effort to be there, even when I feel like I have a million other things to do.
On Wednesday morning, Kim and I decided to go to the South Davis Rec Center, to work out, before we got heavy into the sewing. Kim did get some sewing done while I ran a bit of laundry and made a run to the fabric store for the right size zipper for Sarah's costume. We didn't get to our work out until about 10:00am. I ran 4 1/2 miles, while Kim walked around the track, then we changed into our swim suits and we both swam laps for 30 minutes. I really enjoy swimming laps after running. Just as Kim was pulling herself out of the lap pool, her foot slipped on the side of the pool and she slammed her shin into the edge of the pool and cut it open. I immediately pinched it together and motioned for the lifeguard to come over to assist us. I had to hold her leg up and pinch her shin, with a small guaze pad the lifeguard had in his fanny pack, as we assisted her to the first aid room. She was pale and dizzy and I continued to help her as the lifeguard got me the necessary supplies to hold it and stop the bleeding, until we could get to a doctor's office. I can't believe this is the first time ever that Kim has cut herself and needed stitches! She tried to call her doctor's office, from the dressing room, but they said they couldn't see her until 4:00pm. So, I called Dr. Cope's office. They didn't answer the phones, because of their lunch break, so we just showed up at the front desk 10 minutes before their lunch break ended and asked if Dr. Cope would be willing to stitch up her shin, like he had done my knee a few weeks earlier. Kim and I were both very grateful that he did. He did a great job and we had an enjoyable conversation. He said at one point, "this is really strange, (talking to Kim) I feel like I am talking to her (me) when I am talking to you." I don't think he ever knew before that I had a twin. He has been our family doctor since Jacob was a baby! We found out that he grew up in LasVegas, he has a sister living in Pheonix, and that his oldest son is on a mission in New Zealand (and that there are a higher percentage of LDS people there than there are in the U.S., or was it in Utah?) Needless to say, that was a significant delay in our plans to get Halloween costumes done that day!
I was really upset that Ashley came home in the middle of the day, a couple of days, to study for her AP Psychology test, missing her P.E. Lifetime Activities class. She is getting a C- in that class, merely from lack of participation. That was supposed to be an easy A! Jon and I really don't understand her a lot of the time!
Thursday morning I had to go back into work, for a couple of hours, for a staff meeting. I went to Kim's house to do some more sewing afterwards, then went to a hair appointment for myself and Jacob at 2:30pm. Sam had Scouts after school. Then Sarah and I had to be at the Tolman ball field, for a practice at 4:00pm, before her first tournament game. It was good to have that practice time, with the girls that were able to be there early. We won our first tournament game, which was very exciting! I went back to Kim's later that night, after we had our traditional "pumpkin carving" night with our kids (and two of their friends, Michael Langston and Kelsey Layton.) I didn't get back over to start sewing again until about 11:00pm. I finally gathered up the dress, that only had hand-work left, and my sewing machines at about 1:30am.
That next morning was Halloween, the kids were out of school, and I had arranged with Janice to go running with her that morning. Aimee was supposed to tend her kids, but they ended up being really sick. So, I got up at 8:4oam anyways, and drove over to Janice's house. She gave me her ipod nano to listen to, on an armband, and her GPS unit that tracks miles and speed as you run, and also a water bottle. I went myself 5 1/2 miles! I knew if I didn't just do it, I would feel bad, because I was doing so well to run every other day and I knew it wasn't going to happen over the weekend. Janice said she was "very proud of me," and that she now knows that I really am going to run with her in the half-marathon in St. George in Janurary. She was so excited that I really am committed to doing it! Even though I still think I am a little crazy, I now have more faith that I really can do it! I was only home for about an hour, just enough time to shed a few tears of discouragement about the lack of progress that had been made on the "disasterous" house (otherwise known as a "pig sty,") by the kids in my absence. I started some cleaning and laundry, got the kids going on their jobs, and then took Sarah and Aimee to their hair appointment at 12:15pm. Ashley was supposed to go to, but "wasn't ready" and never came out to come with us, after we waited for her for at least 10 minutes. I decided she would have to re-schedule it herself and get herself their, if she wanted it done before family pictures the next day!
The rest of the Halloween day was extremely stressful for me, with trying to get Sarah's dress done, and help Jacob and Aimee and Sam with what they wanted help with, in preparing for their party plans. Ashley wanted help too, but I told her I had done it for her for 18 years, and she was going to have to be on her own this year. She attempted to fix what she didn't like about her Daphne dress the day before, with my old sewing machine, but resorted to blue painters tape inside the neck line, when she couldn't get it to work out the way she had hoped when sewing it. It wasn't obvious she had used tape from the outside, and she wore a scarf around her neck anyways, so it looked fine. She was cute as "Daphne" when she headed off to work that afternoon. Of course, once again, I had to stop what I was doing to take her to get her car that her dad had taken and parked at the shop, supposedly "unhappy that she had parked on his side of the driveway when he tried to pull in after work...," at least that's what she claimed provoked him to take it away. I personally think it was because she had come home from school and missed a few classes during the week. I think we need to take the car privelege away more often than we have done, when she abuses the privelege of driving a car to school. Anyways, I caved into letting her take her car, because I really didn't have time to drive her to work and finish Sarah's costume. By the time the kids started trick-or-treating, I just wanted to go crawl into my bed and go to sleep! Instead, I hopped in the shower, while Jon cleaned up the kitchen, answered the doorbell, and fed the kids pizza. After my Uncle Bryce dropped the boys back off at our house, we took Sam, Grant, and Ryan, as well as Aimee and her friends, with us to Jon's parents and my mom's house. I hope that next year I can enjoy Halloween more than I did this year! I did manage to make some zucchini bread, to take to the people I visit teach, a couple of days earlier. I finished making those deliveries about 9:00pm. I know... that was one more thing I shouldn't have worried about! But my visiting teachers actually brought us dinner in the crockpot on Thursday night, which was the only good meal (that wasn't left-overs) that we had all week!
Now, to finish off my exhausting week, yesterday was Saturday and should've been a relaxing, stay at home, day after the holiday, sort of day. But, it wasn't.... It was a very crazy, busy, stressful day for both Jon and I, like the week leading up to it has been! Jon went to work early in the morning, to finish getting ready for his trip to Germany. I got up late, at 9:10am, only to realize that Sam was already ten minutes late to his first "Wizard of Oz" rehearsal! I had to quickly throw on some clothes and run to Kim's house, where he had stayed the night with Grant, and get him to the theatre. He was 20 minutes late, but luckily the kids and parents were still filling out their "bios" that would be printed in the program. Sam's is very short, and doesn't say really anything about who he is, but we did what we could do in the short time and feeling stressed to get it done, since they were asking everyone to get them turned in. Then, they asked the parents who weren't in the play to leave, which made Sam a little sad, but he was okay about it when I explained to him and he could see that most of the parents that were there were actually leaving as well. I just felt bad that I didn't make sure that he had eaten breakfast, brushed his teeth, and at least had a water bottle. I'll have to have a little backpack ready for him for his nightly rehearsals this week!
I hurried home to start setting out and deciding on clothes for everyone to wear for our family photo shoot, scheuled for 4:00pm that afternnoon. Aimee and I ran to Khol's to get a top for me and see if they had any jeans for her. We didn't have time to make a definite decision, or buy anything, when I had to get home to take Sarah to her second softball tournament game, which started at 11:30am. We ended up winning our second game, which allowed us to have a lunch break before it was time to play the championship game at 2:30pm. So, I took a few of the players home with me, they fixed macaroni and cheese for lunch, and I finished trying to decide, with Ashley's help, what everyone was going to wear for pictures.
Sarah, Melissa, Jessie, Lilli, and I, headed back to the Tolman ball field at 2:00pm and played another game, which extended into an extra inning, because of a tie! We didn't get done playing until 3:50pm! Jon made it down to watch to tail end of the game, which we barely lost, and then Sarah and I had to leave to get dressed and head to Salt Lake's Memorial Park, for family pictures! Sarah was so upset, because we had one more game to play (the same team that we just lost our first tournament game to, which was to decide 1st and 2nd place!) I really felt like family pictures were way more important that missing that game, but Sarah wasn't so sure! I knew that if we rescheduled the photo shoot, we wouldn't have fall leaves or good weather, or even maybe have another chance for several months to get it arranged again. We had already talked and planned for it for the past two months!
We found out, from Memorial Park, that our team won the championship and first place! It sounded like it had been a pretty exciting, eventful game too! I was proud of the team for sticking together, encouraging each other, having good sportsmanship, and just doing their best. It payed off and they couldn't have been more excited! It has been really a fun team to coach, having so many friends and cousins to Sarah on the team. I feel bad that the only game I missed all season was that final one, but I am happy that Bryce was there to take my place and that Megan was able to play a good game, with her arm in a cast! (From her 4-wheeling accident a week earlier. She had surgery last week for a broken nose as well. I really thought she wouldn't be able to play again! Bryce let her play Rover and she made a couple of amazing catches! The last game I was there to see, she caught one in the field and then threw the ball to first base for a double play! That is the most exciting play I have ever witnessed in girl's softball! What a thrilling moment for the whole team! That made the second and third out for that inning!) I would've loved to have had that on video!
Well, we managed to get to the park in Salt Lake in time to get some good pictures, before the sunlight was gone, and I was so happy that we did! Andrea Dansie, who is actually Sarah's Primary Teacher and the painist for the Ward Choir, took the pictures for us. She is training to be a professional photographer and I really think the pictures will be great. She picked up Ashley at 3:30pm, while we were at the game, and took her alone to get her Senior pictures first. Then, we were able to meet them there. We were much later than planned, because of Sarah's game going into overtime and I had to run back to Kohl's for something for me to wear and a shirt for Sarah and a tank top for Aimee, but we made it.
I am so grateful for daylight saving's time. Jon and I both needed that extra hour of sleep. He was up so late last night, finishing his list of things to do before leaving town, doing laundry, and packing! He was out tilling the garden using the back yard porch lights to see, at about 9:00pm. I know he spent several hours over raking leaves at my mom's house yesterday. He is such an amazing son-in-law! I don't know what my mom would do without him! As we were going to bed, early this morning, he just felt really bad that he hadn't made it over to visit his mom. He really planned on doing that before leaving town. She had called about a jacket he had left there on Halloween, and he told her he would be by, so he felt bad he hadn't made it. His dad has been gone out of town pheasant hunting this week.
Ashley wants to make cinnamon rolls today, to take to Ryan, who has been gone hunting with his dad and Ashley's Grandpa Erickson. She has decided that she really likes him again, I guess. She found out first hand that Derek was not at all worth her trouble! That's good. Doug and Janae have tried to tell her that for a long time. Last night, Aimee took a treat to a boy on our street (actually he is the Bishop's son, Blake) for his birthday! Oh boy! What can I say? Here we go again!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My Baby is 18!
I never thought the day would come that my children would be so old! I don't know where the time has gone. Ashley is old enough to be considered an adult. I guess I need to start looking at her in that way and hopefully she will start taking on more responsibilities as well. We had German Pancakes for breakfast, as Ashley requested of me late last night. She and Jacob were a little late for school, but at least she is there! (Jacob was very patient with her this morning, when she was making him late.... He even scraped her car windows while she finished beautifying herself. He has only ever been late when waiting for her!)
Hopefully she has a good day. I took her shopping on Monday, which wasn't in my plans for the early evening, but she begged me to take her because she had to work last night. We brought home a Costco pizza for dinner and had a very condensed Family Home Evening. I'm glad I took her. She picked out a blouse, a sweater, jeans, boots, and a coat, which she was really excited about. She also chose some new perfume and a couple of costume jewelry rings to match her new blouse and sweater. She looked cute in her new clothes and I'm sure that helped her to want to be in school today. I need to decide what to do for a cake and what little thing I could surprise her with for later. I was going to go look for a scarf to go with her new sweater today, but she found one on her own yesterday after school. I may either get her theatre or movie tickets for her and a friend or two, or just give her money to go do something fun with her friends. Most of her regular friends she claims are really starting to "bug" her lately. So there are only 2 or 3 people that she may even care to do anything with. We did get her some white boots to go with her purple dress and silver overcoat, so she could be "Daphne" for the Halloween dance on Saturday. She wants to find an orange wig, but I think we should just do colored hairspray, since she already has perfect Daphne hair, I think.
Hopefully she has a good day. I took her shopping on Monday, which wasn't in my plans for the early evening, but she begged me to take her because she had to work last night. We brought home a Costco pizza for dinner and had a very condensed Family Home Evening. I'm glad I took her. She picked out a blouse, a sweater, jeans, boots, and a coat, which she was really excited about. She also chose some new perfume and a couple of costume jewelry rings to match her new blouse and sweater. She looked cute in her new clothes and I'm sure that helped her to want to be in school today. I need to decide what to do for a cake and what little thing I could surprise her with for later. I was going to go look for a scarf to go with her new sweater today, but she found one on her own yesterday after school. I may either get her theatre or movie tickets for her and a friend or two, or just give her money to go do something fun with her friends. Most of her regular friends she claims are really starting to "bug" her lately. So there are only 2 or 3 people that she may even care to do anything with. We did get her some white boots to go with her purple dress and silver overcoat, so she could be "Daphne" for the Halloween dance on Saturday. She wants to find an orange wig, but I think we should just do colored hairspray, since she already has perfect Daphne hair, I think.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Success vs. Failure
I guess it depends on the week, or even the day, whether we feel we are successful in what we are trying to accomplish in this life. Last week, I was feeling mostly like a failure. I went 5 days without running, which made me feel like I was failing in my goal to be ready to run a 1/2 marathon in January. And I was feeling like a failure as a mother. Having three teenagers right now may contribute to feeling many days like I am failing as a mother... since they do have a tendency to make us believe that we are completely "out of touch" and that our goals are not their goals. Scripture study every day is a challenge with teenagers, so is weekly Family Home Evening, or even having all of us attend all of our church meetings each week. So, my goals to have my children be actively involved in spiritual activities and developing their own testimonies of the gospel is a challenge! I guess I just need to keep reminding myself that I can only do my best to provide the opportunities for them to learn the gospel and to feel the Spirit, but they have their free agency and they have to want to grow in the gospel and gain their own testimonies. It is also a challenge as these children get older to know how much leverage to have over car use, cell phones, Saturday chores and daily responsibilities, priveleges gained and lost based on meeting family responsibilities and expectations that we as parents have... if that even makes any sense. Teenagers want to feel like they can come and go, eat and sleep, dirty dishes, take showers, and dirty clothes, without much thought for hanging wet towels, washing their clothes, washing any dishes, or making a bed - much less help out with any household chores that are not directly related to their own personal interest or valuables. I'm convinced they had cleaner rooms and more often made their beds and helped with dishes more often when they were 5years old than they do now. It's probably my fault, but I decided with the oldest that I have to "pick my battles" or else be battling all of the time! It's hard for both Jon and I to feel like the "bad guys" when we have to take away car keys or cell phones, for not being in at the appointed hour in the evening, or not meeting the financial commitment made when the cell phone was purchased. Parenting is hard! It would be nice to always just "be friends" and "have fun" all the time, but the only way they can learn to be responsible adults is by accepting responsibilities and meeting obligations as they mature. Hopefully, someday they will appreciate us and realize that all we ever wanted for any of our children is to be happy and successful in this life, and in the next life as well. We really aren't here merely to have a good time, but we can enjoy life as we learn to love others, make and keep sacred covenants, and work together to have peace and harmony in our home. Even though it is often a challenge to find a time that we can all gather for scripture study and prayer, I know that when we do make the effort it pays off; in how smoothly the days and weeks go for our family and the feelings of love and commitment that we feel in our home. So, I guess all we can do is just keep trying and in the end, if we can look back on our lives knowing that we did our best, we will be happy and we will be blessed for our efforts. As far as the running thing, I have ran at least three miles every other day since I missed those five in a row and I have a work out DVD that I do at home on the days I don't run.
As far as politics go, I want McCain and Palin to win the Presidential election next month. I think that Obama is a smooth talker and a new, young face, but I don't feel like he is always honest and can always be trusted to do what is in the best interest of the majority of the people in this country. I think he is more swayed by radical views, special interests, and those with money. I can't believe how much money he has raised and spent on this campaign, when there are so many people in this country that are struggling to pay bills and buy food and gas. I feel blessed that Jon and I have always tried to follow the Prophet's counsel, to get out of debt and to avoid the use of credit cards. We have been blessed by always paying tithing as well. I know there are difficult times ahead for all of us, but I have faith that the Lord is in charge and if we trust Him and follow the counsel of His prophet today, we have no need to fear.
As far as politics go, I want McCain and Palin to win the Presidential election next month. I think that Obama is a smooth talker and a new, young face, but I don't feel like he is always honest and can always be trusted to do what is in the best interest of the majority of the people in this country. I think he is more swayed by radical views, special interests, and those with money. I can't believe how much money he has raised and spent on this campaign, when there are so many people in this country that are struggling to pay bills and buy food and gas. I feel blessed that Jon and I have always tried to follow the Prophet's counsel, to get out of debt and to avoid the use of credit cards. We have been blessed by always paying tithing as well. I know there are difficult times ahead for all of us, but I have faith that the Lord is in charge and if we trust Him and follow the counsel of His prophet today, we have no need to fear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
