Fall Break

This year, for some inexplicable reason, we have 3 days off for "fall break".  In the past we've always had one random day off in October which they have referred to as fall break and we've all kind of just rolled our eyes and thought of it as another teacher development day.  When I realized that we would have this little break I definitely had mixed feelings about it.  On the one hand, having a few days off from the morning chaos and the afternoon of homework would be nice but on the other hand 3 full days of keeping my kids entertained and my normal household duties up to snuff did not sound so fun.

A couple days before the break a friend asked one of the girls "are you excited for fall break?"  Her answer broke my heart... she said "I am, but mom's not, she likes it when we have school."  how sad is that?  I felt so bad.  So I turned my focus back to what's most important, my kids and family   The house isn't that big of a deal.  It will get cleaned eventually.  Just maybe not so much over during few precious days with my children.

I started out coming up with elaborate ideas of places to go.  Seaworld... did you know it's almost as expensive as Disneyland.  Ok so how 'bout just a quick trip to the beach... 6 hours each way and  Seth only has one extra day off and we have to be back by Saturday morning for Soccer.  What about camping?  Camping with Nash?  Sleeping on the hard ground with a bad back?  Maybe not.  I have to admit I actually said a prayer.  I told Heavenly Father that I knew this wasn't a trial or tribulation but I also knew that He cared about our everyday happiness and that He would help me figure this out.  He does.  And He did.

Wednesday I woke up and promised myself that today was about them,  about them knowing that I wanted to spend time with them and that they were more important than a clean house.  So we played some wii, we packed a picnic lunch and went to the park, we went to Goodwill and got ideas for Halloween costumes and we watched a movie on my bed with popcorn.  It wasn't perfect.  I still got frustrated a couple times but it was fun.

Picnic at the Park

I realized while we were there that I had taken a picture of the kids at this same park about a year before. We re-enacted it , or at least tried.  They have grown so much.  And apparently the park got a new swing.

Thursday Seth took the day off and we went to the Children's Museum.  I have been a couple times for field trips with the girls and we went with Seth's mom and sisters a couple years ago but I didn't realize that for Mckay and Luc it had been 2-3 years and Seth has never been.  It was so much fun.  We weren't in a rush, we just hung out and played.  We left for lunch at a great little pizza place downtown and then went back for a few more hours.  The afternoon was so nice, all the school groups had left and we practically had the place to ourselves.  And we only lost one kid and only for like 1 minute.  Not bad overall.

6+ Hours of uninterrupted fun for all

The girls favorite place was the Pizza Parlor.  I (pretend) ate about 18 pizzas, 14 salads and 21 desserts! This is also where we lost Nash, he was done eating pizza and left to find the climbing structure.

Today we're just hanging out at home, running a couple of errands and then Seth and I get to go golfing this afternoon to celebrate 10 years as a couple.  We don't normally celebrate this but Seth texted me this week to tell me we'd been dating for 10 years this week and we thought it was a good reason for a date. I haven't golfed in a very long time.  Could be interesting.

Weekend Update

Utah football was a total bust this weekend.  It was still a lot fun to go to a game since we only get to go once a year but man did they play awful.  The best fan "jab" of the night, during the 4th quarter we're down by like 30 points and sucking it up on both sides of the ball but our band was still just playing their little hearts out, I mean like after or before every other play they would play something.  A guy from the ASU crowd close to us yells "next time leave your band at home and bring your defense!"  I loved it.  Made me laugh because it was so true.  I love sports.  Especially college football.  Just sayin'.

Sunday was a rough morning.  Maybe it was an extension of the loss Saturday night or being up so late, I don't know.  But I woke up and told myself I was going to be really patient and loving while getting ready for church.  I didn't do so well.  Seth has to leave a half hour before us to help the deacons set up chairs and being the amazing husband that he is he usually takes a couple kids with him so I can finish getting ready.  This week even with 2 kids out the door early I was still late.  I hate being late for church.  I did my makeup in the car on the way (I know that sounds dangerous but I mostly just do it at stop lights so it's not too dangerous.)  Anyway, I got to church just before the opening prayer and i was not in a good mood, definitely not in the right mood.  Which made sacrament really long, primary super exhausting and frustrating and me even more grumpy by the end.  I guess I'll try again next week.  Yesterday felt a bit like a failure.  I hate days like that.

Wow this sounds like a depressing weekend.  It wasn't really.  Just some not so stellar moments.  So grateful that my Heavenly Father is patient with me even when I'm not.

Luc's Future...

Luc just came in from outside and said "mom, can I just pee outside?"

And like every other time he has asked this I simply said "no buddy, go in the bathroom"

His response "ah mom!  When I'm sixteen and I'm a fireman then I can pee outside, right mom?"

I suppose if all of those circumstances were true then yes, he probably could.  

Unloading My Brain with Random Thoughts

You gotta love my "random thoughts" posts.  Every couple of months I have all these little thoughts that have no connection to one another and really aren't complete enough for a whole post so they end up in this hodge podge of a post for all to enjoy.

1. Utah beat BYU this weekend.  None of my girl friends care.  They all think I'm crazy for being so obsessed but it was a big night for us.  Stressful, crazy and completely unpredictable (as most UofU/BYU games are) but it was fun.  Seth and I watched it all by ourselves.  Which is best.  We get a little bit hyped up and slightly out of control at times so it's best if there are as few witnesses as possible.  
2. Washing dishes drives me nuts.  There is this little baby food feeder that hasn't been "used" in probably 6 months but with a new baby coming in a few months I haven't "put away" any of the baby stuff so it goes in the misc. drawer that the kids have access to.  It goes through the dishwasher pretty much everyday.  I don't know how it always ends up on the table or floor or in the sink but it does and then I don't know how dirty it is so it goes back in the dishwasher for another round.  It's silly.  And it has started to make me laugh every time I put it back in.  To get me through all the dish washing that seems never ending I listen to conference talks.  It makes it go by so much faster and I am continually reminded of my Heavenly Father's love for me and his patience.  I love that He's patient with me.  I need it.  This is my most recent favorite And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
3. I am a messy person.  By nature I think.  I am much better than I used to be.  I like my house to be orderly and I try my best to keep it that way.  But me, personally, I am a mess.  I can never wear a shirt more than once.  It always ends up with at least one spot.  I don't know what my deal is with keeping food and drink in my mouth but it is a serious challenge for me.  Being pregnant enhances this.  Those rare instances, when the food falling from my mouth might miss my shirt and hit the floor instead, are now gone.  My belly is right there, ready to catch all drips and dribbles.  Awesome because extra laundry is just what I need and I have so many cute maternity shirts all I want is to have an excuse to change 2 times a day!
4. I have finally figured out the rooms arrangement for when the baby comes.  Now I just need to repaint each room to coordinate with it's new occupants.  Baby no. 5 and I am determined to have an actual nursery for the first time.  Not sure that Seth agrees with this decision.  Good thing I have my pregnancy card, it works on almost everything and for these 9 months I get my way.  

Purging My Phone Photos

One of my best friends just told me I don't post enough pictures on my blog... she's right.  But I also think she should just give up her silly anti-facebook antics then I wouldn't have to post them here... but since I love her I will oblige.  And because I think my kids are pretty cute.

Nash yelling at me to get him off the table, as if I put him there and told him to make this huge mess! Please note the boxes of peaches in the background, tomorrow they will be transformed into Peach Raspberry Jam and Kimball will finally start eating pb&j again.  She refuses all store bought jam.  Snob.

 Am I the only one with a huge assortment of self-portraits on my phone?  It seems to be a daily activity with my phone.

This is my own little "invention."  Anything to keep him sleeping and still be able to do my shopping.

Hailie's 17th Birthday! 

 See if you can find Nash creeping in this picture.  Not Luc, Nash.

Just a friendly little game of bball with the kiddos...

Pretty good defense so far...

Luc setting a pick?  Nice Defense buddy.

Nothing like playing ball with Dad!

September has been absolutely beautiful, a little humid but I try not to complain about that while living in a desert.

My Climber.  Keeping me way too busy.

At Boehms Candy in Issaqua, WA.  Childhood memories for me.

McKay and LuLu

Wednesday

I'm only 22 weeks pregnant.  In my mind that isn't anywhere near half-way.  I know that technically, time wise, it is but the last 3 months seem so long that I'm not going to try to trick myself into thinking that I'm over the hump and closer to the end than the beginning.  Just doesn't work that way for me and pregnancy.  Which is why I am feeling like it is way too early for my back to be aching and my feet to be all swollen and sore at the end of the day.  

Maybe its the age difference.  And by "the age difference" I mean my age difference.  I have hit the summit of the thirties and am most definitely on my way towards the next decade.  

Or perhaps it's the other age difference, that of Nash and Baby Jensen (that's his name by the way, Jensen Bisel Avey).   McKay and Kimball were closer but they were so close that McKay was still a light weight and pretty much just barely toddling around by the time I was "feeling" pregnant with Kimball.  Nash is a full-fledged, running, jumping climbing little man, who also still begs to be held when he tires from the constant go go go.  

Most likely it's a combination of the two.  After whining about my back pain today, my friend told me "you probably need to quit toting him around so much."  I nearly cried.  He's still my baby.  He needs his mama.  I'm not sure what I will do when Jensen starts to grow up and I don't have the reassurance of another one coming to take the place as the baby.  (Because let's be honest, me with 5 kids is hard enough to fathom so we are fairly sure he will be the last).  It will be a sad day and he will probably end up being one spoiled little guy.  

For now I will just be grateful for moments like right now, Nash is sleeping, I am laying flat on my back (with a laptop on my ever growing belly) and Luc and his buddy are outside playing.  Right now at this moment I'm feeling pretty good.

Tuesday...

So today is already better than yesterday.  I got rained on first thing this morning after doing my makeup but when you live in a place as dry as Phoenix, the rain is always welcome, even if it means I have mascara all over my face.

Blessings can come in the most unexpected ways.  A few weeks ago a good friend of ours asked if I would be willing to watch their little boy a few hours a day.  I immediately said yes.  Which is so like me.  I never think things over, I am extremely spontaneous.  (Thus our 5 exchange students over the past 2 years.)  Sometimes my spontaneity is good and sometimes it can drive Seth absolutely nuts.  He needs time.  He needs to think things over and weigh the pros and cons.  I think we're a pretty good balance.  He's taught me how to plan and analyze and I have convinced him (or forced him) to just go with the flow from time to time.  

Anyway, after agreeing to watch him I did wander if I had gotten myself into something I would regret.  Luckily I knew that if it didn't work out our friends wouldn't be offended and we'd just figure something else out.  

Let me just tell you what a blessing it has been.  Luc has a friend.  Sometimes more like a twin brother, you know the whole "love/hate" thing.  But they entertain each other so well and I am getting more done than I have in a long time.  I've also realized that boys are so much easier than girls.  At least in the "playing together and getting along" part of life.  They can be so mad at each other one minute and they are literally laughing and playing the next.  I don't even have to intervene.  They just tell each other how they feel and then move on.  My girls can hold a grudge for years I swear.  Girl emotions are so tender and easily provoked.  Not these two boys.  And on top of it all they tolerate Nash.  


I am so thankful for these tender little mercies in life.  They make each day a little easier and more enjoyable.  

While they are being crazy and playing I get things done while listening to conference talks.  I listened to this one yesterday and cried.  I am so grateful to be blessed with my beautiful children.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/children?lang=eng&query=children

Monday, Monday!

I don't normally have "issues" with Mondays.  Wednesday is my crawl back in bed and sleep it off days.  Mostly I guess because it's only half way through the week and I am just ready for Friday.  

That being said today was definitely one of those Mondays that makes you wish for just one more day to prepare for the week.  

Who schedules "Picture Day" for a Monday anyway?  I mean really.