Our Week of Fun

Wednesday was our typical run run run - we dropped the kids off at school, then went to the library for story time with Nicole and her two littles, then lunch, pick up kids, make kids to homework and of course choir!

We had a busy and fun week - Thursday our little preschool group did a field trip to the Museum of Outdoor Art - I was kinda thinking that it was a museum of art that went outside - but instead it was a museum of art about outdoor things - so weather and such - they had this fun little cloud walk exhibit where you can talk through a bunch of strips of paper hanging from the ceiling and pretend you are walking in a cloud.  Evie's favorite part though was the pink water fountain outside in honor of Breast Cancer awareness.

Thursday night, after piano lessons, Nicole and I went to the Relief Society activity - i took the kids with me while Dan went to the parent teacher confrences - then he picked them up and took them home and put them to bed.  

Friday was the yearly carnival at the girls school - it was mostly indoors this year because of drizzly weather - but the kids had a blast - then we went home and the girls managed to clean up fast enough to get to watch a movie (while the boys went to bed early....)

They had this little golfing game at the carnival - lol - I love how this picture came out!

Saturday morning - I hit the thrift store for some pants for Eileen - she didn't have enough to make it through the week after I made all her ripped pants into shorts!  In the late afternoon - I picked up Nicole for the Relief Society Broadcast - it was wonderful!!  We both enjoyed ourselves!

Today has been EXHAUSTING but fulfilling - we got up early for 9 AM church with the Peoria ward with Dwayne and Nicole to introduce them to Bishop Doxy and let them get a feel for the ward they live in.  After we headed home, got lunch and I headed back to our ward with the older 4 kids to practice the primary program - we rushed home after to snag a quick lunch before heading over to Frank and Tina's to celebrate Tina's birthday - then I had to leave that early to sing with the Colorado Mormon Chorale at the Temple workers Devotional - it was wonderful - I've been battling a cold for the last couple of days - and by the end of today - my voice was almost totally gone - but the talks were just wonderful -  the Temple president talked about finding happiness now - and I started thinking about all the many reasons why my life is wonderful now!  I am so grateful for the chance to reflect and for the many ways the Lord has blessed my life!!!

Birthday Girl

Well- it's been a fun week - Monday was Evie's birthday - we had ice cream cake (after mommy totally botched the cake I tried to make for her...) and she loved opening her presents.  I can hardly believe she is 4 years old - and yet sometimes I can hardly believe she is only 4 - she is so observant and full of personality and life!  She loves telling people that she is 4 now and has worn the pink headband in the pic below (which she got for her birthday) EVERY day since.

We had Dwayne and Nicole and the missionaries over on Tuesday for Ox Tail made by Dwayne.  It was neat to try something so new a different - and good!

Evie has been loving preschool - we are rotating teacher and house every 2 weeks - and this week every time we go, Evie has asked if Sister Bishop (or Miss Christie) will be there.  She loves to feel like a big kid and she is learning so much!

Wednesday we went to story time at the library with Nicole and kids - the kids had fun - after story time - they handed out coloring pages for the kids and Evie happily colored and then wrote her name on her page all by herself!

Here are the pics taken of the Evie and Anna recently - the link will take you to the J.C. Penny's website to see the web versions.

Dan was out of town for Wednesday and Thursday - it was just a quick trip - which compared to the 7-10 day ones is really kinda nice - Tina came up to watch the kids while I went to Choir and we managed to survive just fine!

I learned a lesson this week about listening to the Spirit.  I've been thinking about one of the ladies I visit teach a lot recently - and I kept thinking I should text her and chat with her - but I didn't want to feel pushy, but I finally texted to ask a question, and after answering my question, she proceeded to tell me everything that had been going on in her life - she is an amazing wonderful person who has had some hard cards dealt to her and since the last time we hung out, she's had a rough time - and now I'm kicking myself for not listening to the prompting to reach out to her - yet at the same time, I'm grateful that she is comfortable enough with me to talk to me and let me help her.

Today we had another Stake Conference - they took our Stake and one more and split them into 3 - most wards weren't changed much - but our ward lost a little chunk on the south end - a chunk which contained at least a third of the leadership of the ward..... Gonna be some big changes!  Thankfully, my presidency is still as complete as it has ever been - but I'm going to miss some of my kids (and their awesome parents) an awful lot!!!

Daddy tried to take a Sunday nap today - but he had too much help.....

This evening, we went down to Grandpa's to visit and for a little party he was having to say "Thanks for helping with moving the barn" we're just glad to help and glad to enjoy it some!  But it's always nice to get together and see family!

The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down

And yes - I was singing the song from Winnie the Pooh as I typed the title of this post.

This has been a rather eventful week around here.  Aunt Tina came over last Sunday night to stay for a couple days and help out.  Monday morning, Dan took the kids to school, then Tina stayed here with the other 2 kids and Dan took me to my Surgery.  A few hours later we left with me a bit wobbly, my septum straight and some rather uncomfortable plastic things in my nose.  I spent the better part of the next few days dozing and getting some work done on my computer.  Somehow between Dan and Tina - they managed to juggle taking care of me and the kids.

Tuesday, Dwayne and Nicole and the kids came over to meet with the missionaries again - and after some wonderful conversation, they said that they wanted to be baptized - we are so excited!! This has truly been a wonderful experience and they are such wonderful people!!  We have liked them and had a high opinion of them since we first met them, but since moving out here - they have become like family.

Wednesday, my mom flew in and Tina went home.   By then - I was mostly taking care of myself - and my mom helped with the kids.

Thursday was a day full of insanity that never happened - Thursday we had dentist appointments, preschool, school, early out days, piano lessons, taking a meal to a friend who just had a baby and parent/teacher conferences.  We took the meal over Wednesday night - we managed the dentist appointment - but then the rain (which has started on Wednesday) became a flood which cancelled almost everything else - after that all we had to do was get the kids from school.

Friday, they cancelled school - because of rain - it sounds ridiculous - but half the town couldn't even get out of their own neighborhood - let alone to school - so school was cancelled - and I got to keep 5 kids who hadn't been outside for the last 2 days - at home and inside with me all day..... I had my post op appointment Friday morning - my mom drove around with the kids for the 20 minutes it took to get in, get the plastic things out and get out of there with a clean bill of health.  Then we had get the house mostly straightened up for my birthday party that night.  After Dan got home - we got the food going and people started showing up - it was a fun party and a fun birthday - great to have so much family and so many friends around (despite the rain)  Evie got to open her birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa Cox early so Grandma Cox could be there - and here's our cute little princess.  Grandma took the kids to the dollar store to get mommy a birthday present - Aaron got me growing sponge animals (which he promptly found early the next morning - opened in the bathroom and played with)  Evie got me a clapper necklace (which she wore all the next day) Anna got me a pack of pencils and Eileen (who had saved up her chore money to get a specific stuffed animal)  got Grandma to take her to Hobby Lobby to get her Ginormous Waddles and a little stuffed Giraffe for me - she spent her money to get me something that she thought of as an AWESOME gift - and I adore her for it!  The giraffe has since been clipped to my purse to keep her safe and Eileen talks about her all the time.  (she did prove useful in church today as an entertainment for James)

On Saturday - just as I was about to run some chores (for the first time alone in a week) it started pouring again - I started out trying to get gas and ended up back home waiting it out - when the rain slowed - I found this while out running at least one of my errands.... 

 and this in our back yard....  it was so bad that our window wells for the basement looked like fish tanks from the inside - Dan had to go out in the pouring rain and divert the water elsewhere and drain the window wells or we would have had a little flood in the downstairs bathroom.

But we weathered the storm and survived so far - hopefully tomorrow will see the end of this crazy-ness (not the end of the rain - just maybe spread out more..... and less flooding)   :)  It's actually been really nice having a bit more humidity and more moisture for the plants.

And here I am almost a week after surgery and I am mostly back to normal - no plastic in my nose - only the anti-biotics for medication and just a little sore around the nose - but best of all - I can breathe!  :)

Preschool Fun

We've had a fun week here - for labor day on Monday, we took the kids out to Dinosaur Ridge.  We went with some friends and had a blast looking at fossils and tracks and hiking in the Rocky Mountains.  It was a gorgeous day and a fun family outing!

Tuesday morning, I had a doctors appointment - and since the girls were out of school and Dan out of town - I got to take 4 kids with me - thankfully it went quickly and easily and we were done in time to head over to preschool for Evie.  I'm doing a little group with some other ladies in the Stake.  We have a group of 4 little kids right now - and they are all sweet - easy going kids mostly, and so far have done really well together!  It's been nice - Evie is loving it!  (Eileen and Anna liked helping out the first day too)  

On Wednesday morning, Nicole and the sister missionaries came over and we talked with Nicole about the Book of Mormon and the prayer and the spirit - She said that she does believe that what she has read in the Book of Mormon is true and that she has prayed about it - It's so amazing to get to experience this with her and talk to her and bear my own testimony to her!

Wednesday night, Heather came over to watch the kids for me so I could go to choir.  We are singing some really beautiful arrangements!

Evie had preschool again on Thursday and of course, piano lessons in the afternoon, and Dan got home Friday morning!

Saturday morning, I went to a baby shower for a friend from church - after, I met the rest of the family at Dwayne and Nicole's house for Tayanna's birthday (where the kids ate a ton of junk food and James covered himself in ketchup and frosting) and finally, in the evening, Dan and I went out with Marion and Deb and their oldest daughter for Dinner and then to the adult session of Stake Conference - It was really wonderful!

Today was Stake Conference, and we had a big announcement that we will be having another one in 2 weeks to where the Stake will be getting divided.  Lots of changes coming - but hopefully they won't be too big for our family!  

Fun and Family!

We have had a busy and fun week!  Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment - I'm looking at having some minor surgery soon to help fix my congestion problems - and this appointment was the beginning of everything.  

Wednesday was a fun morning at the library with Nicole and the kids and a wonderful evening singing with the Chorale!  

On Thursday - all crazy-ness broke loose!!  Thursday morning, we had a meeting to finalize stuff for Preschool for Evie - we will start this next week!  Evie is excited!  After school, I picked up the kids and took them up to the dentist for Aaron's check up - the kids did amazingly well - they were so well behaved and quiet and happy!  Then we got home and had to try and get through homework and such and clean up before Dan took the 3 older kids to Skate City - they had a blast and got home shortly after Stephen and Claire and their family arrived.  The kids all got to bed late from playing with cousins and it was a good thing that Aaron at least had no school the next day.

Friday, we all went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.  We packed a lunch, and went exploring - we had a great time seeing stuff - Elise found a bunch of tiny bones that we think were the remnants of an owl pellet.  Then we found a Monarch butterfly just out of it's chrysalis - it was still dripping and was starting to slowly spread and dry out it's wings.  The kids had a great time - but it was pretty hot!!  

It was so fun to watch the cousins play together!  Eileen and Anna attached themselves to Elise - Elise and Eileen have an obsession for reading in common and Claire and I had a great time exchanging book recommendations for ourselves and our children!  Aaron and Mason and Sammy all got along and had a great time playing together and Evie got along great with Lincoln and they had a blast running around screaming and making up funny games!  It was fun to watch Dan talk with Mason about programming and he even took him in to work to look around and see their warehouse.  Claire and I had some fun talking about scrapbooking and we were all sorry to see them go early Saturday morning.

Saturday was mostly an easy day - we slept in a bit (after staying up late playing) and had a lazy day hanging out around the house and doing a bit of yard work.