Birthday Boy

On Monday, James turned 5 years old.  I can't believe my baby boy is already 5!  He wanted a Captain America cake, so Dan decorated it like the Captain's shield.  He was so excited.  He was talking about it all day and was so excited to blow out his candles that he blew them out as soon as they were lit and I couldn't get a picture fast enough!  He was so excited to open his presents.  And then he wanted his birthday to last all week.  The next thing he got excited about was getting to go for ice cream with Great Grandpa Francone.  I'm so glad we get to live near enough that my kids have had the chance to get to know him!  

Tuesday, preschool was here at our house.  We had fun talking about our senses and learning letters.  But I was rather exhausted by the end.  The rest of the day was the usual Tuesday, homework, piano practicing, institute in the evening.

Wednesday James and I dropped the kids off at school, then headed back home so James could get dressed before we headed to run a couple little errands - he wasn't very happy about having to run errands - and even less happy when I wouldn't buy him stuff everywhere we stopped.  But I did pick up Eileen's book that she ordered from Barnes and Noble (Klingon Dictionary) and then spent another stop searching in vain for a 1" metal buckle....  In the evening, I went to Eileen's New Beginnings activity for young women's.  Dan went to young men's and the rest of the kids kinda just ran amok at the church building.

Thursday we had preschool again.  We went on a walk and used our 5 senses and had fun making Umbrellas for our letter U.  Thankfully it's just one week and next week it's somewhere else!  Dan had to work late that night and Aaron had cub scouts.  I took him and stayed long enough to watch him get his award and advance to a Bear.  He's getting so big so fast.

Friday I had a doctors appointment in the morning, we got to hear the baby's heart beat and talked about setting an induction date.  Then James and I headed home and I got to packing up for the evening.  After picking up the kids from school, I finished packing, got some of the piano and such going and done, had a talk with Aaron about making friends at school and trying hard to include kids who don't feel like they are included, then I left Eileen in charge until Dan got home from work, and Anna and I headed down to Colorado Springs for all-state choir.  We stopped and shared a yummy dinner at Cafe Rio, then finished driving to our hotel for the night.  We got checked in and got ready for bed and went to bed early in expectation of an early morning.  I couldn't sleep after 3:30 though.  So with only 4 1/2 hours of sleep Anna and I got up at 6:30, got dressed and ready, had breakfast then headed to the school where all-state practice was held.  I was chaperoning the trip and spend my day getting to listed to the choir practice and keeping an eye on 8 girls.  They were great kids and it was a lot of fun to listen to the choir.  Here are the girls in their t-shirts just before heading over to the hotel for the concert.  Everything went really well and the girls had a great time.  Enough so that Aaron wants to try for it next year.  After the concert and getting all the girls connected with their parents, we met up with Dan and the rest of the kids and headed home.  We made a Wendy's stop for dinner on the way and then hurried home to get the kids to bed.  After scriptures and prayers, we put the kids to bed, then I headed back out to do the grocery shopping for next week.  Dan leaves town early on Monday, so I wanted to get it done before he left and before the Sabbath.

Church was great.  We got new counselors in the bishopric.  I got to teach Sunday school and we had a wonderful lesson during 3rd hour on Visiting Teaching.  After lunch, I got to take a nap while Dan played nuclear Risk with the kids. Eileen thought it was great.  She liked it so much, that was what she wanted to play after the younger kids went to bed.  And Dan creamed us both.  Which made him very happy.  :)

Crazy

This Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day - so the kids were home from school.  We had talked about maybe going somewhere on their day off - but the weather was bad and the roads were bad and Aaron had a doctor's appointment - so we ended up staying at home - which I was fine with - but the kids were very unhappy about it.  To the point the Eileen spent most of the morning crying in her room.  We had a nice little family home evening lesson that night, followed by shopping and laundry for the week.

Tuesday the kids were back to school.  In the evening was institute class for me.  James had preschool in the morning and had fun as usual.  Becca came over and we had fun as usual - she showed me a pattern that she has been working on and we had fun crocheting and chatting.  Dan left town in the morning for work.

Wednesday was late start - so James and I got the kids off to school, then headed home for a easy and mostly slow day.  Eileen had youth activities Wednesday night.

Thursday we had a preschool field trip at the National Wildlife Refuge.  James had a great time looking around, making a raccoon puppet and seeing the beautiful outdoors.  The day was really nice and the kids all seemed to have a good time.

Thursday evening, I had to go to the school for the CalWood meeting for Anna.  (they said it was mandatory, but I really wish I'd grabbed the packed and went back home.)  Thursday night, Aaron had cub scouts, so Eileen watched the kids during drop off and pick up - but pick up took longer than expected because I was mistaken about the end time.  

Friday was the usual.  School, piano practicing and so forth.  In the evening Eileen and I played together for a bit waiting for Dan to get home.  

Saturday was the usual flute lessons, piano lessons and such.  In the evening, I had call backs for the solo auditions.  Once again, I struggled to make my voice work the way I wanted it to and I left the auditions not feeling very confident....  but oh well - I guess it just wasn't my year... again....

Sunday was wonderful as always.  Church was great, choir practice was great and our afternoon was great.  

Back to Normal

The week has been mostly getting back into routines.  The kids were in school during the day.  Monday included grocery shopping and laundry.  The kids are getting back into regular piano practicing.  Now that James is taking lessons, he is SO excited about his lessons and practicing.  It's so cute!

Tuesday, James had preschool and Becca came over to hang out.  She worked on belts for her doll and I worked on the suitcase.  And we chatted and had fun!  James was excited that Baby Laura and her mom were visiting when I picked him up from preschool - he is so cute and sweet trying to help take care of her!  Evie and I have been doing after school worksheets at home to work on telling time - she was struggling with it at school - but go figure - a bit of regular practice with me helping her and she's getting MUCH better very quickly.  After school, Dan and Eileen headed to the temple to do some baptisms, then when they got back, we celebrated Aaron's birthday!  I can't believe this sweet boy is 9!  He wanted to make his own birthday dinner of Mac & Cheese, and he wanted sprinkle cupcakes decorated like fish bowls.  He got some awesome stuff from family members and from Mom and Dad, he got a ripboard.  So we headed to the church to have a little fun using it and playing together.  It's become a big hit - Anna, Aaron and Evie especially have been having fun trying to figure out how to use it.

Wednesday was mutual for Dan and Eileen (who went ice skating) and Anna had activity days.  Eileen I think had fun (despite the picture) but was rather cold by the end.  :)

Thursday James had preschool again and while he was at preschool, I went to Costco and got my allergy shot, then got back just in time to pick up James.  As usual there was piano and homework after school.  In the evening after dinner, Eileen babysat so Dan and I could head to the temple for the evening - it was a great night!

Friday the kids had the usual after school stuff, then after a yummy dinner, we headed to our friends house for a game night that ended up just being a chatting and laughing together night.

Saturday was a bit crazy in the morning, then calmed down in the afternoon.  Eileen had flute lessons, the kids had piano lessons and Grandpa took Aaron to the Stock Show for his birthday.  After all that things got a bit more quiet.  I had my audition for Lamb of God in the afternoon - it didn't go like i had hoped it would - I had phlegm on my vocal chords that I just couldn't clear off and so my voice didn't do everything I wanted it to.  But I guess that's life.  After I got back, Dan took the two older girls to Barnes and Noble to use the gift cards that they got for Christmas.  Then we took it easy for the rest of the evening.

Church was great - though the day had a somewhat inauspicious start.  I stopped James from tackling his sister for the Cheerios and sent him to his room when he wouldn't calm down, at which point he started yelling "I HATE YOU" over and over again, so I left him to cool off for a bit...  Sacrament meeting was great, Sunday school went well I think.  Apparently all guys in my class then went to priesthood and told him all about my lesson... sorta.  After church, we had choir and then lunch followed by some time working on a puzzle and then a bit of a nap for mom while Dan kept busy with Home Teaching and a priesthood preview meeting before we finally got to wind down and play a game with Eileen before Dan and Eileen went to bed and I came to blog.  :)  Now it's my turn to go to bed!

Back to School

The kids didn't start school until Tuesday, so we spent our last day of the holiday having some fun. First, I went and helped out Jen for a bit - her little girl was in the hospital and I offered to sit with her daughter for a bit so she could go home and shower and do what she needed to do.  She took me up on it, and I spent about an hour sitting and watching TV while she slept and contacting nurses if an alarm went off.  We had Dwayne and Nicole over for lunch and had a great time chatting and eating.  Then after, we took the kids to Skate City - the kids had coupons from the school and we had a fun time together.  This is most of the kids and Dan doing the Cha-Cha Slide.  James was so funny!  

This is Aaron just before we left hanging out in the arcade area.  He actually spent less time here than usual - and more time skating!

Evie was having some issues and so I took her out of school on Tuesday to take her to the doctors.  The doctor prescribed lotion and anti-itch creams and warm baths (which made Evie's day.)   Then she and I headed to Wal-mart for the things she needed, then to pick up James from preschool, then we headed home and got to have lunch with Daddy before he took her back to school for the last hour and a half.  But she's doing much better now, so it's all worth it.

Wednesday was a usual late start day for the school kids and a take it easy day for James and I.  After school the kids did their piano practicing and such, then the snow started and the temperature dropped and the roads got ugly and all the church activities for the night were cancelled.  The snow kept coming and the roads got worse and school was cancelled the next day!  Dan called the elders to see if they had anywhere to go for dinner, they didn't so they came over and had home made potato soup and rolls for dinner with us and gave us a lesson before heading back out into the cold weather.

Thursday was our snow day!  Dan and the kids stayed home and we spent the morning doing some clean up and the afternoon playing games and relaxing together.  Snow days are lots of fun - the only downside is that the kids are a bit crazy the next day from being stuck inside all day the day before.  We had the other set of elders over for dinner - Dan made sushi and we had salad and it was a fun and great dinner.  Then we got another great lesson before sending them on their way.

Friday morning, Dan worked from home and let me sleep in, then headed to work after lunch.  James and I had fun doing puzzles all afternoon.  He did a 100 piece puzzle almost entirely by himself.  I just encouraged him and suggested parts to work on.  He did the finding of pieces and putting them in place.  I was amazed - he is really getting good at puzzles!  Then we picked up the kids from school and headed home for the usual.  We had a fun night playing games together and went to bed a bit late.
Which made Saturday morning a bit rough.  Dan went to clean the church with the young men and I took the kids to Eileen's flute lesson and then home for piano lessons.  James started piano lessons this week and he is SO excited!  He has little rings to show him which is his 4th finger and a funky scrunchi to show him which is his right hand.  He is so excited to get to be like his older siblings and he feels so special with his fancy reminders!  After piano lessons and lunch, we headed over to Doug's to visit and see Mark and Julia and pick up the trampoline.  Eileen and Julia spent some time checking out Eileen's viola and then everyone headed to the indoor pool that is part of Doug's apartment complex.  The kids mostly had a great time - until it was time to get out and they realized that they had gotten all the towels wet and didn't have any dry ones.... The shallow end was shallow enough for James to stand in it and even to jump in and land on his feet just fine - so he had a BLAST getting to play in the pool that was a good size for him.

Eileen hit a big milestone this week - but I won't embarrass her by going into details, but I'm glad she felt safe to come to me and we could talk about it and I'm grateful for good books that helped us be prepared for this.

Sunday was wonderful - I'm sore from a work out last night - but it was nice to be able to get a work out in before collapsing.  Church was wonderful.  The testimonies were wonderful - listening to the girls complain about being hungry on fast Sunday, not so much, but at least they made the choice to fast anyway.  After church, we had some lunch (most of us anyway) and did some napping and played some games together and Dan helped James build his monster truck Christmas present and then he headed to a church meeting, then came home in time for dinner and after we did scriptures and prayers before sending Dan and Eileen off to a youth fireside about the new theme this year.  I let the kids look at pictures on my computer for a bit before sending them to bed.  After they got back, we spent some time chatting with Dan's parents and some time chatting with my mom and sister trying to plan this summer a bit.

And A Happy New Year

We have had a fun week here.  Monday was spent playing and cleaning up and playing some more.  Then we did some laundry and grocery shopping.  But mostly we took it easy.  

Early Tuesday morning, I had a doctor's appointment.  I went in for another check up on the baby and got to hear the heart beat again, then Dan, Eileen, Dad and I went to the temple together.  I got to watch my dad do baptisms for the dead with his oldest granddaughter and hear him get teary part way through.  It was such a special moment!  After we stopped for lunch at Qudoba together.  Most of the rest of the day was spent playing and being together.  Dan went into work for a bit, but mostly we just enjoyed our last day with Grandpa and Grandma.  This is what our play room has mostly looked like this week.  Despite numerous efforts to try to convince the kids to clean it up....  In the afternoon, we left Eileen to babysit and my parents and Dan and I went to see Rogue One at the theater.  I'd forgotten just how busy the theaters can be right after Christmas when all the kids are out of school, but we still had a great time and the movie was great!

Wednesday morning, my parent headed home to Texas and the kids played and had fun while I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince them that they should clean up so we could go to skate city this week.  They didn't, but they had fun.  I also spent a little time getting a couple errands run.  

Thursday morning, the kids had piano lessons and after they stayed for lunch and playing so Evie could have a play date with her friend Rose.  Then in the afternoon, back to me suggesting that they clean and them ignoring me.  

Friday I met Dan for lunch, we went and tried out a new Mexican place that was really good.  Then Dan went back to work for another hour or so before heading home to play with us!  He also ran some errands (including getting more oranges from Costco so we can have our orange smoothies every day.) :)   Friday night, Dan went to bed early (he's been a bit under the weather) and Eileen and Anna and I stayed up and did a pretend it's new years night up.  We stayed up late and did a puzzle and drank sparkling cider and started watching a movie, but then had internet issues, so we switched to an audio book. 

Saturday got down to the business of getting the house cleaned up.  The kids are hoping to get to go to Skate City on Monday and we spent some time helping the kids get their rooms clean and organized after Christmas.  We have had issues with Evie and James stealing candy from siblings and from parents - especially with the Christmas candy lying about, so we had a long talk about that and about having to make reparations.  

Sunday was wonderful.  We have church at 9 am this year.  Dan gave a talk today - and both the Sacrament meeting talks were wonderful.  I got new students in my Sunday School class with the new year which is always exciting.  Relief Society was wonderful - we have a new theme this year about walking with Christ and a wonderful discussion on it during class.  Then the best part of early church is that we had lots of time after for naps, and playing games together having fun together.  In the evening, Eileen played some games with us while Anna bounced around.