Evelyn gets baptized!

The week has been a rather busy one!  Monday morning, I headed over to get an allergy shot.  Then I met up with Grandpa for lunch at Mimi's.  We had a really nice lunch together and then I snagged this selfie of us on our way out.  After, I picked up the kids from school, and he took Evelyn out for her birthday ice cream.  In the evening, we had a great FHE lesson on the Sacrament before putting the younger kids to bed and going grocery shopping and folding laundry.  

Tuesday morning, I had an appointment at my Ob-Gyn  that was a bit longer than expected due to an emergency that the doctors were dealing with when I got there.  After, I headed over to Becca's, but we were both a bit indecisive, so we mostly just chatted and bounced ideas around - the most productive thing we did was make lists.  :)   In the afternoon, Anna had her first Soccer practice.  Then in the evening, she had her Track banquet.  We were supposed to bring food for our own family, so we packed up some egg salad sandwiches and some leftovers and headed over to the school.  Between picking up Aaron and Evie, picking up Eileen from Band and picking up Anna from soccer, then going back for the banquet - I drove to the school 4 times in the space of 3 hour - makes me very glad that we live near the school!!  After, I headed to Institute for a wonderful lesson!  

Wednesday morning, I made a quick run to Costco, then met up with Dan for lunch.  We went to Firehouse Subs together and David was nice and let us have a nice lunch together.  After school was the usual craziness, plus Anna had an orthodontist appointment after her soccer practice.  It went a bit long since the doc was running a bit late.  Then in the evening, Dan had young mens, Eileen had young womens and Aaron had cub scouts.  I had choir and David was VERY cranky the whole night - he did not want me to sing with the choir - every time I tried, he started screaming...  I don't think he likes my singing... :P  

Thursday, I headed back for another allergy shot, since it's been so long since I have been going regularly - they had to re-start me.  After school was soccer for Anna and Band for Eileen, plus an orthodontist appointment for Aaron.  The doctor made a comment about seeing me a lot at the office - and since I've got 4 kids being seen by him now - it's no wonder.  

Friday was a bit crazy, but mostly in the evening.  After school, I picked up the kids (except Anna who had soccer and robotics) then Dan took Eileen down to the temple for Baptisms.  The kids did their piano and we did some clean up, then I went to pick up Gene and Ann from the airport and Dan was able to get Anna from Robotics.  We had a wonderful evening with Grandpa and Grandma Jones.  

Evie (and all the other kids too) adores her baby brother.  She loves to help and carry him around.  I need to keep an eye on her, because I think she sometimes forgets that he's not a doll....  But she loves him!  She propped him up on the couch, then photobombed him when I took a picture.  

Saturday morning, Dan picked up my Dad from the airport.  Then we all got ready and headed over to the church for Evelyn's baptism.  She was so excited!!!  She got a beautiful dress from Grandma and Grandpa for her birthday.  The baptism went well and it has been so sweet to watch her try to keep this covenant that she has made!  After the baptism, the family all came back to our house for lunch, including Becca and Laura, and Jeremiah met her there after helping out with Colorado Cares.  We had a fun afternoon together.  Dan and Anna had a Robotics practice and we mostly chatted and played games and enjoyed each others company.  Some of us even managed to get in a nap.  :)  After dinner, we took Grandma and Grandpa Jones to the airport and sent them back home.  Dan watched Dwayne and Nicole's kids so they could go on a date, and I took the girls - all 3 of them!! - to the Women's session of General Conference.  We had a wonderful time listening to wonderful messages and after, chatting with friends and eating ice cream!  

 Sunday was great - though a long day for Dan who got up super early to take my Dad to the airport. Then came home and got ready for church and his meetings.  Sacrament meeting was wonderful!  Evie and I talked a bit about the Sacrament and what it means and why we take the Sacrament.  David was actually quiet for the Sacrament.  The talks given were wonderful and included farewell talks from two Sisters leaving on missions soon and a wonderful musical number.  Classes and lessons were wonderful, though I missed most of Relief Society while feeding a hungry baby.  After church and lunch, I took the girls to ward choir practice.  I'm so excited!!  We are starting Christmas music!!  In the evening, Becca came over for dinner with Laura.  We had a great pancake dinner made by Evie and Dan.  And I got this cute picture of Laura laying down next to baby David!  After putting the younger kids to bed, Dan and I played Killer Bunnies with Eileen - who smashed us!  But it was a fun game!  Now time to rest for a busy week again next week!!

Birthdays and a Championship!

We've had a rather busy week!  Monday was the usual laundry day.  Evie had an orthodontist appointment after school.  She is definitely going to need braces....  Dan and I sure make cute kids, but they all have big teeth in little mouths.  :)  Other than that, we had FHE in the evening and grocery shopping.  

Tuesday was my morning and Becca's - her street was under construction, so I had to walk around the long way.  We made bookshelves for our dolls - and now after making so much furniture, I'm starting to think I need something to put it all in....  After school, Eileen had band and Anna had a track meet.  We all ate an early dinner, then headed over to watch her compete in the qualifying meet for city championships.  She did really well on her 800, but struggled a bit in her mile - she had run an extra relay for someone who wasn't there right before it.  She qualified for the championships in the mile, the 800 and with her 4x100 relay team.  She was such a trooper and did a great job!!  

Wednesday was a normal school day for the kids.  I got some work done in the morning.  In the afternoon, Anna had her track practice and the rest of the kids had piano practicing.  Eileen went on a bike ride - she really enjoys getting out on her bike and riding around.  In the evening, I skipped choir so I could be at Eileen's Young Women in Excellence night.  It was a great evening.  Eileen didn't realize that she would have to talk a little bit and was blindsided by the request, so she got up and mumbled something and sat back down.  She REALLY hates speaking in public....  even in a relatively small setting like that.  I think if she had been prepared, it wouldn't have been so bad.  I wish I knew better how to help her.

James is so funny - his clothing choices aren't always the best - Dan got this funny picture of him headed to school in a button up - long sleeve - dress shirt and sports shorts and tennis shoes...  Such a funny kid!

Thursday was my birthday.  38 years old!  That's really starting to sound awfully close to 40....  I got some work done in the morning, and did a little shopping at the craft stores, then Dan took me out to lunch!  It was a nice little outing and David was nice and well behaved for us.  :)  In the evening, I got to eat my yummy dinner and a yummy pineapple upside down cake.  Dan got me some gorgeous earrings and a couple of books about making doll house stuff.  :)

Friday, the kids had the day off of school for a teacher work day.  Anna still had track practice, I tried to get my allergy shot done before I needed to pick Anna up again - but didn't end up having enough time - I will have to try again on Monday.  Then I picked Anna back up and took her home.  Then in the afternoon, she had robotics at the school.  Evie was supposed to have a birthday party in the afternoon, but no one was able to come.  She was really disappointed.  :(  She still got to watch some movies and eat no-bake cookies with her siblings, but it's not quite the same thing as having friends over.  In the evening, Eileen and I went out to the store to get Evie's birthday present and a few other things for the weekend.

Saturday was Evie's birthday - and a crazy busy day.  It started with Anna's City Championship meet.  She did well - and even got 7th place overall in her mile!  Eileen had flute lessons.  The kids had piano lessons.  I had a choir concert at noon, Then we had a little bit of down time in the afternoon where we got cupcakes made for Evie's birthday and the kids even got to play a little Zelda.  Then we had Evie's birthday dinner - all sorts of ramen noodles - and we sang and did presents.  Then we headed over to the church building for a going away party for Megan.  We are so excited for her - but will miss her!!  She's going to have an amazing experience serving in Brazil!

Sunday was wonderful - but David hadn't wanted to go to bed last night, so I was a bit tired...  The choir sang in Sacrament meeting and did well!  We even got a couple new faces to join us!  Then I took David out to feed him and we had a nice quiet feeding time and he took a nap before we headed back into Relief Society!  After church, we had a nice afternoon.  Evie had her interview with the bishop.  Dan went home teaching.  I fiddled around in my craft room.  Becca and Laura came over for dinner and fun, and we all had a great time!  Evie is so excited for next week!

Haircuts and Holidays

Monday was Labor Day, so the kids were off of school.  Dan let James wield the hair trimmer and shave his head - then of course, James got his hair done too. :)  We spent most of the rest of the day cleaning up and doing chores around the house and then some time playing Zelda.  Dan and Anna went out running, and Eileen hid in her room most of the day.  

Tuesday, James had a field trip with his class to the Zoo.  He had a great time - but he always seems to come home happy - he really loves school and his teacher.  David and I had fun a Becca's house.  I got a yummy lunch and we got our couches finished.  After school, Eileen had band and Anna had track, and then in the evening, I had Institute.  Class was wonderful and full of stuff to think about.  

Wednesday was a quiet morning for David and I and a busy afternoon with all the kids doing piano lessons, homework and after school activities.  In the evening, Dan and Eileen had mutual.  They did a combined activity and the Beehives were in charge.  I think they all had a fun time - I asked Eileen how it went and all she said was "good" - she's becoming a teenager way too fast...  I had choir in the evening and had a great time.  David was mostly good.  I think he's getting used to it - but he still doesn't like it when I sing the high notes right in his ear.... 

Thursday was another normal school day.  David and I had an easy morning, then we picked up the kids from school and had a rather busy afternoon.  Aaron had a dentist appointment and did well.  Anna had track and Eileen had band and with Dan picking up Anna, we all managed to get where we needed to be.  

Friday was another usual school day.  After school, Anna had track, then Robotics club.  Eileen had an orthodontist appointment - I am hoping to get her braces on during the kids fall break.  Dan and I (and David) made a Target run while Eileen watched the older kids.  We needed to get some gifts and some groceries.  

Saturday was a rather crazy day.  Anna had a track meet - Dan took her to that early on and then came back to take Eileen to flute lessons.  The kids had piano lessons and then after Anna's track meet, we went to Dwayne and Nicole's house for their daughter's birthday party.  We all had a great time.  The kids got nice and wet from a water balloon fight and Dan and I always have fun with Dwayne and Nicole!  After, we stopped by the house for the kids to change and to grab wedding gifts before heading to the church building for a wedding reception.  It was so much fun - they are such a sweet couple!  As crazy as this week has been - I think next week will be crazier...  

Sunday was great.  Church was wonderful - David was a bit cranky during Sunday school, but fell asleep for Dan so I could play piano in primary during the third hour.  We made cookies after lunch and Eileen and Anna came with me to choir.  We had a great time - I'm starting to think about Christmas music!!!  Becca came over for dinner and we had fun chatting and eating!  After the younger kids went to bed, Dan and Eileen and I played 7 Wonders and I got smashed - but it was fun :)  

This week, I've started trying to get into a work schedule and getting my scrapbooking going again.  I'm hoping to be back in business next month!  It was kind of nice setting myself a schedule and getting something productive done.  I'm looking forward to this coming week and getting into a routine.

Big boy is growing fast!

David is growing like crazy!  Monday, he had his 2 month check up - where has the time gone!!!  He is growing so fast!!!  'he is over 13 lbs now and running to the 80th percentile in everything - our biggest baby yet.  He has also started getting a longer sleep at night - then he wakes, eats and goes back to sleep!  After David's doctors appointment, we headed to costco for peaches and some ribs for dinner.  Then we got the kids from school and headed home.  Eileen had her dentist appointment in the afternoon - thankfully Dan was home and able to watch the younger kids.  We had the sister missionaries over for dinner and had lots of yummy food followed by a wonderful lesson.

On Tuesday, I spent the morning at Becca's.  We had fun making doll stuff in the morning, then Natasha came over for lunch and after we worked on getting her wedding invites ready to mail out.  After, I picked up the kids from school, then we had a quick dinner before heading to the high school for Anna's track meet.

Wednesday morning, David and I took it nice and easy.  Then after school was the usual craziness.  In the evening was Young Mens and Young Womens.  I had chorale, which was wonderful.  David entertained the whole choir by letting one rip during the closing prayer.  Otherwise, he was pretty good!

Thursday was just David and I taking it easy in the morning followed by a afternoon of piano practicing, track practice, band, and the cub scouts in the evening.  Last night of cub scouts being on Thursday - next week it goes back to Wednesday!

Friday was an early release day for all the kids - Quest got out really early, but the kids got to have lots of fun in special classes.  Evie got to do origami, Aaron got to learn to cross stitch and Eileen and Anna got to do a fun problem solving challenge.  In the afternoon, we did a bit of cleaning followed by some playing of Zelda.

Anna has decided to make Dan go running with her when ever she doesn't have track practice or a meet.  So they went running bright and early Saturday morning.  Then Dan took Eileen to flute and the kids had their piano lessons.  Anna went to help the Wests can peaches.  It was really weird not having her around - I kept looking around, wondering where she was, then remembering that she was over with them!  Eileen had a friends birthday party to go to in the afternoon and had a great time.  After failing to start the crock pot again, we decided to have hamburgers and invited the Wests to join us when they dropped Anna off, so we had a fun easy meal with great friends!

Church today was wonderful.  Eileen actually got up and bore her testimony in Sacrament Meeting - she is petrified of speaking in public, so this was a big thing for her.  I got released from my calling as a Sunday School teacher.  I'm going to miss teaching that class, but I'm glad I got to teach today and bear my testimony one last time.  Becca and Laura came for dinner - the kids had a blast playing with Laura, and I had fun chatting and planning with Becca!  I've been thinking a lot lately about how blessed I am.  When I think back on some of the sweetest and most precious moments of my life - so many of them are a direct result of going to church and going to the temple.  And the ones that aren't a direct result, are still indirectly connected to our family trying to live the gospel.  I am so grateful for these wonderful memories and look forward to many more to come as we continue to try and raise our family in the gospel.  We are making plans to go visit Dan's family in Idaho when the new temple opens up.  It opens around Thanksgiving, so we will head out the weekend before so that we can be there for the dedication and get to go to the temple!