Summer Fun

The kids have mostly spent the week having fun and playing outside - they have practiced piano, worked in their workbooks and explored the backyard, but I could never  convince them to keep it clean for very long.  We did managed to get it cleaned up one day in time to go to the library, the kids loved checking out books, and spent the next 2 days reading.  The kids have been so excited about going to Texas.  They have been talking about it all week and we got things ready and packed up today - we head out tomorrow morning.  

I had a choir rehearsal this week followed by a concert the next night.  Anna came to the concert with me and had a good time and even made a new friend with the daughter of another choir member.  Rehearsal and concert went well.  Dan was out of town from early Thursday morning to Friday evening 

James and Aaron love digging under the rocks in the back yard looking for bugs and worms - i just loved this picture of them.  James ran up to me telling me that he had found a bug for me and that we was going to go put it in it's habitat.  

Saturday was busy.  I went to get an allergy shot and run to Costco in the morning, then we got home and Dan went out to run some errands while I took the kids to Kid Spree for a bit.  The kids had fun - Dan met us there when he was done and about half an hour later - they were closing stuff down for a while due to storms.  But they had fun while it lasted and then we headed home so I could mow the lawn and get ready for some friends coming over for dinner and games.  We had a fun dinner and played Lord of the Rings after - we haven't played in a LONG time - and we all lost, but it was still fun!  

Church was wonderful - the kids and I had a talk before church about being reverent and they did really well and after we headed home happier and ready for the next week.  We got all packed up and ready to go to Texas!!!

Eileen has been having lots of fun in Scotland, at least until yesterday when my dad realized that they had lost her passport...  Now he is just panicking about getting home.  :)

Fun Minus One

Well - our first week minus Eileen went smoothly.  We got to hear from her a couple times and got some emails and pictures from Grandpa and all seems to be going well.  They have gone out for baked potatoes at our favorite baked potato bar in Edinburgh and have gone to the zoo and Eileen is eagerly looking forward to a trip to London tomorrow.  She has decided that she's not a big fan of plane travel since it involves a lot of waiting, but otherwise, they seem to be having such a great time that they don't have time for more than 2 line emails.... 

Back at home we are keeping busy - we are still getting rain most nights - but we are getting sunny days to be outside and enjoy!  It's been getting up to the 80's and my kids are whining about it being HOT!.  LOL - just wait until they get to Texas - even with all their torrential down pours they are up near 90.  I think the kids are really just looking for an excuse to play in the water and eat popsicles.... 

We got some work books for the kids to help keep their brains working this summer.  The kids have been loving them!  They want to work in them and even James has been wanting to do them - I just think he looks so cute sitting there concentrating so hard and working in his book!  He's really doing well too - I think preschool is going to be good for him next year!

Thursday, we went out to Stephanie's new house for piano lessons - the kids of course loved getting to hang out with Rose and play.

Friday, the kids finally managed to get things done and cleaned up, so we went to the zoo and met up with some friends.  The kids had fun and we ended up doing different stuff than we usually do - so that was fun.  We happened to be walking by the show area right before a show was starting so we went in to watch - and the kids had lots of fun - and Anna even got picked to go up on stage and be a helper - she LOVED that.  

Apparently I tired them out good - since this is what the back seat looked like when we got home.  But my day wasn't close to over!  After this - I got dressed and ready for the Chorale's concert - I brought Anna with me - she is so cute!  Then after, I took Anna home and headed over to the church for a Graduation party - I came in time to have a little cake and play some volleyball (and realize that I'm out of practice and out of shape....) and then head home and to bed

Saturday we spent a nice day enjoying the nice weather.  We walked over to a nearby pond, and played outside.  Then I spent the afternoon in my craft room getting some stuff done for the kids.

The kids have been having fun doing their summer fun books again - we are looking forward to lots of fun this summer too!

Today was great!  I didn't have to carry James out of Sacrament meeting and the Ward Choir did a great job on the musical number today.  We had some great lessons in Sunday School and during 3rd hour.  We really have a great ward!

Ugh - Can't think of a title that covers everything....

It's been an insane week.  The kids had Monday off of school (not sure why...) so we had fun at home playing and cleaning!  yey!  Then the kids had school on Tuesday and Wednesday and they were done with school for this school year!  We went by and hung out with Heather for a little bit to keep her company on Monday.  Monday night, while I was heading to the grocery store, I got a call from Heather needing a ride to the ER.  I took a detour, got her settled, went and got the groceries, cooked Dan's birthday cake (an angel food cake made entirely with eggs from our chickens) then managed to get a couple hours of sleep before i had to go drive Heather home from the hospital, then i got a couple more hours before I had to get up and take care of kids.  After the older kids got off to school, James and I went down and cuddled up on Daddy's recliner and he watched "Wild Krats" while I napped a bit more.  

Tuesday was Dan's birthday and Evie's Kindergarten graduation party.  We ate a quick dinner after Dan got home from work, then headed out to the kindergarten celebration.  It was pretty cute - the kids did lots of singing and dancing and they managed to get through the "handing out certificates" part of the celebration quickly.  Evie was so cute - she just LOVES being on stage and being at the center of attention!  Then we headed home for Cake and presents with Daddy.  

Wednesday, was the kids last day of school.  James and I still did out library trip in the morning with Nicole and Riley and Tayanna - then headed home (with a big stack of books to try and get the kids through this weekend...)  for lunch.  Then we headed to the school to pick the kids up from their last day of school.  Weather this week has been chilly and drizzly all week - but it was clear enough that afternoon for the kids to want to do our usual "last fling" get together at the park after school.  We only ended up staying for an hour - then we got too cold and went home.  

Thursday, I watched a couple kids for a friend of mine.  They were very well behaved polite kids and the kids all had fun together.  They played outside, played some Skylanders, played with the chickens, and played with toys.  We had fun together and the kids were great.  They went home after lunch, then in the afternoon, we had piano lessons so Rose was over playing with us too.  The kids mostly played outside since the weather had cleared up again.  I spent a lot of time Thursday doing yard work.  In the morning, the kids helped me as I put down some grass seed and then put peat moss down over it.  Then after lunch, I put down the weed and feed and during piano lessons, I mowed the lawn (having realized that by the next time I had a chance to mow - it would be way overdue for a cut.) 

Dan took Friday off work.  We spent the day getting ready for our camp out and getting Eileen ready for her trip with Grandpa.  We got everything packed up and headed for the campground around 2 ish.  Weather was chilly and a bit rainy, but we still all managed to have a blast.  Dan and I did a bit better preparing for it this time and had a heater for our tent to keep us warmer at night - now we just need to get some better sleeping bags for the kids - Dan and I still ended up with Evie and James sharing sleeping bags with us.  The kids had a ton of fun playing with friends and singing and collecting sticks and roasting marshmellows.  

Some of the older kids (including Eileen and Anna) built this "cabin" - They were so excited about it, and I think it really came out cute!

After we got back from the camp out, We headed home, cleaned up, ate lunch and played, then picked Grandpa up from the airport.  Grandpa stayed the night with us.  He went to church with us in the morning (and was lucky enough to get to hear the kids 'finally' do their Mother's day musical number and to hear me give a talk - which I found out about at 7:00 am this morning.)   Then after church, he took the kids home to get them lunch while I led choir rehearsal.  Then Dan and I headed home and got all the final bits ready for Eileen's trip.  She grabbed her stuff and we took her and Grandpa to the airport.  I can't believe my big girl is going to be gone for 2 whole weeks!  I know she is going to have a GREAT time, but I am going to miss her.  She made the first leg of her trip safely (back to Texas with Grandpa) but was underwhelmed with the overcrowded dinky little plane for this part - hopefully she will like the next part better :) Tomorrow she leaves for England and then a layover before heading up to Scotland!  

Go away

Ok  now I'm ready to say it - I'm ready for some sunshine - it's been a bit drizzly and rainy all week.... again....  Thankfully, the rain wasn't constant and we were able to take advantage of what sunshine we did get!

The week started off normal enough - school is almost out and the kids are getting antsy and I'm pretty sure they aren't doing much at school right now anyway.  Monday was laundry and grocery shopping and hanging out with James.

Tuesday, James and I headed to Costco to stock up for Dan's birthday party this weekend, plus a quick stock at Wal-mart to refill prescriptions.

Wednesday was library day for James and I.  Nicole and family couldn't make it - poor Tayanna was sick.  :(  But James and I had a good time (after he got past being grumpy that Riley and Tayanna couldn't come with us.)  That little boy LOVES being read to!  Dan had to leave town on Wednesday, but he left early that morning, went to a meeting in TX and got home before I was home from choir.  So it wasn't too bad.

Thursday was piano lessons for the older kids.  Our piano teacher brings her daughter (who's just a little younger than Evie) with her when she comes and the kids love playing with her.  It's sweet because she loves coming too - she cried when she had to leave and she calls the kids her brothers and sisters.  :)  Thursday night, we put James to bed a little early (he was cranky) and let the older kids pain their bird houses - they had so much fun and they came out beautiful!  Dan put them up on the fence in our back yard and they look beautiful!  We've also got birds in the same old nests as last year.   I also spent Thursday afternoon working in the yard - mowing the lawn and making it look decent - I really should have mowed it earlier in the week - but it was so rainy, I didn't attempt it - but by Thursday it was really long!

Friday was field day for the kids - they were SO excited!  Thankfully the rain held off in the morning and they got to enjoy most of field day.  After school, mommy turned into a mean task master.  The kids and I worked hard all afternoon and managed to get the house clean - kitchen swept, mopped, and counters cleaned off, and all the upstairs carpeted areas cleaned and vacuumed.  Bedrooms cleaned and vacuumed and by that evening, the bathrooms and playroom were done too - the kids probably hated me by the end of the day - but the house looked WONDERFUL and Dan got a nice coming home from work birthday surprise!

The kids love too let the chickens run around in the yard, and the chickens are generally very tolerant of our kids - in fact one of them lets Eileen push her around in this old metal stroller - it's so funny to watch - but she really seems to have a magical way with animals.

So the house cleaning on Friday was mostly so we could have a birthday party for Dan on Saturday!  But first, Aaron had a play date in the morning with a good friend who's family is moving, Eileen had flute lessons and of course, we had to get food ready and set out.

The party was wonderful - the rain held off just long enough for us to have a blast hanging out with good friends in the back yard!  Dan and I ate so much that neither one of us was hungry enough to eat any dinner....

After the party, Dan hung out with the kids so I could go to the temple.  A friend from the Peoria ward and from the Chorale was going through the temple before leaving on his mission and invited us to come - but we didn't have a baby sitter, so Dan watched the kids so I could go.  It was wonderful to be at the temple, wonderful to watch this amazing young man make wonderful choices and watching how happy his parents were to be there with him, plus I got to chat with lots of other friends that were there too.  I got home in time to put the kids to bed and get a little work done before I crashed!  

Today was wonderful.  James has been rather cranky the last few Sundays - so we have decided that next week we are going to try getting him to bed earlier and hope that will help things.  Sunday School was awesome - these kids are just so amazing.  I'm amazed at how smart and insightful they are.  I learn from them every week!  After church, Eileen and I sat down to make a packing list - it' shard to believe that by this time next week, Eileen will be off with Grandpa on the adventure of a lifetime!  We then spent the afternoon and evening playing games together - it's one of our favorite Sunday activities and all the kids love it - the hard part is sticking to games that won't be destroyed when James comes over and wants to join the fun... 

Rain Rain....

Well - I won't say "go away" because we need the water, but I'm really ready for my kids to be able to play outside with out tracking in TONS of mud and dirt....

The kids are counting down days until school is out.  They have had little to no homework this week which has been nice because it means they can spend more time playing!  As long as the rain was minimal or paused, they were outside having fun - but we all would have preferred a bit more afternoon sunshine :)

Tuesday evening, Dan had a meeting and was at the church until late - but the day was otherwise normal. Wednesday was the library for James and I.  He's finally starting to get to the point where he participates in story time - it's so cute to watch and listen to him sing along.  He even goes and sits with the other kids sometimes :)  Then choir in the evening for me.

Thursday was piano lessons in the afternoon.  I did some yard work (mostly pruning bushes back)  and the kids had fun playing outside until the rain started up again (the had lots of fun playing with the branches I had clipped off. Then in the evening, I went to the Stake Girls Camp meeting.

Thursday and Friday were "Immersion" days at school.  The school does 2 days near the end of the school year where they do a special subjects and the kids can sign up for the subjects that interest them.  (For example, Aaron and Evie both signed up for an outer space themed immersion class,  Eileen signed up for an animal themed immersion... etc.)  They kids LOVE these days.  They had been looking forward to them all year.

Saturday was busy busy busy!  Dan went out shooting with Frankie in the morning, Aaron had a birthday party he went to at noon.  We went to a graduation party for one of the girls in our ward.  Then we headed home to clean up a bit while Dan got a few groceries.  We had some friends over for dinner and games.  It was a lot of fun - they are a great couple, we played a couple games with Eileen, then put the kids to bed and played a couple more.

Today was Mother's Day.  I am so blessed by the wonderful examples of motherhood in my life - if I am at all a decent mother - it is because of them and their examples!  Today was wonderful.  Dan always makes sure that it is.  He's such a wonderful husband!  When we went to bed last night, it was snowing hard.  When we got up this morning, we found 8 - 10" on the ground.  Church was cancelled because they couldn't get the church parking lot and sidewalks cleared.  I missed getting to hear the kids singing on Mother's Day, and I missed getting to teach my lesson and going to Relief Society, but it was nice to get to take a nice long nap in the morning.  Dan made heart shaped biscuits for breakfast, then we had our own little church meeting - Eileen gave a lesson, Eileen conducted the music, Evie bore her testimony and Aaron picked songs and gave a prayer.  It was really sweet!  Then Dan took the kids outside and let me nap.  Then we all ate lunch and switched places - I took the kids downstairs and we played games while Dan took a nap.  In the evening we made a yummy dinner using the eggs from our chickens.  It was exciting!

We asked the kids to clean up and said that if they did, we could do something fun.  Well - only Anna was cleaning up - despite many requests that the others help - so we told them that they had lost the privilege. So we read scriptures then put the kids to bed - all except Anna who got to stay up and make ice cream with Daddy and play a game with mommy and daddy. Evie was VERY mad at us - she had a hard time understanding that disobedience brings consequences.  :(

Sprinklers!

This has been a crazy busy exhausting week - but fun!  Monday morning, Dan's parents arrived.  James and I went to pick them up from the airport.  We had to circle a couple times and each time we passed the big, blue bronco, James would yell "EWWWWW mommy, he's pooping on us!!"  Anyway, we got Grandma and Grandpa and headed home to work on laundry and get them settled in.  Dan came home a bit early and he and Gene went to work!   James and I took them out to show them the chickens and they noticed that they chickens had laid their first egg!  We made brownies with it :) 

Tuesday morning, bright and early, I had a chorale thing - I went, sang and then headed home just in time to make it to Aaron's field trip!   James stayed with Grandma and Grandpa and I met up with Aaron and his class at the Denver Zoo.  We had a great time - I loved getting to have some time with only Aaron.  We had fun hanging with the other kids and parents and checking out the animals.  Aaron loved getting to feed this little bird who just loved him - the bird was so happy to just hang out with Aaron and eat his food - and ate the whole cup of food on it's own.  After, Aaron and I headed home.  

Gene and Dan were busy most of the week digging holes, and trenches, laying pipe and getting our sprinklers in.  Connecting to the water meant digging a 5' deep hole in the front yard.  Then after getting it all set up, filling in the holes and trenches and getting it to work.

The older kids were in school during the day - but James was a super duper helper.  Ann and I helped the guys when they needed it and pruned plants when they didn't need us.  James loved helping us pick up plant clippings, fill in holes and dig in the dirt.  The chickens loved all the worms we dug up for them.  The kids have been having a blast letting the chickens out to run around the back yard and scratch up dirt.  

Eileen just seems to have a magic touch with animals - including our chickens.

 We finally managed to get everything done (sprinkler wise) before Gene and Ann left on Friday morning, but I think all 4 of us were glad it was done - we were all exhausted!  Dan and I felt a bit pathetic that we were hardly able to keep up with to (almost) 70 year olds - but we had a good time - now we just need to find time to recover...

Saturday was not a recovery day though.  Dan and I still had some yard work that needed doing - I hadn't really been able to mow the lawn all week with trenches running across it, so by Saturday it was in desperate need.  The afternoon  was Saturday cleaning and in the evening, we had Mallory come babysit the kids, and Dan and I went out to dinner with some of the guys from Dan's work, and the (almost) fiancee of one.  We went to a neat little Korean BBQ place in Denver, then came back to our house for a game of Settlers of Catan.

Church was wonderful as usual - the kids not a much so as usual - Eileen wasn't her usual self - found out later that she wasn't feeling well - and we gave her some Tylenol and sent her to bed.  James really isn't a morning person and he didn't like getting woken up at 7 am - and was grumpy all morning - but then we had a nice afternoon nap.  Eileen went over to Heather's house to teach her to crochet and had fun - then a yummy dinner of waffles made with our own eggs collected this week!

Piggies and Chickens

This has been a fun and busy week.  James and I had lots of fun playing at home - weather has mostly been nice and great for playing outside.  

Tuesday, Dan and James and I headed in to the school to see Evie in a littl play in her class.  The class did 5 or 6 little plays with different kids in each.  Evie was in the 3 Little Pigs.  She just loved it - she did a great job and stole the show by walking around and shaking her little piggie tail for everyone.  I only got this picture - all the rest was on video.  (James wanted to watch it over and over again) 

After school that day, we had our friends Bradley and Braden over to hang out and play for a few hours.  Dan saw that Cold Stone was doing a $1.00 scoop night, so we headed over for a bit of ice cream.  The kids had a blast (of course)  

After ice cream - I met with the other ward girls camp ladies to figure things out and get organized.

Wednesday was our usual late start morning with library after.  James was so cute singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" He sang all the words and did all the motions - he never does that!  I had choir in the evening and Eileen and Anna had Activity Days - they got to go and get make overs - Eileen wasn't crazy about the idea because she "doesn't like make up" but she ended up having a blast (because she got her toenails and finger nails painted)

Thursday, James and I headed to the Museum of Nature and Science - he LOVES going to the museum - and I'm pretty sure one of his favorite parts about it is getting to pack his own sack lunch and take it with him.  When we left he said his favorite part was looking at the animals (in the panorama exhibits) and pushing the sound buttons.  I'm pretty sure his favorite part was the water area in the discovery zone.  :)  

Friday night, Dan and I got a babysitter (which made the kids VERY happy) and we went out to dinner with some friends, then headed back to their house to play games.  We had a great time and are looking forward to doing it again!

Saturday we went over to Dwayne and Nicole's for Anaiya's birthday party.  The kids had a blast playing games and eating food and running around.  They played a sticker game where you were supposed to try and get stickers on people sneakily - the kids didn't quite get the "sneaky" part - but they had tons of fun.  While there we met another couple who live next to Dwayne and Nicole - really nice people and they just happened to have some chickens that they needed to get rid of (they had a new puppy that was terrorizing them) and we just happened to have a recently finished chicken coop and were looking for chickens - we took Eileen to flute lessons, then after, Dan and Eileen went back with some boxes to get them and we had 4 chickens.

The kids couldn't get enough of them - they are named "Dapple, Dimple, Snowy and Chocolate"  In fact they loved them so much that the next morning, they were up at the crack of dawn, in the rain, to see and hang out with and try to pet the chickens.  Then they came back in and tracked mud all over the house...

Church was wonderful today.  I got a new calling - yes again - it feels like I rarely hang on to callings for more than a year.  I'm teaching Youth Sunday School and I'm really looking forward to it!  Taught my first lesson today and I think it went mostly well.  They were pretty quiet - but a few took pity on me and answered questions :)  After church I was just exhausted - but none of the kids were - so i'm still exhausted and going to bed!

Keeping busy!

This week has been fairly normal - laundry and shopping on Monday.  Taking our friend to therapy on Tuesday.  Choir practice on Wednesday.  Thursday however, it snowed, so piano lessons got pushed back to Friday.  We spent a nice quiet Thursday warm and cozy at home!  

Friday, Addie came over to play with us and hang out - then I went to get my allergy shot - then took Heather to a doctor's appointment, got the kids from school and headed home for piano lessons.  James and Rose (the piano teacher's little girl) really play well together - but they were in a trouble making mood this week!  

Saturday, we spent the morning working outside - Eileen and Dan working on finishing up the chicken coop, me mowing the lawn.  Aaron had a birthday party in the afternoon, Eileen had flute lessons in the afternoon.  Then after a long day, Dan and I watched "Unbroken" and headed to bed!  

Come Sunday we were all a bit tired.  Church was wonderful - I got to sub as a teacher in Relief Society - I love teaching - but I love teaching the gospel most of all.  After church, we played games for a bit - then Dan insisted Evie take a nap (she's been throwing massive tantrums all day - and that's not normal) and helped her by letting all the sleepy kids snuggle up together in our bed.  

I know - short post - few pictures - but I'm tired and it's been a fairly normal week for us!  :)

Aftermath

It's starting to feel like my kids never go to school....  They had Monday off for a teacher work day.  I told them that if they got their piano lessons and some clean-up done, that I would take them to the museum or the zoo... So they played outside all day.  They did get their piano done, but that was about all they got done.  Anna prepared a wonderful family home evening lesson for us - here is me attempting to play an opening song...

Tuesday was our usual taking a friend to therapy in the morning followed by the usual craziness of the evenings

Wednesday was late start for the big kids and library for James and I - then after the library, we had my friends little girl come over for a few hours so she could go to the temple.  She was small enough that James saw her more as a baby to take care of than as a friend to play with.  He was so sweet and helpful!  After picking the kids up from school, we took Evie to a dentist appointment - then home for piano, homework, choir, activity days and such.

Thursday morning, James and I took a drive to pick up some medical supplies for a friend and then enjoyed a couple hours of quiet before picking the kids up from school.

Friday I needed to go get my allergy shot - James loves going and the ladies who work there all LOVE him, so it's a nice easy errand, then we met Dan for lunch at home before heading back out to the grocery store to grab a couple things.

Saturday was a work day.  Dan spent most of the morning and early afternoon building a chicken coop.  I spent it taking Eileen to flute lessons, mowing the lawn and sweeping and moping and vacuuming.  Then we decided to relax by walking to the park to play :)  It was a great day, but exhausting!

Sunday, after church, we went up to UNC to see Dan's home teaching companion in a tuba band and then we stayed to watch a bit of the UNC philharmonic orchestra - but by intermission, James was done so we headed home.  It was a lot of fun though - in the same building, they had a fun little lego exhibit with this good giant "minifigure"

Lots of Fun

Well it's been a busy week.  My mom's recovery really went well.  My dad left town on Monday, so I was in charge :)  By Tuesday, she was walking up and down the block in front of the house, Wednesday, we attempted the walk to the nearby pond so James and I could feed the turtles and fish.  Thursday, Sandi came over with Taz and Kai and we walked all the way to a nearby park.  She tired herself out good and napped well after - and by Thursday she was off the pain meds during the day.  

James LOVED playing with his cousins - he and Taz especially get along really well.  They love to play together - but Taz has boundless energy and he would usually go to bed early and sleep late after a day hanging out with Taz.  

The kids had some fun playing with a box with old clothes to be given away - they just looked so cute!! 

My dad got back on Thursday.  He and I spent a fun evening figuring out a metal frame for a doll and chatting.  Then,  deciding that my mom was doing well, and wanting to be home for General Conference and Easter, James and I headed home on Friday.  James was great during the ride home - except that he REFUSED to go to the bathroom.  He does NOT like strange bathrooms - he was just getting used to Grandma and Grandpa's bathroom - but he wouldn't do the rest stop bathrooms - which meant that he wet himself 3 times on the way home.....

Saturday, we headed up to Newell and Becky's house to watch Conference and do an Easter Egg hunt.  The kids had a blast.  Newell and Becky's youngest is close enough in age to love playing with James and the kids had tons of fun.

After a wonderful day, we headed home - then the we let the kids play outside while I mowed the lawn, then ate dinner while Daddy headed to Priesthood meeting.

Today was another wonderful day of Conference - which is never long enough - even after 8 hours.  The kids went to play with the neighbor's great-granddaughter between sessions, then after, we headed over to Grandpa's for dinner and Easter fun with Frank and Tina and Frankie, Grandpa, Doug and Julia, Jill and Logan and Adam and Natalia.  The kids had tons of fun eating more junk food, finding more eggs and playing around.

After the rest of the kids went to bed - Eileen stayed up and played 7 Wonders with us - then she wanted to do some painting - so Dan and I played Speed - which caught Eileen's attention, so he taught her to play - she promptly decided that she didn't much like the game....

Spring Break

It's feeling like I say this every week... but this week was nuts!  Sunday night, Eileen's friend Morgan came over to sleep over and hang out.  The kids had a blast all day Monday - and had so much fun that she stayed again on Monday night.  Then Tuesday morning, the great granddaughter of the lady next door came over to play for a while, then in the afternoon, we went to the zoo.  We had fun checking out the animals (and I took some pictures but I'm too lazy to go out to the car to get the camera....)  Morgan went home Tuesday evening and the kids all missed her when she left.  

Wednesday, I went visiting teaching (yes, with all 5 kids in tow) and I had choir practice in the evening, Thursday was piano lessons in the morning, and errands in the afternoon.  I took Eileen out to get some training bras - she doesn't really need them yet - but she's getting close enough that I would rather she had them than not.  She was very excited about it and had a lot of fun picking them out.  She was so excited that she let me take a picture to embarrass her for posterity.  ;)

While all of this was going on I needed to prepare to leave for Texas.  I needed to do all the laundry, cleaning, packing, lawn mowing, cleaning the spare room for Tina, and getting some computer work done.  I managed to get the essentials done and ready and James and I took off Friday morning.  The trip was long, but easy.  James loved getting to watch movies the whole way.  Everytime one ended, I would ask him what he wanted to watch next and he would respond in an adorable voice "I don't know!"  Road trips and rest stops are a lot easier with just one kid.  James and I arrived late on Friday night and soon went to bed.  

Dan spent Friday home with the kids - and Aaron proved he could ride his bike to the park and back and got to go pick out his new bike.  He also got all the kids new helmets which they were very excited about!  

Saturday here was mostly quiet - James and I slept in and then got up to go see my mom at the hospital and get her checked out and drive her home.  We spent most of the day playing and reading books and getting on a pill schedule.

Sunday my dad and I tried to work a schedule so we could get to church and not leave mom alone too long.  Church was really nice - Dad's ward was doing their Easter program too and it was really nice.  It's a really great ward and it was fun to see familiar faces.  Sandi came over after church with Taz and Kai.  Taz and James just had a blast together.  We went for a walk and played in the back yard and around 6:15 James was done - Taz had exhausted him, and he threw a massive tantrum because I wanted him to go potty - so he went potty and then went to bed too.  :)

Music.....

This week has been totally nuts.  The Colorado Mormon Chorale's Easter Concerts were this week.  So after the usual craziness of a day of laundry, grocery shopping and kids, I took off in the evening for our dress rehearsal and got home in time to go to bed.

Tuesday was once again the usual kids, school, and fun - followed by the Chorale's first concert.  We performed at Denver University's Newman Center.  The performance went well and everyone said it was amazing!  Evie and Aaron also had their class concerts that night.  Dan took the kids to the concerts and tried to record them - but since he hadn't slept at all the night before, he might have dozed off a bit....

Wednesday we had the kids piano lessons after school along with our usual late start, library for story time and then watching a friends kids for a couple hours.  James LOVES having friends over to play!  Then in the evening was another concert for me.

Thursday was our "day off" So Eileen conned me into driving her all the way up to boulder so that she could meet Brandon Mull and get her favorite Fablehaven book signed.  We had a really fun time and I didn't even keep the girls up too late.  He was going to be in Denver on Friday, but I had another concert on Friday, so that wasn't going to work....

Friday, I took the girls to our final performance of "Lamb of God" the girls really enjoyed the concert - Eileen loves watching the flutes and they love having some special out with mommy time.  These concerts have been amazing and wonderful to be a part of.  They have also been amazingly well attended - they estimated over 1000 people at our Friday night concert - and we probably could have done one more night and packed it too.  After the concert, I took the kids for dinner and dessert at Chili's.

Saturday, Dan had Boy Scout training in the morning - he got home just in time for me to be able to take Eileen to flute lessons with out all the other kids in tow.  Then we spent the afternoon cleaning up before I had to leave for yet another CMC event.  We provided some entertainment for a charity event/auction.  It was just a small group of us since the venue wasn't that big, but it was a really nice event and they provided a yummy dinner.  

Today was nice - Church was wonderful - weather was beautiful so we walked to and from church.  I sang a musical number and helped out in primary again.  It's been amazing how much better behaved my kids have been for me - I can't help but think that it's a blessing from the Lord to help us survive Dan's new calling.  After church, Eileen wanted me to text her friend Morgan's mom to see if she could sleep over sometime during spring break.  So she came over this evening and the kids had tons of fun running around yelling and playing until we banished the younger ones to bed and played a game of Settlers of Catan with Eileen and Morgan.  Now I just gotta make it though next week....

Long Week....

I was a bad mom this week and took no pictures....  but in my defense, it was a LONG week.  Bright and early on Monday morning (as in 6 AM) I got a phone call from the school letting us know that school had been cancelled for the day due to a power outage.  Thankfully weather was nice, so we spent a LOT of the day playing in the back yard.  Having all the kids home prevented me from running a couple errands that I wanted to get done.  

Tuesday was back to normal - James and I took our friend to her appointment in the morning, then we ate lunch and got the other kids from school - a mostly normal day - except Aaron fell asleep in the car on the way home.  I checked him and he had a fever, so I gave him some tylenol and put him to bed.  The next morning though, his temp was back to normal and he seemed fine.  

Wednesday was the usual late start school day for the kids, followed by a library trip for James and I, then home for lunch.  I went to choir practice in the evening - our concerts are next week - so rehearsals are the the fun stage when things really start to take shape.  

Thursday, I woke up feeling lousy, but hoping that I could shake it off with lots of water and some rest, I didn't worry about it too much.  I gave myself a break and let James watch Wild Kratts for a bit so I could rest.  After school, the kids had piano lessons, then in the evening, I went to a Relief Society activity.  Dan took the school age kids to Skate City.  I didn't have a whole lot of energy still though, so I headed home and went to bed early.  

Friday, I felt worse,  I decided that I couldn't just wait it out and that I'd better get it checked - I have too much happening next week to wait and see any longer (especially with the weekend coming up)  So I got a doctors appointment and tested positive for Strep Throat.  I got my antibiotics and then at the suggestion of my doctor, We took all the kids in to get tested too.  (Thankfully they were out of school for a teacher work day)  the 4 younger kids all tested positive for strep also.  So we picked up their meds and finally headed home.  We had plans for some friends to come over, but we postponed until we were all better, then spent the evening taking it easy.  

Saturday was mostly taking it easy too - the girls got their room cleaned in record time, then Eileen proceeded to do some extra chores so she could get a water snail.  Dan took the kids to the pet store to check out prices and see how much they would need to save up.  Then they came home all excited.  Anna then did a superb and speedy clean up of the play room so she could go with Dan to the craft store.  He took her to look at models - she picked a WWII army jeep model that she and Dan have been working on together.  Then Dan stayed home with the kids so I could go to Stake Conference.  It was wonderful and a great end to a hectic week.  

Today was the main part of Stake Confrence - so the kids and I got there early (James with no shoes on *mom fail*) for stake choir which was wonderful - then enjoyed a wonderful conference with the kids mostly reverent.  Then after we had Ward Choir practice, then Eileen and I headed home, Dan went home teaching and the kids ate a quick dinner before we headed to Frank and Tina's for a big family birthday party!  

Thankfully, the medicine is doing it's job, we are all feeling much better and ready to face the insane week ahead of us....

Family Fun

I have a fun and spunky 5 year old girl.  As part of her homework, she needs to write in this book a couple times a week.  In trying to figure out what to write about, she decided to do a "Who Am I" and proceeded to do this drawing.  *Note - this is after I made her edit it.*  She came up to me asking what the bumpy part on the front.  I was trying to figure out what she was talking about - when I did, we had a talk about how that isn't an appropriate thing to write about and we came up with a different thing to write about.  Not sure what that says about mermaids when my daughter thinks their most distinguishing characteristics are a tail, bellybutton and seashell bra.....

Tuesday, Eileen and Anna had their concert.  Eileen had her 4th Grade concert (where she even got to play a recorder)  and both girls had their school choir concert.  It was a lot of fun and the girls did great - now i just need to get Eileen to look at her teacher/director instead of playing with her recorder, talking to friends and goofing off....

Wednesday I had my rehearsal with the chorale - we are getting close to the concerts, so we had a full rehearsal with the orchestra.  It's getting exciting and really awesome!

Thursday and Friday were nuts - Thursday included me getting an allergy shot, making a quick stop at the yarn shop near by, then picking up my friend Debbie to take her across town to a doctor's appointment, then picking the kids up from school, piano lessons and homework and such.  Friday started early with a doctors appointment for me (with lots of help from James) just a follow up to check if some meds I'm on are working.  Then I went to pick up some medical supplies for a friend and dropped them off at her house, followed by getting home in time to have James' little friend Addie come over for the afternoon.  Then we picked the kids up from school - got all the homework and piano and reading done, then we dropped off dinner for the sister missionaries before heading over to have dinner and play games with a friend of Dan's from work and his fun family.  We all had a great time - but we kept the kids up rather late.

Saturday was mostly doing some clean-up around the house and car and playing outside.  Weather has been gorgeous here - outside is a great place to be right now - as long as you avoid the massive amounts of mud courtesy of the melting snow piles.  

Sunday was wonderful - church was wonderful - James was mostly cooperative today.  After church was choir, then home for lunch with the kids and play time before Dan got home - then Eileen and I headed out to Stake Choir and Dan watched the kids of some friends of ours so they could come too.  Then we all went back to our house for a fun and yummy Sunday dinner.  Their boys all thought the muffins we had with dinner were cupcakes - I think they liked having "cupcakes" for dinner :)

Lost and Found: A story of my driveway....

So Dan left town for Orlando last Saturday.  While he was gone we got the most snow in a one week period since we have lived here.  I don't think it totaled more than a foot and half - but we had days in between with some of it melting off.  Though we have a 3 foot high area in front of our house which is in the area that gets piled up during shoveling and is in the shade so it doesn't melt.  The snowing set in again in earnest on Wednesday afternoon and snowed until Friday morning.  I don't mind shoveling snow, but I do mind having to get up and 6:15 in the morning for 2 days in a row to clear a driveway so I can take the kids to snow - partially because I'm losing sleep and partially because there's no sun and it's COLD!  When Dan is out of town, I go into survival mode - which means I just try and not fail too epic-ly.  I was really stressed out about Thursday night - we were supposed to have piano lessons after school, Eileen and Anna's choir concert, AND Activity Days.  I was worried about how to get it all done and how timing would work.  I've never been more grateful for snow.  It snowed all afternoon and everything got cancelled!!!  Instead we spent a quiet night at home snuggling up together!  Stuff got rescheduled - and I didn't have to stress about it.  The Activity Day's activity got rescheduled for Friday night - they were going to see a bunch of the youth from our ward in "Seussical the Musical" I went and watched too.  It was a lot of fun and really well done.

Dan came home safe and sound on Friday afternoon.  It's so good to have him back, and this should be the last trip of anything longer than a couple days.  He's much more needed in the office than on the road, and we all prefer having him home!

The kids have been having fun playing in the snow and getting cold and dirty.  James needs constant reminders that it's not summer and he needs a coat and shoes.

Evie came home from school one day and promptly went to sleep - I checked on her and she was running a fever.  She was still with fever the next morning, so I kept her home from school - and instead took her on all the errands that I needed to run.  We needed bread for lunches and I needed to go do my allergy shot.  Fortunately, there didn't seem to be anything else wrong with her - she wanted to sleep more - but didn't seem sick otherwise.

Church was great today!  Dan conducted in Sacrament meeting for his first time.  He did great - no mistakes and no sticking his foot in his mouth.  Sacrament was wonderful - would have been better if I got to hear all of it - but that doesn't happen much with 5 young kids. :)  I got to go to Sunday School and Relief Society today, it was really nice!  The lessons were wonderful!  After church, the kids had lunch - James took a nap.  Eileen and I went to Stake Choir and then we had dinner and put the kids to bed.  Eileen stayed up with Dan and I to play 7 Wonders - Eileen and I both lost BADLY to Dan.  Then we called Dan's brother Steve to chat for a bit.  Steve and Claire are going to be moving out to Laramie and we are so excited to have them only a couple hours away!