Little tidbits

A few weeks ago, Evan was pretending to be a robot.  We had just finished dinner and asked Evan to clear his plate from the table.  He walked up to the table, moved his head side to side and said "scan, scan, scan" with a robot voice.  Bon and I looked at each other and cracked up!  I still get a good chuckle out of that one.

The kids seem to always ask when they can just have time alone with Bon or me.  We would usually put them off and not plan anything.  So I finally sat down a couple of weeks ago and came up with a date schedule.  One weekend will be a parent/child date on Friday and Saturday (different child/parent each night) and the following weekend will be a date night for Bon and I.

Well last weekend Bon was going with Ryan on Friday and I went with Ty on Saturday.  Saturday morning, Bon was telling me about the time they had.  He said that as they were driving, he hadn't really asked Ryan anything and it had been quiet.  Ryan piped up from the backseat and said, "Dad, you're probably wondering how my day was." and proceeded to tell him.  He said that Ryan shared what he did that day in the order it was done and his thoughts about stuff.  Then he paused and said, "Your idea for date nights was great.  Thanks."  I just thought that was wonderful.  Bon works a lot and often says he wishes he had more time with the kids.  I knew that having it on the calendar was one way to help get it done.

My date with Ty was hilarious.  That kid is a hoot.  I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.  "just a reg-lee-ur dad".  :)
Well, what are you going to do to earn money?
Oh, I'm not going to work.
Are you going to make your wife work?
No.
Well, how are you going to pay for things like food and a house?
Welllll...I guess I could play music.
Oh, that's nice!
Yeah!  I could just put my hat down or something and people can just walk by and give me money when I play!
Soooo, you're going to play on the street??
Yeah --and continues to tell me a story about an obviously homeless person he saw on his way to the zoo for his field trip.  Apparently, you can make $100 a day!  ;)

Then I asked how many kids he wanted.
20.
20???  (thinking oh his poor wife!)
Yeah!  Then I can build them a jungle gym!  Because kids LOOOVE jungle gyms!

In other news...
I told Bon last Tuesday during dinner that I kept getting the feeling I should be picking the kids up from school instead of them riding the bus home.  I said that I would start on Monday.  He turned and pointed to a saying I have up on the wall.  "Never postpone a prompting. Thomas S. Monson"  I said, "Dang it!  I'll go in tomorrow."  :)  I didn't have a number tag for our car this year and the kids needed their tags on their backpacks changed from bus to car.  So I got that taken care of and I've gotten them since Wed. the 30th.

Reagan had her follow up eye appt on the 1st.  She was tested for glaucoma.  At her first appt, it was noticed that her left optic nerve is a bit larger than her right.  That can be indicative of glaucoma.  So the test they did was a perimetry test, where they test her range of peripheral vision.  The doctor said that this test is hard for even grown ups the first time, because you just don't know what to expect or how to to it properly.  So there were spots on the test where she dipped into the troubled area.  And her eye pressure was 16.  So we have another appt on the 3rd of December with an ophthalmologist in the same practice.  She will perform the perimetry test again and the doctor will also see how thick her eye is to see if 16 is a good/bad number.  She explained that the eye is like a balloon, if you have a thicker balloon, you have more stretch and give, but a thinner one can only be stretched so much.  So...  Bon is coming with us for this one, since I never think of any questions to ask.  I did ask if it was stoppable.  And she said that it can't be cured, but there are treatments that slow it down significantly, such as eye drops.

I think that's all our big news.

Little bits

Every day around me there are little bits of loved ones.  Some of the ones I use most frequently belonged to my Grandma Smith.

I can still see this stack of bowls in the corner of her counter, stacked and ready to be filled with potato salad or fresh cucumbers and onions from her garden.

And these are the pots she cooked with most.  I'm sure the original handles had long since been broken and were replaced by these wooden ones from my grandpa.

She could be a mean old woman.  Never shy to say if you were getting fat.  But I loved her.  I'd spend a week at a time with her during the summer.  Once I was woken up by her making this strange bird call at 7 in the morning!  In the summer!  Trying to attract a cardinal and I'm sure failing miserably.  But still she tried. (birdie, birdie, birdie)  I can still remember the way her house smelled.  And still wanting to go and stay, even though I know ghosts roamed at night.  (truly...stairs don't creak by themselves one at a time....)  I miss her.

I hope everyone has little bits of their loved ones.  Sometimes physical reminders are so nice, especially when a lot of time has passed.  It makes them feel more real, instead of just a memory.

A little testimony strengthened.

Upon returning from Ohio, Ryan has been having issues with going to sleep/staying asleep.  Bon and I are getting frustrated and we're trying really hard to keep to a routine, but sometimes things just don't go smoothly at bedtime.  Last Saturday at one in the morning, Ryan kept popping up out of bed and Bon became so frustrated he went to the basement to sleep.  Ryan came into bed with me and slept, finally.  Ryan wants someone with him; Bon and I just want to be alone at night.  

So as I laid there, I was saying a silent prayer, once again, praying for Ryan, for ways we can help him, for inspiration on how to help him, what to say, etc.  I was tired and frustrated and I think about halfway through my prayer, I just questioned if He was even there.  Was He even listening?  Did He even care?  

Fast forward to the next morning, we walked into the chapel and I was approached by the Executive Secretary.  Would I give the closing prayer?  I wanted to turn to him and say "Are you kidding me??" because I just had this internal struggle and I really don't like praying in public to begin with.  But I agreed.  

Fast forward to the closing prayer.  As I was walking toward the podium, I felt this overwhelming love.  I felt this peace and comfort and assurance that He is there and He does care.  He hears our prayers and He loves each and every one of us.  I croaked through a closing prayer, grabbing a tissue on the way down. 

On Tuesday, we had a RS presidency meeting and I had the spiritual thought.  I shared this experience from Sunday and this scripture.  

Moroni 10:7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. 

In my patriarchal blessing, I am promised many things as long as I have faith.  That brings me comfort when I remember those blessings.  I often feel imperfect and I know I have many shortcomings, but I know that with my faith, I can only grow and become stronger in the gospel.  http://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/faith?lang=eng   

Whirlwind Summer

Last day of school

This summer seemed to rush by.  Before school was even out, we were at swim team practices.  Once school was out, the mornings were booked with swimming and Thursday evenings were spent at meets.  It was a fun experience and all of the kids did so well and progressed so much.  The kids gained confidence in the water and it has been such a blessing for me to not have to watch them like a hawk when we go swimming.

In July we went to Ohio.  We spent some time with Bon's parents, my parents and some time at the farm.  With the Carters, we shot guns and knitted on looms.  With the Smiths we went to Limestone Lake and went to the park and out for ice cream.  At the farm we spent time with Jenny, did the annual shopping with her and her friend Alice.  While we were there, a big storm passed through and a couple big branches came down from some trees and almost hit the house.  That's when we called in some help and had some guys cut the two trees down that were closest to the house.  They did a good job and they did it for free.  We payed them in popsicles, since it was really hot.  I'm grateful they were able to help us.

Limestone Lake

Limestone Lake

Storm damage right after the storm.

Storm damage in the sun.  :)

Without the trees.  :(

We ended the summer with being at home and getting ready for school.  It was a few weeks of playing with friends, going to the pool and the last couple of days were spent with Mary and her girls.

Chess at the library.

Sacked out on our bed.

Lunch with Mary and her girls before they left.

The kids are excited about their new teachers.  Reagan has Mrs. Sebastian, Ryan has Mrs. Williams (Reagan had her last year!) and Ty has Mrs. Smith.  We've met them and they all seem like wonderful teachers.  Their first day was yesterday, the 7th, and they came home chatting up a storm.  I don't think Reagan stopped talking the rest of the night.

First day of school.  Ryan was excited too, just mad that Ty had tried putting his arm around him too.

RIP Beautiful Girl

I got two phone calls today.  A short one from my Aunt Sally and a longer one with my Dad.  They were calling to let me know that my Aunt Brenda passed away this morning.  She was 60 years old, 33 years past the 27 year life expectancy the doctors had given her.  She had Down's Syndrome and lived with my grandparents for as long as they lived.  When my Grandma passed away, Brenda moved into a nursing home and was under great care.  Her diabetes stabilized and she was doing really well.  In the past year, however, she started to decline.  She was put on Hospice care in September of 2012 and even though she was doing pretty normally physically, we knew she wouldn't be with us much longer.

Her passing comes as a shock for me, mostly because I try keeping my head in the sand about how bad people really are.

I loved her and will miss her greatly.  She had a beautiful spirit.

Brenda Kay Smith 

Busy times

Summer is going to start full-force here in a couple of weeks and I am not ready!

Swim team starts with after school practices on the 13th.

The last day of school is the 22nd.

Morning practices begin on the 23rd.  I'm grateful that my kids aren't in the early group.  The earliest one is 9.  I can handle that.  Evan won't start his practices until the 28th.  I'm super excited that he will get to learn to swim this year.  He was doing really well last year, just being at the pool for 4-5 days out of the week.  And I'm hopeful for the others that they will learn to swim better and not plug their noses and be afraid of getting their face wet and going under (Ty was last year).

Our Thursdays will be consumed with swimming all of June.  Practice in the morning until 11 and then meets at night starting at 6:30, but having to be there around 5.  There are a lot of members of our ward on this team, so I'm excited for a chance to get to know some of them better.

After swim is over, we will be headed to Ohio.  Probably the 5th or 6th of July and coming back here the 22nd or so.  I'm sure I'll be twitchy once I get back here.

But then my lovely friend, Mary, and her kids will be visiting before they move back to NC!!!!  I guess it's not set in stone yet, but it's leaning pretty heavy that way.  They will be close to Raleigh though, which is more like 5.5 hours from here.  Or if your Dad, it's about 4.  ;)

Then school starts the 7th of August or something crazy like that.

Ah, I guess I don't mind the summer.  Especially when we can hang out at the pool and come back to our nice, cool home.  :)

And repeat.

Tonight as the kids were trying to settle down for bed (man, this daylight savings time is KILLER!), I came downstairs to survey the mess.  I looked around and saw dirty dishes all over the counters, piling out of the sink, the empty dishwasher just opened up and ready for business.  I saw bookbags scattered on the floor, partnered with the shoes that carried them to and from school that day.  I saw jackets laying lifeless, stretched from one room into the next.  And I stood in the middle of it all and made a guttural noise and rubbed my eyes and face to prevent myself from breaking into tears.  Bon asked what was wrong and I quickly said that life sucks sometimes.  It's the same thing every day.  Over and over.  I dove into the dishes and scrubbed some of my frustrations out.

Then I felt so dumb.  Of course it's the same thing every day!  Would I rather live a life where I don't know where I'll be one day to the next?  Would I rather live a life clean and tidy without my children or husband?  A big fat NO!

So while I strive to have the picture perfect life, I understand that I will always have a pile or three of something, anything laying around waiting to find it's proper home.  I will always find scissors anywhere else but where they belong.  I will always know that I won't ever have the complete set of screwdrivers in one spot at one time.  My floors will have crumbs, the walls will have fingerprints and it might even be a little gross around the toilet until I get a chance to clean.  But that's okay.  No one is eating off of any of those.

As long as I remember to always tell my kids that I love them.  That I always give them my attention and praise.  That they feel love and safety when they are with me.   Those are the things that matter.

Emotional Month

The end of January brought a new kidney for my step-mom of 23 years.  I was emotional for a couple of weeks following that news, knowing how much her life was going to improve.  I was filled with gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father that allows healing and forgiveness to work in our lives.  

A few weeks ago I started following journal updates for a mom of a family in our neighborhood.  I had met her once briefly this past summer.  She entered the hospital on December 20th and had struggle after struggle while fighting non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  She passed away this morning and my heart is heavy for her family.  It's amazing how one person can impact so many and how much love and support is poured out.

It made me think of how much I love my kids.  How much I love Bon.  My family.  How I would miss them if they were gone.  I'm grateful for the Plan of Salvation, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't grieve.  I need to make each day count.  Make it something better.

I thought of this song by Bruno Mars.  He's lamenting about losing his girl, but I twisted it into motherhood/being a wife.  Cause I can.  ;)

I'm Baaaack!

My computer died.  It was quick and painful (for me).  But thanks to Bon and Dell, I am now fighting my kids for computer time at our new desktop computer that's based out of our kitchen.  It's wonderful!  (except for the fighting part)  ;)

And the first thing I want to share is my pantry re-do! 

I was annoyed with the lack of storage our pantry had.  My (genius) friend Mary said that maybe it was a closet before.  Oh, huh.  Yeah, that makes sense since it had carpet on the floor and isn't in an ideal place to be a pantry.  But oh well. 

So, our before.  4 wire shelves where everything tipped and nothing could be seen.

























So I went to Lowe's and bought some supplies. I purchased:
1- 1x6x10
4- 1x12x8 (maybe it was only 3?)
1- 1x12x4 (as a precaution in case I mis-measured or decided to add more shelving)
8- 1x2x8 (also known as furring strips)
1 - 2.5 inch wood screws
1 - 2 inch wood screws (you could just get one size, but make sure you have enough for everything.)
5 planks of vinyl laminate flooring that matched my laundry room floor re-do.  It's vinyl flooring tiles that look like wood floor.  Very easy to install.  I had a few left over, so measured how much more I'd need. 
Then later at Home Depot (it's closer), I bought some mending straps.  I got 12 straps and some small screws to use with them. 

I bought some extra stuff at Lowes the first time, so my total was $117.  Taking the extra things off the bill, and adding the things at Home Depot, I would say this project cost right around $100. 

The first thing I did was to obviously empty out the pantry. 

Then I ripped out the shelves.  I loathe wire shelving.  LOATHE. 

I spackled the holes and sanded and waited for them to dry. 

Then is where the fun began!  I measured up from the floor 24" to put in the first row of furring strips.  I put the back ones on first and then added the side ones.  I used a level to make sure they would be straight.  Found the studs and then I would drill pilot holes through the furring strips into the wall, switch the drill bit and then drive in the wood screws.  I would use the level a lot to make sure it would stay straight.  Once I got all the furring strips in place, I painted the walls and the furring strips. Make sure you measure your pantry items so that you can determine the spacing of your shelves.

My bottom three shelves are "18 inches" deep.  I say that in quotes because we know that wood doesn't actually come in the size it says it is.  So they are less than 18", but "18"".  ;)  So I measured across the back from side wall to side wall.  I used that measurement to cut my 1x6x10 three times.  Then I used that measurement to cut my 1x12x8 to make three pieces.  (so, I started into the second of my 1x12's).  

For the rest of the shelves along the back, I just measured the width from wall to wall and cut my 1x12x8's.  

For the side shelves I took a 1x12x8 and drew a line down the center lengthwise and used a circular saw, some awkward body contortions and a plastic bucket to make that cut.  I then would measure from the inside of the door frame to the shelf where it would meet and used that measurement to make a cut.  Then I rotated the miter saw to make a 45* cut and sliced off a little angle so the sharp corner wouldn't poke an eye out in a pantry rush.

Once I had all the wood cut out and roughness sanded off, I whitewashed the pieces.  (love the look!)  

Then I attached the shelves to the furring strips.  I put the shelf down, drilled a pilot hole, then screwed it into the strip.  I used the mending strips to hold the little shelves together and even with the big shelves.  They were kind of caddywompus and probably wouldn't hold what they do if they weren't connected.  

After the shelves were in, I put in the flooring.  I waited overnight and loaded all our crap food back into the pantry.

  

I LOVE how it turned out!  Now, I will admit that I should've put a teeeeeensy bit more space between shelves, but it really doesn't bother me that my syrup bottles are laying down.  I have to reach to get stuff on the top shelf, so really, it's just fine!  Now I just need to figure out lighting.  Bon was thinking maybe we could wire something to the hall light switch so when that was on, so was the light in the pantry??  I like that idea!!!  

On the bottom, I have the two plastic bins that are in the original picture stacked and another set of plastic drawers that hold hot chocolate mixes and extra baking things.  

oh ty

writing from my kindle so excuse the lack of capitolization and commas.

yesterday ty just barely touched the edge of a hot pan.  as i ran cold water over it he said that it felt a little like touching the electric fence at gramdpas house.

wait.

what???

i guess he and ava had asked if they could look at the other garden and ava dared him to touch the fence.  ty being the boy genius that he is did.  and i guess ava did too.  hm.  maybe they learned their lesson?  one...never touch an electric fence and two...dont accept dares.

oh my.

Little updates

Reagan is doing great in school.  I guess the kids stopped making fun of her on the bus.  So that is good.  Unfortunately the gifted program's credentials don't carry over state lines, so she'll have to be retested.  She isn't happy about that, but I think it will be good for her.  There is a girl in her class that goes to our ward, so she had an instant friend.

Ryan is doing good too.  Comes home and stalls with homework because it's "so hard".  But once he sits and focuses, he does just fine.  Same with him about getting tested.  I don't know if he'll get in this time though...  Maybe.  He has a friend in the neighborhood that is in his class.  Wants to call him every day.  Uh no.  He's 8.  What does he possibly have to talk about?!  lol

Ty is doing good too.  He also has a friend from his class in our neighborhood.  I hope his teacher is okay with his exuberance.  :) 

Evan is having fun with me at home.  We snuggle on the couch in the mornings.  He's such a momma's boy.  And darn cute.

Bon gave a talk in church two weeks ago about Sustaining Family Members.  It was a good talk.  I am giving a talk this Sunday about Testimony.  I haven't started it, but have been tossing stuff around in my head.

Ryan is enjoying Scouts, especially since Bon is the leader of the den.  I signed Reagan up for Girl Scouts.  I think she'll enjoy it because she'll get to earn badges like Ryan does.  She'll still do Activity Days at church too.

Bon is going to Canada next week.  So I am hoping for sanity that week.  I'm glad the kids are in school.  :)

Getting over guilt

Sometimes I feel guilt for things that I should not feel guilty for.  Things that I can't control or using my own agency to make a choice that might make another's life harder or different.  I keep reminding myself that I was not put here on this earth to be a people pleaser.  I do the best I can to live an honest life and try to be happy and I wish that sort of happiness to others. (nothing happened that prompted this post, just a random tidbit from my mind)

One simple thing that I have learned to not feel guilty for is letting my kids ride home on the bus.  I don't feel guilty that they are on the bus for 50 minutes after school because it just makes my life so much easier to not have to pick them up!  It's so stress-free!

On a sad note, Bon's co-worker's husband died.  Bon texted me yesterday and said to pray for Kim's husband, that she found him not breathing.  Then after work he called and said that he had died from a heart attack.  Bon said he was 42.  So sad and so young.  Bon always worries about his own mortality and health and so I hope this will help kick start him into some healthy habits.  I want to keep Bon around as long as I can.  :)

Some humor for your Sunday

Blogger is not being nice today, so sorry for the wonkiness...Today on the way home from church, we heard Ty in the backseat say to Reagan "Stop trying to talk sexy!"  Bon and I started laughing because where does that kind of comment come from??!!  Bon was able to compose himself before I was

 to ask how someone talks sexy.  Ty said that Reagan says "hey giiirl" and stuff like that.  Which made me laugh even harder.



 

One part I hate about moving

has finally snuck up on me.  It's the overwhelming feeling of loneliness that happens.  We haven't been here long enough to make friends.  Book club is tonight, but I didn't get a chance to read the book.  I will make it to the next one though.  I don't think they've had any RS meetings (enrichment meetings) but I will try to make it to those also.  Oh well.  I just need to remember to give it some time and in a short while I will have friends that will want to have dinner and shop and do all the stuff I like doing.

When we sat down for church on Sunday, the bishop came up to me and told me they weren't going to sustain me that day.  He wanted to talk to me first.  I guess word got back that I cried?!  lol  Before church I asked Bon "Is there something about me that says 'I like your kids! Put me in primary!'??"  He bust up laughing at that one and even chuckled on the way to church.  I will go and do if I am truly needed there or supposed to be there.  I must have something to learn still. 

The kids started school on Monday and loved it!  They are riding the bus to and from school and I love that!  Ty claimed he didn't feel good this morning, but I made him go anyway.  I think he is just fine and didn't want to go to school.  Reagan is having some issues with some girls making fun of her on the bus, so if that continues, I will need to take action and bring out my mama bear. 

Lots of projects I need/want to get done. 

Something like this for our hallway.
http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/09/childrens-homeworkmessage-center.html

I need to unpack more and maybe put something up on our walls.  A clock in our living room would be a great start....  :)

Our new callings

will be extended to us on Sunday.  Bon is pleased with his and I cried.  Can you guess where we're going to serve???

an embarrassing moment

Monday while we were at the pediatrician's office, she was quizzing the kids (but mostly Ty) about safety things.  She asked them about fire safety, bike/helmet safety, etc. and Ty decides to answer her with a loud "QUACK!!"  Oh my.  I was so embarrassed.  Luckily, the pediatrician just said "I'm not quite sure how quack fits into that question, but okay!" 

Oy. 

A few memories I don't want to forget

When everyone was leaving from Benham's Grove and mom told one of my kids to "Take special care of your light" in reference to the flashlights dad had handed out to everyone.  I commented that it had a double meaning.  The flashlight and the light within each of us.  :) 

Riding the Diamondback with Shanel and hearing her scream from the top of the first hill and almost all the way back up.  I never knew someone could scream that much!!  I don't know where she got the breath for all of that scream!  It was hilarious! 

Having Ryan baptized with most everyone there.  I sat down as the prelude music was being played and the emotion of having everyone there for Ryan and for us overwhelmed me.  There were no grumbles about doing this during the reunion (that I heard of), about taking an hour or two out of the afternoon to put on church clothes, only to take them off again.  It was fabulous.  Jay's talk, especially, was touching.  To see him tear up and become emotional about how great this family is and what great examples we have to follow is exactly how I feel about the Carter family too. 

I'm sure there will be more.  But those are just a few I thought of right now. 

Memories made

Over the last three weeks, my kids and I were in Ohio, visiting the family and enjoying the Carter family reunion.  I hope to get pictures loaded soon, so I can look back and remember the fun.  :) 

Today we skipped church and just relaxed and stayed home to get ready to go full blast into this week.  Well, sorta relaxed.  Bon got the kids' computer up and working (yay!) and I unpacked about 10 boxes for the kitchen and re-organized what I had done so far.  It was nice.  I feel better about how the kitchen will be organized now.  I think before I was just chucking stuff willy nilly and hoping I would have room later.  Now that I have time, (as in, I'm not going out of town for three weeks anytime soon) it will be easier to unpack. 

Tomorrow Ty has his appt with the pediatrician and then Tuesday Ryan and Reagan.  Just to fill out GA forms for immunization, hearing and sight and maybe something else for school.  I was supposed to have them turned in the 27th, but tomorrow was the first available appt. for new patients.  Then Thursday, they get to meet their teachers and I am really excited about that!  School starts Monday the 6th!!!  Unbelievable!

Evan would NOT go to sleep last night and finally conked out at midnight.  Oh man.  Tonight though, it was around 8, so that's more normal. 

I looked up gardening information tonight and am really excited that I still get a chance at a garden this summer.  The extension office had a great list online of what to plant when and if I get these in by aug 1, I can have a harvest.  Beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, peas, peppers, squash.  Lettuce and spinach it says to plant in Sept.  So sometime this week I plan to till up some of our ground that already has no grass growing on it (and it gets morning sun until afternoon) and get going on the garden.  I also plan to rip out all the juniper growing in the front flower bed and most of the overgrown shrubs.  They are so overgrown that if I cut them down to normal height, they'll just be branches...no green.  lol  So out they come too.  I am hoping to have actual plants and flowers that bloom since it gets a fair amount of sun.  (ripping out the juniper because it smells like cat pee!) 

Reagan lost her other lose molar last night.  She almost had me pull it but then decided she might be able to push it out with her tongue.  And she did!  The tooth fairy brought her a dollar and this morning she wondered why Aspen got $2 for a molar.  I told her that the tooth fairy wrote Aspen and told her it was because she was on vacation.  She just nodded and said "oh."  Like it made perfect sense.  :)  Which it does.  ;) 

Some blogs I enjoy

These are a handful of blogs I check daily. 

www.71toes.com

eighteen25.blogspot.com

www.memoriesoncloverlane.com  (she is not LDS, but Catholic I believe.  Very interesting how similar the morals and standards are as I read her blog..) 

www.lemonsqueezyhome.com

www.320sycamoreblog.com

thriftydecorchic.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Sanity

Sanity is lacking these days.  I feel the repetition and redundancy of motherhood settling in lately and it's discouraging.  I need to read some encouraging conference talks or something to give me the "motherhood is great and you are doing a phenomenal job, keep doing awesome!" kind of kick in the pants.  My kids are my greatest joy and too often I act as though they are my greatest burden.  And that is horrible. 

Our house has seen a lot of action.  We have on average about 2 walk-throughs a week.  Doesn't seem like a lot, but usually it's 3-4 in one week and then none the following week, which makes the busy week more stressful with keeping the house clean.  :)  We had an offer, but they were trying to get the deal of the century or something, and so we went back and forth a couple of times and they walked away because our lowest price was still too high for them.  Oh well.  We were starting to not like them anyways!!  :) 

The kids are still getting over their colds.  Ty and Evan are taking extra long.  Ty keeps getting a fever back and it's really annoying because he seems fine every other way. 

I am getting lasik on Friday and I am really excited and really nervous all at once.  I can't wait to see without using glasses!  I've been wearing glasses since 1st grade and oh it will be great!