Talk preparation

So last week, Tim and I were asked to speak in church this Sunday.  You know me, I love to talk...  always have PLENTY to say, so no problem-o, right?   Not so much.  Maybe it shouldn't be this way, but I feel  a bit more pressure since it is Easter Sunday.

I have spend  this entire week  reading and studying about the Atonement o Jesus Christ.  It has been a wonderful week.  (on the other side of the coin, it has also been a challenging week because Tim left earlier Monday morning to go to California  as a chaperone on Aaron's  8th grade field  trip.  Being a "single parent" is not easy.)  Interesting  dichotomy.

It has been interesting to me  to learn so much this week, and yet I still don't have a talk prepared.  (or even anything close!)  SO many thoughts and ideas and feelings churning around  in my mind - and I just can't seem to narrow them down.  I went to the temple tonight, hoping for some clarity there.  It was wonderful - peaceful.  but not clear direction regarding my talk or some primary questions I was asking.

I want to invite the spirit in a way that the congregation will  be able to FEEL and know of the Savior's love. I desire that their understanding of how the atonement can help them everyday, in everything,  not just when we "sin."  I want to reach out to those who are struggling and feel they are always falling short - I want them to know that they are NOT out of reach of the atonement.  I've read  so many talks and books and everything, now I can't remember who said  what - or  know how to find a particular thought or quote again.  I was sitting up,  trying to write out an outline, hoping that would help  sort out the many jumbled thoughts in my mind, but instead, it is just ended up as a jumbled mess of  thoughts on paper...

I've decided I will go to bed instead, and hope that the spirit will communicate with  my soul  tonight while I sleep, and I'll wake up with a little more clarity.  Also glad to know that  Tim and Aaron will  be  home tomorrow.  YEAH!  (can't  wait to see if he was actually able to ind any time to write his talk - while riding on a bus with a bunch of  noisy teenagers and while keeping busy all week running from one destination to another... trying to keep 6 teenage  boys in line :)

Good  night

Spring Break - Friday

Another beautiful spring day today.  Tim worked from home, so we got to see him a little bit more than other days, which is always nice.  The "FUN" plan for today was to have a campfire cookout, but that isn't until dinner time... so here is what we did the rest of the day.

Aaron went over to his friend Alexa's house to hang out for the afternoon.  I took Katrina to get her hair trimmed.

I  tackled some more laundry, included the dreaded sock pile!  - I'm finally getting close to the bottom of the dirty clothes MOUNTAIN, and hopefully our closet clean out projects will help future laundry mountains be a little smaller and  more manageable.  I also helped Tim review our taxes so we can  finalize those and get them submitted -blech!  The kids cleaned their rooms, then played outside and on the computer the rest of the day.

another unplanned adventure -  taking Caleb to the doctor.   (back story- last Thursday, Caleb woke up with a fever and complaining of a sore throat - also a croupy sounding cough.  I wasn't worried, as a few of the other kids  had just gotten  over having a similar sounding cough,  just figured it was Caleb's turn and I kept him home from school both Thursday and Friday.  Since last week,  he hasn't had a fever at all, and hasn't complained about his throat or anything else, but he kind of lost his  voice and the  cough hasn't seemed to get any better at all.   They were sleeping outside  again last  night and I woke up several times last night to hear him hacking away.  It concerned me enough that I thought I'd  better take him in today to make  sure  it really was the "nothing" that  I was treating it as.)  We got in to see one of the pediatricians, and she listened for a while (much longer than  normal) to his chest/ breathing/ coughing, but she said  it was all still up high and not to worry about the cough.  His  ears  were clear...   THEN  she looked in his  mouth.

 "HIS TONSILS ARE HUGE!!!!"  

She let  me look, and she was  right,  they were pretty BIG!  She did a strep test - and  sure enough, this 'mother of the year' let her  kid go all spring  break with STREP!  A stop at the store/pharmacy for an antibiotic and Popsicles,  and we were back home in time to get ready for the fire.

Fred and Christie had been invited to join us, and Katrina's  friend Elisa was here too.  The kids were their usual show-off selves, but it was fun.  Hamburgers and hotdogs, all flame broiled over the fire, chips,  veggies, fruit, and of course MARSHMALLOWS.  a yummy ending to a  good day.

Spring Break - Thursday

Well - today it  was MY turn to get sunburned :)

Today for the work part off  life, Aaron finished up his work for the Wagstaff's  by painting their fence.  He ended up not spending much "family time" with us today, but I try not to feel  too badly about it - he IS  a "teenager" after all, so I figure it is to be expected.

Also in the work category is that it was Katrina's turn to go through her drawers and closets, trying on everything and weeding out the "too small" or "don't ever wear it" items.  We filled up a large garbage bag of items to take to DI and reorganized what was left.

PLAY  TIME -
Tim was up at work again, so the kids and I went to experience a "new park" in Springville.  Aaron and I had been there once before and had nick named it "throw up park" - because there are so many spinning things.  The one time we stopped there,  both Aaron and I got a little dizzy and sick to our stomachs...  The other kids had requested that I  take them t o check  it out, so we took a little picnic lunch and off we went to "throw up park".  It was fun.  The kids ran and played, I watched, played a little, and read  my book a little - all  in the sun, hence the sunburn.

 After a couple  hours at  the park, we came home to pick up the DI donations, and off we went again.  We dropped off the donations, then went inside to see what we could find.  Bryan only has two pair of shorts, (I have them aim for 5  - 7 pair... the  one  per day thing)  We bought 3 more pair of shorts, and are hoping we'll  find some that are still working their way through the wash...  We also  bought 3 pair of shorts and a matching shirt for Aaron (he can  be especially hard on clothes and was getting low on everything.) plus two pair of gym shorts for Aaron, and lightweight sweatpants for both Katrina and Caleb.  Also found some new swim trunks for Caleb, and a new dress &  a new skirt for Katrina.  All for $50!

We then went to Macey's so Katrina could  buy some pansies.  (remember the ones  they helped Christie plant?  Well, Katrina found out where Christie bought them and has  been wanting to buy some for her own garden ever since.)  When we got  home, the kids all got busy working in Katrina's garden until dinner time.

A little bit of after dinner clean up, then we were ready for the next family adventure.  Aaron had gone swimming with  his friends, Luke & Issac, but the rest of us went bowling.

 We finished up just after 9:30, then drove over to the  rec center to pick up the  boys &  got  home just after 10 -

It was a  rather LONG  DAY! I think we will all sleep well tonight!

Spring Break - Wednesday

Today Aaron continued working for our neighbor all morning.  I went to  lunch with some friends while Tim got pizza for the kids.  (Katrina,  Bryan, & Caleb had all earned a "free personal pizza" for their reading accomplishments.  They  had been wanting to use them, so we decided to day was as good a day as any)

At 3:30 I took the kids swimming at the rec center.  It was JAM PACKED - a mad house!  I really don't do well in crowds, and crowded swimming pools are a   nightmare, but the kids  had fun.  We were there until about 6:30, then came home and made tacos for dinner.

At bedtime I expected them to all  find their way outside again - it was Caleb's turn for the hammock tonight,  but instead I found that they had created a big "blanket tent" in the boys room and I found all 4 kids sleeping on the floor in their creation.

If you look closely, you will see that they held the blankets in place using ROCKS.  I did NOT take note of this, but it was brought to my attention when the next morning, Aaron had a big gash in the side of his head from a rock that was pulled down during the night.  I'm just grateful he wasn't hurt any worse than he was...  and that no one else was injured.  It reminded me of when I was young, and my sister, brother, and my sister's friend built a tent very similar to this in MY room to sleep in.  Only instead of rocks, we used straight pins to hold the sheets together and during the night the tent came down and there was a whole lot of "OUCH"-ing going on.

Spring Break - Tuesday

Not a super adventurous day, but the kiddos seem to be having fun nevertheless.  Aaron has been hired by a neighbor (along with his friend Luke) to do a bunch of yard work.  (he is gaining a greater appreciation of hard work,  although it appears he has been spoiled a bit by a few "high paying" jobs.  He was commenting to me today that "I'm not complaining or anything, but in about 2 hours (which is two weeks) mowing the    __________'s lawn, I get $50.  I worked today for 6 hours, lots harder work, and I haven't earned that much yet!"  AH - real life! ... a difficult but important lesson to learn.

ANYWAY - back to spring break adventures.  Aaron was working most of the day, Tim was at work, and the kids were happily playing, so I did a lot of reading and netflix watching.  (lazy, I know... but it's MY vacation too, right?)  Katrina had a slew of friends surrounding her and they ran around outside ALL day long (her neck is sunburned to prove it) while the younger boys alternated  running around outside and playing on the computer.  I DID go through the boys dresser drawers with them today, pulling out everything that is too small, packing up about 90% of the "cold  weather clothes"  and transferring in their "summer clothes."  We pulled out enough to fill a box (to overflowing) of clothes to take to DI, and we seriously thinned out the contents of their  drawers.  (I have found that this greatly reduces the amount of laundry that ends up in the "dirty clothes pile" and makes it SO much easier for them to keep their rooms clean  and put their own clothes away.)

The general plan was to go out on a  fun family activity once Tim got home from work.  Aaron was so  tired,  he just wanted to go to bed early,  and since bowling was the item on the list of "summer break things to do" that he LEAST wanted to do,  we picked that.  THEN,  while we were eating dinner, our  super-amazing  neighbor, Christie, called.   Our children LOVE LOVE LOVE to  "help" Christie.  They love to  help her with anything - but usually it is YARD WORK.  She called to let them know that she had  purchased a bunch of pansies and would love their help to plant  them.  OH THE DILEMMA!!!!  They  had their own version of a "family counsel" and  decided that they would rather help Christie plant flowers tonight, and postpone bowling for another night.  Worked  fine  for me.  I went and bought  the makings for rootbeer floats, and when they were done planting, we had  "fun" with those.  The kids also brought Christie  home with them, and  for the next HOUR - our house turned into a "talent show-off" contest.  Katrina read one of the stories she is  currently writing (it's a long one)  Bryan showed off his rock "collection" - Katrina played a few songs on the piano,  Bryan did a Whistling recital (3 different songs) and played a song or sorts on the  piano.  This might not sound like  much, but  trust  me, for the whole time it was "christie,  I have show you this,"  or "Christie, listen to this."  Caleb wanted so badly to  "show off" too.  He finally got up the courage to "play a piece" on the piano.  (No, Caleb does  NOT play the piano, then again,  neither  does bryan and it didn't  stop  him...)  he (caleb) "played" a few notes, all the while muttering, I don't  know how to play the piano, then he burst into tears (I assume from all the 'pressure') and ran over to hug Christie.  These children of mine are pretty crazy...   I cannot  tell you HOW BLESSED we are to live  next do to such WONDERFUL people!.  Fred and Christie are the  most patient, kind,  understanding, did I mention  PATIENT?, people  I know.  If we ever do move  from this house,  we are going to have to convince  Fred  and Christie to  move along with us...

So, rootbeer floats and showing off completed (only because I announced that it was past lights out time and they all needed to get their tails in bed)  the  boys are ensconced,  in their "matching scooby doo pajamas" in the tent, and Katrina  is taking her turn in hammock.

Spring Break - Monday

Since Tim will be taking time off this month to go with Aaron on the 8th grade California trip...  it makes it pretty hard to take more time off for us to go anywhere as a family for Spring Break.  So... we decided instead to stick close to home, accomplish some projects around the house & yard, and try to do something "fun" everyday.

Today's adventure was exploring "Zombie-land."   Never heard of it?  Don't feel bad - until last week, neither had I.  In south Provo, there is a place called Ironton.  Back in the early 1900's there was a steel company operating there.  It operated for about 50 years (i forget the specifics) but is now a big pile of ruins. Aaron "discovered" it while on a walk recently, became fascinated instantly, and named it zombie land, in honor of the spray painted aliens and zombies on the crumbled buildings.  (after I heard about it, I instantly made a rule about him never going there again without a "buddy."  After visiting it - my rule is absolutely reinforced and I suggested that having TWO buddies at all times would be even better than one.  Not exactly the safest place to hang out, and I sure hope he doesn't get seriously hurt or DIE... but I have to admit it is a great adventure spot for boys.)

Aaron saw pair of aviator glasses down in this hole, so he climbed down to retrieve them

Caleb & Katrina in front of the resident "alien"

An underground cavern filled with water

After our exploration, Katrina and her friends filled the kiddie pool with water (after all  it did officially get above 70*) and played  in the water while Bryan and I both got sunburned while working in the yard.

Tonight we made some cupcakes (a leftover kit from Halloween) then set up the tent in the back yard.  As I  type this up, Caleb and Katrina are in the tent, and Bryan is sleeping in the hammock.

I felt an overwhelming urge to shove my cupcake into Aaron's face - I just couldn't help myself :)

Theory of relativity strikes again....

I don't really k now newton's theory of relativity...  but I know how I use the term... that everything is life is relative.  FOR EXAMPLE - in the spring, when you are used to winter temperatures, 60 degrees feels warm /hot ], you work outside wearing t-shirts and are feeling warm and comfortable... (and the kids want to turn on the sprinkles  and play in the water and don't understand why you tell them no...)  In the fall, when you are used to the  hot temps of summer, when it hits 60 degrees I feel cold, pull out the sweatshirts and jackets, and the kids want to drink  hot cocoa.

Today I experience another verification of the all t hings being relative.  We woke up to the first "real" snow of the season.  (we have had an unseasonably warm fall,  only one other day that dropped a few flakes,  but nothing really stuck...)  The kids woke up and were shouting  for joy.  They were all ready for school early and out playing the snow.  Caleb has  been out sledding in the front yard all  morning - they are all THRILLED!  

Me? not so much.  I am COLD.  Dread driving on the slick roads.  Hate going outside at all, for any reason...

I expect that when I was younger, I was the same  as my kids, loving the wonder and fun that snow play brought - but as an adult, don't really remember that AT ALL - and can't seem to conjure up any feelings of love for the white cold stuff!  OK - I do  love the way it LOOKS.  If I could just sit inside the warm house, curled up w ith a cup of hot chocolate  and a good book, with my little space heater running right in front of me - then it would   be great.  unfortunately, that isn't quite how life works  most of  the time...

I did convince Tim that it was a good  idea to stay off  the roads today, and he is working from home, so  one less thing to worry about.  I'll have to go out 3 different times to run to the school - once  to take caleb to kindergarten  at noon, then 3:00 after school pickup for carpool, then 4:00 pick up Aaron  (he stays after school most days for play practice, or extra help  on the trumpet, or stuff like that...) 

 fun fun fun.