what's relaxation?

So I was hoping that with Bryce out of school for 3 weeks that life would slow down a little bit. It almost seems to have had the opposite effect:( Granted we are trying to catch up on some minor home projects--such as tree trimming which the kids turned into fort building. The other hard part has been that poor Claire has been under the weather and just miserable, which of course is miserable for a Mom! Anyway, I guess I was hoping for more relaxation but it wasn't meant to be.

On happier news little Lauren is loving her speech preschool and is so brave to get on the bus by herself. She is still incredibly shy so I'm never sure which things she'll take to and what she won't. She is also my incredible little helper. She has even decided to start rinsing the breakfast dishes for me many mornings and she is amazingly good at it:)

School is keeping us all very busy and with soccer starting up last week we have had to be even more scheduled than ever. We're working out some carpools for the practice days and luckily we can hold the team practice here in our yard on Mondays--the only day Bryce won't be in class. Yes, coaching is one more thing to do but it's one of those fun things that is worth it, especially because now Bryce likes going to soccer with the kids:)

This week we only have 4 soccer practices, 2 piano lessons, 2 dentist appointments, one ultrasound appt--yes, Thursday is the big day--2 curriculum nights (kind of like "back to school" night), one home teachee coming for dinner, and possibly hosting Bryce's family for a BBQ this weekend! Did I say I was hoping to relax:)

hmmm...

I sure do miss the days of everyone in bed by 7pm! It's 7:50 and I've got 2 girls in the shower that think it's still bright and early! And Linda just informed me that she still has one page of homework to do. AHHHHHHHH! Some days I wonder why my kids can't be as responsible as I am:)

Sunday-it's a love/hate thing!

So here we are at the end of another Sabbath. Is it a day of rest? Sort of, I didn't do any laundry, bathrooms, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, or any of the other big chores. There wasn't any homework, friends wanting to play, piano practice or other responsibilites so there is some rest from some things. You still have to eat and no matter how simple the meals there's still a huge mess when feeding 7 young children and one very hungry husband:)

I wish I could say that I had time to read the ensign/scriptures, etc. or write in my journal but those things don't happen until everyone's in bed. Somehow we manage to sneak in a nap at some point but other than that it is just one crazy day. I try to keep my needs for cleanliness to a minimum so I sit and watch the house fall apart around me until it's 6pm and I just can't take it anymore! Tonight it only took us 45 min., all working together, to undo the mess that it took them all day to create!!!! Luckily I have a husband who also enjoys a clean home and since Sunday is the only day I see him any more it works nice for those Sunday evening cleanups!

Ok, so I just had to ramble to get all those ideas out there. I love the Sabbath day, but I don't love the end of it, and the chaos that it takes to make the house ready for Monday--maybe I should write a new song:)

day 3...

Well, it was bound to happen but this is only the 3rd day of school! Poor Alyssa woke up late, couldn't find her lunch box, couldn't find her shoes and Brayden was sure that he'd rather play than get ready for school! We did make it out the door ontime but I can't explain enough to my children that the reason we have a basket for the shoes and a place for the lunch boxes is so that we don't have to stress about finding them every morning! Ah well, I guess that's just life with kids, although I must admit it is one of the hardest parts for me to deal with. I like order, my way, and fast:)

We did it!

Phew, 4 kids out the door for their first day of school. All with backpacks and supplies, new shoes and clothes that match. We never did find 2 of the 4 lunch boxes from last year so that's a project for later but they all were up, dressed, practiced piano, made their own lunches, and were out the door in plenty of time:) I'm sure that level of excitement and cooperation won't last but it was a great morning. Now I get to focus on teaching Lauren and Ashlyn how to share and play together! I love this picture of these adorable kids. Linda looks way too old for 4th grade, Alyssa and John look more like twins than kids almost 2 years apart and Brayden looks too little to be leaving the house for a whole day of kindergarten. I will miss them all but am so excited for them to be back in school!

comments

So I'm writing this one just to see if it sends to Bryce, Mom and Dad who I added on my email list so that they know when I'm writing about/to them:) I also want to see if the comment part will work now! I also must say that I am really looking forward to school getting back in session. My kids have been pretty good this summer and it's been nice to have some good helpers at home but I must admit that they number and frequency of fights have increased to the point that it is TIME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!! I will miss them during the day but they will be better friends with that much time away from each other. There is the problem of homework and tight schedules but at this point I say bring it on:)

random thoughts...

Some things that have been going on around here that have been on my mind.

1-My little Lauren now has an IEP (individual education plan) and I have to admit that when I went to the little meeting to discuss her speech and they called it her IEP meeting it completely took my breath away! Was I ready for this, for a child that needed this kind of help, did she really need this kind of help, was it something I would regret putting on her file and life? I am glad that she will be getting the help she needs and that hopefully as her speech improves she will also come more and more out of her shyness. But it still breaks my heart to see such a beautiful, smart, and talented little girl stuck with a speech problem. I can only imagine what parents with children with bigger needs and disabilities go through and feel. Hopefully I won't have to find out!

2-Why is it that pregnancy is so hard? Aren't we doing a good thing by brining children into the world? Maybe it's just the payment for the immense blessing of being a parent. Bryce and I have been continually amazed at how much joy parenthood can bring. Don't get me wrong it is TOUGH, EXHAUSTING work but it really does pay off, even at this crazy stage! But, again, why is it so hard? I have felt my energy levels getting lower and lower with every passing day and it is making running this crazy household really hard. It is VERY hard to be kind, patient, and loving when all you want to do is sleep. Especially when for the 3rd or 4th time in one week you're alone all night dealing with not only the whole day of messes, fights, laundry, finances, emails and paperwork, meals and dishes, naps ans clean up but now you have to do the whole dinner and bedtime routine alone too. Needless to say it's HARD but I think the Lord is on my side because somehow I make it through every night and I come through it completely satisfied that my husband is where he needs to be and that I can continue to do it without his help because it's just that important. Now those of you who know me, know that the Lord is helping that mindset because I am not one who likes to be in this crazy work load alone:)

3-Why are politics so complicated and why do I actually like watching FOX news? I wish there was a way to bring more things back to a more local level so I could actually see the results of decisions and make them all a little less complex. We do need a federal gov't we just need to start over with what they're really supposed to be doing and spending on.

4-People that I admire...my sisters/sisters-in-law for their willingness to raise children and keep the commandments (even those that haven't had kids yet)! For how important family is to all of them and how much they love their spouses. My friend Becca who is raising her 6 little boys (triplets just turned 5) who makes time to get her Masters degree to better help her boys with their IEP's and special needs as well as survive 6 young children and recover from 4 c-sections. Jodi Brown/Orgill for how optimistic she has been through the last year of pain, change, and recovery. MY MOTHER, the most giving, loving, helpful, hard working, willing to serve the Lord, and wonderful person I have ever met. MY FATHER, so dedicated, organized, the best one to call if you ever need advice, loving...

The list could go on but these are the things I've thought of recently!