We have started tap classes again and I'm so excited! It worked out really well for me that word didn't really spread about classes starting again so I got my own private lesson taught by Molly. It's a little intimidating to be the only focus, but it's also nice to get corrected without anyone seeing you struggle. It's not easy for me, that's for sure. It's going to take a lot of practice and definitely some conditioning. We didn't even do anything fast or with that much movement, but I was totally sweating. My arms are floppy and noodley and my ankles aren't loose enough. Hmmm, a challenge! Auditions are in a couple of months for Anything Goes, the musical I'm learning all this for. I'll have to work hard, but it's fun to be doing something totally new. And it's even more fun to actually have tap shoes to do it in!!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Gila Valley Temple
We didn't get back to the hotel until after ten but most were not ready to go to bed. Glade had gotten really sick (stuffy and coughing) so he was miserable and ready to go to bed. Melanie and Robin headed to bed as well. The rest of us went to the dining area to play a board game. We also stopped for ice cream on the way back so we dished some of that up. Because it was late and we are who we are, we giggled till we cried. Sometimes Moose skids and imagining Moose in underwear is just too much! I went up to bed around 11. Glade and some of the others got up bright and early to run before it got too hot. Melanie ran to the wrong hotel when she was done. Hilarious. She didn't realize till after she had gone through the lobby and to find her room only to discover they didn't even have her room number. Funny girl.
After a hot breakfast in the dining area, we headed back to the temple to do sealings. Clint had a pretty big stack of names so we figured they would do as many as they could in the hour that they normally allot. But not here! We were there for over two hours doing all of the names. It was kind of long, but it was so nice that they would let us stay and do them. All the temple workers were so sweet and kind.
Clint and Alicen needed to get home so we grabbed a quick lunch and they took off. The rest of us stayed hoping to find something to do before we had to go. Not a lot to do up there. Ü So we decided to drive leisurely home and see if anything came up along the way. In looking for a potty, we came across the Pickle Barrel. It's an antique store/barn. We decided that could be interesting. It was mostly Indian apparel and western stuff, but they had one room that was actually really old everyday items. It was so fun to look at all the phones, butter churns, lamps, dishes, tools, etc that were used so many years ago.
We arrived back home around 6:30 with just enough time to say hi to the kids, grab a bite to eat and be back in bed by 8. (ok, it might have been 7:30) I was really tired! But it's times and occasions like these that remind me how blessed I am to associate with such wonderful people. To have so many temples close by. To have willing and able family to help take care of my kids and means to be able to take trips like these. Now.... what's next??
Thursday, August 23, 2012
You'd a thought
Today marked my 4th time on the treadmill in a week. 4!! It's still going really slowly, but it's going and I can't tell you excited it makes me. I'm doing HCG again (I know, I said never...) so my energy level is really low so it's actually probably a good thing that it keeps me going pretty slowly for now. BUT, today I ran an extra lap and at a faster pace. The things I'm excited about are truly the things a first time runner would jump and shout about, but I don't care. The feeling of moving and sweating and pushing are exhilarating! Today when I decided to go that extra lap at a faster speed I knew I was going to need a good song to get me through it so I pushed my forward button ONE time and Let it Rock came on.
In case you don't know, this song got me through mile 10 of my first half marathon and gave me the pick me up I needed to finish the race. It holds a special place in my heart. So it was definitely a song for this occasion. Well, I made it! And when I finished, you would have thought I just finished my first half marathon. I was that excited and pumped. Probably even that tired, lol. Every morning when I get out of bed I'm so afraid I'm going to feel it again, the pain in my back. I can't believe I might actually be on the road to being a runner again. It's not quite real yet. But let me tell you, the gratitude in my heart is more than real.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
My other home
This week we made it official. Airline tickets purchased. The strangest thing happened within minutes of booking our flight. I got so emotional, like actual tears. I'm going home! I'm tearing up right this very minute thinking about it. I have no idea why it's affected me like this. I guess you don't realize how much you love and miss your family till the reality of actually being with them again hits.
When I posted on FB about going home and then Gramma B posted a comment, it just set me off. I get to hug my gram again! Sheesh, here I go again. I had to go outside and show Glade the actual tears running down my cheeks so he could know how much it meant to me for him to let this happen. He, of course, didn't really get it and all the boys were asking "what's wrong?" When I told them I was just so happy, Glade reminded them that I was a girl and that we are different from them. Don't ask.
I will be going with only my mom. For a short explanation on why I love this, other than it's just too expensive to fly my whole family out there, is this: My family (husband and kids) don't know my family like I do. Sure, they enjoy going back and seeing everyone, but it's not the same. They get bored and restless easily. When I just go by myself, I get to spend time with all of my relatives having real conversations and staying up late and playing without having to cater to the needs of my kids. Although it's only 4 days, it's a very meaningful and funfilled four days of reconnecting with my family. And then add some Christmas into the mix and you have a perfect combination!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Go on and Kiss the Girl...
Eventually the mermaid became of age and started to strike out on her own. Now that she was older, some of her standards were able to be breached. She had never wanted to date any mermen on a serious basis because they still had important work to do. Once she got old enough to date older mermen, ones who had fulfilled their missions, a whole new world opened up for her.
One day a cute merman noticed the sweet mermaid and asked her on a date. She thought he was just dreamy and smiled clear to her fins. These two spent much time together over the next few months not quite knowing what their future held. The mermaid was so enchanted and very much wanted the merman to look at her the same way too!
After a fun night of flitting about the ocean, the merman escorted the mermaid to her home. After an awkward hug and a kiss on the cheek, the very excited mermaid floated to her room. After a little underwater texting, she came to realized he had wanted to actually kiss her. She went away feeling so wonderful and he went away feeling like a failure. After straightening out their misunderstanding, he assured her there'd be another time. This made the mermaid very nervous because she'd never kissed a merman before! She told him she couldn't kiss anyone that wasn't her boyfriend and he confirmed that he was indeed her boyfriend. All's right in the ocean ♥
.jpg)
The glowing mermaid went to her clam shell and had sweet dreams of rainbows and guppies and first kisses. But before she could go to sleep, she had to change her facebook status to "in a relationship". There's only one first kiss and she was so glad she had waited so hers could be just like it was.
try try again
I got on a treadmill again last night. It's been six months since I stopped running. Painful I tell ya... in more ways than one. I believe I hurt my back by falling on a grape. It was completely cartoonish. Walking and "bam" on my butt feet in the air. It didn't hurt that bad, but with all the running I did in the the next 10 days (RAGNAR), I think it aggravated it and it's been bad ever since. I've tried just pushing through it, I've tried doing nothing to let it heal, I've been to a chiropractor and even fasted and prayed. Glade gave me a blessing that promised I would be whole again. I guess I expected that to happen right away, but it didn't. I listened to a woman in church give a wonderful talk just for me about miracles and blessings and patience. I believe in all of those, but struggle with the last. But I decided that would just be what I had to be.
Besides the back pain, I've had the emotional pain of hearing everyone around me talk about their runs and times and routes. I just sit think about what used to be. Quite depressing. Then there's the getting fat part. I can't blame all of that on my sadness, but it makes it extra hard when everything physical causes pain. I've had several days recently where my back actually feels good. After thinking and looking and longing for my treadmill, I decided to get on. I have completely lost all of my fitness, which I expected, so it was really hard. BUT, it didn't hurt. I only went two miles and only actually ran 3/4 of a mile separated by walking breaks. Yep, 1/4 mile at a time. Starting all over is hard on the brain. BUT, it didn't hurt. The last time I tried, my back hurt really bad for the next 2 days. So far so good today!
I mostly long to feel strong and competent again. Being that girl who can't lift anything or move anything or DO anything because "my back hurts" totally sucks. I'm going to go really slow and build back up to something... what I don't know yet. If all goes well, back to running events and enjoying it. I miss running with my husband. :( It was slow, but it was a start! I'm back on the track, not sitting on the sides. Let's just pray I stay there.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sweet Relief..
I wish that could be the title to a post about the weather cooling down since it's been over 110 for over a week now. But, no. Today has been a whirlwind of Mommy duties. I spent a very productive morning of laundry and cleaning and other little tasks around the house. On a side note, High School Musical happened to be on while I was folding laundry so I watched it! The fun part is when it got to the end and they were singing "We're All in This Together", I totally got up and did the whole dance with them. We learned it last year in Glee. It was so fun, and now I understand how Katy can just jump up and start dancing with whatever is going on on the TV. Anyway, I got a call from Bo's teacher saying he was in trouble. Too much talking in class, no focus. Shocking.
Katy was being a poop about doing her homework so we got through it and she went straight to my bed and crashed. Kindergarten does a number on her. Not much later Whitley called and asked if I could come save her, she ran out of gas. That girl. She didn't want to spend any money till she got her paycheck the next day (even though she had some in her account). Her logic escapes me sometimes. Did I ever mention that along with her terrible week last week she also stepped on a scorpion? So I had to wake up Katy and go take her some gas. So after, Katy and I splurged for a Diet Coke and ice cream. It was then that I got a call from Nick telling me he didn't stay after school so I didn't have to go get him. Yes!!
The big AHHH came when the other kids finally came home and Rhett announced that he found his retainer in Seminary. And it fits!! I'm so glad I hadn't called his ortho yet. It's weird I wasn't feeling a big urgency to call. But now he has them and hopefully he'll do better from now on. So even though today had it's small trials, It's ending on a very happy note. Not to mention I have Bunko tonight!!
We took his cast off
He was pretty weak at first but it's mostly back to normal now. He had a sports physical the next day and she checked it. We didn't mention we were the ones to take it off. The best part is when I talked to the receptionist at the Dr's office and told her we took it off ourselves. She just kept telling me you can't take it off without an xray to make sure it healed properly! I didn't have much of a response to that since it was already off. She just kept repeating "you need an xray first!". So it ended with me saying, well sorry.. it's off now. And her rudely telling me she was going to have to "tell the Dr.!" You do that. Ü
More tears... of laughter
What a funny fun day! The day was just nice, spent it with Chelsey grocery shopping. Nothing too exciting, but still good. It was the evening that got awesome. The Easter Bunny brought the kids passes to JumpStreet back in April. Well, we let them expire. The good news is that they are still worth what you actually paid for them so basically we would get one hour instead of two. I'll take it. So we loaded up and headed across town. First point of awesomeness came when she said she would honor them at their full value which was 2 hours of jumping. Booya!! Secondly, since I didn't want to jump and neither did Chelsey or Whitley, I still have a pass for 4 people that I can use for a birthday party or something.
Mostly they jumped, duh. But it was the bull riding that got us started. Words could never explain the hilariousness of these kids (and adults) riding that bull. Stephen was the best. Him just getting on had us holding our sides. Poor kid. Glade ripped his pants and Rhett could just about ride forever. Spencer made little squealy noises and Brooklyn's face was seriously "serious". I could have watched all night. Again, I can't even imagine a way to recreate the total funnyness of this.
I wanted to run to Costco on the way home, but no one was really ready to leave yet. Whitley and Stephen said they would come, so we took Glade's truck and left him with the van. On the way out, my very favorite flip flop broke! Not sorta broke, broke broke. I had to throw them in the trash *sniff sniff*. Now I was left with no shoes to wear to Costco. I asked Chelsey, but she was an instant NO. Brat. ♥ Glade offered me his size 13's to tromp around in and so did Stephen. Whitley said I could wear her two size too small shoes as well. My family is too generous. I really had two options - Rhett or Brooklyn. I found Rhett first so I took his Nike skater shoes with bright orange shoestrings that he had tied all funny. So I tried to get them on without untying them. One was fine, the other I could NOT get on. But, time was running out so I wore it half on as I drove to Costco to make it before it closed.
As we walked through the Costco parking lot I decided I really needed to get this shoe on. So... Whitley and Stephen both offered their assistance. Each took turns squatting down trying to pull the back up while I wiggled my foot in. I'm pretty sure at one point I may have been sitting on Whitley's head as we tried to get this dang shoe on. We were all laughing so hard we couldn't stay on task. Actual tears running down my cheeks as they so determinedly tried to help me get this shoe on. Finally, we untied it, slipped it on and went about our way. Still laughing and wiping our tears. We were in and out of Costco in 6 min!! Seriously, we timed it. We all needed a little laughter and there was no shortage of that tonight. Ahhh, life is good. Ü
Sunday, August 12, 2012
NOW it's laughable...
Ok, you would think that nothing else could happen after a week like we've had. Wrong. Thursday night Whitley and I spent the evening watching a chick flick in my bed and then went to bed early. Friday dawned a new day!! I woke up still feeling yucky but better than the day before. Since the bus had come at the exact same time for two days in a row and he said that felt like what it was probably going to be now, I sent the kids without me this morning. I sent them 8 minutes earlier than the bus had been coming. It's about a minute walk to the bus stop. At 7:40 I went outside to check on them and I saw no kids where they normally wait. Sweet, we have a routine! About 8 am my doorbell rang. There, with his little face pressed against the window, was little Bo. What?? He said the bus never came. I threw them in the van and headed to the school. I called the bus driver to see what happened and he said they eliminated a stop and he was there about 10 minutes early. That would be 2 min before I sent my kids out. Seriously? This bus thing has not really been so great thus far.
I had lunch plans with mom and Chelsey which was a nice, but brief, time out of the house. Still wasn't feeling great so I was anxious to get home to a nap. Whitley had gone to the HS to re-visit her old choir class. She needed something happy and familiar for a minute. When the kids finally got home off the bus, I heard Stephen say.. "mom's gonna be so mad!". I thought "no!" I don't want to be mad. I got up to see what happened. Rhett lost his retainer. We went over his day and how it happened as I drove him back to the school to look or it (my third trip to the school today). Bad news, no retainer. The good news and what I tried to focus on so I didn't strangle him was how it got lost. First, he doesn't even have to wear it all the time according to his doctor, but he has been so faithful and wearing it anyway. Very proud of him for that. Second, he took it out because he was given a big box of candy for winning second place in a Mr.Patriot (or something) contest at the assembly. A teacher chose him to compete. He had to use a pick up line on a girl, walk a catwalk, dance the cha cha or something with a girl and answer a question. He did all that in front of the whole school!! And got second!! I have to be a little proud at this accomplishment. So he has now been three days without wearing it. I think his teeth have definitely shifted a little. But, what are ya gonna do? I'll call on Monday morning and see what the options are. And I thought my week couldn't get any worse.
Glade and I went to a Diamondbacks game that night. I was still feeling yucky but we needed to use the tickets. We were quite the pair. We sat slumped in our seats watching the most boring game ever. There weren't a lot of people in our section so it was really quiet as well. We ate hot dogs and nachos and just sat. We loved it! After the week I'd had and how tired he was from all he had done, it was so great to just sit there together with no demands.
Whitley had gone to the temple with one of her friends and a boy she could be interested in (if he weren't out of her league). Now, the fact that he spent his Friday night going to the temple with her and her friend says to me that he does not feel the same. Anyway, she had a really good time.. .until... she tried to get home. Her phone had died while at her friends house (get a charger already!) so she couldn't use GPS or make a call when she realized she was on her way to Saguaro Lake instead of our home. Very opposite directions. She drove around for an hour in the dark trying to find something familiar before she ended up at an intersection she recognized. She went into a McDonalds, said she was lost and asked them to point her south. Poor thing.. oh yah, she also got flashed by a photo radar while driving around. This girl never goes over the speed limit, her friends make fun of her all the time. Now she'll have to deal with a ticket as well.
The next morning I made sure to talk to her about the word "laughable". I can't even imagine how her week could have ended up so badly! But at this point, you gotta laugh. Your safe, and healthy and none of her "problems" were life altering. It's the only way to not get swallowed up in your self pity. She went about her day and actually had a really great day. Including having the original boy text her constantly while being on a weekend trip with his friends. Also telling her he didn't really like that girl after all. Maybe her doing her own thing and being on a date when he got back when he wanted to hang out with her is making him reevaluate her. It probably doesn't hurt that his "very attractive" cousin asked her out for next weekend as well. We'll have to see how this saga plays out. Ü
I honestly have no idea what was supposed to be learned from the crazy and very LONG week the two of us endured, but I'm glad it's over and am planning on a better one coming up. It's hard to believe all the play drama was only 6 days ago. It's truly just laughable. But, we survived. Upward and onward!!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Ramblin Girl
I picked Katy up today and the first thing she said to me was "wow, your eyes are really red!" Yes, yes they are. But anyway, she proceeds to tell me the following:
Today was really lame. I don't even know how it got so lame! But I'm just really bored. And sleepy. I get sleepy and then I'm bored and then I'm still sleepy. It's just a really long day for me, I can't stay awake the whole time. I get so sleepy and then I'm bored. But you just have to make your own fun. I read a book where a boy made his own train when he didn't have anything to do. I played with chalk and jump roped. Still bored. I just get really sleepy.
What you aren't getting to experience is all the voice inflection and funny faces that went with it. She's awesome.. and sleepy and bored. Guess who didn't even take a nap today.
Just not as easy..
This week has been HARD. Ok, so not hard, my life is really pretty easy. But this week has felt.. not as easy. It's amazing that something so simple and fun as a community play has brought such heartache to so many people. I have received texts, emails and phone calls about sad, brokenhearted children not being chosen for a part or even the play in general. Some of those kids have been my own. I just couldn't have guessed how many little ones were so emotionally invested in this particular play. It's been really hard on my heart.
For starters, Whitley did not get the part of Ariel. I didn't even want them to call her back for it, but they did anyway and she was quite sad at how it all turned out. They chose a first timer who came from far away and who didn't make any effort to get to know any of the other girls the whole time. After many tears, prayer and some soul searching, she decided to come audition for my play, Glee. She was awesome. We call it "either sitting the bench on the Varsity team or coming to JV and being a star." She has been second string her whole career thus far. And she's been happy with that, she just likes being on the stage. Well now she decided she wanted more. She came to our callbacks and rocked it. It wasn't me, but the other two directors that decided to give her our starring roll. Complete with lines, solos and lots of stage time. I hope she doesn't regret walking away from all her friends who are doing Mermaid.
Not to expose her entire personal life, but after 2 days of crying and pondering, she then cleaned herself up and went on with things. Only to find out the boy she really thought liked her (we ALL thought that, including the singles ward bishopric) tells her he likes someone else. Logically it's easy to say "fine, moving on." but your heart always seems to fight against that. To top off her awesome week, she finally got registered for the classes she was supposed to take to do respit care. On her way (the morning after the boy thing), she stops for desperately needed gas to find her debit card is expired so it rejects her. Stuck far from home and still too far from her class, she sits helpless at a gas station. But on the bright side, there was a bank somewhat close that she could get to to get her new card. Unfortunately she missed the class. Seriously awful week.
Mine has just been emotional exhausting. Until yesterday when the physical must have decided it was ready for some acknowledgement. Woke up with a really sore throat and by the next morning had the full on stuffy nose, sneezing, headache kind of ickies. Add some cramps and no sleep to it and I have to say I have had better weeks.
Add together the previous bus experience and the half hour waits in the morning for that bus, Chelsey's car breaking down again leaving her without and 117 degree weather and well... Life has not been as easy. But hey... it's almost laughable at this point! Ü
Monday, August 6, 2012
A Small Storm
Today marked my first day at home with no children. Except Whitley, but she doesn't count and she leaves early. Rhett started High School and Brooklyn is an 8th grader now. Unfortunately I had a meeting for Glee so I wasn't really home to enjoy my three hours of solitude. Another day. After my meeting, Katy and I went to get groceries so that tomorrow I could stay home! After, we went straight to bed. Kindergarten is exhausting you know.
Today was also my kids first day on a bus. I went in Friday to make sure I knew what bus they should be on so they would be ok. I drilled into them "bus 31". It was also Bo's piano day so I went to wait at the bus stop so I could whisk him away to his lessons. The scheduled time for drop off came and went. When they were 15 min late, it was now too late for Bo to make piano. I called the house to see if anyone had called home to report a problem. Nick tells me that they are on a bus with some neighbors but that Brooklyn is freaking out because Rhett never got on the bus. Hmmm. Did he walk home? I leave the bus stop and drive the short distance to the school to see if I can find him. Nope. Starting to panic a little. Another update from Nick: their current location is a long way from our home. Wrong bus. Ok, but where is Rhett? I went to the school to report him missing. Luckily I know the principal and he was there, so we went into his office to straightened it out. A short time later, I get another report: Rhett, Dalin and Bo are home.
Apparently they got on different buses. Which I specifically told them to STAY TOGETHER. To make a two hour ordeal short, the school changed the bus number over the weekend. They actually got on the right bus, or "bus 31". Only they rerouted that bus. The other kids were directed to the correct bus by the principal but no one had notified the bus driver that he had a new stop. When he had finished his route, he still had three children on his bus. They directed him to our stop and they made it home.. 45 min late.
Back to "bus 31". Thank goodness for the neighbor girl and her cell phone (and that her and Nick have a little thing) or I would have had no idea where Brooklyn and Jordan were. The bus driver wouldn't answer his phone to the many calls made to him during the route. The kids said they saw him pick it up and silence it several times. They didn't get back to the school till after 5. I would have been worried sick!! Luckily our actual bus driver came to the school so I got to talk to him directly and figure everything out and exchange numbers with him. Tomorrow should be a better day. Ü
Meanwhile, back at the homestead..... Mermaid callbacks were tonight and Stephen, Whitley and Rhett were all asked back. Because I spent the entire afternoon at the school and driving around, I wasn't at home to get everyone ready and make dinner. My mind was very much not on that. I called Whitley and asked her to get dinner started so they could eat before they left. Well, callbacks started at 5 and we thought it was 5:30. At 5:10 Whitley's friend called and asked where she was. Earlier in the day, she had come home from her job at the theater feeling sick. She had started her period and felt nauseous and crampy. So it was good she had the afternoon to sleep. Now she was already feeling not well AND 25 min late to callbacks. That, of course, caused a small round of tears and frustration. Now, she's trying to be sweet and Mermaid like with cramps, a stuffy nose, red eyes and a headache. I will pray for her.
We were going to have family home evening even though a few of the kids are missing, but now I'm tired and grouchy, Brooklyn is sweaty and tired and frustrated and the general mood around here is BLAH! So, I think we are packing it up and getting ice cream! I'm dying to know how's she's doing at callbacks and all I can do is wait. And pray. Happy First Day of School!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
First (and second) Day of School 2012
