Triathlon

On Saturday, Glade and our friend, Jake, ran a triathlon to raise money for the Special Olympics. No, they weren't competing as Special Athletes! Glade had set what he thought was a lofty goal for a finishing time. He beat that by 2 minutes. He has been working out really hard and obviously it has paid off. Not to mention the 40 lbs he's lost! Way to go sweetie. Thanks to Jake's family for the pictures.

Glade and Jake

Memory Game

I've seen this on other people's blogs (Kathy's) recently and thought it would be fun. I hope you all play along.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (or my husband). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Still Reading

Yesterday started off really well. I made it to the gym and actually ran a decent 5K for not having run in 3 weeks or so. Came home and started cleaning the kitchen from Sunday dinner. Bo asked what I was doing so I said "dishes". He laughed and said "you dont know how to do that!" I guess I don't do enough dishes around here. Not that anyone sees anyway! The rest of the day was uneventful: dinner, FHE, way too many brownies and then some reading. Yes, my mom finished and I have begun the last leg of this journey.
Brooklyn has started playing the cello. I begged her to wait a year and play the flute, but she insisted. Now I have a morning and afterschool player. That makes 4 trips to the school. Yuck. I also talked to Nick's teacher and hopefully filled in some blanks on how he can help Nick. Luckily the test was postponed till Friday. I guess most kids did poorly. Nick still needs to step it up a little with the responsibility factor. He has failed all his morning quizzes in history. Lucky for me I talked to his teacher and have Stephen to refer to. I would be totally in the dark. I'm very afraid for him.
Today is playday for Bo and grocery day for me and Katy. I love this new arrangement. Not that Bo is hard at the store, but two is always harder than one. Not to mention, I'm buying a Christmas gift today and I couldn't do that if Bo were with me. I know, it's only August. It's not the first gift I've gotten either. Slow and steady, that's how to win the race! (not to mention clearance and sales!) Merry Christmas!

a good weekend

It's been a pretty good weekend. Saturday I spent most the day at home, except for a short trip to the grocery store to do some wicked ad matching so I could stock up on some three month supply stuff. I love when you save more than you spend! Spent a lot of time trying to help Nick with his States and Capitols so he can pass his test tomorrow. I'm afraid it's a lost cause, but we'll see. Saturday night we had Stake Conference Adult Session so we met some friends for dinner first and then all went together. I love finally having some friends in the ward. There really are great people everywhere you go. The adult session is always my favorite. For a really wonderful rundown, go visit Julia's blog. She did a great job at pulling out the really good stuff. I liked her insight. Actually I'm going to cut and paste hers right into mine! As long as I give her credit it's not plagiarism right??

Stake Relief Society Pres, Sis Winters:

I felt when she was speaking that she was just teaching me. She began by relaying a story of hardships that her daughter had faced, and man she was dealt a hard playing hand. But what she said next was nothing short of inspired. You must decide how you will deal with the trials you are given. Since we are all given trials. They are necessary to grow stronger. Christlike qualities won't be gained another way. She then said that her family decided that they wouldn't refer to trials as hardships any longer, but hard blessings. How appropriate! Pray always. Identify blessings everyday. Teach your children to identify blessings everyday.
She told a short story of picking up her grandson from school one day and asked how his day was. He proceeded to tell her each good thing that had happened to him that day and nothing more. She in turn, asked her daughter why he never mentioned anything negative about his day and her daughter said that when she picks up her children she always asks 'what good thing happened today' for the first few days it took a little thinking, but after that, her children learned to be prepared and think of those things so they would be ready when she asked. What a simple thing we can do for our children and ourselves and it's repercussions will be generationally astounding!
Learn from the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future. It is never necessary to place blame. Grief turns to anger, anger to resentment. When you talk of we/us as a couple or a family unit and what is happening in your life, we/us needs to include Heavenly Father. Look at your hard blessings in a celestial perspective.

President Richardson (Sunday session)

First, I LOVE our stake presidency. They are inspired, intelligent, funny and have something most all other presidencies do not have. A binding friendship. Comradery. They seem to be the best of friends. And you can feel it.
He spoke on doing a million things at once and feeling guilty for not being about to do it all simultaneously. He read off a list of things on any given day a woman/wife/mother would need to do. He asked 'How do you balance these things?' Guilt creeps in. After everything cannot possibly get done. He said so much more, but what I remember is that he specifically talked about the Holy Ghost and that he would never use guilt once the Atonement is enveloped. The Holy Ghost does not use guilt as a tool, Satan does. (If I could underline this next part I would) "Guilt is reserved for sin. NOT as a motivator." It hit me like a ton of bricks. He then began talking about behavior and attitude. He said there is no excuse for bad behavior and bad attitude. You cannot place blame for your own bad behavior and attitude. The Iron rod is covered with hard blessings. But you know it's the path that is watched over by our Heavenly Father.
When Pres Richardson first came to our ward the week before conference, he said that an added blessing of the meeting would be that we may change what we prayed about after hearing the words spoken there. I have.

Amen to everything she just said, thanks Julia.

After conference we all went to ice cream, which is my favorite part! We got home a little late, but at least we could sleep in! Conference today wasn't until 1 pm which is actually kind of stinky. Nap time for me. I was able to keep myself awake and pay attention. The best part was getting to sit next to my hubby and just be close without wrestling with babies (we left them at home). I wish I could think of something that profoundly hit me, but I can't.

Sunday dinner was good, got rid of most of the rest of the clothes. Now I can put my living room back together. Kids are tucked away and I'm right behind them. Hopefully I can have a better week with my commitment goals. I really gotta get that drive back.

Happy Birthday Jo!

Do you all know the term "wicked stepmother"? Well that does NOT apply to mine! I am so blessed to have a step mom who is wonderful and caring and loves my family as if we were her own, which...we are! Happy Birthday JoAnne! Sorry if your card didn't get there in time. I just wanted to tell you how much we love you and are so grateful to call you "ours". Have a wonderful day tomorrow.

No book, No mouse

Finished the book this afternoon. Made me cry, which isn't very hard right now. It's weird, I was so happy to finish it and not have that hanging over me, but at the same time, there were a few times where I thought "I'll go read while I wait" or "I have a few minutes, I'll just go read." Only I didn't have a book to read. I don't want to read, it's time consuming, but at the same time it was strange to not. Anyway. As soon as my mom is done, I will start the last book. Then I will probably have to start reading the classics, to help Nick in school. I really am not looking forward to that.

Had a mini date. We went to dinner and then exchanged Chelsey's jeans. Not exciting, but it was time together and that's always great. I love Glade.

Mouse update - Still haven't caught that dang thing, but he is definitely taunting us. He lives upstairs with the kids now. They see him every day. No one is startled or freaked out. They chase him until he sneaks away. They think he's cute. Even the big girls don't mind him. We have traps set up there and everything, but he won't go for it. I think it's utterly disgusting, but I guess I'm the only one. The kids have even begged to not kill it. Sheesh....don't they know?? Diseases, germs, poop, ewwwwww! Anyway, I'm just relieved it wasn't an alien tarantula.

Busy but Dull

Wednesday

Spent Wednesday back at the house getting the rest of the stuff. There is no electricity so it is really hot in there. While we were there, Katy had run out to the street and Bo went to get her. In trying to get her back, he fell on a cactus. Just his hand but it was a little cactus ball with long needles. His whole hand was wrapped around it. I pricked myself once trying to get it out and it hurt! I felt really bad for him. I can't imagine having that many in my hand. We got all the needles out, then put some benadryl cream on it. After a few minutes and a ring pop, he seemed to be fine. It only bothered him a day or so. That afternoon, I took the boys for haircuts. I love that I can do it all at the same time somewhere the rest can play AND I actually like the person who cuts it! Winner all around. Came home and had dinner. I had a yucky headache. I didn't sleep much the night before, allergies, and I spent so much time in the heat today. I think I just needed some rest. Chelsey had begged me to drive her to a friends house. That was the last thing I wanted to do. It turns out it was a half hour away so that meant an hour in the car. I really thought I might cry. She was very kind about it realizing how miserable I was. I will tell her no next time. I got home, got Katy ready for bed and hit the sack by 8 pm. Slept well and got about 10 hours in. Just what I needed.

Thursday

Bo had play group again so I brought Katy home, put her to bed and spent the next hour or so cleaning. Got my fridge cleaned out, my pantry put back together, my floors cleaned. I really love that time a lone. Amazing what you can get done. I needed to wake Katy up so she would take a nap later, but I decided to read for a half hour first. Still not done with the third book. Kinda OD'd on the vampire stuff. Got Bo, Katy is always so excited to see him come home. Spent the rest of the day getting stuff ready for our Activity Day Awards dinner that night. It was a little chaotic at first, we didn't plan quite as well as we should have, but we were able to pull it all together and it turned out really well. A luau. Was home by 8 and in bed by 9. Another good nights sleep. I think I'm caught up now.

Today

Today has been productive so far. More sorting of clothes and trying to get that situation under control. Mopped my floor - whew- that was necessary! Spent some time with Bo in his "school book". That was fun. No date night tonight, Glade has a triathlon in the morning and has to get up really early. Maybe I'll finish the book tonight! For such a full busy week, it was very uninteresting! Still aiming for getting back on my normal schedule, didn't happen this week. Good thing there is always another one coming up!