March 2, 2014
Boredom + Washable Markers
= Spy Kids (or so they called themselves)!
No one would ever suspect a cross-dressing kitty cat, would they? Sam will do whatever it takes to not blow his cover.
Chills, Hills, and a Few Spills
Overwhelmed
It seems this blog is a good indicator of my mental health. Lots of posts and lots of pictures = Katie is doing good. When I haven't posted for six weeks that means something is up. In times previous it usually meant I was pregnant, which, gratefully, I am not. This time around it means I've stretched myself too far. Way too far.
All the things I am trying to do are good things but I can't do everything. I homeschool the kids, take BYU classes online to finish my degree, serve in Primary, shuttle kids to music lessons, shuttle kids to Scouts and attend occasionally as part of my primary calling, try to help organize my homeschool co-op, take Libby to her dance class (which is thankfully done next week), train for a 5K and feed everyone and try to keep the house in a livable condition. I have found myself crying and flying off the handle at the least provocation. I've realized something has to go but I've struggled with what to cut.
Last week I finally called the directors of our homeschool co-op and told them we will not be back this year. It made me sad to cut it but it was the only thing I felt I could give up. Having one less thing on my plate feels lovely. I'm still stretched thin but at least I feel like I can cope. The kids were sad. They recovered pretty quickly when I told them we would take Fridays (our co-op day) off of school work. We could work on 4-H projects at home and use Fridays for field trips; one day a week to just enjoy each other and have down time sounds wonderful. The kids, as kids are prone to do, have been channeling my stress as well. I'm hoping fun Fridays will help with this.
Hopefully I will have a few more pictures and a few more blog posts over the coming months. They will probably be fewer than in years past but hopefully I will still be here, hanging on to my very last thread of sanity.
All the things I am trying to do are good things but I can't do everything. I homeschool the kids, take BYU classes online to finish my degree, serve in Primary, shuttle kids to music lessons, shuttle kids to Scouts and attend occasionally as part of my primary calling, try to help organize my homeschool co-op, take Libby to her dance class (which is thankfully done next week), train for a 5K and feed everyone and try to keep the house in a livable condition. I have found myself crying and flying off the handle at the least provocation. I've realized something has to go but I've struggled with what to cut.
Last week I finally called the directors of our homeschool co-op and told them we will not be back this year. It made me sad to cut it but it was the only thing I felt I could give up. Having one less thing on my plate feels lovely. I'm still stretched thin but at least I feel like I can cope. The kids were sad. They recovered pretty quickly when I told them we would take Fridays (our co-op day) off of school work. We could work on 4-H projects at home and use Fridays for field trips; one day a week to just enjoy each other and have down time sounds wonderful. The kids, as kids are prone to do, have been channeling my stress as well. I'm hoping fun Fridays will help with this.
Hopefully I will have a few more pictures and a few more blog posts over the coming months. They will probably be fewer than in years past but hopefully I will still be here, hanging on to my very last thread of sanity.
Random Bits
Grace usually eats a peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch. One day she asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. While making my own lunch I overheard her talking to herself. She stated in a very firm voice, "If you make it taste like honey again, taste bugs (tastebuds), you will go to time out."
***
Sam got the dog treats off the top of the fridge. When I asked him what he was doing he said he was going to do a trick with Bosco, grabbed a treat and asked Bosco to wave hi and bye. Bosco obliged while staring at the treat. Then Sam started walking down the hall. "Hey, Sam, you need to give Bosco his dog treat, he did a trick." Sam mumbled something and he and Bosco wandered off down the hall.
A few minutes later Sam wandered back. "Mom, look in my mouth!"
"I don't see anything, Sam."
"Look in my mouth! I ate the dog cookie!"
The dog eats soap, the kid eats the dog treats; I think I may need a lot more chocolate to deal with my reality.
***
After being stuck in a nasty sunless inversion for two weeks, today the sun finally came out. The temperature decided to come up above freezing as well. What were we to do but put on coats and head to the park?
Grace looked up at the sky and said, "It feels like summer on my face!"
Well stated child, well stated. We have missed the sun.
***
Grace wears her tiara everywhere lately. Except she calls it her CTR-uh. She seems to have gotten her CTR ring and tiara confused. It's dang cute so I'm not going to correct her either.
***
Michael took the kids out to the MK Nature Center for the afternoon so I could get some homework done. Grace recounted the following in a chipper tone: "We did like three things on the playground, then we looked at dead animals, then we colored." It seems they had a grand adventure.
***
Sam got the dog treats off the top of the fridge. When I asked him what he was doing he said he was going to do a trick with Bosco, grabbed a treat and asked Bosco to wave hi and bye. Bosco obliged while staring at the treat. Then Sam started walking down the hall. "Hey, Sam, you need to give Bosco his dog treat, he did a trick." Sam mumbled something and he and Bosco wandered off down the hall.
A few minutes later Sam wandered back. "Mom, look in my mouth!"
"I don't see anything, Sam."
"Look in my mouth! I ate the dog cookie!"
The dog eats soap, the kid eats the dog treats; I think I may need a lot more chocolate to deal with my reality.
***
After being stuck in a nasty sunless inversion for two weeks, today the sun finally came out. The temperature decided to come up above freezing as well. What were we to do but put on coats and head to the park?
Grace looked up at the sky and said, "It feels like summer on my face!"
Well stated child, well stated. We have missed the sun.
***
Grace wears her tiara everywhere lately. Except she calls it her CTR-uh. She seems to have gotten her CTR ring and tiara confused. It's dang cute so I'm not going to correct her either.
***
Michael took the kids out to the MK Nature Center for the afternoon so I could get some homework done. Grace recounted the following in a chipper tone: "We did like three things on the playground, then we looked at dead animals, then we colored." It seems they had a grand adventure.
January 19, 2014
New Years Eve!
My nieces Aubrey and Amanda took the girls ice skating. I have no pictures but imagine rosy cheeks, razor sharp skates, and lots of bumps and bruises. My girls did pretty well but Amanda didn't fare so well. However, they all seemed to have a stellar time.
The boys felt a little left out, even though Ethan hates ice skating and Sam doesn't know how, so Michael took them to the Discovery Center.
This is how Sam forecasts the weather using the green screen. "Watch out! That snow storm is coming for YOU!"
While everyone was out on adventures I had the whole quiet house to myself. Heaven!
After dinner we started our rockin' New Year's Eve party. We watched a movie! We played some board games! We ate popcorn and Christmas candy (as I write this 19 days later we are still working on Christmas treats. It's the gift that keeps on giving...) By nine o'clock the grown ups were all partied out. Michael got on the computer and found London's New Year's celebration. I love London! They are so brilliant for celebrating early so us Americans can put our kids who can't tell time to bed. We watched their countdown and then let off our very own fireworks.
By fireworks I mean we stomped on bubble wrap. If you have enough of it is sound like fireworks. Thanks to Aunt Heidi we had more than enough. We blew horns and toasted the holiday with Mormon bubbly aka sparkling cider. It was fabulous. The little ones felt they had thoroughly celebrated and we still got them to bed by nine.
My big kids were not at easily persuaded. At some point I had the misguided notion to teach them how to tell time. They know when midnight is and insisted in staying up. We pulled out some board games I won't pull out with Sam the Terror around. We dusted off Risk. Michael beat me at it once years and years ago and has refused to play since. Ethan was so excited to play. Libby was not interested so Michael, Ethan, and I played (mission Risk not world domination for those who play). I had plans to reclaim my victorious reign over Michael. Alas, lady luck did not like me. She kissed Ethan on the head and he tromped all over Michael and I. He won as graciously as a ten year old boy can.
At midnight we watched the glorious Idaho potato drop which was just as exciting as it sounds and then went to bed. Everyone was snoring by 12:07. We will not talk about how naughty my tired children were the next day.
Happy New-ish Year!
The boys felt a little left out, even though Ethan hates ice skating and Sam doesn't know how, so Michael took them to the Discovery Center.
While everyone was out on adventures I had the whole quiet house to myself. Heaven!
My big kids were not at easily persuaded. At some point I had the misguided notion to teach them how to tell time. They know when midnight is and insisted in staying up. We pulled out some board games I won't pull out with Sam the Terror around. We dusted off Risk. Michael beat me at it once years and years ago and has refused to play since. Ethan was so excited to play. Libby was not interested so Michael, Ethan, and I played (mission Risk not world domination for those who play). I had plans to reclaim my victorious reign over Michael. Alas, lady luck did not like me. She kissed Ethan on the head and he tromped all over Michael and I. He won as graciously as a ten year old boy can.
At midnight we watched the glorious Idaho potato drop which was just as exciting as it sounds and then went to bed. Everyone was snoring by 12:07. We will not talk about how naughty my tired children were the next day.
Happy New-ish Year!
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