The crack of the summertime whip

The pace in our home changes dramatically with the end of the school year - I'm no longer opening curtains and turning off fans, trying to lure my sleepy kids out of bed at 6:40 AM. There's no (barely) underlying frantic "hurry-hurry" mode for breakfast, teeth-brushing, bed-making and lunch packing, in order to get out the door by 7:30 AM. My nearly 3-year old daughter is allowed to sleep until she wants to - school pick-ups no longer require her to be yanked from peaceful afternoon napdom. Ballet and piano recitals are complete, and soccer season is over.

Everyone together now ... aaaaahhhhhhh! It's a zen moment.

Scout camp, swim lessons, neighborhood Kidz Kamp, and other outings lay before us. The challenge is, the hours inbetween - keeping them from turning into an un-ending marathon of Looney Tunes and other kiddie TV fare. We have daily chores, school bridge booklets, the YMCA, the library, and the community pool. We have a house full of Legos, puzzles, books, and toys, toys, toys. Still, I often feel like the ancient Egyptian taskmaster, cracking my whip and directing children (with the requisite foreboding glare) to "turn off the TV/computer/Wii", and do something. I've occasionally "suggested" that if they're that disinterested with their toys, that we pack them up and take them to the United Way donation truck (that often elicits a quick response). North Texas is just not a family-friendly place in the summer as far as the great outdoors are concerned.

To their notable credit, my children do get along, in spite of the reverse cabin fever of a Texas summer. Sometimes they play all together, sometimes they split off into random pairs, sometimes they seek a little solitude. The "big three" (agest 11, 9, and nearly 7) are very patient with their all-too-evidently terrible-2-year old sister. Still, I count my blessings - no teenage angst (yet), no slammed doors with "keep out" signs. Don't get me wrong! There is definitely dissent from time to time, and regular eye-rolling (try picking out music in the minivan that pleases all ages! Musical Mission Impossible! We rotate between Raffi, Harry Potter soundtracks, Backyardigans, Madagascar, Little Mermaid, Hap Palmer, classical ...)

One week of precious summer vacation has already come and gone - soon enough we'll be trolling the aisles of Walmart and Target for school supplies, new school shoes, and uniforms. I need to remember that though they are not necessarily easy days, these are nonetheless, days to embrace.

Blessings in disguise

This will be very short - school pick-up is in about 10 minutes.

I've decided to tack on to my last entry, but on the tangent of blessings in disguise. For instance. our ward RS is ending their monthly activity (a progressive e.g. travelling one) at our home tomorrow night. They'll gather here to eat desserts and chat before calling it a night.

This disguised blessings has prompted me to do some deep cleaning that I was in denial of (oh say, steam-cleaning carpets that have dirt & water marks from playing in the snow ... 3 months ago), re-arranging the decorations in my living room (Kirsten taught me to "shop my house", rather than spend more money), and begin the purging of junka-lunka that must be completed before the kids come home for summer. Somewhere along the way in running errands, I found a steal of a deal on a new comforter set for our master bedroom - I will confess we have the same set we received for our wedding 14 years ago. Oh the things we let slide ...

This disguised blessing repeats itself in varying forms whenever company is coming to stay from out-of-state, or when I host an event (bridal shower, etc). I am always thankful, for it truly kills two or more birds with the one proverbial stone, and leaves my home much more orderly, peaceful and clean.

On a side note, that deserves a big note, I think birthdays are blessings in disguise. Because of my friend Karin's birthday last week, I got to spend an awesome evening out with 10 gal pals that I just do not get to see enough of. Thanks for being the undercover agent and pulling off a superb surprise Girls Night Out, Michelle!

And for my last note, this blessing isn't so much a disguised one, as a sometimes forgotten one. I love the New Testament, particularly the original 4 gospels. I just finished re-reading Matthew through John - always the best pick-me-up and centering thing out there, to read the testimony of the original apostles, and read the words of Christ.

Name them one by one ...

I was feeling pretty blue this morning when I woke up - too much to do, too little time, wah wah, woe is me. As I drove about on errands during the morning, I found my eyes directed to observe the plight of others, and realize how blessed I am, how thankful they would be for many blessings I take for granted. So, I'm a'countin'!

1. A heated car with a full tank of gas. I can go where I want/need to, when I want/need to, in comfort, and with music even.
2. My kids' minds and bodies are healthy and whole.
3. Health insurance - we have great doctors (and nurses who know us!) who almost always can squeeze us in when we need them. We may have a co-pay & deductible, but it's small potatoes compared to a full bill.
4. 24-hour pharmacies.
5. Kind drivers who let me into their lane rather than gunning it to block me out.
6. Mr. Mullini standing in the freezing cold to direct drop-off traffic at our school, all week long! He always has a kind smile for every child who walks by.
7. A washer and dryer in my house - I don't have to tote my laundry to a laundromat, or scrounge quarters, or tote a 2-year old with me. I get to stay in the comfort of my house, and do dozens of other tasks just waiting on the beeps and buzzers that tell me its time to to rotate or fold!
8. The computer and internet. Yesterday and today I searched for recipes, worked on church projects, got in touch with family, paid bills, worked on our tax return, wrote in my journal, weighed in on a city council issue, correlated with my Primary presidency, and heard snippets from the lives of dozens of friends. All in a matter of hours, all from my nice comfy leather office chair in my living room. Crazy amazing when you take 2 steps back and remember this didn't exist not so long ago.
9. Ross Dress-4-Less. This is the only way I can keep my family dressed in good quality, durable clothes on a single income budget ($70 jeans for $13! wahoo!)
10. General Conference report. Love, love, love my conference report. Nothing lifts my spirits and my perspective faster.
11. My husband. He is patient, helpful, kind, observant, diligent, willing, funny, and full of hope and faith. These are the attributes of true love.
12. Warm beds and hot showers. It's been frigid all week.

That's it for now. There's much, much more - including some of the obvious answers - but this is what stuck with me today.

Jen the Goddess

I found out two days ago that one of my friends from Provo days passed away from a rare, aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer. She lived only one month after her diagnosis. I haven't been in touch with Jen except for an email or two and a few brief "pings" on Facebook, since I was married in 1997. Her father sent out a group message on Facebook about Jen's passing. I was stunned, and so sad for her family to lose Jen at such a young age (Jen is a few years younger than me).

I found it baffling when we did connect, that Jen hadn't been snatched up and married. Every guy in our BYU ward would have fallen over themselves if she batted her lashed at them (a few of them did, when she did). We called her "Jen the Goddess" because she had the most amazing head of long, curly hair, and a dancer's figure - perhaps more importantly, Jen had a smile and a laugh that drew all ears and eyes to her. If she turned on the wattage, it was game over. She was truly spontaneous and vivacious - those words get thrown around alot, but they truly fit Jen. I think this was another reason the guys were drawn to her. She wasn't self-concious, so she was always truly enjoying herself and "all in" no matter what the outing entailed. She didn't worry, analyze, overthink, or fuss. Looking back, I think I wanted to be more like Jen because of those attributes, than because of her hair or her figure.

Jen came from a little more "money" than most of us, yet she was always generous. She had lots of clothes in her closet that still had tags on them, but she'd dress us up in them in a heartbeat for a special night out or a date. Jen was kind; I truly don't remember her ever being mean-spirited to anyone.

From what few connections we've had in the last 13 years, I've gathered that Jen remained single but went on to have a highly-successful career, making trails of friends with every office and city move she made. She was living in NYC when she passed; I imagine she wore that town out with her adventurous, life-embracing spirit and energy.

I am sorry that she is gone, but I know where she is. I am so glad that on Saturday in Fresno, her family is having a "Celebration of Jen's Life", rather than calling it a funeral (they are LDS). For truly, she lived a great one.

Oy vey!

We are Mormon, not Jewish, but this phrase is heard around our home all the time. It is a Yiddish exclamation of frustration or dismay, that literally means, "Oh, woe", but in our home it more closely aligns with "you've got to be kidding me". I don't know if Seinfeld could be to blame ...

Anyhoo, it quite captures the tenor of our home the last 3 months+, particularly since I was asked to serve in our stake Primary presidency. The pace hasn't been blistering, but it's a little nuts, even with me trying to avert my eyes from the Cub Scout elephant in the proverbial room. Three ward conferences, one new leader training, one general board training, 5 presidency meetings, one stake council ... and this has been during a period of relative downtime for my Scoutmaster husband. Every change brings with it a new normal, and we're still getting the hang of it.

Our 17-month old toddler Sabrina is no longer a walking baby, but a little girl, teeny pigtails and all. She is a charmer, with a curveball pout that she uses regularly to get her way and her wants. We adore her, in spite of some spectacularly cranky evening episdoes. She doesn't say many words yet: ca-ca (cookie), Da-da, ma-ma, ow-sy (outside), no (very well), and she will say ee-aw if you say donkey. She actually does a good little handful of animal sounds.

Emma was baptized in December. It was a lovely evening for us, spiritually. I wrote a big journal entry on it. Imagine that! Journalling instead of blogging :)

We are in the midst of special school projects: Emma was Abraham Lincoln in her 2nd grade presidential wax museum yesterday (they "come to life" when they are approached and tell about themselves). Harrison is doing a diorama for "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Book 1, and no doubt science fair will follow shortly thereafter for both of them (joy!). And then, suddenly, the school year will be winding down, and we'll be eyeing our summer plans ... April and May always seem to fly. Whereas, January seems eternal sometimes.

I keep going to the gym. And going, and going. I work hard, and I'm always glad I went and pushed it. I will be 40 years old in just over 2 months. It doesn't freak me out; age never really has. But I'd like to be getting it together, rather than coming apart, for my 40th. A work in progress, still!

We got a Wii for Christmas; it is a novelty, and the only game system that I remotely approved of. The kids have been more apt to get their requisite chores done in order to have their turns on it after school. Still, overall, I'm not quite sure it lives up to the hype. I still wish that my kids' first instinct was to run out and play rather than run for the controllers. A different age, right?

Well, I need to get going on our taco salad dinner. Life is good - just a little exasperating and exhausting ... and overly chilly. I think I'm actually ready for spring this year.

Sure. Why not?

This small simple phrase can get you into loads of trouble. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

On better, happier (and obviously, clearer) notes, we are on the cusp of fall. Not that we experience anything close to the much-envied crunchy piles of leaves, brisk evening air, blazing trees of color that I long for (sigh), but the holidays still come to Texas, even if it is our "second spring".

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas ... October, November, December, my favorite months of the year. I am an anticipation junkie, so it is fun to have so much to look forward to, especially while the kids are young and so excited about it, too. The kids are pretty well decided on their costumes for this year.

I just finished reading "Catching Fire", the sequel to "The Hunger Games". Love, love, love these books.

And that's it for me for today. A few random thoughts. But I do random, oh so well.

I'm sleeping with the Scout Master

Well, he is my husband, so it's all legal. I just had to make a headline out of it, because it looks hilariously scandalous in print.

Chris has just taken off to Six Flags with Harrison (who earned a free day pass from his school for a scholastic achievement). It is going to be 100 degrees today, but I think they'll still make the most of it. I am interested to hear what rides they venture on.

I will be taking Christian and Emma to a nearby bounce house for a few hours. Sabrina will come too, but she won't be running and jumping herself silly. It is worth the $$ to have a change of scenery, and to have them worn-out at the day's end.

We are having Christian's b-day party on Monday - a backyard water fun (sprinklers, water guns, water bombs, etc.) party. We invited 7 little friends. I still need to get goody bag fillers and some snack foods. I may make cupcakes this year to save some money. There is a HUGE party store nearby, that I need to explore to see if they have cupcake toppers - its amazing what the grocery store bakeries charge for those little pieces of plastic!

Harrison will be celebrating by taking 3 friends to a Fort Worth Cats game on Friday the 21st - our local minor league baseball team. There are fireworks at the end of the game. Chris will be the chaperone for the evening, and will probably be smuggling in some treats for the boys. Emma will get to tag along, too, since she has been promised a baseball game before summer's over.

We are within days of hitting many "year" marks - a year since we moved, and a year since we welcomed Sabrina to our family. I am amazed - and thankful - that we've made it. A year ago, it was so daunting to think of managing a school year, a new home, a new ward, and a new baby's needs, yet here we are. We were definitely blessed - many tender mercies all along the way.

I am looking forward to school starting. Harrison and Emma are definitely ready to be back among friends and peers, and to be busy. They've begrudged the pages of summer bridging schoolwork I've had them do each weekday morning, but they'll be glad when they're sharp and ready to roll. Harrison has been taking piano lessons this summer and is doing well (grumbling all the way, but nonetheless progessing).

Christian will also return to his 2-day a week preschool. He is only there from 9AM - noon, but we can opt to leave him until 2:30 for a small extra fee. They have a great little curriculum, but when I ask Christian what the best part of his preschool days were, he inevitably says, "playing outside". Honest!

I am looking forward to returning to my gym. It is easier to be regular without all the kids to keep happy, and the ladies in my daycare love Sabrina. I am going to try to train to complete a Thanksgiving Day 5K/10K here in Fort Worth. http://www.fwtrot.org/

Our babysitter is slowly growing out of babysitting - she's hit the magical age of 16, and her life is getting full of many great activities. Our kids adore her - she's been sitting for us for 3 years! We've been through this transition before with another beloved sitter, so we know we need to scan our options for a new babysitter to "cultivate", who will hopefully be around for a few years. Now that we have 4 kids, it is a challenging assignment (we probably need to pay more, too!). We try to leave on dates either during Sabrina's nap, or after her bedtime at night, so that the babysitter really only has 3 for most of her time. By next year, when Sabrina is nearly 2, she will be much less "needy".

That's it. Nothing momentous. But that's sometimes a very good sign.