My life these days

It seems that I can barely keep up with the things I need to do for each day, and wait till tomorrow for the next project or class to prepare for or activity to go to. About a week ago I was at the gym in the morning as I usually am and a friend in the same school district mentioned that her daughter was so excited for picture day. All of a sudden I went into panic mode as I realized I had ignored the two reminders I had posted and all of us forgot while getting ready this morning. I called the school and the secretary informed me that I had 10 min. until Hayden's class was going into the gym for pictures. I frantically drove home (luckily Connor and Serena could stay in child watch), grabbed his clothes and hair spray and drove up to the school. (Luckily it is only 2 miles from the Y, to my house, to Hayden's school.) I flew inside (with my sweaty, tight-fitting gym clothes on) and raced down the hall just as Hayden was walking to the gym. I pulled him out of line and took him into the bathroom to change and style his hair quick. We got in the gym just as it was his turn. I apologized to him over and over that day and hoped that it would never happen again. That was a nightmare! As I was working on the computer tonight after the kids were in bed, Serena woke up and wanted someone to hold her. I went in, wrapped her in a blanket and rocked with her for a long time as she fell asleep in my arms. I wanted to treasure the memory forever so I didn't want to let her go. Lately I have really been bothered by how much I have to be away from home in the evenings. I feel like I'm missing them grow up while I'm gone. I desperately want to quit my job at A.C. Moore (even though I enjoy custom framing) so that I will only be gone on Weds. evenings for YW activities. Oh yeah, for anyone not in our church ward, after 4 years, they kicked me out of Primary and called me as the 2nd counselor (over Beehives) in Young Womens. So after already feeling guilty about being gone 2 nights a week (Tues. and Saturday), now I'm gone Weds. and some Saturdays, plus some Thursdays for presidency meetings. It's just too much. We're hoping that I can quit A.C. Moore as soon as the holidays are over. I think I can survive till then. I don't know if Mike will though! He's such a good dad. On a positive note, things are going really well at the YMCA. I am currently teaching a Pilates and a Muscle Pump class, and am trained to be a personal trainer and a Silver Sneakers (over 65) instructor. I love what I am learning and I feel like my life has taken a turn for the better. I am learning a lot about myself and what I can do, and I just feel excited about ways that I can help enrich people's lives. Serena has really started talking lately and one of the cutest things she says is "oh." I'll have to try and catch it on video and post it. When she gets upset about something like maybe not getting the same food as her brother, I explain it to her and then she says "oh." Hayden is whizzing through 2nd grade. He loves social studies, science and math and he loves to read. And one of his favorite things to do is spend time with his family. He doesn't like it when we go through a whole week and only have a few nights together. I love that. That makes me not feel so bad that he's not in 3 different sports, theater, and lots of other things. He loves cub scouts though and he really wants to take more swimming lessons and start karate. Soon. To read a quick update on Connor, read the next entry. Thanks for reading!