The last few weeks

Three weeks ago:

The kids slept over at Gram and Pap's house on Fri. night but I had to work at the Y till 8pm, so Mike and I didn't really get a date out of it. On Saturday we met them for breakfast and then surprised the kids by taking them to a horse farm where Smarty Jones is now living. He is an amazing race horse and won 2 of the 3 triple crown races. Connor absolutely loves horses, so he was in heaven. We walked around the rest of the stables and met some of the other horses. Connor didn't want to leave.

One of the best activities in fall!

I hosted my book club the night before Thanksgiving, and Hayden hosted his own kids book club to talk about the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Harrison, Zane, Katie Coats and Jordan Ohl were there, and Mike organized the discussion and a few games that were book related. The kids had so much fun they kept asking what the next book would be and where they would have it!

We also really enjoyed our book club too. It was just Jamie, Sue and I, but we had some great discussion on the book East of Eden. It's based on the story of Cain and Abel.

Thanksgiving morning was the Turkey Trot. When we woke up it was rainy and really cold. I was ready to just hang out on the couch and watch the parade, but Hayden suggested we should go.

I'm so glad we did. We had a lot of fun and got a little exercise before the big dinner. Connor and Serena were warm and dry inside the stroller. They loved it too.

We went to my Aunt Wanda and Uncle Bob's house for a yummy meal, catch up, and play the Wii.

Once we came home that evening, I dropped everyone off and went over to Toys R Us to wait in line. I was one of the first 50 and made some new friends while waiting. By the time the store opened at 10pm, the line stretched down past Ollies and down to Kohls at the mall! I got all that I wanted and got out by 11:30 to go over to Target and begin waiting again. I met a nice couple that taught me a lot about electronics while we waited for 4 more hours. But when it opened, I grabbed what I needed, checked out and was out the door at 4:15, on my way home to my warm bed. To me, it's worth it to save so much money and have a better Christmas for my family!

The rest of Fri. and Sat was spent putting up decorations, baking, watching Christmas movies, and relaxing.

Everyone was off school on Mon. as well for the first day of hunting season, so we took advantage and went down to DC for the day. We took the kids to the Air and Space Museum until they got bored, then over to the museum of Natural History to look at the dinosaurs and cool rocks. Then we took the train up to IKEA for a yummy cheap dinner and shopping, then over to the Temple to see the lights...except the lights weren't getting turned on until Wed. Bummer! But we did get to see all the nativities from around the world inside the visitor's center.

Riding on the train-kids LOVE that!

We ate lunch outside-the squirrels were getting a little too friendly!

Excitement at the Air and Space museum.

Look closely at the tree-it's not real, it's made out of metal! It was very cool.

So Serena has taken an interest in my camera lately, and these are just 2 examples of the things she likes to take pictures of!

Writing in my blog two weeks in a row. This could become a habit! This past week was back to normal week. I actually made it to the gym every day for a little bit which my body needed. I taught my first cycle class yesterday and it went really well. I had a lot of fun. I love being able to pick my music and routine and being able to know what time is left and what is coming. Everyone left the class soaked and out of breath so I know I gave them a good workout.

Connor did a sweet thing this past week. We typically have leftovers for dinner on Tues. night so as I walked out to the kitchen to get started, I heard Connor in the silverware drawer and all the containers were sitting out on the counter. I asked what he was doing and he said "I'm making dinner for you since your back hurt." For the record my back has been getting better since I've been going to a chiropractor. Most of the problem is in my neck, so as he adjusts me, the pain is less in my back. But how sweet of Connor to be so thoughtful!

We've enjoyed the beautiful weather outside this past week. Hayden has gotten pretty good at riding my old skateboard while the younger kids are riding on their bikes. In fact, I caught Serena riding the tricycle sailing down the sloped driveway into the road! She loved it until she crashed the 3rd time.

Mike and Hayden got to go to the Navy football game yesterday in Annapolis as part of a Young Men's activity. They had a lot of fun, especially because Hayden got to be with his friend Jordan. He's come to the age where he likes things more if he has a friend with him.

I went over to Sarah's house Tues. night for a Biggest Loser girl's night. We didn't get there till 9pm and I was one of the first ones to leave at 12:30! I don't know if I can keep up with these young girls! It was enjoyable though. Even though I wouldn't partake of their sumptuous goodies, it was fun to talk and get a break.

Halloween activities, today, and beyond

I taught the Young Women (16-17 yr. old) today (Sun.) about the importance of keeping a journal. As any of you who read my blog know, I have not been doing a good job. But there is always repentance, and a chance to change. I had them commit as well as myself to write about something each day that they want to remember.

Before I talk about today, I wanted to record a tender moment I had with Connor on Fri.. Serena had been up all Thurs. night vomiting, so Fri. was a watch movie day. We were watching Charlotte's Web and got to the part where Wilbur was leaving the Fair and had to leave Charlotte behind. Well, with my heightened emotions due to lack of sleep and Connor's tender loving care of animals, we hugged each other and cried and cried. It was so sweet-I think it was the first time that he was able to express his emotions about the death of an animal. And he absolutely LOVES animals.

By Sat. Serena was dragging-she had acquired a cold from her illness, but feeling better. We had the Ashtons, Coys, Coats, Woodwards and another family over for dinner.

Then we proceeded to take 16 kids out Trick-or-Treating. We went around 4 blocks in an hour and we were done.

It was fun for kids and adults. It's so much more fun to go in a big group, and I enjoyed going around our neighborhood.

Hayden was Jenga Fett (sp) from Star Wars, Connor of course is Clifford and Serena a tiger.

Last week was full of Halloween activities starting with the Fall Festival at church on Tues.. Thurs. was dress up at the gym and Connor's preschool party. Hayden had his party and parade at school on Fri. which I couldn't go to because Serena was sick. Then the Coats had a Halloween party Fri. night which Serena and I stayed home from.

Connor's preschool class. One of the activities at the Coats house was to be wrapped up as a mummy.

Sunday was a pretty relaxing day. We went to my parents house for dinner. Monday morning Hayden came down and said his throat hurt and maybe he would stay home from school. He didn't seem that sick to me, but I thought maybe he just needed a break. After I called him in sick to school, I thought about how bad that looked the day after Halloween. Even though we didn't do anything Halloween related on Sun. or even eat any candy! Hayden had thought about going in Monday afternoon because he had a soccer party that night to get a trophy. But he started crying because he was so tired and didn't want to go to school, but really wanted to go to the party. So I told him not to worry about it and go rest. He took a 2 hr. nap! The last time he did that I think he was 3 or 4! Over dinner he debated whether to go to the party because he really was feeling bad but didn't want to miss it. I can understand that as I am the same way, so I convinced him to go. The party was only 1/2 hr. and not a big deal, but he was glad he went.

The rest of the week continued with Hayden waking up sick and me calling the school. Tues. I woke up really sick with a fever and cold as well so we watched movies and hung out in the living room. My best part of day was having our first fire in our new home.

Wed. and Thurs. were about the same except that I took Hayden to the doctor and was diagnosed with strep throat.

On Thurs. Vicki Fryer called me and asked if Connor would like to play with her son Cyrus. She would come pick him up and feed him lunch before preschool. What a wonderful blessing for both him and I! He already has a lot of energy and to be cooped up in the house all week was just torture for him.

Nanny came back from N.C. Thurs. night so on Fri. I got to go to Target by myself! I spent a long time just wandering around. Then she watched the kids so Mike and I could go on a date! I still wasn't feeling great so we just got some hot chocolate and went to Borders. It sounds like a poor man's date, but we really enjoy that. And just being able to have a conversation that is not interrupted and is not over our cells phones is wonderful.

Sat.-My best part of day was going to the Graver's to have dinner and spend time with their pygmy goats, chickens and BIG dogs. As I mentioned earlier, Connor and Serena both LOVE animals, just like me. So we had a blast. The goats are just like kids and are so funny. And I loved getting to know Sue Graver better, we have several in common.

What My Kids are Saying or Doing.

I've made several attempts to catch up from where I left off. I suppose that one day I will do that, but for now, onward and upward.

In 10 years, I will not remember a lot about what life was like now-especially cute things that my kids say or what they were interested in.

Serena's cute sayings: "Me kinda gushed!" during family hug. Sometimes she'll give a little chuckle and say "Oh, me got!" (I forgot!). "Me love...(whoever she is with).

Sweet things that Connor does: makes my bed, tells me I'm the best, disappears for a while and then reappears with a basket filled with folded laundry, smiles so big when I pick him up from preschool.

Hayden has been playing a lot with LEGOs this week and is doing well in soccer. He is learning a lot. I've been so impressed and proud of him this past week in his schoolwork. He has had more than normal homework, plus had several projects and tests with his gifted teacher this past week. We were also out of the house many nights for activities. Yet he never complained about doing his schoolwork. He will complain a lot about having to clean his room (which never gets completely there!) or doing his chores, but I really think he enjoys the work he does for school.

Back Problems

I guess I have graduated into the world of back problems. Does that mean I am getting old, or just trying to fit in with the crowd? I saw the doctor today and he so kindly informed me that this is something that doesn't go away forever. Why do so many people have back problems?

I exercise, and I am careful when doing so, and I know how to pick up things correctly. What causes us to lose cartilage? These are questions I am going to look into while I am trying to rest my back.

In the meantime I may post some more pics of the kids since I'm getting used to my new iMac. Yes, after 8 years of using our uncle's second hand computer, we finally broke down and bought a nice Apple computer. We love it, even though I'm just beginning to learn about all that it can do.

Catching Up

Our new house

Our kitchen as it was getting filled with stuff!

Our old bedroom

Our old kitchen (after IKEA cabinets!)

I need to update myself and those I love on current events. I felt today the importance of keeping daily notes and spiritual moments in my (our) life so that my future generations can know who I was and what life was like. Yesterday I finished watching Emma Smith:My Story, and I learned a lot from it. I recommend seeing it to learn more about the Gospel and to gain insight into your own life. We wouldn't have the knowledge to watch that movie if Emma and others had not kept a journal.

The past week has been challenging since I threw out my back on Thurs. morning. Up to that point, my life was very busy teaching and going to the gym in the mornings, playing with my kids and trying to unpack a box in the afternoon, working at A.C. Moore, and since last week I started a temporary Census job. The first week of training was very difficult. It was 8:30-4:30 for 4 days. That meant I had to find some generous people to watch my kids for me, and it also meant I hardly got to see them at all for the whole we

ek. It really made me appreciate the time that I normally do have to spend with the kids. We have spent this last week trying to get back to normal, somewhat. I am going door to door for Census work, but that's just for the next 5 weeks or so.

Since Thurs., I have spent a lot of time resting on the couch. I've had time to read and spend more time with the family since I couldn't work. It was frus

trating by the 2nd day that I couldn't clean my house and unpack and organize like I wanted to, but I loved just stopping everything. It's interesting what stress will do to your body and when your body tells you to just "stop." I hope to soon be able to quit A.C. Moore, even though it is only 2 days a week. Working 3-9 every Sat. makes me miss a lot of family stuff.

I've learned that my family is the center of my life, and that makes me part of who I am. I am working on my patience right now. We sang Love at Home in church today and I think we need to sing that every day. I want to put that lettering on the wall somewhere where I can see it every day. I also want to be better at kneeling while saying my morning prayers. Sister Hansen commented today that she says prayers all throughout the day (as do I), but if we show that respect for our Heavenly Father by kneeling first thing, he will appreciate it more and maybe bless us more. Someone else commented that Pres. Kimball said once that we should say our morning prayer before we take our first bite of food. I always think about food, why would I forget to say my morning prayer?

So about our family. The move was okay. Moving out Tues. night was horrible. It was raining and freezing cold, and the truck wasn't big enough.

And I wasn't as prepared as I thought I would be. I got burned out at the end and should have asked for help. Plus, not having moved for 7 1/2 years and having 3 little kids, I didn't know what to expect. So Mike and I spent the night taking stuff up to my parents house. By 8am Weds morning, we were loading the very last load in the car and frantically cleaning the house. I ran around and took pictures and quickly said good-bye. I only got emotional up in the boys room. It wasn't really how I had imagined saying good-bye to our first home and the home we started raising our children, but at least it's over. And Weds. was a much better day (besides being exhausted). Mike w

ent to our new house to take a look around with our realtor while I dropped the younger kids off at Jamie's and Hayden off at school. We met at the realtor's office at 9am to go through both settlements, which went smoothly, I may happily say. After picking up all the kids we went to our new house. Serena had been pretty emotional with all of the changes the previous several days, but when we got to our home, the kids started running around everywhere, laughing and playing together. Mike drove the moving van here and as soon as he did, neighbors started coming over to introduce themselves. Men from our new ward showed up to help us unpack and share in some pizza on our back patio area. I received a confirmation that this was the right move, that we will be happy here.

Now about the kids:

Serena is saying new words every day and is still working on potty training. I have started to get a little impatient, so I think I may start putting her in big girl underwear soon and let her learn from mistakes. She's got the first part down, she just needs to get the poop part!

Hayden has had a fairly easy transition from West York to Suburban. One of his friends from church is in his class, and he has a really nice teacher. The only thing he has complained about is the stuff they are learning that he has already learned. But he just started working in the gifted program for Math and English, so that helps him to feel more challenged.

Connor is still as passionate, emotional and as crazy as ever. Still climbing and jumping off of anything he can find. I can't wait till we get a nice play set for them in the backyard with a rock wall! I am also hoping to get him into gymnastics or something that he will enjoy and burn off some energy. We tried signing him up for t-ball with some of his friends from the Y. We went to the first practice and he decided in 30 sec. that he didn't want to do it. No matter how much talking and persuading we tried, he had made up his mind. He definitely knows what he wants!

Mothers and sickness

Those 2 words can NEVER go together. Moms can never be sick, because we can't take off work to rest and get better. I got sick on Sun. which was not a day of rest. I had the kids to get ready myself while Mike went home teaching. We drove 2 cars to church, It was ward conference so I had a meeting during Sunday School, then another after church. Then for a quick meal before going into A.C. Moore for a mandatory 3 hr. meeting! So yesterday instead of spending the day in bed which is what I wanted to do, I taught 2 fitness classes, lunch, tried for naps, cleaned up the house because a roofer was supposed to come over (who never did!), then frantically looked all over for a missing doc. I needed for our home loan so that we can move in on the 31st. I found it at 3:45, so I loaded up the kids, got Hayden and drove the paperwork over to his office. We came home so I could make dinner, have home evening and play with the kids while Mike went to PTO meeting. After putting Serena to bed I layed down on the couch, and that's when she started yelling she needed to go to the potty (yes, she's potty training right now!). By 9pm I collapsed on the couch crying because I was so exhausted. I wish moms could take a day off work!

House contracts

We signed papers to approve a contract on our house on Mon. Feb 15th for over the asking price! (so that we could pay closing costs.) It's kind of miraculous in this market, especially since our house is NOT perfect! The guy who is buying the house found our listing on For Sale By Owner.com. He did a walk through on Sat. Feb. 13th (after the blizzard) and signed the next day (Valentine's Day)! We accepted his contract and agreed to be out by March 31...deep breath. He actually works with my mom so she knows he is a nice guy and will take care of our home. I feel a little sad to leave all of our hard work and memories behind. So now that we sold our house, the hunt was on to find another house at a rapid pace. But life doesn't slow down when your looking at houses. We had to squeeze in viewings in between other activites. The next Wed. evening I was at church for Young Women's, when Mike called me and said there was a new listing that I had to look at. We set up a showing for Thurs. and fell in love with the house so we set up another showing for Fri. with my parents (my dad is good at handywork). Apparently others liked the house as well because there were 5 other showings set up for Fri/Sat. It is a well maintained, updated, move-in ready Cape Cod, so we decided to make an offer on Sat. After working out counteroffers and other details, we now have a contract with 840 Clearmount Rd. to move in on March 31. Which means-new school sitrict, new neighborhood, new church ward, new scout troop. I am excited, I just hope Hayden has a farely easy transition. I feel like we are taking a leap of faith making so many changes to our family after 7 years, but we feel it is the right decision. Hayden has been pretty cool about it, Connor says he doesn't want a new house, and Serena says "Meow" every time she sees pictures because there is a cat living there right now! Mike and I are already talking about how we want to decorate it and where furniture will go.

Blizzard of 2010-Parts 1 and 2

I never thought being snowed in could be so much fun!

This was the view out our computer room window at 6 this morning.

Hayden took this picture of us when we were sitting on the steps looking outside.

We had a delicious and nutritious family breakfast of oatmeal to get us geared up for some house work. After the whining and the work was done, we got down to business with a serious game of sock-er! I thought of the activity last night and thought it would be a good way to get in some exercise for kids who may get stir crazy.

It started out boys versus girls, but the teams kept changing as team members dropped out. Hayden and Connor won.

I think that's Mike's car under there!

The view out our bedroom window. After some more games, lunch and plain old lounging, we ventured outside and had a blast! It's so fun to see my kids so amazed at all this snow (more than they have ever seen), as am I. And you just can't hurt yourself with all this padding. After I came inside I looked out the window just as Mike was climbing on top of the fence and did a front flip into the snow! I wish I had my camera for that one.

The first time the kids have ever sled down the steps.

Our 4 ft. fence. Today was Serena's first time having hot chocolate. She dipped her spoon in once, then again, then dropped the spoon and started gulping! I'm sure she was thinking "Holy cow, why didn't anyone ever tell me about this liquid chocolate before, this stuff is awesome!"

Our Beloved Elmo

For those of you who don't know, Elmo was our guinea pig that we have had for over 4 years. He passed away yesterday from old age. Mike noticed that he was not doing well in his cage around 11, so we all sat around and held him and comforted him and basically said our good-byes.

We are all missing Elmo today. He was a good guinea pig. He never bit anyone and was always patient when the kids wanted to hold him. The kids in turn were very good at taking care of him, always willing to give him a treat of celery, carrots, lettuce, orange, or whatever else we had. And they always helped to clean his cage and feed him. It's sad to see an empty cage.

Serena is too young to understand and Hayden struggled a bit yesterday but is doing better today. Connor keeps talking about it and is trying to grasp the concept that he's not coming back. It's sad because I think Connor loved him the most. I'm just grateful that my kids first experience with death was with a pet and not a grandparent (mine are in their mid-80's).

The day got worse when I got the stomach flu and missed the Super Bowl cause I was in the bathroom. Yesterday was not a good day.

A New Year- 2010

Ahhh, a new year. A chance to start fresh with new goals, new hopes, and new toys! I do love this time of year because I love to make goals. I am very excited about the ones I have made for this year and have already started some. However, as far as our future in a new house is concerned, the road ahead is very foggy. We have signed the papers for our agent to sell our house and are hopeful to sell by April in order to take advantage of the tax credit. But the house we loved just went under contract yesterday, literally less than 24 hours since we signed the papers with our realtor. The house had been on the market for 6 months without any interest. Is it irony or is it Heavenly Father telling us he has something better out there for us. It's scary to have our house on the market and not know where we might go. Mike and I have stayed up late every night working on the kitchen, painting projects, bathroom, etc. and are very tired. All these little projects could have been done long ago, but we finally have the motivation to get them done for someone else. But after a really ruff day, I had to relax after work and watch some T.V. before going to bed early. I'm a little more hopeful today and getting back into work again, although I can't wait till everything is done!