Hodgepodgey

Here's a quick update on everyone and little things that I've been thinking about:


Benjamin: While running into school last week, Ben turned to wave goodbye to Jason and ran into a metal "no parking" sign. I'm not very good with guts so Jason picked him up from school and took him to the instacare. 2 staples and a few hours later, they came home. Ben proudly showed me his staples and like a dummy, I looked-and nearly lost my breakfast. He was pretty excited to go back to school and show off to his class. He has been doing really well in school and I think we've FINALLY gotten his medication balanced. He loves scouts and playing outside. He has a giant stick collection that my mom and I keep "thinning," but I think he's adding to it faster than we thin. He had his first pinewood derby last week. The whole family was pretty excited. Ben's car was really cool looking and he won an award for the "Most Original" car. He was pretty excited. (which was good because his car lost all but 2 races.)

Thought: I am so grateful for the kind kids that live around us. The neighbors around us too. They praised Ben and helped him stay involved even though his car didn't do well. I'm also grateful for a husband who let Ben make all the decisions about his car and just helped him accomplish his plans. Ben learned a lot about what to do differently next time.


Elizabeth: She is getting pretty silly. She informed me the other day that her best friend is named Hector. He is her best friend because they take turns bringing change to school so they can buy beef jerky from the school store during lunch break. Every morning Lizzy takes more time getting her jewelry and hair just right than a junior high teenager. She loves watching things like "Say Yes to the Dress" (which has created some really good teaching moments for topics like modesty) and cooking shows with Grandma and Grandpa. She always tries to be neat and tidy and helps me with Eli.


Jane: The girl is getting some major opinions. Which is good. I think this year she has really developed her own sense of self. We're having trouble with her mood swings, though, and I have felt it necessary to have her checked out for depression. (Pray for me and her.) She likes to wrestle with Eli and take him and Natalie for walks in the stroller. Jane and Lizzy brought home their report cards and scored above average on EVERYTHING. They both love to sit and read. Sometimes Jane likes to read instead of having quiet movie time which I will never complain about.


Liam: This kid is CRAZY! He literally hits the floor running every morning. Lately, he's taken to running up to Jason or I, throwing his arms around me, and saying, "I really love you, Mommy." What could be nicer than that? He is still learning to read via homeschool and we both love our time alone together. (Except lately he's been telling me that he wants to do more school but no more reading.) He likes to write letters to his friends and is starting to sound spell on his own. He is a smart guy and learns quickly, when I can get him to sit still.

Natalie: Guh-nat is the princess. She is in charge of every one she has wrapped around her finger and she knows it. She is also a disaster. I can't count the number of things she has broken, damaged, drawn on, or eaten since we've moved in here. She's starting to speak more clearly and loves, loves, LOVES, to sing. She has learned a lot of great songs and my favorite is when she sings "Smiles." She makes the cutest adorable face that she made in this post when she sings it. "If you chance to meet a frown..." I've even seen her work up a tear.

Elijah: Is learning to talk. He loves "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," and has a little stuffed Mickey that he borrowed from Liam. He dances it around and says "hot dog hot dog". He has a silly giggle and his favorite things are still batteries (he figured out how to break my watch back off to get to the batteries inside), playing outside, balls, and Mickey Mouse. He likes to spin in a circle and make himself dizzy. And then he falls over laughing. He SCREAMS when he is hungry but mostly is a nice boy.


Jason: Just got a new job! It's part time but it's doing something he really enjoys and uses a lot of his many talents. He is such a patient, wonderful husband and daddy. We're always glad when he gets home, things always feel better when he's around. He is waiting for a flight instructor to becomes available so that he can finally (fingers crossed, prayers prayed) finish his commercial pilot's license. His office has a big window where he can watch planes land and take off. He also just started the Orem Chamber Orchestra (which meets on Wednesdays from 7-9 pm in the media room at the Orem Library-come audition). He's currently serving in the ward as the choir director and ward music chair. People are constantly coming up to me and complimenting Jason on how well they like choir, how much they've learned, or how good the choir sounds.


Me: I've been having a lot of fun with the singing group I'm accompanying for. I'm also really enjoying proving to myself that I can be and still am the mother. I've been trying to do something "domestic" ;) every day while Jason is gone. It's difficult to be the mom when you're living in your childhood home and your husband and mother are home to help lift so many burdens. I've enjoyed the extra responsibilities being added back to me. I also just got involved in a colloquium that starts meeting next month. I'll take any excuse to read and sit around discussing said reading with a bunch of other women! What fun!


In other news, conference this month was incredible for me. I didn't get to hear very much but Jason and I have started listening to one talk every night before bed together. It's been nice to share them in the QUIET evenings. I've had a lot of insights, help, and answers to prayer come from this exercise. I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the Savior and his birth, atonement, and resurrection. What a blessing to know of Him and have special witnesses of Him to guide me in raising my family!

Saturday

Saturday we were so excited to take advantage of the beautiful weather and took one of our Saturday trips. This time, we took the kids out by nutty putty caves and let them climb the sandstone formations. Even Eli enjoyed climbing all over. We ate, climbed, found lizards, saw beautiful country, and generally enjoyed ourselves. The kids covered themselves in sand, strawberry juice, and wildberry cream cheese. It was a great day.






I got out of the shower today and this is how I discovered Eli. He was really proud of himself.