Sunday Shoes

Today Jase had two choir concerts during school and so he wore his choir outfit all day -- which includes his Choir polo shirt, black church pants, black socks, and Sunday shoes.  It was the best dressed he has been all year long.  His normal everyday attire is a t-shirt, basketball shorts, and running shoes.  He always has to change for P.E. into the official P.E. T-shirt and shorts but since he is always wearing his tennis shoes to school, he just uses those for P.E. too -- except today.  He realized when he went to change for P.E. that he had no gym shoes -- only the Sunday Church shoes he had worn for the Choir Concerts.  Today just happened to be the mile run.  Imagine his dismay when he realized that he had to run an entire mile in his church shoes!   He said that everyone was laughing at him.  I asked him if he was embarrassed and he said, "No, not really."  (I don't think he has ever truly been embarrassed a day in his life).   He was more worried about losing P.E. points for the day.  I was more worried about him ruining his expensive Sunday shoes - okay, I was also concerned about him hurting his feet or getting blisters from running in improper footwear.  I got a good laugh out it though -- imaging him out there running in his Sunday shoes and socks!

Cell Phone and Madrigals!

First of all, I forgot to mention that Janika made Madrigals for High School next year!!  Yeah -- way to go, Janika!  She will also be involved with Rick's Hands in Harmony Carolers next year and so Fall will be very busy.  The Madrigals have their practices at 6:30 a.m.  Ugh!  I'm not up quite that early.  I told her she needs to find her own ride,  or walk.  Or maybe I could actually get myself out of bed to exercise in the mornings again. 

Also, Janika finally got a cell phone!  She claims that she is the last person in her entire school to get one.  Rick was adamant about waiting until she was 16, so I was surprised that he changed his mind and decided to get her one now -- seven months early.  He said that it was because she was showing so much maturity and responsibility.  Rick has been so against cell phones for kids/teenagers because he sees what a huge distraction they are in the classroom and for life in general. We reminded her about not using it in class or taking it to her room when she went to bed for the night.  She was appalled that we would even suggest she might do such a thing.  She appears to be handling the transition quite well -- using it in moderation and not hiding away to text all evening like so many teenagers do.  I am glad because now I will be able to contact her when she is away instead of having to call all her friend's cell phones! 

Dad's New Scooter

Rick sold his old scooter at a garage sale a year or two ago since it didn't work very well.  But with such beautiful weather lately he decided he wanted another one.  He found a nice one from a local family who was selling theirs.  He loves it!  The kids love riding on it and Josh loves it when his Dad picks him from pre-school with the scooter.  Janika wasn't excited though because she rides with her Dad to school every morning.  So now she is stuck riding on the back of the scooter and complains that it messes up her hair!  It appears she is still choosing it over walking though!

Mother's Day

Aaaah...I slept in and woke to a cool breeze floating through the window, the sounds of birds chirping outside my window, and Rick's hand in mine.  Jaiden and Janelle appeared at my bedside with their Mother's Day gifts.  They were SO excited!  Janelle had a little book of hand-drawn pictures and fill in the blank answers about what she loves about her mom.  She also had a poem and picture of her foot-prints, and a cup to hold pens and pencils (an Achievement Day project).  Jaiden had a little flower book with a cute little note inside.  Jared crocheted a hot-pad at school, Janika gave me a coupon book for a free manicure, pedicure, and hair-style,and Josh had a magnet picture of himself.  Jase's gift was giving a talk in sacrament meeting for Mother's Day.  And Rick taught my Sunday School lesson for me today for Mother's Day -- a gesture which I appreciated SO much!

Well, after snuggling with the girls for a few minutes, I thought I had better get ready for church.  I got up and the room started spinning so much that I had to sit back down.  I tried again a minute later and ended up throwing up.  Immediately I started to panic. I thought, "I can't be sick on Mother's Day!  Jase is giving a talk in sacrament meeting and Jaiden and Janelle are doing a musical number.  I can't miss that!  Plus I want to hear my husband's lesson.  I also need to fix a nice meal and get the kids looking all cute for church.  We are having our Mother's Day party this afternoon, I can't miss that!

Rick went and told the kids that I might not be going to church.  He even hinted that I might be pregnant.  Ha Ha!  NOT funny!  No, those days are OVER.  But I certainly didn't want to be sick -- especially today.  I wanted to celebrate everything that goes along with being a mother today!  I said a prayer that the feeling would pass and took a shower and after a time started feeling better.  I was able to do everything I needed to do today and felt incredibly grateful.

Last week I followed a post on facebook where a bunch of ladies said how much they hated Mother's Day because they always felt guilty and depressed.  I have never really felt that way, but I do remember sometimes feeling a little sorry for myself sometimes on Mother's day because I was still having to work so hard.  I thought, "shouldn't someone else be taking care of the kids and cooking on this day and give me a break?"  But today I realized that I would have been forced into that if the vertigo had continued and I was SO grateful that I COULD do all those things.  It made me doubly grateful to be a Mother to my sweet children.  Of course we were late for church because I had to take a couple of pictures.  The first one turned out okay (except for Jared's face -- and that white string is attached to a balloon which I forgot to take out of the picture).  The second picture is cute of the oldest five but then Josh ruined it by having his finger up his nose.  Typical.   And the third one Janelle closed her eyes -- as usual!  Whenever I am taking a picture of just her, I always have to take about ten of them just to get one with her eyes open!

So, now on to church...Rick did a wonderful job on the lesson (of course), Jase did a great job on his five minute talk (all in sign language), and Jaiden sang a solo in sacrament meeting "Mother, I Love You," while Janelle signed it.  Rick wasn't expecting them to do the musical number by themselves and was blown away by how well they did.  We left with our potted plants and headed home.  Because I was feeling so sick this morning, I hadn't been able to get dinner started before church.  The kids are always starving when they arrive home from church each Sunday and if dinner isn't already cooking and almost ready, then they start fixing themselves Top Ramen and cereal.  But I threatened them in the car on the way home to not open anything.  I said, "I am fixing a nice dinner and I need all your help.  Do not start fixing yourselves ANYTHING!!"   The kids kept trying to sneak pieces of bread but we managed to keep their tummies empty until dinner was ready.  Janika helped me and we made a nice chicken dinner with red potatoes, fresh broccoli and green beans, salad, and cucumbers and vinegar. Our kids LOVE cucumbers and vinegar.  I don't quite see the appeal but they devour them.  Rick even made it home early today and was able to put Jenna down for a nap and join us for dinner.

After dinner, Rick and the kids all cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes (I took a little nap) and then we had our annual Mother's Day Tea Party!!  We tried to take some pictures with the timer, but it would only take one picture at a time and was a little difficult trying to keep everyone engaged.  So they didn't turn out all that great, but it was still fun.  For our Mother's Day tea Janika had made cupcakes and gluten free chocolate chip cookies.  I made gluten free peanut butter bars.  Rick made Strawberry Shortcake and strawberries dipped in chocolate.  Talk about sugar overload!!  Everyone did pretty good staying in character and talking in whatever accent went along with their character -- except for me, I am lousy at trying to talk in an accent and everyone just ends up laughing at me.  We always dress up for Mother's Day Tea in whatever costumes we happen to have on hand.  We never really know until that day what that will be.  So today, I am a flapper from the twenties, Rick is a Frenchman, Janika is a dance teacher with her pupil Jenna who is a Ballerina, Jase is a Hawaiian, Janelle is an elf (she insisted on making her own costume -- notice the eyes closed again), Jaiden is a flowergirl, Jared is Obi One Kenobi, and Josh is a cowboy.  Although everyone went by different names of course.

I truly am grateful to be a mom.  I know I get exasperated way too often.  I get impatient and restless.  I roll my eyes and cover my ears.  I sigh way too loudly and get frustrated at my kids.  I tire of washing the same clothes, the same dishes, the same counter, the same floor, over and over and over again!  I don't know how many times I have wished I could have a maid take care of all of those mundane tasks so that I could focus on spending time with my kids.  I get irritated when I am trying to do a project only to be faced with constant interruptions.  Yesterday I was trying to take a shower and had three different kids come and shout outside my door asking for things.  I was ready to drench the next person who interrupted my shower!  If I am on the phone I sometimes have to run outside or into my room and lock the door in order to hear the person on the other line without screaming kids in the background.

But of course motherhood also has it's many rewards that far surpass the frustrations.  I can't imagine my life without children.  I have to smile when I think about my girls this morning, flowing over with enthusiasm to give me a hand-drawn picture and love note.  I love to hear my two year old laugh when I tickle her.  I burst with pride and gets tears in my eyes when I hear my daughter sing.  I applaud when I see Jase taking care of the yard all on his own and achieving so much in scouts and school.  I laugh at Jared's constant antics and smile when Josh holds my hand.  Being a mother is so much harder than I thought I would be.  But it is also more rewarding than I could even imagine.   Everyday I thank my Heavenly Father for these precious children in my life.  I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything!

Soccer is finished!

As soon as my class finished I buzzed home and then we all headed over to the park for Janelle's last soccer game.  The weather was perfect.  Some of the kids ran off to the playground, Rick played soccer nearby with the little ones, and this is what Jared did during the game (it's the newest Leven Thumps book)...

ASL Class is Finished!!

Here is my ASL class!  I had most of them for the full year.  We had a lot of fun and (hopefully) they learned a lot.  I expect great things from these kids! 

 Top Row:  Kimberly Acker, Erin Parry, Athena Kefalas, Tony Poles, Cheryl Stine
Bottom Row:  Melissa Rounds, Ashley Johnson, Amy Despain, and Megan Metcalf (and Joyce Jacox below with her brand new baby!)

Midnight Memories

Every morning around 3:00 a.m. my dreams are slightly interrupted with the padding of little footsteps across the hall and around to my side of the bed.  A little voice floats up, "I scared, Mommy."  I sleepily reach down and plop my two year Jenna in between Rick and I and she falls right back to sleep.  Rick has been warning me that this will perpetuate a habit which will be difficult to break -- and I know he is right.  This morning as I reached down to pick her up, his warning rang across the covers.  So I hugged her and walked her back to bed.  But knowing she would burst into tears the minute I left, I snuggled down beside her.  She put her hand in mine and contently fell asleep.  I realize that simply changing beds is not the answer.  But at three a.m. I am enjoying the haziness of dreamland and my resolve is weak.  Besides I really don't mind.   After all, she is my last little one and I enjoy holding her hand and caressing her sweet little face in those wee hours of the night.  My husband says I should let her cry it out for a couple of nights and get it over with like we did with the other children.  But my sleep right at that moment -- and that sweet little hand in mine, is awfully hard to give up.