Creative Friday--Kid Chaos Edition

Since yesterday was the last day of school that meant we had a house full of kids joining us for Creative Friday. When the kids were little we had them with us all the time and were used to it, but now that we've been spoiled these past year with only Eva joining us yesterday ended up being a tad chaotic and a bit of an adjustment for us. We're really hoping it was just a transitional day and not the norm for the rest of the summer.


It's not even that they were particularly difficult, they just seemed to be very close by. The combination of our music playing (which is something we love), the kids talking and playing games in the next room, Max on the computer next to us, Eva whining, and Jack (the dog) running all over just made our heads spin.

{Michelle finds my frustration amusing and took this photo.}

I was feeling especially vulnerable because PMS hit me really hard. I felt like I needed an iced bra if that gives you an idea of what I was dealing with. Aargh.

{We had a good lunch though!}

Max & Lucas ended up leaving at 3:00 for a sleepover with their grandparents, so I had Randy (because he's oh so available) come pick up Landon and Whitney too. Eva was sleeping at that time, but even after all the kids left Michelle and I were shaking our heads and whimpering a bit. We even turned off the music (we never do that)!

We weren't fully committed to our projects for the day (she was tearing layout ideas out of magazines and I wrote 5 cards) so we ended up sitting in the family room and talking for the rest of the time.


This was nice, but isn't the norm for us at all. It was good to commiserate about life and to laugh together, but we really felt like we'd been worked over by the kids.


As we headed outside to take our self-portrait for the day we cracked ourselves up with our talk of circles under our eyes and age spots. What's happening?? We're not that old...

Happy Birthday Amy S.!!!

**Does kid chaos ever make you crazy?
Are you prepared for summer with them?
Do you ever need a bra of ice?
Why must aging be so cruel?**

Five for Friday

{Whitney suggested this pose.}

1. Today was the last day of school. For some reason it started 15 minutes earlier than usual, so that meant 8:45-10:15am, weird. It's hard to believe this school year is over already. Both kids have had a good year, and I've been really happy things.

{Landon is in the middle in the back, barely peeking through.}

Landon has absolutely thrived this year being at public school (as opposed to his last 2 years of home schooling). He has made lots of friends, has been far more active, has lost weight, has participated in a play, a dance festival, and all sorts of other things he wouldn't have done if he'd been home this year. It has been a blessing!

2. I ended up making burritos with refried beans, cheese and hamburger (the boy who requested the burritos okay'd it). I also made rice (for the 5 year old boy), a plate of orange wedges and strawberries, chocolate-chip cookies and rootbeer. I hope that was okay. I wasn't stressed about it, I just over thought it.


3. Making dinner last night confirmed my theory that it's not worth the mess. Yes, Randy and I ended up getting burritos for dinner too (the kids don't eat them), but I was in the kitchen for like 2 hours between the food prep time and the cleaning up. My feet hurt from standing in there so long and I just don't think it was worth it. Surely there must be a way around this. I'm either missing that very special mom gene that makes me feel like it's all worth it because I'm feeding my family or my small kitchen just doesn't make it enjoyable enough. What's a girl to do?


4. Last night was the Season Finale of LOST. Randy kept talking during it (I actually had to pause the show) to remind me of other things that had happened before. I remembered practically nothing. It's maddening. I thought the finale was more satisfying than the previous episodes have been this season because at least it brought some closure to things. I hate feeling like I have no clue what's going on, but I still love the show. Also, I decided Sawyer is my hero!

{Michelle made me a birthday banner!}

5. I haven't been posting my good mail much lately and that's not good. I like to have a record of it on my blog and want those who sent it to know I got it.


Becca sent me some fabulous Dove chocolates (I love these so!) a lip gloss and a nice note. Thanks Becca!

Wende sent me this nice note. Thanks!

Esther sent me a nice card and a bunch of .42 cent stamps (my first since the price hike). Thanks Esther!

**When does school end for you?
Do you get frustrated with the time
it takes to make and clean up dinner?
Did you like the LOST finale?
Do you document your good mail?**

Why?

Today is field day at the kids' school and Randy and I were both planning on being in charge of a 10 minute game for the first grade. I planned on being at the school at 1:15 so I could help walk the kids to the park down the street, and then Randy was going to meet us at the park at 1:30. But when I got to the school I found out they're not doing it because it might rain. Huh. It's definitely weird weather today, so much cooler than it usually is this time of year (it's only 64 degrees today) but no field day? The kids are having a great time playing games in their classrooms, but it always throws me off when I've been mentally preparing for something and then end up not having to do it. Oh well.


Upon leaving the school, I went to the grocery store to buy some items for a dinner I need to take to one of our neighbors tonight. I foolishly asked the 9 year old boy in that family what he would like for dinner (he's in Landon's class) and he said "burritos!" Um, okay. Since my kids don't eat burritos I'm kind of at a loss as to what's kid-friendly to put in them. Whenever I take dinner to someone I want them to really like it and not end up stuck with weird food they won't eat (like I would be if someone brought me dinner--I got Hawaiian haystacks after I had Landon and no one would eat them).

But this usually ends up resulting in a lot of overthinking on my part. I'm taking into consideration the fact that they've been receiving a lot of dinners lately so they're probably getting a lot of lasagnas and chicken dishes right? I was thinking meatloaf might be a tasty plan, but then again some people have issues with meatloaf. I don't know. I guess I'm safe if I make sure to bring a good dessert right? Oh the pressure...

The irony of all of this is that I rarely make dinner for my own family, so it ends up being a 3 hour production when I take dinner to someone else. I like to do it and yet don't at the same time. I'm mental.

**Do you get bugged when plans
change after you're geared up to do them?
Do you overthink taking dinner to someone else?
What's inside a kid-friendly burrito?**

Lunch and The Macarena

Yesterday's lunch with Lori ended up being at the new JCW's near Thanksgiving Point. My dad had called to invite me to lunch while I was driving to meet Lori, so he got to join us...lucky him.

This is our squinty self-portrait, but there was no shade to be found. I must say, my head is not actually twice the size of Lori's, but the camera holder always gets hosed on the perspective dang it. I need all the help I can get, I should have had her take the picture!

This morning was the Elementary School's dance festival. Randy and I met my mom at the school to watch the kids perform. It was so fun. These type of things make me strangely emotional (whether it's my kids or not). I'm not sure what it is, but it seems to be a combination of the music, the excitement of all the kids performing, the amateur nature of it, the memories they're making, and the fun of childhood...I don't know but my eyes were wet the whole time (Kristi would be so proud).

The first grade danced to have funky version of Old Macdonald had a farm. Whitney was right up front and had her moves down, but didn't crack a smile once.

Some of Whitney's moves, with a bit of bad camera work by me.

The 4th grade did two dances as well. (Landon is the 5th boy back in this line.) I was super impressed. I think they had the most complicated dance and were really well prepared. Landon didn't crack a smile either, but he was pretty into it and had fun.

My memory card ran out 13 seconds into this, but this was the best dance! Thankfully my mom has the whole thing on video, so Landon will get to watch it some day.


After the whole school performed they invited family members to come out and join the kids in dancing The Macarena. The parking lot filled up with tons of people dancing. It was quite infectious really.


My mom went out to dance with the kids, though Landon got embarrassed and walked away when they started playing YMCA.

I forgot to take a picture of my mom with the kids dang it. I guess I was caught up in the commotion of everything.I did remember to take a self-portrait of the 3 of us after things had calmed down and everyone was going home.

**Do you get emotional at stuff like this?
Did you do stuff like this as a kid?
Do you ever wish you could do this now?**

SPT--Something Blue

I couldn't resist taking the easy way out with the assignment for this week. It's just too funny that the book I'm reading is called Blue Shoe. (I had Landon take some pictures of me reading it in the cozy.)


I suppose it is rather significant though, considering the Wild Swans-induced reading slump I have been in for the past two months. Thankfully I snapped out of it last week and read Ida B. and The Ice Queen, and am now half way through Blue Shoe. Reading in the cozy is one of my great loves in life, so not enjoying that refuge was rough.

**Did you do this SPT?
What are you reading right now?
I promise I didn't wear this shirt last week!**

Memorable Memorial Day

We didn't actually do anything Memorial related, but I've decided that spending time with family (and enjoying it) counts as a good way to celebrate Memorial Day.


We woke up to pouring rain this morning. I love how everything is looking lush and green right now. It will be burned away in a couple weeks' time when summer really gets going, so we have to enjoy it while it lasts.

{Lori, Whitney and Landon in the backseat of the car.}

We met up with the whole family (all 18 of us) at Training Table for lunch. It wasn't busy there yet, so though we dominated a huge area we didn't really ruin lunch for anyone else.


The kids were so thrilled to be all together and to just be (remember what that was like?). Little Ashley was hopping all over the place from seat to seat, and loving everything.


We were celebrating Tess' 6th birthday as well, so there was a festive mood going on. Tess just lost her first tooth and was happily showing the void to everyone.


After our tasty lunch, we headed across the street for some family bowling. Good heavens, the place was packed (rainy Memorial Day in Utah I guess).


We finally got 3 lanes together and shoes for everyone for $93! I guess that's about $5 a person so it's not outrageous, but it kind of felt like it at the time.


We hadn't been bowling as a family for quite some time so it was fun to see the kids so much bigger and taking care of things on their own.


If I had to pick one word to describe my skills as a bowler that word would be...inconsistent. At one point I had 2 strikes in a row and then my next turn I hit one pin. Fortunately my self-esteem is not based on my bowling performance.

(Even Andrew beat me!)

Amy and Adam made this darling cupcake shaped birthday cake for Tess.


I tried not to think about the disgustingness of the kids licking frosting off their bowling-balled fingers, but wasn't successful.


I think a good time was had by all, though it's interesting that by the end of 10 frames everyone felt done. I always think it's going to go quickly and not be enough, but it most definitely is.


The drive home was a real butt-clencher thanks to the pouring rain and hail we experienced. At one point Whitney said rather matter of factly "We're all going to die." But then moments later the rain stopped. Go figure.

Upon returning home I retired to the glorious cozy. Our room was breezy and cool from having the window slightly open, so hunkering down under my blanket with a book (Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott) was such a treat. I fell asleep for an hour or so and then continued to read for a couple hours more...delicious!


When I finally surfaced from the cozy Randy and the kids were in the front (now sunny) yard playing a funky football game the kids know from school. I resisted the urge to do the dishes (what's wrong with me, why was that a temptation?) and joined them for some fun.


It ended up sprinkling a bit, then lightly pouring (is that an oxymoron?), then we had a beautiful double rainbow, then sun again.


We stayed outside for all of it and just enjoyed it. It wasn't hot, we had nowhere we had to be, everyone was happy, and life was good. I love moments like that. This day has felt like many days rolled into one.

**What did you do today?
What one word describes you as a bowler?
Do you get tense when driving in a downpour?
When was the last time you saw a rainbow?**

Sunday Thoughts

It seems like everyone has stopped blogging for Memorial Day Weekend, what's up with that? Maybe we're the only people who don't go out of town for it...figures.

My next door neighbor gave a great talk in Sacrament Meeting today about being a peacemaker. She has had the assignment to speak for over a year, so she had a lot of time to think about her topic and live it. (Interesting no? It reminded me of us choosing a word for the year and trying to live it. How would it be different if we had to stand up before a congregation of 500 people to report our progress?)


Here are my notes:

--God has blessed us all with a desire for peace.
--We must learn to love each other.
--John 13:33-35
--Two things which transcend death: Who we have become in life and our families.


--We may not fight with our spouse, but do we dodge their affection or do little things that are less than kind? (Ouch!)
--To prevent contention, we have to love everyone. (My word for last year and this year is love!)
--1 Samuel 16:7

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

--She told a great story of standing up and admiring her work after spending a couple hours taking care of her flower bed one morning, when her husband came out and said, "Man, these look awful." She realized that he was seeing the remaining weeds, the bug-bitten leaves and the unbloomed flowers, but she was seeing the flower bed as it may become in the future. God sees us the way she sees her flower bed, full of potential.


--We must see the good in each other.
--We can learn to look past the flaws we see in each other.
(Hello Jill!)


--The only difference between a weed and a flower is the judgment we give it.
--Do people see the light of Christ in our eyes?

**Any thoughts??**

Fridaylicious

I wanted to get to Michelle's house at a decent time, and managed to get there at 11:30. I haven't been sleeping well this week (#$@!) but had actually slept through the night on Thursday and woken up with a weird neck/headache. I took a couple Excedrin's, which did the trick, and ended being rather hyper thanks to the caffeine in them. (Now that I don't drink diet Coke anymore, caffeine actually affects me.)


I got to Michelle's house feeling ravenous and rather bouncy feeling. We had scrumptious roast beef paninis and tomato, red pepper soup. The weather was breezy and rainy so it felt like the perfect meal for the day.


I brought peanut butter m&m's (I really wish Costco would sell a huge bag of those) which Eva ended up being rather excited about. Michelle and I were too, just not quite so vocally.


I brought so much stuff to work on, and managed to get a ton done. I reframed 5 photos (I hate cleaning the glass on those, but what could I do?).


I cut out some good mail labels, and wrote 10 cards. Woohoo. I had written and sent 10 cards on Tuesday of this week so I am feeling good-mailicious for sure.

Michelle was working on some of her genius tags.

She surprised me by making me a set of cute tags with envelopes on them. Oh la la.

Our self-portrait of the week.

It was a fun, productive day with comfortable, breezy weather. I LOVE Creative Friday!

**Does caffeine make you hyper?
Do you like peanut butter m&ms?
Did you send any cards this week?
When was the last time you framed a photo?**