A week ago = last Thursday (May 22, 2014)

Last Thursday was a run-of-the-mill crazy evening at our house. J had his award ceremony for flag football, C had baseball practice, and our home teachers came.

How lucky we are to have two drivers in our family. Otherwise, we could not make this work. In a rather short time, we will have three drivers! I am so excited, so nervous, and absolutely in disbelief that I could have a daughter old enough to drive.

Here are some pictures of J at his ceremony. The first pictures were of what he was doing in the 15 to 20 minutes we had before it started: taking pictures of me, of himself, and of himself with some friends. They are classic. Next are pictures of him with his team on stage. I did not use a flash, but the lights of the stage were so bright that all of their faces are washed out. If you look closely, you'll see him. He is one of the number fives. Finally, I have one of him with his trophy.

I really enjoy upward ball. J seems to do well with it, and they work very hard to make it as easy as possible on the parents. I appreciate that.

My first in-laws

I have a very special relationship with both of my sets of in-laws. I am so grateful that my ex's parents have kept me in their lives as one of their daughters. I love them so much. I love the whole family. It would absolutely devastate me to not be a part of that family anymore.

A couple of weeks ago they came to spend some time up here with my ex. Luckily, they also came up to spend time with me. I am so grateful that they made the sacrifice to come.

They came to church with me and with the kids. I am so grateful for their example and dedication. It was great to have them be able to share with J their favorite scriptures. What a great testimony building experience!

I miss them already!

First Swim: Memorial Day 2014

For the past couple of years, it has been hot on Memorial Day. Not this one. It is 75 degrees with a cold breeze. But the kids still wanted to swim. I took them for half an hour and I froze the whole time OUT of the water!

I have so much to post from the last couple of weeks. I am sure I will get there thanks to my Blogger app and my phone. This gives me the capability of blogging anywhere. :). It isn't perfect since the pictures are too large and the words are all above all the pictures, but it sure helps!! :).

I am blessed to have this day with my kids. We miss A a lot, but she will be here soon too (although then K and C will have various camps and time with their dad). Being together is still the biggest blessing of my life. :)

17 years ago

17 years ago I married my best friend. Life hasn't gone as I expected, especially since we divorced 4.5 years ago. God has taken care of me, though and I am very happy indeed! I am so blessed. I cannot believe it has been so long. I don't feel any older. But I am! :)

C's Band Concert

C plays the trumpet. He is very good at it. He was able to make honor band as a seventh grader. We are so very proud of him.

He even had a solo in the concert last night. He was nervous that he would mess up, but he didn't. It was great!

The only hard thing about the concert was that honor band was last, after the other two bands and their awards. By the time honor band and awards was done, it was approximately 8:30 at night. Our babies were tired! They had had it! And, we still had to eat dinner. We had driven the other kids to their dad and had to go straight to the concert. Being both tired and hungry is never a good combination for anyone, but especially a toddler and a baby.

While C did not win any of the awards, he was nominated for one. Since band is quite large, it is an honor just to be nominated. I am proud of him.

Their band is very good, and it is such a joy to listen to them. Another bad thing about the concert, however, is that the trumpets sit a little ways back and it is almost impossible to see him.

Still so blessed! I sat there at the concert feeling so very blessed that I can't go and support my children in their many activities.

National Junior Honor Society

Last night, C was inducted into National Junior Honor Society. I am so proud of him. He has accomplished so much already in his life. K was in NJHS as well. They both have a bright future ahead of them. They are such great examples for their younger siblings.

Speaking of yesterday, yesterday K took her first AP exam. It was human geography. She loved the class, and I am certain she did very well on the test. It is crazy to me that she was able to take an AP class as a freshman. I am also very proud of her. I am certain she did well.

What great children I am blessed with!

V's tummy time

We had Baby C on the floor for tummy time today. V decided she wanted tummy time too. :). It was adorable. CK was with them also. It was one of those moments that had to be remembered. I am certain that V doesn't remember life before Baby C, but she loves him so much that I don't think she would miss those days even if she remembered them.

My take on a song by Mr. Mark.

Rushing. Rushing. Rushing. The mommy kept on rushing.

Through the wind and rain, the mommy didn't stop..... Rushing. Rushing. Rushing. Till the mommy was exhausted!

I feel like I am just running here. Running there. Running everywhere. Today it was a new car to look at, national Junior honor Society induction, babies that are screaming, lunch at the elementary school, going to prepare to take care of my neighbors dog, etc. Etc. Etc. And, V is back to screaming at night. Oh, I hope we figure out what's going on with her!!

J football

J has been playing flag football again this year. He was so excited to play. He loved the beginning, was very apprehensive in the middle, and now with the last three games of this season, he is doing very well. He is still apprehensive, but he is good at defense and he also can run very fast when he gets the ball.

He also got to bring "Bud" home from school to watch his game. It was so cute that he wanted him there. "Bud" is a garden gnome that comes home with each one of the first graders to have adventures with them. Then, the first-graders write a story about what happened with "Bud". He already had "Bud", that he wanted to have him watch his football game so badly, that his teacher let him take "Bud" home again.

Mother's Day

I love being a Mom! (Miss you, A)

Baseball

C is currently playing his first baseball game of the season. I got to see the first half hour, but I am now feeding the baby in the car while he plays.

Unfortunately, the other team is definitely better. I am certain that C will be so frustrated by the end of this game.

While I was watching, I got to watch him bat and play shortstop.

J also has game (flag football) today. We had to split up, because the games overlap. What a great way to spend my Mother's Day Saturday, watching my sons play sports. That's what mothers do! This is life. I am blessed.

K's piano recital

I bought a piano just over four years ago. K has been playing the piano for almost the whole time. She has come along way. I am so proud of her. Last night, she performed in another piano recital. She did well. It is cool to see her maturity, as she does not get nearly as nervous as she used to. It was a big day for her. She had to take her end of year state exam for biology in the morning and then had her recital in the evening. She really handled it with such grace.

At the end of the evening, her teacher had everyone and that was a current or former student come up and take a picture with her. It was neat to see how all of these children have grown. I am glad that K loves the piano so much. She loves music and the music that she plays or sings invites the Spirit into our home. We are truly blessed!! Thanks, K, for working on developing your talent, even though you are very busy high school student!

3 months

Baby C is three months old today. He is such a big boy. I am shocked at how fast time goes by. He loves to smile, but it is difficult to capture with the camera. He is always more interested in the camera then smiling.

He holds his head up very well, and is very interested in sitting up. He tries to sit up every chance he can get. He can grab things hanging above his head. He loves that, but once in a while, he doesn't know how to let go!

He loves his siblings. He has huge smiles for each of them, especially V!

We are so blessed to have him in our family! I love him!

Friends

Yikes! I just re-read the last post. Seems bad then but I.had.no.idea!!!! It got so much worse including another screaming night by V last night.

Lots of crying by both. Frequently simultaneously. Lots of driving for the older three. It was a very rough weekend.

But, I had help. I am so blessed. My heart is full of gratitude.

J.H. Picked up Kalina from her AP study group Saturday so I could go to J's game.

C.V. Took K home from choir practice so I don't have to go get her.

G.K. Took C home from collecting fast offerings.

C.F. Followed inspiration and came over to see me last night, while both babies were screaming. It was just a little bit of pick me up I needed before the crazy night began.

B.J. Took K to and from seminary this morning, so I would not have to drive her.

K.W. Picked up some Gatorade and some cards at the store for me, so I did not have to go to the store today.

Finally, one of C's friends is picking him up to take him to his football game that is like an hour and a half away, so I don't have to drive him.

I am so truly blessed. It may have been a very crazy weekend, but I am not only blessed to be a mother, I am blessed to have been surrounded with loving people that support me so well. Truly, I am one of the lucky ones.

Tough Times

Baby C has struggled to sleep well this week. So I am already sleep deprived.

Then....last night.....V would sleep a few minutes then start screaming uncontrollably. Nothing CK or I did would help. She did not want her favorite foods, her favorite places, or even her favorite songs. We were up a lot of the night. We did get one pretty good stretch from about 1:30 to about 4:15. Other than that, we were awake.

The hard thing is, that CK had to wake up at 4 AM to get ready to go on his flight to see A. Yes, he will be gone all weekend. I have two babies to take care of. I was not at all worried about it, since the older kids will be home some of the day today and all day tomorrow. Monday will be a little bit tough to get everyone to seminary and school, but I can handle it.

Now, I have a nearly 3-month-old that needs me frequently, and a toddler that is often screaming. There is not enough of me to go around.

Luckily, I am surrounded by people that can help if I need it. I have my sister, visiting teachers, home teachers, and neighbor friends. I am not alone.

I am so grateful that CK gets to go see A. I am grateful that we have enough money to budget in these trips each month. I am grateful that CK has such as desire to be with A. I am grateful that she loves me as one of her moms. I am grateful to be able to have her as one of my daughters. We are truly a blessed family.

So, today I am exhausted. But, I won't always be exhausted. And I needed to remember this moment.