Almost two months....where does the time go. I promised myself I would take a few minutes and update this blog....and even that has been a struggle all weekend. Jersey is asleep on my lap, so we will see how long this lasts.
I need to download pictures, but something is wrong with the networking for our four computers in our home. Really, who needs four computers? Two laptops and two desktops and not a single one working properly.
But I can update on our life. Matt is as busy as ever. Working while watching kids, baking bread, making cookies, doing yard work, putting in the garden, helping the neighbors with their yard, and checking off my extremely long "honey-do" list. I don't know how he does it.
I have been working as many extras for Primary Children's as I can. I wanted to change my hours from part-time to full-time. But unfortunately there wasn't a full-time position for me. When the unit I work on started slowing down, I started looking for another job. IMC's NICU was hiring and I took a chance. I was offered the position and it is a NICU residency position where they train you. I am so excited for the challenge and so far I love it. The books they have given me for Level 1 training would break your back carrying them. I want to still try to work occasionally up at Primary's when they are busy to keep my skills up, but it is nice to be slightly closer to home and I have been working a lot during the week on a day shift. This had been good for my internal clock. I was getting a little "crazy" with all of the night shifts. There is something rewarding about caring for the really little 24 weekers. And the parents of these miracles are the nicest people you will meet. I love my job!! When I am home, I have been trying to get our kids through their last month of school. Time is busy!!! State testing for weeks, final projects, programs and dance festivals, and weird schedules, plus tumbling and dance performances are coming up so there have been pictures and competitions. Plus I was released from my fabulous calling as a R.S. teacher and put in the Sunday School with the 16-18 year-olds. They are scary!! Okay only from the stand point of ...1. They can tell if you adequately prepared a lesson. 2. They are so cool and well, I have been out of the loop for 10-15 years now. I feel old. 3. We have really good youth and I feel the pressure to teach them what they need to know. 4. I have to teach each week as I am the only teacher. But now I am "forced" to study the gospel every day to prepare. It's amazing how Heavenly Father works.
Autumn is so great! She is doing so well in school. She participated in the school Spanish Immersion Dance Festival. She looked great. More to come on that. She is also taking voice lessons from a lady in our ward and loves it. Next year she is signed up for the school's choir. She has to stay after class and it becomes part of the curriculum so she can't miss days, but it should be fun to sing with other kids her age. She also has her dance recital coming up. She is in a hip hop class with a stinking cool outfit. Autumn has been really interested in driving lately. She like to sit in the driver's seat and pretend. She also asks a lot of questions about turns and speed. What is she thinking!
Sage also participated in the Spanish Dance Festival. She was adorable in her flowy skirt. We have pictures so those are coming. Sage did awesome in her tumbling Spring Thing Competition. She had to practice 4 tumbling passes and then show them to the judges. She placed 2nd in her level. We didn't take any pictures though, bummer. The first pass was 2 front walk-overs, 2 one handed cartwheels, 2 back-walkovers. The 2nd pass was 6 backhand springs. This one she scored really high on. The third was Hand-stand, roll, Jessie, then power round-off 2 backhand springs. The fourth was 2 hurdle side aerials. She looked so good and she is so much smaller and younger than the others in her class. She will move up to class B after next week and she is working on her back tucks.
Jack had a birthday so I will put pictures of that and also he had the opportunity to go to Kemmerer, Wyoming and do some branding and cowboy-ing on a ranch. He loves that kind of stuff. We went on a hike while up at our cabin and Jack was collecting sticks all along the way. He had so many that he could barely keep up. And each stick was something important to him.
Creed also had a birthday. The boys wanted Bakugans and BenTen stuff. I don't even know what the heck that stuff is. But it was at the store. Their cousin Austin is into the Bakugans and they really like him, so that is probably why it is such a big deal. Creed finished up preschool. He had such a great teacher this year who loved Creed for Creed. He passed with flying colors on his report card. He is so blasted smart when it comes to academics. I gave the boys some books for their birthday so they would actually get something other than toys, Creed had already read most of the books and they are at least first grade level. We just got back from our family cabin for the weekend and his favorite game to play up there was Boggle. He liked making words with the letters. And I can't think of anything terrible that he has destroyed.....Oh, wait. I forgot. When we were at his cousin's farwell, Creed went into the dad's office, (Mark), and ate all of his Cadbury mini eggs and threw darts at the walls. There were over a hundred brownies and other treats upstairs....I just don't get it.
Annie is adorable. She has been such a cutey lately. Loving on Jersey, smiling for Matt, playing with the neighbors. Annie has a real knack for remembering people. The other day she went across the street to the empty neighbors house and knocked on the door to play with Mindy. Mindy is our neighbor who moved to Arizona over spring break. We were lucky enough to help them move. Arizona was so warm and glorious. Our family drove down with the neighbors, pulling the jet skis. The kids swapped places and had a blast. I perfected feeding Jersey while in my seat belt and Jersey in her car seat, so we made great time. This is not something that just anyone can manage. It takes years and years of stretching and practice. :)
Then Annie walked around the cabin this last weekend wondering where grandpa was. She thought the cabin was grandpa's house. Probably because that is when she sees my dad the most.
Jersey is getting big. Tall would be a better word. She had her 4 month check up awhile ago and weighed 15 and something pounds. We didn't get an accurate measurement because she was trying to eat the scale. She is 97% for height. And sure enough, most of the clothes that fit are 12 months or bigger. Jersey has become a thumb sucker. We tried with the Binky, but now it is the thumb and she is a much happier person because she can calm herself. Out of six kids, three were or are thumb suckers. What great odds. Well at least we know a good dentist. Jersey is rolling all over the place and one night I went to a friends house for a Girls Night and Jersey sat in a bouncy seat and loved it. We have a bouncy car, but it isn't nearly as cool and she only kind of likes it. On my days off, I try to walk to the school to pick up Jack and take the kids to get out of the house. Jersey loves the stroller or the snuggly carrier. She will usually fall asleep pretty fast. It even works when I am trying to squeeze in a workout on the elliptical or bike. I strap her on and start riding and her little head bobs herself to sleep. Life is quite as long as she is being held. If not, she can really project her voice, or scream. Whatever you want to call it.
Many things have happened over the last couple of months for our families and friends too. My friend Mindy that I mentioned previously had her sweet baby boy Titus. This boy was almost 6 years in the making. We are so excited for her and her family. He will be a very lucky baby. Also some sadness. My cousin was pregnant with her fourth baby, Evan, and he passed on from this life. He was a special boy that already was dealing with more than his little body could handle. My nephew on Matt's side was baptized last year and will leave for his mission on Wednesday. His conversion story is one of the most inspirational things I have heard. He will make such a great missionary, just from the spirit that he radiates. My parents finally were able to take that dream vacation to Alaska. I am so excited for them and I know they are having a blast. They are the most incredible people and such an example of working hard and following the counsel of the church leaders. Some people are going through difficult times right now and are unsure what the future will bring. This would include us, I suppose, but I feel very calm and at peace with the direction that our life is going. I am just so very lucky to be married to Matt. We truly do compliment each other. Life is certainly manageable and even down right spectacular at times!
My Whole 30 Experience
12 years ago
