The Load I Carry

For many years, I have been the "pregnant" lady.  I had baby after baby and so heard a lot of the same questions and comments that one hears while pregnant over and over again.

"How are you?"  Wasn't meant to ask about my state of mind, just merely my state of being... my health, my pregnancy, the baby.

"How much longer do you have?"  It's not like I was dying!  And asking this completely increased the feeling that I was supremely pregnant-looking, the person asking really doesn't care (or they would have paid attention the first time), and yes, it does feel like I've been pregnant FOREVER!

I'm no longer the pregnant lady, but I may as well be... for the questions have not changed, only the meaning which they imply.  Now I am the "back-in-school Mom."

"How are you?"  Now actually means, "How's school?" if not asked directly to begin with.

"How much longer do you have?"  I know it feels like I've been in school forever, but I am crossing off one semester at a time and WILL eventually graduate.  Just don't ask me when!

Anger Management

Look at that sweet face.  Can you imagine him scowling, complaining, and yelling all day long?  Unfortunately this little guy has been extremely angry and difficult to live with lately.  (Is this a third grade stage?  Was I just writing this last year with a different little boy?)  At any rate, it's affecting his schoolwork, how he treats those around him, and is even turning into physical aggression.  If you want a challenging career that forces you to grow constantly, I propose becoming a parent.

{The Middle Place}

In happier news, Mr. Crabby pants has planned out his entire Christmas list of gifts for family members, and he's working on earning money like a mad man - that was written before I realized how pun-ny it is!  

One of the many ways to earn extra cash in our house is to practice piano for an extra half hour.  This extra half hour of practicing merits either a 15 minute screen time ticket OR a yellow ticket = 50 big cents.  Desperate, and hating almost every other means of earning money (i.e. jobs), this little cutie has been getting up a half hour early every morning (6:00am) and practicing an extra half hour on top of his regular practice of 20 minutes.  Knowing that he he is doing this to earn money to buy special gifts he has selected for his siblings is heartwarming.  The fact that he has chosen to spend his extra practicing time learning and playing Christmas carols is beyond delightful.  Makes me smile every day.  It makes waking up and preparing to deal with an angry boy just a little bit easier.

I'm Thankful for Toilet Paper

My list of assignments, presentations, and final exams seems to be never ending.
The countdown is on.  I already know what I'm going to do on my first day of no school!

Gratefully we had a reprieve from "life" and enjoyed Thanksgiving with my sweet sister and her fun family.  I didn't do any homework at all!  We had a great time, but now I have to catch up... so I'll hopefully post more later.

I got a call from the public schools today with a sick child needing to be picked up.  One of the first of the semester, for that I am grateful (though it comes at a bad time)!

Amidst the rising stress in my home and body, I need to remember to be grateful!

We played the toilet paper game over Thanksgiving.  Everyone had to take as much toilet paper as they guesstimate they use in a day.  My boys went a little crazy, but then paid for it... for each toilet paper square taken they had to say one thing they are thankful for.  It was fun.

Today I am thankful for toilet paper.  And for my sister who talked to me on the phone while I was in the bathroom today.  We have no shame.

T.M.I

Our poor cat is quite lonely these days.

George Lucas, "Lukey" for short, is the only one who is a stay-at-home anything anymore.

Recently he's gotten a little annoying, so I decided to start an experiment based on my educational studies.  Basically, I presumed that since he wasn't getting as much attention, he was becoming one of those troublemakers who would rather receive negative attention than nothing.  So I decided that every time I walked in the door, I would sit down and give him several minutes of petting and attention.

One night, while prepping for dinner, I was explaining my plan to Mr. Man and Miss J, the middle-schooler.
(Yes, my baby is all grown up and not wanting me to take pictures of her as much!)

 In the middle of my explanation Miss J suddenly freaked out, yelling "T.M.I. Mom... T.M.I."

I was confused, and stated as such.  Which she took to mean that I obviously am not fluent in text language and quickly explained that T.M.I meant "too much information."

I knew what it meant, just not why my saying I was working on Skinner's behaviorism techniques with the cat and expected that he would soon be greeting me at the door merited such a reaction.  Apparently, my poor daughter thought I had said I would soon be "mating" with him (vs. meeting him).  Mr. Man and I had a good laugh about that one.  Seriously, gross.  Definitely T.M.I.

Miss J recently had an 80s activity to attend at her school.  We had fun putting her look together, and most importantly, she had a great time. Apparently leggings are back in now... who knew?  I didn't even think to shop for them and instead cut the sleeves off an old sweater.

If only I had looked that cute in the 80s!  We may be putting this gorgeous gal into hiding soon.
You should hear her on the piano!  We cannot keep this girl from practicing.  She's also enjoying choir and band at school, and we recently attended a concert and have a recital coming up this week.

Miss J has got quite a few regulars for babysitting jobs these days.  Last weekend I went shopping with her at the mall.  She had a birthday gift to purchase for a friend, and then splurged a little on herself as well.  It was interesting to see as she came home and realized what little money she had left and then asked if we could go back and return some "unnecessary items."  Geeze.  I love this girl.  She's basically amazing.

Changing Seasons

I've been contemplating this post, and the huge implications of having an online blog again, for over a month. (Cue way out-of-date picture of Little J playing in the leaves.)  My mental list of pros and cons is incapacitating.  I'm kind of shy - believe it or not.  And putting myself out there, all of me, has had the potential to put me in awkward places, have my feelings hurt, and ultimately feel more vulnerable than I ever expected.  I know, I know... I choose what I post, but I don't think I ever recognized the power of my words and the surprisingly forceful impact of having them thrown back in my face.

But I also miss it.  I miss blogging.  I promised I would continue journaling, even if I wasn't blogging, but I haven't.  I miss looking back on pictures, precious moments, and pieces of my many coloured days.
Recently I was working on a school project where I was supposed to record some overheard conversations.  I simply went back to my blog, searched "overheard" and had a plethora of choices to use in my assignment. I also had a bunch of memories to relish in, and the reminder that I have too many more "overheards" that are going un-recorded.

I've tried to make an effort to keep caught up with close friends and family - and boy is that hard. I'm blessed to have so many of you!  My life is so different now than when I was a stay-at-home mom with stay-at-home kids.  It's a changing season for me, and for our family; I want to treasure this season.

 And so, I'm going to keep blogging.  Ugh.  :)

Summing Up Spring Break

Lowell Observatory

• no pictures
• we waited in line (in the cold) for far too long to look through spectacular telescopes
• not sure if it was worth it (a.k.a. boring)
• got in free with museum reciprocity

Grand Canyon

• first time for all of us
• SPECTACULAR
• nobody fell
• awe-inspiring
• will definitely be back to do some hiking
• way too many pictures - and yet none seem to do this magnificent place justice
  
  

Goodbyes

Lots of Driving

Zion National Park

• we took a little round about route home through our third national park of the week
• had no idea what to expect
• we are anxious to come back to camp here and spend days exploring
• gorgeous and so different from anywhere we've been
• scary (high edge of cliff) hiking (for me!)
  
  
  
  (We are on top of that arch!)
  

BYU-Provo

• swimming, eating ice cream, and visiting with Mr. Man's little sister (we love her)
  

Home

• no more 80 degree weather
• back to real life

According to My Second Grader

(For the life of me, I cannot get this picture to turn around on here... turn your head sideways!)


I'm partial to the "junk" bubble.

Pornography

There were a pile of these sitting on a table at the Doctor's office.

I saw a coupon.

My son, bless his heart, saw something else and was horrified that a pediatrician's office would have pornography just laying right out there.

I love his innocent little mind.

May he stay nine for always.

Yet Another Scientist in Our Family

Two items that are permanently on my shopping list:

-vinegar

-baking soda

Personally, I love it. (Most of the time!)

Family Togetherness

Every family, and extended family, should have to play mini-golf together! Talk about fun times! We were all pretty horrible, and had a great time poking fun at each other.

Horseback riding was a MUST and we loved returning to the same ranch where dressing up is part of the experience. What a fun treat for all of us.

You'd have thought my boys had never seen toy guns before. Right. Like we don't have a weapons bin at home. At any rate, they were in their glory!

Little E actually came with all of his OWN cowboy gear, and even was complimented on his nice leather vest!
Even the little ones, who spent time with Grandma during the long ride, got to go on short rides of their own. (We owe Grandma a day at the spa for that one!)

It's snowing... so I might as well keep blogging about Spring Break in AZ

It was so relaxing to be outside so much. The kids thrived. (I thought it was a little hot!)

The cousins worked together to build a rock race track for the remote control cars... there was construction going on, so they were a bit limited with outside activities at the house.
Such creative little minds and hard-working attitudes.

This was the cutest thing - she kept going up to the statues and giving them hugs!

Makes me really start to look forward to our beautiful perfect summers here.

Celebrating Birthday

My son just turned nine. NINE!

His party is upcoming, so I will post when I have ALL the pictures (note to self: take pictures at party.)

But we did get to celebrate my niece's second birthday while we were in Arizona. Here's a few snapshots of the birthday girl enjoying her day. Isn't she sweet?!

Cousins

Mr. Man's brother's family came to visit too. We hadn't seen them in almost three years, so it was quite the reunion - and our first time to meet their youngest. (HOW DID WE NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF ALL THE COUSINS?!) While our family sports mostly boys, they have four little girls! I was in my glory with little nieces: beading bracelets, reading princess stories... so fun! Of course the kids had a blast with their cousins too. Miss J and the cousin closest to her age have been connecting through email and phone calls a lot lately and they were INSEPARABLE!


Little J was a bit worried about all the "girls" and had a hard time at first remembering names, so he kept calling each cousin "little girl." He was discussing the issue of too many girls with his brother, and Little E informed him... "Not A! She's a girl, but don't worry - she's like us!" Indeed she was! Those kids played in the dirt, raced around with little shotguns... you name it - they made some great memories and we can't wait to meet up again this summer!