Earlier Every Year

That's right, we put up a Christmas tree.
I just got caught up in thinking of what fun it is to get in warm pajamas and listen to Christmas music while the kids decorate the tree so, we went for it!
Only the "fun" one though...
I'll do the "fancy" one later.
On my own for sure because the kids said they only wanted to help with the "fun" ornaments.
We have way higher ceilings so our 7.5 foot one wasn't going to cut it in the living room, or so I convinced Brady.
So it became what the kids call the "fun" tree or the "kid" tree.
I was happy to see that we have finally accumulated enough home made and collectible ornaments to do a bigger tree.
The girls chose a new tree skirt and star and I am on the hunt for a some fun accents- then we will have to update this picture, but it was such a fun night...even if it was just two weeks after Halloween!

Now the List

Endless planning and preparing meetings for our Primary presentation
Halloween (Since when did it become ok to make this a week0long holiday? I object.)
Surgery for Brady (as many details as he will let me share to come later, but he is fine:)
A baby shower our house
A husband home all week recovering...which was pretty fun, although it threw our schedule off a bit
Sick kids
A dance competition (and a shocking amount of make-up, but so fun for them!)
A few birthday parties
Crafts that I actually wanted to make
Completed curtains (pictures later...probably)
Volunteering in kid's classes
Homework
Dance
Teach piano lessons
Movie night with cousins
Cleaning
Yard work
Harlee's baptism...so lovely.
Shopping, of all kinds
A little more prep for Primary things
Not much sleep
and
enjoying what few moments we have had together over this busy couple of weeks.
That's what's up.
And one more thing on that list...but it deserves it's own post!
....maybe later....

Explaination in Pictures

Here is why I fell off the face of "blogging" world for the last few weeks.

Seeing Spots

I don't want to totally ruin the last post so I'm not going to blog about:
waking up 40 minutes before Regan needed to get to school
Having to take Emma to Aby's
And then she took her to my moms
While I rushed Lyla to 2 doctors appointments,
where she cried when anyone in scrubs walked by.
I had Major back pain from...I don't know, it's just pretty bad right now.
Laundry (just that word kills the goodness of yesterday)
Make-up homework
Dinner
Baths
A Family Home Evening gone awry
and...
the application of the medicine for Emma's eye.
Oh. My. Word.
That alone makes us all sad.
Progress is being made so maybe tomorrow will have a few more bright spots than today.

Wait. Today had some too.
My sister is always right there when I need her.
And maybe someday she will need me more than I need her so I can return the favor(s).
My mom graciously cleared her day to accommodate Emma and then me and Lyla cause I needed to unwind for a bit after the morning we had.
When we came home Emma watched out the window for an hour for Regan to get home. She missed her!
When Regan got here she told us she cried in the morning cause she missed Emma. Sweet girls.
While homework was a lot today they both worked hard and impressed me with their smarts.
The laundry got done. In one day!
Steak and chip fries for dinner...not the healthiest, but it was cooked at home and not by me...which is even better:)
Bedtime hugs...gotta love 'em. They make me look forward to what will happen tomorrow.
At least it was just Monday...there is time to recover.

Sunday's Story

I woke up cranky. And late.
I haven't slept through the night since last Saturday.
If it isn't one it's the other. Or the other.
It's ok...I mean, it is what it is.
But it all hit me and I was in a fog.

It started on Thursday night when I noticed Emma's eye was a bit puffy.
I know this well since she is prone to styes so we started with the hot compresses and washing with baby shampoo.
Friday it was bothering her and not progressing as quickly as they usually do.
Saturday it was puffy and a little warm, but not hurting so I thought we were making progress.
Since we are always just told to wash it often and do hot compresses I didn't think much could be done and thought that we would see what it looked like this morning and go from there.
She woke me in the night with watery eyes and wanted to inform me it was getting better.
Good. So I walked her back to bed and I don't remember what happened after that...until we slept through Brady's 2 alarms and woke totally disoriented at 7:15am. Not good because church is at 8, remember?
I examined Emma's eye again and I tried not to freak out.
It was swollen and looked so awful. Not better at all.
*At this point it is important to note that ever since Emma got her ears pierced ((HER choice!)) she is...to say the very least...squeamish about pretty much anything that is going near her ears and face...it is worse than trying to eye-drops in a baby's eye. Like that Friends episode where Rachel freaks out about the eye drops and Monica has to hold her down -yeah, like that, but with crying and fits and more crying.

Anyway, I had to get to church in time for Primary, but I didn't want to leave my girl like that so I told her to put a warm washcloth on it and watch a movie with Dad and I'd be home soon.
I didn't want to take her to a random Doc if it could possibly wait until Monday, but with how it was looking I doubted it could wait. I felt even more awful.
As I was getting in the car with Regan I paused and said a prayer. I needed to find someone who could help her. We are new in the ward so I had no idea if there was anyone who could or would be willing to offer help and I didn't even know who to talk to about it. So I asked. I just needed to be able to relieve her poor eye.
I got to church and got Regan with her class, then took a seat in the back of the Primary room as our meeting started.
After just a moment Emma's teacher turned around from her seat and whispered, "Where is Emma?" I said that she wasn't feeling well. She asked what was wrong so I moved to the seat behind her and told her that it was her eye and everything that had been going on.
She said, " Bring her over right after church and my husband will take a look!"
I, not knowing them at all said, "Is he a doctor?"
She said, "He's an optometrist!"
I had no clue.
I nearly melted...this teacher who cared enough to ask about my girl and want details answered my prayer.
Emma really adores her so it went well to have her there while her husband checked her out and wrote a prescription. And I was grateful that he would take the time to help from home, on Sunday.
Prayers are answered in so many ways, but it made the experience that much sweeter that it was through someone who genuinely knows and loves Emma.

He hears me. Every time.

I'm pretty sure we will all sleep better tonight.

I Felt Like It

Brady is back home from a camping/canoeing trip. We get a little misty when he every time he leaves. The girls went to bed early and I watched TV until I drifted into a light sleep.

We made pancakes and played and laughed and then worked on a major project together. Emma and Regan love to get crafty ...almost done and then we will post some pictures. After getting Lyla down for a nap we curled up on the couch to watch Father of the Bride part 2... a fave of mine when I was a kid. I did have to fast forward through one part that I forgot about so we won't be watching it again anytime soon.
Well they won't. I have a handful of movies that I loved as a kid that I enjoy...don't laugh, but here is the list:
Troop Beverly Hills
Crocodile Dundee
Big Business
What About Bob?
Home Alone
Father of the Bride 1 & 2
Sandlot
You've Got Mail
And in my teens I discovered 2 of my favorites...
Far and Away
American President
**
There you go...those are the movies I like to fall asleep on the couch to, cause lets face it...I haven't made it through a whole movie for years!

Sometimes I read a blog and think...wow that was an "overshare " or "why put that on your blog?" But I get it...when you are enjoying blogging everyday, you start to write...whatever.
Thus my post above.

More to Know

I knew we wouldn't make it through this break without a trip to Peter Piper. It was fun and now that the kids are clean and out for the night I'm finding myself with little to say so I'll just make a note of my likes and dislikes...

I like to spend cool evenings in our yard.
I do not like having to spray the front porch off every other day from August-October because of all the dust storms.

I like to clean all in one day...it almost kills me to get it done but I need a clean slate once a week.
I do not like to ask Brady for help with cleaning, he is awesome but I have a "standard of clean" that only I understand.

I like to watch TV in bed before I fall asleep. (trying to quit...)
I don't like the TV to be on in the evenings when it's a school night...just adds to the confusion that is homework/dinner/baths/bedtime.

I like to read the Ensign all the way through the day I get.
I don't like when my Ensign gets put in the wrong box and I don't get it until days later when people realize I might want it. (unless they wanted to read it themselves first...but they didn't.)

I like to text.
I don't like to have detailed conversations through text. I think I have said that before.

I like to play games with my family.
I don't like to play video games with my family...Emma and Brady morph into crazies when we do.

I like to get to church 20 minutes early.
I don't like when I get to church 20 minutes early but spend 10 more minutes applying make-up in the car. (I do it anyway because I don't like taking two cars...)

I like hearing my kids all sing to whatever music is on when we are all in the car.
I don't like it when Lyla does her best to scream over them...it's louder than I ever thought a kid could scream.

I like having the older kids in school so I can watch news shows in the morning.
I don't like that Lyla screams when it's on until I put on Mickey Mouse.

I like falling asleep on the couch on Saturday afternoons while the kids play and Brady is watching a game.
I don't like being startled out of my sleep by his reactions. (the players and coaches can't hear him)

I like flowers and pictures of flowers.
I don't like that most of my favorites can't grow here.

I like gathering ideas for our house.
I don't like the time it takes to execute ideas.

I like to let things go and move on.
I don't like feeling that I am not very good at it. (thus the story of the "vess")

I like hearing my kids talk about stories we have taught them from the scriptures.
I don't like hurrying to put them to bed because they tend to want to spill their guts right when I am about to shut the door and I don't want to miss out on any of their thoughts.

I like the way it feels when I have had a good "Mom Moment".
I don't like the way it feels when I feel like I failed in a "Mom Moment."

I like when Brady is really chatty and we have a long conversation, even when he wakes me up in the middle of the night for it.
I don't like when I want to be chatty, but he is falling asleep.

I like (genuinely) staying home and everything that includes.
I don't like seeing Brady come home from a difficult day and having no way to help him...I could never do what he does.

I like remembering my childhood.
I don't like the thought of ever moving away from my mom and dad. (we aren't. just saying...if I had to...)

I like things that remind me of my childhood.
I don't like worrying and wondering if my kids will look back and enjoy their childhood the way I did.

I like the way Emma understands why I do things the way I do and rolls with it.
I don't like that I feel like I expect too much from her because she is so mature and helpful.

I like the way Regan still comes to me and says, "I need you."
I don't like that she skips off to school forgetting to hug me. I remind her and she comes back, but soon that will be a major embarrassment to her:)

I like the way Lyla says, "Mom? Mom?" to anyone when she needs...anything. It's a new thing and I like that that's how she associates my name with help.
I don't like that she bit Regan today.

I like that I feel like with every new thing I experience I am gaining more empathy and depth.
I don't like experiencing things that I don't like. :)

I like juicing fruits and vegetables so I don't have to stress about if my kids are getting enough. (yeah, I do worry about that.)
I don't like much of the vegetables I juice...so it's for me too, not just them.

I like to blog. For different reasons on different days.
I don't like putting myself out there too much for -whoever- to scrutinize...a little late for that, I know.

I like peace.
I don't like unrest, in any form.

Huh. I had more to say than I thought.

Vess 2011

For some reason I take a lot of satisfaction in opening the blinds each morning and letting sunlight flood the house. The sunshine sets a 'happy' mood for the day. The only drawback is when it highlights the fact that I need to dust...darn the Arizona dryness!
I love this time of year because we get to enjoy it getting dark outside earlier. I close all the blinds and turn on the lamps in most of the rooms and things seem to calm down...most days/in my dreams.
Right now we are watching Full House re-runs and watching Lyla attempt all kinds of tricks on the family room floor. It was a good day ...our good friends from the old ward came over and we got to catch up a bit. We only moved a few miles away but life is busy so we haven't been able to keep in touch the way we had thought we would.
Kids need to get tucked in and then it's my turn...

But first, let's get real. When we moved in our yard was...to say the least ...overgrown. We trimmed everything including a vine that was draped over half of our fence and on parts of the house. It was green and pretty but not for us. We took a hedge-trimmer to it and have since maintained it, which is frustrating to spend time on it since it's not even rooted in our yard. We contemplated throwing it over the fence, but who does it belong to? It seems to come from all directions. We aren't even sure who started this 'vess' (our term for vine-mess 2011). Rather than cause a possible rift, or 'vift' (vine- rift) with the new neighbors we will just suffer in silence. After all, we plan to be here for a while and would hate to have neighbor troubles. So...we maintain this 'veast' (vine-beast).

All was well for weeks...and then...I walk into the kitchen with the girls one day and Emma runs to the back door and yells, "Mom! They threw dead vine over our fence!" Acknowledging the "over-reaction" factor that exists in our family I put a few things away first and walked over to the window when I realized she was still staring outside. Sure enough! Our neighbors right behind us had thrown a dead portion of the vine still connected to what was left living in their yard back over into our yard. Wow, right? They didn't even cut it, just tossed this 5 foot dead chunk of vine right over the fence. Emma was totally dumb-founded. "WHY would they do that?!"

I had no words. But I knew Brady would. Emma insisted that Dad would have to throw it back over the fence. I down-played and said, "It's fine. No big deal. They obviously aren't happy that we trimmed our vine because it killed their part so they are letting us help them take care of it." I was under her magnifying glass, for sure. I had to handle this right. Not the way I wanted to, let's be honest. She could not believe the mess they made and all I could say was, "Well, we are just going to cut it and throw it away and say nothing else about it." She said, "Right. Cause we definitely don't have anything nice to say about this!"

After we calmed down I had to sneak off to call Brady and give him warning cause I knew he would react the way I wanted to! For added drama I sent him a picture of it. It was just weird. Who does that? If you know you have to deal with people often why would you cause a stir? Honestly, we haven't spoken to them, but I'm sure toys will end up over the fence in the coming years so we have to keep it nice. Silly things like that make me wonder what people are thinking...it just seems like burning a bridge...why rock the boat? Anyway, the hardest part of it all was explaining to Brady why we had to be good neighbors and let it go especially for Emma's sake. But you better believe when he got home from work she was running straight to him to inform him of the scandal that was Vess 2011! He responded to her, through gritted teeth, "We aren't throwing back, because that wouldn't be right. We will just get rid of it." Should we be embarrassed that Emma reacted that way??? after all she learns from us...hmmm.

And yes, I realize that this story is absurd and of no real importance, but if it helped the kids learn a little about being a kind neighbor, then...that's what matters, right? ???

Juicy Details

About as juicy as it gets for a "housewife."
And by the way...that's an odd thing to be called.
I'm so much more than that.
Right?

Anyway, I have wanted to blog these past few days but I am so tired.
We have been going and going since Friday afternoon and besides all the business I am mentally and emotionally exhausted.
It's been a lot the last two weeks.
But top of my list is that I was called to be first counselor in our ward's Primary presidency.
Primary can be read about here.
Even now I can't find the words...
but I am excited to be part of what I loved as a kid and what is teaching my children so much about Jesus and the church of which we are a part.
It's a busy season for this calling and I kind of just get to roll with it.
Everyone keeps asking if I will be ok...or if I am ok...
they obviously know something I do not:)
I realize the responsibility and work that I am accepting but rather than stress about it all at once
I choose to save it...and have moments/hours/days etc where I will be utterly overwhelmed.
I'm good with that. And Brady is used to it so we're fine.
I feel very blessed to be able to help shape this young generation into what their Heavenly Father has in store for their lives. And they are awesome kids. Oh, Sunday was my first time with them and they are so happy and strong...
I will learn way more from them than they will from me.

This change has brought a big change for Lyla.
Rather than wait until she is 18 months to go into the nursery she gets to go early...YAY!
She went in immediately and claimed a baby doll, much to the dismay of the 2 year old already holding it!
We left thinking it was way too easy.
They brought her to me with 15 minutes left with blood-shot eyes, blotchy cheeks, and hardly able to catch her breath.
That's my girl...
We will try again next week.

An older man said in church on Sunday that he's been really sick lately but he wanted to come to church to see which people didn't have enough money to go out of town...I laughed and then...wait.
So hopefully my kids will remember how much fun HOME can be when they get back to school and write their "What I Did Over Fall Break" journal entries...
cereal and smoothies for breakfast
minimal hair-dos, if any at all
costco dinner, twice. so far.
a movie (nap for mom) while Lyla naps
a different fun 'fall treat' everyday
later bedtime, which if you know me...is major.
cleaning and organizing projects...sorry kids, get used to it. What's a school break without your room being cleaned out?!
Freezer food for dinners that are not at Costco.
bike-riding in our jammies.
a busy craft table.
zoo.
whatever mess you want to make as you get reacquainted with our house after being gone way TOO much for the past 9 weeks...also major deal, if you know me.
And it's just Wednesday...who knows what junk these kids will eat and what germ-filled places we will end up at?

I know that most of what I post about regarding my marriage is related sports.
Annoying right? I think so too.
There hasn't been a fall like this one for a few years and it is not my favorite kind...
See, not only is Brady a BYU fan(atic) he loves the St. Louis Cardinals.
I accepted this love a LOT faster, and I am a fan myself.
But NOT when it is combined with BYU.
So Cardinals making it to post-season was less than a thrill. (For me.)
And if Brady wants to state his side, well he can start his own blog...but he won't. He is too busy reading sports blogs.
Our weekend was taken over...
Cardinals on Friday, Byu on Saturday, Cardinals on Sunday and then again on Monday!
When you read back to my previous post about all the lists and all the help Brady was...this is why.
I don't use watching games as a threat...I don't even need to. He figured it out without me saying anything....
(which is ALSO how I know that he knows that he is a bit "intense", at least on some level)
Super cheerful/helpful-best husband/dad e v e r...
and then it's game time.
And he's gone.
It's like we don't even know him.
And if his team loses I have to hash it all out play-by-play and watch him work his way back to the Brady I know and love.
But on the better days, when they win...
Well, it's order is restored and all is well again.

It's become a sort of entertainment for me to watch him watch a game.
He even looks at me and laughs after a particularly angry rant/victory dance.

I Rule.

Whenever we put Lyla in the cart we say to her, "Now Lyla...do we scream at the store?"
Her answer every time is the same, "AHHH! UH-uh." Accompanied by a serious face and her head shaking "no".
Does she follow this rule? Not usually, but she does know it.
She loves to turn around and sip on the girl's Costco smoothies while they fight over who has to share, and yes...that IS my 7 yr old in the cart. It was SO busy I wasn't about to usher my kids around those over-sized isles.

Another favorite is the bumpy part of the concrete before the store entrance. Brady makes a point to stay on it as long as possible while Lyla laughs and the girls crack up watching her head "bobble". See kids, the store is fun.
***
I was the boss today. I'm pretty sure that I am the only one who is ever happy about this. When I take over it starts with a list of what I consider to be totally realistic expectations for the day.

My lists make Brady nervous.
What? There IS time for everything.
You just stop to eat and if you are fast about it then it's really not a big deal:)
So we started the day with trips to Walmart (ugh...) and then Costco (could have been fun if it wasn't full like it was the day before Thanksgiving!)
After quick break for lunch and a few minutes to play (see? Not so bad) we did lights, fans, inside windows, baseboards, tables and chairs, and finished the day with my least favorite...the floors (I wouldn't have to do them so much if we would stop walking on them so much but there's no avoiding it I guess).
Just when the kids were a little cranky (it was light fall cleaning...I don't get why they were sweating, they were fine) and my list was complete it was time for me to sneak out to get my hair done.
It was the perfect end to the day (for me). I got to sit for 3 hrs and chat with my fabulous sil, which I am quite confident could last for days.
Then home just in time to put Lyla to bed, cuddle with Regan, and watch Emma finish the chapter book she started last night.
I don't know about any of the other family members, but I had a good day!
**Brady compared my "list tendency " to Claire Dunphy...and I compared his "football tendency " to the obnoxious football fans on Monday night football commercials...more on that tomorrow.

And p.s

Lyla's hair is usually done, despite what some of the pictures show.