I Couldn't Make This Stuff Up!

Just a few things

Today the kids tested for swim lessons. None of them advanced which was fine. I thought Benjamin and Madeline would advance but it's not a big deal. We aren't going to be able to sign up for next session anyway because we'll be traveling and then VBS is the last part of the session. Too many conflicts. I did sign the girls up to continue with their gymnastics. They are really loving it.

After swim lessons we headed to the mall to use our gymbucks at gymboree. The plan was to swap kids with Kelly but they kids were all really good so we just shopped and then took the kids down to play at the play area. I got some good deals at Gymboree. I was school shopping a bit for Madeline and then picked up some Hawaii themed pajamas for the girls because I couldn't resist. I also picked up a couple of things for gifts. All in all a great deal when it's 50% off.

We hit Barnes and Noble also and picked up a book Benjamin can take on the trip out to Wyoming with my Dad. He's leaving Saturday and is very excited. We're trying to get him packed and organized tonight. I also am getting things together for Dad to take back to Ryan and Kristy. I've got quite a few dresses and things. Benjamin is so excited to be going on a road trip as he calls it. I think he'll do fine, he's got lots to do to entertain him. He's a good rider when it comes to road trips.

When I picked up the mail today there was a summons for me for Jury duty. Okay really? This is the second time since we moved up here I've been summoned. The first time I never had to go I just called in twice even after I told them I had the kids to take care of. I know it's my "civic duty" but really isn't there someone else with nothing to do during the day that would want to earn a whopping $10 a day plus milage out there without 3 kids to schlep around here there and everywhere? I mean really. Oh and on top of that it's a week that we're supposed to be gone out of town. Yeah it's great timing. Can't they just let the criminals sit until it's a more convenient time for me. What's that? It's not all about me? Really? Oh alright. We'll see what happens.

I think that's about all for now. I hope your day was a good one.

Cooking on the hottest days

I got a wild hair to do a little baking today. Yesterday I felt sad all day over the things that are going on. I seem to do this where one day I just feel paralyzed by grief and the next day I feel like baking something. It's my way of coping and I guess that's sort of healthy. At any rate Tim and the kids enjoy my coping and it's outcome.

Today I baked Blueberry boy bait and Chocolate Zucchini cake. You can check them out on my baking blog here. The Blueberry boy bait is like a cross between a muffin and a cake and it's so good! We haven't tried the cake yet and I am not telling the kids it has zucchini in it because I made that mistake last week and Benjamin turned his nose up and acted like he was gagging at the mear mention of it so we'll see if they eat it. The blueberries came from my friend Jen, and the zucchini came from our neighbor. Thanks so much!

Swim lessons today were really good again. I think I will go ahead and sign the kids up again for the next session even though we won't make it to some of them. It's cheap and not that big of a deal.

Natalie told Tim last night about her swimming and then about the wading pool. "Daddy the wading pool is just waiting for me to play in it." It was pretty cute, she thinks it's called a waiting pool. She also told us her laugh box was broken and she was very very sad. This came off a spongebob episode but the kids were cracking up when she said it which made her more sad. She's a goof!

And here's a link to my blog book I just finished. You can check it out here.

Okay that's it for today. I hope yours is a good one! 

A reason, a season, or a lifetime

I read this today and thought it was worth sharing here.

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you
will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things
you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional
foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

Finally a good day at swim lessons

Today Nat got in and didn't cry the whole lesson. It was a huge big relief! She did a great job she went with the instructors when they asked her to and all was well. She even smiled and popped her head up to say hi every so often. Yeah!

After lessons everyday the kids go and play at the wading pool. They love it and it's a nice way to wrap up swim lessons.

Here's some photos from today and yesterday.

This past weekend Tim and I figured out how to arrange the photos in the front hallway. It lasted all of 24 hours because last night Benjamin slammed the garage door and the little photo fell and shattered. Oh well it was pretty while it lasted.

I think that's all for today.

Monday

Another week of swim lessons and this morning was pretty much the same as last week. Natalie cried for the first 15 minutes but was at least in the pool. I fought her to get her to go in as usual. Then the last fifteen minutes she just cried on and off again. When one of the instructors tried to get her to swim off of the wall she kicked and screamed like he was trying to drown her and no one came close to her again after that. Tomorrow we'll work on that.

Today we got some sad news from a family member. Right now it feels a little to personal to share here so I'll just leave it at that. They have been on my mind every day for a while now and I'm sad to hear of the outcome of their struggles. They will continue to be in my prayers and thoughts.

I think a lot of times it is easy to sit on the outside of a situation and assess it. When you are in it though you can't see the forest for the trees. Once you step back you realize and are able to see what you couldn't see previously.

I spent today finishing up my blog book from 2007. There were so many pictures and things that I had forgotten. As I looked through them I kept thinking those were happier times, especially today. Tonight though I wonder, were they really? I heard a quote recently and I will share it here.

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future finer than it will be.”-Marcel Pagnol

I think it's an interesting quote something to be thought about. So I'll leave you with that tonight.

3 months

It was three months ago today that Grandpa passed away. I think it's harder this month that the date falls on the same day of the week. It was a Saturday and today was just hard. I felt a deep need today to sit down and write what happened that day. If you would like to read my account of Grandpa's last day here you can read it here. I posted it back on the date because I wanted to write it all down but i thought it should be back there on the day. It's still hard each day and I think of him every single day still. Something will make me think about him, it's how our loved ones remain with us forever.

Today at 4pm I lit a candle and put on the song, Footprints in the sand, by Leona Lewis. I'll share this youtube video with the song here and call it good for the day. Footprints in the Sand and then also the song Megan sang at the memorial service which was beautiful Come to Jesus, as I listen to it now I'll have one more good cry today because it's a way to remember.

  

Fun Friday

Friday is always the day in swim lessons where the kids get to use the last 15 minutes to play and go down the big slide and jump off the diving board. Maddie and Benjamin both got to go down once. Benjamin was very sad because just when they got up to the front of the line again they said class was over so he was really upset and said it was "unfun friday". It was kind of a ripoff I have to say. I didn't get a picture of him going down the slide because I was dealing with Natalie.

Yesterday was no different than any other day except she didn't want to put her suit on at home and then didn't want to shower either when we got there so she started balking earlier than usual. Oh and for fun Benjamin decided his swim shorts were too big and Maddie said her suit was too cold because really I needed two more little people to be difficult in the morning.

When it was time for Nat to get in the pool the tears and fit throwing began. I fought with her for about the first ten minutes then told her I was going to sit on the other side of the pool if she didn't get in. She cried and sat there and then when I walked away followed me. I told her again what she needed to do and she decided I was serious and went back and got in the pool, crying the whole time mind you but she got in. She was in for 5 minutes holding onto the side of the pool and then got out because fun friday started and she didn't want any part of it. I told her she did good and took her over to play in the wading pool which she loves and it's so irritating. She loves the water, I think she's just decided to see who is more strong willed.

Anyway we survived the first week hopefully next week will be better. We ran errands the rest of the day and Tim got off work a little early. Last night we took the kids out to dinner at Red Lobster. We had a gift card and it was really good. Natalie ate a lot of clam chowder, she loves soup.

We hit the bread store yesterday afternoon also. We were out of hot dog buns. If you don't know about the bread store here's the info. Last time we were there we got a ton of bread for very little. When Benjamin realized this he said you should tell everyone about the bread store. We like the Orowheat outlet, they take the bread that is getting close to it's sell by date from the big stores and sell it at a signifigantly reduced price. We buy loaves of bread for $1.19 a loaf, normally it sells for upwards of $3. We like the oatnut bread and can go through 1-2 loafs a week. They have punch cards and when you buy $20 worth they give you a free something of your choice. They also have sections where you buy two and get the 3rd for free. Anyway you should check it out. We go a couple times a month and then freeze our bread and it saves us money by not having to go out and pay full price for bread when we need it. So there you go your money savings for the week!

Have a good one!

Swim Class

Natalie calls swim lessons, "swim class" and she never wants to go, in case you were wondering. This morning she did say she was going to go and get in the pool. Then we got there and that was the end of that. I was so so frustrated with her. She sat beside the pool for the entire lesson and cried. She would get quieter until someone walked by or she caught me looking at her then she would get louder and more dramatic laying her head on her knee. I told her she was making me crazy. She told me "Ben and Maddie are making me crazy!"

Tonight the girls had gymnastics and before we left to go Natalie informed me she didn't want to go and that "I am sick of it!" A phrase which incidently I used on her this morning. Ugh!

She started to balk and cling to me when class started. The teacher simply came over and picked her up and Natalie was fine.

Benjamin is doing really well with swim lessons. Kelly described him as gliding through the water, which was the perfect way to describe him. Maddie is much more sure of herself and is doing really well also. This morning I had to quick fix on her suit. When we were down in Portland last time we picked up a really cute shirt and bottom set but the bottoms were way to big. I was just going to save it for her so I picked up a couple other suits because right now they are clearing swimsuits out and you can't find them anywhere. Anyway only one of them fit so I was back to square one and ended up taking her bottoms in. I'm hoping they will be okay when I let them back out as she grows. It's a cute suit and she likes it.

So that is pretty much the story for today.

So excited

Yesterday Barb called and had an idea. She was buying a ticket to fly back to Wyoming to visit Ryan, Kristy, Nathaniel, and Baby Olivia. She really wanted me to go to. After thinking about it and some tears I just couldn't leave Maddie here and go back. Benjamin is going to ride out with Papa and he's excited about their "road trip" but Maddie wouldn't make that long of a trip, she's just a bit too young yet. Mom is already going to be there and if I didn't go now I wouldn't be seeing Olivia until after Christmas. After some discussion and more tears the offer was made and eventually after many objections ultimately I gave in because the fact is I really really want to go and take a million photos of Baby Olivia and hold her!

So in a couple weeks Maddie and I will fly out to see everyone! I can't wait and it is an amazing opportunity that I am so so grateful for. Because really who can resist this?

Today at swim lessons Natalie refused to get into the pool. She just sat on the side refusing to even get her feet wet for most of the time. Then at the end I asked the instructor to take her in because I really don't know what her fear is but I didn't want her to think she was going to get away with not getting in at all. Tomorrow she has said she will get in. We will see. Benjamin is quick it turns out. He won their race today twice in his class so he was excited about that. Madeline is doing great and probably could have gone into the next class but it's fine.

This afternoon we went to McDonald's to meet up with Kelly and Jen and the kids played. We didn't realize it was storytime day and let me just tell you it was insane in there. That playland was well past it's capacity and LOUD. We will not be doing that again, even if there's a free book in it for the kids. It was crazy. Visiting with Jen and Kelly was nice though so it was okay.

I think that's it for today. I hope yours was a good one.

Swim lessons

The kids started swim lessons yesterday. Natalie and Benjamin were super excited to start. Madeline wasn't so much. When we got there Madeline was fine and Natalie started to get clingy and wasn't sure she was going to stay. Once she got settled she was fine until the end of the lesson when the teacher got her to do the back float and she started crying for me. I had to go get her and after she told me she was scared to be on her back in the water.

Today she didn't want to go. Madeline and Benjamin were fine and Natalie wasn't so good. She started to cry and we talked to her teacher and told her she was scared to be on her back and it was fine then she got in. Towards the end again though she got scared and cried again. So we'll try again tomorrow and see how it goes.

This afternoon I dropped a can of pop on the tile floor which exploded and made a huge mess. I hadn't really planned on cleaning the floor and the walls and everything else.

Maddie is riding her bike like crazy now. She is doing great with it and loves that she can keep up with Benjamin and Daddy. I think this was her biggest motivation to learn.

Last Friday night we got the ice cream maker that Aunt Sue had given us and made vanilla ice cream. It was so yummy and summery. I'll post the recipe on my other blog tomorrow.

I think that's it for now. I hope your day is a good one.