Loss of a Friend

This week the boys lost one of their dear friends--

Our trampoline.

It succumbed to what is  known as "western kansas wind". 

We said our final goodbyes today as we threw it in the dumpster.

May it rest in peace.

Gavin's Fashion

Gavin is very vocal about what clothes he wants to wear.  He saw this shirt in Matt's closet.  It's a school shirt.  Gavin thinks it looks like Chuck E. Cheese.  It has now become his favorite pajama shirt.  He's really into hats now, too.  Typically he wears his orange one, but this particular day he wanted to wear one of Matt's. 

Here is is after changing out of his jammies and into his church clothes.  He was excited to wear a tie, like Daddy. 

Conference, Birthday and Baby

This past weekend was General Conference and Robert's birthday (Sunday).  It was a busy weekend.  A friend also had her baby Friday morning, so I took care of her other children for a couple of days.  We had prearranged this so I was expecting her call some time.  However, when it came at 2am Friday morning I was a bit frantic.  Knowing her water had broke but not knowing how short her labors tended to be, I quickly made Adam and Matt's lunches, made sure Robert was coherent enough to know I was leaving and rushed over within 10 minutes.  In the morning I got the three oldest off to school and brought the two younger ones home to my house.  Gavin loved having his 'friends' over to play.  We had them over again Saturday evening while my friend came home and rested a bit.  This is baby #6 so she needed some peace and quiet before the chaos began. 

During all of this I had also planned on having some activities for the boys during Conference.  I printed off a bunch of activity sheets, set up a Lego table (to build church-related items), had a snack basket , pictures of the prophets/apostles and places to write notes.  Nothing like watching four sessions of conference with young children.  By Sunday afternoon, they were bouncing off the walls...literally.  Adam would doing a handstand on the couch, then run behind it and jump up on the wall and then repeat it.  Over and over.  And....then we had a bit of a birthday for Robert.  Saturday evening, before the priesthood session, we went out to eat.  Sunday morning I made a favorite breakfast of his--'breakfast treat'--something his mom would make it as a kid.  Then we opened presents before conference.  He received the obligatory shirts and ties.  And some chocolates.  Dinner was steak and mashed potatoes.  His big present came last month--a trip to Miami.  So I've included a couple of photos from the trip.  Certainly we went to the beach but I've included photos of things we don't typically do. 

 

 

We went to a Miami Marlins baseball game.  It was in the new stadium--very nice.

We also checked out American Airlines Arena--home of the Miami Heat basketball team, NBA champs.

Cavities & Pets

This week has had a couple of firsts.  Adam and Matt went to the dentist.  This wasn't the first time, but it was the first time to a dentist that isn't their grandpa.  Both did much better than I was expecting.  And neither had cavities. 

Also, we got our first pet.  Robert came home Friday evening with a kitten.  Matt and Gavin were SUPER excited.  Adam, on the other hand, was extremely upset.  He did not want a pet.  So, we returned the kitten.  We decided it might be best to start out with a smaller pet, because although Adam doesn't want any pet, Matt and Gavin do.  So, yesterday afternoon while Adam was at a birthday party, Robert took Matt to the pet store.  He picked out a hamster.  Matt named her 'Butterscotch'.  As expected, Matt and Gavin are thrilled and Adam is upset.  Hopefully he'll come around a bit.  As for me personally, having never had a pet, I'm getting used to the idea, too.  It is cute, though, to see Matt and Gavin's excitement. 

 

Mischief Matt

Matt is always up to something.  He tends to see the humor in nearly everything.  So, when he gets caught he laughs, which then makes us laugh and helps us see the humor in the situation.  Typically sometime after school Matt ends up watching TV in my room.  He often sneaks into the kitchen to get a snack.  He thinks he's being quiet but I can always hear him scurrying about.  Normally he's just getting a go-gurt or cheesestick so since they're healthy I don't make a big deal about it.  Yesterday was no different. . . .so I thought.  I heard him in the kitchen and then run back to my room.  Later I went in to my room and found him on my bed with a 5 lb. bag of chocolate chips. 

Another example of Matt's mischief:  He likes anything physical, especially physical play.  So he likes to play rough with Gavin.  He trips him, tackles him, clotheslines him, etc.  On Monday it got to be too much.  Matt was too tempted, so we put him in his room to separate him from Gavin.  Gavin then went and played in the backyard.  I soon heard Matt yell through his bedroom window at Gavin and they started talking.  This carried on for about 15 minutes.  I didn't think much of it.  I was busy preparing dinner.  All of sudden I heard Matt laughing and he burst in the kitchen from the backyard.  It stunned me for a second and then I asked, "Hey, how did you get out there?"  Matt just laughed.  I asked, "Did you pop your screen out?"  Matt kept laughing.  "Did you pop your screen out?" I asked, now sternly.  "No", said Matt, while laughing.  I knew something wasn't adding up.  So I went to his room and checked out the window.  He was right.  He hadn't popped the screen out.  He had cut it! 

A Note from an Imperfect Mom--

So this summer I've had some experiences that have made me feel like a cra*py mom.  I think for the most part the people did not intentionally want to hurt my feelings but I do question some others' intentions.  I just don't understand why some people think they've got all the answers and have everything figured out.  That's such baloney!  And when they have a superior attitude it does no good.  It just makes others feel judged.  Parenting is hard work.  Most of the time I feel completely ineffective.  And the longer I'm a parent the harder it seems to get. 

I recently bought a book by M. Russell Ballard called 'Daughters of God'.  Interesting enough he has five daughters, 24 granddaughters and 9 great-granddaughters.  So I would say his on-the-job training has made him a bit of a expert on women.  I found a quote in the book I really like.  I think it's great for those of us moms who are trying to figure out how to be the best mom we can for our children, and also for those moms who think they've already figured it out.  He says,
"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.  Each situation is unique.  Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children.  What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

September Stuff

September is already half done and we'll be ending summer and starting fall (officially) this week.  It's hard to believe the kids have been in school for a month already.  This month began with a long, weekend trip for Robert and I to Miami.  We went over Labor Day.  It was an early, surprise birthday present for him.  His parents came down to watch the boys for us.  It was nice to relax on the beach.  We also went to a movie, went shopping, enjoyed the bay/port.  One morning we rented bikes and rode along the intracostal waterway, through the mangroves and along the water's edge.  It was so much fun.  Next summer we'd like to rent a canoe or kayaks (if I muster up the courage) and takes the older boys out. 

I've also been busy with my calling.  I'm really enjoying it.  I like visiting the other wards/branches and seeing how their Relief Societies are going and getting sense of where the sisters are out in their lives and what we as a stake RS presidency can do for them.  We had stake conference this past weekend.  It was busy for us. Saturday afternoon, I held my first leadership training meeting for the RS presidencies.  That went really well--so-so attendance but great participation.  Saturday evening was the adult session.  I spoke at that.  Sunday morning was the session for everyone.  We had a new bishopric put into our ward.  Robert is back in, as the 1st counselor.  I'm excited for him.  I think he's going to enjoy it--great men he'll be serving with it.  Crazy side note:  the wives of the new bishopric all served together in the RS presidency.  So, it's fun to think we're all back together again.