On my way to work

I am getting ready to leave for work and Wesley is sad. So I get down on his level to explain:

Me: Wesley I have to go to work. Carter will take care of you.

Wesley: (Hugging me) No Mommy.

Me: You can sit on the couch, drink your chocolate milk and Carter will put on a movie.

Wesley: Shakes his head no.

Me: He will make you scrambled eggs with cheese. You like those.

Wesley: (Thinks a moment) Go Mommy!

Janeth and Clarissa

Janeth is visiting for a couple of days. Clarissa doesn't know her very well, we see her twice a year.

Clarissa introducing herself: My name is Clarissa Emmalyn Loder. My family calls me Roo!

After that introduction Janeth was her new best friend and Clarissa told her everything she knows for two days as fast as she could talk!

Since I have been working the world is even busier. Ryan took Wesley to get a few shots. He did great! The nurse gave him a sticker which he promptly wrinkled up into a ball and threw on the floor! His Dad is a wise man and brought a dum dum which made the torture all better. The water heater is fixed!!! It is nice not to have to go in the basement half asleep and light the water heater for your morning shower. Although on the bright side several of the children learned to light it themselves! They got tired of waiting for adults to have time to light it every time they wanted a warm shower! Oh and the three loads of dishes a day are easier too! Clarissa wanted to get on the computer so she says to me, "Mom what is the password?" I answered," You don't know your letters." She began to sing the alphabet song.

Youth Conference

I enjoyed youth conference immensely. Our theme was "Be strong of a Good Courage in the past, present and beyond". We opened youth conference by taking our youth to do baptism for the dead at the Logan temple and told some stories about the temple before and after and ended our day with fireside testimony meeting. The next day we played games in camp including some minute to win it games, hiked, did skits and watch a movie. The next day we finished up youth conference with some boating on the lake! (Thank you Tanya's parents) I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for my family and the youth in my ward! Thank you for my husband and mom for watching the kids and keeping things at home running smoothly during girls camp and youth conference!

Catching up!

With my class reunion done, girls camp over and Martina's party tomorrow I feel like I am catching up. The only major thing left this summer I am participating in is youth conference and that is in August. So it seems I am right on top of extra curricular things...at least for today!

Clarissa and Taylor

Me: "Taylor"
Heard the following from the top of the stairs!

Clarissa: "Mom, Taylor said Shut up"
Taylor: "What! I did not"
Clarissa: "Oh, what did you say....Oh...Mom, Taylor said for what"

Wesley and Alexandrea

Kiersta brought her knew addition over tonight. Wesley was the sweetest uncle, he held her on my lap very gently and patted. her. He didn't really want Clarissa to have a turn but he reluctantly did. He came in later to find Carter holding her and didn't like that at all. He came to me and pointed and Carter and said some word s I didn't understand with a "your in trouble tone"! He was much better when Kiersta took her baby back!

It is good!

I have been keeping myself insanely busy and have not updated and since I am sitting in a relatively quiet house here it is: The Lord has been very good to us, winter semester is over (HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY!), tomorrow is Ryan's last day at overstock and Monday is his first at his summer internship for Rio Tinto at Kennecott. I appreciate the opportunity Ryan had to work at overstock when we need employment. Our second granddaughter arrived safely and is sweet. Taylor turned 18, done with high school and looking for what he calls "an adult job"!!! I am thankful and I must say awe struck by my husband who prayed, came up with a plan, and in pursuing his plan (even if it seemed a little bit crazy in the beginning and occasionally I think so now) is stretching himself to great success! I continue to be thankful and amazed at our blessing!

More Me's Please

Okay, today is one of those days when I need two of me...maybe three. I need one to go to a meeting on Friday and to the military ball on Saturday, one to stay with the children and one to go to Aunt Nettie's funeral. Not sure where to find two more Me's but i could really use them!

Sacrament meeting and Clarissa

We decided to skip sacrament meeting Sunday, we were running late. We walk in as everyone was exiting the chapel. We start down the hall, Clarissa is behind us shutting her umbrella. She looks up and notes that we are not going into the chapel. I waited for her with Wesley while Ryan take Esperanza to the bathroom to wash her face before dropping her of at the nursery.

Clarissa: Why aren't going to sacrament
Me: It is over
Clarissa: I want to go to sacrament
Me: It is over, we will go next week

I took her to the primary and left her with her teacher because she wouldn't sit down nor would she talk to me. Ryan went in shortly after that to make sure she was okay because she usually goes right in and sits down. She wasn't talking to him either. I am grateful she is forgiving and doesn't hold grudges long. We were forgiven by the end of primary! I get such a different response from the rest of the kids!

Wesley jumped (walked off) the family home evening manual tonite for about a half hour, he thought that was the greatest trick!

Reflections

As I sit here waiting for Ryan to get home and reflect on where I am today, where I've been, it covers such a varying me. Helping with my twenty year reunion has caused some reflection with surprisingly happy results. I am very much a country music lover and as i reflected on my country music lived life Lee Ann Womack's "That was twenty years and two husbands ago" comes to mind. I have traveled a long twisting road kids in tow to get right where I belong. I know there were easier ways and straighter roads that lead to this place but I have always loved the scenic route, I would rather drive then fly because getting there is half the fun! That long twisting road seems like another life and seems twenty years and two husbands ago! There is nothing as sweet as being where you belong with the your love, liking yourself, watching children grow, laughing with the little ones and playing with the grandbaby!

How to make brownies by Clarissa

First get a bowl then you put brownies in and open the eggs then stir it then put it in the oven and then you wait...then you take them out of the oven then you wait.....then eat them!

Watching Ryan play curses with the kids! You should see Kielee's bend and snap werewolf transformation!

Wesley and Esperanza

Wesley was found laying on the floor on his stomach with his face in the cat's water bowl getting a drink!

Esperanza followed Faith and Clarissa into the pantry, stood and watched them a few seconds then shook her head and said, "Children"!

Wesley and Roxi

Wesley loves the Roxi (the new puppy). The puppy was laying on the edge of the dog bed about a foot away for the dog dish of water. Wesley went between the bed and the dog to pet Roxi. While crouch down the lost his balance and sat in the dog's water!

Puppy

We have a cute new puppy so that Maddi (our basset hound) won't be so lonely and so the little kids can pet and love a dog, Maddi is not it to the little kid love. Working on a name so far Roxi is winning!

Martina

Martina enjoyed her first debate and had a really good time. She also decided to text Herman (her father) her cell phone number. To her delight and surprise he text her a "Thank you" in the middle of Sacrament Meeting. They had a very nice text message conversation after church! She was ecstatic and is hoping for more!

Church

We did better this Sunday, Wesley just pointed across the aisle for more bread! Ryan had guard so I manned the crew alone! They were exceptional. Taylor spoke! When I went to rock Wesley in the back Esperanza cried so I ended up rocking two toddlers in the back that got heavy fast so I went to sit down in the mothers room. Esperanza fell asleep instead of Wesley! He is not old enough to go to the nursery but they kindly took him when I explained the situation. The nursery leaders are lifesavers! She woke up three fourths of the way through Sunday School. So I took her to the nursery and swapped for Wesley. I had just enough time to get him to sleep before Young Womens! Wesley woke up about three fourth of the way through Young Women's. I actually got to listen to three fourths of my two meeting! (Doesn't happen very often)!

Wesley and the Sacrament

At first, he just cried when the sacrament passed him by. So the next week we gave him a piece of bread and some water. Before long he realized it went back and forth done the rows behind us and he would watch it. Then he discovered that the deacons line up in the back and walk down the aisle. The Sunday after that when they started walking he turned around in my lap and got down and tried to follow them. Last Sunday he cried,"Mo Mo Mo!" as the bread got out of reach he saw that the family behind had just gotten the bread tray and asked them for Mo Mo Mo. After the water he said "NO NO NO that that that" pointing at the water as it got further down the row.

The Drama! Kids can't we just all get along!

Missing my laptop! How did I ever live without it?

Life

Ryan goes back to school on Monday. I am excited to have a routine again and sad to have him gone again. However I will get more done and it is time to get my life back to some kind of organizaiton. I have a lot, I want to do! So this weekend will be spent figuring out where it all fits and how to get it all done without going crazy or eating the children!