Here we are, more than a week since I last blogged. I don't know where the time goes. I mean, I do know where it goes...to kids and cleaning and lots of time in the car and naps (yep, I take 'em) and my calling. Occasionally my time goes to friends or projects or exercise or playing the piano or other household tasks. But mostly my time goes to kids and eating and sleeping (not enough on that last one...people always say, "Man, you're yawning a lot! Do you ever sleep?" The answer is "Yes, but not well, and clearly not enough.")
So I'm catching up, mostly for family history's sake, on this here blog. I know in a few years I'll be glad for the little snapshots of our daily lives. Although if I progress at my current rate then my posts will never make it into a book for us to enjoy....
Last Friday Lexi had a ballet recital. She was super nervous, and she doesn't like people--particularly unfamiliar people--to look at her. However, we bribed her with a special ice cream treat if she got on the stage and danced to all the songs, and dance she did! I'll admit to shedding a tear or two. I was so proud of her for overcoming her fears, and watching her do something she loves was a delight. Her little solo performance toward the end screamed, "I'm a dancer!" I loved that. Professional photos and video will be delivered soon, but for now these pictures capture evening just fine. The one with Lexi applying lip gloss before the recital is the sweetest thing!
Tyler's Pinewood Derby was also last weekend. He conceived the shark shape, and Garry helped with shaping on the saw. Father and son worked together on details. It was fun to watch them share a project. Overall, Ty's car was middle-of-the-road in terms of speed, but it was a happy day. Next year at this time we won't have a cub scout, but the year after that, Gavin will be a Wolf and we'll run through a few more derbies after that.
Lexi has learned to cross the monkey bars. She just figured it out while we were playing at the park the other day. It's been a real growing-up time for Lexi: riding a bike, dancing on stage, saying "r's" correctly, crossing the bars, and learning to read. Yep, she did it: she read her first book this week. I had no idea she was ready! We'll keep working on her new-found skill. This video shows her first attempt at this particular book, which was only the second one she had ever tried. After a few days, she has already improved, and her enthusiasm continues to grow. Much like potty training, I have not pushed this skill. Lexi was ready, and so it happened.
Gavin is really hard to motivate in the mornings. He's the only kid we have who will sleep in, and he's just so s.l.o.w. to get ready for school. No matter how much I help the process along, Tyler is always stressed out about being late because of Gavin's dawdling. On this particular day I was extremely agitated by the time I dropped the boys at school. I had remained calm, but I was boiling inside.
I can never keep up with the laundry. I don't know why I don't fold a load at a time. Actually, I do: I'm always switching the loads between running here and there, and I just throw the dry stuff on the treadmill. Oh, laundry... I happened to fold that particular six-load stack (or was it eight?) in 35 minutes. Bam.
I got a new haircut this week (with bangs, which look goofy in this photo) and colored it myself using professional product (I have sweet hook-ups). It was initially darker than expected, but I really like it now. Good-bye highlights! I'm so happy with the change.
Kate has had some really rough days since the time change on Sunday. Stubbornness and tantrums have reigned supreme. Sunday was not a happy day, particularly at church. She cried herself to sleep in my arms while I was sitting on the sidewalk behind the building. I wanted to do the same thing. (Note: I think the video below is hilarious, but I think laughter has to be my coping mechanism for Kate's constant crying. Don't watch it if you don't like screaming. Haha.)
Garry and I had a very rare date on Saturday. We went to a little ballet recital for one of my former Beehives. Our admission was free (thanks, Sarah!), so we splurged on a babysitter and a Texas Roadhouse onion blossom (dairy free=healthy, right?) that evening.
Tyler's bones are healing perfectly, so he got a new short-arm cast. Washing his arm between casts felt sooo good. This time Tyler chose a green cast. The cute nurse gave the girls "fake casts" that they loved.
The weather has been mostly lovely this week, so the kids and I have spent a lot of time at the park. Sometimes we go alone and sometimes with friends. Between some morning walks and our park trips, the fresh air and sunshine have done good things for my mood.
Garry taught an Excel class to about 100 people at work on Thursday. He spent long hours preparing, but got great feedback from the higher-ups who attended his class. This week he got a bonus and a raise, so we are happy that he is being recognized for his hard work and achievements. Go Garry!
You'll notice I don't have any pictures of Zach. He is reluctant to appear in photos, and honestly he's not home very much. He goes to school at 7:00 to practice in the band room, and then stays after school until 4:30 for basketball practice. He has been playing on a YMCA basketball team, too. That season ended on a sour note, but Zach's skills are improving, as is his love of the sport. The last two weeks have been really rough in the attitude/behavior department, so we are glad for the happy and calm days when they come.
Overall, things are going well here...busy and crazy and messy as always. That's just family life, right?
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