Part Time Job

It's that time again.  School starts tomorrow.  We went to Oregon for a week in July (which I still need to post) and ever since we got back I have digressed.  I went from not doing a whole lot - to being just plain lazy.   The children have been a little bored.  Somehow, I have been trying to grasp at the very end of summer - hoping to get in as much relaxation as possible.

I think I have tried to gear myself up for a new school year.  I know I will not be sitting down much once that first school bell rings.  Most parents might think the school year means that someone else will have their children for the day and they will have a bit of a break from teaching/entertaining.  That's not the case at our house.  We get to enjoy the school year together.  I get to coop in their classes once a week, go to monthly parent meetings (for a total of 3 a month), work on a committee, provide transportation, volunteer to drive for field trips or sports, provide snack for each class about once a month (PreK, twice a month), coordinate/do babysitting trades to cover times I'm cooping in the classroom, figure out what my kids need to be working on at home so they can get some personally tailored 'learning time'...that's all that comes to mind off the top of my head.  Oh - Layne also helps out by staying home with the kids while I have evening meetings.

When the kids start the school year - we have the usual stuff with them - and I get to feel like I'm starting a part time job.  All of this is obviously on top of what normally gets done around here.  It's a busy time.

This program is a great fit for our family.  It's worth it to us to make this work.  I could write quite a bit more about all of the reasons it works for us - but, I'm proud of you for reading this far - so, I won't bore you with all of that right now.

You know your husband helps a lot when...

You take your daughter to the restroom at church and she excitedly exclaims, "We get to go in the girls one!".

He goes to pass the Sacrament in church and your daughters are quite vocal about missing their dad (because he's the one they usually sit with during Sacrament Meeting).

Your children are talking with their friends and they make comments like, "Ya, I don't know what my dad's making us for dinner tonight."  Or..."We had dad's 'Saturday' breakfast this morning.".  (Thus claiming the 'Chef Daddy' title.)

You bring the diapers and your husband is the one that makes the change when the child indicates it's time.

It's rare for you to do the washer/dryer part of the laundry cycle.

You haven't mopped a floor for over a decade.

The only time you remember to take out the trash is when he's out of town.

You don't have to worry about your vehicle - maintenance, registration or otherwise.

Your sons are active in scouting and you don't have much to do with it.

Your daughters will occasionally let him do their hair (when they will 'never' let their mom do it).

He comes home from a busy day just to see his kids and help with his wife's sanity (and with the evening routine) before heading back to campus.

If there's something that's not getting done - he just takes over.

I completely realize that it sounds like I don't do anything -but, really I do.  Or, at least I like to tell myself that.  Thanks Layne for helping out around here!!

How do I love my kids?

Let me count the ways...

1 roll of paper towels

1 roll of toilet paper

2 girls, 3 'accidents' (2, #1; 1, #2)

3 yogurt containers, 2 packages of cream cheese (on the stairs)

1 son upset about going to 'free lunch'

1 son mad about hearing 'no' to going outside when job/learning time wasn't done yet

1 set of sponge animals (16 in package?)

3 large puddles of water (result of sponge animals)

1 very wet bath towel, 1 random sock (self-cleaning above mentioned water)

1 pair of P.J.s that never got put away

2 girls that never got their hair combed

1 pair of pants that never got put back on (again, previously mentioned water)

60 puzzle pieces spread out over the floor (2 different puzzles)

30 books randomly 'organized' around the house

3 couch cushions returned to proper place (3 times)

2 pillows returned multiple times

3 baskets full of clean laundry strewn on the stairs

2 tinfoil dinner that left cut veggies on the floor and counter

2 pudding pies leaving signs of boys tasting their work around their mouths

3 boxes of pudding mix leaving behind some of the powdery substance on the counters/stove

1/2 package of wipes strewn around the house (because girls wanted to 'clean')

1 BBQ that yielded 6 sets of smoky clothes

1 floor that never got vacuumed

1 kitchen sink that almost got cleaned out

We had other things going on around our house yesterday too.  I just wanted to share why every time I turned around - there seemed to be something to clean up (or, someone who needed help cleaning up their attitude).

We also had 4 sets of songs, hugs, kisses, and 'I love you' at the end of the day.

So...how was your day?

Happy Birthday!!

There are several cool people I know that have birthdays in August.  OK...so I know there are others - but, I'm only doing some of the people I'm related to in this post.  (Sorry friends.)  I just started randomly looking through and choosing pictures and realized I didn't really have an order - until I noticed that there is an order.  I have them listed by age - although, I'm not going to tell you which end you would need to start at for youngest or oldest.  Anyway, we grew up saying something nice about the bday person when it was their day.  So, just pretend you're at the proverbial dinner table (and you're eating whatever the bday person chose).

Melissa is amazing!  This year I'm choosing communication.  There are a couple of different reasons.  She and Gary communicate so well with each other that they are an impressive team.  She communicates well with her children - anyone that can chat/laugh with her teenage daughters and still maintain the parent/child relationship must being doing something right in the area of communication.  I also know that Melissa seems to be at ease talking with others and helping them to feel good about themselves (and thus, feel good about being around her).  She is articulate and genuine all at the same time - while getting necessary facts correct when needed.

I love this picture of Mike - to me it shows that he is a man of action - in two ways.  It speaks of his ever 'ready for an adventure' side.  Although, he is standing still and has a child on his back - so, he's probably not feeling very adventurous.  But, you do have to know that we were at a mine and I think they went through together.  Mike would have to go for the challenge.  For this reason (the challenge) I think there are many times we've wondered about the miracles that have happened for him to still be alive.  I think there have been sleepless nights for both mom and his current keeper, Sarah (who deserves to be part of the picture - but, I couldn't find any of the two of you together - pathetic of me, really).  We all love that Mike is fun loving and is the 'favorite' adventure keeper in the family.  (Not sure anyone else is willing to put their life on the line for the title - had to throw in 'favorite' somewhere.)  This picture instantly reminds me of his love for others and his endless willingness and excitement for giving.  If you know Mike, the kid on his back, or both - you know that he's not one of Mike's sons.  (We're excited to meet #3, by the way!)  I'm guessing Mike just did it - no questions - just a good idea and some action.

Dave - what to say about Dave...other than we love Dave - always have, always will.  We are all so very glad that we convinced him that he really did need to marry Becca - because well...it really is OK to marry your best friend - besides the fact that we all know she's fabulous.  (Ok, so the rest of us can't really take any credit.)  Dave has a knack for doing what is right - no matter what.  I've noticed that if he feels like it's the right thing to do - he'll do it.  If there's any doubt - it'll either wait until he feels right about it (we're glad you waited around for that moment, Becca) or he won't do it at all.  There is no question about his ability and willingness to follow the Spirit in an effort to be obedient.  Yes, we love Dave and his example of righteous living.

Happy Birthday to each of you!!  I love you - thanks for being your own brand of unique.  A big 'shout out' for bdays coming up - the ever fun loving Allison and the terrifically talented Seth!  (Sorry, no photos - I took so many at the reunion - you'd think there was something.  But, no - very lame!)

Got Ice Cream?

I know the ad for milk is just the upper lip.  So, I could have just ended here...

but, this is so much better.

What are the odds?

In a previous post I mentioned Layne was no longer a student and will now be working as a postdoc.  Yesterday was his first day and he seems to have survived just fine.  Not sure what the odds are - but, he is working for a professor who will be new to the "U".  This professor is not new to the field.  He is well known, respected and has lots of connections.  He also just happens to have a project that Layne is interested in working on - and, that will be different than what he has been doing.  (He's very much ready for a change.)  What are the odds?  Another big plus is that he will be getting paid on the higher end of what the professor is allowed to pay him - with benefits, the amount is exceeded.  So, we feel like he's being very generous.  (Although, we're still below poverty level.)  Again, what are the odds?  A couple of reasons we decided to go with this route is so that Layne will have a chance to publish more and will come out with even more opportunities in the end.  The question - What are the odds? - has come to my mind several times as we have looked at all of our options (Layne has had other offers and somehow this one just fit the best for our family.).  What are the odds that a professor just happens to come and offer Layne what he needs just as he is finishing?  We thought the finishing part was going to happen for years now (really...that is NOT an exaggeration), and so it seems that the timing is just right even though we thought it would originally be different.

It will be much different than working with the professor he has been working with for the past eight (yes, that would be 8) years.  He will get paid more...the grants will be more secure because of the other professors tenure.  Speaking of tenure...the professor Layne worked with for his PhD is just a year or two older than Layne and started as a professor the same time Layne started his graduate work.  They've been learning together and there are times I haven't appreciated that Layne has been this guys guinea pig (or maybe his 'trial and error' child).  (Although, it has been great for racquetball and outdoor toy hand-me-downs.)  I'm glad he'll be working with someone who has some experience in the field and his profession. 

One last topic - we really thought the odds of our family staying in Utah was slim to none considering the lack of Biotech firms in the area.  We have prayed to know what was best for our family.  I think someone is aware of our children's needs and our need as parents to fill them.  We have a school that is a perfect fit for our family and resources around us that have benefited our children greatly.  We're grateful we'll be able to continue with those.  As a mother, I'm also glad we get to be in a place where there are so many things to do with children that are inexpensive or free (which is our price range)  - the odds of finding a place with so much to do with the kids would be rare.  (They would be stuck with me for entertainment and enrichment activities - yikes!)

Now we just need to work on the odds of where we're going to live - not many inexpensive options for a family of 6.

Three Hours?!?!?!

We went to the Utah State Capital Building this past Saturday.  They had the Declaration of Independence there for the public to view.  I thought there might be a line.  But, when we got there, we were told it was about a THREE HOUR WAIT!  Hmm...think we'll pass.  Don't get me wrong..we consider ourselves patriotic citizens.  Reality is...we also consider ourselves a family of six with other things to do than wait in line for three hours.  I didn't want to imagine our family waiting with children who went knowing they just wanted to be somewhere else - like home eating lunch.

Doesn't look too crowded as we drive up, right?

Random family that decided to wait - no young children.  Hmm...

We did get a family photo by a copy of the document.

We'll have to go back some other time when it's not so crowded so we can check out the architecture and images.

Girls are more work!!

We got our pictures taken yesterday.  I actually made sure the kids had hair cuts (OK, so I asked Layne if he would do it) and made sure to have all the matching clothes laid out and ready to go.  I totally get that in most households this would be a given.  Our family?  Not so much.  I was feeling pretty good about the whole scenario...until we woke up late.  Who does that?  Apparently us!  We quickly got ready and headed out the door.  While we were getting ready I was reminded once again that girls are more work than boys when it comes to getting ready.  The boys just needed to get dressed.  Their personal hygiene consisted of brushing their teeth and making sure there were no signs of breakfast on their faces.  The girls?  The same applies...plus...you have to do their hair and deal with what to do about the band-aid that is showing on the knee because their skirt doesn't cover it...and then we were just so glad that after a bit of a struggle Megan decided to cooperate and wear what was included in 'the plan'...well, except for the socks.  She even chose something to bring so she could change as soon as she was done.  Somehow boys clothes are more straightforward - you pull on some pants and throw on a shirt.  It's not that hard.  (They did complain about the fact that they had to wear 'Sunday clothes' on a Saturday - but, that's a whole different post.)  Girls clothes are somehow more detailed - there seems to be more to think about when matching clothes and styles.  (The fact that most of their clothes are hand-me-downs forces us to get a bit more creative.)  If I were good at it - it might not be that big of a deal.  But, I'm not an expert and most of the time I don't pay enough attention to those things.  Throw in the fact that my daughters are having a really good day when we get to comb their hair all in one sitting...and when they get themselves dressed, it's just coincidence that the outfit matches.  Phew!  It was a rough few minutes at our house.  Hmm...can't wait until they start wearing make-up and actually care about how their hair is done and rather they match or not and what styles their friends are wearing.  It's only going to get more dramatic.  We're going to have to brace ourselves!

Jonny was baptized August 2nd!!

The big smile says it all!

We are proud of him and his decision.  We had a great day.  It was nice to have family and friends around to support him.  Thanks to any and all who helped and were able to come.

One Month Later

We have a new van!!  Exactly one month to the date (June 18, July 18) - we purchased a new van.  As the story usually goes - we had almost paid for our other one.  But, we love this one and we're glad we have it.

The kids think it's great too!

Seats adjust however we want - kinda like musical chairs.

Still not sure about the color - we're getting used to it.

I love being able to just put the groceries in - so nice to have space in the back.

As usual, Layne did his research and found a great deal.

Where's Dad?

Megan just asked me where her Dad was.  The kids do this often because they like to have him around.  I'm used to answering, "He's at his school.".  I can't really do that anymore.  My husband is no longer a student.  I have to keep reminding myself of that fact.  It hasn't sunk in yet.  He's been a student since the day we met.  (Yes - it's been awhile.) So, from now on I need to answer, "Daddy's at work.".  

Here's a picture of him when he first started hanging out in the 'dungeon'.  It has no windows!   I'm glad I'm not the one that has gone there on a regular basis for the past 8 years.  He's a trooper!  Yes, his postdoc is in the same building.  (I don't know why he can't work in the one closest to us with all the windows - it is, after all, the official place for BioEngineering students to work.)

Where to start?

Since I wrote last - we've had lots going on.  Here are some things I could write about:

Our family vacation

Our family visiting us here

A family (and friend) baptism

Last night's FHE

Our family outing today

Stuff the kids have said/done

Layne's employment saga

Summer happenings

People moving

Our move???

the list could go on and on...and on and on...

Where to start?  Hmm...

Any requests?