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.