Catching Up

I am determined to catch up on here this week. I am ok with being a week or so behind on recording life, but when I am a month or so behind (like I am now), by the time I sit down,  I can't even remember what has happened. The details have already faded.

Here's an example. I took this picture. I think I sent it to Eric, too. But I can not remember the story behind it! Did she fall asleep like that? Was this a morning that she woke up super early? Did she fall asleep in the car? Is she pretending? I just don't know. My memory is terrible.

I do know this. Because this is a scene I see every morning. Layla the artist sits at the art table multiple times a day drawing pictures. Usually she makes them for her teachers, friends, and Sundi. But, occasionally, I am the lucky recipient of a Layla masterpiece. 

Then one day your son walks into your room and you find that, overnight, your little boy became a man. With a beard. Just like his dad.

On the national day of service, we joined our ward and many, many others in the community to pack food for an organization that feeds people locally and internationally. We had a fun job of measuring and scooping meals into bags. It was so great it was something we all could do, even the little hands in our family played a part.

Kyler and Kacin are in the midst of soccer season.

It is so nice to have these two on a team together. A dynamic duo.

And so nice to be all together at each game.

I tell you, she sees her crayons as toys, not as coloring instruments.

One night we had a dance party. Layla dressed like this for it.

Kacin had fun, too.

It took me a long time to realize why Layla has been putting socks on her hands. She does it all the time. I finally figured out that they are her Elsa gloves. Duh, mom.

Such a princess.

Another list for a party she was planning.

Kyler did some cake baking.

There was a mishap with the frosting making--a little too much milk went into it. He got creative and put some icing under the cake and some on top. He added pop rocks to the frosting for a fun touch.

Mindy and her family came over and dug in.

Another visit to the zoo.

Layla ad Perry take swim lessons from the most patient instructor in the world. He is a gem. He works so well with Perry.

Layla the gymnast.

I ate lunch with Perry at school. It was so fun for me to see him doing what he does at school and telling me about a friend.

Eric sneaked Kyler into the General Priesthood session of conference, even though he is two months shy of turning 12. What rebels!

Almost 12 and so excited and proud to spend an evening with dad.

Kacin had an appointment with his ear specialist. After the appointment, Layla came down with a "hurt ear", too, and begged for her own appointment. I gave her some snuggles and let her watch a show on the couch and the ear healed up quite nicely.

Layla has a new love of bike riding. We are enjoying the sunshine whenever it peeks through to take a ride around the block.

But when it's too wet to go outside, we happily ride around indoors.

The pajamas Layla dressed herself in--footsies, socks, leg warmers, and shorts. Niiiice.

I feel like this was mostly a Layla post. I guess that's what happens when she's the one around me all day long. And she's the only one in the family that asks me to take her picture. So it's always a fun surprise to find a Kacin selfie on my phone.

I think that's about it for the random iphone catch up. I'm feeling better now.

a new school year: L and E

What are we up to these days? Let's see.

I am not teaching preschool this year. I am giving myself some time to focus on my family, and on myself a little. I am missing my preschool class (my heart will always be with teaching and school), but I have found a perfect way to stay involved. I organized a co-op of 6 kids/moms. We each take turns teaching the class for 3 days out of a week. I am super involved with it--setting up the schedule and curriculum plan and going in to assess the kids. I am also volunteering in each of my boys classrooms every other week. It's been a good way to get my teaching/school fix. This year, it feels right that I do this.

Like I said, I am also trying to focus on myself a little more. I am exercising again and taking time each day to read and study. I try to exercise in the mornings--sometimes classes at the gym, with friends, or a walk and yoga at home. I love my afternoon study time. I am reading the biography of Ezra Taft Benson and motherhood books and articles. And just reading novels, too. I am writing more in my journal and collecting my thoughts, ideas, and quotes into other notebooks. I am obsessed with notebooks and pens. Sometimes during my afternoon time, I nap. It is glorious. I do not feel guilty at all for taking this time each day. I need it. I am grateful to get it.

I also want to focus on my family this year. I want to show them that I love them and I am there for them. I want to serve them more in my daily life. For me, I felt like I should do a couple of things that I haven't done in awhile. Specifically, pack lunches and wash and fold clothes.

So I am now packing school and work lunches each day. It has been years since I packed lunches. The boys started packing their own at least two years ago (we had a great routine in which they would each be responsible for both lunches two days a week and then they would buy lunch once a week). And Eric has always taken care of his lunch (which meant he went out and spent $10 a meal each day). Eric made mention of it multiple times that if I would pack his lunch he would bring it. So when school started, I embraced lunch making. I pack Eric's the night before and put it in the fridge. I am sure to put in a corny love note (which is my favorite part of his lunch making). I make lunches for all three boys in the morning.

Since the boys were 8 years old, they have been in charge of their own laundry. Sometimes they washed and folded their own. Sometimes they have been responsible for a load of all the kids clothes to wash and fold. It has changed a few times depending on circumstances. I took over this task this year. I have two laundry days and get everyone's laundry done during that time. I wash and fold and then the kids put their own clothes away.

I do both of these tasks for me. Yes, it's for my family. But I just felt like I wanted my love for them to increase. And I have found love does that when you serve in small, simple ways with the right attitude. I love thinking about Eric and all he does for our family as I put each piece of his lunch into his lunch box and write his silly love note. I want him to know how much he means to me. I find myself thinking about each of my kids, their personalities and their activities, as I fold their shirts and socks. I think doing these things helps me to slow down, appreciate, and savor these people in my life. Do I think I will always fold their clothes and make lunches? No. Probably not. But it is my gift to them and to myself this year.

My calling at church is still the Stake Assistant Camp Director. We have already begun the planning for next summer's girls camp. It will be a huge encampment combined with 7 other stakes. I am also on the RS Meeting Committee.

Eric is such a stud. He works sooo hard for our family. He is still at microsoft, which means a long commute and a busy schedule. We wish we had more time with him each day, but he is a rockstar provider.

He is adored by his children. Everyone gets so excited when daddy comes home. Like, so excited. He is the children's favorite. He plays, wrestles, and reads to the kids. He has been the main driver to and from soccer practices and has been to every soccer game. He comes to as many dr appointments and school events as possible. He makes everything fun around the house. He works hard.

Eric's calling at church right now is Cubmaster. Scouting is still not his favorite thing in the world, but he works hard to fulfill the role.

He is super sweet and romantic and, occasionally, brings me flowers for no reason at all. Eric takes me on dates each week. Once we get the kids to bed, we get a couple of hours together to watch shows (currently White Collar with some scene skipping), read, and talk.

He makes the best bbq sauce and his smoking and grilling skills knock our socks off. He makes waffles every Saturday morning for breakfast.

I think Eric and I make a pretty good team. We are far from having marriage and parenting all figured out, but we try hard. I love that we can bounce ideas off of each other and discuss our kids and strategies, systems, and traditions for our family. We have different personalities, but common goals that keep us going in the right direction. We pray together every night. We celebrate 12 years of marriage in a few weeks!

a new school year: Layla

Layla started her second year of preschool this year. She and I were both a little sad that I wouldn't be her preschool teacher full-time this year, but I am one hundred percent confident that my decision to start a preschool co-op was the best one for her this year. I'll share more on the co-op later, but it has been so fun for me to be a part of teaching still (Layla loves when it is our week to host preschool), but I get to share the planning and teaching with 5 other moms.

This beautiful girl shines.

Layla has an active, beautiful imagination. She uses her crayons to pretend that they are people and tell stories more than she uses them to color with. Oh, but she is quite the artist, writer, and list maker. She fills multiple papers with her work each morning. It takes her forever to get dressed in the morning because she gets distracted by all of her toys in her room and just wants to play, play, play. She finally learned how to pedal her bike with training wheels (it only took so long because her parents haven't spent as much time outside with bikes like they did with the oldest two). She loves bike rides around the neighborhood now and asks to go out every day.

Layla loves fruit and yogurt. She won't eat ice cream, but she loves cookies, especially when she is the one helping with the baking. She is a good helper in the kitchen.

She has the biggest heart and notices when someone is sad or needs help. She still tells me that we are "best girls for ever and ever". She always talks about how she wants to be a mom when she grows up. She wants a little baby sister, too. She loves playing with all of her brothers. I credit all of Perry's playing skills to this little girl. She has Eric wrapped around her fingers.

She doesn't say all of her words correctly, but it is too cute to always correct. Her favorite color is pink. She puts necklaces and hair clips on in the morning, but takes them off after 10 minutes. She gets into all sorts of trouble around the house with her independent spirit and busy parents. She tells me not to take showers while she is at preschool because she wants me to do it in the afternoon so she can watch shows. She loves playing with all of her friends. Her favorite book is "A Squirrel's Tale". She loves making up songs and will stand on the windowsill, as her stage, and sing her heart out for long periods of time.

Layla goes to co-op preschool three times a week. She takes swim lessons with Perry and a gymnastics class once a week. She looks forward to her time at Sundi's each week while I take Perry to therapy.

Layla is an important part of our family. We all love this 4 year old girl.