The Event Planner

The excitement is building now that leaving for Arizona is now one day away. For the past month or so we have been talking about what we are going to take, what we are going to do, when and how long we will drive etc. Now Sarah took very good notes of our many conversations and her little brain has been working! She has made lists of the clothes she is going to pack, she has made a seating chart for us all (which changes every 4 hours making sure that everyone gets a turn in the middle seats and that Curtis and Sterling never sit together). She put together a binder with our "itinerary" and hotel reservations. She has loaded movies on her ipod, made the cutest "passport" packets of things to do for each of the kids and she had all the kids make lap boards to use in the car for drawing and playing games (there is a pillow attached to the bottom with coordinating fabric). On Monday I had a presidency meeting in the morning and the kids knew that it was cleaning day. While I was gone Sarah had all the kids working to get their rooms, kitchen and family room cleaned before I came home. Sterling even cleaned his toilet and was so proud - I screamed when I walked in because it looked fabulous.(I think I will use this eagerness to my advantage while I can.) Before bed tonight she reviewed with me all the things she had left to do...trail ride in the morning, clean bathroom, touch up bedroom, mutual, load star wars for Curtis and load Kates MP3 player. Truly an event planner in the works! I would hire her...wouldn't you?

Scott is still in Montana and sends me beautiful pictures of the scenery. I wish he would send a picture with him in it because we miss him! It seems like he has been gone forever. Maybe 10 days was too long. I know Skippy is missing him. (Scott took this picture and emailed it to me -it looks like its off the internet or from a postcard)

My mom called and asked me what the kids will want to eat and I asked Curtis while she was on the phone and he said not too many vegetables. Of course they all said candy. Kate - snickers, Sarah, Curtis and Sterling - KitKat and Scott whatever.

George came by and he and Todd officially met....He apologized for getting after the kids for riding the 4 wheelers on his property. He said they could ride any time. He just didn't want anyone to get hurt. His heart has softened and I am so glad. It taught us all not to judge.

Mortars

Last night our culdesac was filled with friends and lots of small children while our grown children (the dads) set off many many mortars - 4 and 5 at a time. I worried the whole time that someone was going to get hurt but all ended well! Todd even tried one in the swimming pool and it did explode. Its interesting how some of our friends are very cautious people and then there is the Hansens. Todd cracks everyone up with his "redneck" stories from when he was a kid.

We can't wait to get on the road to Arizona! The kids are counting down the days.

Value of Work

Every Saturday lately it seems we have been consumed with getting our lawn back in shape. Chinch bugs, weeds and winter freezes have killed a lot of it. Today we (I mean Todd with all of our help) cleared out the bad areas and laid sod. If you have never laid sod before it is one of those times when you are grateful that you have a real job and don't have to do it every day because it is hard hard work. We have enlisted all the kids these past few months, working in the garden or the yard and even though they complain at first they are good little workers. Today the younger 3 pulled up the garden and took down the bean poles....Scott cleaned the office and laid sod, I kept food and drinks going and helped with whatever was needed and Todd worked until he couldn't work anymore. We accomplished much - still more to be done - but I saw the value of work in my kids today. Todd fell asleep watching a movie with the kids tonight.

Sarah returned from girls camp today - she has been very quiet though - She slept for a very long time this afternoon...I am sure that sleep at camp was not high on their priority list

Tomorrow is Fathers Day...nothing special planned - Its family sabbath so no meetings - Yeah! Todds choice for breakfast (it will either be crepes or cream of wheat with bacon) and then Baked Ziti for dinner with salad, homemade french bread and peach pie. The sad thing is that noone but Todd and I will eat the cream of wheat, everyone will eat crepes, Curtis and Kate won't eat Ziti, everyone will eat salad and bread and only Todd and Scott will eat peach pie. What is wrong with my family?!

Tender Heart Boy

We watched Where the Red Fern Grows the other night....Curtis was enjoying the movie until the end. He asked "why did the other dog die?" and I said "because it was so sad that Dan had died it just didn't want to live anymore". Then Curtis started crying and said "I hate this movie and am never watching it again!" Tears came and the lip quivered and then we all hugged him and he started laughing and crying at the same time. You had to be there but I thought it was so cute and funny. My tender heart boy! We gave him a buzz and he looks like a cancer patient but at least its easy and he doesn't have to comb it which he never would unless I made him.

Scott has been doing odd jobs for people and making money which is good. He is getting more independent now that he is driving. He took the trailer with the 4 wheelers and went mudding the other day with Jason - had a blast. He also went on a double date and took the canoe to the river. He's turning into a man!

Sarah goes to girls camp this week. She bought a saddle yesterday with her own money. She is so excited about it even though she doesn't have a horse. She is determined though to get one.

I am enjoying kids home. It feels like I can't get things done though because I am meeting everyone's demands, whims and wishes! I'm trying to keep up with the Book of Mormon reading challenge and getting my kids to do the same, trying to keep an orderly house when everyone is being lazy and trying to excercise every day and wanting to, and trying to find time to myself to pay bills, sew, cook, wash, read etc. - love the summer! We had a fun family night last night...read the Book of Mormon, played skipbo, went for a night swim and had strawberry shortcake. Got in bed at midnight - ugh. I do LOVE not getting up at 5 for seminary!

Grateful

This morning I am grateful for Mormon Messages.....Each one seems to be for me. I find great comfort in hearing the voices of the prophets and apostles. I know my Savior lives and loves me.

I am grateful for a little, blonde, freckled face boy without his top 2 front teeth that wouldn't get up this morning. I kissed him in his neck and wrapped him tight in a blanket and snuggled him to get him to open his eyes

I am grateful for another little boy that wouldn't get up - He had to be tickled - he laughed so much he couldn't even say the words "stop"

Saturday

Went for my run this morning with Sarah B. and Kate trailing behind and then jumped in the pool with my clothes on when I got back. It felt wonderful! Sterling and Curtis thought it was great fun to have mom in the pool with them. I need to get in more often with them! but I hate having to redo hair and makeup (am I vain?). Sarah went to Tampa for the special olympic horse competition, Scott left early to clean the office and then went to a friends house to work on a school project, Todd cut down some dead limbs off the tree and burned them, got some pool toys at target and the kids have been swimming all day. Had lunch, took a nap, Todd took a nap, Scott took a nap and Todd and I are going out tonight on a date. A good day

Let's try this blog thing again...

May 20, 2010
I tried blogging a year ago and it didn't last for very long. For some reason I am not good at writing things down. Each day my kids do things that I think "I need to write that down" and of course never do. Will my kids remember that I really do love them even though I was not a good journaling person? For FHE we occasionally have journal nights where I give journal prompts to everyone and everyone writes and eats their favorite candy. We did this last Mon. night and it was fun and fun to go back and read past journal entries. Sterling keeps reading what Todd wrote in his journal over and over and over. I've thought it was interesting to see how much Sterling liked reading what Todd wrote. So.....I am once again inspired to write things down!

It's Thursday morning..took the kids to school and Curtis was too busy reading his book that he forgot his backpack and lunch(this happens all the time). hmmm - should I be a nice mom and take it to him or should I teach him a lesson?

I look at the calendar and nothing is on it for today! I love it when I have a day where I don't have to go or be anywhere....so today its getting caught up on laundry and things around the house. Our last strengthening marriage class is tonight - Todd's teaching yeah! He's a good teacher. I think that is what he should do in his next life.