Busy, busy, busy

We have been a very busy family this summer and now as fall is coming fast, we are busier still. Here's a quick run down of what we've been up to...
In July we had a family reunion in Malad Idaho and I got to have a trip down memory lane as a kid going to grandma's house (both sets of grandparents used to live there). A long drive, but we were able to see LOTS of family.

Two weeks later Tyler and I went on the "Trek" for our stake as a MA and PA. That was an experience that changed my life! Having a "family" of teenagers was great (who would have thought?), pulling the handcart was TOUGH, and I learned a great deal about my own ancestors who crossed the plains with the saints. Amazing experience!

August was swimming lessons, bike rides, and lots of visits to Nanna and Papa Kent's house because lots of aunts and uncles came from Utah for a visit. Boating at the lake was our favorite activity but Trevor may argue that catching frogs was at the top of his list (we lost count of how many he caught). For me, August was also a month of intense training.

The first weekend in September I completed my first triathlon! I was totally nervous but ended up doing pretty good- I was 23rd out of 200. Swimming was by far my biggest hurdle, but I managed and now I can't wait to do it again next year.

The first of September also marked the start of the remodel of our main bathroom. Tyler was ripping down drywall and I hadn't even chosen the tile! The past few weeks have been a bit stressful, as he is going full bore and I'm trying to stay ahead of him by getting everything picked out (cabinets, tile, paint color, vanity, etc.) We are completely gutting it (except for the tub and toilet) and going to town. It will look great once it's done, but for now we are all enduring having one very tiny bathroom. 

Cambria started Kindergarten and totally loves it. Everyday on the way home she talks and talks about what they did in class and what happened with her friends...all the information I have to pull out of Trevor. (The difference between boys and girls really amazes me sometimes!) I'm just hoping she 's not as bossy at school as she is at home.:)

Ethan started preschool and I catch him singing many of the new songs they've learned. The kid loves to sing and everyone knows it! He only goes two days a week but he loves it. AND it leaves me with only Braden on those two days and I hardly know what to do first! Grocery shopping with only one child was heavenly!

I almost forgot...Tyler and I had a weekend getaway at the sand dunes back in July, and I had my first ever dune buggy experience. At first I thought I was going to die, but then when I got comfortable with the speed, noise, and handling the thing in the sand I got to drive. I loved to pull the hand brake and flip us around! Sleeping in the trailer on the floor wasn't so bad but I don't love having sand everywhere.

(It's so sad that the only picture I have is me in the sand rail, but all the other pictures are still on the cameras!)

Reflections

This past week I've been thinking a lot...mostly about life and how we have our own ideas of what it's going to be like and then facing what it really is. Sometimes reality isn't as wonderful as you thought it would be and sometimes it's even better. I've noticed how perspective has everything to do with how we view the happenings in our lives. Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done but I can also say it's the most fulfilling. My four kids keep me busier than I ever thought I would be and they are not even teenagers yet! They are messy, they fight, they need three meals a day, clean clothes, toys to play with and a mom to read to them, wrestle with them, and comfort/talk with them when they are sad. Did I mention that I'm the one that cleans the house too (though they are learning to help)?Some days I just don't feel equal to the task but yet I push through and somehow we are doing okay. Being a "Bishop's Widow" was definitely not something I was thinking I would be, especially at age 34, with four little kids at home. It's hard when I think that the care of our family is all on me and I kind of feel like I don't have any claim on Tyler any more. But, I'm sure as time goes on, we will figure out what works best for us; how to be married, have a family, and have him serve as Bishop. However, that doesn't mean it's easy. I've decided though, that I'm going to trust that Heavenly Father needs him for whatever reason and that when I fall short He will pick up the slack. (It's hard for me not to know the "why" part though and I guess that's where faith comes in). We do our best and even when that's not enough, He makes up the difference.
Totally switching topics, we were at a graduation party on Saturday and they had a carnival theme, complete with cotton candy, snocones, popcorn, and LOTS of yummy goodies. My kids have never even seen cotton candy before, so when I asked them if they wanted some, they just kind of looked at me like "is that even food?" I told them it was good and to try it. Ethan, being the brave soul that he is, tried it first. He stuck a piece in, chewed it up and then had some more. After a few minuets he said, "Mom, I've never had fur before and it tastes really good!" I laughed hard and thought what a great way to relate to something you have no frame of reference for. I just hope he doesn't lick the cat, thinking her fur will taste good. (I wouldn't put it past him!) I love the funny comments of little kids. Makes the hard work of being a mom totally worth it!

Family Pictures

We finally got a family picture with Braden included and some others. Here are some of my favorites:

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Just a note to let you know what we've been up to...
My world just flipped upside down--Tyler was called to be Bishop a couple of weeks ago!!!! (I thought you had to be old to have that calling!? Does that mean we're old?) We are slowing adjusting and I'm learning quickly how to just do things on my own. I'm not freaking out over it anymore either, which maybe means that I've accepted it. The fact that Braden started walking two days ago doesn't really help my sanity level because he is into EVERYTHING! Even Trevor wasn't this bad (or maybe I don't remember). I just have to accept that I can't follow him around and clean up whatever mess he is into at the moment. Nothing in my house is organized as he carries stuff from one end of the house to the other...I think right now, I'm grateful I don't live in a big house. At least he's through the stage where he eats everything off the floor...now it's just food off the floor. Yuck! He's screaming as I type this as fast as my fingers will go...

It's really been 3 months...?!

I know this is totally cliche, but where did the last three months go?!? Everyone always says that time flies when you get older, but I don't think I'm THAT old yet. I just really feel like my life has been in fast forward mode since Christmas. I've started working out every morning, so I feel like I get more done during the day, and having four children who need me almost constantly makes the days fly by. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about so I won't keep rattling on and on. Here are a few highlights of the last three months (okay, really it's just last month because anything before that is a blur):
- Cambria was our first trip to the Emergency Room for stitches at the beginning of February. She was goofing off before bedtime, tripped on the carpet (?) and banged her forehead on the one and only step in our entire house. It was very bloody but she only needed 3 stitches. We just thought it was funny (later) that our girl was the one to go to the ER first.
- Ethan almost (like within centimeters) got hit by a car - for the second time in his short life of almost 4 years. My stomach still flips when I think about it because I was standing right there watching. Thank goodness for family prayer in the morning.
- Trevor's tooth (the front one he lost in his bike accident 2 years ago) is finally coming in!
- Braden is mobile and my house is a disaster on a regular basis. He is feisty, focused, and incredibly determined to clean off all shelves, empty all cupboards, and dump out all garbage cans. Does anyone have a playpen I could borrow? :)
- Tyler and I have been married for 9 years officially last week. Maybe sometime in the near future we will be able to find time to celebrate. It's been the best 9 years of my life!

I hope to start updating my blog more often, but it seems I can't keep very good track of time.

Lucky Me

4 am Thanksgiving morning - woke up because my right hip hurt
5 am Thanksgiving morning - started throwing up and my lower back hurt so bad I couldn't walk
6 am Thanksgiving morning - woke Tyler up because I needed to go to the hospital
7 am Thanksgiving morning - checked into the hospital with a kidney stone that hurt so bad I wanted to pass out to get relief from the pain
11 am Thanksgiving morning - returned from the hospital all drugged up and with a confirmation from the Dr. that I did indeed have a 3mm stone in my right ureter tube that was stuck.

After that I went to bed and passed the stone sometime later that evening. Not a Thanksgiving I want to remember or one that I ever want to repeat. Hope you all enjoyed your turkey feast...just be Thankful YOU didn't have a kidney stone.

Time

Yikes! It's been about two months since my last blog. It seems like it was just last week! I swear school just started and it should still be September.

Nope.

I looked at the calendar yesterday and about had a heart attack as I realized how close Christmas is, AND I HAVEN"T EVEN STARTED CHRISTMAS SHOPPING YET!
I'm sitting here one the verge of a panic attack because suddenly I'm very behind. I always had grand ideas of being done with shopping by Thanksgiving but somehow it's just not happening. Probably it has something to do with the fact that I have a six month old baby and I'm still trying to catch up from having a newborn.
Halloween was great fun- maybe I'll get around to posting pictures sometime in February then Christmas pictures will come in June. Or maybe I'll just forget the pictures tell y'all that we're still here and doing fine once in awhile and just enjoy reading everyone else's blogs. (Is else's a word?)
Hope you are all doing well...I'm drowning. :)

Band-aids and Bicycles

I never thought I would be the type of mom to want arm pads, knee pads, shoulder pads, gloves, helmets, and boots for their child. I've always felt that it's good to let your kids get roughed up now and then...it's good for them. However, yesterday when Tyler announced that it was time for Cambria to take the training wheels off her bike and learn how to ride with the "big" kids, impulsively I started thinking about how much of her body I could cover so when she crashed she wouldn't get hurt. I was having visions of blood running down her legs with deep, horrible gashes and elbows dripping with blood. Then I realized that Tyler would be right beside her to keep her from falling and that he was just as concerned as I was. So I took a deep breath, smiled at her and told her that she could do it while I was having an anxiety attack. I realized that this was just the beginning of my wanting to protect her from getting hurt, but that I have to let go so she can try and experience new things (even if it does mean a few scraps and bruises along the way). She did great and after a few times up and down the street she was on her way. Interestingly enough, I think Tyler was more worried about her than I was because he watched her like a hawk the whole night to make sure she was okay. There were a few crashes but nothing that a band-aid and a hug couldn't fix. The thing that amazed me is that after we got the small amount of blood cleaned up and bandaged, she went out and got right back on her bike. She's awesome and I'm so proud of her for having the courage to do something hard. Incidentally, Ethan got his bike with training wheels yesterday and wouldn't get off the bike until he crashed, or I made him get off. It's crazy though, with all the tears and blood (and Ethan had A LOT of blood), a band-aid always made the owie feel better. I wish sometimes I could just put a a band-aid on my hurt and it would be all better. Being a kid isn't so bad I guess...and I had better get more band-aids because I think I used up an entire box yesterday.

I love the tongue sticking out as she concentrating...something her dad does as well.

"I'm okay mom, I'm okay." (After the first crash)

Braden outside watching the bike riding fun and wishing he could join them. He's 4 months and this picture gave me visions of him having a football mugshot taken when he's older.

Ethan is so excited to have a bike and he's getting braver because he's starting to go much faster...I hope we don't end up in the hospital.