My Journal

 Today I got to sleep in as Michael took Alden early to his robotics competition. As soon as I was up and ready to go I went to Lowes to buy dirt and some things for the drip system I am going to be putting in. I got back just before 9am. The Astons came over just a little after that. Benson and Evan had made the sheet pancake for us all to eat for breakfast so we ate that then set outside to work. The boys moved 7 loads of mulch...we're starting to put a dent in it. I unloaded the van of the dirt I bought and emptied it where we needed it and then worked on cleaning up the duck enclosure. I then got a message from Sister Taber, I had gotten the times mixed up, I called her and we figured out a new time. As soon as the Aston's got picked up we hurried over to Sister Taber's house where we did a very fun project, painting octopus'.  Benson wanted to get some fish so we ran by Petsmart for him to buy some goldfish for the little pond him and Evan build the other day. Once...

 I got to sleep in, go for a run, get ready all while Michael made me an amazing omelet with mushrooms, onions, peppers. It was great and felt so nice to have as much time to get ready as I wanted. I then went to school where all of my sewing classes went well. The second class was a little bit crazy... when it is a little crazy it just means that a lot of people need my help so they have to wait in turns until I can get to them. The last class was a little more open so Roslyn and one other in the class were able to start a new project of a crayon or colored pencil roll up. After Friday school I hurried over to Chick-fil-a to pick up a platter to throw a retirement party for Pam who has worked for us for a number of years now. She has been a God send, she came right when things were so difficult for us and we felt like we were drowning and having so many problems with staff. We have felt so blessed to have her. The staff is all so good now and we feel so blessed to have each one of...

It was a good day in seminary but I really didn't feel like I was present as I took roll then Amanda called to go over some things that had changed with the day. Also I left early as I was up with Roslyn throughout the night, she had thrown up about 3-4 times. I left early to go home and check on her before going to school and to leave Calvin home with her to watch her throughout the day. School was a nice low key day we did a worksheet on verbs and then a little activity with it. It made me see the advantage to worksheet work even though I don't think it is the best on a regular basis, it is good to mix things up. I always love Thursday evenings as I am done with all lessons, seminary and my regular teaching. I also know that I will get to sleep in in the morning. I really do love seminary but I also do miss my sleep especially by Thursday. (Thursday morning is always the hardest for me to get up.)

 I taught both classes in seminary about Lot and his family and then the other class had a nice breakfast ready. This was our first Wednesday since the trip that we didn't have to go anywhere. I did invite anyone from the ward with littles to come over if they wanted to. One sister and her daughter came over. The girls loved playing with her. She had some questions about Providence Hill so we went over and I gave her a tour. I then taught Kara her lesson and Salem. I then had all of the afternoon to get things done. It is such nice weather. It was nice to be able to work in the yard some. The kids were outside almost all day. In the afternoon they took me up to the forest where they had planted a garden and made a little pond as well. It looked like quite the project.

 Seminary in the morning then school. Today we learned the Tango dance. Some kids loved this others complained like crazy, the honest truth I was glad when we were done doing the tango because some make such a big deal of it. (They think they will be made to dance with someone or they are too scared to dance in front of others or they are really excited...just lots of emotions.) After school I taught the Spencer's lesson and then got dinner ready. I feel like I am having more energy after school. When every I start something new it takes a lot out of me so I feel warn out after but I am getting where it is becoming part of the routine. 

 Today was a full day like every Monday. Seminary in the morning then Evan, Roslyn and Alden's lessons...but I didn't get to Alden's lesson...I'm thinking his will be every other week. Lauren and her family came to their lessons from 9:00-10:00 and then I have a lesson from 2:00-2:30 get ready for choir and orchestra and then have choir and both orchestras, eat dinner and get lunches made and the kids to bed. I finally realized that I really only have four hours in the middle to teach all of my kids their lessons and check all of their homework, feed them lunch and make them dinner so that is why it is always such a full day.  Today was a great day though, I was able to get through everything that I felt that I needed to and even a few spare minutes. I had dinner ready before choir so we were able to eat right after which made the night run more smoothly. It was a wonderful day!

 It was a nice relaxing morning then Michael got to pick up a Spanish recent convert for Stake Conference and I got to pick up Frances. It is always fun seeing so many people at stake Conference. After the conference I went over to Robyn's house to visit when I got home Michael and Alden had made a nice dinner and magic cookie bars. It was delicious. I talked to my parents and then there was a farwell party for a couple in the ward leaving for their mission. I picked up Frances and went. I was feeling a little concerned being out late as seminary in the morning and trying to get the girls to bed on time, clean up the kitchen, etc. It was a mess when I left and I just figured it'd be the same when I returned but I came home to two sweet little girls already for bed and tucked in and a clean kitchen. All I had to do was get myself ready for bed. It was a miracle.