the scream

my daughter is driving me absolutely batty.  she is the biggest cry baby ever... but she doesn't really cry.  she screams.  and the worst part is, when she's happy, she screams.  i absolutely hate that scream.

the monday after thanksgiving sux.  it was a rough day all around.  Aaron came home from work an hour early and I was thrilled... only to find out he had a fever of 104.  He laid down within minutes and fell asleep before 6.  which left me trying to keep 5 kids quiet.  family home evening was a bust.

I decided to take them shopping because we needed medicine and my christmas cards and party invites were ready.  the older boys wanted to stay home and read (nerds) so I took Simon and Ro to the store in their pjs.  Worst idea ever.  Two kids is ten times harder then 5 kids... depending on which two kids you put together.  I wanted to leave my kids in the shopping cart.  or sell them like kittens outside the store.

The drive home was terrible.  Tears came out of my eyes because I was so frustrated.  my baby girl screamed the entire drive... 20 solid minutes.  She wasn't crying, she was screaming.  Anything I passed back to her, she threw on the ground.  I came home, unloaded the milk and left everything else in the car.  I can take care of it in the morning..

Simon stayed up past everyone watching videos on our YouTube channel.  He kept playing this particular video I shot in the pet store last week.  I realize she's happy and she makes cute faces, but she starts out with the scream I hate.  Maybe one day I will appreciate it, but right now it brings tears to my eyes.

Girls are a pain in the butt.  but she's pretty cute too... now that she's finally asleep.

thankful

Something happened to me this weekend.  I think I'm finally growing up.  Until a few days ago, I saw myself as a teenager stuck in a middle-aged woman's life.  I wondered how it happened so quickly.  Sometimes I felt stuck and frustrated.  When I used to tuck my boys into bed and they said, "Goodnight, Mom." I would look over my shoulder and wonder who they were talking to.  But now I feel differently.  Something inside of me has changed and I realized it this Thanksgiving weekend.

Part of that transformation has come from serving in a new calling in the relief society.  This past month has been rough.  We've had some big changed to our ward boundaries and it's been a struggle trying to mix two groups of women who both miss being in their old wards.  In that time, we've had five new families move into the neighborhood and no one really knows if they are new or in the other ward or visiting or what.  We've also had 4 new babies born in the past few weeks... and one major hip surgery from a new sister (who happens to be a convert to the church.)  There has been lots of meal prepping, visits and phone calls.  and up until a couple of weeks ago there wasn't a compassionate service committee to delegate the majority of the work.  It was overwhelming.  But then something tragic happened.  A husband and father in our neighborhood committed suicide.  He shot himself while his wife and son were in the home.  We had a funeral to plan and heartbroken family to console.  During that time, I've realized how important it is to reach out and love those around you because you really never know what is going on behind closed doors.

Last week in RS, this new widow bore her testimony to the sisters in our ward.  She was open and honest about her struggles.  But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she listed her blessings.. her list was long and heartfelt.  She is such an example to me to find the silver lining during such a difficult time in her life.  In these past few weeks, I've already learned so much from the women around me.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity I've been given to serve and grow in this capacity.  I am better because of it.

Thanksgiving weekend could have been busy.  We had plans to visit family and then decided not to make the drive.  We thought about going to AZ to cook it up with friends but then ultimately wanted to stay home and do absolutely nothing.  Aaron was worried about me and thought I would get lonely.  Thanksgiving should be about family and chaos..  But I knew a quiet weekend at home was exactly what I needed.  And I can honestly say I will never forget this Thanksgiving.  It was the day I realized how strong and capable and grown-up I really am.

Food prep started early Wednesday and didn't stop for more than 30 hours later.  All four of my boys were in the kitchen, cooking along side of me.  (This would NEVER have happened if they were running around with cousins.)  We made a long list of side dishes and pies and we were able to check each one off the list as we set the table for our big meal.  Zack was the vegetable guru.  He mixed the green bean casserole, chopped the veggies for the turkey platter and cooked the peas and corn.  Luke made the rainbow jello masterpiece and helped me brine the bird.  Ben was the expert roll maker.  I oversaw the first batch and let him do the second completely on his own.  They turned out beautiful and delicious.  We had sweet marshmallow sides and homemade stuffing to boot.  Aaron took over the potato peeling and mashing (with Simon's help) and everything was perfect.  The turkey literally fell off the bone and the gravy was to.die.for.  We made a total of 8 pies, but decided to freeze a few because we knew it would be harmful to eat them all in one weekend.  The dishes were all done before the meal and it was so satisfying and wonderful to be home with my little family and celebrate together.  We toasted to things we were grateful for-- and at the top of everyone's list was being together as a family... that we are all healthy and happy and together.

Somewhere in the middle of the meal, I realized that I had done it.  Not just cooked a masterpiece for my growing family, but I had actually grown up myself.  I looked around at the big boys (eating seconds and thirds of the meal we had prepared together) and knew that I was their mother.. that I had become my mother... the middle-aged woman who worked so hard to keep her own family happy and healthy.  Later that day we played games and worked on a puzzle and watched "it's a wonderful life" and I couldn't help but feel gratitude for all of the good things (and difficult things as well) that were a part of my life.  Sometimes it takes a busy month and a quiet weekend to make you realize how blessed you really are.

weekend with the Posts

last Saturday was busy...
we had the Color Run in the morning.  We furniture shopped in the afternoon and then came home to get ready for the tennis match & night out with the Newsomes.  Somewhere between lunch and dinner, Aaron told me that his BFF/mission companion and his family were passing through Vegas on their way to Utah for turkey day.  Sweet. But kind of a crazy day to meet up with them.  I asked Aaron if they wanted to do dinner somewhere before we had the tennis match and Aaron said they were able to get tickets to the match too.  Perfect.  And then he told me that after the match they were staying at our house for the weekend... This was about an hour before they arrived.

I've told you before that Aaron and I have communication issues.  Apparently Aaron knew they were coming to stay for several weeks-- possibly a whole month.  I've seen him everyday since he made those plans and somehow he forgot to tell me..  Luckily our house was somewhat put together (the sheets on the guestroom bed were clean and the bathroom had just been scrubbed) and I didn't stress about it too much.  We Love the Posts with a capital L.  And any time spent with them is a good time, even if it's not planned out well.

When they arrived, I got a phone call from a lady in our neighborhood that needed help.  I knew it took a lot for her to call and ask, so I didn't want to say no.  I told Aaron to call in some pizza and I would pick it up on my way home.  When I got back an hour or so later (with the pizza) Aaron filled them in on the fact that he forgot to tell me they were coming.  We laughed about it for a while... and I told them that even though my husband doesn't like to talk much, when he does, it's always nice and perfectly thought out..  so he really doesn't ever have to apologize.  If him not talking is my biggest complaint in my marriage, I think we're going to be okay.  And truthfully, life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

So Saturday night went (basically) as planned.  We left our 7 boys and 1 girl at home to fend for themselves..  they put the baby to bed and played awesome together.  Del and Nicole had VIP tickets to the tennis match so they got to meet the players before hand.  Aaron and I dropped them off at the Mandalay Bay and then went to run a couple of errands before the match started.  As we were out we talked about our communication issues and realized ALL of our problems stem from the exact same thing-- and that almost makes it easier to try to fix.  More important than having a perfect marriage, we have a good time together and know how to roll with the punches.  He is the kind of guy I want to have around when a real trial comes along, so there's no reason to kick him to the curb before then.  He's a great guy who doesn't like to plan or talk.  There are worse qualities in a man.

After the match, we hit up a gas station for hot chocolate and listen to our husbands talk about the good old days in Spain..  They laughed about a time when a woman was emotional and went to wipe her tears with the bottom of her shirt, only to flash their innocent missionary eyes.  She wasn't wearing a bra and they saw it  all...  Crazy that I've lived with this guy for 12 years and he's never told me that story... but then again, he doesn't tell me everything.

We stayed up late Saturday, laughing and talking long after the kids fell asleep.  Sunday morning we got up early and went hiking in Red Rock Canyon, one of our favorite spots.  We came home just in time to throw soup in a pot for dinner and change our clothes for church.  We were on the back row in Sacrament meeting and I thought about how much I loved seeing Aaron and Del together.  These two are something else... We need to figure out a way to live in the same city.

After church we had chicken noodle soup and homemade rolls (the only things I really had in my cupboards) and played games with the kids.  Del and I talked real-life murder mystery stories while Aaron and Nicole took naps (not in the same bedroom of course) it was a random afternoon, but it made me feel better about my life and marriage.  Del Post is one of the few people that knows my husband like I do.  We are both crazy about him (Del is constantly telling Aaron how awesome and talented he is, which totally makes me laugh.  but it is the truth.)  Anyway, he helped me see things from a different point of view and that always helps.  They left Sunday evening and we missed them as soon as they drove away.

The only pictures I snapped were out hiking together... we're loving this winter weather!

messed up drawing contest

for FHE tonight we told the story of the good Samaritan by each saying a sentence and then passing it on to the next person...  we got through the story with several laughs and (I think) a good moral at the end.  We learned to never leave a dying man on the side of the road... and never include your superhero-obsessed 3 year old in a retelling of a Bible classic, unless you want Hulk, Captain America and Iron Man to beat up all the bad guys... which actually might be a better version than the original.?

We were still feeling the pass-it-along vibe into our activity and decided to have a drawing experiment.  We took 5 sheets of paper and folded them each into five sections.  Everyone started out drawing a head (only) and then folded the paper over and passed it along to the next person.  They couldn't see the section above, but had to continue drawing the next body part by only connecting the last lines of the picture.  After passing it five times, we each drew a different part of the body on all five papers.  Fortunately, out of all five drawings only one weenie made it's debut.. (along with a fart, a man who peed his pants, a couple of big booties and 4 hairy legs.)

The green head is Ben's (we made him change to a pencil after the first round.)  The peace sign is Zack's along with the weenie.. he's learning about how to be 'appropriate' in his art..  and the stinky balernia feet (slash Medusa slash chewbacca) are Luke's.  Simon was busy drawing on paper of his own.. he would not pass his drawings... (still learning to share :)

We got a good laugh over these crazy characters and after it was all said and done, the boys asked, "Can you please put these in our family yearbook for 2012?"  Yes, yes, I will.  And thank you for noticing how well I document your lives, dear children.

tennis with the Newsomes

My perfect night includes good friends and conversation.
Aaron's perfect night includes tennis.  He prefers to be playing it, but doesn't mind watching... as long as it's past world champions (namely Jim Courier, Michael Chang, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi.)
Lucky for us, our perfect nights collided!  The Champion Tennis Tournament was in Vegas and so were the Newsomes.  We've had this night planned for months.  So grateful nothing came up and we were actually able to make it happen!

Phyleen and Jonas are friends from high school.  They didn't really date, but I had a class with Jonas and he would always talk to me about how Phyleen was the perfect girl for him.  I love to see a true love story come to pass.  I adore this dear friend of mine.  She is sweet, funny, real, confident, down-to-earth and beautiful (inside and out.) We talked and talked and talked and got in trouble, even though we were whispering with our heads together.  We watched a little tennis too, but the conversation was just to good to sit and be quiet.

  

 Our husbands are both huge tennis fans and they are soon going to be BFFs too.  We sat on the 4th row and saw sweat dripping off of the tennis players faces.  It was perfect (but just a little cold, I had to wear Aaron's jacket like a snuggie.)

Andre Agassi is a Vegas hero.  We have seen firsthand the changes he has made to the community and worship him like the rest of the world.  He is amazing.  This is the third time we've been privileged to watch him play.. He is not an old man on the court..  

 At the end of the night, Andre was struggling in the last match, trying to outplay Jim Courier.  On match point, Phyleen yelled out "Finish him!" Everyone laughed, but Andre turned in our direction, looked and Phyleen and said, "I know, right?"  Her proud husband was beaming.  It was a perfect end to the best date ever.  Can't wait to hang with the Newsomes again soon (Indian Well tourney, here we come!)