Beauty and the Beast

 Our local high school recently performed Beauty and the Beast.  SO FUN!  We knew a lot of the characters on stage and and behind the scenes. 

 We even went to a special Tea Time with the cast before the show began.  This is Maurice, Belle's father aka Josh. 

 Belle, aka Candice.

 Mrs. Potts, aka Carly.

 In the background of the kids playing musical chairs you will see Nancy Napkin, Lefou, Gaston, and Mrs. Potts.

 Here is Cogsworth and Lumiere, aka Cameron.   We knew a lot more high school students in the play and in the band and our favorite friend, Courtney, in the back.  Love everyone.

 We really enjoyed watching the show with Amanda and

 Saren, almost 3 weeks old. 

 The whole play was amazing!  So exciting to go and watch a 4 year old sit there the whole time enthralled. She did get the wiggles near the end, but still loved it.

 At the end, the cast went into the lobby to meet the audience, but we hung out and danced on the front part of the stage.  SHE WAS IN HEAVEN! 

 Have you ever seen so much JOY? 

All in all, a great time!  Wish we had a play to go to every weekend.  Loads of memories for everyone.

lately feeling...

I have had a gray cloud over me the past month or longer.

Unmotivated.

Uninspired.

Barely getting by.

Wanting to sleep all the time.

Needing to accomplish so much, but I just don't want to.

So I hope to feel less like Eeyore and more like The Little Engine that Could.  I think I can.

Birthdays and Babies

When I saw Angie sitting alone on the back row of Primary waiting to turn 12, I knew then that I never wanted to have a child in November or December.   I was 11 when I made this decision.  Weird, I know, but I have always been a planner.  Growing up with a late June birthday, I always hated that I never had the chance to celebrate my birthday during the school year.  In college, I would talk about my theories about the best month to have a baby - even before I was married or dating.  Once I was married I "planned" on having a baby the day after I graduated college.  I graduated in April and had Agent J on June 3rd and for whatever reason that disappointed me.  I had him "late" according to my plan.

After having my oldest on June 3rd, I was ready for another child 6 months later.  He was growing up too fast and I really wanted a larger family, not just an only child.  You would have to know me and how I felt at the time, but I knew I needed another child to complete our family.  Little did I know that my Princess was needed for Agent J even more than for me and Travis.  She made our family complete.  If you know my Princess her birthday is January 11th, 19 months after I had my oldest.  I was trying really hard to avoid November and December, but I soon realized "planning" was really foolish.  

It was a 4 1/2 years later before I had RHM.  There was a miscarriage in between and trouble getting pregnant.  I came to understand that there were 3 people in our marriage, Travis and me and God.  Eventually, we were blessed to have our little Red Headed Monster in August 2003.  He was born in a bath tub at a birth center, after I had Princess via C-section.  I was so happy and so grateful for another baby and to have him the way I did.  I never thought I would have another baby, so I finally gave up that stupid idea of "planning" when to have a baby.  I realized that having a baby no matter what month was a blessing from Heavenly Father.  

Three and half years later I had my Sweetie in February 2007. Her birthday was my favorite.  I finally knew my body during labor and I had the most knowledge going into a birth.  She was born at a hospital in a bed, but with no drugs.  My friend Tammy was there as my doula, but mostly as my female supporter in the room.  Travis, the proud and supportive Dad, was there for all 4 births and he was a champ.  He, like me, got better and better at each birth.

Now it's April 2011 and I believe my baby career is complete.  I have 4 wonderful kids and I love my family.  I will admit that having thought about having babies since I was at least 11 years old, I find it hard to move on. 

I even went so far to sell my crib to Other Mothers approximately 2 years ago.  That alone isn't big news, but here's the thing.  I sold it the weekend of JT turning 12 and getting the priesthood and family was in town.  I drove to the store to sell it and the store had a policy that you had to put it together to prove that all the parts are there.  SO...with my mother and mother-in-law in tow, we put together my last baby's crib on a Saturday at Other Mothers.  It must have been quite a scene.  At the time it was just selling my crib, but as I look back I am struck by the sisterhood and motherhood that was around me during that moment.

I am not in the market for a crib.  I do not plan on being in the market for a crib in the future, but from time to time I miss the thought of having a baby. 

CONFESSION:  I do not miss the lack of sleep and I LOVE having every kid out of diapers.  There are many PROS to my life now.  No regrets.  Just making a brain switch.  By the way, the best month to have a baby is April or September according to my theories for different reasons.  And no.  Our family does not have a child in those months.  Planning doesn't work, so don't bother.

AIMS

This week is AIMS and this is a bulletin board that I did  the week after Spring Festival in March.  My newest piano student made the jet for me!  Shelly did a GREAT JOB!  THANKS for your help!

Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS)

It will be a busy week with RHM having a game on Tuesday, Princess having a game on Wednesday, and Agent J having practice on Thursday.  (not to mention flute lessons, guitar, practice for Princess and mutual)

Wish us luck and I wish your kids the same with their state assessments!  

Have a good night's sleep and 

 a yummy breakfast - all week!

PROJECT TIME - the results with the new frig

The project started here.

BEFORE:

 

DURING: 

 AFTER:

 The kids hate it, because there is no ice and water dispensor and the suction between the two units makes it hard to open at times and the ice maker isn't making ice as fast as we like with our old unit,

BUT I LOVE IT!

A typical Wednesday - sort of

 Every Wednesday my two oldest kids go to church for mutual.  Agent J has scouts and Princess has young women's. 

 This week there was a Court of Honor and Agent J earned 6 merit badges and is ready to start working on that Eagle Project.  Any ideas?  We will be working on that over the summer.

 Princess made a San Diego Temple craft with the rest of her people. 

She did a great job and had a fun night.

The reality of this evening is another story.  Sweetie was finding it hard to sit still during the Eagle Court of Honor and was running around with her "friend" Hyrum.  I say "friend", because she calls him her boyfriend, but I think he would prefer they remain acquaintances the way she bosses him around.  Poor guy.  To be honest, she bosses every "friend" around that she has.  She is a funny girl.  I patient man will be needed in her future.

RHM was great and played on Travis' phone the whole ceremony and then wanted 2 pieces of cake at the end.  It is all about RHM.  I suppose I should be grateful he was quiet and good, but I really hoped he would pay attention and listen to what was going on.  I want RHM to be exposed to scouting and Eagle's getting their awards.  RHM turns 8 this year in August and I am excited for him to enter the world of scouting.

I typical Wednesday would involve Mom or Dad dropping the big kids off at the church and then coming home to get the other two ready for bed.  Then the older kids get done around 8:30 p.m. and are in bed after showers by 9 p.m.  This sounds good a reasonable, but I really enjoy ALL THE KIDS in bed by 8:30 p.m. on a school night.  This is becoming more and more impossible.  Agent J lies in bed awake and staring at the ceiling, bored.  I tell him to read in bed, but mostly he listens to his ipod.  It is fun being a mom, but I really need to let my kids grow up and let go of 8:30 p.m. bedtimes.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

Right now I am excited to sign the kids up for swim team at 6:30 A.M. in the summer.  Ah!  That sounds like I still need an early bed time!  We will see.

Tuesday's flute recital

 Teacher and her students. 

This first video is pretty good. My little Princess has such a pretty tone to her flute. I love hearing her practice. It brings happiness to my heart to see her talents grow. We have a great flute teacher. Love her.

This second video is just okay. I love the song and Princess practiced lots.

One of the fun reasons to go to a flute recital is the DONUTS!  Every recital we get a little treat and the kids love it.  Great night to show off the musical talents of our Princess.

If you want to hear a flutist playing in space, check it out here.  

SHE MADE IT!

Princess made the co-ed slow pitch softball team at school!  SO EXCITED FOR HER!  Who cares that her name was last on the list.  They had their first games (all games are double headers) against Desert Valley's B team and creamed them.  WAY TO GO VALLEY!

We are looking forward to her keeping busy with school and North Valley league softball the next few months.

Saturday with 4 kids and THEIR activities

 This was a divide and conquer kind of Saturday.  Travis took the boys to baseball practice (because he is the coach) and then to Agent J's first flag football games of the season.  Double header baby!

 I took Princess to her softball practice.  Do you see her?  She is the second one from the left waiting in line to bat.  I love what the coach did to teach the girls to run the bases. 

 Sweetie played and played during Princess' practice. 

 Then we ran to Wally World (Wal-mart) for a few birthday gifts.  Sweetie had 2 friends with birthday parties today.  Crazy day! 

 First party was at the park and it was an Olivia party for our friend Olivia.  The birthday girl is the same age as Sweetie and she is on the right.  Katie, on the left just turned 5.  Look who is the tallest.  My 4 year old is a freakishly tall girl.  Did I ever mention that before?  Well, she is tall. (She looks 6, but is barely 4.  Dang girl is going to be a super model!)

Anyway, back to the birthday girl, isn't her Olivia dress adorable!  

 Princess had fun at the party too!  Crazy 12 year playing at a 4 year old party!  There were lots of kids there and lots of fun for everyone.

 Here is the birthday cake...now on to the next party!  MORE CAKE!  Yum.

 Brinlee's party had a Tangled or Rapunzel theme.  So fun.

 Cute games and the the castle cake was even better, but alas I have no pictures of the awesome cake. 

 But here is the 5 year old birthday girl! 

 Do you see this picture?  Nancy, the mom, is serving cake in the background.  She is the one who had surgery less than a week ago.  Thank goodness her mom and sister came into town to help her recover and throw this fun party!

 Again, my Princess having fun at a little kid party.  She actually LOVES this family and wants to babysit for them more.  She loves Nancy's kids. 

 Happy Birthday Brinlee!

At this point in the day, the girls headed home to see the boys who we had not seen since 8 a.m.  Ugh.  An hour after we got home, Travis and Agent J headed out to watch the Priesthood session of General Conference.  Oh yeah.  It's Conference weekend.  Thank goodness for TiVO.

45 minutes after they left, the rest of us left for Peter Piper Pizza to celebrate an end of the season PAR-TAY! 

 Here are the awesome coaches, Chelsea and Kirsten.

 We all exchanged gifts.  The parent got the coaches something and Kirsten made the girls frames and got them some bath and body works stuff.  So great!

Fun was had by all!  Now home and to bed!  YAY!  I can't wait to see my husband and enjoy church on TV on Sunday!  PJ's and church are the BEST!  We definitely need a day to recover after a Saturday like this.  Too bad, most of our Saturdays are like this lately.  4 active kids.  I LOVE IT!  As much as I hate the busyness, I KNOW I will miss day like this.