Where we are at

3 schools, and only one kid not in double digits.  A teenager driver which is freaking awesome by the way.

At the moment I have a kid home with strep and our AC isn't working on a 100 + degree day and I'm actually ok.  Funny, people really can grow.  Years ago those things might have put a damper on my day but we have done some hard stuff over the years and weather the AC debacles a little more smoothly.  My kids didn't even complain last nite and it was hot all day in the house after school.  They are champs.  Ironic that the things that I have been praying for which usually includes the vein of ways to obtain more money have been delayed but my kids and probably my character has been developed with those answered prayers.  

Funny how that is huh?  God really is trying to make the best version of us and we should bless and thank that bumpy path!  

Tossing the idea about writing on the blog a little more.  

Football season and soccer season are in full madness over here and I'm not even stressed.  Why the heck not?  I mean I'm helping coach one of the teams and have five different sport schedules to deal with and about 10,000 broken things at home and I'm kinda ok.  I'm even happy.  I'm sure busy with a big volunteer calling at church and Jason and are doing really good.  I haven't been able to work out like what really benefits me because life is so busy, but I have coped.  I move when I can.  What I can feel though is enabling power of Christ's Atonement so tangibly and I'm reaping the benefits.  Prayer, scripture reading and focusing on Jesus Christ really will make us joyful despite any circumstances.  That and a whole lot of gratitude for the life I have been given.  It could be much much worse.  

Faith over fear.  

Choose the Good.  

Ditch all the crappy thoughts and don't let them stay. 

What you focus on is important.  

Everyone needs friends.  

God will help you with your budget.  

You can sleep in a 90 degree house.  

Don't go on a diet.  

Read good books.  

Watch Tv. 

Make the cookies. 

Corn dogs are perfectly acceptable dinners with a busy schedule and then kids can feed themselves.  

Being 40 is not too bad ya know?  That wisdom has been hard earned but pretty beneficial.  

Who is your Life Coach?

Oh my goodness, typing on here feels like saddling up to my old best friend?

Do I even remember how to put my thoughts and feelings and funny life recordings on here?  We will see.

Sooo, I have joined the Marco Polo app....I use that a lot to communicate with my friends and family who I don't live by.  Especially my family who are in different time zones and rarely see.  The McCoys have 8 living siblings in our family dispersed between 5 different states so getting alllll together is a rarity.  Like someone might have to die.  Oh wow that sounds morbid.  How about we go with married.  Someone has to get married....wait we still didn't get that with the last one (Hello Kenzaboone!)...Ok, how about someone has to die or get married with lots of advanced warning and can't conflict with any prepaid very important previously scheduled event. And on the west coast.

Now the Evans, well we got to see each other in December which was wonderful.  Four siblings are in four states, but that number is about to go down to 3.

Hot tip if you want your family to use the Marco Polo app...stalk them. I mean remind them.  over and over and over...and then maybe they might reciprocate.  Seriously though I love it.  And don't tell me you hate looking at your face, so don't look at it.  Prop it up on the counter while you are chopping veggies like the good parent you are ;). or insert hot Cheetos.  But maybe don't chop those...that would be a mess.

Ok, life coaching. isn't that what started this rampage? Wow, ya see...maybe you will wish I kept this blogging door shut?

The first Friday of every school month is double late start.  While at first I wanted to punch the person who invented double late start, not to be confused with regular late start which is every other Friday, my tune is now changed.

After I drop off the girls to the other two school, I get to have my now 16 year old son home alone with ME!!!!  LUCKY HIIM!  jk lucky me.  We have had a few bumps on what our expetations would be for said late start and after doing this for two years now I think we have finally worked at the kinks.  sort of.   Here were are issues we have fought about...how long can he sleep in?  The girls being too loud (hello small house), waking him up for family prayer, procrastinating homework, messy room, wanting to just play video games, should we skip seminary....

Here is what we decided.  Yes we skip seminary.  Sorry seminary. But once a month is a pretty dang good record (ok it was twice this month), because sometime we all need more sleep.  So instead of getting up at 5:45 I slept til 6:20 and it was glorious!  Yes I know there are a billion of you all that have to wake up at 4 a.m. etc, I understand.  I actually don't even mind much getting up for seminary my body wickedly likes it now and doesn't differentiate if its a Saturday.

Okay, so here is my philosophy in life.  Do the work first, then play.  So today, I was reminding to clean up disaster of a desk, put away clothes, practice a few minutes ACT book (thank for for that push Uncle Brandon, the evans one), say prayers, eat, get lunch ready, desposit checks, whatever else misc.......and then (this is after homework is done).  THEN...your time is yours.

Well got lots of complaints today.  Lots.  And then I said, dude you still need to start studying for your AP test, and Saturday you are going to do some yard work.  insert typical teenage groaning.  complaints.

I am getting frustrated and may or may not have swore.  Listen teenage man child I say (not really).  All of this stuff, is it for me?  (minus yard work).  All this stuff I have asked you this morning, is any of it to any benefit of me?  NO!  Its all to benefit himself.  I am getting him to do things that benefit himself.  And then it hit me.  I am your life coach!  So I told him.  Why has it never hit me that mothers are our children life coaches????? Duh!  

And then I asked him, who is MY life coach?  And he smirks.  He said I'm not telling you.
Me:  Who is it?
Teenager:  I'm not saying it.
insert me poking and bugging, why why?  say it say it?

Cause we both knew who it is.

So in the car to the school a few minutes later (he did have an hour of glorious video playing time and he fed his soul and mind and cleaned his living space). ...I asked him...Whose my life coach Luke?
God.
Well close, I was going to say the spirit.
And then I said, when your life coach is the spirit too, I don't have to be yours so much.

and then we fist pumped.  Ok we didn't but thats how it felt.

holding on for dear life

My life isn't always crazy I don't think.  Its just when its crazy and I feel like I am about to explode is when I feel like I need to document it and write it down.  So if I'm quiet its because things are nice and possibly boring (praying for boring).

But wow these last two days have kicked my butt.  And I plan on for some more butt kicking til about June 18.  Because by then I will have completely about a million things I need to do including all the kids being out of school and that will mean I have survived a Tahoe soccer trip that I am attending sans Jason plus girls and I am trying to not be nervous about that.

that means I will have already dressed up for colonial day and been in charge of the candy station which I roped Darby into helping. I will have passed out all the yearbooks and sold the remainder and appeased all kinds of testy parents.  I will have given my kids teachers little gifts and thanked them.  Oh yes and I will have done about 2 more relief society meetings not including church. and lets add a birthday for ivy in there for good measure.  about 5 more school lunches to make (plan on taking them out early on the last day) which reminds me I need to find someone to watch rusty.  By the 18th we will have celebrated fathers day, and I will have sent my dad something and Jason's dad and Jason and made them all feel special.

Tomorrow alone I have three different places to be in a short span of time and I'm already looking forward to that being over.  I am definitely going to exercise tomorrow since I don't drink and somehow we have to manage this stress responsibility.  Oh and I forgot about the last Pta meeting of the year I may or not attend because quite frankly don't know how I'm going to squeeze that in.

I do have some fun stuff planned in between though, including a special screening of incredibles, a school movie nite, a graduation party, the big Os 16th bday party that I'm taking Luke too, and Luke is having a scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at the rival high school.

I am going to get off this.  But just know I am alive and if I'm slurring my words or bite your head off know that I'm barely scrapping to the finish line.  I want to head butt the people who had the big kids get out of school before the little kids cause that has been a major dumb thing still having to get up early and homework and yada while part of the family is summer partying!  But I do love seeing those big kids more they are sure great.  and after youth conference and hearing president nelson, that boy of mine indexed the last two days on his own without me knowing.  indexing is data entry for family search which allows people to connect with their ancestors and is pretty much the greatest service and proud of that kid.

I better call on the leak I have had for too long in the bathroom, its telling me it can't be ignored anymore.  Got my brakes fix and wow driving these millions of places sure feels wonderful when you chin isn't vibrating into your neck because you have worn them so thin.  glad that prayers won't have to guarantee my safety to the next destination as well because I was getting a bit worried on the last few trips.

I love being a mom.  All the crazy is worth it.

Almost summer

Perfect is boring and I am pretty much nailing that. So much still left to do before school is out for everyone . Hide the cookies!!!! Cause I’m going to eat them all trying to not freak out about it all.

Excited for Luke and Jason to go to youth conference tomorrow.

The weather in town right now is so dang awesome. 75 and cool in the mornings and I nite.

I’m reading a book by Brandon Sanderson right now, the rithmatist...crap speaking of I need to update my book Instagram account!

And if you are on Marco Polo come find me and if you are my family reply to me already! Ha .














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Not quitting yet! Teenager-land

So I thought I was done with this old bloggity blog but lately I have been feeling the pull to start back writing on it again!  Because while I don't have anymore toddlers, I do have TEENAGERS!  and they need to be documented to.

Okay, so here's the thing.  I am determined to love these Teenagers years!  I only have 3 more left with Luke home (knock on wood everything goes to plan) and recently have a second teenager in the house!!!

Having a different experience with both of them, but this is going to be great.  Like does that mean its issue-free?  no way, lots of course correcting, and monitoring and little stuff, but dang sure feels like I'm reaping the rewards of all my hard work in their younger years because I really like these people! 15 year boys are awesome!  And so thrilled I have a 13 year old daughter now too! She is beautiful on the inside and outside.

There are a lot of unknowns and questions I have for the future...like how are we going to field the car situation, or dating (eek) and wow seminary was a butt kicker but we did it!  Goooo McCoy Team!!!!!

And shoot Jason and I need to go on a vacation, and lots of stuff needs to be fixed but just one day at a time.  I joined the gym and that has been a good stress/mood manager.

Summer is almost upon us (today is two oldest last day of school but the girls have 2 more weeks) and we have a very busy June in different directions (Jason going to Florida!, high adventure and a Lake Tahoe soccer tournament).  Why do I do so many parentheses?  Why don't I just make them regular sentences? (cause they are more fun duh)

Here is current summer thoughts.  Each kid will take a day to make a lunch.  Must have a fruit or veggie with meal.  Prepare all by themselves.  And then help with dinner.

And then I no longer do bucket lists cause I learned my lesson (hello that felt like work!) but we are going to do a summer goal list with 3 goals.  one of those is something they will learn to cook.  I want to learn how to make pretzels.  Anybody have any good goals for a mom trying to stay sane in the summer?  I'm getting closer to my only New Years resolution which was to watch every episode of the Office!  That has been a fun one.

I'm back.  missed you old friend.

poor memory

lately I have been remembering why I used to write on my blog.  Its because of my poor memory.  And I know I will forget all of this.  Which is amazing because how could I forget my life right now? But I already do.  I forget what 6 months ago was like, or 2 years, I am forgetting the baby moments and wish so bad I could hold all my babies again.  Sigh.

But anyway, yes I'm busy and tired and need to go to sleep, but just wanted to take a few moments so I wouldn't forget some of these.

This morning I was saying my morning prayer at 5:45 a.m. and God told me I needed to talk to Luke about something and so I went and did it and wow it was spot on and I didn't even know it was an issue.  and I could just see it on his face that I should not know about this, but I didn't and thank goodness for prayers for mothers!

See and I have already forgotten the funny stories from earlier today with the little girls that I didn't want to forget!

But then Darby came in my room tonite after bedtime and asked if she could interview about motherhood.  who me?  You want to do me?  Okay I said as long as you can conduct the interview while doing the dishes.

She asked....

What attributes make a great mother?

hmmmm...kinda stumped.  haven't thought about it like that.

Well, unselfishness I said.

hmm...what else???

I really depend on prayer (see above story) but I know lots of great moms who don't pray so I know that is not mandatory, just very beneficial (essential for me really).  There is no one way to be a mother.  No one size fits all.  Really just love and caring?

What makes a great mom?  I had a great mom so I should know this.  I feel like I am a great mom but it didn't start out that way.

But really any person who loves their kids, who is willing to try over and over again and not quit.  Who does there best and dusts themselves off when they make mistakes is a great mom.  Who instills confidence and cheers them on and teaches them and makes them work so they can be independent healthy adults who will contribute to society...well thats a great mom!

Is there a recipe?  I think thats just it.

Then I told her what I used to tell people.  I think motherhood is like any job (albeit one of the most important and worthwhile jobs in the world).  But like any job you aren't going to start out it amazing.  You might suck in the beginning.  but you get better.  you learn and you grow.  There is a learning curve and a major humbling that takes place.  Motherhood gives you a grand magnification of all your flaws and yet you still have to keep going!  Because it is not about you!!!  Its about that little person whose life you will impression forever who needs a solid force of love and comfort and clarity as their MOTHER.  The most sacred of roles along with father in the world.

A question I used to get all the time is how do you have five kids?  Well they didn't come all as once. First one I didn't know what I was doing, second one I got a little better, had some panic moments with three and four, and fifth was just like oh man I'm like a freaking pro!  Had to learn to let go, learn to temper my temper, learn to take care of myself, learn how to cook and clean (which things I'm trying to give my kids a leg up on earlier).

Thankfully I had the great teacher (Nancy Jo) and really wish my kids have the same fondness as I do of my own mom and forget all the crappy things I have done.  I still have great room to improve but perfection is not a requirement to great mothering thankfully.

I think a confidence really helps when you are mom.  Maybe since it feels we get beaten down so much?  or because we have so many decisions to make?  Or maybe just confidence in the magnitude in our role?  Who knows.  You could write a book on motherhood which is why many people have.

All I know is it is the best thing I have ever done and I had no idea how much I would love it (or suck at it sometimes) and how hard and rewarding motherhood has been.  My greatest achievement.  Thank you children.  I hope you only remember the good parts.

Side note on the way home from volleyball tonite I told them the funny story about an infamous family home evening.

Then they insisted on another funny story so I told them how when we first moved to California and Luke was born I was walking down the stairs in the apartment building while a bunch of our friends were swimming in the pool (the building was arranged like melrose place...don't watch that show kids) anyway......I fell down the stairs bad holding Luke and everyone came rushing to see if I was ok and I didn't want them too because while I was sore we were both okay, BUT I had wet myself all over in the process of falling.  not cool.

why are these the kind of stories that we do remember?

dang it I just thought of a huge one.  a good mother is a good teacher!! She teaches her children morals and values and to be honest and a good person, no matter if they are a religious or not.  That is a common thread of a good mom.  For sure.

Grateful

Sometimes I have really moved about how close I am to a temple. So lucky and there is no place like it in the world. Great reminder of what is important and what direction I want to head in my life. And I love when I bring my ancestors names there.


I am so surprised how much I have grown to love family scripture study. Jason and I have been married nearly 18 years and I would say the last year was the best we have done in making apart of our family. It’s so wierd and unexplainable the family unity and peace it brings even if we all just read one verse. (That’s 7 verses if you need help with the math)


I just love this picture. These two were babies together (see lower picture that P and K googled of themselves) and time really does go by and they are even better older than I could have imagined. Who would guess when M (see what I’m doing there? Less google-able ;) were roommates that our kids would know each other too!





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my poor poor blog

okay, well I am so sorry instagram has sort of replaced you.  and i'm way overdue printing blog books.   I think I need to do 3 years at this point.  plus i missed the dang 30 percent off coupon windo.  And I kinda only talk about church stuff at this point which might be boring my audience (hi, mom!) to tears.  So do I abandon you?  Or make another valiant rally?  Hmmmm...

But christmas season is upon us.  And light the world campaign starts tomorrow.

whats new?  Well jason wants to get a real tree this year!  wow, can't even remember the last time we did that.  plans are for saturday.

my parents are coming for christmas.  also can't remember the last time they were with us on actual christmas, but i think it might have been us in california 10 years ago???/I don't even know.

will i or won't i send christmas cards this year....wow these are questions of the century people.

also, for some reason i have a big aversion to baking and passing out treats i think i'm going the store bought route this year.

soccer is over hip hip hooray.  although i sure love watching them play.

football is over, oh yes, now luke needs to be reintroduced into the family structure since he was gone so much and no that doesn't mean just playing video games all the time (we tried that it was a bust)
currently he also has no texting ability on his phone (dad is the technology whiz and did that).  but dang he is good kid!  even though he is not perfect (ask him why texting is gone) he is a bright and shining light in the world.  same with darby too!  All the kids actually!  But becomes more apparent in the bigger kids.

ps. love high school pickup .  its like a free for all no rules and no honking and everyone just does it and no angry drivers.  dude.  where has this been all my life?  elementary and jr high need to take note!  also, it has not crossed luke's mind to be embarrassed about mom picking him up he is just glad i'm not making him walk!

we get to see hamilton on saturday! i'm super excited.  the story is and founding of our country is really quite moving and the play is really quite brilliant (judging from all the songs we have stuck in our heads).  sure wish the kids could go (and that there was no potty language in it)

lately I just really love my small untidy house.  i'm so dang grateful for it and our awesome crappy cars that won't quit.  I have learned that if I just really bust my butt and clean it for a few days i love it more and so when i see the mess right now I know i can get it better when i want to.  that was not today.

also, have been talking to the girls when i pick them up from school i want to see smiles!  why do they save all their grumpy for me??? I know they weren't like that for their teacher.  so stop scowling at your mom!  life is good for heavens sake.

ps.  rusty is so pretty.  wish it didn't cost a million dollars to groom him but oh well.  beauty doesn't come cheap ;)

and on that note i'm going to go curl my hair before luke's football banquet.

good bye world.  mama's gotta go do herself up!

i had a few quiet moments to myself while i was eating lunch today and watched the more horrible cheesy christmas love movie on netflix and it was painful and awesome!!!!!!

best time of the year!!!!

Today

6 am family scripture Volunteered at school
Baked a cake
Visiting teaching
Made chili
Did crazy hair day
Got kids ready for Halloween party
Sewed some basic costumes
Temple recommend interview
Ward Trunk or treat
Done.

















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answered prayers

yesterday I had two incredible things happen to me.

first one that happened is I went to lunch with my PTA friends and a new parent who wanted to get involved and asked her to be president and she said yes.  Okay yes we technically had a president but only in name.  But this girl is going to be amazing!!!!!!  and guess what that means, my prayers all those dang prayers were answered in the most fantastic way.  Because not gonna lie I was kinda wondering if God was leaving me hanging.  But He didn't!  and I should not be surprised!  Because why wasn't my prayer not being answered when I wanted it to?  First of all because this mom didn't even go to our school or live here and He knew she was coming so I just needed to hold my horses!  Seriously its so great and amazing I'm pinching myself!

Ok the next the thing was super amazing  FYI yesterday was jam packed holy heck how am I going to do it all. And actually it seems that I have had more of those days lately than not and you know I don't like those kind of days, I prefer to not be as schedule but dang it life is demanding it from me so I'm just holding tight!  And with God's help I have gotten everything done!  (at this point in the story I am realizing that I talk a lot about church and God on my blog but guess what? Thats just me and what I love)

So the big kids (i.e.: Luke and Darby) had a temple trip tonite with the other youth. Jason was meeting them there, I had soccer practice with Baylie and needed to leave my house at the latest at 4:45 and taking Paisley and Ivy with me (duh).  I just had a few minutes and checked all our family search accounts and none of us had any family ancestry names ready for baptism (if you are wondering about this, lets have a chat and I can explain it but not doing it here at the moment).  Okay so nothing, and I have like 5-10 minutes.  Should I go get ready for soccer or do I try one more thing?

I didn't to try.  So I said a prayer, and this was my prayer.  Dear Heavenly Father, my kids are going to the temple tonite and if any of my family wants to have their baptism done I need your help to find me.   In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  Simple.

So I'm looking at my family tree.  Trying to poke around.  nothing there nothing here.  Then I spot a name that I love and whose work I have done.  Edmonia Hines.  I click on her and she has a bunch of new information now, her 1900 and 1910 censuses are there!  (Censuses are good especially the 1900 one).  And guess what?? Guess what Edmonia helped me find.  All her children!!!!!!!!!  I was so excited.  But then guess what the next thought was after I added them.

What is this isn't right?  Whats if I just can't find the duplicates and something has already done them?  Whats if this will just be a waste of time?  So I hesitated.  Hmmm....what do I do?  and I have like 2 minutes at this point.

But then I remembered something I recently read from Elder David Bednar.  THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.  I had prayed and got such a clear definite answer, why am I doubting that?  So I reserved and printed the temple name cards out just as I was running out the door and yelled for Darby to cut them and bring them!  (Thank you to my good friend Laurie who took them to the meeting spot) And my kids did the names!   Guys I hope you realize how amazing this is that I found these names that quickly after my prayer!  Like a total hand of God.

And then I went to soccer, went to the school art nite, dropped off the girls quick while Baylie babysat (desperate times!) and ran out of the nite time relief society visit!  Whew!  What a day.

Then late I talked to the kids about the temple and Jason too.  Luke's comment was when I asked him how it was that everything just seems smaller when he is there.  Lifes problems, school stuff, etc.  And that is true.  Everything just seems smaller.

Which brings to me the theme of the week which I heard in women's conference from my favorite Sister Marriott.

Some things matter, some things don't.  A few things last, but most things won't.

Now the trick to only worry about the stuff that matters and lasts!!!

Sports on the weekend

Ivy wishes she could play (you can blame your dad for that although I can agree it's a smart decision). So here she is the super fan!!!!!!! Ready for soccer !!!


Love soccer kids team names ! Baylie has thought up way too many of hers. Her idea always dang wins!!!


Us being fans at la mesa .


After Luke's football game we stopped at a sandwich place on the way home to wait for traffic to be better (only in LA). It was delicious. And only a mere $60 later to feed our family!!! No wonder we don't go out to eat much!!! But casual dining is totally my favorite. No waiters or lines. It's the best!!! (Said in nacho voice)



Paisleys first year of soccer is totally adorable !


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long neglected blog

Today has been productive good saturday.  I'm waiting for Luke get home from a stake dance and the rest of the house is asleep.

Jason got some car stuff done this morning, we mowed lawns and did chores.

Paisley and Baylie both had soccer games and Darby had a bye.

Paisley plays for the pink ninjas and Baylie is on the Blazing Emeralds.  Darby's team name is No Mercy :)

We sure can pack our mini van to the brim when we all go out to the games!

Luke played Friday and it was a bit painful for him.  They lost 18-55, played Crespi an all boys Catholic school in Encino.  Fancy campus and good team.  We still cheered loudly.  Funny how much you learn from a tough lost.  Luke has a good head on his shoulders even if he is sort of dreading going to school on Monday getting heat for the game.  Such is life.  Sometimes you are at the top, and sometimes not.

Lately have been thinking about our blessings.  Kids have commented on not having this or that.  But what do we have?   A mom who stays home and gets to be with them more and flexible schedule.  Disney passes!  Close to lots of fun things including the beach.  A warm and cozy home with new air conditioning.  Lots of people in our family who love them and make things more fun.   Good health and quick minds and parents who are married and trying to teach them correct principles.  And we live in America!  So hubcaps be danged and every apparent slight we might see is really just a reflection of the choices we have made in our life to live a certain way.  Really very lucky.

hmmm.  what else?  church tomorrow.  I'm sure there is allll these things I'm forgetting to keep on here.  oh well, i do what i can!

We are doing it!

Remember how scared I was about school starting?

Well it's working out. Boy we are busy and tired. More than I can remember . But just taking it day by day and trying to keep a happy home.

The transition to switching to nighttime scripture study is doing ok. It feels soo much harder probably because I'm much more a morning person but we are trying to make it happen.

Glad jason is back from Florida even though almost every second of his weekend is sucked up to an ayso coach training!!!

Luke's body is recovering from his first game. Football is no joke! Neither is early morning seminary. Glad we went conservative on his class schedule.

Next week is going to be even more nutso but just not going to worry about each day til it's before me and know that God will always help me accomplish much more.

The eclipse was much cooler than I thought it would be ! Glad I got to watch it with amber and christie v!























This is the girls going through Mahina's hand me downs .

And paisley read the 13th article of faith in church.




Luke scored two touchdowns his first game and had three long completed passes! It was so fun and super duper hot to watch . I took the girls out of school early so we can go. Jason was still in Florida .


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school is back

My kids love their teachers.

Darby has a teacher that has pet snakes that he feeds in the class.  It is quite the hit.

Luke is gone now from 6:15 a.m. in the morning til 6:15 p.m. at nite.

Which made me realize we need to rethink that chore chart of ours because he needs to get out off it and maybe just stick to mowing the front yard and taking out the trash when he can? How time is changing.

Spiritual wisdom (still from stake conference).  Pres. W said that faith is choice.  He spoke about my favorite parable currently, the 10 virgins and the 5 who had oil in their lamps.  How do we get our oil?  Much of our precious oil is about charity.  We can pray for charity, but mostly charity is found in the doing.

A cute little (ok not so little) YW spoke Miss M and she said, if its important to us, its important to God, so we can ask him for help.

Going to pick up Darby now, the little girls got out early today.  Painted my nails, went grocery shopping and on a hike this morning in beautiful cloudy weather that teases us!  I want rain and it green again!

I think I still have a hand cramp from all the papers I had to fill out on the first day of school. Wow.

so much to say its overwhelming

ok if i just don't start writing i will keep putting it off!

I mean ALABAMA!  KONRAD!!  SO MUCH TO SAY.

and then school started!!!  for big kids, and school starts tomorrow for the last three.

SEMINARY STARTS TOMORROW!!!!  HOW IS THIS MY LIFE NOW??!!!

IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION BEFORE, I'M OFFICIALLY A GROWN UP.


AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE BEST PART?  I'M NOT PTA PRESIDENT ANYMORE...which actually is a million times better because the PTA doesn't have to pay for the music arts program this year which is like the thing that made it so hard the last few years!!!  huge news people.

and my kids all got good teachers and my total terror and fear of the new year is being more manageable .

Could help that I had a superb day on Saturday when I got to chaperone the young women's disneyland trip which was amazing.  i'll take that kinda of 'service' any day!  but seriously it was really cute to see how much Darby has been working towards earning her goals so she can go.  Even late in the nite in Alabama she would be reading her scriptures and writing in her journal so she could have enough 'points'.  such great great youth leaders my kids have and primary teachers.  very lucky.  especially since my sister tells me at this point in my older kids lives statistics show they listen to their parents less and less and listen to their youth leaders and other adult influences.

Okay, so funny stuff.

Darby said that on the first day of school.  (Darby was excited/nervous by the way, I think Luke was just terrified) her history teacher did a get to know you game where you divide yourself into three groups....no chores at home, little chores at home, or lots of chores at home.  Can you guess which group darby put herself into?  Yes the LOTS OF CHORES AT HOME!  haha which I think  is super funny because for all she knows maybe its the same as the little chores but she views it as lots?  Who knows?  Maybe it really is lots compared to others?  Anyway, she said the LOTS OF CHORES only had 5 people and she was the only girl.   She said the NO CHORES had the second most, pretty close to the LITTLE CHORES.


okay, girls came in so now I can't remember what I was gonna say.

But went to adult session of conference and it was really great.  One woman spoke about how she had a really amazing career and how she chose to be a stay at home mom and the challenges and how her husband got baptized and she reactivated in the church.  It was so good for me to hear.  Like her awesome job was doing really good work, meaningful things that impacted lives (she worked in news television), but that how much more important was her work as a mother and impacted their lives and the world so much more.  Was like validating having a crappy car for me with the sacrifice of staying home with my kids.

Another woman spoke about having a truth filter for thoughts that come in your head.  Like to decide if a thought should stay, you ask yourself...Is it loving?  Can I feel the spirit?  She talked about how her prayers had gotten a bit monotonous and how she caught herself and chose to make them more meaningful and she had the distinct impression....OH HOW I'VE MISSED YOU!  from God as she talked with Him more.  Not, wow, you lazy slacker, where have you been.  You are not celestial material.  Nope that would have not passed through the truth filter.

Such such good stuff. President Lindberg spoke about how he planted these huge trees too close to his house and while they were so beautiful and provided shade for his house, it was wrecking havoc unground which he couldn't see.  And how tedious and hard it was to dig them up and out, but like sin, we must do that so it doesn't wreck havoc on our lives.  And then he read Mosiah 3:19..

 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

I having been praying for Elder Hamula's family this week and have felt great love for them.  Anytime someone is trying to dig out the giant trees in their yard that have been planted too close to their home their efforts should be applauded and compassion extended.  

Then we sang the closing hymn "I Believe in Christ" and I was touched by verse 3 it says, 'from Satan's grasp...he sets me free.'   So grateful for my eternally merciful and loving Savior! 

funny stuff my kids won't see till its too late

Luke got home from scout camp and wow it felt like a long time.  between darby and him this summer, this is really testing my motherhood having them gone so much!  how can I last a mission if a week feels forever.

anyway...shhhhh....

lukes funny stuff.....
no shower all week and allllll that entails

but he said he was really proud of himself because he brushed his teeth twice a day and put on deodorant the first two days.

and i think he missed us too.  but he got his horsemanship merit badge and looooved it.  did you know you don't really love something unless you type it out looooove.  true story.

our house is still hot but fixing is coming soon.

i convinced jason to finish a project i have wanted done for a loooong time today so I can't complain that we are staying in hot house all day because he is doing it.

alabama in less than a week we cannot wait!!!!

oops which reminds me why i got on the computer but immediately forgot.  ivy has a talk tomorrow in primary on reverence????  uh man i really wish we could pick the topics because reverence will be a hard one from me ahahah ;)

seagulls stop it now is in my head.

Holy hotness

It's been hot in our house this summer. We are getting our ac fixed on Saturday. It will be a big job but will be so wonderful when it's finished.











Darby got to go to the Newport Beach temple with the yw! They had such a fun day and I'm so grateful for her wonderful leaders (aka my friends :)





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Photos from summer

I'm seriously sad summer that summer is going by so fast and school is just around the corner.

And it has nothing to do with my total fear of having kids at 3 different schools and luke starting seminary.
















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What our family loves right now

in no particular order 

homemade goo

grandma sycamore bread that grandma b brought us we are going to be so sad when we run out!

good jam

swimming

legos

late nite movies

good food

church

disneyland

the beach

all our extended family

missionaries

rusty

packages from nana xo she is the best!

watermelon

peaches

writing stories

chips and guacamole

disney infinity ps4

lego jurassic park ps4

girl parties

our family all together

treats treat treats

paper plates 

watching luke pass the sacrament at church

when the house is clean (!!!)

the hoverboard 

the book of mormon

library cards and books

soccer and football

visiting dad at work

summer

family prayer

quoting nacho libre

fun dancing music 

listening to books on car rides

playing the piano 

the weekends 

ice and AC 

calling their cousins on the phone

picking veggies from the garden 

painting nails (boys excluded)

long hair 

...that is all for now. 

happy sunday! 

D&C 88: 119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.

Ivy is now 6

Oh Ivy what would we do without you? You still want to hold my hand. You love to give hugs and kisses . You say the best prayers and are so thoughtful and remember everyone to pray for.

You are super fast and love love reading. You love to make people laugh and will ham it up to show off!

Your birthday was the last day of school so we brought donuts on Monday for your class and you got to bring home the birthday bad. On your birthday Darby graduated but I took you out for lunch and you requested cafe Rio (the lime pie place) . Then for dinner you wanted rotisseries chickens from Costco and oh yes breakfast was eggs and toast your favorite. Nana and grandpa spoiled you rotten and got you a new swing which is awesome. We got you a blow up pool and tap shoes. You asked for Oreo smash o for dessert and we watched beauty and the beast because it just came out.

The next day was the last day of school and the last day of having all four girls in Mrs Clark's kindergarten class (poor luke missed out).

I really didn't want you to grow up and turn 6 but you are a wonderful 6 year old and getting so old and smart! We love you Ivy!

(We still owe you a trip to chuck r cheese)
















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