The good news is that we survived. But seriously, it was busy. It's not like crazy running around but it's just like at all hours of the day I'm needed by someone or something, you know? It's strange how when I get to 8:30 or so when the kids are in bed and I have "me time" it's really not me time at all because I have to (or should be) cleaning and getting ready for the next day and I'm really quite tired and don't want to do anything at all. But it was a good week. A productive week. The kids were all happy and doing their things. This is just our busy life now. I don't just have toddlers running around the house. I have big kids. It's funny how life transitions before you even know it! I'll go over the high lights.
**Funniest Story Ever**
So I signed Pacen up to play basketball. I was thinking it would start right when soccer ended and there wouldn't be that much overlap. Well, I was wrong. Practice started Friday. And their practices are on Friday nights from 6 to 7 pm. WHAT?!?!!? Oh well. Whatareyagonnado?!?!
Anyway, Than had invited some work people to come over and watch the BYU game with us and so I was all trying to get food all prepped and the house picked up. All I knew about the practice was the name of the gym that the coach emailed but there was no definitive name and address. So I google it real quick to get the address and Than takes him to practice. The address ended up being WAAAAYYYY wrong. Like the practice ended up being like five minutes from our house and I sent Than two towns away and I get this call about not being able to find it and he's all frustrated because it's just frustrating to not be able to find something, especially when you have worked all day and you are tired and hungry, and really especially when the cougars are playing and you are missing it. So, I'm on the phone with him about what to do and where the practice really is and Than says, "Dang it! I just ran out of gas!" It is like all I can do not to just bust up laughing right then and there but Than is really, really upset obviously and so I just load up the kids and take him some gas. But remember, he's just driven like 25 minutes out of the way so it takes us awhile to get there and anyway, it was just funny. Probably because it's not the first time that he's ran out of gas in that car. For whatever reason he just can't seem to see the gas light when it's on. And probably because I sent him 15 miles in the wrong direction. Gosh, I love that guy. So, needless to say, our friends didn't come over to watch the game with us but BYU kicked the crap out of Hawaii so all was right in the world again. But he may be buying a new car in the near future because he's tired of running out of gas. :)
**Preschool**
I am loving our little preschool group this year. We only have four kids but I kind of love it. I feel like we are actually learning! They have longer attention spans and really love that they are learning how to write and know their letters and it's just fun. The major problem is Gentry. She wants to be as big as them and in our little kits that we ordered we only have four of each thing so when she doesn't have the book that they are making or the craft that they are doing she kind of freaks out. I think I might just add a kid onto our order so she has stuff to do too. And she is obviously two years younger and doesn't sit with them for very long and then the preschool kids get distracted but it's still fun.
Here is Claira hard at work. She is the best colorer. She takes soooo much time and does a fantastic job. And she can write her name! I have to scan in a copy of one of her names. She's doing so great!
Oh, you can see her name on that book. Isn't she awesome?!?!? But she is a fire ball too and I have to watch out. She's just like the class clown and always trying to get attention but when she's working, she's working hard. Work hard and play hard. I can live with that.
Our little crew. See, Gentry is just one of the kids.
This is why markers and Gentry just don't belong together. At least she was happy!
**Cub Scouts**
I survived my first day as a den leader. And it was actually pretty fun. It makes me appreciate Pacen a lot. He's a really good kid. All the kids are good just some are more "spirited" than others. :) I think we had a good time and we passed off a requirement and had time to play a fun game so it was a success! Than was joking with me that now that I'm in scouts I should go to Young Men's for him and Pacen chimes in, "Yeah, mom, you should go. You'd like it because the older boys are more serious." Hey! I'm fun! I just want people to listen and not make farting noises and not give indian burns to their neighbor. That's all. :) I think I will survive this year after all.
**Homework**
Can I just say that I am already over helping my kids with homework? That takes at least an hour out of my day and with Pacen, it's still mostly a fight. But somedays it's just fine and there are no problems. He's just rather be playing and I totally get it but when does the day come where he has the realization that if I just hurry and get this done I'll have more time to play??? It's not that crazy of a concept but he hasn't worked that one out yet. But I think it all paid off. He came home excited about his math and vocab test so hopefully he did well.
Camry is a girl about homework. Just comes home and does it. My problem is finding time to read with just her but we are working that out. And I seriously have the hardest time staying awake when my kids are reading to me! They're always like, "Mom! Wake up!" and I feel bad but it's that moment when I'm sitting down and it's the afternoon and I just can't help myself.
**Dr. Appointments**
I did get to hear our sweet baby girl's heartbeat this week. I love that. I'm feeling her move all the time now. Everything looked good and I'm measuring right on for the Feb. 2nd due date. I've been talking about names with everyone but Than. Maybe one of these days right before we pass out on the couch I'll tell him some of my ideas.
I took Gentry in for a quick appointment for them to look at her ears. I've been worried about it since I don't feel like her speech is getting better but the Dr. (not my dr. but another one in the office) said that she looks great and not to worry about her speech since she responds to what we ask and she's still on track for her age. And actually the past few days she's been saying things more clearly. It is soooooo cute when she says Claira. It's more like Ra Ra and claira loves it too. She really goes through that house calling for her, 'RRRAAAAA RRAAAAA!" It's so funny. And she wants RaRa's carseat and RaRa's toys and RaRa's everything. She loves her and is really rough with her too. She is good at saying sorry to her because she has to say sorry like five times a day for hitting or taking something or screaming. That girl.
The appointment I missed was Penny's grooming. I even blogged about it the night before and in the morning it was already gone and then 10 o'clock rolled around and it was too late. AHHH! Pregnancy brain.
**Funny Kids**
Kids are just funny. I found this the other day.
Apparently that picture was much more important that our little family photo. :)
And they just say funny things. I was in Target and Gentry was done and Claira sighs as I'm struggling with Gentry, "I knew this wasn't a good idea," all matter-of-factly. Claira really says things how they are and it just makes me laugh. Like just out loud laughing. And I think its just the way she says things that catches me off guard. I think that she's still a little baby but she's a real growing person that has a brain in that cute head of hers. Crazy. I'm trying to think of other funny claira-isms but I'm drawing blanks. I'll write them down when I think of them.
Camry the other day made a fantastic observation about me the other day. I have nodes on my elbows from my arthritis and it makes my elbows very pointy. I'm not like super self conscious about it but I dod notice it in pictures of myself because it's a little weird looking. Anyway she says, pulling at my little node which I think is weird too, "Mom, your elbows are really pointy." I say, "Yeah, it's from my RA." She continues, "But...even when your arm is straight, it's still just really pointy." Yes, thank you for picking out my flaws, Cam! Kids are so observant. I'm still laughing about that one.
**Playing After School**
My kids play a lot after school. Mainly with the Casey's and other friends here and there. And they aren't the best at everyone playing with each other. LIke the boys and girls. The boys are usually playing soccer or something and the girls are playing barbies or ponies or whatever. Recently they've been playing hide and seek together which makes me happy. I like it when they all play and it's not like this boys vs. girls thing. On Wednesday I think it was, they all were outside in the front playing football. Well, the boys were playing and the girls were cheerleaders. I kept trying to get Camry to go play but she was very happy to be shaking her little body as the cheerleader. Morgan was teaching her some belly dancing moves and Claira was right there too.
Yes, all those white specks are gnats flying around their sweaty heads.
We can't forget about Gentry. She loves being outside.
**Soccer**
These were the only pictures I took today. I just thought it was funny all the toys Claira has to haul to soccer so she's not bored. And Pacen's game was interesting today because it was the first time that their little team has lost and they were like in a shock. It was good for them. They were getting too cocky. But Pacen is improving every game and I love that.
Camry had a game too and even though they lost terribly, she played super hard the whole time. She told me today that she just wants to play soccer and that's it. She must really like it.
**My Dad's Birthday**
My dad's birthday was on Friday. September 28th. He would be 59 this year. I made sure to tell my kids that it was his birthday and tell them a little bit about him. I really wish that I could remember more about him because sometimes I feel like I'm just regurgitating all the same stories and information but I guess is must be the important part because it's what I remember. One of my favorite memories with him was when he took me fishing, just me and him, and I was so scared of rattlesnakes but I had a clear thought of, "It doesn't matter if there are rattlesnakes here, my dad will protect me." I think having such a big, strong dad was awesome. He was huge at 6' 5'' and he would have done anything to protect us girls. I know he loved me and still loves me.
**Tough Mudder**
Than did the Tough Mudder today. It was supposed to be a bigger group and it ended up being just him and two of my girl friends, Megan and Kristin. It's a 10-ish mile run with 25 tough obstacles along the way. So he ran through mud and crawled under barbed wire and electric shocks and scaled a half pipe and jumped and was manly all morning. Megan and Kristin did awesome. Kristin is our crossfit girl and Megan is just super strong in the little body. I'm telling you...crossfit is the way to train your whole body and this just proves it! I was proud of him. I wish I could have watched but it was $40 bucks a person...just to watch! Congrats babe! You're a stud!
**Earthquakes Game**
This is a picture of what Pacen is doing right now! Put your shirt on! This is your mother talking! His soccer team got to go to a San Jose earthquakes game and go on the field to do a little parade before the game. All that I've heard this far is that #1--Than positioned Pacen perfectly to give Chris Wondolowski a high five. (Of course.) And #2--Than was the most obnoxious and loud fan and he got a soccer ball all signed by all the players thrown to him. (Again, of course he was.)
So yes, we've had a great week. We also had dinner at the Coronel's, I think I may have convinced Claira and Camry go move down to the downstairs room just trying to pump it up and tell Camry that she can have her own desk down there which is something that she really really wants. The kids played in the pool and with the slip and slide since it's been so hot. Than let them watch part of the Avengers which they haven't stopped talking about. Claira was like, "I'm not afraid of the Hulk! But Gentry is since he has a scary voice." Frank came and got a little closer to being finished with the yard. I really need to do a yard post. When it's all done. There are still two small projects to do and it'll be done! Hooray! When I was talking to Pacen about the girls potentially moving downstairs he says, "But where will Frank sleep?" Hey guess what Pacen! Frank doesn't live with us although it may seem like it sometime. :)
