Worn Out.

Isn't the weekend supposed to be a break from all the chaos of normal life? Ha. This was today:

8:30 Soccer game
9:00 Church volleyball game
9-11:00 Football clinic followed by a game
12:00 Soccer game
1:15 Volleyball game
2:15 Ice cream at Macey's (okay, so that wasn't work)
3:30 Weights at the rec center (YES- I actually exercised on a Saturday like I'm supposed to!)
5:00 Dinner/General Women's Broadcast with Mom and Grandma.

And tomorrow isn't a whole lot calmer. I think it needs to be Monday so I can have a break! At least, I wish it worked that way. Oh well- life with 6 kids is so much fun!

The Broadcast was wonderful- especially the talks by Sister Beck and Sister Thompson. Exactly what I needed to hear right now.

Starting preschool... for the last time!

Ready or not, Wednesday marked the start of our family's last year of preschool. It also marked the beginning of the first year of preschool we have had to pay for. We were so spoiled in Manila.

I might have felt a little nostalgic if Annie had been reluctant to go, but she and her friend walked right in, telling me that they'd be fine and didn't need me to come with them.
Well. Okay then.

The verdict afterwards? Preschool was a success. She wants to go back tomorrow.

Can't Buy Me Love?

Translation: Mom I love you a lot and like the way you act and if we cry you are there. By Emma Walker

Cute, huh? Yeah, it pretty much melted my heart, too.

Until a few minutes later, when Emma sidled up to me and asked, "Can you give me money?"
It took me a second to realize what had happened.
It's not pretty.

After dinner tonight, Emma asked me for money. This is a frequent occurrence lately, as she likes to have a quarter to spend at the vending machines in the library lobby. (Don't get me started- why they need candy in the library is beyond me. If they get sticky pages it's their own fault.) I told her that I don't work that way- she needed to do something for me and then maybe I would give her a quarter. Tim suggested cleaning up toys outside or straightening downstairs. I guess she didn't like that idea. Instead, she wrote me a (fake) nice note. I guess she thought if she buttered me up she might get more.

Yes, folks, that's what it takes. Money is the great motivator at our house, apparently.

Sunday Afternoon at the Temple

I love that we live close enough to a temple to visit whenever we feel like it. I can't think of a place I'd rather visit with my kids.

I didn't get a picture of Annie on Tim's back, but she started the trend:

"Will you hurry and take the picture?"

"I'm going there someday"