The Birthday week

 It was a very busy week but a good one. My parents got here last Tuesday and we spent a nice afternoon and evening talking and just being together. Josh has been crazy busy at work and didn't get home until 11:30 pm that night (after working until 11pm the night before) so I especially appreciated their company. 

Wednesday they all went off to school and I exercised then my parents took me out to lunch and we picked up some groceries. It was relaxing and nice to just hang out with my parents. They have always been so good to me and every time they visit they make me feel like a good parent, a wonderful daughter and so loved. Mom and I took Curtis to soccer that night while the others stayed home with my dad and Josh did church stuff.

Thursday was Josh's birthday but he made it difficult to celebrate much because of work responsibilities. I made him his favorite doughnut muffins the night before so he had those for breakfast but then I didn't even see him until we met at Nicolletti's for dinner at 6:45pm. Afterwards we came home and he opened a few presents (I kept it safe with clothes this time) and had cookie pie and called it a done day. I wish that we could have gone to Chicago and taken a pizza food tour like we were supposed to last year but there is always hope for next year. He said he felt loved and appreciated and so I guess that is all that matters. I would do anything for this man of mine. He works so hard, is such a good dad, loves me so much, tries so hard to be a good bishop, and is my best friend. He deserved a much more exciting celebration but that isn't really his style anyway. I just love him so much and am grateful every day he is my husband.

Friday was Emma's birthday and she was super excited for it. I made her chocolate chip pancakes and then when she finished up her school work she had Lily paint her nails (family rule is that she had to wait until 8) . Then she picked a game for us all to play, which mom won but she came in second. Then she and Lily went off and watched a movie, later I took Lily to dance, we had Emma's second favorite dinner and then headed over to church for her baptism. We had originally planned for it just to be the eight of us (us plus my parents) and we invited a few people to join us online, but then Wednesday we found out we were approved to have up to 20 people so then we made a few invites and ended up with exactly 20 people there (Ainas, Wiests and Schrams). It made Emma happy to have a few of her friends there and it was a sweet and simple evening. We still couldn't sing but I played her two favorite primary songs on the piano, Dad talked about baptism and then she was baptized. Mom helped her change while I played some interlude music and then Mom spoke on the Holy Ghost and Emma was confirmed. Sam conducted and Brandon said the opening prayer (and got really nervous) and Ellie said the closing prayer. It took 30 minutes and then we talked for a minute with our friends but we still had cake and presents waiting at home so we didn't linger too long. It was simple and sweet and I'm so glad my parents were here to share it with us. They have made it every grandchild's baptism (18 so far) with just one more to go.

  

We came home and she opened presents while my in-laws face timed in with us. Emma was thrilled with her new scriptures and purple sparkly case from us, a shopping trip from my parents, a new Our Generation doll and horse from my in-laws and some cute t-shirts from Lily and Brandon that they made. Her strawberry funfetti cake wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be but Emma was happy and sweet and just soaked up all of the attention. It was a good day and now she can stay home alone, paint her nails, is baptized and when she gains 10 more pounds she won't need to sit in a booster seat anymore. My little girl is growing up! She loves to read and perform and has a natural desire to be good. She is the most difficult kid for me to parent but I love my little ray of sunshine and am proud of her good choices and desires. 

Saturday Lily had a special dance workshop with a member of the Washington Ballet so she was gone all morning. Mom took Emma shopping, I took Brandon to his soccer game and Josh and Dad took Curtis to his soccer game. It was a beautiful day and I love being outside, cheering on my boys. Brandon was adorable and so into the game and even took a ball to the chest that surprised him and made him cry for a moment. But he got back out there and ran hard and had fun. His buddy Ethan is on the team took so that is nice. When he got done, we headed to Curtis's game and got there for the last quarter. He played pretty well but it bothers me that he isn't on a more advanced team because the registrar is lame. I would like him to be a bit more challenged but he is playing pretty well and getting exercise and having fun so I suppose I should just let it go. They lost at the last second when the other team scored but overall they played well. 

The rest of the day we chilled and then went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It took forever and then poor Brandon suddenly wasn't feeling great so I ate my dinner quickly and ended up taking him home to bed. He was fine the next morning so I think he was just a bit dehydrated from playing outside and it made his stomach feel weird and he was so tired. He's such a sweet little guy. It also made me appreciate that having grandparents around makes life a lot easier when kids have activities in different places at the same time. Out of necessity, Josh and I are pretty good at managing everything ourselves, but it is wonderful to have some help sometimes and it makes me a bit jealous of others who have that support all of the time. Having my parents around who love my kids and talk with them and spend time with them was such a blessing. 

Sunday was a wonderful church meeting and we spent the rest of the day working on a puzzle, practicing piano, making Emma's official birthday dinner of chicken pillows, going for a walk and the kids watched Prince of Egypt, which Emma loves and had gotten for her birthday. 

Monday the kids had a shorter school day and my mom and I did some grocery shopping while Dad watched golf. Then mom made cinnamon rolls, I taught four piano lessons, took Curtis to soccer and we had family night. We played some games and had a good talk with my parents. They left Tuesday morning and I spent all day doing laundry, ironing, helping Brandon with school, cleaning up the house and I did also get my first vaccine shot. I was a bit sore this morning but I just got done with body pump and it feels fine now. I thought I would feel more relief but maybe I will once I am all done, or maybe not until my kids are in school all day every day and we don't have to wear masks anymore and church is back to normal and the temple is open. But it does make me feel better about our summer travel plans (Josh got his first shot Monday at work) and hope for the future. I guess I was never that concerned about getting the virus so personally I don't feel great relief but I will once the world settles down.