Life is Good

 I usually don't like February because it is dark and gray and cold and for some reason I am always sad and kind of down because of it. This year, however, has been so busy because I have our trip to look forward to and have been doing all sorts of prep work so it has been a good couple of February weeks. 

One day I took Lily and Brandon to the doctor. Our doctor sold his practice and retired and then the practice closed the office near us so I had to take them to Waldorf, which was annoying but we tried to make the most of it. None of the other pediatricians around here are taking new patients right now so I may need to switch my kids to a family doctor because I don't love the Waldorf one enough to stay loyal. But both kids are healthy and growing and all is well so I can check that mom box. It was a lot of driving though and then I had piano lessons all afternoon and dance drop offs and pick ups. 

The rest of the week was normal with dance, basketball, school, piano, church activities, the gym, groceries and such. My life sometimes doesn't seem very interesting but I'm grateful for it and my family. Friday night the boys went on a camp out and Lily and I started watching Gilmore Girls. I am very emotionally tied to that show and it was fun to introduce it to Lily and have some girl time. She is such a loving girl and such a sweetheart. 

Saturday I ran everyone around and then the boys got back and we went to Curtis's basketball game. It was one of the most intense games I have ever witnessed! We were playing an undefeated team and they were aggressive and pushy and the crowd got really into it and it was so close. There were times I realized I wasn't breathing because I was so nervous about what was going to happen. It was crazy and so fun and even better because we won! One of their players got thrown out of the game for two technical fouls; it was nuts. I haven't even seen a technical foul called all season and one kid got two in just this one game. At the end of regulation we were tied and the crowd was cheering so loud; it was fun. We were up three at the very end of overtime when a kid got fouled on a three-pointer and so then we all went crazy when the buzzer went off but then we had to sit there and watch him shoot free throws, which luckily he missed every single one so we went crazy again. Who knew youth basketball could be so fun! It has been such a great season. That night we got to go to a wonderful baptism and then to the Ray's house for games and it was so fun!

This past week I was very busy cleaning. I have been doing a lot of deep cleaning to get ready for my in-laws to come so I've been organizing cupboards, drawers, closets, wiping down all my cupboards (took three days because my wrist hurt so bad from all the scrubbing), I cleaned out the freezer and fridge, cleaned all of the kids rooms, washed my car and vacuumed it, and worked a lot of my shower too. It has all been good and needful and I appreciated having some motivation. It is impossible to get the whole house clean at one time but this is about as close as it may ever get. 

Michelle and I also went to go get pedicures on Tuesday. I have been feeling the need to spruce myself up too to get ready for our trip and was too chicken to go alone (I haven't had one since I got married) so thankfully I have a good friend who was willing to come with me. We even did some shopping and got lunch and it was a fun outing. Valentine's Day got a bit lost in trip preparation but I had fun with Michelle and Josh and I will celebrate next week. I got the kids all a book and some chocolate and the grandparents sent fun valentines and I made cheesecake for dessert so it was all good. 

Wednesday I went to Olivia's after the gym to talk with her and help with her kids a bit. She has three kids four and under and it is just a lot.  It was good to talk and I try to share my experience to give her hope and know she's not alone. I always remember being so grateful to my friend, Jana, for helping me out with my little kids when hers were all in school so I'm trying to pass that on a bit. Plus Olivia is sweet and I like talking with her. 

Thursday I went to get my hair cut, which is a big deal for me. I haven't gotten it cut in years (I've just been trimming it myself) because I hate spending the money and I feel like my hair is lame so there isn't much anyone can do with it. Michelle recommended her friend to me and it was great. It felt good to have it cut and a bit layered and she put some very natural highlights on the top. It was a lot of money but I feel good and that made it worth it. While I was there, our elementary school had a chemical spill. The kids were all evacuated and sat outside for two hours before being dismissed so they just dropped my kids off at 1:15. I wasn't even home but my neighbor was so nice and told them where I was and they hung out at her house until I got back 30 min later. Quite a day for them and thankfully everyone was safe and the school was all clear by later that afternoon. 

Friday was such a beautiful day. Josh was off so he and I picked up Michelle and Matt and went and spent the day at the temple. There have been some adjustments made that I absolutely loved and I had such a sweet experience during the endowment that thinking about it now even makes my heart tingle. Then we went and did sealings and we did some family names that were meaningful to us, but also I got to help with Michelle sealing her mom to her mom's parents. It was so touching and sweet and I love the temple. I was reminded of the enormity of what God wants to bless us with if only we will do what he asks, which in comparison is so little. It was the longest I have been in the temple in a long time and it was just lovely. Traffic on the way home was not so lovely so we didn't have time to get any food but we got back just in time to get Emma off to dance and I was so grateful I had arranged to have Leisa pick up Lily because there was no way we could have made it back for her. 

Yesterday was Curtis's birthday! My boy is 13 and I can't believe we have another teenager in the house. It was a pretty low-key day because he's just that kind of kid. We had German pancakes for breakfast, he played Risk on the computer and read while I cleaned and took Brandon to and from a party and Lily to and from dance. Then our Universal Yums box came so we opened it and snacked and it was really fun. The food was from Brazil and we liked almost everything this month, as opposed to Austria last month. Then we went to Curtis's last regular season basketball game and we were playing a team that had only lost one game and had actually beat us our very first game. It was looking rough at half time when we were down by 11 but the third quarter we made a huge comeback and we ended up winning by three! It was a good game and less intense than last week but still fun. Their team was very good and we had to really work hard to win. So that puts Curtis's team as the number one seed heading into the play offs this weekend! So exciting! 

 

 

We went to IHOP for our breakfast boy's birthday dinner and then came home to open presents and have cake. He loved his pocket knife and fire pit and Settlers of Catan game. I also got him socks and a water proof speaker and he got a new backpack for school. He was especially surprised and excited about the fire pit which was my idea so that made me happy. He told me thank you multiple times and said he loved me multiple times throughout the evening so that was sweet. We watched an episode of Psych and then sent them to bed. He is having his friends over tomorrow for a party and then our winter birthdays will be done. Curtis is such a good boy and I'm grateful for how independent he is, how hard he works in school and that he is very organized and on top of all his work, that he serves in his priesthood and calling responsibilities so well, that he still gives me hugs and tells me he loves me, that he is a very analytical thinker and reminds me of my dad sometimes and that he is calm and nice and a good listener.  He is taller than me now and that makes me sad but I'm still stronger  (for now) so that's good. So is life! I'm so blessed and so grateful!