April

 

 April was a busy month. We got back later on April 3 and then the kids were right back into school and dance and baseball Thursday and Friday and then Saturday was opening day for baseball and General Conference, which was wonderful. For Josh's birthday dinner we got Nicolletti's and ate pizza in between sessions while watching the final four. Sunday we did all the Easter stuff in the morning (dyed eggs and looked for baskets and eggs) and then watched conference and then we had Emma's birthday dinner. Then Monday was Josh's actual birthday and we didn't do much but we had his cake and he opened presents that night. Costa Rica was really his gift but on that day I felt badly he wouldn't have anything to open so I spent that afternoon running around and was able to print some pictures of the trip for him and I put them in nice frames and he was happy. Tuesday was Emma's birthday but it was such a busy day that I hardly saw her until that evening when we had her cake and presents. She got some new PJs and a book and a Harry Potter house t-shirt. I don't let my kids take the house test for HP until they are actually 11 so I had it open and ready for Emma to take as soon as she got up on her birthday. I thought she might be Gryffindor but she is a Ravenclaw just like me, Lily and Curtis. So she got to pick a Ravenclaw t-shirt to buy and she also got a pretty romper from my in-laws. We have been very low-key about birthdays this year because of our trip but hopefully they both felt celebrated and loved. 

 

Then Dave and Shelly flew in on Friday and were here for the weekend. They came for a wedding of one of Dave's former co-workers and it was so fun to have them here. We just talked and talked all Friday and then I invited people over to come see them so I made some food and we had an open house of sorts that evening, which was nice. Saturday we hung out in the morning before they left for the wedding since Brandon was sick and we didn't end up going to his baseball game. Curtis and Josh went to the YM basketball tournament where Curtis hurt his wrist and Josh started feeling sick that night so it was a tougher day. But Emma's party was that evening so I made a Cafe Rio copy cat dinner and friends came over to eat and then the girls played games and watched a Harry Potter movie. We did milkshakes and popcorn for a treat and she got some very thoughtful gifts from her friends that made her happy. 

  

Josh was sick for the whole next week and so that was challenging but I had a lot going on at church and then I made dinner for Dave and Shelly and the Rays and we had another fun evening of just chatting while Josh was up in bed sick. It was so fun to have them here and reconnect and it felt like no time had passed. Monday I started to not feel great but I hung in there until that evening because Dave and Shelly left just as my piano lessons showed up and then I had to drive Lily and Emma to/from dance and then I just crashed. I was so tired and had a fever so I just went to bed at 9pm and slept forever. It was tough to have both adults sick but luckily I recovered much faster and wasn't nearly as sick as Josh. I did read all Tuesday morning but I still practiced a special musical number that afternoon and went to the gym Wednesday and the temple with Michelle Thursday. 

Friday was our 21st wedding anniversary and neither of us were feeling stellar so we kept it simple. We went out to the Ruddy Duck while Emma was at dance and drove around Solomon's Island and talked and it was nice. We had ice cream when we came home and I had wanted to watch our wedding video but we couldn't find it and that was disappointing. I'm so grateful to be married to Josh and count every day as a blessing with him. He is my best friend and such a wonderful dad and husband and man. I was thinking of my top five happiest days of my life and I think I would put the day he told me he was getting baptized as number one, then our wedding day, then his graduation from BYU, then the day Lily was born because I became a mom and then maybe the day Brandon was born and I knew I would never have to give birth again. We've also had some amazing trips but even just a normal day where we get to be together, living our good life, is a happy day. 

Last week was very low-key, which was so nice. We went to lunch for Sarah's birthday, I went to the doctor, took dinner to a family, and Josh and I had a nice day date. It was the first Friday he's been off that we've been alone and it was so nice to relax and we took a long walk and had lunch together. That night we went and got ice cream before we picked up Curtis from baseball. I felt badly we couldn't go on the ward camp out but we just had too many activities and it was too far away to just pop in for the evening program. But we had some nice family time on Saturday after the two baseball games and dance rehearsal. Curtis made a fire and we roasted brats and smores for dinner and the kids played outside and it was really nice. 

 

I feel like I have been on edge for two months but now so much pressure is gone. I am done with birthdays and holidays for awhile, I am done teaching mission prep (which I really did enjoy but just took time) and my piano students have all picked their recital pieces and that is finally scheduled, not much is happening for my calling the next few months, Josh isn't going to Alaska for three weeks, and we only have a few more weeks of baseball, school and then dance. I have been reading more and trying to enjoy all the driving around I do ( pura vida!) because it really is so beautiful here in the spring and I want to be more present in the moment instead of always prepping for what is coming.  I'm ready for May! Oh, and Lily had her band concert last night and played well. She is so cool she even got to tune the band. I'm so glad she loves music and being in band; it was such a big part of my high school experience and I'm happy she is enjoying it too.