Hanging On

 It has been a dozy of a week or two. Back to early October, Brandon and I went to Curtis's home cross country meet and that was fun to cheer him on. It is a hard sport to watch but he ran fast and did a good job and it was a beautiful day to be outside. I got finger printed for subbing and helped Michelle with some power washing and decorating outside. I played pickle ball and watched Brandon's baseball game and Lily went to the homecoming football game. That Saturday was so busy! Lily was supposed to have her senior pictures on Columbus day but it was going to be rainy so right after her Nutcracker rehearsal we met up with Bethany at Greenwell and did her pictures. It went well and was fun and the weather held, which was great. Then we rushed home, she got ready for homecoming and then we met up with Adi and Claire to take some pictures around our neighborhood before they left to go out to dinner and go to the dance, which was fun but Lily said they didn't play music she recognized. I have given some thought to becoming a DJ. If I didn't have to work nights or weekends, it would be appealing. Maybe when the kids are gone and it is just Josh and I we can work it together. I love choosing music for people to dance to! 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus day Josh had off so we enjoyed a nice walk and breakfast together and then it was early dismissal so the kids started coming home. The next day I did my observing for subbing (it is quite the process) and that was interesting and that night I went to the RS activity and shared my favorite conference talk. I also did a craft that actually turned out because it was pretty easy (my favorite kind). The next night I was in charge of our valiant girls activity and we did a General conference review/game that they had fun with and it went well. More pickle ball and more watching baseball and we cleaned the church. That Saturday Curtis had a tournament so we were gone from 9:15 until almost 7. We were just at Calvert but was far enough away that going back and forth seemed silly so we just took snacks and visited our favorite pizza truck and watched a lot of baseball. It was a lovely day and I enjoyed being with my boys. Girls had rehearsal and then hung out here at home.

Last Sunday was nutty. Josh was up at the stake center for a ward conference, Lily went to the Calvert building and met with the YW in both wards there so she was gone all day, I had a special meeting with President Boyd so I was gone all afternoon and then the kids had a ward youth fireside so they were gone all evening, as was Josh who had to do temple recommends interviews. We weren't all together until 8:45pm and I was pretty grumpy about it. I love serving in the church and I love and support all the good that we do but somehow the last few weeks have felt a bit off balance.  It is one thing to have my husband so busy but having Lily busy too and traveling around the stake has been challenging for me. She is so responsible and wonderful and I am proud of her but I wish that we could have some family time on Sundays. I think part of me is also freaking out that she won't be here next year so that is definitely stressing my emotions. Anyway, the meeting I went to was awesome and it was great to ride with Michelle and Nicole and we had a great talk and time together. I felt a little out of place being the wife of a leader instead of a leader but I'm glad I got to counsel together with some really great women. Oh, I also made dinner for the Baldwins that day which Josh and Curtis took over that evening while I was gone. How we love to serve! :)

This week the highlights were going to the Inklings meeting on Tuesday; I enjoyed talking about general conference and hope I can make it to more gatherings. That night was also book club so it was a good day to hang out with women and talk about books and important gospel principles. I also went to my last meeting and am now an official substitute. I am nervous but looking forward to getting going.  I had so much fun playing pickle ball Thursday morning and then Curtis had his last scrimmage for baseball that night and it was so cold; definitely time for fall ball to be done! He had two good hits and their team lost but he played well. Friday Josh and I went up to Waldorf to get a recall taken care of at the KIA dealership. We had a nice date to the Silver Diner and then found out they couldn't take care of the recall after all, so that was disappointing. 

Then Brandon had a game and it took three blankets to keep me warm. Thankfully he just has one more. Brandon also had auditions for his school play this week and he got cast as Turkey in Honk (story of the ugly duckling). He seemed happy to get a role. It isn't as big as his role last year but it also is one of the few that doesn't involve singing. Somehow my kids just aren't great at singing. I tried so hard to sing to them all of the time and get them to sing and yet none of them are good at it or like to do it much. Emma and Brandon have tried with chorus and plays and it doesn't work out so I guess I have to give up the dream of children who sing.

Saturday we got to go to the temple and be with Michelle when she was sealed to her parents. It was a very sweet experience and we did some family names too so it was a lovely morning at the temple. We got a delicious lunch afterwards and made it home in time to gather up the kids (Curtis from volunteering at the STEAM festival, the girls from dance and Brandon from the Wiests) and we went to the pumpkin farm. It is a family tradition and our last chance and so we squeezed it in. We did the hay ride and corn maze but only Brandon really plays anymore so we let him run around on the hay bales for awhile before we picked out our pumpkins and headed home. We got home as the church activity was starting so we hurried and changed and stopped at Giant for doughnuts and rolls and got to the party. It was a bit crazy and I honestly wouldn't have gone if Brandon wasn't so excited to wear his costume, but it is always good to be with our ward family. It was a little disappointing after last year but other people are in charge and it isn't my responsibility anymore so I just tried to be chill and enjoy talking with people. We did leave pretty quickly after it was done though so we could get home since we were all pretty tired. We watched the BYU football game and got the kids to bed.