May 9 & 10

Monday, May 9th-

Molly and Trevon Meredith playing track

Today after school was the first day of the Track and Field clinic that the high school puts on for younger kids. The kids did it last year and really enjoyed it.

Today was also the first night of me babysitting at the gym on Mondays. I just cannot find someone interested in working that shift. I hope I don't have to do it long because our family time is so precious. Luckily tonight there weren't any reservations until after track was over and Silas was home with the kids. I love working at the gym but I don't want it to become a burden on our family. Starting next week I don't have anyone to tend on Wednesday nights either, so I might be working two nights a week. I am not excited about this.

Tuesday, May 10th-

Field Trip! I went with Ryan and the other 4th graders today to St. George. We went to the Dinosaur Track Museum (which was really neat) and the Children's Museum. I definitely feel gratitude for teachers and all the nonsense they have to put up with every day. But it was fun to be with Ryan for sure.


Dinosaur track museum

During lunch at a park Ryan and Payson Slade had a good time having a light saber dual. The two of them have become really good friends and a lot of their time is spent talking about or playing Star Wars.

Lunch and Children's Museum

Deruchette watched the girls while I was on the field trip with Ryan and on the way home we drove past the temple. Today they put the steeple up! It is so exciting!!!!

Tonight was Relief Society and I was feeling guilty for going since I left Silas last night with the kids but it was such a good thing for me to do. I laughed a ton and had good visits with some of the great sisters in our ward. When I got home, the kids were all playing outside with the neighbors having a good time. They were super upset about coming inside to get ready for bed. I think they are done with school and waking up early for choir practice. I sure feel ready for summer when I don't have to make them come inside as early so we can get to bed on time. I love structure but sometimes the flexibility of summer is so great and is a needed break.


Cedar City Temple 5-10-16

May 7 & 8

Saturday, May 7th-

Seeing the temple on my walk to the gym



Me and Tamina during the
bridal shower

Tamina smiling for me after the shower

Busy and fun Saturday:

Addie Rushton's baptism (Silas's first baptism in the ward as Bishop)

Makayla's bridal shower (Silas and Brett played computer while the kids played at Brett and Der's house)

Ate dinner with Brett and Deruchette. Good times. Reminded us of the millions of times we had dinner together when we lived in the apartments on Northfield Rd.

Back to Steven and Katie's for Shayanna and Steven's combined birthday party. It was Pokémon themed and the kids had a GREAT time!

We love the Warbys!



Molly holding Tamina

Playing outside during the birthday party

Pin the tail on Pikachu

Random, beautiful photo of the sky outside Steven & Katie's
Photo by Grant

More games at the party



Tired girls wanted to sleep
together on the recliner after a long, fun day!

Sunday, May 8th-

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was a super wonderful Mother's Day!

• Slept in until 9:30am and was fed a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon.
• Came home with a headache but the kids were super nice and behaved themselves and were quiet while I slept and while they waited for Dad to get home from the church.
• Silas also made a yummy dinner of ribs and rolls and lemonade.
• My Mother's day gift, which I got a few days ago, is a new mask to wear to bed. I used to have one and loved it but I haven't had one for years and Silas remembered that and got one for me! Love it!

"Love Mom" in Legos by Cora

Note from Grant

May 5 & 6

YW yesterday and socks we collected for the refugees in Europe

Thursday, May 5th-

Today Molly actually said, "Mom, let's talk," and then proceeded to tell me about how she got a Minnie and Mickey toothbrush from "the place" which meant the dentist. She cracks me up.

Today I impulsively cut her hair so she has bangs. I think she looks grown up.

Ryan got his chipped tooth pulled today because the chip went all the way to the root. He did so well at the office but within a few minutes of getting back home he was in a lot of pain and cried for a long time. I made him a shake but that didn't even help. It took 15 minutes or so for the pain to subside after I have him some ibuprofen. Poor guy didn't even feel up to going back to school. Once he was his old self again he was really excited to see what the Tooth Fairy would give him for a molar.

Today Silas and I decided not to go to Tessa's wedding in June. Financially I have been worried about it but we were going to make it work. Time is the bigger issue. Silas's time is so limited now. Weekends are extra busy. Also, even though he has good benefits including paid vacation, we are trying to be very careful about the time he takes off of work. Today Silas wasn't feeling well at all and had to stay home, using one of his sick days. The wedding is very important to us but there are too many things working against that trip. We are going to focus on our trip to Washington in August for Great-Grandma Aitchison's birthday.

This evening I worked on our summer calendar. I am so excited for more time with the kids but as I add in the things we need to do and want to do, the days are getting filled and I feel a little like the summer is going to go so quickly. I want to enjoy it! I NEED to enjoy it! Cleod is on the verge of being a teen and my baby is almost 3! I feel like this is the last summer with little kids. Maybe I am being silly and naïve... but that is how I feel. Time is going so quickly and even though I love my alone time, I know that I will miss all of this craziness someday in the not-so-distant future.

Friday, May 6th-

For date night tonight we went out with Brett and Deruchette, Neisha and Carson and the Barneys to Brick House and then to the new Captain America movie. I think it was a good movie but Silas and I had some feelings of guilt for going. We just feel like our time is so precious lately and we love to just sit and talk on our date nights. Being with friends was really great, but the movie reminded us why we don't normally go to movies for dates. While we were gone, Cleod did a pretty awesome job with the kids. It was the longest we have let him tend the kids and there were a couple of things that we needed to talk about when we got home, but over all he did great. As hard as it feels sometimes to having a pre-teen with a hormonal attitude, it sure is nice to have his help.

May 3 & 4

Tuesday, May 3rd-

This morning I had an ah-ha moment. I had just gotten to Grandma Warby's house and discovered that she had had an accident during the night that needed some extra attention. As I was assessing the situation, Silas sent me a text about how he was relaxing in the car on this beautiful day! (For work today he was driving someone from place to place and waited in the car in between stops.) The difference in the way our mornings were going was stark. I wasn't unhappy or even stressed, but I might have been. The way I have been feeling lately would have resulted in anxiety or stress. Today I was fine and I was grateful for that. I was also grateful for Silas's message to me because I wanted my day to be beautiful too. So even though I scrubbed the floor and changed the sheets and started a load of laundry, it was ok. Grandma was grumpy at first, but it was ok. Our lives are so small in the grand scheme. We are eternal beings having a mortal experience. It is a serious thing but it isn't EVERYTHING! It's important but we ruin it so many times by worrying about the small things like poopy sheets.

When Cora prayed at Grandma's breakfast table she asked that Grandma would have help with "this hard life." Grandma's life is hard for her and Cora could tell that she was having a bad day. That prayer was so beautiful and simple and again helped me to realize that it was going to be ok.

One thing that so many of us take too seriously is our weigh. I am so grateful for the last year and the changes I have made in my eating habits as well as my fitness level. But as I interact with more people who are trying to be fit, I find myself talking to so many who are unhappy with whatever stage they are in. I think that the main thing is that we take care of the bodies that our Heavenly Father has given to us...but we don't need to go overboard. We shouldn't starve or over-eat. We shouldn't be lazy or work out too much. But mainly, we need to be content with where we are. I honestly can say that I was ok with being chubby when I started losing weight. I am WAY happier being smaller, but I didn't lose weight because I was miserable. I lost weight because I wanted to be healthier.



X-Rays! (Molly didn't get any this time)

 

Wednesday, May 4th-

Today ALL FIVE of the kids had their 6 month check-up at the dentist. It was Molly's first time. They all did so well and we ended up with only TWO CAVITIES and ONE CHIPPED TOOTH. I think that is pretty good considering how many teeth were in question. One of the cavities though...was Molly's. And it is a BIG one. Poor, neglected 5th child. We need to help her brush her teeth. Oops.


The dentist is seriously better than an amusement park!



Molly's HUGE cavity!!!

The kids and I went out for ice cream after and had a really fun time together. We were the only ones in Dairy Queen at the time so it was fun and I wasn't too worried about the chaos...although the pictures make us look crazier than we were today. 

Silly, happy kids

Cora was trying to be a model and Cleod was being an awkward tween

Me and my mustached boys

May 1 & 2

Sunday, May 1st-

It was nice to have Silas sitting with us during sacrament meeting today. I tried to enjoy every second of it. I also tried to have him take care of Molly as much as possible. She has been so needy since Silas's calling and I try to give her extra attention but I think it is just making her harder.

Bundt cake!!!

We enjoyed the evening with Grandma and Grandpa and Deni's family and headed back to Cedar after dinner. This trip seemed really short, I think because we weren't at Grandma's house as much as we usually are. Grant was particularly sad to leave. I am hoping that the kids and I will be able to get back down as soon as school is out.


Monday, May 2nd-

Photo by Cora

This morning was the post-test of a 6 week long challenge that my friend Amie has been doing at the gym. I was really worried about this because I had almost 2 weeks where I wasn't able to work out because of Cora's crazy stuff and me getting sick. But I improved 100% on all the exercises! I am so excited! So today I sported my size SMALL challenge t-shirt!!

Enough bragging about me...how about the girls. They are not only adorable but they are both so nice and smart. Molly has joined Cora in picking flowers for me wherever we go. The lawn at the elementary school is FULL of dandelions right now so she always has to stop and pick some for me or blow on them.

Cuteness = Molly

Cora, ready to swim!

Today is Leksi's 9th birthday. After dinner we went to the Aquatic Center to swim and then to Brett and Deruchette's house for hot pudding and ice cream. Silas and Molly didn't come swimming because Molly had just fallen asleep, but they joined us for dessert. It was fun for me to just hang with Cora at the pool and it wasn't very busy so it was easy to just let the boys do their own thing without worrying too much. Usually I feel like I have to keep counting them but tonight I wasn't worried. Also, they were playing with Kianna and Leksi and the girls are good and keeping them in line. haha

On the way to the Warby's we drove past the temple site. We love seeing progress every time we visit. It's going to be a beautiful and special place!



Cedar City Temple, 5-2-16

April 29 & 30

Friday, April 29th-

One of our preschool projects today

This morning was our turn to host preschool. We did a few fun activities but I mostly just let the kids play together. I think that sometimes we put too much pressure on preschool-aged kids. They need creative play time just as much, or more, than they need constructive learning time. Also, I am kind of done with the whole teaching preschool thing. I hope that the desire returns so I can do it with Molly, but I just feel burnt out. Cora loves it and enjoys time with other kids so I am glad we decided to do it, but it has definitely felt like more of a burden to me this time around.


She also tried on some sunglasses

The girls and I took a quick trip to TJMaxx this afternoon and Molly really enjoyed trying on the highest high heels she could find. At first I was annoyed and frustrated but it actually was pretty hilarious. She sure does have an interesting personality. Sometimes she is calm and sweet but mostly she is a firecracker and super silly!


10 minutes try to stand up with these crazy shoes!

The rest of the day I packed and cleaned. After school we headed to Las Vegas. It was really great to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Rowley this evening. The kids made themselves right at home, especially Grant. He gets into all kinds of stuff at Grandma's house that he shouldn't, but he doesn't do it to be naughty so it's so hard to be mad at him.



Snapped a photo while Cora was
showing her biopsy scar to Grandma and Grandpa

Saturday, April 30th-

Morning at Grandma's house

Today is rained in Vegas almost ALL DAY. It was really weird. Silas, the kids and I spent a good chunk of the day at Deni and Jeff's new place. They moved out of their apartment and are living in a house. It has a little garage, a backyard and more living space for them. We organized some stuff and helped move around some furniture and boxes. The kids really enjoyed the time they spent with their cousins and we got a lot accomplished.

On the way back to Grandma's house we stopped and got some cake from our favorite place, Nothing Bundt Cake. Yum!

Slept through lunch at Deni's house

I took a photo of some Post-its that I saw today. It is my dad's handwriting and it looks like he was calculating how early he needs to be awake to get everything done in his morning routine. Super cute, I think! And it's totally how my brain works. 



Proof of where I got some of my crazy from

April 27 & 28

Wednesday, April 27th-

The girls and I made it late to story time but I was glad we went. We found out that it was the last story time of the school year. Oh my goodness, I'm excited for summer to start. The last day of school is ONE MONTH from today.

 I love the routine that comes with school but I LOVE having my kids home with me. I love being able to sleep in if we want. I love being able to run errands alone while the big kids are home with the littles. I love that the kids can have lots of time to read, play outside, go to the park and do whatever they want (after I boss them around about chores, of course.)

Needless to say we are already taking about this summer's reading chart I put together for them and I have ideas for play group and such.

Yesterday I bought some little lights for the kids to use as night lights and they have been carrying them around everywhere. Grant even "needed" to have a light while he played with Legos today.

Thursday, April 28th-

Today during Silas's lunch break we went to SUU, eat at Chick-Fil-A and then bought him a new jacket. We've had a gift card for the SUU Bookstore for over a year but just haven't been able to get ourselves over there. I'm happy with what we found.


This is the
why-are-you-taking-a-picture-of-me
 face

What a handsome guy!