Welcome Home

Nothing says "I missed you!" like this face...

I was expecting Gavin to be a little clingy our first day back, you know, cry when I walk out of the room or something. I did not expect the day to be one LONG, BIG tantrum! But it was that kind of day. Of course we had to make a run to the grocery store, we were out of just about everything. But from the second he finished his free cookie the screaming and arching of the back began. Needless to say we grabbed the essentials of milk, bread, and eggs and made a beeline for the check-out counter.

(One of the many moments today when he grabbed my legs screaming and arched backwards)

And it just so happens today was speech therapy day. Ya, that went real well! It ended early after Gavin hit and threw big chunky toys at the speech therapist. NICE! Thankfully she's been coming long enough to know this is not the real you.

Oh Gavin, I love you. I hope and pray tomorrow is a better day. It's a good thing I've been gone for four days, otherwise I'm not so sure I'd have the extra patience needed for you today.

Game Day

Baseball opening ceremonies + t-ball game + soccer game = welcome to Saturday

Let the games begin! The day began with Baseball opening ceremonies. Zachary's day started hours earlier as he was up at 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, and finally 7:00 with pure excitement for his first t-ball game. Opening Ceremonies consisted of announcing all the teams, players and coaches in each division, playing the national anthem, and a special guest throwing the first pitch. Then it was time to....

PLAY BALL!

We love Zachary's coach. She knows what she's doing, teaches the kids a ton, I'm serving in the Primary Presidency with her at church and her husband teaches at Darden! We LOVE baseball here in Virginia. We were sitting there at the ball park on a beautiful day, small town where everyone knew everyone, beautiful views...it was like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.

Zachary had a great first game. He even had some pretty amazing stops when he was playing the pitcher position and great throws to first base! But his favorite part was getting his new uniform complete with baseball hat.

Don't know how he manages to see the ball with that helmet on! Three hits later when he crossed home plate he yelled..."Mom, did you see my home run!" I guess we need to teach him that a home run is NOT when someone else hits the ball and you run into home plate.

And then it was on to soccer.

McKenna has four coaches that are UVA students. I hope she learns some really good skills this year. I have to say that both Bret and I missed soccer in Frisco...how organized it was, the great parent coaches, the refs. But McKenna was SO excited to be back in the cleats and on the field.

She had an amazing first game...scoring five goals and making some pretty good stops as well. The little thing ran her heart out only getting a rest for about 2 minutes the entire game.

One major difference between this year and last year...last year she would stop if she happened to knock someone down and make sure they were OK. This year, well, not so much!

I'm so grateful that my kids are able to do activities that they love so much.

Crunch Time

With six days left till I leave for our Copenhagen/Sweden trip I'm feeling the stress just a little.

Things that need to happen before Thursday Morning:

laundry

pack the kids

pack up Sadie's stuff

pack myself

charge camera battery

take Sadie to the vet

Gavin's doctor appointment with ENT to hopefully schedule adenoids/tonsil surgery

pick up a new book for the trip

get little daily gifts for kids to open when we're gone (little being key word)

get girls school snacks all ready for when I'm gone

write notes for kids to find in backpacks/suitcases

notarize will

type up instructions/notes for girls, boys, and Sadie

buy more face wash

get Zachary a pair of jeans that does not have holes in them

speech therapy

clean master bedroom and bathroom

pick up physical records from doctor and take to the girls school

withdraw cash

clean out fridge

pay bills

stop mail

stake conference leadership training

take Bret to Dulles airport

2 T-ball games

1 soccer game and 1 soccer practice

Activity Days

ballet

theater class

call FedEx to pick up treadmill part package

Friday treats

Presidency meeting/"Bible tabbing party"

I'm sure there's going to be more that will come to me.

I have to say I'm getting a little nervous. I wish Bret and I were going over there together. I'm thrilled to be going to Sweden and to see the country that my Grandpa lived in until he was 18 years old. I'm sad about saying goodbye to the kids by myself. I'm nervous about flying alone. I'm apprehensive about having a whole day by myself in Copenhagen until I meet up with Bret later that night to fly to Sweden. Bret is the ultimate planner. I love that he takes charge and I go along happily for the ride. But this time it's up to me. I'm a big girl, and I know I can handle it. I just really do prefer having him there to do it all for me! :)

With all there is to do and all the emotions I'm feeling, the stress is manifesting itself in funny ways. It seems like I've forgotten how to communicate, or rather speak logically that is. I am forgetting words all the time and even if words happen to be coming out of my mouth that doesn't mean they make any sense at all. I feel so spacey it's ridiculous. Hopefully I'll make it!

WICKED

Our much anticipated evening at the theater finally came! And oh, what a night it was! We got all fancied up and headed to Richmond to start the night out with one of our favorites...dinner at Maggiano's.

Then on with the show!

Best words to describe the night:

Girls on edge of seats

Goosebumps (due to how amazing it was)

Giggles

OOOh's

AHHH's

Chills (after particularly amazing songs)

A night to remember

Smiles from ear to ear

Green

Magical

Grown-up

Charming theater with tons of character

AMAZING!!!!

BUSY

Wow, we're definitely reaching that BUSY stage that comes as kids get older and in different activities. As I put this list together I completely understand that many moms have way more on their plate then I do....this is just a first for me so it's taking a little more planning on my part.

We've got:

• Bret's church responsibility meetings every Wednesday nights followed up by visits to ward members
• Weekly speech therapy
• Ballet for Abby once a week
• Abby and McKenna in a theater class once a week
• Abby in Activity Days every other week
• McKenna playing soccer twice a week
• Zachary in T-ball twice a week
• Abby soon to be in piano once a week
• Bret and Emily both having presidency meetings twice a month for church responsibilities
• Not to mention an almost two year old who if given 3 seconds alone in the kitchen has half a dozen eggs broken and played in on the kitchen floor
• a new puppy
• And oh yeah....Bret in a very strenuous PhD program. :)

They're all good things and I wouldn't take any of them away. In fact I am grateful for the community and scholarships provided to us to be able to do all these things. It has been wonderful to see the kids discover talents within themselves and see their self-confidence grow as a result. The funny thing is as I sit back and think about how busy we are right now...I know this is just the beginning!

It's March 2nd:

And I am still singing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer every night at Zachary's continued request! :)