a week in the life {10/8-10/14}

What a great week! The theme I believe was BABIES!

On Monday, my dear friend Haley had her baby girl Avy Jennifer. She is so beautiful! I spent most of my Monday how I usually do, cleaning and laundering and I can't really remember what else.

Tuesday I watched Beckett while Stacey had a final Doctor apt before the baby came. Hannah had preschool and I had lots of grocery shopping to do. Fun fun.

Wednesday was my birthday. I love my birthday. So many people sent sweet messages, I got some yummy treats, a little something to pamper myself with,  and Adam went to Omaha Steak house and picked up dinner :) Hannah asked what I wanted and I told her I wanted her to be super obedient and to listen. Bless her heart she tried so hard! Each time I reminded her you could see her inner struggle as she tried to adjust her desires to fit mine. Super sweet. We went to both the library and the park to play with friends. That night I got to go hold sweet Avy and see Haley (who looked so beautiful!). It made me want another baby so bad hahaha. I just have to tell myself that I will have to buy a new car when I have another child and since I want to avoid that for a while I have to be patient.

Thursday was preschool and library again. I feel like something else happened too but my brain is kind of a mess today. Thursday night we did a "girls night" with all the ladies that USED to be in Painted Mountain ward and now are in two separate wards. It was SO fun. I went with Sheena, which was funny because I went with her to visit Haley in the hospital, second date in a row. At the girls night I found out my friend Kaui was being endowed and sealed the next morning. I wanted to go so bad but it was too late to get a babysitter.

Friday I called around to find a babysitter and tried to arrange something for my kids. Lidia called and said that her husband Steve (who was Hannah's swimming teacher) was going to be home and he could watch all of our kids so we could go to Kaui's sealing together. It was so awesome! I've never been in a sealing in the Las Vegas temple, and I've never been to a sealing of a couple who were already married. It was so incredible! Stacey had her baby Cache that day so again, Sheena and I went to visit her in the hospital (Sheena, we should be visiting teaching companions lol) and again, I felt sad not to be having a baby.

Speaking of being sad not to have a baby, do you know who is DEVASTATED? Hannah. Hannah is so sad and has had melt downs because there is not a baby in my tummy. All her friends get a new baby in their family and she wants a sister. Not a brother, a sister.

Friday night my parents came into town! They are headed to California to celebrate their 30th anniversary and spent a couple days with us on their way down! I was happy to see them. Hannah and Paige were happy too. It took Paige a minute to warm up...she had a big grin when they pulled up but she wouldn't go with them and I'm pretty sure it's because the last time she was with them we took off, so she would talk to them and smile but she was sticking pretty close to Adam and I.

Saturday the girls and I went on a walk with my parents and Adam went to get the car fixed up so it can be ready for next week (which I will post about). The girls were happy to be with Grandma and Grandpa. We went to get some Frozen Yo and then to the Stake Country Fair. Hannah loves the big girls and wishes that she was 7 or 8 years old I think. It's pretty cute. My parents generously offered to babysit so we could take each other out for our birthdays. We went to see Taken 2 and out to Red Robin. I love my hubby. We have some fun together.

Sunday morning my parents left for the beach and we went to our new ward. It was a little crazy but I'm excited to be in the ward and I hope that soon we will feel like a ward family again instead of a blended family. I ran 7 miles and I'm freaking out that my run is in 2 weeks and the longest I've done is 8 miles...next weekend I have to do 10 or I'm toast. Chelsea took our family pictures which I think went a lot better than last year but we'll see how it goes. It kind of felt like wrestling with a bag of snakes but Chelsea is so good to capture our family and has been taking great pictures of our family for three years! She makes us look good :) It's great to feel comfortable with your family photographer because I was jumping up and down making monkey noises and I know she only judged me a little ;)

 I made this for myself for my birthday...My favorite treat ever, Pizzookie. For those of you who don't know, it's a chocolate chip cookie cup with ice cream and sauce :)

 5:30 am playing LIFE

A Week in the Life {9/30-10/7}

 I took away the crayons...

Monday: Cleaned, Saw baby Tyler Gage (totally cried when I held him), went out to dinner

Tuesday: Hannah had preschool


Wednesday: Park Group, Library, Watched the Debates

Thursday: Hannah had Preschool, went shopping, Super Saturday Meeting

Friday: Went shopping again, "Frozen Yo" as Hannah calls it

Saturday: Conference, Sheena's awesome baby shower

Sunday: Conference

So this week was pretty busy. Hannah's been waking up between 4:00 and 4:30 am which has been not a joy. I've been pretty exhausted and so has Adam. We got released from our callings in the Painted Mountain ward, I got ready for Sheena's baby shower which was a blast, we've been watching Big Bang Theory which is pretty funny. Sold a couple things on Ebay. Almost bought a Felicity Doll but decided to wait until my kids get older to see what they like, contemplated my girls missions for about mmm every moment since they announced the change, found out a secret about a dear friend that I now have to keep for a while and it's killing me. Chances are if you've talked to me this week and you don't know this person you've already heard the secret...missing my Ipod since I sold my old one to upgrade to a new one which has yet to receive a release date....

Hannah has been funny. Saying things like "Daddy, STOP LOVING MOMMY," during a kissing attack.

My favorite Hannah moment was when she turned off the Charlie Brown DVD she picked from the Library and brought me a different movie instead saying "This movie has bad words I can't watch this." This is because the kids are always saying "stupid" and "dumb" which are bad words in our house. I told her I was proud of her for making that decision and if she always makes decisions like that Heavenly Father would be proud too. "Yeah cause I made good choices," she replied.

Also, as stated earlier, Hannah calls Frozen Yogurt "Frozen Yo" which is incredibly cute and it makes me want to go out and buy frozen yo all the time. Also, frozen yo makes me want to go out and buy it all the time. I'm addicted.

Next week I'm turning 27. I'm on the wrong side of 20. Boo. 25 was my perfect age. I'll be running my first half marathon at 27th in just a few weeks.

Missionary Age Change

While listening to Conference Saturday morning, as President Monson began talking about the 18 year old missionaries currently serving I felt the anticipation I'm sure many felt, wondering what he was going to say, and when he started talking about changing the age to 18, the only thing on my mind was "WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAY ABOUT SISTERS!!!! GET TO THE PART ABOUT THE SISTERS!!!!" I was hardly listening to what he was talking about because I knew it was coming.

When he announced that the age of the sisters would be moved up to 19 years old I started sobbing. Imagine a crazy person....that was me. I couldn't even control myself. Hannah kept asking me what was wrong but I couldn't even catch my breath. I was so overcome and overwhelmed.

I was so GRATEFUL that they changed the missionary age for sisters. I've been DREAMING of my girls going on missions. It is one of my greatest desires for them. Had I not met my future husband at 19, and been married just months shy of my 21st birthday I am certain I would have served a mission. I always had it in the back of my mind, but it was always more "If I'm not married, or seriously dating someone then for sure I'll go on a mission." I remember dropping Sean off at the MTC and feeling a twinge of regret, having missed that opportunity to serve as a full time missionary in my youth. I encouraged several of my Young Women to serve missions if they had that opportunity. One of the girls even said that I put it in her mind to serve when I said "If I could do my life over again and end up in the same place I am now I would have served a mission." She just got called to Romania.

This changes everything. It changes the whole mindset of the sisters. It changes the mindset of parents. I can't believe the instant responsibility I felt to begin saving and planning and preparing my girls to serve. I've spent several hours contemplating the implications of this change. It almost feels like an equal opportunity now. Sure, there has always been the opportunity to serve, but how would missionary service had been affected had it been reversed, that the sisters leave at 19 and the elders leave at 21? I am so, so grateful for this change. I can't say it enough.

Now, this doesn't mean that my daughters will serve. I realize that. I realize that it will be up to them whether or not they chose to pursue a missionary calling. I do however want to do everything in my power to encourage and prepare, not only for a mission but for the temple. So now while I save money for my children's futures I'll add that to the College/Mission/Wedding fund (yeah, being a mom of a girl just got more expensive lol).

A Week in the Life {9/24-9/30}

This is one of those weeks where I just don't have much to say. Tonight our ward is splitting and I'm very sad about it. I've been preoccupied about it actually for much of the week. Our ward is incredible. I have been in numerous wards and stakes and I can say with absolute certainty that this is the best ward I've ever been it. Total cream of the crop.

Adam and I have both served in the primary. Adam has also been in the Young Men presidency and is currently in the Sunday School presidency. Additionally, he is also an Elders Quorum teacher and the Scout Master. I have also served in Relief Society as the co canning specialist and as the Scout Secretary, as well as my special assignment that I talked about a few weeks ago, helping and encouraging people register to vote.

For me, being in this ward has aligned with the happiest times of my life. Buying our first house, having two daughters...but also developing true friendships. For the first time in my life I've joined a book club, a recipe group, a play group, a preschool, a dinner group, bunco, all of which I participated in because of the Painted Mountain ward. I've met astounding people that wouldn't otherwise have crossed my path, and while my association with many will continue inside or out ward boundaries, it's just not the same. Our ward is essentially made from three different communities: Huntington (where we live), Rhodes Ranch, and Independence (which is a smaller community) the bulk of which is made up between Huntington and Rhodes. It is highly speculated from reliable sources that Huntington and Rhodes will be divided. I'll update this post later tonight at 6:00PM when we know what is going on.

In other goings on...Hannah, Paige and I have had colds....more so Paige and I. Hannah just has a cough aggravated by her asthma. It's just not fun/convenient to be sick when you are a mama.

I chopped 6 inches off my hair this week and boy does it feel good. I like it a lot better now.

We had book club (which will hopefully continue with the ward split).

I didn't run at all because of my cold (boo)

I spent a lot of time on Ebay because of my rediscovered love for American Girl dolls. I'm trying to find a Felicity doll but they are going for between 160 and 300 dollars because she is retired. I may have a lead on a doll which might not cost me more than $75 which is more in my budget.

The girls are darling. Hannah's best quote this week was:

Hannah: Daddy, where am I going to preschool tomorrow?
Adam: You are going to Emily's house
Hannah: Is Emily's daddy going to be at work?
Adam: Yeah, I think so.
Hannah: What animal is he?
Adam: I don't know what you mean...
Hannah: Yes you do. What animal is Emily's Daddy?
Adam: Ummm, What animal am I?
Hannah: You are a Falcon!

(Adam works at an Elementary school who's mascot is the Falcon)

Adam: Not all daddies are animals.

So. Cute.

Also, this morning we were watching the general relief society meeting (I wanted to show her the primary song medley) and watching the choir sing. She asked me:

"Mommy, are those the angels that moved the stone when Jesus was resurrected?"

I thought they looked a lot like angels too Han.

*Update and pictures

The ward did split down the middle. Huntington and Rhodes/Independence are separated and now we are in the Coronado ward. I'm glad I'm still with all of my Huntington friends but I will miss our ward family a ton. Here's hoping it will be a great change and we'll just be added upon by great new people.

 I don't know what this is? She is wearing another pair of underwear. She just wanted a hat and gloves.

 We have to really watch Paige. She loves purses and bags but always hangs them around her neck. 

 Again with the purses

 This is what Paige and Adam did on Sunday

 This is what Hannah and I did on Sunday...Banana Bread :)