Future Memories

- The first week of school is a bit of a blur to me right now.  Tuesday I went grocery shopping with just 2 kids.  It was nice.  Then we had pizza at Grandpa's house while we watched a movie (I can't remember which one it was now!)  Wednesday, Kelly threw up at school and cried all the way home, saying "I don't want to go home!".  She was fine the rest of the day.  Thursday I learned how to make flowers at my cake class.... that was fun and exciting.  Friday was "Panties- Take Two" for Erika.  Didn't really take, and I think we'll take a short break from the idea.  Saturday we cleaned the house and then went school clothes shopping finally.  Nate and I got to attend the adult session of Stake Conference together for the first time in a very long time, thanks to my Mom and Simon.  Everyone did their homework so well all week! 
*I just realized why it was such a blur!  I had my weird heartburn/heart attack/wanting to die thing going on on Monday morning, then again Monday night, then Tuesday night and then Wednesday, I seriously almost went to the hospital!  It was H O R R I B L E!!!!!  I figured out that pickle juice makes the pre-whatever it is feeling go away and maybe eliminates the attacks altogether, but MAN that was like death!  I'm embarrassed now because I am sure I looked like a complete freak crying and moaning and sometimes screaming about it.  My poor kids.  My poor husband for that matter!  I was not in a good place!!!  Luckily that was the last time, and hopefully it was just because of the added stress from thinking about my talk, but that is not something I want to feel on a regular basis!!!


- Sunday was my big day.  The day I had been anticipating for 2 WHOLE months.  We were awakened at 4:00 am by Noah informing us that Brad had thrown up. Nate had to stay home from Stake Conference with a sickie and three others, while I gave my talk with just my two girls in the audience.  Not quite how I had pictured it, but then again, the way I pictured how my adorable children would sit through conference as I was giving a talk on Reverence really wasn't a whole lot better.  When President Mabey announced that I was speaking first, he mentioned that I was not asked to speak, by Elder Maynes (the visiting Seventy) because of my last name, I was selected by the Stake Presidency "because of her wonderful family".  Talk about pressure.  I was petrified!  The girls said they could see how bad I was shaking and they were clear up on the fifth row.  I think things went okay.  Hopefully I said what Heavenly Father wanted.  Hopefully it wasn't just for me.  I was SO relieved to have it done!  I remember when I turned to the last page of my talk (I had to print it really big for my bad eyes), I remember thinking, "whoa, this is it!  The last page!  This hasn't been so bad afterall!"  I guess Heavenly Father wanted me to feel that way, and feel like I had worried for no reason.  I'm glad.  Though I still wish they hadn't given me 2 months to plan and prepare a 7 minute talk.  I just did way too much research.  So anyway.  Hopefully it's a long time before I have to do that again. 

- Monday was a nice day, with Nate on his new schedule, he had the day off!  I love that in the mornings especially.  We were going to walk the kids to school, but Kelly threw up just before we were about to leave, so we ended up driving the others.  After playing a few games with Kelly, she was feeling much better of course, we all went on a walk.  It was really nice and pleasant.  We ended up at ACE so I let the kids spend their quarters on some candy.  Love that place.  The rest of the day we just kind of lazied around. It was really nice.  Then we went to my Mom's that evening to celebrate Simon's 40th anniversary of coming to America.  Always gotta find a good excuse to get together and eat food.  It was fun except that Noah felt sick the whole time.  Luckily he never threw up.  He's pretty good at swallowing it I think... if that's not too gross for ya.

- Tuesday Nate worked from 3-11, so the morning was nice and relaxing.  The kids and I went to the Dinosaur Museum with my good ol' friend Andrea, for the last Two Dollar Tuesday.  It was pretty crazy.  I don't love keeping track of 6 kids in those kinds of places.  Though my kids did do pretty well.  I made them pick a buddy, Kelly was Erika's and she did marvelous.  Bradley was with Noah, and Charity and Luke were "buddies" but I don't think I ever really saw them together.  Charity freaked out about "someone getting lost" the first half.  That was lovely.  Overall I think everyone had a good time.  Erika and Noah probably didn't remember the last time, so it was a "first" for them.  They really seemed fascinated by it all.  I like that.  When it's not all "same-old" to them.  We went to a park afterward so that Andrea and I might possibly be able to carry on a conversation in peace, and the first half of it was a good time.  The kids all got hungry and unfortunately I had not brought any extra money, so they starved.  But I think everyone had a pretty good time.

- Wednesday was my first time helping in Kelly's class.  It was interesting.  I just had to sit in the hall and listen to the kids read one at a time.  It was surprising, and a little releiving to hear how each kid's level of reading was so different. I don't mean to sound rude, but I had no idea how ahead Kelly was compared to the other kids (I only heard about 5 kids read, so maybe that's it) in her class.  I guess I didn't wonder, but now I won't have to.  She's very good!

- Thursday was our first day back to not having Dad home in the morning.  It was a little bit of a relief, I enjoy the evenings so much more when he's here (so do the kids I'm sure).  Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty rough with the whole bedtime routine by myself.  I know we'll get used to it and work out some of the kinks.

First Day of School

Our first morning of school went SO WELL!!!!  It was like Christmas Eve the night before, nobody could fall asleep.  They all woke up around 6:30, BRIGHT AND EARLY, and were dressed real quickly, ate their yummy breakfast real early, had their morning stuff done right on time.  It was just really nice.  Everyone was getting along, everyone had nice clothes picked out, the shoes were all put away, it was fabulous!!  I had been wanting to start a "devotional" of sorts this year, just a little song, prayer, thought or idea, just quickly before everyone heads their separate ways, and it was perfect that morning because we had plenty of time.  We talked about setting goals.  They were so anxious, I doubt much of it went in, but they seemed happy and I was happy :)  It was just lovely. 

Everyone was ready to go by 8:00.  The big kids talked me into not walking (didn't take much to be honest, it's a pretty long walk!), so we still had another half hour at least til we needed to get in the car.  But they were in such a hurry to get there, we were all out there by 8:25.  Too early.  So I took the long way and kind of mosied on up to the school.  Not in any hurry (which I always love!).  We parked and started walking up to the door, and it was then that it hit me, I had FORGOTTEN MY CAMERA!!!!!!  AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!  I suddenly lost the beautiful calm I had been wearing, and panic set in!!  How could I have forgotten my camera on the first day of school?????? 

Even now, it bumbs me out.  But anyway, I kept trying to figure out how I could go home and get it.  But I knew how important it was to not miss the flag ceremony, and I didn't want to miss saying goodbye to anyone, so I did the unthinkable and called my mom.  She was ready and willing to help out, so she went and got it.  In the meantime, we walked around, waiting for their teachers to show up with their signs.  Brad was so excited for Luke, he ran him over to Mrs. Savage to introduce him to her.  I was stuck behind, straggling with Erika and my ever so grumpy little Noah, so it took me a minute to get up to them.  When I got there, Mrs. Savage says, "Oh there's Mom!"  I told her I'd been in the slow lane, with the littles, and she said, "I was just thinking, 'are these kids here on their own?  they're very responsible!'"  I was slightly offended that she would think I would do that, but glad she could joke around with me a little.  I LOVE that Luke has the same teacher Brad had last year!  This is our first time with a repeat teacher, and I LOVE Mrs. Savage.  I had hoped he would get her.  I love that I know the system in the class, I know how things work, and I know what she expects of the kids and the parents.  Just a nice little head start in my opinion.  Brad was such a cute PROUD big brother!

So anyway, I kept watching for my Mom with my camera and decided to just hurry and take a picture with my phone, in case she didn't make it.  Then a few minutes later, while they were starting the flag ceremony, I saw her pull up!  What crappy timing!  I made my way to her, very slowly, and then as they finished, I ran to her car and grabbed my camera.  I hurried back to the spot I had been standing with the kids and they were nowhere to be seen!!  Sheer chaos set in as all the kids were scrambling to find and stand by their teachers!  I couldn't see ANY of my kids!!!  I kept getting stopped by friends and neighbors, and I was seriously starting to freak out.  I HATE when things go like that!  Luke came running over, crying, which matched Noah's crying.  I forgot to mention the annoyingness of Noah's mood that morning.  Nothing was okay with him.  So anyway, I grabbed Lukey and tried to keep him with me as we all milled around looking for the older kids.  I found Brad, met his teacher real quick, gave him a big hug goodbye, didn't get a picture, and they took off.  Then Luke started dragging me toward the Kindergarten because his class was going in, and I needed to be there.  It was so annoying.  I wish I'd just told him to wait a few seconds and gone to find Charity and Kelly, but it really was too late.  So I just went.  I couldn't believe I didn't get to hug my girls goodbye!!  I really was devastated!  Even cried a little.  Didn't last long though because cute little Luke's turn was up!  We went in, he hung up his backpack, I hurriedly snuck a few pictures of him by his backpack, amidst the mob of parents and kindergarteners.  It was nuts. Didn't last long though because cute little Luke's turn was up!  We went in, he hung up his backpack, I hurriedly snuck a few pictures of him by his backpack, amidst the mob of parents and kindergarteners.  It was nuts. 

 Then we went in the classroom where Mrs. Savage passed out folders, name tags for the kids, and then began her hour long orientation.  Last year came flooding back to me.... I remembered sitting in the back corner, with a baby Erika on my lap and a smaller Luke and Noah next to me as we watched big boy Brad learn all about his new class.  None of them had been in a good mood that day.  I'm sure all the chaos had gotten to them.  It was hectic, I had been flustered the whole time, with Erika screaming off and on and Noah crying, and Luke wanting to go home.  I remembered thinking that I should have gotten a babysitter. 

Well, this year played out pretty much the same, but on a much larger scale!  Erika FREAKED out!!  She was screaming, we were wandering the halls with Noah crying and yelling about wanting to go home.... I missed most of the orientation, thank goodness it was all a rerun for me.  Not that I have a good enough memory to remember it all, but either way, it was familiar.  But MAN!  This better be the last time I attempt that.  If I forget again next year, I'm going to have myself committed. 

But anyway enough about me and the non-schoolers.... Lukey was so excited once we got in the room!  They only let them be in there for a while before they rushed them off to "recess".  Which made LUke ecstatic!  He hardly even looked back at me!  It was a good thing, but I was bummed :).  Then when they came back, he was thrilled about recess and wondered when I was leaving.  He gave me a hug when I told him "right now", but it was only a short 50 minutes before picking him up again.  He was so brave!  He was so sweet and so cute to watch.  He got to sit with his favorite friend Carter, and that was all he needed to make him happy to be there ;).  I gathered my things and my obnoxious little children... I was really bugged at Erika and Noah by the end of it all.   It was definitely time for a nap.  One good thing though, while we were wandering the halls during the orientation, I did make my way up to the girls' classes and I was able to give them hugs and tell them I love them.  They were relieved to see me :) and that made me happy.

I felt so empty leaving the shool though.  I hate that feeling.  I imagine that's how it will feel when each kid moves out.... guess I should make myself like it somehow.

When I picked the kids up and we got home, I made them all stand on the porch (as I should have done BEFORE school) and took a few pictures.  STill not the same, but I do love these pics.  My kids look SO OLD!!!!  So cute, but so grown up.  I just love them and the people that they are becoming.  It's a good feeling to be the mom of such amazing little people.

Erika wanted one too ;)

Future Memories

- Monday was park day!  We finally got to go again... and to the last one before school starts.  I will miss those!!

- Monday night I got to go to my cousin, Alicia's Baby Shower.  I was the only one there from my family for the first 3 hours of it, but I had so much fun!  It's been a while since I was able to just sit and talk with the Mottishaws and I LOVED it!  I am so happy for Alicia to be having her first little baby girl.  She's going to be such a good Mom!  It's been long awaited and I can't wait til little Baby Asia gets here! 

- Tuesday, I was feeling pretty sick again for some reason.  It was really hard to do anything and I don't remember if we actually did get out of the house.... probably not.  This bug is a killer.

- Thursday was our last MOVIE DAY of the Summer.  We made a quick stop at All A Dollar to buy candy (and subsequently had to explain why we had to hide the candy in the diaper bag that we didn't really need to bring in since none of them are in diapers.... yes, I had to tell my kids we were breaking the rules.... probably won't do that again.  Just seems so much worse when you have to explain it!  I grew up doing that, and hardly thought anything of it!  Oh well.)  Then we dropped Erika off at my Mom's and went down to Valley Fair Mall to see Rio.  It was so fun to sit next to Noah during the beginning.  Every preview that popped up he would say, "Is this the movie we're watching?"  And I would say, "nope, not yet." Then he would give a bummed out, "oh."  For like 10 or so previews!  Made me laugh.  I finally told him I would tell him when our movie was on, but that didn't stop him :).  He's so businesslike, it cracks me up.  THEN during the beginning of the movie, when Blue is just a baby birdie, he was just busting up, laughing like crazy!  It was SO adorable!!  I love watching him enjoy things.  It's cute.  We ate so much candy and popcorn during that movie!  It really was a good time too.  I'm really feeling the end of the Summer grumps.... wishing I had more time with my kiddos.  I'm really going to miss the big kids.  I look forward to the fun we will have with just the littles at home, but it's really just not the same without everyone there.  But anyway, this was a fun "last movie" and I think they all enjoyed it. 

- Friday night, we had had a lazy afternoon, after Liberty Park, and that normally leads to grumpiness, but for some reason everyone was in a really good mood!  It was so cute!  I just had a few things I wanted to make sure I remember.  Brad was carrying Erika around on his back, talking about their pet kitty (aka: Noah).  Erika had the biggest smile on her face and it really just made Brad look so old and big!  She has a fun big brother in him!  I can only imagine what kinds of things he will be for her.  I love that.  Charity and Kelly were total buds!  They were doing all kinds of crazy wrestling and who knows what else in their room, then they would come out giggling so hard they could barely talk, to tell us about it.... I love it when they're so happy!  Luke and Brad were having fun together too, they got hung up on Erika's toy.  I guess they thought the voice of the little music it plays was funny, they could hardly contain themselves.... they were actually rolling. on. the. floor. laughing.  Made the rest of us laugh too :).  Erika thought it was funny, so she kept pushing it so that they would laugh some more.  Before scriptures, the kids were fighting over who got to sit by me (I'm so popular :) ) and Charity gave up her seat, right next to me, so that Brad could have it.  Without even being asked.  It was cool to me.  I'm glad she has that in her, to even think about it.  Doesn't happ[en like that everyday but when it does, I'm happy :). Then during scriptures, when it was Noah's turn, he wanted to "read all by himself" like he always does, which means he would like to be facing and holding the book just as if he was reading, but have someone else tell him the words.  Sometimes it's a little awkward, depending on who is helping him, but tonight it was Kelly and she was so sweet, she put it right in front of him and then awkwardly read from the side to help him.  It just looked really sweet, and I was happy that she was being so sweet to him.  And THEN when we were tucking kids in, Noah asked me to "go get his cwappy hand" (his clappy hand toy, that is used for making noise, for some reason he wanted it right as he was going to bed... just made me chuckle), and Erika and Kelly had a few tricks to show me on their beds.  Just cute.  It was an unusually lovely evening (minus my piercing headache that refuses to go away).  I love it when things go right.

- Saturday night we went down to Aunt Heidi's house to swim in her pool!!  This is something the kids looked forward to and anticipated AAAAAALL Summer.  It's become kind of a tradition, for the last 3 years.  We had so much fun.  Heidi is always so fun with the kids.  And her friend John made it fun as well.  Brent took some more pictures, so I slacked off and didn't even get my camera out of the car.... hopefully they will share :).  We had chicken salad sandwiches and other yummies, and watched Meet The Robinsons (since I dropped the ball and forgot to pick up Clifford at Steve's :*(  )  That was a bit of a bummer.  But we had so much fun!  The perfect way to top off the Summer!

The Bike Parade!

This was another one of our big SHA-BANGs to finish off our Summer.  Our ward has an annual Bike Parade every year, and our kids were SO excited for it!  Next to swimming at Heidi's, they were the most excited for that activity this summer.  So Saturday the 21st we met up at the church at 9:30 to decorate our bikes!  Actually, I was up at the church earlier to practice the organ, but I got outside around 9:45 to help finish and then watch, but the kids and Nate were there, and they decked out their bikes smashingly. 

And here they come!  Erika, Noah and I were spectators (we thought there should at least be a few people out watching :))  And much to Erika and Noah's surprise (okay, mine too... ) they threw candy too! 

I'm pretty sure we got the most candy with 4 parade participants who love to spoil their little sibs, Erika and Noah went home with a pretty good stash :)  (minus the tootsie rolls I ate :) )

Lukey never really did loosen up.  He is still new at his bike, but I don't think the balloons helped him.

And just like the Bishop had said in his announcement, it starts at 10:00am and ends at 10:01 :)  They ride so fast! 

Lucky for us, they turned around when they got to the end of the street :) 

And of course we had to have otter pops at the end :)  It was such a fun activity!

Liberty Park with Annie, Lilly and Gentry!

Our last Friday of the summer, we spent the day with Annie and Gentry Cole (two of my most FAVORITE people!!  No offense to anyone else :) ) at Liberty Park.  Oh!  And cute little Lilly of course!!!  She is THE cutest little girl!!  I can't help but feel like she's family.  I look at her the same way I do my neices and nephews.  Course her mom is like a sister to me.  It was so fun to hang out with them!  I wish we did it more often.  Anyway, Lilly was adorable and even though we were inconveniently placed most of the time, and not really able to talk a whole lot, I loved being there with Annie and Gentry! 

I love how you can see Luke and Erika in the background, Luke's all got his arm around her and stuff, SO CUTE!!

My cute Annie and her sweet little angel.  So beautiful.

After the playground and the "Canyons", we found the big hill.  Annie showed everyone how to roll down it.  They had a lot of fun over there.

This is just cool because you can see a dragon fly up in the right of it.

Catching some air!

Erika loved the "baby" and may have been just a little too much for Lilly near the end there.  I don't htink Erika realizes how close in age they are :)

I think I might frame this one... I LOVE IT!!

These two look like they're hiding from the paparazzi or something :)  So cute!  I love it when my kids like Gentry :)

The Splash Pad AGAIN :)

Back on the 17th, we were finally feeling good enough, and made it down to the Splash Pad for one last time (well, for the big kids... me and the little ones will probably go lots more before the real summer is over :) ).  I wasn't feeling all that great yet, so I just sat there taking pictures til the camera died.  I think Lukey was still not feeling 100% either.  But he managed to have a little fun.  Erika was an animal.... she had a blast.

Bradley was so cute with her during "picture time".  They were total buds.  I love all the ones I got of them together.

Charity walking the catwalk :)

He even waited for her as she stood in the warm shower :)  What a stud.

This was funny because he was doing this for a long time with his back to me, so I couldn't tell what he was doing, but then he turned a little and I realized he was holding his swimsuit open for the water to come in.... kinda gross, but only because of the thought really.  Funny little boy. 

Sarah and her boys showed up a little later, but my camera battery had died by then :(  It's always fun to have them with us though.  I think they livened things back up for Noah :)