Week of 12-8-19

SOME KIND OF WORLD RECORD
Sadie was not in the mood to sleep last night and she really wanted company so after I finally got her in bed at 2:00ish (partly my fault- I was ordering Noah’s book for Kelly) she still woke up again at 3:00 to hang out with me some more and then according to Nate she woke up at 4:00 and when he was walking into our room she let out a huge bomb and blew out her jammies. So he changed her and then rocked her, fell asleep, then woke up to yet another blow out!! Pretty crazy. Then he brought her to me. I was so tired I just laid her down next to me and went back to sleep. Unfortunately NOBODY was in the mood to wake up! Nate and I barely rolled out of bed at 8:15!! Pretty crazy right! I mean, we have 9:00 church!! So we groggily got dressed, no time for showers, gross, woke up the kids, and then it was a mad dash to get things done and kids ready! Luckily we had some leftover toaster strudels we were all able to inhale one of those. Or in Molly’s case, carry it around and bring it to church making sure to get the frosting on every possible surface along the way. But really, I was actually somewhat impressed with us! Nate left early with Brad to prepare the sacrament, so it was left to me and the rest of us to get there and we were pulling out of our driveway at 8:50!!! Pretty miraculous! And minus the need for showers by a few of us, we didn’t look half bad! And it was a great Sunday! Everyone stayed happy most of the afternoon/evening. I’m getting pretty curious what the kids are up to, they’ve been being sneaky, can’t wait!! But a very nice day!! 12-8-19

23RD DAY OF MY BIRTHDAY
Tonight’s letter was from my dad ツ. Sure meant a lot to hear what he had to say and that he said anything at all. I’m worried that Nate is going to run out of people who want to say something about/to me ツ, but I’m sure loving this. I got a symphony bar too ツ. Mmmmmmm 12-8-19

MOLLY
She wants “ice that sticks on the ground so I can slide on it” from Santa 😂.

DO I MAKE ROOM
So today was pretty rough. I unfortunately chose the morning to nag the boys about their room and laundry which desperately needed attention, but probably poor timing on my part. So everyone was annoyed and sad going to school. I hate it when it’s like that. I tried to fix it but I just kept finding myself back in that place. I really was frustrated with the situation. It needed addressing, just not right then. So anyway, my bad mood lasted all day for the most part. I tried to be cheerful at playgroup but it wasn’t working. I took a little nap to try to combat how I was feeling since I am sick and sleep deprived, but I still managed to find myself back in the same place I was this morning yelling at the kids to do their laundry/rooms/jobs/etc. it was pretty rough. Thankfully Nate was here and eventually I calmed down, but just in time to leave. I hope everyone enjoyed their break from me really ツ. Just kidding. I went to the Relief Society night with Erika in tow (she was part of one of the musical numbers) and sat and tried to relax. My insides couldn’t do it. It was really nice to talk with everyone. I was sitting with Jami, Emily, Lindsey cutler, Shelly smedley, sister chambers, Julie Shaw, Gretchen widdison. I think that was everyone. It was actually pretty entertaining. I did have a good time and the food was good. But the thing I needed to write about was shalane wiberg’s solo. The words that stood out to me was “would you make room”. Talking about the baby Jesus and the analogy of making room for Him in our lives like the innkeeper not making room or whatever, and I got all teary-eyed thinking about my own life right now. I get up at 5:00 in the morning (MOST days) shower and then head down to study for a half hour. I feel like on most days I AM making time for Him then. But as the day goes on I feel like I am less and less devoted and more distracted. But here’s the kicker- it’s my family! My family is my distraction!! So how does that work?? The whole reason I have a family (maybe not the WHOLE reason, but essentially) is to comply with and follow our Heavenly Father’s Plan. I took on this role of mother because of Him. So I guess what’s bothering me is why can’t my work as a mom feel more like time I’m devoting to my Savior and Heavenly Father?? It feels a little like torture lately, doing laundry and dishes every free second. Nursing Sadie every two hours almost like clockwork, cooking, cleaning, putting out emotional fires, shuttling people around and juggling schedules. Not torture, but it’s really hard! I feel pulled in so many directions that I wish I had more say in what I do with my time. I feel like I would give more of it to the Lord if I could. And “make more room for Him.“ But the fact that I don’t really have more time is really difficult for me right now. And I guess what I need to do is come to grips with the fact that the time I spend taking care of my family and the things I am doing IS worthwhile. It is good. It is sanctified and can be offered up to the Lord as my sacrifice to Him. If I can just get myself in that mindset. If I could just put my heart there and think of it that way. I need to stop wishing myself out of the responsibilities I have here and start sanctifying them and making each thing I do an intentional sacrifice I am making in His name. A form of worship. This is eye-opening to me and I realize I’m getting ready to go to bed so it might seem easy to think like this now, but I feel pumped to give it a try tomorrow. So anyway. I did survive the day so I can be grateful for another chance to Try again. I’m so grateful for Christ’s Atonement that makes it so I can. 12-10-19

BROKEN
My souvenir and favorite thing from Nana, her rocking chair/recliner, has not been doing well. The back was starting to kind of stay reclined. We moved the chair up to Sadie’s room to make room for the Christmas tree, so I thought it would be safe, but tonight, sadly, Molly showed me “what happened” and the back has completely broken off the metal pieces that hold it on. It looks so sad!! Totally bums me out. I hope nana isn’t offended or angry that I didn’t take better care of it. I will always have my memories of her and her love, but I am going to miss the constant reminder that chair was. I love my Nana so much. 12-10-19

24TH DAY OF MY BIRTHDAY
It was fun to see that Brent took the time to say something. I loved hearing from him. I miss him and his family so much. But I did get some yummy Lindt truffles ツ. 12-10-19

SO NICE
When I got home from taking the kids to school, I walked in and mentioned that I’d like to take our trailer load full of crap that’s been sitting there for a couple months. And that’s all it took. Nate piled one last thing on there and we hauled the trailer to the dump! Like it was no big deal. Like he hadn’t just worked all night, and might be tired. Then we went and did some shopping as well ツ. I had to thank him when I realized what a huge sacrifice that had been for him to make for me.  12-11-19

CHARITY AT TEMPLE SQUARE
Nate was taking the young men to temple square Wednesday which was great because Charity was also there singing with the Madrigals! So he made his way to the assembly hall and fought his way in- they wouldn’t let him in at first. But then once he got in, he stood and looked for her for quite a while before deciding it wasn’t her choir. Then left. After talking to Charity about it later, he learned that she had been standing right behind a huge wreath! That’s why he couldn’t see her!! Kinda funny. Kinda not. But anyway- 12-11-19

DGL PARENT BOARD MEETING
Lots of new stuff at the meeting this week! Possible sanctioning next year, gear sponsor, more teams to play in the spring. Very exciting! Although Kelly only seemed excited about the sponsorship. 12-11-19

25TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
Tonight’s letter was a special treat- Margo Cole hand wrote a sweet letter. Such fond memories and a very special time of my life she brought up. I loved hearing from her! Also, a symphony bar!!! 12-11-19

THE OTHER SIDE
So my toe finally got to me Wednesday and I called the foot doc back and basically asked that he do the other side of my toe. I mean it was his idea but it came after I refused antibiotics (since I didn’t feel like it was infected. It felt so good to have it numb for the day!  12-12-19

TREEHOUSE MUSEUM FOR JACK
So while Nate and I (and the little girls) we’re out shopping Wednesday I got a video of cute Jack doing a little play at the treehouse museum! Natalie was on the field trip and sent it to me. It was so cute! He was doing such a good job for the little clip I saw. Fun stuff. I only wish I’d been there. 12-12–19

CHARITY’S CONCERT
Charity looked so grown up this time in her concert. She had a solo which sounded absolutely amazing and performed so well the whole concert. I loved it. I felt bad that we’d missed the mark sitting with my dad. He’d saved a few seats so Brad, Jack, and Molly sat by him. I meant to sit there too, but I would have had to climb over everyone with Sadie’s car seat, so I just went back with Kelly and Erika. But luckily things went okay with everyone. It was funny out in the hall when I took Sadie out. We ran into Charity and her friend and her friend asked who's baby it was and Charity so proudly stated, "This is my little sister!"  It was cute!  She loved showing her off for a minute.  Too bad Sadie wasn't feeling super social at the moment.  12-12-19

CHURCH BALL
The beloved season of church ball has started.  It's one of our favorite seasons for sure.  This year is a little awkward however.  The boys are all moving up in January and were told that they could play with the either the team that they would be on now, or the one they're going into, but when they get their to play, they are told that they don't get much playing time because they are not in that quorum.  So we had a very disappointed Noah and Luke Thursday night with how things went it was a little awkward.  I am not sure how to handle things.  I wish they would just tell them they can't play rather than giving them only a few minutes on the court.  But whatever.  We'll see how it goes in the future.  12-12-19

26TH DAY OF MY BIRTHDAY
Tonight my letter was from Jami Caldwell. It was really sweet and full of nice things. She’s such a good friend. I’m very grateful I have her in my life. Plus some chili cheese Fritos! The best! 12-12-19

I FINALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT!
This is one of the VERY few times that I feel like I did the right thing as a mom.  I cancelled our wart appointment at the Tanner Clinic (we had warts frozen off three weeks ago- some of them didn't go all the way away- so we needed a follow up visit) and made appointments at Grow up Great.  I wanted to kind of surprise the kids with this, not like it's a fun surprise, but just spring it on them at the last minute so they weren't having to dread it- Erika and Luke both don't do well with the long drawn out anticipation of hard things.  So anyway.  We went and it was SO AWESOME!  Dr. Tew was super awesome with everyone, as usual.  He basically just dug them all out and then only had to freeze some of them.  Poor Erika and Luke had to endure the liquid nitrogen again, but they both say it was much more bearable this time.  They thing he did it differently than the doc at Tanner Clinic.  Maybe.  But they were pleasantly surprise with how it went.  As was I!  Even Molly who really didn't have to do much, he just cut hers out, did great and it was mostly pain free.  I was so relieved!  And SO GLAD that I had switched the appointments.  I don't know why I got to Tanner Clinic ever.  I hate it there.  12-13-19

27TH DAY OF MY BIRTHDAY
My letter tonight was from my dear sweet mother-in-law! It was fun to know that she took the time to do that for me. Along with it- Toberlone chocolates! Lots of them! These always make me think of my dad and how he would eat them when I was a kid. Fun stuff. 12-13-19

MAYNES FAMILY CHRISTMAS MORNING PARTY
We got to go up to Nate's mom's for a remake of their family's Christmas morning.  It was a lot of fun.  Took me a minute to get into character when they forced us to cram everyone in the two front rooms, but once I thought about it for a minute, I realized this was probably pretty fun for a lot involved to reinact their Christmas morning.  I love traditions too- I'm game for recreating them.  We did the waiting while Grandma, Becky, Nancy and Jen got things ready under the tree.  They put all the stockings under there, looked really fun!  We went in and watched some movie with a cartoon dragon.  Kinda cute.  Then we ate Creamed Eggs on Toast with LOTS and LOTS of oranges.  They said they were going to make us eat them all, but they didn't :).  Sillies.  I ate a TON!  I was worried my kids would cost us, since most of them won't eat them they way they were sliced.  Then we got to watch Jen open her stocking very slowly.  Another tradition.  Then everyone passed around the stockings we had filled for each other!  This was a pretty fun activity for everyone I think.  Nate had Ruth, Brycynn had Nate.  I had Adele, Nancy had me.  Charity had Zoe, Enoch had Charity.  Kelly had Evan, Zoe had Kelly.  Brad had Enoch, Marcus had Brad.  Luke had Blake, I think Jarom had Luke.  Noah had Sebastian, I can't remember who had Noah.  Erika had Samantha, Jossalyn had Erika.  Jack had Asher, Sam had Jack.  Molly had Jossalyn, Catherine had Molly.  Sadie had Sam, Jaycee had Sadie.  It was a lot of fun.  I hope we do that again sometime.  We had to hurry home to pick up stuff at Costco for dinner that night so we were not all in jammies, but it was a lot of fun!  I love being part of the Maynes family.  These things always remind me of that.  12-14-19

CHRISTMAS DANCE
This dance was much anticipated by more than just Charity and Kelly!  There was plenty of group drama leading up to it, which stinks, but makes us stronger.  Then I was anticipating doing the pictures for Charity's group and Nate was anticipating doing the dinner for it after!  So it was a big night!  We all worked pretty hard getting the house ready.  Cleaning and setting up the tables and chairs from the church.  She had a pretty large group!  22 people!  Nate wowed them all with his cooking.  Pulled pork sandwiches, salad, chips, fruit, veggies, and of course cheesecake at the end to top it off!  Lots of food!  The kids seemed to have a good time!  I was glad!  It was fun to have them here.  I hope we get the chance to do this again soon.  Even Brad, Noah, Erika, Jack and I helped serve and do things for it.  So that was cool!  12-14-19

28TH DAY OF MY BIRTHDAY
It was really fun to get a letter from one of my newest friends Saturday night- Krista Johnson! Her letter was so sweet and meant so much to me! It was great to hear from her like that. With it was some of my favorite Naked Bee lotion! Now I have some for every area of the house, which is good because I’m always moving it to be where I am. 12-14-19