- Saturday morning was our ward Christmas Breakfast. Nate had to work. I debated long and hard, trying to get myself to not want to go... for some reason, ever since I was little, I have always loved Ward parties. It was a pretty sad day when they decided to cut back on the parties. I'm not even sure what it is. Taking 6 kids and a baby to a Ward activity, by myself though, seems like less than a party. Way less. So I was nervous about it and like I said, tried to talk myself out of wanting to go. Luckily though, my kids like them just as much as I do. They would not have let it go unattended. Even at 9:00 in the morning. I was really proud of Bradley. He had followed my orders and gotten dressed immediately upon waking up and was all ready to go at 7:30 am. He was extremely anxious and actually a little frustrated that I had slept in a little. He did NOT want to miss the party, or even be late for that matter. We all got ready really quickly and had I not found some last minute, nit-picky things, would have been a little early. It was pretty fun, and I was pleasantly surprised with how well my kids did with everything. I lectured them pretty well the night before about helping the little ones get their plates ready, and making sure that they knew we were all going to work together. And for the most part, that's what they did! It was great. I love that this ward will have people dishing up the food as well. That takes a HUGE load off! I know I've even mentioned that before, but it makes holding a baby and helping a toddler and 2 little boys get food on plates and carry them all to the table, about a million times easier!! Loved it. The kids all ate and did so wonderfully during the meal. Then for the program, they had several people talk about the traditions of various countries and how they celebrate Christmas. I was impressed with how well Charity and Bradley stayed focused during this part. I'll admit it wasn't the most kid-friendly activity, but Luke, Noah and Erika just went into the Nursery and played, Kelly sat out in the foyer and talked with her friend Jocelyn (yep, she's started that already), and Jack actually spent some time in the arms of my friend Christina Hatch. Nobody ever wants to hold him in the ward. I don't know if it's me, or if they're scared of my kids or what, but this is the first baby (since Luke, but that's another story) that this has happened with in the ward... anyway... It was a really nice time. 12-8-12
- Luke and I finally got to go out for his date that he earned! He wanted to go to Pizza Pie Cafe to have their Oreo Pizza. The mother of a kid in his class works there and so when she came in to talk about her job to his class, she brought in dessert pizzas. Well, that turned out to be the best marketing idea ever when it comes to Luke :). He has requested that place for several other family activities and never would have even known about the place otherwise :). He's so cute about it too. I loved spending that time with him. He's such a good little boy and so fun to talk with. 12-8-12
- Saturday night was Aunt Jen's Annual Cookie Party! I took my camera and intended on getting pictures, but of course... failed miserably! I'm not sure what's happened to my picture taking fetish. Maybe I need a new lens or something to spark my interest again :) HAHA! Anyway, the kids had a blast! Before we left we watched the girls hostessing the visitors. Grandma and Grandpa had brought some of the kids that they've been teaching, introduced them to all the grandkids, and Charity and Kelly really took good care of them. When we were leaving they were getting pizza for the four kids, I could hear Charity saying, "Do you want cheese, pepperoni, or both?" And they really just waited on them most of the time that they were there, according to Grandma Ruthie. I LOVED hearing that about my kids. I know they are like that at home (every birthday party they fight over who gets to serve the cake and ice cream and come up with ways to make it more efficient), but to know that they can do that at other people's homes and with complete strangers who can barely speak English, well, that's just a fun little proud Mom moment for me :). I enjoyed it. So anyway, they got to play games, frost cookies, and eat lots of sugar :). They LOVED it!! I need to have them all write about it for me I guess. I wasn't there. Nate and I took Jack and went to dinner at the Olive Garden. That was so nice. Then did a little Christmas shopping. I enjoyed that too. Jack was an angel the whole time, and it was very productive :). Gotta love that. We're all so thankful for Aunt Jen and that she makes so many sacrifices for her nieces and nephews. It's really nice that our kids have an Aunt like her! 12-8-12
- Here's Charity's version of the Cookie Party:
I loved the cookie party!! I liked how grandma brought people from her mission to the party. I liked decorating the cookies because I was able to make mine look really pretty. I really liked the candy bar game. I didn't get any candy though. I thought it was really funny how Bryn and Samuel were fighting over the chewy jolly ranchers that Bradley bought for the game. I also like the game where we had to tear a present open with gloves and a fork. I also liked playing with Kelly and Siera. I was really sad how you and dad had to go. I wanted to have you there with us so that you could see us play the games. I am glad that we were all able to go to temple square that Sunday together though. I loved the cookie party!!!
- Sunday was nuts. I don't even want to think about it. Everything was just frustrating. Sacrament meeting especially. Which I hate saying, but honestly, it was not my favorite hour of the day. And it wasn't just my kids' fault either. There are just too many people who don't know how to whisper in our ward, and I get frustrated sitting in front of them and hearing everything they have to say about the people in front of them. I could do without that. After church though, the day was pretty good. Nate made our Swedish Meatballs and Mashed potatoes, so that just made it all better :). Then we went to Temple Square for the Family Meeting. That was awesome. Cold. But definitely awesome. I can't help but fall in love with Nate all over again as we take our family around Temple Square in the wintertime. I love retelling the story about him proposing in our spot. Remembering exactly where we were when he held my hand for the first time. Ahhhh. Just feels good :). I think the kids like to hear to too.... for now at least :). And I'll take advantage of that for as long as I can :). 12-9-12
- Tuesday morning I had an awesome little "Heavenly Father loves me" moment. I had to wake up with Jack at about 4:00. I sat up feeding him, and dozing in and out of sleep for a good 40 minutes. When we were done and I had put him in bed, I realized I still had about 20 minutes before my alarm would go off and the strangest thing occurred to me, I thought about getting up then, using the bathroom, getting all my stuff together for swimming and THEN laying down for the extra 20 minutes. I don't remember ever having an idea like this before. I fought it a little, and tried to lay down for a second, but I just couldn't. So I got up. After I'd gotten all my stuff ready for swimming, I went to look at my phone to see what time it was and set a new alarm, and the craziest thing- it was DEAD! The battery had died in the night without my knowledge of it happening. It hit me that if I hadn't gotten out of bed when I did, my alarm never would have gone off and I'd have missed swimming!! I LOVE those times when I realize that Heavenly Father likes what I'm doing and wants me to keep doing it. He knows how good this swimming thing is for me, and waking up in the morning... and He totally helps me with it every step of the way!! I'm glad I listened this time. 12-11-12 And while I'm thinking about it, I swam a whole mile on Thursday!! (actually a mile and 2 laps! go me!) 12-13-12
- Thursday, when I was wiping Erika's bumb (yeah, probably too much info, but I wanted to really capture the moment), I was telling her how proud I was of her, and how I liked that she was dressing herself so much that day and doing the things she was asked (she really has been doing fantastic at all of her independent things, not her usual, so it's been really nice). She felt all proud of herself, got all sweet and said, "I jus love dis famwy." It was adorable. 12-13-12
- Also on Thursday I had had enough of my ingrown toenail. It's been about a week now, I think I jammed it walking to my bed one night and it just got really painful. After swimming it was just excruciating and after hearing from Sarah that Brent had gone in and had his taken care of and never had anymore trouble with it, I thought I just might see if I could have the same luck. I called our old Family Practice Doc in West Valley, Dr. Miles, and for some reason the number I have didn't work. I have no idea how to reach him now, which is kind of a bummer since we loved him so much. Well, and actually, it was Mary the MA we loved most :). But anyway. I called my old doctor I'd had as a kid here in Bountiful, they couldn't get me in until December 27th. That just made me cry to think about going that long with the pain. Then I got the nerve to just go through the Insurance list of doctors and call the first one on the list. And that I did. Dr. Greggory Gulso. He was able to fit me in at 2:00 that day! WOW! What luck right?! At 2:00 I made my way over to the Medical drive and walked all the way around the building (I think I saw EVERY office number before coming upon his). This is where the story gets funny (and this is the whole reason I feel the need to post about my ingrown toenail :)). So, I walked in and strangely enough, the room was completely empty with the exception of a few chairs, and maybe a picture or two. It was a tiny little office and frankly the thoughts of one of my suspense/terrorist shows came to mind and immediately I'd wondered if I'd fallen into some kind of Black Market Foot Doctor. Then I walk up to the counter and oddly enough, there's a guy receptionist! Ya don't see that everyday. Seemed normal enough. I sat down and filled out the new patient forms, signed everything turned it back in had him run my insurance card through the scanner (yes this is all very normal), and then I sat down. A couple minutes later, a very familiar looking "MA" came from the back area and called out my name. It was the receptionist!!! Okay, so he does both. That's pretty normal too, so I got over that. He took me to the room and told me to sit in the big chair and take off my shoes and socks. I did. I sat and waited for a minute, kind of wondering where all of the other patients were, who this doctor was going to be... lots of things crossed my mind. It's weird that I was so nervous, but didn't leave. That toenail had driven me to desperation apparently. A few minutes later, there was a light knock on the door, and in walked none other than the "MA"/Receptionist!! And this time, he came over, introduced himself (as if it was the first time he'd looked at my form, first time we'd talked, first time we'd looked at each other!), "Hi, I'm Doctor Greg Gulso! How are you doing today?" I seriously almost started laughing. It was the strangest thing!! What I still keep thinking is- why did he need to leave the room and come back in?? He was holding my forms both times? It was hilarious!!! I'm actually kind of glad for the humor because I was shaking like crazy. This is my new reaction to a Dr./Dentist visit. Not sure what that's all about, but whatever. So anyway. He then proceeded to interview me. Course I think he was just trying to be small-talky, but it sounded more like a scripted interview. And in case you're wondering what he looked like, picture George Castanza (From Seinfeld) with redish brown hair. Oh, what a funny experience that all was. When he was going in to numb my toe he said, "I'm going to tip you back in the chair so you don't watch." HAHA! Like I'm some little kid who can't just be told what to do. So I laid their like upsidedown as he jammed needles into my toe. Kinda hurt, but I got over it I guess. He tried asking about my family to distract me. That always makes it worse for some reason. Oh well. So anyway. I hope it was all legit! I have no idea what my toe SHOULD look like, so I guess I'll never know if he was some hokey "Doctor" that doesn't really have a degree or something. He didn't have me pay him with cash, or "under the table" so I think we're okay. Still makes me laugh though when I think about him leaving the room as an "MA" and putting on his "Doctor hat" and coming back in. Loved it. I still wish Nate had been there to make funny faces and laugh with :). He's always fun in those situations. 12-13-12
- Took Bradley in to have his rashes looked at so that we could get some more prescription and I got a lecture from the Pediatrician. I was just starting to feel like I liked Dr. Tew too. I hate feeling like a crappy parent and maybe I am, but I'd like to know just how many Moms know the state of the backs of their 8 year old son's legs look like on a regular basis! I just don't see them very often. It's hard to even remember to make an appointment to go to the doctor much less being able to find a time he can go. And yes, I am making excuses. It's because I feel horrible. I try so hard to do everything for these kids, I know I fall short a lot, but I hate when someone else has to tell me to be better. Anyway. We caked on the Vaseline, wrapped him up in plastic wrap, Nate's picking up the prescription on his way home so hopefully Bradley's legs will be better soon. I wish that bottle of the stuff we had before hadn't been dumped out. Could have avoided all of this. 12-14-12
