Mommy Diaries

I just got back from another Stake Conference without David. Last year David was at least able to come to sacrament meeting so I felt spoiled the whole year. I miss feeling the spirit in church meetings. I try to remind myself that when the kids are gone I'm probably going to be board. I don't think I've stayed an entire Stake Conference since-hmmm-David was working at Grainger 8 years ago. Oh! I take that back! When we lived with my parents I think I made it through one time with the help of Mom and Dad. His job makes church things, weekend things, and holiday things pretty tricky and down right hard. But-he is so wonderful at what he does, provides a wonderful living,he still always makes time for us, and serves the community, and saves liveseveryday. So-life goes on and I am so so so blessed to be married to him and have three beautiful children. And I get to be a stay at home mom! (minus the piano lesson thing!) I like to think of myself as a pioneer woman-husband is off saving the day-and I am tough enough to survive without him. I keep telling my sisters and friends they are pioneer women too

Life is changing for us. My baby turned five year old and everyone will be gone in school in August! I'm so nervous about working again! I think I'm going to sub and start making connection in Mesa Public Schools in preparation for a real job. Of course I'm going to take a week to party! And go the temple, maybe keep up on the laundry for once in my life? Notice how I wrote party as my first priority? I love the ages of my kiddos right now. We can go places, do things, and I'm able to get things done around the house. Love them! I have spurts of disappointment at not having one more kid to round out the family-but then I love my three and am grateful for them. Then I also have times of being grateful for being done with lack of sleep, toddlers crying at me all day, diapers, and the oh so terrible potty training. Life goes on, and as my mother tells me "You have to enjoy every phase." And so I will Mom!

No School!

Over school breaks, I'll go crazy with the kiddos if we don't get out a little. So we went to the museum, zoo, played with friends, and David took some of us shooting. We also were all sick! David a couple of times, and the kiddos in shifts. But, we were recharged and ready to start up into our schedule again.

Celebrations!

We celebrate a lot things in December/January. We hit ten years being married-and goin strong for another ten years. I fit into my dress and we watched our wedding video while William was at scouts. David turned 34 and I turned 33. I took Dave to Porkopolis for his birthday and we ate so much we had to unbutton our pants! I haven't done that in years! David was a little late on my birthday dinner because he was sick, but I wanted to take our whole family to Don Jose's. The kids LOVED it. I was fearful that we would have wild/grumpy/rude/squirmy kids but it went so well! We might actually take them to a restaurant again! I also go to hike with Mom and Kelli-we call it hiking club that only meets once a year.

Holly turned 5 years old. My baby is 5! How we loved having her in our family. She lights up my life. I'm going to miss her so when she goes to kindergarten. We had a family bike day/party at Indian Bend Wash.

Christmas

Christmas was on a Sunday this year. Of course it was super busy for me, but we had a wonderful day. We had our Christmas Eve on the Bodine side (talent show/nativity/the usual). Dave was working but met us at home about 8pm. Spent Christmas morning at home/church. Then had Kolstad Christmas night. There were a ton of Legos this year, I spent most of my day constructing with the kids. I did get nap while the kiddos went out early to Queen Creek-hooray! Dave was super busy making a million Nutcracker MandM guys. Literally finishing them right before giving them as a gift! Of course giving one to Grandma Erma was a highlight. I taught the girls as song about Christ this year and we got to sing in in sacrament. I was emotional during my whole solo part-the girls of course rocked it. I loved feeling the spirit of Christ this past month. All our family nights were about Christ. We talked a lot about giving at Christmas-and not getting. I just hope something sunk in for the kids this year.

Christmas Shows!

We have had so many performances in December! Of course we started off with my piano recital which was wonderful in every way! David wasn't around very much that day to help me, I was going completely crazy getting everything together in time-but I pulled it off and my students enjoyed it. This was Holly and Jacob's first recital (I honestly thought Holly wasn't going to do her song-but she did!) Kelli and I played our famous Sleigh Ride duet when Santa and his elf popped in (Luc and Trell). We also had our Broadway Kids/Tap, Musical Munchkins, Preschool and 2 Franklin sings. Few! I'm glad that's all over.