My Arms are Full and My Heart is Heavy

This past week a terrible accident occurred in a family that we know from school. The news started coming in through text messages in the middle of our Kindergarten Thanksgiving feast. The youngest brother of a boy in My Princess in Training's class had been hurt, badly in an unforeseeable accident. As we were cleaning up our feast he was being life-flighted to a local hospital. As more and more news came in it became more and more clear that the outcome was not going to be the miracle that so, so many people were praying for. Hundreds of families in our community were offering up countless prayers for this family. But it wasn't to be. My heart has been so heavy for this family. The mom is a beautiful, bright, happy mom. I don't think I have ever seen her without a big smile on her face. And the baby at just 17 months was a perfect reflection of her. This week so, so many of us moms in this small town have taken this to heart. We are holding our little ones a little tighter for just a little longer. Today in church the talks were all about being thankful. I couldn't help but think of this sweet mom and her newly empty arms as my youngest wiggled and squirmed in mine. My arms are full and my heart is heavy for her arms that are not. So often I think I would have rather put down that wiggly, squirmy little boy, but today I chose to enjoy it. To be thankful for it. To really know that it won't last forever. It should never take such a sad event to make us slow down and pay better attention to each moment. 


This week I am so very thankful for my family. For my sweet kids that sometimes drive me so crazy. I am thankful that this sweet family has so many loving arms in our community that will be there to help hold them up. And I am so thankful that families are forever and that this sweet family knows this truth. Say a little prayer for them, will you? And hold those you love just a little tighter and for just a little longer. 

My Little Reader---Angels Among Us

So....most the people I know that actually read this are already very familiar with the scare that My Little Reader gave us about a week and a half ago so I don't really want to rehash it. I feel like I have told her story 3 dozen times. (But if you don't know---message me and I will be happy to tell you!) The point is, this entry is not about the scary parts. It is about the moments of calm and comfort in between.

With that in mind, when I look back on this experience I want to be sure that I not only remember the hard parts, but also the "angels among us" that have helped to ease the worry of this mommy's heart. 

For me the first blessing is that this happened at my mom's house and not mine. While that might sound crazy, the truth of the matter is that my parents are far more calm, cool, and collected than I am and they also live minutes away from TMC, while we live almost an hour away (depending on traffic and ability to find shoes when under pressure). It meant not worrying about what to do with the other two. It meant quicker care for my kiddo. And as an added blessing it meant we had time in the car to kill. Time to think. To plan. To call someone we trust. And what a great blessing that was. 

On the ride in we called Ben's Uncle Keith-a doctor at the Mayo clinic in Scottsdale. And how incredibly blessed were we that he was actually in Tucson at the time and able to leave his conference to come be with us at the hospital to not only give a blessing, but to decode the hospital mumbo jumbo and assure us that things really were fine. What are the chances? I believe in my heart that it was planned perfectly to be just as it was.

Most of you also know that I have had a really hard time coming to terms with My Little Reader's classroom placement this year. I truly believe that we are put in situations for reasons that we may not understand at the time, but eventually it usually all makes sense (why else would I have e.v.e.r worked in the automotive department??) With that being said, it was really r.e.a.l.l.y. hard for me to take her to school the Monday after the incident. To make matters harder, I knew that she had a sub that week. But I feel like this, too was a tremendous gift to us. Her sub was someone that I know and I was able to call him first thing Monday morning and explain our situation. He took such good care of my girl. He told me that he probably drove her nuts constantly making sure that she was okay, but that was just what I needed. It was much more than I got today from her teacher. 

Today we had another bit of a scare. Nothing like before. And I guess not really a scare other than we don't know right now what to worry about and what to brush off as regular aches and pains. But this scare meant that I hightailed it from my school to hers to pick her up from the office. Let's just say that the office staff was not impressed. Parents are under no circumstances allowed to rush in at the end of the day to make transportation changes (never mind that my girlie's transportation are her own 2 legs). Anyway, another angel stepped in. A friend that I made last year while dealing with a really difficult student. A fellow mom who has a sick kiddo that she worries about all the time. And she came to my rescue and had My Little Reader brought back to the office. And while I waited I met even more angels. The school nurse (who called me at the first sign of any concern just like I had asked her to!) classroom aides and playground monitors who came by to tell me how much they love my little girl. Someone we know from Church that is familiar with the incident that assured me she checks on My Little Reader every time she sees her and promises to let us know if anything happens. These angels mean so much to me when I can't be right there with her at school anymore. 

"Oh I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love

They wear so many faces
Show up in the strangest places
Grace us with their mercy
In our time of need"

Thank you to my angels! 

Mom of the year award

Dinner tonight included mummy dogs and Spaghetti-Os. The kids think I should be mom of the year. However, I am sure there is some clause in that award that requires the mom to actually cook real food not just be able to use a can opener. Oh, well. Maybe next year.

P.S. Stay tuned---School newsletter is due on Monday which means this weekend will likely include some serious procrastination and quite possibly a valiant effort to catch up on our recent goings-on. 

My Little Reader...

was grumpy. Oh, so grumpy after school yesterday. From the moment she set foot into my classroom she was cranky. Even our breathing was too loud for her. She had been up way too late the night before. Activity Days are fun, but it is hard to fall asleep after. So, when bedtime is normally 7:30 and you don't even get home until 8:00 and you haven't even finished showing your daddy everything you made until 8:30, then you can't even start the whole "I need a drink...my head hurts...I need to go potty..." routine until at least 8:45. Meaning of course that you don't even start trying to fall asleep until 9. Well, anyone that knows my girl knows that she needs a good night of sleep. So after dealing with her grumpy butt from 2:30 until we got home at 4:45, I was done. Ready to exile her to her room for the evening. But, of course, that would only make things worse. Until I realized that I had the perfect medicine for her. Granted, it was supposed to be a Christmas or Birthday present...but when I gave her the stack of Ramona books her eyes lit up. I got a big hug and didn't see her again until supper time at which point she was cured of all grouchiness.  I wonder if this medicine will continue to work into her teenage years??

Just what the doctor ordered

I have been feeling a bit under the weather this week. Both in my head and my heart. The allergies are making me miserable---so miserable. Who knew that you could sneeze for 10 minutes straight?? Yuck. Then the allergies turned into a head cold. Stuffy nose, sore throat, headache. Bleh. But really, those can be treated with a quick trip to the drugstore for some medicine and soft Kleenex. 

Heartache is a little bit harder to treat. Some of you know that on Sunday we once again had the talk on The Roles of Fathers and Mothers. Really? How many times in one year can we have this talk? I guess until maybe someone gets it right. I sure hope they hurry up with that. This week's speaker was extra heavy on the "good" moms stay home tossed in with a handful of guilt about all the extra benefits that kids receive by having a mom that cares enough to stay home. I left the chapel crying and waited until it was over. Double bleh. Don't get me wrong. Stay at home moms are amazing and wonderful. They do hard and meaningful work. But so do us working moms. We are amazing and we do hard and meaningful work, too.

Today was our Teddy Bear Picnic. As my principal has told me, I have started to make quite the name for myself out here and most of my families are in my classroom by request, including 6 LDS families. One of those LDS moms is a regular helper in my classroom. She is very reserved and I often find myself wondering what on earth she thinks of me. Today, though, that all became clear. During the picnic she and her husband (who I had never met) returned to the classroom for something. When they came back her husband was amazed. He couldn't stop telling me how awesome the classroom was and how thankful they were to have me as their son's teacher. He told me that his wife is always talking about the fun and creative things that we do in our classroom and that they are lucky to have me. My heart sang. And that, my friends, was just what the doctor ordered.

The "third" option

My Princess in Training has it in her head that every situation has a "third" option. The conversation might go something like this..."G, you can do your spelling homework or read for your reading log." Did you catch that? There were just 2 options there. But what My Princess in Training heard was, "G you can do your spelling homework, read for you reading log, or run down the hall to play with Robert." This has become a constant state of thinking for my girlie. Every situation seems to have a third option that has nothing whatsoever to do with what her mama has asked her to do. I am crossing my fingers that this "two week" stage is all that she gets so that when we hit those teen years she is already well past this lovely stage and will happily choose one of the two options offered to her. And yes---I can hear you laughing at me through the computer. A girl can always hope right? 

Flashback

Once upon a time, long--long ago one of my very best friends was also my next door neighbor. One of our favorite activities was "window shopping". We would get the big Sears Dream catalog and would buy everything we could imagine for our future families. The goal, of course, was to spend as much as possible. We would make lists with all the prices and pages where to find our dream items. Today in my classroom after school I overheard two adorable 8 year old girls pouring over the latest American Girl catalog, picking and choosing all the things they would buy if only they had enough money and suddenly I was taken back. The grand total was $72. It wasn't all that long ago that I ran into my long ago friend and we talked and laughed about those days. I wonder if years from now, My Little Reader will also have happy memories of her days of window shopping. As a grown-up, I have to say that window shopping is often times so much more fun than actual shopping!

One heartbroken kiddo

My Little Reader has wanted to be in student council since kindergarten. It is her dream. It didn't happen in 2nd grade and she was disappointed. She has been talking about her "next big chance" since 3rd grade started. Speeches were due this week. She was very organized, making a table of all the points she wanted to cover and why she was the best choice. She wrote her speech and read it to our new assistant principal (who by the way was supposed to be her 4th grade teacher until he decided to take a promotion and come to our school). He said it was great. I thought it was great. The kids in her class--apparently did not think it was great. They even forgot to clap. Today her fantastic ( read that one as sarcastically as you would like---me, I am using extra emphasis) teacher announced the winners by erasing the names of the "losers" beginning by erasing My Little Reader's name first. Here's hoping that next year she finally gets picked, or at least has a teacher who thinks things through before she breaks the heart of an 8 year old. Bummer. We are going to wallow in ice cream because, after all, sooner or later we all learn that ice cream is a great band-aid for a broken heart.

Dear Thursday

You are my new favorite day. Five parent helpers and Olive Garden for dinner. What could be better than that?

In the thick of it...

Courage doesn't always roar. 

Sometimes 

courage is the quiet voice 

at the end of the day saying, 

"I will try again tomorrow."

I can still picture the very first time I read this quote. It was on the cover of a journal that was for sale at the Discovery Store in Tucson Mall. I don't know where I was at in my life that this quote 

spoke so directly to my heart, 

but I bought that journal on the spot. 

I suppose it is still around here somewhere. 

But this quote continues to speak to me.

It whispers my name on days when I am just too tired. 

When the pace has been too much

and I feel defeated.

I know that it will get better.

I know that I will look back in May 

and see how much they have grown, 

how far they have come.

But today...

today I can't quite see it. 

So I am being courageous.

I am looking back at today and saying

you didn't kill me today

so I must be a little bit 

STRONGER

And tomorrow 

is a

NEW

day.

And if nothing else....

the day after that is Saturday. 

Dear Missionaries

Thanks for coming to dinner tonight. It meant that my kitchen floors were swept and mopped (yes, mopped!). The living room floor was vacuumed. The laundry was more or less put away. The dishes were done for the first time since??? Dinner consisted of more than something that starts with a "p" and ends with an "asta" and it wasn't from a local drive-through window, either. Thank you also for having no reason to visit any area of the house that my children touch. You might have been permanently damaged by the sight of their bathroom or playroom. Thank goodness for doors that close. Thanks for coming on a night when it was pouring rain so that my kids also had no way to show off the jungle we are currently developing in the backyard. Thanks for not batting an eye when my middle-est entered the living room post spiritual thought in only her top with her bottoms no where to be found (seriously. only you-G.) Thanks also for not noticing when my son followed her lead. Sorry for my son's lack of tact as he questioned you about the spots on your face (someday he will know all too well about "face spots" at which point I will remind him of tonight and he will be appropriately humbled.) And lastly, thanks for needing to have a meeting with my hubs so that I could sneak away for an early night...lights out in 3...2...1...zzzzzzzzzzz 

Oy.

27 kids
4 loads of laundry waiting to be put away
3 atomic bombs that have gone off in my house (G's room, N's room, and the kids bathroom)
9,102 things to do for school
dust 1 inch high on every surface of my house
grass in the backyard...up to my knees...that we didn't plant and don't have a lawn mower to get rid of
did I mention 27 kids
4 hours too few of sleep each night
a freezer stuffed to the gills but with nothing to make for supper
enough crumbs on the kitchen floor to feed Remy and all his family (think Ratatouille) 
a wall that needs painting
shelves that need building
floors that need cleaning
27 kids
lessons that need planning
a laundry room that needs de-cluttering
a van that needs washing
papers to cut
papers to laminate
pictures to print
names to cut
a school newsletter that needs writing
27 kids
sub plans that need writing (3 days worth, yikes!)
and one tired mama that is already dreaming of labor day weekend


in my next life I am going to have an assistant

Summer's Over...WHAT???

I can't even believe that we are in the last days of summer. I know some of you have wondered what we have been up to...but the truth of the matter is that we have just plain been lazy. Okay....not completely lazy, but pretty lazy. 


The first weekend in July we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Really we celebrated back in February (I really am going to post those pictures one of these days!!) But thanks to Moma and Opa R. we traded homes for a few days. We ate at grownup restaurants and did lots of window shopping. Lots. We also bought a beautiful new entertainment center to house the TV that Ben bought in June. The TV on top of the entertainment center look was starting to bug me. We bought the original entertainment center 10 years ago from Best Buy with money from Grandpa Tinsley from our wedding. It held up through multiple moves, but after 10 years it was time for a piece of furniture that we didn't have to assemble from a box!


Later in July we had Moma V. down for a visit. It was awesome. She helped solve the puzzle of how to arrange the classroom this year (which by the way is completely done and ready for the first day of school---YIPPEE!) While she was here we ate yummy food, did some fun shopping, and just relaxed a bit. There was some heavy lifting in there as well. It is a lot of work to set up a classroom! 

We also got to visit Ben at his hotel on the north side of town. At first I was pretty disappointed that he wasn't at the Hilton, but his little Fairfield ended up being AWESOME! The pool was only 4 feet deep at the deepest point and was situated such that  by 4 in the afternoon it was completely shaded. Perfect! The kids swam while I lounged around reading magazines. We also stumbled on the best restaurant ever. Okay- the food was good, not earth shattering. But when we were seated the hostess asked if we would like to sit near the "kids corner." Huh? Oh yeah two booths and tons of toys. I won't even pretend that the toys were clean, but I could care less. The littles played for 45 minutes while the oldest and I ate and played Uno. Sit down dinner with 3 kids and one mom is not always much fun, but this was so nice and relaxing. 

The kids also spent two weeks at Ms. Julia's Ocean Summer Camp. Which allowed me 24 kid free hours to work in my classroom and work I did! (pictures to come). E went to ballet camp and had a blast. This week we have been hanging out with friends. We had the Hussman kiddos over on Tuesday and then went and picked them up for some McDonald's and then home for more fun yesterday. Today we have other friends over (the ever adorable Joey and Katie!) And tomorrow is movie day. So really, we haven't been up to much. A little swimming here, time with friends, a few movies, and a whole lot of lazy. But lazy has been good. It means that I actually feel rested for the new school year and I have had plenty of time to read books, play games, and watch movies. Still on the agenda before Aug. 8th...Chuck-e-cheese with 4 other families, at least 1 more movie, a few more trips to the pool, and a day trip to Phoenix. 

Pictures to come soon (can't really hide out in my room when there are 5 crazy kids running around my house!)

Staycation

There is something so incredibly lovely about staying in a hotel that you do not have to pay for. We have joined Ben for the night at his hotel in town. He has been here all week. I have to say- I am glad for tonight...but given the size of both the room and the pool I am also very glad that we are here for just one night. More than one night and I am not sure that all five of us would be going home in one piece. So now, after a lovely swim, a meal that I neither had to cook nor clean up after, and happily tucked into a comfy bed that I don't have to make tomorrow-I bid you goodnight and sweet dreams. Here is hoping that the blackout curtains have a magical effect on my youngest. Doesn't he know that summer is for sleeping in?

Dear Kiddos

It is time to go to bed. Really. You have talked non-stop today and I need a break. I need a chick-flick and a yummny rootbeer float that I have no intention of sharing. Plus you were all up waaaaaaay too late last night. So, please...pretty please, could you just this once go to sleep quickly and without a fuss? That would be awesome. 

Love, your mom (the one with a really big headache and a growling tummy). 

Catching Up

Well...it's not everything. But after working more than 2 hours on it---this is all I've got time for today. So if you want to catch up on some of our going-ons these past few months. Here they are!

Pump It Up

Music Under the Stars

At Long Last

A Recital

A night at the theater

My Classroom in May
Girl's Night Out

Girl's Night Out (well---in??)

This summer we have been planning a Girl's Night Out- where we stay "in" at one of my friend's homes. We meet for dinner and conversation. The weather has been beautiful as we talk and chat in her lovely backyard under the twinkle lights. Our first night in we enjoyed a delicious pasta bar complete with Olive Garden salad (love that you can buy the dressing for just $5!) Last week we enjoyed a Mexican night and next week we will be living it up with a potato bar. It is so nice to just get together and enjoy good food, good friends, and good times!

 

Pump It Up!

We were so excited to be invited to Caleb's Birthday party! We had never been to Pump It Up before and it definitely lived up to the hype! The kids had a great time jumping around and then eating cake. They have each declared that their next birthday will be at Pump It Up, though you and I both know that at $240+ for a party is not likely to happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music Under the Stars

I have always loved Music Under the Star at Reid Park in both the late Spring and early Fall. I remember going as a kid and love that now I can take my own kids. I really love that now they are finally old enough to walk to and from the car on their own, entertain themselves during the music, and even pay attention every once in awhile. We were able to make it to three of the concerts this Spring and look forward to more in September.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At long last!

So... dad finally retired! To celebrate mom flew Greg into town, got us a babysitter, and had Mike come down from Phoenix for a yummy celebration dinner at Fleming's! The night was wonderful. I am thankful beyond words for the amazing example of hard work and dedication that my dad has set for me. Happy Retirement Dad! I hope your days are filled with fishing, gardening, golfing, and of course having fun with your crazy grandkiddos!

 

 

 

 

 

Why?!?

Is the squirt bottle ALWAYS missing when it is time to go? UGH. 

A Recital

The girls had their Spring Ballet Recital. My Little Reader was on stage a whopping 4 numbers! While Princess in Training had 2 fun numbers plus the finale! They both did a great job!