Today during closing exercises, Maria was talking with the primary children about being thankful. Several of the children had comments and/or questions and they were really paying attention. At the very end, Maria needed to wrap it up, and she said the last question or comment would be Kerstyn's. I was sitting in the row in front of Kerstyn with Jared and Lauklan, and I hear from a familiar voice, "Mommy brought me home on Thanksgiving Day."
I looked up and Maria looked at me to see if it was accurate, and it was. As I heard that out of my dear daughter's voice, a sweet spirit touched my heart and I teared up. As did Maria, and Sister Lugo as I looked at them.
What a blessing each of my children are in my life. Thanksgiving has not been the same since that day in 1998. I did bring Kerstyn home from the hospital on that day. I thought then, and still do now, that it was a really neat thing, to bring a child home for the first time on Thanksgiving Day.
Just thought I would share that with you. I am so thankful for the blessing of the spirit. That I can feel it often and know what it is. It keeps me safe, comforts me, and is a friend.
It's the day we get ready for Sunday. We go to the gym, we wash our face, we go to a baptism, on this fun day!
There is no time to rest, they day is full.
Daddy is off doing moving chores.
We shop at Publix on the way home, and bring home dinner for the fam-i-ly.
Then was wash again because we played in the dirt and try to get presentable for church the next day.
Saturday is a special day, its the day we go crazy before Sunday!
Crazy, but fun...
Not going to Tallahassee. :(
No shower.
No Thanksgiving with Tallahassee family.
No church in our old ward.
No dinner with friends.
No leisurely drive home on Monday.
Sad, sad, sad.
Since we will be leaving tomorrow night for Tallahassee, I am trying to get stuff ready to go. Like, washing and putting clothes away, getting my car aligned and 2 new tires, etc. This is VERY stressful! Only stressful because I let it be, I know that, but still...
I am looking forward to our weekend back in Tallahassee. We will be giving Holly a baby shower Saturday at 11 a.m.. Then we will be having a Thanksgiving with our family there Saturday night. Sunday, we will go to church at our old ward which I am looking forward to. Then, Sunday evening we are going to have dinner at Matt and Leigh's who were in the singles ward with Chris and I and got married about 8 months before Chris and me. It is going to be a busy weekend, but I am sure it will be fun too.
I can't wait for Thanksgiving day. It is hard to believe that it is only one week from today! There goes all my hard work at the gym. Oh well.
Today Chris's office is closed in observance of Veteran's Day. At the last office, the employees would sometimes decide that they wanted to work today and get another day off at Christmas. Chris downright refused to do that! Now that he has his own office, he can do whatever he wants. And he does.
I feel that I need to take this opportunity to tell the veterans that are close to me how thankful I am for them.
Chris - served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield in 1990 - 1991 as an Army Medic. I was still in high school, but I remember how I was concerned about the United States being at war. Not knowing Chris at the time was a good thing. I am sure that I would of been a basket case if I knew that my future husband was over in the war. I love you Chris, you are certainly MY hero!
Daddy (Jim Cottingham) - Served on an aircraft carrier during Vietnam. I know that you are great Daddy. Thank you for serving our country.
Ryan (my nephew genetically, but like a brother) - Served in the Army in the 82nd Airborne in Operation Iraqi Freedon twice and Afghanistan once. Ryan, you are a true soldier and a wonderful person.
Chris, Daddy and Ryan - thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to the United States. You are an example to many. Also, thanks to all the others that have served and are serving our country.
The community had their annual garage sale today so I drug out a lot of the stuff that I didn't want or need anymore. I made around $140! Not too bad for a morning's work.
After the garage sale, I headed off to Publix to get the stuff that I needed for the Fall Festival and the children's treats after their presentation. I could not believe that Publix did not have any fall cupcakes! Well, too bad, I just bought generic ones. You all know that I could NOT make them myself! It's against all that I know. :)
We went to the fall activity and it was a great time. The kids got to play on all of the farm stuff and they thought it was great. The adults go to play too and visit. The primary/ward activity was fun for all.
Glad its over now. Time to panic about tomorrow...
I had to call Dr. Soto this morning to tell her that Kerstyn is not much better at all. She called in Amoxicillin.
I also told her that Aislinn was running a 102.2 fever last night before bed. I was worried that she shouldn't be running a fever after 4 doses of her Augmentin. Dr. Soto wants to see if it will be gone by tomorrow. If not, I am to call back. I sure hope she will be doing MUCH better by tomorrow morning.
That is the temperature that Aislinn had yesterday when I got home from church! I was very worried, to say the least. I gave her Motrin, 2 popsicles and a bath. It came down.
Then this morning at 6:45, she was crying from her bed and it was 104.7. More Motrin and off to the pediatrician. She has an ear infection in the right year and is wheezing. Augmentin was prescribed for 10 days and Albuterol 3 times a day until the cough goes away.
Also, the last practice for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation was yesterday and it was SUPPOSED to be better than last week. Well, it wasn't! :(
I LOVE Megan Berge! She sure knows what to say. You're too funny Megan, but thank you. You are always there to make me smile.
If you actually read what I blog, please let me know. I read all of my friends blogs and they have all of these comments, and look at me... hardly any!
Please give me some hope. Or, am I just that boring?
Comment, please. :)
I worked in the office today for a little over 3 hours and got quite a bit done. However, not all of it was done, and already more things are piling up for the next week! I think that this job will take as much time as I will give it and I am not able to do more than one time a week right now.
No wonder Chris was constantly overwhelmed with the accounting issues and the administrative duties that the firm requires! They NEVER end! I hope that I am helping, even though I am feeling right now that I can't do enough. That's not what I need! I already feel that I don't have enough time or do well about being a wife and mom and keeping up with all of those duties. Now I get to add on the office duties too? HELP!
The whole family went to the Peeler's subdivision last night to do Trick or Treating! We had NO idea that so many people from the ward would be there. It was really nice. We got to walk the street with the kids AND visit with our friends! It was a late night, but we all had a lot of fun!
I'll post pictures later.
We had practice in the chapel today for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. The presentation is on November 11 and we always practice the 2 weeks before in the chapel. The kids ALWAYS complain about how boring it is and that they have to stand up too long, but I kind of agree. It is a long time (2 hours) for practice, and they do have to stand longer than they ever have to, BUT, we have to practice.
I got a call on Saturday night that my music leader was having to go out of town on Sunday to visit her Grandmother who is very ill. Ok, I can handle that. I can do the music, it's not ideal, but we will survive, AS LONG AS my pianist can make it. And, she did, thank goodness.
After church, at the linger longer activity, Debbie Carter came up and asked me how it went. Here was my response, "It was better than I had feared". And it was! We still have another week to practice, and the kids actually did pretty well considering I changed the presentation this past week and ended up assigning talks to the Senior primary.
I was conducting the music to Families Can Be Together Forever and when it was finishing, I looked over at Bobbyn (our pianist) and she was all teared up. That got me going too. The children's voices are so angelic. Then a little later, while the girls were singing the first verse to Love is Spoken Here, I totally lost it! Then the boys, piped up for the second verse and it was just beautiful. I am tearing up as I am writing this, just remembering the sweet spirit as they sang. You must click on the song links and listen to the words if you are not familiar with the songs. They are powerful.
Stay tuned, the kids are going to be just great, I can feel it!
First thing this morning, was off to the ball fields for Lauklan's game. He enjoyed himself, and I am glad. I left Kerstyn there for her game that started at 11 and Chris returned at 12:45 to pick her up.
While the kids were at home with Chris and Kerstyn was off playing baseball, Mom and I went to the Craft Fair for a few hours. We had a very nice time even though our visit was brief. It consisted of a quick walk through the streets and lunch at The Frosty Mug. However, Mom found a vendor that made artificial foods and she was very excited that he would make her a fake piece of cake to put inside her cake dish. Interesting... Glad you were happy about that mom. :)
In the afternoon, our neighborhood had a block party and we went down for that. They had games for the kids and a bouncy house, and the adults could visit or play horseshoes. There was a good turnout and we had a really good time until it started pouring down rain. Well, we'll try again next year.
Brennan received his Arrow of Light award last night at pack meeting. This is the highest Cub Scouting award and it is the only thing that carries over onto his Boy Scout uniform.
They had a very nice presentation tonight for Brennan and Nate Sage. It was given by Jon Sage, the Cubmaster, and he and his wife Katie went above and beyond! They made a plaque for the boys to hang on their walls with an arrow and seven feathers all with different colors representing the seven rays of light on the Arrow of Light badge. It was impressive! When we get it hung up, I will take a picture and post it.
I was beaming from ear to ear! I have found out already, in my short time so far of being a mother, that this is an emotional roller coaster! How challenging, rewarding, frustrating, trying, wonderful, crazy and WELL WORTH IT a ride it can be and IS! Do we ever get it figured out?
Last week I started working for Chris' office for real. I say for real, because I have been an employee since he opened on August 1, 2006, but I haven't been physically working in the office. I was just making the daily deposits and running errands as I could.
Well, last week, he pleaded for more help! He asked, "Can you please find someone to watch Aislinn tomorrow for just an hour so you can do some insurance stuff for me?" He asked with this look on his face that I knew he was desperate.
So, I called Kristen Higley last Thursday morning and asked her if she could help me out for an hour or so watching Aislinn. She said yes, so I dropped her off, then Greyson off and went to the office.
Three and one half hours later, I had to leave and Chris offered me a job. (Cute, huh?) I told him that I would come in one morning a week to keep his corporate stuff up and current and he was elated! I spent the whole morning making copies for unemployment compensation insurance and faxing them the completed job and working on the professional liability insurance renewal.
Today was my time to go in for this week. I spent my morning inputting deposits and paying bills. I think he is quite appreciative (at least he is until he sees how much I messed up the books not knowing where each little thing goes). I sure hope so...
Tonight we had a nice, brief FHE. What was really great about it was the children singing. We let Lauklan and Geyson pick the songs that they wanted to sing. Geyson wanted to sing Families Can Be Together Forever, and Lauklan wanted to sing The First Article of Faith.
It was so sweet to sing as a family and to share that with one another.
UGH! Does that say enough?
Can I make it?
Will it be ok?
Can we pull it off?
Will I lose my mind?
I woke up this morning to a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL sound! It was rain! Now you ask, "Why was it so wonderful to hear rain?" Well, it is because it meant that it was likely that Lauklan and Kerstyn's baseball games would be canceled. And...they were! :)
I felt bad that I was so happy, the kids were not happy! But, I sure was! So, what did I do not having to spend from 8:30 - 1:30 at the ball fields? I went to Publix, ALONE!
Well, guess where I spent the night? I dropped Kerstyn off at the ball fields for warm-up and then a game and decided that I did not want to get home at around 8:30 and still have to make dinner and give baths. So, I left with the other four and came home to feed and bathe them. Around 7:30 Chris called and said that he was heading home. He then graciously volunteered to watch the remaining part of Kerstyn's game and then bring her home.
I was so happy! Small things really do make a difference!
I haven't been keeping up on blogging lately because I am just doing well to keep everyone fed, clothes washed, and try to get where we are supposed to be! I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed at times. Many prayers have been given up from myself asking for help to get it all done, and to try to do better than I am.
I know that General Conference was perfect timing for me. When I am feeling discouraged, I think of the mother talk, or other ones that apply and try to regain my focus. I am SO thankful for my testimony!
Chris and I have designed our dream pool and here it is on it's way! We are all SO VERY EXCITED!!!
I took this picture standing on the Lanai. The end of the pool is where you see the boards. It is 8 feet of decking on the left and the right. The pool is 17 feet wide and 34 feet long with a 6 foot kiddie pool in the front (closest to the house), and a 6 foot hot tub on the end that is elevated. That is why there are boards up so high.
The kids ask EVERY day, "Mommy, is the pool done yet?" Can you imagine?
I just LOVED every talk this weekend. I felt that each person had a message just for me.
My favorite talk was the one given by Sister Beck called "A Mother Who Knows". It was so uplifting and empowering. If you didn't hear it, you should go read it.
Another moving moment was in the Saturday Afternoon conference when Elder Wirthlin was giving his talk. He started shaking in the middle and I sat straight up and started to cry. I was thinking, "someone go help him!" Well, guess what, right after that, Elder Nelson walks up behind him and stands there right behind him and literally held him up so that he could finish his talk! On top of that, Elder Wirthlin was talking about the greatest commandment, to love one another. WOW!!!
Aislinn a year ago after the first cast was put on. What a trooper!
Aislinn being two, but perfectly healed!
Brennan was initiated in the Order of the Dolphins today. It is Round Lake Elementary's honor society. I was very proud of him. This picture was taken after the ceremony with his friend Daniel Manry. (I also taught Daniel when he was in second grade. He's a great kid!)
Greyson is the big 4 today! We went to church today and sang to him in Primary. Yesterday, he had his cake and got his birthday dinner. He wanted chicken nuggets! He also got his presents from Yoo-Ma and Papa and Chris and me today.
When I go to the gym 5 days a week and work my tail off, I don't lose a pound, and sometimes even put one on.
Then, I go 4 days a week and take it easy and lose 2 pounds!
Talk about backwards! Also, you have to eat junk food on your easy weeks, and try to be very good in your eating on those weeks that your working your tooshie off.
Odd...
I would just like to announce how wonderful it feels that I have cleaned my bathrooms, yes all 3, this morning and polished my counter tops. Also...I organized my laundry room. I still have to mop the kitchen, entry and hallway, but I am well on my way to smiling the rest of the day.
Now, I know, this is NOT what it is all about, however, this is better than going to the gym as far as 'happy' feelings go. I just love to see clean bathrooms, kitchen and floors.
I know, I know, I'm crazy, but I hope that you all still love me! :)
Today there were several changes in the Primary organization. I lost Debi Peeler as our first counselor, Karen Brooks as our secretary, Barbara Seng as a teacher, and Cathy Brooks as our Faith in God leader. I will truly miss each of these women as their contribution has been great and their friendship wonderful. On to different pastures for each of them.
With that said, you know that Primary now has SEVERAL missing pieces. So, the good news is that we got Maria Valentich as our first counselor, Mary Gronlund as our Secretary, Lurlene Lawton as a teacher and Faith in God leader AND Kristen Higley as a primary worker in the nursery!
WOW! For a time being, we are fully staffed and are blessed with valiant teachers and help.
However, with all those changes, we, meaning Bobbyn and me, have to get a decent Sacrament Meeting Presentation figured out. The good thing to us working together is that Bobbyn is AMAZING!
Last night we had quite a bout with severe weather. I am truly grateful for some loving friends that called me at 10:33 pm to say "turn on your television, a tornado is on the way"! Well, it would of been nice to turn on my t.v. to see what was going on, but I had NO signal since the bad weather was not far away! Quite distressing!
I then ran into the bedroom where a weather radio was that Chris had just won two days ago at some business thing. I got it out of the package as soon as I could and plugged it in and it started going off immediately! Tornado on the way, with some other sever weather. Well, Chris popped right out of bed when he heard the weather alarm and I was glad since if I needed help grabbing kids, it would sure be faster with two of us instead of just me.
Well, we were blessed and the tornado missed us, but our neighbors around 5 miles away were not so blessed. The tornado did touch down and several buildings/houses were damaged, but I don't think anyone was seriously hurt.
That was an eventful night. It sure was not a good feeling to be hearing the warnings and just praying that all would be OK. However, in my prayers last night after the severe weather passed, I was SURE to thank my Heavenly Father for keeping us safe and blessing me with friends that cared enough to alert us.
I am quite excited because Aislinn is in the beginning stages of potty training. She has gone pee-pee on the potty the last two days. Now, not every time, but once each day and she initiates it herself. I hope that she will be as easy as Greyson. However, I am going to have to skip my gym a few days so that we can stay in the house to get this done. I am not looking too forward to that.
It is raining as I write this and it rained almost all day yesterday. We certainly need it!
For dinner, mac and cheese with hot dogs. Last night was Hamburger Helper, and the night before... Ravioli and Spaghetti O's with meatballs. Now don't all of you line up outside tomorrow night for dinner, I know you want to, but we have to stick to just us. :) (I am not in the cooking mood lately, but I guess you could tell that already.)
Mom and Dad came over for lunch with the kids today. All of them were just ecstatic! We ate lunch with Lauklan, then ran so Dad could see Chris's office. Then back to drop off Mom and Dad for lunch with Kerstyn while I ran to St. Edward's to pick up Greyson. Aislinn, Greyson and I arrived just a few minutes after Kerstyn got her lunch and we all enjoyed visiting with her. Around five minutes after Kerstyn left, Brennan came in and had lunch with us all. It was a lot of fun for all of us. Aislinn was past tired though when we got home.
This afternoon, pick up the kids at 3:00, homework, ball fields at 5 until 7 for Kerstyn, then home for baths and showers, eat dinner, a quick FHE and then off to bed. Hope I make it.
Thank goodness, none of my kids disrupted church today crying at the threat of me having to reprimand them. OK, I hope the trend continues.
Last Sunday, while I was presenting Sharing time to the Senior primary, I heard a familiar wailing. Yes, it was Greyson in the next room crying his eyes out. I sent my first counselor over there to see what was wrong. Come to find out, Greyson was acting up and his teacher told him she was going to go get his mommy and the boy started crying and screaming! When she then put him on her lap and talked to him, he calmed down. How's that to make you feel bad?
Take two...I get a message on the answering machine today from Kerstyn's third grade teacher telling me that Kerstyn got a "C" on a science test today and when she found out she went hysterical! She begged me to take it easy on her and that her average was still a "B". I went up to school at her lunch time to give her a hug and tell her not to worry about it and she started crying again. She told me that Brennan gets in really big trouble when he gets lower than a B and that she was going to get in trouble too. I tried to explain that if she was trying her best, it was okay.
I don't think that I am very good at this... I don't want them to be upset like that. But they do need consequences, right?
It is really annoying that every time I turn around in the fall and spring, I have sinus issues! I don't have time to feel poorly! The world doesn't stop when I do, and I don't have a time out to take. Do you all feel my pain?
I signed Lauklan up for Coach Pitch Baseball. Kerstyn is going to be playing in the minor league baseball. Of course, this means that I will be at the ball fields on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Did I think that I was just sitting around with nothing to do? Oh yeah, Brennan and Kerstyn are going to start piano lessons next month (hopefully) and I have a husband is never home. Luckily Brennan wanted no part with baseball and Greyson is too small, but, it won't be too long until I know that I will be going 5 different places for 5 different kids! Chris warned me, I'll have to admit.
The things we do for our kids... Gladly, I might add.
Why is it that my dear, sweet Greyson must pee around the toilet not in it? It never fails, I have just cleaned the toilet and walk by the boys bathroom and smell urine! That just makes me fiery mad! I walk in there and low and behold, it is on the floor, or even better, in the garbage can that is right next to the toilet! Help me please! I have asked nicely, I have fussed, still, there is pee to be found. Good thing that I love that boy...
Well, I have to admit that we did a DARN GOOD job of relaxing on Labor Day! I believe that I was the only one to leave the house today. I went to the gym for some peace and quiet and exercise. Everybody else, well, they played video games and watched television. Hope they got it out of their system, because tomorrow is back to school, homework, and very, very little of what they did today. :)
Brennan received his Webelos badge tonight with several activity badges in the areas that he has completed.
Way to go Brennan!
I am really proud of you Brennan! Tonight he received his Webelos badge and several other activity badges. Way to go Brennan!
He only needs to earn is Outdoorsman activity badge and a few more things to earn his Arrow of Light. We are getting close.
Glad to be back home, I'll have to say. However, thank you Mom, Carole and Gail, also known as the Golden Girls, for a WONDERFUL trip. I throughly enjoyed every minute with all of you! Can't wait for the next one...
The bay
