A special treat after some ground rules

I felt like I needed to spend some additional time with the kids today, so I skipped the gym and took them to dinner after we made some Family/House rules.

We went to Lampu and we haven't been there in quite a while. They were all really well behaved and had full tummies after our meal. It was nice.

Here are our rules, that we all talked about at length as we sat at the kitchen table:

1. Obey your parents and/or anyone else that is in charge of you. For example, your babysitters, gym workers and teachers. Always!

2. No yelling.

3. Help each other.

4. Stay out of each other's room without permission. No girls on the boys side and no boys on the girl side.

4. No locking inside doors!

I'll keep you posted on our quest to keep these rules. I am certainly hopeful.

A few numbers

131 - The amount of money that I spent today on pool chemicals!

322 - The amount of money that I spent at Target on a bunch of nothing.

0 - patience left at the end of the day.

Happy June! I can't believe it is already here.

We had our Relief Society meeting last night and had 4 mini classes. The best part for me was sitting in Chris' class watching and listening to him do his 'thing'.

After the meeting, Katie, Frances, Nashua, Nellie, Kristen and I headed to Chili's.

I was hungry and it was fun.

Memorial Day Festivities

This is what we do on Memorial Day...

We swam and grilled out. Half of the day, we got to spend with Chris' Dad, Kenney and Alyssa. It ended up being a fun, relaxing day.

Sabbath fun

Lauklan loves to snap pictures. Here is one from today.

I love my calling in primary. I love working with Debbie Carter. I hope by the end of this that I end up being able to play piano better. I am thankful that she is so patient with me.

Memorial Day activity

Chris took the boys with him to the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell early this morning to participate with the Belleview Ward in placing flags for Memorial Day. I was surprised when they all got up and left before 7 this morning so they could be there. But they did it, and they were glad to be a part of it. I was glad that they got to do it together.

After we all got back together, we headed to Hollywood Studios to get drenched in the severe thunderstorm. That is all I have to say about that.

Aislinn's Last Day of Pre-School

I'm going to miss our time together in the mornings. She and I had about 30 minutes a day just the two of us and I really enjoyed it.

When I was driving her home today after school, she began to cry. When I asked what was wrong, she said that she was going to miss her teachers and friends. I assured her that we would keep in touch.

Miss Shawnie and Miss Mary have been with all the kids from Kerstyn down to Aislinn. We have attended St. Edward's Pre-School for 7 years straight. I told Miss Shawnie this morning as I frowned at drop off that I would just have to drive through the drop off line a few times next year just because I wouldn't know how to not do it.

We have been blessed as a family by that school and we will all miss them.

Aislinn's Graduation

Aislinn and me on Graduation night
All the other kids waiting for the graduation ceremony.

Chris and I

Aislinn

Aislinn and her daddy

Up with the diploma!

Aislinn looked beautiful.

The ceremony was cute with all those little kids in their gowns and stuff.

She also received the fruit of the spirit award for faithfulness. I know that Miss Shawnie doesn't know the 'whole' story, but I knew that was the PERFECT award for Aislinn.

If there is one thing that she has, it is faith!

My kids are growing up.

What working hard looks like

Aren't you glad you know now?

Stress

I'm stressed.

It's the end of the year for the kids which means more stuff. More meetings, more performances, more STUFF!

The schedule is about to change, that in itself brings some stress.

We're in the process of trying to buy a building for the office and that is MAJOR stress for me and Chris too.

There is need for more employees, another attorney and another bankruptcy paralegal to be exact, but there is nowhere to sit them.

Stress. Period.

Kerstyn all done up!

Janie came over to babysit the other night and Kerstyn wanted to do makeup. After Janie called to make sure it was okay, she did her all up and took some pictures to let us see all the fun. Kerstyn loved every minute of it.

Watch out!

The kid shuffle

Greyson was out of school on Thursday and I took him to the doctor and found out that he did not have strep, ear or sinus infections. Therefore, it must have been a virus. All he complained of was his head and then throat hurting.

He went to school Friday and played all day Saturday. We did notice a rash on his torso on Saturday, but he was acting fine and playing, so we just watched it.

This morning, after Chris left for Belleview, I heard Greyson up in the bathroom vomiting. Great.

I sent a text to Chris who was in a meeting and told him about our fun events. We then tossed around a few ideas of how to deal with him being sick, getting him to the doctor, getting all of the others of us to church and stuff. We decided to leave Kerstyn with Greyson, I would take all the other kids to church and Chris would leave Belleview after Sacrament Meeting and get Greyson to After Hours Pediatrics.

I got a text while at church that Greyson threw up again and now Kerstyn wasn't feeling well.

When it rains, it pours.

Chris took both of them to the doctor. No strep for either, Greyson's rash was an allergic reaction. Virus for him, I think Kerstyn was sick by association...

I see fun beginning... who's next?

Pool Party

After a quick trip to get a pedicure and stocking up on groceries, I returned home to promptly kick the kids out of the house and into the pool.

I wouldn't let them stay inside all day. They had to be outside. Not necessarily in the pool, but out of the house.

It was that way all day. I'll admit that it wasn't easy to keep a few of them out, but we all survived and I think we had fun too.

We swam and ate and swam and ate. The Garrett's came over around 4 and we grilled out and swam some more. Kirstie even joined in on the swimming a little this afternoon.

I'll just say that after all that, the kids went to bed very easily.

A different date

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, Chris was in training in Orlando. So, tonight, I went to meet him down in the area for our date.

I decided that we would go to Downtown Disney and eat then go to Cirque du Soliel. We went there together for my 30th birthday, meaning over 6 years ago (wow, 6 years already?), and we had said to each other a few times lately that we would like to go again. Tonight was the night. We ate at House of Blues and then walked around a little before our show.

The dinner was good.

The show was great.

The company was perfect!

Book Club

I still don't read. I've missed the last two meetings, but I was still invited back tonight.

I'm glad that I went because we discuss the book very little, but lift each other a lot. I am thankful for that.

Teacher Training

I was invited to attend the Primary Teacher Training tonight. They fed us physically and spiritually.

Each member in the presidency gave a message about teaching. Each bore a powerful testimony of gospel truths. Each person told of the special spirit of each of the children.

What I really loved was that we all agree that these children are precious gifts with amazingly strong spirits and that we are blessed to be able to serve them.

I've know that for a long time. That was one of my 'blessings' from being Primary President. I get it. So do they. These children are going places!

Really?

Michelle took this when she came to visit during Spring Break.

Look at me, once again running my mouth!

Do I ever shut up?

I did notice however, that I have nice muscles in my forearm...

Mother's Day breakfast with Lauklan

Mary just sent me this picture from Lauklan's Mother's Day breakfast. We had it in his classroom on May 7.

He's quite a cutie.

Lauklan has really worked hard in school this year and his academic progress has been quite significant.

He LOVES to help his father around the house and is always quick to volunteer to help on projects.

He's going to be quite a 'catch' some day...

A Special Stake Conference

Elder Neil L. Andersen of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to be with us today. He taught and shared a wonderful message of love and faith. I took notes which I will post another day.

Right now, it still seems kinda surreal. I don't even know where to begin.

The meeting was powerful.

The spirit was amazingly strong.

The choir was better than ever.

I am humbled and honored to have been able to participate in this day.

Mom came over and Elder Andersen even mentioned something in his message that was just for her. He gave us all words or encouragement.

Elder Andersen made it a point to shake my hand after the meeting. He told me how wonderful the music was and how talented I am. I couldn't believe, and I still can't believe, how kind he was to me.

Kerstyn and Grandma shook Elder Andersen's hand separately from the other 4 kids. Grandma told Elder Andersen that Kerstyn was 'the choir director's daughter' and Elder Andersen again complemented me to her. Wow!

I stood in line with Brennan, Lauklan, Greyson and Aislinn. The boys didn't want to get in line and shake his hand. That upset me, to be honest, but I told them that they were going to shake the hand of an Apostle of the Lord and that one day, they will be glad that I had them do it.

The line was long and they waited fairly patiently. When it was finally our turn, I said to Elder Andersen, "Elder Andersen, these are a few of my children and I wanted them to be able to shake your hand". He shook each one of their little hands and looked them in the eye. He spoke to each of them individually and told them how talented their mother was and how blessed they are to have me. Can you believe that? I could have fallen to the floor. Then, he turned to me again, took my hand, and thanked me for a wonderful job.

Wow.

This day, is one I will remember forever.

As if all that wasn't enough, President Carter called this afternoon to thank me for the music. He also called to thank Chris for all his efforts with the parking.

We are both happy to serve.

Sister Andersen

We had a meeting with Sister Andersen this morning. I will admit that it was a little, lets just say, less formal, than I thought it would be. However, I really enjoyed the meeting.

Debbie Carter bore a wonderful, heart-felt testimony which I just loved. I also knew that she was most likely very uncomfortable up there but she did just great, of course.

Sister Anderson was a Florida girl, which I didn't know until that meeting and I found her ties to Florida quite neat.

There was a very nice luncheon planned immediately following the meeting and I was tickled, because I was really quite hungry.

Chris' mom was with me, which made the meeting even more special.

I can't wait for tomorrow... I sure hope we do well with the choir and I can't wait to hear and learn from Elder Andersen.

One for the team

Chris and I went on our date tonight. It was my turn to pick what we were going to see at the movies, if we went, since Chris picked last time.

I wanted to see Letters to Juliet, but Chris was really wanting to see Robin Hood. He said that if I would see Robin Hood, that I could pick the next two times. So, being the wonderful wife that I am, I said okay.

We saw Robin Hood. I actually liked it better than I thought I would because there was a neat little love story in it.

I think we had a win, win situation.

Next movie, Letters to Juliet.