The Flu

So.
I got the flu.
It sounds so ordinary, but it's not.
IT"S NOT!

I spent more than 24hrs in my bed. If you breath you might hack up a lung. I might have been a little bit delirious. Maybe. Cause I swear I heard Will say I had too many fat rolls...he claims he was telling me the rolls from dinner were gone....we may never know.
I admit I wasn't quite following all conversation at all times.

I got out of bed sometime today. Only to want to crawl right back into it and pull the covers over my head after seeing the house. Except I'm so tired of being in my bed. It's one thing if you get out of bed ready to conquer...something, but something entirely different when you are dizzy and can barely sit up straight.

I should have known.
And yes, that is the smell of burnt popcorn saturating everything in the house.
And why yes, I did clean up a little by sitting on the floor and grabbing everything in reach and shoving it into a garbage bag. Too bad so sad. But then we forgot to take the dumpster to the street. So it's already overflowing. How can I throw everyone's stuff away when the garbage can is overflowing! Why didn't someone tell me it was Monday! When did it turn Monday!?

Everything is blurry. Did we have Christmas? Oh right, I already took everything down and packed it away in the shed. Christmas Is Over around here. Santa brought me the Flu. Is that the new coal?

Did I mention I took NyQuil? That's a low for me. I took it all day and all night until I gagged just at the thought. Calm down...as directed...I'm married to a Pharmacist...not 8:20pm...8:30pm. I love my husband. Did I mention I never have to refill or pick up any prescriptions? That only comes with the premium package;)

Somehow I must make my house look like it is usually clean and organized by Friday morning. Cause that is when my Peeps are finally coming to visit me. Oh I can't even tell you how much I love my Peeps. But they would never believe I live here. I lost Betty Crocker. I have work to do and I can't do iiiitttttt! That's me whining. Maybe I should just make a to do list for my Family, they Get. Stuff. Done.

First I should probably go back to bed before Will finds out that I am sharing in my delirium.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, we've had a great Christmas week. I loved our family night when we opened jammies, went caroling, and then drove around and looked at Christmas lights, and then watched a movie together. That was fun. Dear Gift Wrapping, you were brutal this year. We had many nights that we were up until 2 or 3am. Dear Ward Party, I was happy not to make dinner. The kids had fun being in the Nativity and visiting with Santa. And Will made a great narrator. Dear Christmas Eve Party, again, happy not to make dinner. Enjoyed getting to know V's side of the family. Dear Sickness, late Christmas Eve it hit me right in the chest. I've been so miserable with this respiratory flu since then. We made the kids wait til 8am to open gifts. And then I took NyQuil at 10am and went back to bed. Dear Hazel, you popped up with pink eye. Dear Dr. B, you gave me a cortisone shot in my wrist hoping to relieve some pain from carpal tunnel that goes all the way up to my shoulder. I believe it is helping! I think I'll be back for the other side. Dear Fam, I can't wait until you get here! One more week! We are all so excited that you are coming to visit. Dear Will, I have really enjoyed being with you this week. And you did awesome at the gift giving for me. I wasn't sure how that would go. ha. I guess I didn't need to buy myself a gift of cleaning paste from Norwex, that ended up just being a bonus. I love you. Dear Self, Is it really already Friday again? Is it sad that I want to take down the Christmas stuff already? It is for my old festive self. I have high hopes for this next year. High hopes I tell ya! Now I must go take more NyQuil and go back to bed.

I Love my kids

Who doesn't want a sharpie hanging from the tree...

Just a few of our...unique...tree ornaments.

I love my kids.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, you would think you would try harder to not be naughty this close to Christmas. You did better today. Dear Kade, you got sick with a cold, which for you means a horrible cough, trouble breathing and four days home resting. Poor guy. Dear School Activities, so busy. Hailey did great as a ghostbuster in her school drama play. Hazel was so cute as a snowflake in her concert and Avary did great in her western themed concert. There were school parties, gift exchanges, pancake breakfasts, on and on. Will attended a concert for Becca, Emi, and Liam also. Apparently Liam had a rash, was the 12th day of Christmas up front the whole time wiggling and making the funniest faces as he tried not to scratch. Dear Town Party, there was Santa in the park. I took the kids, there was jumpers, booths, kettlecorn, cocoa. The kids played on the playground. They said the line was too long to see Santa, I wasn't too disappointed. He did depart in a helicopter on his way back to the north pole, they take things seriously here. Dear Ward Party, Will was the narrator for the live nativity, and the kids were a wise man, the donkey that carried Mary (literally), and three angels. This time they ran to see Santa and ALL of them sat on his lap just for the treat bag of goodies. That line was long also. Hazel went a little nuts at the end and was climbing ladders and jumping of the stage landing on Will. Hence the nickname hazelnut. Dear Gift Wrapping, for 7 kids. It is overwhelming! They each are only getting a couple small things, but it adds up and I've spent hours and my back and everything else is aching. And I'm not done! Dear Avary, you are so sweet. You asked me to take you to the store so you could buy everyone a gift with your own money that you have been saving. You put thought into each person as you picked their gifts and then you wrapped them all by yourself. I took you to get a hot chocolate while we were out. It was fun spending some time with you. Also! You got a haircut! A cute little bob, I love it! You look so cute. Dear W+B, I don't know where I would be without you. Thankyou so much for being such good friends to me. Thank you for talking with me for hours late at night when I really needed a friend. Heavenly Father is so good to me to place people like you in my life. Dear Will, I loved listening to you sing at your concert. I love to see you use your talents. We have talked so much this week. Thank you for doing the dishes and cleaning the boys room. I love that when it is raining you get out your umbrella and walk the kids to school. I love You. Dear Self, you know I always seem to be able to take more than I think I can handle. I don't want it. Some things hurt. But I know the Lord loves me and He won't ever leave me. Especially at this time in my life that just happens to fall in the Christmas season, I am so very grateful for my Savior. And so very grateful for what I KNOW. For nothing in this world can ever change what I know to be true in my soul. How our Father sent His Son. And how much our Savior truly loves us. For how much they both sacrificed for each. one. of us. Whatever the Lord asks me to do in this life, and when I feel like I am just not capable, I am so thankful that I have felt His love and that is forever in my soul. I am grateful that I never gave up pleading with my Father in Heaven and that I continued to seek out my Saviors love -until- I was able to push past all the things in this world and truly feel them there. Even when I have so far to go, they are always there.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, you don't have to leave for school until 7:30 so there is no need to wake up at 6AM! And if you do, don't wake me. Dear Boxes, we have so many boxes. I've been collecting them for awhile now. For Christmas, you know, so the kids can't peek at the gifts. But now I'm realizing after gifts for 7 children are wrapped up in boxes there is nowhere to put them without the small floor space we have disappearing. Little gifts in big boxes will make us look rich! Dear Awkward, mailing two boxes. Reminding myself over and over before and after we taped them shut whose was whose. Getting to the post office and having no idea which box to send where. I opened one and then proceeded to write the wrong address on it anyway. The post lady saved the day after she watched me look like a dummy. I mean I'm awesome. Dear Calender, this month leading up to Christmas is so full. I just want to stay home every day and take a long nap. Dear Dr, G. this was our first time meeting you. You are one strange, swearing little man. Haha It's always entertaining to hear a little man try to be funny, but using no emotion or sign that you are joking. It took me a little bit to realize it was ok to laugh. Dear Kade, you called me from the office at school to tell me "the good news" you ate your first tomato And pickle on a hamburger. And you liked it. Dear Avary, you have been home with TWO pink eye's and a bad cough.You laid on the couch and watched animal rescue shows. Not cute little things, no, alligators and that type. Poor silly little girl. Dear Hailey your orchestra concert sounded great. I love hearing you play music. Dear Hazel, you have been wrapping up all of your stuff and putting it under the tree. We might have some surprises on Christmas morning. Dear Work Party, I always like free steak. It was yummy. And Will got some nice pocket knives in the gift exchange. Someone at work asked him if he had one in his pocket. He said No but I have a cut on my pinky from opening them. Ha. Dear Will, I was glad you got to drive me to my Dr. appt in Tuscon this week. I have no idea where to go. I am grateful for you every day. I love you. Dear Self, I am my own worst critic. It usually works that way, right. I hate it when my best isn't what it once was or should be or could be. When I can't live up to my own expectations. But somehow it's all I can do. I just need a break from myself maybe. Just makes me that much more grateful for my Savior and how he knows my heart so fully. I don't have to try to put into words things that there are no words for. And He will always love me anyway.

Friday Letters

  I will take one of these for Christmas please

                                                         ................hahahahayeah

Dear Children, I love the days when you are all playing so sweetly together. We need more of those. Although today I noticed we have new neighbors and they have two kids. You are beyond happy about that. Dear Week, I don't even know how we got to Friday. Really...it's all a blur. I don't think I even wore makeup this week. That's bad. Dear Dr., another quick trip to Mesa to see the Dr. Quick meaning 6 hours of driving, but hey I met up at Cafe Rio for a quick dinner with my Ma and Sis so it went ok. Driving home with a huge headache and a mountain of stress on my shoulders, not so fun. Also having to pull over in the pitch dark to pee on the side of the road all by yourself in the middle of nowhere is kind of creepy. Dear Cold, brrr it has turned chilly here. Especially in the morning. The older kids wanting me to drive them to school...across the street...really. The little girls don't even complain, even when I say goodbye at the door and watch them walk from the window because I'm freezing. Dear Christmas, I'm running behind. Let me catch up so I can enjoy the Christmas holiday. I haven't even decorated yet! Dear Will, we stay up too late. But I love talking with you. I'm really looking forward to our date on Sat. night. Free Steak is always good. Dear Self, having patience when you feel sick is really hard. Being limited when you have a long list of things to get done is irritating and discouraging. Having to make permanent decisions...I hate that. There are too many at the moment. I am grateful for every moment of peace I get.

Thanksgiving 2013

It was a nice weekend.

Lots of family, Barros, pedicures, Outback, a movie in a theater, Will enduring the loss at the football game, staying up way too late and sleeping in, just hanging out while the kids all played with cousins. Good times.

It's impossible to fit everything I want to do in when I'm there.

It was a nice trip.

13

Hailey had a great Birthday.

I'm kind of in shock that I have a teenager.

The beginning of many many years with teenagers.

Hailey gets to be our tester Mwwahahahaha!

And I now have a 13 year old.....

Friday Letters

                                                                             Love these people!

Dear Children, you have been so excited to head to Mesa and see your cousins. So excited you have been kind of naughty! Dear Week, you kind of sucked. Yeah I could have skipped the first half of you altogether. Dear Traveling, I don't like all that goes into getting so many kids ready to go out of town and how it makes the house so messy somehow. I like to sleep in my own bed. But It will be nice to see my family and it's for long enough that they will be glad to see us leave ha. Dear Kade, you've been having a rough time lately. That means that my heart is too. We'll make it through. Dear Avary, you did a bridge kick over! You have been practicing ALL the time so you can move up a class. And you didn't even kick anyone in the face while doing it. Good job! Dear Hazel, you are so stinkin cute. But I am wondering when you are going to grow out of your cranky pants. Dear Hailey, you have been saving your babysitting money cause you think I'm going to let you buy an iPod touch. Hahaha I said I will think about it. I'm not a fan of kids having free internet access. I don't care if you are 13! Dear Seat belts, Avary found out the hard way why we Always wear our seat belt when I had to hit the breaks. That girl. You are breakable! I am pro safety. Dear People, No. One. is invited over when the house is a mess. Dear Turkey Trot, you kind of made me wake up very irritated. Not being able to sleep until 3:30am and at 6:30 having a DJ outside my window blaring music and being way too cheerful in the mic. I couldn't take it, got up grumpy for awhile and had to take a nap. But I woke up to Will arriving just in time to eat so I guess I might forgive you. Dear Thanksgiving, you were nice. Good food, good company and a nap. Dear Ranell, you are a bad example to my children. You got them all to eat sardines! Dear Will, I love you. Just in case you forgot. It was nice going to a late movie together. It was kinda like..a date. Dear Self, I am glad to be reminded of how important it is to surround yourself with people who treat you with love and kindness. It really is so important to be in a healthy environment.

I'm Thankful

This week has been bad for me.

I don't feel good. I feel sick. I feel grumpy.

I have no patience for bad behavior, back talk, or just plain not being nice!

I'm not happy when I leave for 15 minutes and come home to a police man and an ambulance!

I hate it when the house is a huge mess. It makes me grumpy.

I don't like it when I can't keep up.

Some days are just too long and the next day some how comes too quickly.

It has just been rottenness I tell you!

But when I get a quiet moment I AM thankful. In my prayers I AM thankful.

I'm thankful for my children, I remember the days when I longed for each one of them and had to be patient and accepting of the Lords will. They are so forgiving and just want to be loved so they can love you back. They are each so different from each other and have so many good qualities that were built in already.

I'm thankful for my husband and this life and home that he provides for us. I wouldn't want to live without him. Ever. I love him.so.much. Even when he's weird.smile.

I'm thankful for my step children (I don't like that term very much lets call them bonus kids.) They already have a really great Mom and I'm grateful they get to be a part of my life and I get to love them and watch them grow. They are pretty great.

 I'm thankful for this body God has given me. However imperfect, it is a precious gift. 

I am thankful that I am able to stay home and be with my kids, they need me and I want to be here for them always.

I am thankful for Hope.Never give up Hope. 

I am thankful for so many wonderful true friends. I am so blessed to know they are always there.

I am thankful for this little Valley I live in. There are so many good people here. Just the kind of place I want to raise my kids.

I am thankful I live half a block from the schools and 5 minutes from the Temple.

I am thankful for a good family and the fun and laughter we always share.

I am thankful for a small house and a big backyard. Yep, you heard me right. In this little house there are kids in every room, smiles and laughter, memories and messes. We can't get away from each other, there is nowhere to go. I know that there will be fond memories of this little house.

I am thankful that the Lord sent me here. For blessing me with all of the things in this life that matter, family, love, home. So many blessings it brings tears to my eyes, so many they overflow just as He promised they would.

So I've had some bad days. 

Some days I just want to go to bed and cry.

But it's true. 

Being Thankful can overshadow the trials in this life. Not make them disappear, but definitely overshadows them and somehow makes things seem better and temporary. 

There is Always Always something to be grateful for.

And there are Always blessing waiting. They will overflow.   

Gratitude

turns

what we have

into

enough

Friday Letters

                                                                                13

Dear Children, we made it through another week. I am so looking forward to the weekend. Dear Hailey, you are 13! I can't believe I have a teenager. You had a great Birthday and get your family party tonight! I Love You Hailey Lou! Dear Dr Bills, you just keep on coming! Good and not good when you hit a really high deductible. Not the best feeling when things start racking up at the end of the year. Oh well, better fit everything in we can then. Dear Norwex, I was heard squealing when I found you on my door step. Let the cleaning begin! Dear Kaden, we got to take a quick unexpected 7 hr car ride to visit your Dr. It was nice getting to spend time with you. Dear Knees, I finally got to have my knees shot up with cortisone again. It helps so much. I am looking forward to being able to walk without pain. Dear Zeke, Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day. Dear Becca & Emi, I enjoyed your piano recital this week. You are both so talented. Dear House, I actually put frames on the wall. Put curtains up, moved some furniture. What is going on around here?! Dear Will, you took the kids on a drive off roading. I usually expect for you to get stuck, because you usually do. I think we should make sure your Dad is in town next time. I admit I am shocked that you got yourself out of that one. I think it was the angels that follow my kids around. Dear Self, I wish I had a nice bathtub to take a long hot bath in. I need some energy. Where do you get that?

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I was so glad to not have school on Monday so I didn't have to get anyone ready. Dear Sleep, I need you. I don't seem to ever get good sleep. I am so tired of being so tired all of the time. Dear Example, of being tired. I left the groceries that were non perishable in the car...I am that. tired. Dear Hailey, you will officially be a teenager next week. I'm not too worried because you have had the sass of one for awhile now. You are turning out to be a pretty good girl. I love you Hailey Lou! Dear Week, you are all a blur pretty much. I think I have allergies to thank for that. Dear Will, I am really glad that you and I are able to communicate so well, even if we do stay up until 2:00 in the morning chatting away. The result of that is me asking you the same question 3 times and not remembering that I already had. Our conversations are funny sometimes when we get tired. Dear Birthday, Thank You to everyone who remembered me on my Birthday. I'm just little old 34 now. According to Hazel I'm just 54. The good= Will having the day off. The bad= the kids were big stinkers all day! Dear Self, this year I'm not quiet all that I wish to be, but I have all that my heart could desire of what matters most in this life.

Friday Letters

                                                      This is how Hazel has good dreams.
                         She opens her pillow book to a happy page puts it on her pillow and sleeps on it.

Dear Children, you finally made up all the work you missed while we were in Mesa. Yay. Dear Neck, have you ever strained a muscle in your neck? It hurts!!! This is the second time. Like I don't already have enough issues with my neck. It is so inconvenient because I can't do anything. I'm just stuck. And sleeping? Yeah right. Ice, heat, ice, heat. I'm sure it annoys everyone in the house, not just me. Dear YW in Excellence, I enjoyed hearing the testimonies of our young women. And Hailey did so great playing her violin. She is learning so quickly. Dear House, you look the same. How?! I just want to throw everything away! Dear Hailey, you just said to me "and then I have to hit myself in the head and that's going to be really hard to do because I have a zit on my forehead".... Dear Patience, I seem to be running short of you. Dear Foot Ball, you are officially over. Kade missed the last 3 weeks because of his knee. There's always next year. Maybe. Dear Friday, the kids get out early and it's the beginning of a long weekend. Let's hope it goes well. Dear Will, I love that you do the dishes and that you stay up helping Hailey with her math. Because I don't love math. Dear Self, I need my body to work how I want it to. I can't keep up with everything and it is so frustrating. I still have a hard time being patient with myself.

My Entertainment

 I usually get a little grumpy on Sundays. But someone else decided that they were going to be grumpy first.

I found my entertainment in the kids.

They really are so stinkin funny.

This is how it starts

They are trying so hard

But this is how it ended every time.

Hahaha

We are so lucky that the kids love each other.

I swear these kids sing more than normal kids. At lunch they were all in the kitchen singing "what does the fox say" I have never heard it except from them. I'm amazed/disturbed at how all of them have the words/weird sounds memorized. Someone is always singing around here, whether you like it or not.

We all sat down and cut things out to make a collage of a tree, except they cut too much out, so I don't know what it is now. They were all sitting there singing primary songs together. I never have to prompt them, one starts singing and the rest just join in every time. 

I thought my heart was going to burst, I love them all so much!

They are naughty sometimes and so messy. But they are also such good kids.

Blessed doesn't even describe it. 

Halloween 2013

Hailey was a cat.

She was pretty excited to attend her first school Halloween dance.

This has to be the best photo bomb EVER!

Hazel sneaking her face in there. I laughed so hard when I saw this.

                                                            Will and I were robbers.
                                            He had to have some...encouraging...to dress up.

But I bet you he'd say it was fun.

Loved riding on the train.

 I caught the guy who stole my heart.

See. He had fun!

I look in the back seat on the way home and see my little fairy looking like this!

Can we say candy makes...someone...go wacko?

Oh my goodness.

Hazel's face makes me laugh so hard. What kind of fairy is she?

Kade ditched his costume before we were even out of the car, he was an army guy with a helmet and stuff. He came home with Vampire teeth instead.

Avary was a witch, she too ditched the hat and broom.

And of course Hailey the cat.

 

Becca- renaissance princess, Emi- tiger, Liam- Knight.

The best trunk or treat game.

Angry Birds.

Everyone else was gone and they so nicely stayed after to let the kids get their fill of life size angry birds. 

Really, we were the only ones in the parking lot. 

But I'd say the game gets a thumbs up.

Normally I love Halloween.

But this year I am just glad it's over.

Now on to the next Holiday.

I'll try not to be a grinch.

Avary turns 8

My Avary turned 8!

She had a very happy Birthday.

And made out like a bandit with $.

My sweet girl.

Her Baptism went so great. The spirit was so strong I'm sure everyone felt it.

Just family.

Avary I hope you know how loved you are.

Lucky girl.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, this week flew by! You had fun with your Dad and his family. I am so glad. You only had one night of the most heartbreaking tears. You are stronger than you realize. Dear Avary, you are 8. You are baptized! You are such a sweet girl. Your baptism went so well and I felt the spirit so strongly. I know you are such a special girl with an important mission here on this earth. Dear Dentist, we gave Avary some meds, let us snuggle in a chair until we both fell asleep. It wasn't nearly long enough to count as a nap I'm sure. You finished her work and waited for her to come around. Well it Knocked her OUT! She finally opened her eyes after she had been tucked in bed awhile at Grandmas and had no idea how she got there. I think we may have a "lightweight" on our hands. Medicine does not affect me that way, I guess that makes me a heavyweight? Dear Hailey, your orchestra concert was great, you are doing so well. Dear Kade, your tummy was hurting. You told me "I think I'm going to varmint". You are so funny. Dear D +L, I enjoyed spending the evening with you getting to know you better. We will have to do it again. Jammies on Thanksgiving I think. Ha! Dear Family, it was so great to get to be with you. The only problem is that the time went by way too fast. I love and miss you. Dear E, I really loved watching you play in your game. You are amazingly talented! Seeing you get hurt made my Auntie heart hurt. I can't imagine how your Mom must have felt. You are in my prayers. Dear Awkward, or funny. We passed a skunk in the car and there where some "ewws" Kade says "I smell something good..is that thritos (fritos)" We laugh. "What?" the girls say it was a skunk. Kade "oh now I smell it...wait was Will the skunk...did he...?" Laughing, Will gets blamed for the skunk smell. Kade "wait..I'm sure I smell thritos". Hahaha there was an open bag of Fritos, but how do you smell that over skunk? Dear Halloween, we survived. I even got Will to dress up. It was really cold and my head hurt, but it was still fun. Now to deal with candy crazed children. Dear Big Brother, Happy Birthday tomorrow. Are you really turning 45?! OOOLLLDDD Man. Dear Will, you know, it seems like every day there is at least one moment when I am overcome with such gratitude that the Lord sent you to me. When we were reading "Watch and Learn" and knowing that we have the same goals, the same desires, the same amount of love and respect for each other, and the same willingness to put in the effort required to have a happy successful family I felt like the luckiest person in the world. You serve and sacrifice in our home, you held my babies while they cried themselves to sleep and then reassured me that it would all be ok. You make me happy when life sucks and I am sad, how does that work? I love you so much more than you could ever know. Dear Self, I'm grateful. Even though I have wanted to cry almost every day this week I have also been so grateful. I will remember that moment in the temple this week when I felt so deeply what a privilege it is to have a body and our responsibility to use it for good. Even when it doesn't work the best or causes so much physical pain. I can do things in this life that so many have been waiting, it seems like forever, to receive on the other side. How unbelievably blessed we are.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, another road trip to Mesa. But this time you get to see your Dad. I'm so happy for you, but I will miss you so. I will only tell you that here because I know you will worry. I hope you have so much fun and have sweet dreams. Dear Road Trip, to the Dentist. I had a headache the whole time. We had to stop 14 times total for someone to pee. Stressed out 7 year old. Broken molar. No Barro's. Dear Kaden, you have been fighting an infection in your knee. It's been awful. You were THIS close to being admitted to the hospital. Double antibiotics x 2. Preisthood blessing. We are finally starting to see progress. My poor little man. Dear Avary, you are turning 8 tomorrow And being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are so excited, I'm so excited. I love you more than words can say! Dear Life, there is just too much to do. Never ending too much to do. Dear Will, I am looking forward to your weekend off. We might even get to spend some time alone. I'm glad you will be with me. I don't know how to be without my kids. Dear Self, I don't think my brain has a short term memory stick. It's a problem.

BabyCakes

Oh my goodness!

Look at her sweet little face!

I LOVE HER

Crowned

Drove down to Gilbert for a dentist appointment.

They moved Barro's without asking.

The one in Gilbert that is.

We had to eat at Burger King.

The kids complained to the Dentist about it and apparently they moved one mile down the road. 

But we are blind.

This poor girl grinds her teeth so much she cracked a molar straight through.

I think she should relax.

We know how to rock a crown.

Fair Day

They cancel school in these parts when the fair comes to town.
They also cancel school on the day of the homecoming games. Apparently that is normal.
We started Fair Weekend at the parade.
Hailey in Cheer, Kade on the fire truck rooting for Thatcher Eagle PeeWee Football, Avary and Hazel on the Gymnastics float.

The kids and I met up with Will's kids and their mom Tanya. That way the kids got to enjoy the fair together. I enjoyed it this way also. Will met us later when all the fun was over. Ha. It all worked out for me because I didn't have to ride anything. Although I did want to go on the faris wheel, waited in line forever and then our wrist band expired and he wouldn't let us on. Insert very sad Hazel here. Hazel did the grocery run and received detailed instruction on how to get all the cans of pringles. She made out like a bandit. Free Food!
Warm kettle corn and funnel cake. Oh and cotton candy. Mmmm. I'm sure Will loved me so much when I asked him to bring 18 burritos and water to feed us all. Your crazy if you think I'm paying to feed a million kids at the fair. It's kind of nice having two 12yr olds who can go buy treats for you.
It was a fun day. The little girls were asleep before we even got to the car.
I put them in bed without a bath. Gasp!

Friday Letters

                        

  Looks pretty good for being in the car for ever, pulling up in the driveway and running down the street to make it in time.

Dear Children, this week was insane. Too busy. We did get to spend some quality time together in the car forever. Dear Parade, It was fun to see all of my kids in the parade. Hailey in Cheer, Kade on the fire truck for football, Avary and Hazel with Gymnastics. Luckily I got Brittany to sit with me so I wasn't all alone. Dear Fair, you were fun. I didn't have to ride any rides, well, I count the planetarium show as a ride because it made me dizzy. Once a year is good enough for me. The kids? They ride those sick rides. I don't know how they do it. Dear T, I get so many comments and surprise from people who can't believe that we were at the fair together with all of the kids. I really appreciate your willingness to get along and be normal. The kids are so happy this way. And so am I. Thanks! I'm unsure if I should be worried about Hazel's obsession with you. Ha. Dear Headache, you made me miss church! Will was so lucky. He got to take four kids to church by himself. Dear Avary, riding fair rides with a concussion is BAD. Trying to act fine to get away with it is BAD. You are paying for it now. My poor Babycakes. Dear Kade, my mystery boy. You are fighting an infection in your knee. Missing football, missing school. And we are trying to keep you OUT of the hospital. I'm praying you get better little man. And fast. Dear Hailey, your orchestra concert sounded great. I enjoyed it. I love watching/listening to you learn and progress from your lessons. Dear Hazel, you are so moody this week. Super happy or super grumpy. I am so glad that you love Will and want him to take care of you. It's nice to share the burden of your grumpy pants days. You are cute enough to get away with it. Even though you are in speech and I work with you on it, I never correct you when you say "berry" It's just to stinkin cute. "I love you berry berry much". Dear Allergies, Waaaaaa! That is all. Dear Dentist, you are so great to get us in quick when we are coming from out of town. 7 hours in the car takes a toll. Especially this time, it doesn't help to start the day with a ginormous headache. One kid with a headache also, one with a toothache, headache and tummy ache, one with knee and back pain and one that was loud. I swear my kids have broken more teeth than anyone else from grinding. It gets expensive. Drive there. Drive back. We don't get to do anything fun. Dear Will, THANK YOU! You help all of us so much. You are so supportive when things get tough. You don't shrink away, you step in and take care of someone. And are so patient with me. It always seems to land on the weeks that you work such long hours. I. Love. You. Dear Self, don't try and walk faster than you can run? Is that it? I feel like I'm not moving at all. I'm doing what I can and just like last week I am trying to be content with that being enough. Hmm I wonder what I should be learning from this? Just kidding. I get it! I really do! I think. Lets move on to something new.

Cotton Picking

Well, it's that time of year again.

That time when the fields are white with Arizona snowballs.

It's beautiful, especially when the sun is setting with golden rays on the fields of cotton.

Yet it comes with a price for me.

Moving here added me to the allergy club.

I don't think I'm allergic to the cotton, but some part of the process that goes into growing it and especially the picking, packing and transporting part.

It makes me so miserable.

Really miserable. I feel like I can't get a deep breath, coughing, sneezing, running watering everything, burning itching eyes, puffiness, fatigue, exhaustion...any word that describes miserable.

I've never really suffered from allergies, so last year I didn't recognize it as that. I just thought I was forever sick. Then I met Will. We would spend hours talking, but I couldn't say one sentence without coughing through half of it. Causing me to drink a lot, but that's another story. I wonder what he was thinking? Haha Maybe it was good because it forced him to do a lot of talking allowing me to really get to know him. I'm sure after awhile he figured out that I wasn't "sick". I thought I had developed asthma. Him being a Pharmacist, gave me some allergy pills to try...Well what do you know! It helped! This year he brought home some allergy eye drops too. He probably was worried that everyone would think I was crying all the time. So thoughtful. Smile.

So I seem to suffer from year round allergies, but extra extra suffer from cotton picken months. Oh well, I still enjoy the beauty of it.

It is Pretty.

Friday Letters

                                                           Hazel's cake is.......pretty

Dear Children, Sometimes you make me crazy. And then you do something cute and redeem yourselves. Dear Fire Station, it was nice of you to host a party and let the kids climb all over in the trucks, give them balloons and fire hats, and make them hot dogs. Free dinner is always a win. Dear Hazel, you turned 6...you are growing up too fast. I will savor every last moment that you will be my little baby girl, even if it is only at home. You are such a strong and amazing spirit. Lucky girl had a great day and lots of gifts that were just what you wanted. You got the biggest slice of cake and never took a bite. Silly Hazelnut.  Dear Kade, your team WON! This is the part that is kind of enjoyable, watching the games. Dear General Conference, amazing. Some of the topics brought me to tears and touched my heart so deeply. We are so lucky to have a living prophet. Dear Crazy, insane moment. Accepting a caged pet at the last minute while the neighbors were moving. Temporary is what I call it. Dear Halloween Bin, you made it out of the shed and onto the front porch. We will see if you ever make it into the house. What has happened to my holiday spirit? Dear Fair Day, there is no school because of the county fair. Perks of living in a small town. Having to get up early so the kids can be in the parade=stinks. Dear Awkward, I just remembered I forgot to tell Will! Being in Walmart, turn around to look at something, and when I turn back around my cart is gone. Uummm...What? I walk around following the sound of my phone that just received a text, I won't say for how long...find my cart abandoned. Luckily my wallet and my phone were still in it. I wasn't panicking or anything. Cause that would be awkward. Dear Caramel, Wes's caramel to be exact. With detailed instructions after an epic fail I succeeded..kind of. It could have been a little thicker, but it was so so yummy. So I say it is a Win. Well, maybe not for my thighs. Dear Weather, I feel a slight shift in temperature. The mornings and evenings felt nice and cool. And then it just up and got cold and windy! I like nice and cool better than really cold. Dear Will, it's your turn to work long hours. I appreciate all that you do to help after a long day. Dear Self, slow down, rest up and take care of yourself. Sounds good to me. Sound easy? No. It's like a hurricane hit.

Never Boring

This is normal, right?

Cause I wasn't really that surprised to walk into the kitchen and find Will wearing a helmet when he was never riding a bike. I'm pretty sure he wore this most of the day, I know it at least made it to Hazel's birthday party.

He either felt he needed added protection in our home(which is a very valid point) or he is trying to make a point because I kind of demanded that he own and wear a helmet when riding a bike.

NO ONE is going to die from a head injury while riding a bike on my watch in this family!

I win all around. He's wearing his helmet and making me laugh at the same time.

This guy seems to have the same idea.

"You said I have to wear a helmet" he says as he rides circles around me.

Maybe I should make them all wear football helmets with mouth guards.

Hazel said her bike is just like a horse.

She was pretending to have a lasso, swinging it around in the air.

So funny.