Vacation Bible School, More Painting, and Lots of Alone Time with Ryan

Today was the first day that I started to feel the effects of my whole 30 eating plan. I had a harder time going to sleep (I was interrupted), but then at 5:20, when Lily came in the room, I was just awake. I couldn't go  back to sleep and realized I didn't even want to, so I just got up and exercised. I really didn't need a nap in the afternoon, though I did try and lay down but was interrupted and didn't get to sleep. But this is a good sign for me as that is one of the things that would benefit me the most, more energy!

Lily was so excited about attending vacation bible school that she chose her clothes the night before and when she came in the room at 5:20 she was all dressed. She wanted to eat breakfast early, brush teeth, read scriptures and put on lip gloss so she could be all ready. On the way there we said a prayer that she would make friends and have fun. Even though she was so excited, she was a little nervous too. But it was a great surprise to go and find her babysitter, and a girl in our ward, Katie Hawkins as her group leader! Lily came home so happy and excited and can't wait to go back tomorrow. She wants to go every day.

Whenever I asked how she was liking vacation bible school she'd tell me it's Nazareth. 

Singing on her last day. 

Our daily routing while Max napped and Lily was at vbs. Go to the pink flowers at the end of the street, turn around, then go to the stop sign. 

While she was at school, Max slept and Ryan and I had alone time together. The kids really like this alone time and it's a big deal to them. We played with the trains, then did some Thomas puzzles and read some books. Then I let him watch some stuff while I read scriptures and prayed. After Max woke up we went to the store and Ryan pushed the cart all around. It was nice not having him and Lily compete for who got to push it.

Ryan loves these 7 Thomas puzzles so much and he can do most of them all by himself!

After naps we went to the park and while I was pushing Max on the swing, Lily yells to me that Ryan is on the rock wall climbing up. I rush over there and he's at the top!

I couldn't believe he had done it all alone! He has tried but often gets stuck, so this was very cool! Max loved crawling around, up the stairs, holding on to bars and shaking himself, trying to climb up the slides, and crawling as fast as he could all around the cement. I think he was just happy to have all that space. He crawled on the basketball court, held on to the basketball pole for awhile and then just followed Lily and Ryan. They were having fun chasing each other.

Max's favorite activity

Three happy swingers

Lily's a great helper!

Ryan likes helping too.

We then went to Barnes and Noble so I could get the book, "the life-changing magic of tidying up," which I'm confident really will be life changing to me. I'm ready to simplify and de-clutter as it's causing me anxiety and stress living with so many things. I always thing it's funny that they love playing with the trains so much at Barnes and Noble because we have trains at our house.

We would have loved to stay longer, but after awhile it's hard to keep following Max around picking up the books that he takes out. When I finally put him in the ergo he struggled and resisted more than I have ever seen.

On Wednesday I took the kids to a new park and they had a great time climbing and going on a spinning thing that made me sick to watch, but they had fun. Ryan shocked me by climbing up this big rock all by himself! No fear! Lily was impressed too and asked how Ryan had done it. Max just crawled all around and had fun with all that space.

Ryan climbed this all by himself too before I could get there to help him.

Ryan had fun rolling things down the hill.

Max was occupied here for awhile. 

Ryan loves riding Lily's old Dora the Explorer tricycle. Today when we got home he just took off down the sidewalk without telling me. So I walked with him for a little ride then Lily came out and practiced riding down the driveway without her pedals. Her balance is getting much better and I think she will be ready for pedals soon!

Jeff got into the BYU full time MBA program so he is making a list of pros and cons between BYU and Duke. We went to the temple and prayed and pondered and feel very strongly that Duke is the right program for Jeff and that it will be a game changer for him. We were grateful that everyone in Westminster was able and willing to help out with kids when we decided this last minute effort. It was raining and bad traffic, but the ride to the temple was perfect and then right as it was time to go home it downpoured. Jeff stayed over with the boys and I went home with Lily and the rain stopped! It was a late night, but how wonderful when Lily and I both slept in until 7:30! That was pretty

exciting.

We had a great girls day! I exercised and Lily was fine watching me until she did face time with Jeff and Ryan and heard Ryan was watching Mickey Mouse. Then she was sad that she wasn't doing anything fun. So we attended an oils party then got a donut. We then looked inside the place where we have gone to art class and I bought Lily a little ring which she loves. She requested Macaroni and Cheese for lunch and then we went to a princess party at another ward building. We were invited by her friend from preschool, but it was actually a fundraiser for the Young Women going to girls camp. It was a lot of fun an the girls dressed up as princesses, acted out Anna and Elsa and sang songs, had different stations with craft, face painting, cookie walk, and other things, then dancing with the princesses. They also got autographs of each of the princesses. I was impressed with all the effort they put into it and the girls had a great time.

We rushed home to clean up the house and organize Lily's room a bit more and then when Jeff came home, even though he was exhausted, he did some yard work with the kids. After getting them ready for bed I went out with some sisters from Relief Society where we painted and I had a great time. I was really trying hard not to be so precise and a perfectionist like I was last time, and I was much better. I changed up colors and added some flowers that weren't in the original, so I thought I was much improved. I really enjoy painting and creating and while it sometimes takes me a few days to decide if I love it or not (I have to get over analyzing it), I always end up loving it because it was something I created! Maybe that's how God feels about us. While we're not perfect and have quirks and weaknesses, He loves us because He created us.

Jeff had a great day because Barcelona won the Champion's League and it was the third championship they won this year, which no team has done twice!