Jeff is home, hooray!

Monday was a holiday so we took Asia from Young Women's to donuts and hot chocolate. We had a nice talk and the kids did great. Ja had left me a message for my birthday about things they remembered about me from this past year. And the thing that stuck out to him was how grateful he and Laura were that I acted on the inspiration I felt to order everyone in the family the book, "The Child Whisperer." He said it changed their lives and how they look at all people. I thought that was pretty neat and happened to see the child whisperer podcast was being broadcast so I called in to the show. I told her my story of giving the book to people and she loved it. Then she said she'd send me a copy and she was excited to think of the person who would receive it next from me. I thought that was all pretty cool.

Then Jeff came home! We were so excited to see him and the first thing the kids wanted was music in the house. They wanted him to play the guitar and piano while they sang and danced. Having Jeff home really makes our house so much more joyful and full of life.

We have been reading a book called Good Pictures, Bad Pictures and 30 Days of Sex Talks for 3-7 year olds. Today Taryn came over to play and asked me to talk to Ryan about keeping his pants on. When he goes to the bathroom he takes everything off so she was worried about seeing him. After we assured her he could keep the bathroom door closed, Lily said, "Taryn, you did the right thing by telling us. Good job." We had learned in our books about people having boundaries and sharing what makes you uncomfortable and not how we shouldn't show our private parts in public. So Lily was very supportive of Taryn sharing her feelings and for Ryan to keep his private parts private.

Tuesday we had a busy with a 3-hour playdate with Taryn and then after naps we went to a swim meet for Megan and Sierra, left to eat some food and run an errand, then went back to the high school to watch Sam's basketball game and Katie's cheering. Katie is a flyer so it was fun to watch her be daring and have no fear.

Katie is the flyer on the right.

The next day we went to Asia's basketball game at Severance Middle School. I will say that all these events I'm going to are really allowing me to get to the know the schools.

 I went to a kindergarten information meeting at the Charter School for Lily. I was happy to see that she is accomplished in all the things she needs to be in order to be ready for kindergarten. And I think she will be reading before she even starts school. We do her reading lessons every day and she is really catching on and doing great. Interestingly enough though, she has been complaining about not liking school. It's too much work and not enough play. She loves learning, but it made me realize she would probably be a good candidate for part-time kindergarten and not full time.

Jeff came home Wednesday night and gave the kids gifts (his luggage was still in Miami when he arrived on Monday so he didn't have the gifts then). We were all excited to see what he got us and he was so thoughtful. Jeff got an out of the blue referral for a job that would be a perfect fit for him, so he had been spending his nights preparing his resume and prepping for interviews. Even though this is what he of course would desire from doing this MBA program, it is pretty tricky trying to fit job hunting and then preparing for interviews on top of school work and everything else he has going on. But we just keep praying and having faith that the Lord will help him accomplish all he needs and wants to.

Sunday was just a hard day at church. I don't know if it's the time or what, but Ryan was pretty wild and Max started wandering in the aisles, going on other benches, and going up to the stand. Luckily Ryan and Lily sat with the Cormack's in the middle of the meeting, which made it much more relaxing for me, but Jeff had Max duty so he was busy. Jeff was so nice to play games, read, and spend time with Lily and Ryan during nap time, rather than take a nap himself. He also gave us each blessings, which was really neat. He dressed in his church clothes so Lily wanted to change into her dress. Ryan was having a hard time settling down, so Jeff gave Lily the blessing alone in our room. At the end she said, "that was a really long prayer."  When he gave Ryan's his he had a hard time not gigging, but he did eventually sit for the blessing. We had just read about priesthood blessings in the Friend so they were excited to have one of their own.

Max loves walking around like this. He loves his church shirt and sweater vest so much. 

A favorite pasttime, playing with water at the sink. 

Playing the egg slicer like a guitar is a new favorite instrument. 

Jeff and I have both been struggling with having energy and motivation to get going each day. I had a birthday lunch for a friend on Monday and wanted to just be home with Max so I could nap, but not many people could come so I stayed while Max napped at my friend's house. It ended up being a very nice outing, with nice conversation of women who have husbands that are often away as well, and I felt energized after. The evening was very hard for me and I didn't think I could make it through to bedtime. At one point I just locked my bedroom door to have a break and Lily knocked on the door, "mommy, it's me, Lily. Can you hear me? I'm talking through the door." I eventually came out and made it through, which was a miracle. I did let them watch an episode of "Agent Oso." At the end Lily told me that they really learned a lot from it and it's a good thing they watched it. They learned that it's nice getting gifts, but the most important thing is being with family and friends. Another time they watched that show and she again said how good it was to watch so they could learn that they need to believe in themselves. She said this and "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" teach them good lessons.

Tuesday I was hosting book group for "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story." We were going to have it at Kelly Huff's house, but since I would have had to get a sitter, she offered to switch it to my house. It was nice not getting a sitter, but it meant I had to clean up. I'm actually glad for the excuse to go through piles, vacuum, clean the kitchen and bathrooms.

Ryan learning how to clean mirrors with norwex cloths...it's pretty amazing there are no streaks.

And while Max napped and I vacuumed, Lily and Ryan did a wonderful job cleaning up the downstairs. We were having Emily Thomas and her girls over for a playdate so we needed the whole house clean. They really surprised me by working so hard and doing such a thorough job, I was very proud of them. The play date was fine at first, but then Ryan tried to push Max down the stairs (well he did push him, but I was standing right there) among other things. When I talked to Jeff about the Ben Carson book and how a woman in the book had to finally agree to give her husband over to God when she believed he was dying. When she did this, after realizing that he wasn't hers anyways, he was God's, then she felt peace. He ended up living, but the lesson I learned is that all things are God's and we need to be willing to give them back to him when we don't know what to do. I said to Jeff that with this job he wants, he is feeling so anxious about not getting it. But when we pray and tell Heavenly Father our desires and what we want and what seems like a great option for us now, we have to then give it back to Him to do what He knows is best for us, trusting in good things to come. And Jeff suggested that with Ryan, he is really God's son. He loves him and knows all about him. So trust that He will inspire me to be the best parent for him. But I also need to ask for help. Often I just get discouraged or angry, or frustrated and sit in that. I don't always reach out to Heavenly Father for help. But that should be my very first action when I notice myself feeling any of those negative things.

Book group was very nice and the women stayed late talking. I prayed the kids would fall asleep ( I had taken them to Costco after the play date and they ran around a lot, so I was hoping they'd be tired) and they fell asleep 10 minutes before people came...and they never woke up! It was nice to visit and renew friendships.

Enjoying the reclining chairs at Costco. 

Max was pretty thrilled he got to take his ball in the store and that I let him walk around the whole place without putting him in the shopping cart. 

Hanging out on this one so he can be "the tallest."

Making laps around the furniture and having a delightful time. 

Wednesday Ryan had his career dress up day. We borrowed a size 8 astronaut costume from a friend, and it actually seemed to fit okay. He looked pretty cute in it, but in the end he didn't want to wear it. He said he didn't think his friend Corbin would like it. No matter what I said he wasn't convinced, so I just drew the patches on the costume and pinned them to an orange sweatshirt. He then said he didn't want the sweatshirt (even though he was excited at first to wear it). I told him I hoped he would wear it, but in the end he got to choose. He said "yeah, I get to choose!" And he chose to wear it. Perhaps he was feeling a little forced and just wanted to know in the end he got to make the call.

He looks so cute!

Max could be here all day if I let him. He in constantly trying to say "sink" and motioning for Jeff or me to bring the chair over. 

Lily helped Ryan decorate this with Star wars stickers. There's a light side and a dark side.  

Ryan really wanted to show Blake this Star Wars book, but he wasn't as interested as Ryan was.

Max will come to the bathroom, play around for a bit, then drop everything in his hands and run out. After a minute or two he comes back with the black stool. It seems to take him a few minutes to remember his favorite activity in the bathroom, and then he has to rush out to get the stool so that he can run water over the toothbrushes and put them in his mouth.