Parade, Football, Ups and Downs

It is so amazing to me that I can have an incredible day and feel so good and I am a great parent, and then the next day can be the complete opposite. While it's hard to feel bad and sad and overwhelmed, it does make me realize that no matter how good my life is, I always need to rely on my Savior and I always need to keep up on my prayers and scripture study. If I ever let those things go, when life is hard, it feels infinitely harder when I know I haven't put my time in to having the Holy Ghost with me. I love this quote by Elder Eyring:

As the challenges around us increase, we must commit to do more to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Casual prayer won’t be enough. Reading a few verses of the scripture won’t be enough. Doing the minimum of what the Lord asks of us won’t be enough. Hoping that we will have the Atonement work in our lives and that we will perhaps sometimes feel the influence of the Holy Ghost won’t be enough. And one great burst of effort won’t be enough.

Only a steady, ever-increasing effort will allow the Lord to take us to higher ground.

To me that is the essence of what I have learned. If I have done amazing one day, life is such that it will not carry me through the rest of the week. A consistent effort is needed each and every day because my spirit is being attacked on so many levels that it can't withstand the assault if I don't arm myself with the Holy Ghost. And to have the Holy Ghost, you have to be living and actively doing certain things to receive it. But I also know that part of this requires knowing yourself, and knowing when you stretch yourself too thin. I don't have to always cater to others needs if I'm feeling overwhelmed. We all need down days and breaks from the bustle of life. 

On Monday I took the kids into Lily's school before school even started because I wanted to finish up some labeling on some filing I had done. I prayed and prepped the boys (I brought lots of books) and they did awesome! I was only there 15 minutes, but they didn't run off or act crazy so I was able to finish very quickly, it gave me hope for the start of the week. After I picked Lily up we went to McDonald's with some church friends. I didn't have much time before Ryan had to be at school, and I realized when I rush too much it's just not worth it. I felt frantic and hated rushing the kids. At school Ryan was sobbing saying his eye hurt, so he didn't stay. I think he was just tired from a busy morning because at home his eye was all better. I try and do too much with them sometimes and I think we'd all benefit from rushing less and having more downtime. 

During Lily's gymnastics I took the boys to a playground. Ryan did the fireman's pole for the first time all by himself and he was thrilled, and Max went up the rock wall all by himself. It is so fun to see how these kids learn and grow and be able to do hard things, and to not give up. We came back to find Lily climbing (and she got pretty far too) the rope. That is hard work and she did it three times. I was so impressed. 

Max has mastered all these hard things!

He has to work hard to pull himself through the opening, but he always gets through. 

Lily kept going and went pretty high up!

We walked/rode the lake a couple times this week and it's always so pleasant to go. I love the early morning sun, the quiet lake, throwing rocks, sitting on the bench. It feels like the perfect morning. 

My babysitter Jenna couldn't come this week during music class, but Pepper Chapman in the ward said her daughter Tristan wanted to do some service. She came both nights and the kids had so much fun with her. The second day we picked her up from school and she showed us her locker, the library, and where she does her crafts. Ryan said he wished she lived with us. We gave her cookies to say thank you and when she left the car with the cookies Max let out a scream. He wanted those cookies so bad so we went home and had to make some. He was also very opinionated about what music we were listening to in the car. Sometimes I think Max runs this house. 

Thursday I just knew I needed a down day at home. We ended up going to the library and store, but I just loved the feeling of not having to be anywhere at a certain time. Friday was the same where I didn't want to go anywhere. We went to the store again (I was making dinner for a girl I visit teach and had to get a couple more things), but the boys did great and we were home before 9 a.m. I love getting hard things done early. I was able to spend a lot of time with the boys, but also get some cooking done so I could take a nap instead of cooking during nap time. I'm always so thrilled when I do that and am all ahead of schedule. Beth is pregnant and has bad morning sickness and fatigue, and I just remember how grateful I was when someone made be dinner when I was so sick. 

On one of our shopping trips to Walgreens. The boys spent quite a while pushing buttons of scary decorations and had a great time  laughing and being scared. 

Ryan has been having a hard time going to preschool and each day has been a struggle. Finally on Friday we talked about how he can respond when it's time for me to leave (with a hug and a kiss, and a "I'll see you in a few hours!" to me and "have a nice nap" to Max. It worked and he didn't cry at all, it was wonderful.

Ryan gave all the answers, but Lily wanted to fill it out for him. I said that Ryan had to at least color it, but Lily was able to convince Ryan to let her do that too. First it was just the girl, then she got to do both. 

I picked Lily up early because there was a neighborhood parade. We went to the Logan's house and waited for the high school to come for the homecoming parade. We were basically the only people on that particular street, so we got lots of candy. The kids were of course in heaven, they love having candy thrown out to them. Then home and off to deliver dinner!

I started doing "mind, body, soul" time again this week and it has been great. Max typically just wants to do puzzles (He LOVES puzzles and is so good at them!), Ryan wants legos, and Lily likes to color side by side. Max begs for it the most right now, so I'm glad we are doing it again. It does make a difference and I definitely feel more connected to the kids when I do it. 

We went to Dallin Logan's football game since he is in my primary class. The kids just ran around with other kids, going on and under the bleachers, finding new friends, and having a great time. Ryan even tried to do burpees when the team did some to warm up after halftime. 

The Thurgoods are moving and we are so sad! Lily just sobbed on her bed when she found out Kalissa was going to Utah. She says she is her best friend. I passed their house on the way home from football and saw the sign on their lawn and had to call right away to confirm. They invited us over for dessert on Sunday, along with the Smiths, and the kids just had so much fun. Tami's boys had set up a train track and Lily and Kalissa were lost in dressing up. It was a very nice evening. 

 

Cara Munson gave us some skates and Lily and Ryan love walking around the house skating on the carpet. 

Sarah sent a package with stickers and the kids were thrilled! Lily had to make her a thank you card right away. They loved showing Sarah what they got on FaceTime, and Sarah got a little emotional. She is a good aunt and always so thoughtful to us. 

This is how Max joined us for prayer one morning. Chewbacca did make a few noises during the prayer. 

Elizabeth Cormack just brought over this crayon engraver one morning. She was shopping and saw it and thought of us. We are so blessed with wonderful people who are so kind to us. 

Ryan looks intense as he sets to work. 

I accidentally left this bag of watermelon on the counter and Max helped himself to a plate of it. I came back from the other room and found this. He was sad when I had to put the majority of it away, since Max and watermelon equals a sore bottom. 

Jeff Thurgood's last day in Primary. Ryan brought starburst home and said that when we eat them we have to think of Brother Jeff. He was a wonderful teacher for Ryan and he will be so missed!

Ryan likes to call himself Cyborg when he wears these.