A Day of Rest

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. Well, I'm still waiting for the "rest" part because it has certainly been a day! I woke up at 3 am and couldn't sleep - something that seems to happen more than I would like it too, especially lately. By 4 am I had my I-touch out writing a story for Zeke for school and emailing it to myself so I could save it on the computer. The alarm went off at 5:45 am just as I was finishing downloading some new kids games to my I-touch for the kids to play. After Michael left for his meetings, I got ready for church and then began looking for a song to sing in church. Our family has been asked to sing in sacrament in two weeks. The kids voices aren't strong enough to hold the melody while I sing alto so I had to find a song in a low enough note range that I could sing the melody without screeching. Around 7:15 I started getting the kids up and helping them get ready. We were at church by 8:45 where I sat with them by myself while Michael was up on the stand. Some of them were quite active today and one princess in particular thought it necessary to talk almost constantly in a low, but audible voice, stopping only once or twice to wave to her daddy! I also had to find a piano player and sheet music for us - which did happen a lot easier than I thought it would, thank goodness! I also taught Relief Society today. I enjoy that though. It was the least stressful thing today. When we got home there was changing clothes (some several times because they thought it was warm enough for shorts! Afterall it is still above freezing) and then lunch. Michael came home with a headache that turned into a migraine that resulted in him throwing up at least 3 times and spending most of the day shut up in the bedroom with the lights out while I tried to keep the kids quiet so as not to add to his pain. The kids ate from 1 to 4 without stopping I think! In between bites they were bouncing off the walls! It was crazy! I talked to my parents, Michael's mom and his grandma. We practiced our song four times. The nice BBQ pork dinner I put in the crockpot this morning had to be saved for another day because Michael couldn't eat it and the kids wouldn't eat it. By 7:30 things were slightly settled down and then I remembered I had to make Kenna's birthday cake tonight because I wouldn't have time to do it all tomorrow. So, I put it in the oven, tucked Michael back into bed, read scriptures with the kids, had family prayer, tucked the kids into bed, took the cake out of the oven, studied my lesson for next week and now I am enjoying some peace and quiet (except for a few " mom, I need..." episodes) while I blog and the cake cools. Tomorrow won't be much better, but it will be fun because we will be celebrating Makenna. I think I will look to Tuesday for being my make-up day of rest!

Star Student

Zeke is the star student at preschool this week.  On Monday, Olivia and I got to go to school with him and spend the morning in his class.  He gets to be line leader all week and he gets to leads the group activities and circle time routine.  He has his pictures up on the bulletin board and "all about me" facts.  He thinks he's pretty neat stuff.  I think he is too!  Here is a picture of us from Monday morning:

Have I Told You Lately...

This is a song that Zeke and I sing to each other.  I love hearing his little voice sing to me.  It just melts my heart.

Catch Up Pictures

Here are some pictures I finally downloaded of Halloween weekend.

Olivia with her scarey teeth from the Great Pumpkin.

Maddi and Zeke

All the kids dressed up for trunk-or-treat.  Makenna is a ballerina, Olivia is a Vikings cheerleader, Dillon is a Vikings football player, Zane is a Packers football player, and Zeke and Maddi are basketball players.

Zeke and Olivia making treats on Halloween

Makenna measuring chex for chex mix.

Zane being a goof :)

Michael and I dressed up for trunk-or-treat.  I dressed up as a mom and Michael dressed up as a cowboy!

Maddi and Zeke doing crafts at trunk-or-treat.

Dillon getting his face painted at trunk-or-teat

All the kids eating their candy afterwards.

A Hard Decision

Over the weekend, Michael and I finally made a very hard decision. After much prayer, thought and discussion we decided to say no to the railroad. All logic made sense to say yes, but everything else made us feel no. Despite our financial situation and the great need to find something else, we just didn't feel right about it. We did everything we could think of to make it work. I ignored the constant head ache and sick stomach and planned for Nebraska, but in the end, we had to go with our hearts and the promptings we felt. It was a huge relief to make this decision. I feel much better now and so does Michael. Unfortunately, it means we are back to square one - needing to do something but not knowing what that is. We have talked about going back to school or staying here until a job comes up. We're not sure which route to take. Am I nervous for what lies ahead? Kind of. The unknown is hard for me. I am ready for answers to be found and to know what lies ahead for us. I do know, however, that something will come and we will have answers. Heavenly Father will not forsake us. We will be able to provide for our family and find what we need. Our prayers will be answered. In the meantime, we will continue our search and hope that the answers come soon.

As Sung By a 4 Year Old

Zeke has a new favorite song that he learned at church this year.  He sings it every where we go.  It is usually loud and a little off key, but he sings with his heart.  It is "The Iron Rod."

Here is how he sings it:
To Nephi seven golden time, a vithion came fwom God.  Where in da holy worlds of blind, was shown an i on wad.  Hode to da wad, ddee i on wad.  Tis stwong and bwight and twue.  Dee i on wad is da word of God, twill safely guide us fwew.

Here is how it really goes:
To Nephi , seer of olden time, a vision came from God.  Where in the holy word sublime, was shown an iron rod.  Hold to the rod, the iron rod.  Tis strong was bright and true.  The iron rod is the word of God, twill safely guide us through.

I love it when he sings it.  He really gets into it and sings with all he's worth.  We sung it in church a few weeks ago and he had all sorts of people grinning as he belted it out!  They will have their program in sacrament in a few weeks and the primary kids will sing it again.  I can't wait!

I Know Why

Mommy, I know why there is a girl on the raisin box. It's because she's the one that plants the raisins!

Cross That Off

Well, Michael had his talk with the boss. I didn't have to go because I was babysitting. We can officially cross the ranch off. Their offer to us to stay was not enough to make any difference. So we know not to include it in our plans for the future. We both figured that would happen so we weren't holding our breath for it anyways.

Pants on the Ground

Remember that song from American Idol?  Well, my kids think it is the funniest song.  Just a little bit ago I heard Zeke and Olivia downstairs singing it.  It went something like this (try to imagine them trying to talk really cool while saying it too):  "Pants on da gwound, pants on da gwound.  Lookin' like a flew wiff your pants on da gwound."  Then they would repeat it in a little higher pitch and a little louder voice several more times.  

Everyday I Think of Different Cool Stuff

Like right now I am thinking about kicking a football all the way to the clouds.  That would be really cool.  Yesterday I thought about me and you flying.  That would be cool too.  The day before that I thought about bringing my folder home everyday (right now it only comes home on Thursdays).  Wouldn't that be cool?  I'll have to wait and see what is cool that I think about tomorrow.

By Zeke