I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home...

...Glad as I can be!

Our daddy has returned home at last!  Hooray.  He has been in Utah training for his new business for the past month and got home this past Saturday night.  Which means I have been a "single" parent.  Wow! It was harder than I thought. I sure salute all those single parents out there.  And I don't even have a job.

One of the hardest things about him being gone was timing--
A:  Dustin left for his mission during the month Scott was gone.  I was on an emotional roller coaster for the few days before and after D left, and had to remember I still had other kids to take care of.
    and
B:   it was soccer season.  Brennen started a job at Costa Vida, and also was busy with music practice (choir & orchestra) & concerts, and Dustin left on his mission, so all of the sudden I AM THE ONLY DRIVER around.  Soccer, piano lessons, soccer, scouts, soccer, achievement days, soccer, after school choir, soccer...  Three kids playing soccer = 6 practices per week and 3 games per week.  I have to admit we didn't make it to all the soccer practices. The last few years I have taken advantage of my teenage drivers and realized how much I appreciate them.

And of course there are the things that I never really do because my hubby takes care of them so I don't even think about them much til he is gone--like putting the garbage can to the curb on Wednesday mornings.  I only forgot once.  And I didn't forget it was garbage day, I was just going to do it later.  oops.  And taking care of the cars and making sure the gas tanks are full; and always locking up at night.  I even mowed the lawn once.  But the mower ran out of gas so I had to go fill up the little red gas tank.  I don't know if I have ever done that since I have been married.

Harder than the day to day tangible "stuff" to take care of is everything else--giving everyone enough attention, refereeing the arguments and bickering, the discipline, the homework, the emotions, getting everyone where they need to go (church is the hardest and I don't even have preschoolers anymore) and, well, just everything that goes with families.  It wore me out!  I am tired--more than usual.  (I think I need a 2 week nap).  There were some tears and calls to my sister and friends asking for help.  But I got through it.  We all got through it.

The mood in our house is happier now that Dad is home.  But I think it was a little rough on him coming home from work today to a houseful of happy noise instead the quiet of his parents' house.  We all might need a few days of adjustment, but it's good to be back together again.

A New and Improved Month

Today is the second day of May and ALL my kids are in school for two days in a row.  Which is almost a record as of late.

April was sick month at my house.  It actually started the last of March.  Everyone in the house got sick at one time or another except Dustin.  He says its cuz he stays in the basement and the rest of us have bedrooms upstairs.  But only 2 people ended up seeing the doctor and got antibiotics for bronchitis.  However, after we got through the coughs and fevers, and everyone was at school for almost 2 full weeks, the stomach bug caught us.

Scott missed 3 days of work.  And collectively my children missed 15 1/2 days of school in April. And I got sick two separate times but I can't count time off of work because I am a mom and do mom's ever really get sick days?  Anyway, seeing that there are only 22 days of school in April, that means that I had at least one kid home with me most of the month.  Of course I love my kids and its good to spend some one on one time with them when they are home, but I do get used to having the house to myself and coming and going as I please so it just upsets the apple-cart so to say.  (Dustin does not work everyday but when he is home he sort of hibernates in the basement.)

Sheesh, complain complain.  Not really meaning to complain but it is pretty amazing how much down time we have had around here.  We got through winter without many hiccups so that is good.  Spring has just been a little rough.

But it is SPRING!  and the trees have leaves and flowers are showing their heads and the grass is greening up!  and my lettuce and spinach are sprouting.  When the wind goes away it will be perfect!

I am gearing up for a house full of kids and noise and energy and happiness (and a bit of bickering) cuz in less than FOUR weeks it will be summer vacation.  wow.  another school year come and gone...

Too Much Red Stuff

This week was pretty uneventful I suppose.  Not too many kids running in and out of my house.  This is not always the case however.

We live across the street from a nice large park.  And this spring, summer and fall there have been a lot of kids at the park between the ages of 6 and 12.  My kids' age range.  And so there is not a lack of playmates for my children.  That is good.  I know I complained about lack of friends and play-dates before, but we certainly don't have that problem anymore.

Those kids who play at the park, well their houses are not across the street from the park.  And the kids seem to gravitate to my house a lot.  There are mainly 4 families including mine that make up this gang of kids, with some other kids thrown in here and there.  I am happy that my children are entertained and not sitting in front of the TV but there are times that it gets to be too much. There are times when I want to hang a sign on the door:
       
        DO NOT KNOCK ON MY DOOR! 
        MY KIDS CANNOT PLAY RIGHT NOW
        YOU CANNOT USE MY BATHROOM
        YOU CANNOT HAVE A DRINK OF WATER
        I HAVE BAND-AIDS BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW
        WE OUR OUT OF OTTER-POPS DESPITE WHAT ANDY SAYS
        WE MOVED

I am happy that the kids like our house.  And our trampoline (we bought a new one--I just can't be a mom without a trampoline).  and our backyard and climbing the tree in our front yard.  Yes, I am too nice but I do send them back to the park whenever I want.  And I don't give them otter-pops, Andy does.  And I started making them get a drink out of the hose. (I drank out of the hose when I was a kid and I am fine, I think).

A few weeks ago though there was blood. Twice!

First of all, I come home from somewhere and there are boys running through the house being chased by my son with a cordless drill.  Which he is turning on as he chases.  And Janessa is in the mix too.  I get upset, send Andy to time-out and send everyone else back to the park, but not before I lecture them that "TOOLS ARE NOT TOYS" and did nobody think that was a little dangerous?!?  I make sure Andy says that "tools are not toys" like 20 times and tell him that him and his friends need to stay out of the garage. (by the way, my hubby was home but downstairs I think).

Not 10 minutes after I send them all out of my house they come back.  One kid's head is bleeding and he is screaming out of control because his hand is covered with the blood so he is freaked out.  His brother is crying because he was the one that threw the item that hit the bleeding kid so he is feeling bad.  However, the bleeding stops, both boys are consoled by my husband and after washing him up I drive the hurt one home.  The sad thing about this story is the parents weren't home and neither boy knew their parents' phone number.  What if it had been a bad injury?  moral of the story--I made sure all my kids know our phone numbers.

The next incident was on a Saturday not even two weeks past the first one.  Boys again.  a different group this time.  Hubby is gone and I am parked on the couch because I had just had surgery 3 days before (another story for another day).  I think Andy is at the park but a kid comes in "Can you help my brother."  I am thinking no, I don't want to get off the couch and go outside. "He is bleeding." great. more blood.  Where?  "In the backyard.  He stepped on something".  My older son goes out to help and I manage to finally make it out there.  Apparently he stepped on something in our grass and cut his foot.

I go outside.  The sun is very bright.  There is blood everywhere on the cement and his foot.   The kids are chattering away. One has the hose on wondering if he should wash the blood up or wash the foot.  I am overwhelmed.  I feel like I am going to pass out. Luckily I had my cell phone in my hand so I quickly texted my neighbor who came right over.  She took care of everything ordering kids to get paper towels and whatever.  I did bring gauze and tape out but didn't have the presence of mind to do anything with it.  and Andy had bandaids.  The cut again wasn't bad but deep.  He didn't need stitches.  He did know his phone number and his big sister came and helped him home.

Yes I love living by the park.  I love the view from my window.  I love how nice the city keeps it.  I love watching people.  I love having close access.   Yet, every once in a while I think maybe we should move.





     

First Field Trip and Halloween Photos

After Cameron started kindergarten he began asking quite often "Do I have a field trip today?"  I am not sure what put the idea of field trips in his head but he was pretty persistant.  Finally, the week before Halloween he got to go on a field trip to the Pumpin Patch at Sutherland Farms.

The kids got to go on a hay ride, a train ride, play in the corn pit, go through the corn maze, milk a pretend wooden cow with rubber udders, look at some animals, and pick out their very own pumpkin to take home.  I got to go to!  As he was waiting in line to get back on the bus Cameron told me "This was so fun!  My field trip was funner than Lego Star Wars!"

So there you have it--life on the farm is funner than a video game.

making a 'corn angel'.  I have never seen anything like this--very fun to play in.

burying a classmate

the corn maze

the train ride

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

  I wore this costume (the dress) when I played one of Tiger Lily's Indians in the musical Peter Pan in high school.  good memories!  (the dress was a lot shorter on me and it is pinned in the back to fit her) My mom worked hard on that for me! there are beads on all those fringes...

A Rough Start for 8th Grade

I could tell it was time for school to start because my supply of Ramen noodles, Mac & Cheese, and peanut butter dwindled considerably.  I actually ran out of creamy peanut butter this week--something I am usually abundantly stocked up on (though there are still 3 or 4 jars of crunchy on the shelf...).

Things were off to a good start last Monday.  Lots of papers to read and sign and the like.  Figuring out teacher's homework systems and such.  Dustin is playing on the high school soccer team so had to change his schedule to add soccer for the last class of the day, which meant dropping another class.  His coach voted for seminary (religion class), but we said no to that and instead he dropped pre-calculus (it's okay--he isn't going into engineering).  Brennen changed from percussion to saxophone in the band so we 'enjoyed' hearing the sounds of his first practice sessions.  ("What is that sound Mom?") 

But then Brennen was home sick on Wednesday.  Had a fever.  Tried to go back to school on Thursday but the nurse called me at 11:00 to come and get him.  Fever was back.  A visit to the doctor revealed pneumonia.  Took me by surprise, but okay, we can deal with that.  Got him on antibiotics and scheduled another appointment for Monday. 

However, I didn't know that pneumonia is so hard to fight off.  I assumed he would take antibiotics and be back to school by the begining of the week.  Wrong.  Had a fever Monday (though it was gone most of Saturday and Sunday).  He had developed a pretty bad cough over the weekend.  X-ray showed no improvement.  Oxygen level was down from Friday.  Doctor said he won't be going to school this week.  Drink lots of fluids, if he has trouble breathing, go to the ER.  We have to keep an eye on this.  Come back in two days.  Little more serious this time.

So today I am a little unfocused.  Brennen doesn't seem too sick.  I mean he is tired and laying around but still up and doing stuff too.  And coughing A LOT.  But I am anxious all day.  Not just about his illness but about all the school he is missing--the first two weeks of 8th grade.  And how do you 'take care' of a sick 13 year old? I mean what does he need from me?  (Its not like a little kid who you rock and hold all day).  A lot on my mind.  Just stuff.

And

Andy's progress report for the first week comes home yesterday.  Needs improvement on:  listening to the teacher, focusing, and a bunch of other stuff.  We already know that!  And that he needs to practice his handwriting every night at home.  Yes.  We know he can barely write.  But you see, the teachers love Andy and it will be alright.  It is only the first week.  Yet they say third grade is a hard transition.  Hmmm.  And the homework required is 40 minutes:  10 min math facts, 10 minutes spelling, 20 reading.  And she wants us to do handwriting too?  I realize that doesn't sound like too much for 3rd grade but for Andy and me, it is.
I am anxious about all that too.  (I meant to work on handwriting this summer and I did to some extent.  We did a lot of coloring and story writing at the beginning of the summer, and all through the summer we did crafts that focused on his fine motor skills like making bead animals, and cutting and tearing paper, painting).

I couldn't focus on anything today.  Sort of wondering aimlessly.  I did wash and fold two loads of laundry and I could have folded the third in the dryer, but...
I could have cleaned up the lunch dishes but the dishwasher wasn't unloaded.  I could do a lot of things but I don't really know what those things are...because I couldn't focus.  I was just like in a daze all day.
I played with Cameron.  We built a marble run and did some puzzles.  We read.  Finally I gave in and layed on my bed and fell asleep for about an hour.  Until Cam came in because he was hungry.  And then it was about time for the kids to come home.

But--Hooray Hooray--it is date night!  We are going for an early dinner because there is a band meeting at 6:00 at the high school.  My wonderful hubby and I leave at 4:30 with Brennen in charge (who has a fever of about 100) of the three younger ones knowing Dustin will be home soon from soccer practice.  We enjoy a great dinner at Olive Garden and true to their commercials witness lots of "we are family" in the form of other diners coming in and hugging each other--seriously.  (whatever their slogan is--I don't watch a lot of TV but I know it's something like that)

After dinner, Scott stays home to feed the kids and get them ready for bed and I take Dustin to the band meeting which we find out was rescheduled for next week.  We didn't get that email.  I drop Dustin off at home and head to the preschool open house for Cameron (which I wasn't planning on going to because of the band meeting).  It was nice to get out and meet his teacher who said she loves having him and she actually picked him for her class (ooh, how sweet).  And I talk to the speech pathologist who says he is wonderful and that he is gifted. (ahh).  One day we will be able to understand all his 'gifted' talk. I know I shouldn't look to the future and need to focus on the present, but I just can't believe he is going to leave me next year and go to kindergarten all day! (sniff sniff)

On my way home I stop at the grocery store for a few things, like peanut butter.  Skippy is on sale for $1 if you buy 4.  I was planning on buying 8.  They were all out.  I got a great deal on Kraft ranch dressing though.

After being unfocused all day, it was nice to finally get my head back and enjoy the evening.  And when I got home the little kids were in bed!  Thank you sweet hubby. 

I don't know the moral of this post.  I just keep typing.  But I couldn't sleep so you all get to read this very long post. 

I am most interested and anxious to see what the doctor says tomorrow.

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?

My kids have already had some sumer adventures, and school has not even been out for three weeks.  In fact, these adventures happened last week all in a two or three day period.

1) Scott was trimming our tree and Andy got the idea to make a jungle.  We have a cement pad (we have lots of cement in our yard...) at the side of our house with a clothes line.  Put the branches atop the clothes line and viola:  

Not a bad little jungle . . .

2) Andy was found in the garage spray painting his bike with his brother's spray paint.  Purple and green if you are wondering. 

3)Research.  Cups of water and dirt and rocks and grass and bits of cheese and some crackers . . . and who knows what else. . . Research. 
(I did say no to the food coloring and they don't know where it is...ha ha ha). (we have had food coloring adventures before.  In fact there is still green food coloring in my deep freezer and garage floor.  Hey, I just realized it matches the spray paint!)

4) What do you have when you get a big bowl, a hose with water, and a big bottle (all of it) of Dawn dishwasher soap?  Lots of bubble fun in the front yard. 

No, I wasn't supervising my children.  I was watching TV, which I rarely do, and hubby wasn't home.  Who knows where the big brothers were.  I should have had a hint about something when Janessa did tell me at one point to come and see their bubble cakes, but I sort of ignored her with something like "okay, in a minute." 

4) I got out some chalk for them to use on the sidewalk.  But it was hot outside.  So naturally they decided to get wet probably by the sprinkler or the little pool.  And the chalk got wet.  And one thing led to another and they decided to have a chalk 'fight' and smear wet chalk all over each other.  Only it wasn't sidewalk chalk, it was regular colored chalkboard chalk from probably the 1970's or something before things were washable that I picked up at an estate sale.  A big box of it.  I didn't know that it wouldn't wash off of them!  I didn't know that they would go to church with their arms and necks and legs looking bruised like they had gotten a good beating!  (Good thing the boys wear long pants). Janessa was the worst because she had been wearing her swimming suit.  They had a shower on Saturday and another good scrubbing on Sunday morning but were still stained).  Unfortunately, I did not get pictures. And for the record--Dustin was babysitting.

Good thing Andy had cub scout day camp most of this week.

A Little Whining . . .

I love my children.  I do, but it is wintertime (yes, it is cold in Northern New Mexico) and they are out of school today (Human Rights Day).  And they had a 17 day holiday break.  And sometimes I just need a time-out from them.  Since moving here, I haven't found friends yet for the little ones to go play with.  I have had more success with my 3 year-old and a few play dates, but not my kindergartener or 2nd grader.  There are two boys in the neighborhood who are here a lot.  That is great for Andy, but not always for me.  They never play at their houses, just here.  I am not opposed to sending them home when I am tired of them, but Andy doesn't play at their houses.  He could I suppose, but he doesn't.  Kids like our house.  Which is a good thing.  We even have the neighborhood teenage boys here a lot.

I have invited a few kids over from the ward for playdates for Andy and Janessa, but we haven't been called back.  Not because of my kids or anything, just because we are still new and people don't think about it.  And the kids in the ward aren't in their school classes or even necessarily in their school.  (There are five classes of each grade in our school--next school year I will try to coordinate with other parents in the ward and try to get our kids in the same class). And of course if I call, I am not about to say "Can my kids come to your house and play?"  So when we do have playdates, they are always over here.  Janessa had a birthday party and I hoped to get things started there, but it didn't really happen.  I have to tell you though, that Andy did get invited over for a playdate a few days before Christmas.  I was very excited.  It was planned a few days in advance.  But then things got a little crazy and I was on the phone and distracted and forgot! until about 45 minutes later.  (Don't ask me how I could forget and Andy break).  And then it was too late because the family had other things going on.  We have tried to hook up with them a few other times but it hasn't happened yet.

We do have a 9 year-old girl next door who the kids play with occasionally, and once in a while over there.  So I shouldn't say I never get a break.  Just not often. 

To summarize, THANK YOU so much Tonya, Tori, Andrea, Ayako,Tiffany, Leah, Heather, Staci and Marie for giving me some Andy and Janessa breaks (especially Andy breaks!)  Can you believe our kids are getting baptized this year? or have been baptized the past few months?  I still remember when I had our group of boys, and Mayu, in nursery.  I miss you all so much!  (and not because of the playdates...)

ps.  I just realized that in about 6 weeks Andy will get to go to Cub Scouts once a week and be out of the house for an hour!  And those two boys that come over here--I have both of them going to our ward cub scouts now.  (they are older than Andy).  So I am doing a little missionary work, maybe.

Too Smart?

I was overly ambitious the other day and made cinnamon rolls.  My three-year old didn't eat his dinner (again) and I told him he couldn't have one (I'm so mean).  He responded "Daddy said 'Yes'".  Scott had just left to play raquetball.  I am pretty sure that Cameron knew that Daddy was not home.  Already trying to work the system! 

My other son, who is very bright but sometimes just not so smart, decided he wanted to lick the frosting off of the cinnamon rolls that I was icing.  But they were still in the pan and the pan was still hot.  Hmmm.  He burned his lip on the pan.  Silly kid!  It wasn't a bad burn or anything--no blister or red spot--just enough to realize that it wasn't a good idea.

Laundry, Laundry, Go Away

It isn't fair that laundry does not take a sick day, a holiday, or vacation. When your family goes on vacation, the dishes vacation too, because of course we are not in our kitchen to use them. They also take a semi-sick day because when Mom is sick, the husband usually picks up some fast food for dinner, which leaves very little dishes to clean up.

But laundry is a different story. It just never, ever goes away. It follows you on vacation and piles up on holidays and seems to triple on sick days. The week before Thanksgiving I decided to make some Christmas pillowcases to sell at a craft fair, so for two days I was sewing instead of doing laundry, so I got a little behind. However, had I known that I was going to be in bed sick the following Monday and Tuesday I would have thrown some laundry in during my sewing days. On the Wednesday before Turkey day I worked hard to catch up on everything--grocery shopping, house cleaning, and laundry. And the kids were out of school too (enough said). I was also preparing for 26 people to eat at my house the following day. Then of course, Thanksgiving and the weekend happened, and my brother and his family were in town so no laundry got done. Yet the laundry waited, almost taunting me.

I am still trying to dig through the piles--clean and dirty. The washing and drying is not that bad.  It's the folding and putting away and the matching of socks.  And when I think I am catching up, more laundry finds its way into the laundry room. Maybe we just have too many clothes. . .

You Have To Be There How Early?!?

I'm just NOT a morning person. My son is trying out for the 7th grade basketball team. Practice starts at 6:00 am. That is in the morning. When we should be sleeping or at least hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock. I am not trying to be an unsupportive mom or anything, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he didn't like it and decided not to stick with it. The coach told us there is lots of running and the boys will be in the best shape of their lives. So maybe Brennen won't like all that running and we can go back to waking up at a normal time.

During football season, Dustin was in the marching band. He had to be at school by 7:00 for practice. That wasn't as bad as 6:00, and he went with our neighbor boy who drives. It didn't really involve me too much, but I was happy when it was over.

Now this early morning basketball. And it is cold in the mornings. Whine, whine, whine. The thing is, I am all for sports. I think playing on the basketball team will be great for him. I don't know how good he is or how competitive he is, but it will be good for him. I just don't want to get up and get him out the door so early! whine, whine, whine.

He has only tried sports a few times. He is an artist, a builder, and a musician (percussion, guitar and piano). If he doesn't succeed at basketball that's okay because he is so good at so many things, but I hope he likes it and has a good experience. And the early morning practices should only be for a few weeks until the girls are done with their season (and then the boys can have the gym after school).

I am not a morning person, but maybe having to get up to get him out the door will help me get other things done, and I can enjoy the morning quiet before the rest of the crew, the noisy ones, wakes up. And, I told my husband he gets to drive Bren to practice.

Aren't You Just Supposed to Buy New Clothes and Some School Supplies?

The last week of summer vacation. Wow. And what a summer it has been. New house in a in a new state. And the kids are starting school 2 weeks earlier than they would have if we hadn't moved. They all seem excited though. Especially Janessa and Brennen.

We just got back from a week in Utah and Idaho, and hitting the shores of Bear Lake. Plenty of family time on both sides. Family relationships are wonderful, yet complicated. Had a great time but am happy to be home. And yes, it does feel like home. It was great to visit Brigham City again and see familiar faces.

Registering my kids for school has turned out to be a bit tricky. First of all, the secretaries and adminitration were gone during the month of July, so we couldn't register until August 3. But we went on vacation until the 9th.

Yesterday we tried unsucessfully to register Dustin but the school wants his transcripts from Box Elder first. When I called Box Elder High a few weeks ago, I was told that they cannot mail me transcripts. The school has to request them. I assumed we could register Dustin and then Farmington would request the transcripts. But, no, they have to get the transcipts before they will allow him to register. I was told that when I withdraw a student from school, I usually get an unofficial transcript. I never withdrew my kids from school. I attempted before we left to get school records. But the first person I talked to Dusitn's middle school told me that to register at a new school I just need birth certificates and immunization cards and the new school will send for records. She was wrong, darn it. Hopefully we will be able to register him by Wednesday.

Because I neglected to get Janessa into the doctor for her kindergarten check-up and immunizations before we moved, I tried to get an appointment here. But I couldn't find a doctor on our insurance to do it. The only office I could find that took our insurance said the pediatrician was on vacation until the 19th (school starts the 17). "Can't another doctor do it, like a family doctor?" I ask. No. Apparently family doctors in Farmington don't see children. Aren't children part of a family? whatever. So I finally called our clinic in Utah and she got her shots while on vacation.

The elementary school is being rebuilt/remodeled. My kids get a brand new school. But I can't register them until Wednesday because the teachers and administration are moving into the new buildings. And with the construction zone it was even hard for me to get that much information.

Brennen and I went to the middle school yesterday to register him. He is choosing to go to a school whose boundaries we are not in. We are about two blocks away from the boundary and all the other deacons in our ward go to that school. (And so did I!) We got a waiver and were assured that Tibbetts would love to have us, etc etc. We went and were denied. Because apparently that school is full. Which is fine. Then we drove over to the other school and were actually successful! Hooray! I have one student registered for school!

Cameron's special-ed preschool for speech is also working on getting his records so they don't have to do all the evaluations again. I am not worrying about this until after the others are taken care of. Some time next week I will call them again.

Whew! Who knew sending your kids could be such a chore!

On the bright side of things, you don't have to pay fees to register your kids for school like in Utah. Aside from some $10 class fees for art and science for example, that's all. No book fees, no sports fees, or whatever other fees we pay in Utah that add up to about $100 in August.

Almost Peace and Quiet

Three days. Two nights. In my house ALONE. Sounds too good to be true.

And it was. While my family was planning to go camping in Bryce Canyon with Grandma and Grandpa and some cousins, I planned to stay home--alone. Because someone has to work our business. I love camping with my family, but the alternative of staying home with the house to myself (and hopefully not having to really do too much work) almost sounded like heaven. So I agreed to send my husband camping with the children--all of them. Wow. I was impressed that he wanted to take all of them, not just the older ones. I was counting the hours until Thursday morning.

But Wednesday morning, Andy started throwing up. He seemed fine in the afternoon so I still had hope. And I had the hand sanitizer out for everyone else and made sure we were all putting it on a lot. Then shortly after Andy went to bed, he was up back in the bathroom leaning over the toilet. And again at 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

He had to stay home with me. He wasn't too happy about it as you can imagine. And it made it stressful as I tried to help Scott get packed up to leave, Andy hanging on me crying and wanting lots of hugs and sympathy because he didn't get to go. And me not having patience for that.

And I wasn't too happy about it either. It was my three days for napping and sewing and reading and packing up some boxes without interruption. And sleeping at night without kids wondering into my bedroom or crying for a lost binky.

Well instead of doing any of the above, I worked on the computer completing 3 filings, or jobs, while trying to be a nice mom to a sad little boy who didn't feel well (which wasn't easy); made some brownies (only half a pan since most everyone else isn't here to help me eat them); took Andy to see Night at the Museum 2 (because he was feeling better); set up the tent trailer with him and ate dinner in it (a late dinner on account of the movie) and read books until we came in for bed. And then, I got to read! And blog.

Not the day I had planned but it turned out pretty well anyway. And hopefully I made some good memories for Andy even though he couldn't go camping. And will make some more in the next two days.

I admit it will be more comforting to not have to sleep in the house alone. Andy will keep me good company in my room--and, since he is starting out there, he won't be waking me up in the night!

(if you are wondering why Scott didn't take the tent trailer it's because it's old and the electrical doesn't work--like brake lights and taillights--and who knows how good the tires are. And he just didn't want to drive it all the way to Bryce).

I am hoping and praying that none of the other kids get sick while they are away. I told Scott about my concern with others getting sick but he didn't seem too worried.