A Roller Coaster Week

OK I am not a big fan of the movie Parenting with Steve Martin (I think that is what it is called) but there is this scene at the end that reflects how parenting and life is like a roller coaster. It has been one of those kind of weeks. Frankly, I am exhausted, physically, mentally emotionally. But there are moments I would not have traded for anything -- even a whole carton of Nutella all to myself.

There have been some seriously low and trying moments. My blood pressure issues are acting up again and female problems have brought migraines and serious pain throughout the week. At times I have felt like I was walking through a sticky fog of pain and exhaustion. Which is why by Sunday I just couldn't make it one more mile, not even to church I was spent and my body was telling me we are done. But all that time alone gave me time to ponder my week.

Some of the roller coaster moments:
Low: A "misunderstanding" with my husband -- never a good moment. Especially when it stretches over a couple days.
High: I realize how brilliant my four year old is. Apparently she can count really high -- like up into the 50s and she knows a lot of her letters and numbers already and can write them quite clearly.

Low: Rebecca comes home in tears and we had have to have a long mother daughter talk about friends. Girls are so ridiculous sometimes. Poor Becca she is so confused at the antics of one of her on again off again friends. We managed to get her off to school the next day (just barely) Fortunately, said friend had decided to be nice the next day.

High: Another girl who Rebecca thought didn't want to be her friend decides Becca is fun to play with after all. ( Can you tell we are having friend issues).

Low: I literally had to drive to SUU 26 times this week. Isaac had intense practices and performances for Seussical Jr. this week.

High. We see the Seussical Jr. Isaac and his orchestra sound amazing for middle school age kids. And the young actors were pretty fantastic as well. I am so grateful we have found something that Isaac is eager to devote his time and energy to. He loved practice, he loved performing. He loved the whole production. Sometimes it is hard to keep Isaac focused on something when the going gets tough. I am so grateful, that Music seems to give him that focus and joy.

Low: Saturday morning I have to grocery shop for three hours with a migraine. We were completely out of food. I come home and collapse on the bed. The girls empty the groceries and put them away.

High: I drag myself to Maggie Moos with the kids and Isaac. And although I feel terrible I enjoy watching my kids laugh and eat their favorite treat.

Low: I wake up feeling drugged and still in pain Sunday and I skip church.

High: I have some great enlightened moments studying at home. I start to sleep off the yucks and I get invited to my in-laws for dinner. Woohoo don't have to cook. And with that I'm off to dinner.

Another Give Away

Ok I am trying to take care of all my blogger babes and remind them to enter this really great giveaway. It is for Southern Utahns (sorry East Cost, West Coast babes). Anyway, these shirts are so cute and you only have till the 31st to enter so hurry on over to the Deal Diva column at Alive! and enter.

http://aliveutah.com/content/win-rock-angel-t-shirt

A Partying Kind of Week

First of all, I am so happy to announce that the sun came out this week, the snow almost melted and I had one celebration after another. I can feel myself coming out of the winter doldrums, although snowy mornings like this morning almost send me searching for the St. John's Wort. I got through it. I heard the birds singing somewhere.

The Parties

Our cute centerpieces.

Last Saturday, I had a little party brunch for my acheivement day girls and their Moms. We went with an Irish theme of course. I do so love St. Patrick's Day. The girls did an awesome job preparing some of the food and decorating. And they had so much fun with our silly relays they asked to play them again. I think they just liked seeing their Mom's do an Irish jig or kiss the blarney stone (a green cupcake). Rebecca had a blast making up the sayings for the centerpieces. I swear that girl is going to be an event planner some day.

St. Paddy's day I had a little lunch at my house for some friends and although none of my SIL or other gal family members could make it this year (you were really missed) we had so much fun. We ate some yummy stuff. You can check out the recipe for my lime yogurt cake at my food blog. http://pantryeats.blogspot.com/ We laughed and dreamed of Spring. It was so refreshing. The kids ran willy nilly through the house and we barely even noticed.

The Band gets together.
Thursday I invited the wives of the members of Tom's new band over for a make your own pizza party. We had such a blast and I am really upset I forgot to take pictures. We had a house full of girls, except for Isaac (he was definitely out pinked) and the new baby boy of one of the band members. Everyone else had girls. Rebecca made a couple new friends. Which is so awesome for her. She is really shy about making friends and rarely makes the first overture. I am so grateful for her new friends. It warms my heart when she reaches outside herself.

A Political Party with more Band
Tonight we went to support our friend Mat Sorensen in his kickoff party to run for State Senate. Yes, you should vote for him. Afterwards Tom and his band played their first little gig. OK it was Mat's party and he is in the band. But it was still fun.

Whoo. I am almost partied out. I said almost.

Giveaways At Alive!

The March issue is up after much drama and tears on my part. Yet we have giveaways for the next three weeks for our Southern Utah residents.

This week we are giving away a free Maggie Moos ice cream cone and 2 free tickets to the Parowan Theater's performance in April. I know what you are thinking -- Parowan theater? Well apparently their performances always sell out. They are a small theater. All I know is that my girls are going to be so excited when I take them to see Beauty and the Beast. I am buying three tickets. So go enter this week. http://aliveutah.com/content/lucky-giveaway-month. And I don't care if you are my SIL, my neighbor or my mother-in-law because I am not doing the drawing, random.org is and so it is totally unbiased.

Check out some of my other fave Alive! links this month
http://aliveutah.com/content/book-review-being-sixteen a review by my SIL Libby.
http://aliveutah.com/content/leprechaun-saga A sweet little giggle for St. Paddy's day.
http://aliveutah.com/content/getting-root-it-santa-clara-egg-dyeing So totally cool!

Lia the Fearless Scaredy Cat

Lia is a quandary,  a piece of work, a surprising girl. She is at times more fearless than anyone I have ever known and yet moments later she is as fearful as anyone I have ever known.

Take exhibit A: (yes I know these are terrible pics)

Yes, that is Lia on her first venture onto the ice. She grabbed hold of that bucket and took off like she was born to skate. Her courageous antics eventually got her cousins on the ice -- where they too discovered how fun the ice skating rink in St. George can be. But the truth was my SIL and I were in awe of her speed, agility and resiliency (yes she fell a lot) on the ice. Her cousin and best bud Elise was soon joining her as they wizzed around the rink. It was impossible to keep up with them and eventually we just let them skate to their heart's content. Isaac tried to keep up with them but even he was overcome by their sheer determination to dominate the rink. I was frankly shocked by her fearlessness. She even took on a much older girl who unwittingly took the bucket away from Elise. Yep, she just skated right up to her and told the older girl that bucket was Elise's and could she please give it back. The girl gave it back. Seriously, who can deny such sheer pluckiness?

(By the way, I am trying to get free passes to the Dixie Igloo to give away on Alive! next month)

Now if that ice had been a lake, she would barely have dipped a toe in the water. Because really, Lia is a scaredy cat. Especially lately.

I give you exhibit B:

Yes, I am aware this is adorable. But let me explain why Lia has decided to make herself a bed on the piano bench (where she did eventually fall asleep.)

Lia is afraid to be alone in the house. She absolutely will not leave my side ever. She waits by the shower, she plays in the office all day by my side (sometimes she just stands there) because she is afraid to be alone in her room or anywhere that I am out of her eyesight. She is terrified of her bedroom and claims to hear all kinds of scary sounds (like the running dishwasher, or the turtle in his tank) that are proof that she should not walk to her room. She insists on getting dressed wherever I am, whether that is the kitchen, my office or my bedroom. And if you think that I can just refuse to let her get away with this behavior ( of which I have little patience for) then you do not understand the stubborn will of that girl or that her brother had a similar ridiculous phase. I am going insane. I spend a good deal of my day in my office. And that is a small space for two people, especially one that is four.

And how does she go to the bathroom you ask. Well, she went through this phase, after she saw a spider in the bathroom, (oh the fear that girl has of all bugs but bees.) that had her absolutely terrified of the bathroom. Eventually she convinced herself that spiders are afraid of very loud singing. And so she sings/yells everytime she goes to the bathroom to scare away the  spiders.

Let me address the wierd bee thing -- another sudden flash of her ability to be fearless. Lia understands bees are necessary. We have many of them in our yard and she has learned that if she does not threaten them they feel no need to threaten her. However, heaven help us all if a stinkbug even turns its body in her direction. Oh the terror. I told you the girl is a quandary. She is fearless of things that often require a little fear and fearful of things that are well ridiculous.

And so now you know why she is sleeping on the piano bench. She was tired and she refused to sleep further than 5 feet away from me.

Missing

I am trying to give you a post really I am but my camera cord up and dissappeared and I can't download the photos that go with the post. Bugged. Looked everywhere.

Excuse Me While I Vent

I want to wake up tomorrow with a much more positive outlook on life. Tomorrow I want to see the silver lining and so therefore, today I must vent just a little.

I have a sweet friend who often calls and says I need to vent - can I just vent. I do the same to her. We vent and then we are done. We move on because we can. We have purged ourselves of some of the frustration. Sometimes it works wonders.

So please excuse me while I vent my way through a couple frustrations.

1. I hate this weather. I am sorry but I am tired of being cold and wet. I am tired of white and slush and running errands in the snow. I really am not a winter person. And I honestly fight off depression with a giant shovel all winter long. I long and I mean pine to see things growing again.  Yes I know it has its pretty moments. But if only they were just moments and not a growing wall of snow drifts lining my long icey driveway.

2. I am really frustrated with the lady I carpool with and while I told my children we were going to no longer say bad things about her but chalk it up to different life philosophies, I am going to cheat for just a moment. I am really sick of my children being late to school because she picks them up as the school bell is ringing or she calls and says she is on her way as I am walking out the door (tired of waiting for her to show up) or she doesn't show up at all -- like today. She asks me to have my children ready by 7:45 and she shows up somewhere between that time and 8:25. And then when I am supposed to pick her daughter up -- I sometimes wait or have to go look for her daughter only to discover she has pulled her out of school early and then called my home to tell me while I am waiting in the carpool lane at the school. Seriously, I am done. This is no longer working for my family. We are going to break free of the carpool.

3. I am overwhelmed. I did it to myself. I started a huge project that requires an intense amount of TLC and love and writing and editing and planning. I am exhausted and I have only just begun. But I will get on track, I will be motivated tomorrow. But today the thought of crafting a well- researched article makes me feel like burying myself in a snowdrift for a day or at least under my covers, oh that's right I did that yesterday.

Now I feel better, a little, and I can go to bed with a clear head and a hopeful heart that tomorrow it won't snow, my kids will be to school on time and I will be a clever writer again.