Lost

Help! I'm lost. For the last few days I have been having a major identity crisis. I not the person I thought I was. Apparently being two-dimensional is more important than being a living breathing three-dimensional person. I discovered that this week when my driver's license went missing. I can't do anything without that little piece of plastic with the ugly picture of myself on it.

I discovered my loss on the most stressful of all days - Thursday - the day of the Relief Society Birthday Dinner. So of course I had no time to look for it. Friday I planned on having friends over for the kids since they had not had any over and had to keep out of my way for several days. So again I had no time to look for it. Saturday was also a busy day with soccer and friends and taking a meal over to help one of my dear sisters. On Sunday and today I have gone crazy looking for it - looking at every possible and impossible nook and cranny of my house and car. I even bribed my kids to look by promising a dollar to who ever found it. And of course I have prayed and prayed about it. But still no luck.

It is so frustrating to know my life depends so much on a small piece of paper protected in cheap plastic. I am running out of time in finding it. I can't go shopping without it as I always use a credit card for my purchases and would need to show ID. I can't go to the bank and withdraw money for cash as again I have no ID. I have also been extremely paranoid while driving thinking that I'll get in some horrible accident or get pulled over because I don't have my license with me. Life has been totally debilitating.

I can't go to the DMV to get a new license tomorrow, as again, my day is all ready too full. The soonest I can get there would be Wednesday - and I would have to take my two kids with me. Besides that, I am down to just four dollars in cash. How will I be able to pay the $15 fee? Will they accept a check without a driver's license? Maybe it all depends on if I have to pay before or after I receive a new one. Wish me some luck - I could use it.

Gourmet Dinner

I remember a long, long time ago taking a trip somewhere with my family. Can't remember when or where but I do remember a little of what we listened to. My dad was big on listening to books on tape and we were listening to one of those. I remember it was a male LDS author talking about his memories of being a parent. The story I remember the most is that of Sunday dinner. His wife was always busy with children (8 kids I think?) and church on Sunday and they never had a "proper" Sunday dinner. The husband decided the family needed a better Sunday dinner. He went to the book store and bought lots of culturally diverse cookbooks and planned a fabulous dinner for the next week. Sunday came and he had slaved and slaved away at making this delicious dinner with recipes from all over the world. After all the exhausting work and after having all the kids turn their noses up at the food and not eating anything he decided it just wasn't worth it. The next Sunday with busy mom and a dad that refused to ever cook again the mom came up with a simple and pleasing idea. She fixed chocolate chip cookies for dinner. That is what the whole family had for their Sunday dinner - just chocolate chip cookies. The dad gasped but the kids loved it, of course, and it was easy for mom. So from that moment on they had chocolate chip cookies for dinner every Sunday.

I was reminded of this story as my brain tried hard to come up with something easy for dinner today. The only thing I was really in the mood for were cinnamon streusel muffins (from a mix of course). But feeling too guilty about serving just muffins (especially for my husband) I also threw together some rice-a-roni (from a box - Chad's favorite), warmed up some spaghettios (from a can - Halle's favorite), and made some mashed potatoes (instant - used microwave). And to top it all off I added a vegetable by throwing a package of baby carrots onto the table. So once it was time for dinner we all sat down to a gourmet Sunday meal and doused it down with fully sugar-loaded blue cool-aid.

Next week I might just tone things down a bit and go for just the chocolate chip cookies. But wait - I forget we have a child who doesn't like chocolate (I know - weird!!!!!!). I guess next week's dinner looks like snickerdoodles. Any one want to join us for dinner? I'll even make them from scratch. Just bring your own milk.

April 1997

Ten years ago I would have been finishing my finals for winter semester at BYU. It was kind of a confusing time in my life. I could almost see the light in finally graduating but was still so unsure of my future.

When I first attended BYU it was a huge shock. I am grateful that I was admitted to BYU because I didn't apply anywhere else. I didn't know what other college to go to and didn't want to keep paying out those $35 dollar application fees. I had attended a relatively small high school (Springville High School in Utah) and had my small town identity. I was the good girl who got good grades and had a charmed life. Then at BYU I became a number (among a mass of other numbers), struggled to get good grades, and felt like I had an isolated life.

My freshman year I took the usual freshman math and English classes and also dabbled in science and psychology. I always thought I would be a veterinarian or a psychologist/school councilor or maybe even a dentist. I always wanted some type of job that would be helping people (or animals) but not necessarily having to really be with large crowds of people - part of my introvert and shy side.

After deciding that I couldn't handle euthanizing animals, having negative comments given to me from family members about being a psychologist, and learning that dentist's have the highest suicide rate among professionals, I no longer knew what it was I wanted to do. I also had no plans on getting that MRS. degree until I had served a mission (so I am grateful nobody ever asked me out as it made this goal easy to keep). I also got a couple of B's that lowered my GPA and so lost my scholarship.

Instead of continuing school I dropped out for a year to work and figure things out. I found a job at a sewing factory and worked from 8am -4:30pm every weekday clipping threads, inspecting clothing, and packaging. Talk about your dead end job!!!!! There were a few students working there. Most of them working to support their husbands through school. The rest were older women and a lot of single mothers who needed to make ends meet and this was the only kind of job they could get. After a year of this I knew that I definitely wanted to go back to school and get my degree.

I continued taking the required courses and science classes at BYU but was still unsure of what major or degree to pursue. I finally took a microbiology class, just for the heck of it, and found my niche. I absolutely loved microbiology. I had always loved the sciences (not real smart - but just loved the learning) and loved that it was a hands-on kind of discipline, and left brained but also creative. I filled out the necessary forms and signed up for the necessary classes to become a microbiology major.

And just when it seemed like I was starting to figure things out and get on with my life I suddenly (or so it seemed) turned 21 was now finally eligible to go on a mission. I put in my papers and was assigned to the England Manchester Mission. I entered the MTC on January 29, 1993 and left for England on February 19, 1993. After the most growing 18 months of my life I returned home and to BYU. While on my mission they revamped my major and I ended up having to redo a couple of classes because they now had different names and credits.

Now that I had microbiology down as my major my next biggest decision was to decide what kind of microbiology major to be. I keep flip-flopping between medical microbiology (thinking of going on to be a pathologist - before it became cool from CSI) or clinical laboratory microbiology. I finally decided on medical microbiology and planned on challenging myself to take the MCAT and even perhaps going on to medical school - although that thought really intimidated me.

Just when I thought my life was planned out and had just a year to go to finally graduate I kept getting these feelings and whisperings that I needed to go into teaching. I had actually thought about teaching all through Jr. High and most of High School. But I gave up the thought after having to give speeches and present group projects in some classes. For me to speak in front of people was so painful at the time. I just never thought I could really do it.

I kept talking myself out of the teaching idea. I had only a couple of semesters to go and I would be done - I didn't want to start a new major all over again. But the more I thought about it and finally prayed and fasted about it I knew that teaching was what I needed to do.

Luckily most of my micro classes counted towards a Biology teaching degree. I only had to take a few extra classes. I was able to squeeze in all my teaching classes in less than a year (besides student teaching). I was already planning a minor in Chemistry and was pretty close to a minor in zoology, so again took the extra classes. It looked like I was finally on the track to graduate with a double major of Microbiology and Biology Teaching and a double minor of Zoology and Chemistry.

So again - back to 10 years ago. I am finishing up winter semester and have a couple of classes signed up to take during Spring term. I have no plans for the summer but am getting excited and anxious about doing my student teaching Fall semester. With student teaching and a few independent classes to finish I should be on my way to graduate and finally find a real job and get on with my real life. I think Washington or Oregon sounds like a nice place to job hunt and live. It will be a great adventure but also a little scary to do this all by myself.

Something that hasn't changed much through my years of BYU - little to no dating. And at this point I basically hate men and even the thought of dating. I have been on set-up date after set-up date because I am still single at the age of 25 and all my friends and acquaintances feel so sorry for me and hook me up with any single guy that they know. (I don't think they would ever have dated the guys they set me up with.) I seem to have gotten the man thing down backwards. I loved boys in grade school - thought they were handsome and had several crushes. When I was finally old enough to date them they scared me and I didn't understand them plus why would I want to get romantic with someone that acted just like my brothers? Then in college I was just invisible to guys and gave up on ever really finding someone who loved me.

My resolve: I am done with men. I will graduate soon, have a real job and enjoy my life. I'll have my own little house, sew all I want, travel all I want, and maybe even have a cat farm.

Little did I know how wrong I was and how much my future would change in such a short time.

To be continued . . . .

6 Hours of Church

I forgot one more story about Chad on my last post. So here it is - before I forget again.

I love going to church, but it is usually also painful. There are lessons to prepare for, callings to magnify, people to mingle with, but most of all there are children to "sit" with. No matter what Chris and I do we still seem to have three very wiggly, high maintenance children. And at church it is sometimes exhausting. If the sacrament speakers start going on and on and on I start giving them a stare down and hope that all the noise and movement coming from my children will give the hint that their time is done and it is time for primary!!!!!

Chad, our oldest, is nearly 7 years old. He sits well and behaves well at school. He can sit down and eat a meal with some manners. He can sit down and do "homework" and read and color. But when it comes to sitting down at church he has no clue. His body seems to have a mind of its own. It causes me mental anguish to watch him squirm and fidget during sacrament. He is usually on the floor and pouts if I tell him to sit on the seat. Any time Sean has food or a toy Chad is right there to take it away from him.

I am not sure how he does in primary or his classroom. When we ask him any questions about church all he ever replies is, "I didn't learn anything," or, "I don't know." He doesn't dislike church at all, it just isn't what he thinks of as fun.

Last Sunday at the end of church I tried to gather all three of my wild ones together so we could get in the van and go home and fix lunch. As we are leaving the children see Chris at church, as he is now there for the Moran Prairie Ward. They all get excited to see him and it takes another 10 minutes to get everyone back together. Chad starts begging to stay at church with dad. I just say, "no." But Chris says, "yes." What is that man thinking?

I explain to Chad that if he stays with daddy he has to sit through sacrament all over again. I explain that he will miss lunch and there are no snacks. I explain that he will have to do primary all over again and with teachers he doesn't know. But no matter what I said he still wanted to stay.

Chris asked the DeMille family if they would help take care of Chad. The only disappointment from Chad came from when he found out he couldn't sit up on the stand with daddy.

Chad came home a whole new kid. He came home from church happy as could be and with a good report from Dad. He even was excited to tell us what he did in primary. I couldn't believe he had even survived 6 hours of church let alone enjoyed it at all. Maybe that is what Chad needs. 3 hours of church to practice and then 3 hours to really do church.

I am curious to see what Chad requests for this Sunday.

Be Happy! - you know, like Bob.

My highlights this weekend were the smiles my kids brought to my face.

Let me set up the first situation. It is Friday evening. No Sign of Chris yet (past dinner time) and no cell phone to call (left it in the car). I am done with kids and need a break. I banish them all to downstairs to play and cause mayhem galore - as long as I cannot see it or hear it I don't care at this point. I decide to work on some Relief Society projects. I get all my supplies and turn on the TV - to help make sure I do not know what is going on downstairs. I don't really know what is on TV as I get pretty involved in making invitations. 10 or 15 minutes passes by when Chad sneaks upstairs. I don't really notice him until he starts a conversation with me.

Chad starts with, "Mom, we should be happy right?"

My automatic reply, "yea, uh huh."

Chad, "Mom, we should be happy all the time."

Me, "Yes, Chad. Why are you upstairs?"

Chad continuing, "Mom, we should be happy just like Bob, huh? Bob is always happy!"

What is that kid talking about??????? "Chad, who is Bob?"

Chad, "You know mom, Bob right there."

I finally look up at Chad and see that he is watching the TV. I look towards the TV and see that the wonderfully exaggerated Enzyte commercial is on. Chad is watching Happy Bob the Enzyte druggie.

His eyes are still clued on the TV and he is still muttering about being happy like Bob. I hold it in as long as I can but then my laughter just spews out.

Chad gives me a quizzical look and then lectures me. "Mom, don't laugh at Bob. Bob is a good guy. We should all be happy like Bob." And then I really lose it.

Poor Chad, completely clueless about why I am laughing. And after gaining my composure I again banish Chad to the basement. He wasn't too happy about that or smiling as he grudgingly stomped back down the stairs. Guess he wasn't happy like Bob.

Second situation. Guilt, guilt, guilt loaded on my mind as I haven't done much cooking lately. (I seem to be deathly allergic to the kitchen lately.) I usually don't cook much of a dinner on Sunday. We usually do left overs or "breakfast" for dinner. But today I felt like I had better make something nice. So I threw a chicken and stuffing casserole in the oven, made some rice, and warmed up some green beans. A dinner that I was hoping everyone would eat at least some of (I have a family of picky eaters).

After loading food on every ones plate and saying the prayer we all dug in quite hungrily (Sean excluded - who decided it was more fun to keep climbing over the back of the couch than eat food). I was already pretty proud of myself for the effort of actually putting a decent meal on the table. Then out of the blue Chad tells me that his dinner is, "delicious, delectable, and delightful." Upon which Halle adds, "And it tastes good too mom."

It was finally nice to have my dinner appreciated by my kids. Half an hour later (everyone else is done eating) I finally manage to get Sean to eat 3 spoons of rice and 4 very small pieces of chicken. How he manages to keep growing and keep filling up his diapers is a mystery to me!!!!

I Love to See the Temple

Spokane Temple

I am so grateful we have a temple close by. It is hard enough trying to go at least once a month with my husband between coordinating schedules and finding babysitting for the kids. I can't imagine having to plan an all day or an overnight trip just to attend the temple and go maybe only a couple of times a year.

When Chris and I lived in Spanish Fork we talked a lot about moving to Spokane. He was wanting to move back home and I had always had a desire to move to the Northwest. (That is where I had planned to job hunt before I meet Chris.) Our only concern was that the closest temple would be four hours away in Seattle. That was our biggest sacrifice in moving. We were pretty spoiled in Utah Valley with the Provo temple just 20 minutes away and several other temples close by to chose from.

As we continued to pray and talk about it a miracle occurred. We heard the great news that a temple would be built in Spokane. Now we knew that our prayers had been answered very clearly and knew that we were meant to live in Spokane.

The first time I went through the temple (Provo) was January 15th, 1993. I had just received my mission call to serve in Manchester England. I had never had a temple class. My parents didn't talk or go to the temple. Most of what I knew was from my teachings in primary and Young Women. The temple seemed a little scary and I felt so little and lost. My escort, and the only person I knew, as I went through the temple that day was my best friend from high school. She was already married and had her first child. I so appreciated my friendship with her that day. She made my temple day so special and memorable for me.

The Provo Temple - my first temple.

I love going to the temple to feel the quiet whisperings of the spirit and the peace it brings to my heart and mind. It is so nice to be able to escape the "world" and all my worries for a small space of time. I am also grateful for many wonderful experiences I have had in the temples.

At the end of my mission I was able to go through the London Temple. This was a special experience because this is the temple where my parents were married and I had always wanted to go through this temple.

While on my mission I made good friends with a young woman who had joined the church with her mother. Her mother had died several years ago and she had been raised by her abusive step-father but had stayed true to the gospel and loved feeding us (just 16 years old) and going out with us doing missionary work. She asked me to do her mother's temple work when she found out I would be going to the London temple after my mission. I felt so humbled and privileged to do the work for her on behalf of her mother. I asked if she wanted to wait until she was old enough to go through the temple herself but she replied that she wanted the work done and wanted me to do it for her.

So as I went through the London temple I did the work for this young girl's mother. I felt such an overwhelming bond with this lady who had passed on and felt like I had become a part of their family. I rarely cry - but this day I was all tears.

London Temple

I also love the Timpanogos Temple. It is a beautiful temple in a beautiful surrounding of mountains. This temple is most beautiful to me because it is the temple in which I meet Chris and was then later married to him for time and eternity. I actually never wanted to get married in the Timpanogos Temple. When it opened it was the new popular place to be married and I didn't want to be in that crowd. I always wanted to get married in the Salt Lake Temple because of all the history and perseverance behind that temple. But after discovering my future husband in the Timpanogos temple and because of I-15 road work we decided to be married in the Timpanogos Temple.

The Timpanogos Temple - where Chris and I were married.

Another temple that is dear to my heart is the Preston England Temple. This temple is in my mission area. During my mission the Preston temple was announced and several months later the whole mission took a church history tour and we all got to see the ground where the temple would later be built. During the last month of my mission President Hinckley (then first counselor) came to dedicate the ground for the building of the temple to begin. Again the whole mission was able to attend this great event. Many of us pledged to come back when the temple was completed.

I was able to make that dream come true in the summer of 1998. Chris and I had been married for almost a year when my dad gave us airline tickets to England and Germany. We were able to show each other our mission areas and Chris was able to meet my English relatives. And of course top on my list of things to do in England was to see and go through the Preston Temple.

While in England we stayed with my Nan and Uncle Richard, who live just outside of London. Preston is 8 hours away from London. So we planned on driving one day, staying over night at a friend's house, going to the temple first thing in the morning, seeing more of my mission area and then driving home the next day.

Because it was a short trip, I repacked my bags so we didn't have to take everything with us. And while doing so left my temple recommend at my Nan's house in London. I of course didn't realized this until it was too late.

As we pulled up to the Preston temple it was so beautiful it was breath taking. I had this wonderful feeling come over me and so many memories of my mission and people came flooding into my mind. I was already so touched by the spirit and I couldn't wait to go in and fulfill my experience. As we got ready to go in I searched for my recommend so it would be ready to show once we entered. I looked and looked and looked. I couldn't find it any where. I was getting quite anxious when all of a sudden a picture popped up in my mind. My recommend was back in London on the dresser in the room we were staying in at my Nan's house.

At that point I started heaving with sobs of disappointment. I had traveled all this way and now I wouldn't be able to go in because I had left my recommend behind. I cried and cried. My poor husband tried to console me but I was just too miserable. After a long time - when tears would no longer come pouring out - my husband suggested we at least go in the door and see if there was anything we could do. I agreed - just so I could at least go in the door but not expecting to get any further. As my husband explained our situation to the temple worker at the door he called for the Temple President. The Temple President took me in his office and listened to my story. He asked if I was worthy and who he could validate it with. I gave him the name of my Bishop in Spanish Fork, Utah. The next minute he was looking up his name and calling him. I couldn't believe it. Did he not know that it was two o'clock in the morning there in Utah?

I gave him a quick reminder about the time difference but he said that it was okay - they wouldn't mind. (But he wasn't the one who would have to go back to church with these people when I returned home.) When the phone was finally answered, it was the Bishop's step-son who was on the other end. He explained that the Bishop was out on a mountain camping out with the scouts and so could not be reached. But the step-son was excited to talk with someone from England as he had just returned home from serving his mission in London.

So next the Temple President called the 1st counselor of our ward. He was a very elderly gentleman and again I was concerned that getting a call so early in the morning might give him a heart attack. The 1st counselor did answer the phone and was quite excited to talk with someone from England and vouched for my worthiness.

I don't know if this is standard or some exceptions were made for me but I couldn't believe the amount of relief and happiness that entered my body at the moment the Temple President told me I could go through the temple. The tears that I thought were all dried up came flushing down my face again.

As Chris and I got dressed and prepared to do an endowment session we were asked to be the witness couple. When we entered the endowment room there were several sisters and brethren who were there from wards that I had served in. It was so comforting to see them and enjoyable to talk with them afterwards. I was also quite astonished that some of them even remembered me from my missionary days.

After this experience I knew first hand how it would feel if at judgement day I could not stand before God completely clean. It made me realize how much I need the Savior to vouch for me and help me overcome my sins. I also felt the happiness I know each one of will receive when we pass through the veil and meet with our loved ones again.

The Preston England Temple - the one I almost didn't get to go in.

All these memories came to me yesterday as Chris and I went to the Spokane temple. We were there because of a special occasion. One of our friends was going through for the first time in preparation for his mission. It was so wonderful to see his family and friends be there at the temple for him. I hope he will have many more wonderful experiences in the temple and as he goes on to serve his mission.

I hope that some day I will be able to see all three of my children enter into the temple to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the many blessings that we truly are blessed with for going to the temple.

I Can Finally Breath

I can finally breath with a sigh of relief. It has been a long and exhausting week. I finally have a few minutes to myself before I go to bed and wake up to a brand new week with the calendar already overflowing with activities for the kids, people to see, and things that need to be done. So I thought I would take my breathing time to write about this week before I am already in the middle of the next.

Sunday
April 1st - or as most school children know, April Fool's day. I am usually not one for practical jokes, especially on a Sunday but this year I felt compelled to do something. My first thought was to carefully take each kid and put them in a different bed while they were sleeping so they would wake up totally confused. But Halle had a bad cough and it took her for ever to fall asleep - and then I didn't want to risk waking her up and have her start coughing all over again. So maybe we will try that one next year. I didn't cook a funny breakfast because: one - I never cook breakfast and two -I am not a morning person!!!!! So I resorted to just coloring their drinks. Halle always has a glass of milk and Chad and Sean always have a hot chocolate in the morning. I added a few drops of blue food coloring and poof - complete magic. The kids were in hysterics and talked about their blue drinks all day. I am so glad simple things please simple minds. I will definitely have to remember to do that again next year.

The rest of the day was spent listening to General Conference and taking naps. I love General Conference and I love that we have a DVR so we can record and watch the talks over again until the Ensign comes.

We later had Chris' mom and dad over for dinner. I am so blessed to have such wonderful in-laws. I love them so much and I am so glad we have had the opportunity to live close by. I especially love to see how much my children love their grandparents and the great relationship they have with them.

Monday
First day of spring break. Chad is the typical school boy - so excited to not have to go to school. Halle is the complete opposite. "How come I can't go to school? When is school mommy? Do I go tomorrow? Why not? Can I go to school now?!" And Sean was sometimes glad to have a brother and sister to play with all day and sometimes not.

I don't remember too much more about Monday - it was rather mundane. The usual chores of getting caught up with laundry, dishes and trying to keep my head above water with taking care of kids and keeping the house clean. (Something that just shouldn't ever be done together - kind of like mixing water and electricity.)

I was hoping to see more of Chris this week - but found out it would be a track week with boys practice from 10am-noon and then the girls practice from 2-4pm and then other errands he was wanting to take care of.

For FHE Sean had the lesson which involved balloons - he was a very good helper. We learned how the balloon is like our body and the air we blow into it is like our spirit. When we die our spirit (or air) comes out. When we are resurrected our body (balloon) and spirit (air back in) are reunited again - this time forever (tie off balloon). And after the serious lesson the kids (Chris included) played games with all the balloons.

Tuesday
Shopping day and getting ready day. Our big plan for spring break is to go to Stoneridge - a timeshare resort (thanks to Chris' parents) in Blanchard Idaho. Also trying to get my lesson ready for Relief Society because I know I just won't have any more time this week to work on it.

Wednesday
Tell the kids to eat their breakfast, brush their teeth, get dressed and get ready to be in the van by 9:00am as I have a surprise for them. At 9:00am we start driving down the hill and then west on the freeway. We take the exit for the airport and keep on driving. The kids are still pretty clueless when Sean yells out, "airport!!!!" Yes, that is where we are heading. The kids are still baffled so I ask them why they think we are going to the airport. They still don't know - but say that we usually go to pick up Nanny. So I ask them if they think Nanny will be there. Halle looks hopeful and says, "Yes, lets get Nanny." Chad says, "Mom, you are just joking aren't you." I say, "Well you never know, maybe if we cross our fingers and hope that Nanny will be there that maybe she will." So we all cross our fingers and say that we hope Nanny will be there. We are just about to the terminal when the phone rings - it is the Nanny saying she has arrived. The kids want to know who called and I let them know it was Nanny. Now they are really excited and can't believe that Nanny is here again (she was here just a couple of weeks ago). We finally pull up to the curb by the baggage claim and see Nanny waving at us. The kids are now sooooo happy to see their Nanny. Then all of a sudden Grandpa Hansen comes out of the airport. Now the kids are bouncing out of their seats and escaping from the van to go and greet Grandpa Hansen. They haven't seen him since last summer. He has been working in Russia for the past 18 months. The ride home is very, very loud and very, very joyful.

As soon as Chris was done with track we headed out to Stoneridge. We all had a great time swimming, playing at the park, taking a walk, and eating our traditional spaghetti dinner. Night time was fun as Halle and Chad slept in Nanny and Grandpa's room. That meant Chris and I just had Sean. It was fun to spend some time with just Sean as it doesn't happen all too often.

Swimming at Stoneride.

Thursday
Finished having fun by taking a morning swim, playing mini-golf, and then having a picnic before heading back home.

Nanny and Grandpa with the kids at Stoneridge.

After arriving home and getting everyone down for a short nap it was time for gymnastics. My mum and dad had a great time watching Halle in her little class. She even got promoted that day to the "Jumping Bears" class.

My parents then treated us to dinner at Applebees. What a difference a year makes! The last time we ate there with my mum I ended up just sitting out in the van with Sean because he was too horrible to have in the restaurant.

After a long day I was ready to settle down for the night!!!!! At 2am Halle came up complaining of a stomach ache. I didn't give it much thought as she constantly complains of stomach aches and sent her back to bed. At 2:30 I was woken up by the sound of a very sick little girl. I got the privilege of cleaning up all the mess (which makes me quite ill) and getting her in the bath (long hair is not good when you are sick). After giving her a bowl by her bedside and lots of hugs and kisses I went back to bed. At 3:30 more sound, more mess. 4:00 wide awake in bed with no hope of falling asleep. 6:00 finally fall asleep. 7:00am everyone is up and awake and very loud.

Friday
The plan for the day was to take my parents and the kids to the Children's Museum and then to see the waterfalls. With Halle being sick I stayed home with her and sent Chris off to be the tour guide and driver.

With the boys and my parents out of the house I try to comfort Halle on the couch and put on her favorite TV shows. By the afternoon, she has finally stopped being sick and is finally sleeping like an angel.

Later that night we get pizza for dinner and have a little birthday party for my parents. (Dad - March 23 and Mum- April 7).

Happy Birthday Mum and Dad!

Saturday
The Easter bunny comes on Saturday at our house so that Sunday we can focus just on Jesus and the kids aren't on a sugar rush before church.

The Easter Bunny came!

The kids enjoyed getting candy and umbrellas this year. (They never even noticed the new clothes.)

Wahoo - umbrellas!!!

At 9am Chad has his first soccer game for the spring season. He had fun seeing his soccer friends again. He played pretty well and even scored a goal - which was fun for his Nanny, Grandpa Hansen, and Grandma Caviness to see. Dad and Bompa are away in Yakima for a track meet.

After a nice morning and lunch it is time to go to the airport again. This time the car is quiet and sullen. Nobody likes saying goodbyes.

Afternoon - nap time and quiet time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mom needs to work on her lesson!!!!!!

I get so stressed teaching in Relief Society. I always love teaching in primary and had fun in Young Women but Relief Society completely stresses me out. It is so hard for me to look out at other women and talk to them. I always try to put a lot of planning and thought into my lessons - but they never turn out the way I want - I always get too nervous and blank out. I have pictures in my head - but I can't seem to find the words I want to express my thoughts.

After nap time - time to take advantage of the great weather. The kids ride their bikes and then beg for me to get out the pool to go swimming in. I tell them it is too cold but they persist. So wanting to use my Love and Logic skills I let them have what they want. After 10 minutes of playing with the water they are crying and ready to come in - finally realizing for themselves that it is indeed too cold to go swimming yet.

Sean crying because he is cold.

I bring them in and fill up the bathtub so they can have a "hot tub" party instead of swimming. That seems to do the trick and they are all happy again.

The Caviness Family "hot tub."

Sunday
Easter Sunday - one of my favorite times of the year. When I was a teenager I used to cry at Easter, thinking about all that the Savior had done for me. Now I have those same feelings but am also overwhelmed with gratitude and joy and hope.

We had great talks for sacrament and a great lesson for Sunday school. Then comes Relief Society. I have a total knot in my stomach - is it just nerves or do I now have the stomach flu like Halle had?

Relief Society starts and I go into automatic mode - just trying to do what I am supposed to do without falling apart and running out the door like I so desperately want to do. And thankfully, before I know it my lesson is over and I didn't die. I can breath again and finally enjoy the rest of my day.

The Crab Project

Chad with his newest bionicle, Ehlok.

Chad is our bionicle boy. He eats, sleeps, and talks bionicles. I've tried to get him interested in other things - but the interest usually doesn't last too long.

The other week he came home with a note in his school bag about the up-coming book fair and a crab decorating contest. He seemed excited about it and so I was not about to quench his thirst for trying something new. Drawing and crafts are not usually things he likes to do.

We took a trip to the craft store to get supplies (I don't have any - as I am not a crafter either). Of course Halle and Sean were also with us and wanted me to get them supplies too. So we came home with plenty of paper plates, sequins of all shapes and sizes, paint and of course googly eyes.

We all ended up having a lot of fun. I made sure the kids did all the work themselves. The only part I did was to help them staple the plates together and help them cut out the claws and legs.

I was so glad to see Chad enjoy himself and doing something not at all related to bionicles. He also had his competitive juices flowing as the winner from each class would receive a $5 gift certificate to spend at the book fair. I talked with him about how much fun he had doing the project and that he was already a winner, and that if he didn't win the prize at school he was still a cool kid and that he was good at art and should do some more projects etc., etc., etc. I didn't know how all this computed in his brain at all - I mean I am working against the Caviness DNA of complete competitiveness.

Chad working on his crab.

The finished projects.

About a week after the deadline for the crab project Chad came home from school repeating my words of not needing to win - that he still had fun working on the crab. So I figured he hadn't won and I was proud of his attitude.

The next week he came home all excited and quickly told me that his class had gone to the library for the book fair and then they had announced he was the winner for his class. He was so excited - he even spent his prize money on books right then and there. He reached into his book bag and pulled out two bionicle books!!!!! There was no more mention of the crab - just about bionicles and how cool his bionicle books were. I have been reading them over and over to him all week. So much for new interests.