This and that

When I wait too long to blog, I end up having to write such a long epistle! Life has felt so busy lately, and blogging would probably slide far down my priority list, except for the fact that I love to have this history!  This last week, Caden has had to write a biography about himself, so he pulled out our family journal, which is what we had before blogging, and we have all been enjoying it so much! It's great to hear the kids say, "listen to this!" and then go into peals of laughter about something they, or someone else in the family did or said.

Shawn was gone all week, week before last, and I looked forward all week to Friday night when he would finally be home.  Thursday night, after he talked to Caden on the phone, he talked to me and said, "Caden was wondering if I was going to go on his camp-out with him Friday night.  Can you try to find out how badly he wants me to go?"  I asked Caden and it was apparent that he had really wanted Shawn to come. He said, "now I feel bad for asking, because I know he'd probably like to sleep in his own bed." Shawn and I decided that it would be a good opportunity for him to spend some quality time with Caden. So, Shawn came home Friday afternoon, scrambled around and got everything he needed for the camp-out and he and Caden happily set out for their camp-out. They had a GREAT time! Among other things they had to take care of  their own dinner, so they brought steak and cooked it on an already heated up rock, which was a big hit.

I wish that I could say I had a great time at home, but I have learned that you can get through the days just fine that you expect to get through, but it's really hard to adjust to a change in plans.   I had been dreaming of a Friday night date all week and had a hard time letting go of the idea.  I was pretty cranky, and the kids didn't end up getting to stay up too far past their bedtime even though it WAS Friday!

Saturday morning a sprinkler systems guy came and we decided to break down and get one put in so that this summer when the kids don't have school, we can take off and go with Shawn whenever we want or can.We spent the rest of the day getting ready for it by hauling rocks in and placing them in our yard and planting plants and didn't finish up until 11:00 at night. The bishop looked really tired the next day at church and I think in the future I need to make sure that he gets enough sleep:)

Maddie, Isabelle and Nolan have had swimming lessons the last two weeks.  I don't know why, but watching those lessons can get me laughing so hard!  I know their teacher thinks I'm crazy-he keeps looking over to see what can possibly be so funny. But Isabelle has quite the arm routine that she has to go through before she jumps into the deep end, and it really tickles my funny bone to see Nolan in his bug-eyed goggles and notice how he can do arms and legs but never at the same time. I love to see him concentrate so hard to get it all together!

I recently found some more toys in more strange places:

They were "hanging" from the blinds on either side of my kitchen sink. Funny.  (Must have been outlaws.) Last time Shawn was getting ready to leave on a trip he had his suitcase by the door, when Abram suddenly came up to him and said, "Don't bring my cowboys!"  Then he dug them out of a front compartment of his suitcase where he had evidently deposited them several days before.  After retrieving them he said," And don't bring my army guys" He moved down one pocket and pulled them out as well.

The other day Abram was calling for me, but wasn't hearing me answer.  He finally said, "Mom!  You anywhere?" I kept answering him, but he still couldn't figure out where I was and kept asking for clues.  "You in your room?  You laundry room?" I love to hear the way he talks.  He has started repeating rhymes that he's heard and it's so cute.  I notice that the kids have been taking lots of videos of him lately as he "performs" his rhymes and kungfu.

Kami's been in track, but the weather at every track meet has been nasty and the little boys have had bad coughs, so we have only been able to make it to two of her meets.  Her favorite race this year has been the 800 (1/2 mile) and her best time this hear has been a 2.52. I'll have to add some pictures later.

Maddie, along with her cousin Abby, have been thick into developing their own secret language. Well, at least I think the intent was for it to be secret, but Maddie is so excited about it that she just has to let us in on how to say things in her tongue. If you want to ask, "What is your name?" you say "tad q mo exeroo". Cool is "fussib". Shawn's name is "Hick-you", my name is "Izzy" ( I told Maddie that I thought my name was a little boring compared to the others, but she said that can't be helped because they have to follow a pattern.  Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to decode her pattern because I know for a fact that I haven't spelled things right on here) Abby's name is "queeks", Maddie's name is "Ickwahammib". (I told her that I had no idea why I hadn't thought to name her that in the first place.)  You have no idea how often this language is brought up and thought about in this household- by our nine year old -right now.

Only fifteen more days until summer vacation - I'm SO excited!!!