Pictureless day

There were two, not the usual three, soccer games today from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

Good thing, because Karaia and Beckham had a choir concert starting at 6:30pm.

Their mother did not take one single picture of any of the three events.

You really can't be too mad at her. Sanders was really patient attending all these events that he doesn't get to participate in until the last 10 minutes of each event. She tries very hard to keep him entertained while watching and supporting the other kids. Throwing picture taking into that mix felt like too much of a challenge tonight. Thank goodness for Kevin and her mom at the choir concert! Mom's entertainment was starting to lose it's effect.

The kids did great and we feel really blessed they get to have so many fun things in their life.

After the concert I took Tennyson out for ice cream because he scored a goal during his soccer game. This is a very big deal for him seeing that last year he thought watching his shadow as he ran around on the field was a much more productive use of his time that paying any attention to the ball.

He is getting to be a very good player. He can anticipate where the ball will be headed and try to position himself accordingly.

We had a wonderful time and ate our dessert before out dinner! I tried to get him to open up to me when it was just the two of us. We have a unique relationship and his choices don't always allow for a lot of positive bonding. Something we are both working on. We adore each other and I think this little rough patch makes both our hearts ache a lot.

I asked him what he thought of the new chore chart.

"I like it!"

"What do you like best about it?"

"Well, see, I really like jobs more than I like playing."

Believe me when I tell you, It's a good thing he told me!

Pouring Cement

We poured cement for the new deck posts today.

It is wonderful to have family who is so willing to help out with our big projects! Especially when that means extra cousin time and staying up a little later on a school night :)

We really are so grateful to Dave for his skills and knowledge and Alex and Jeremy for taking time out of their weeks to lend a hand.

Cement in the post holes meant that the little boys and I had the fun adventure of driving Candace and Jim's truck (thank you!) to Layton to get this pre-mixed cement bad boy hooked up to the hitch.

I think this was possibly the first time I have ever pulled something, maybe not, but it's certaintly been more years than I can number since the last time. Not to mention that truck is a whooooooole lot bigger than it seems from the outside. It's like a Mary Poppins carpet bag truck.

I'll let you mull that analogy over for a second.

The thing has TWO mirror on each of it's side mirrors or else you would always run into people. It took a second to get used to that and I would have a mini panic attack when I would try to switch lanes and realize I could  not see around my blind spots. Then of course I would switch my brain from automatic to manual and realize the blazing thing has a total of FOUR side mirrors for that very reason.

 I never feared for my life. That thing is a tank. I was afraid I was going to crush someone else.

Once they hooked up the pre-mixed cement trailer I was instructed that I could only travel 35 mph and I was not to take it on the freeway under any condition. Truthfully, I wasn't too sad about that because although I had begun to hone my carpet bag truck driving skills a bit more practice at slower speeds and two lane roads was welcomed.

I am happy and pleased to report that we made it home with out anything interesting to record :)

1/2 yard of pre-mixed cement

Sanders was off playing somewhere and Beckham had just left for baseball practice.

Beckham was at baseball practice when I was taking these pictures and then I had to go to Young Women's . Thank you Meghan for watching the kids!!! That was a huge help. We really have the best kind of family.

It was too dark to take pictures of the finished product, but hand prints were made and names and a date were inscribed.

SO nice to have this step done!

Changes

Now that life has slowed down to a normal rush as opposed to crazy break neck speed, I've noticed changes.

My house is cleaner because of the new chore chart. Thank goodness! I am calmer for the same reason.

I've also thought about this little blog. My voice has changed over the years. I'm not sure I like that much. Then again, growing and changing aren't bad things as long as they are for the better.

I wonder if my voice has changed for the better.

I'm more guarded than when I first started. I don't like that part at all, but growing up means learning when and when not to spill your guts...I suppose.

Relationships have changed. Some for the better and some I wish I could turn back the clock.

We are doing a whole lot of this these days.

Karaia, Beckham, and Tennyson all have soccer on Thursdays at three different schools. Kevin is the coach of Beckham's team and Tennyson is too little to be left alone which means we try hard to enlist the help of a grandparent to cheer Karaia on, but often that little love of ours plays her games without family watching. It's very heart breaking for me. Thankfully, all of her friend's parents cheer for everyone on the team. It's something, but it's not what I would choose.

We got to help out a friend today which means having friends for the boys over. Usually when these particular boys get together with my particular boys you have to be on your A Game or your house or one of the boys will be destroyed. They are very well behaved as brothers, but the 4 of them together feed off  of the little boy energy oozing from their pores.

Today they were amazing. Still energetic and full of life and light, but it wasn't out of control energy. We would have loved to have them all day.

Simple

Today was simple.

Thank goodness for that.

No rushing. No stress. Calm and peace.

I'd forgotten how nice all that is.

Firsts

Today my little family and I were on time to church! That is a huge cause for celebration because 9:00am church has been I gigantic hurtle. Until today we had never been on time. Hooray!

We also had our first family store tonight that goes along with our new chore chart. The kids had a choice of turning in some of their tickets for items in the store or holding on to them to save up for bigger ticket items.

Karaia and Beckham chose to hold on to them. Tennyson also chose not to spend any tickets, but then cried for a half an hour about not getting anything today and how unfair it was that nobody would combine tickets with him so he could get the big ticket item right away. He is our immediate gratification kid. It was a huge, although painful, step in the right direction for him. I'm very proud of him.

Sanders went in knowing he was going to come out with something. He bought a butterfly net, but then about 20 minutes later came and asked to switch it to something different. I'm not sure the reason behind the switch, but he chose a flashlight and a lollipop and got a one ticket back.

I reminded the kids they could ask to earn tickets when they are on level two. We will see if that motivates some entrepreneurs this week.

Vanity will get you every time

On Wednesday night I put some eye cream around my eyes because I am getting old :)

Sad thing is my skin had an allergic reaction and the skin around my eyes puffed up. It wasn't super noticeable, I just looked a little tired, except when I smiled. THEN the skin in between the wrinkles I was trying to less was extra puffy which made the wrinkles even deeper.

I couldn't do anything except laugh at myself and try my best not to scratch my itchy eyes. 

That's what I get for being vain.

I will just embrace my laugh lines from now on.

Routines are best

While my personality shies away from routine, the more years I live the more I accept that routines help my life run smoothly.

Today had anything but a routine. I got a TON done. PYP will be part of SNAP, a blogger conference, and I've been getting everything gathered and ready for that. But the every day stuff got crammed into corners and I could tell it was harder for me to maintain the atmosphere I wanted.

I was so thankful for the new chore chart! It helped the kids stay on task. Although there was whining, they still got it done. Karaia and Beckham even set their alarms early so they would have more time to get to level 2!