Cleaning therapy

To relieve stress this week, I cleaned out our proverbial cobwebs. Kitchen cupboards and drawers, pulled out the fridge and stove, under all the furniture, dusted the ceiling fans, etc. Not that the regular cleaning is in perfect order, but underneath, we are spotless! It's like wearing clean underwear with muddy clothes on, I guess, but I do like the feeling of knowing those spots are clean.

Peace

I've been thinking recently about how happiness is a choice. MOstly because I've been pretty stressed out lately, and unfortunately, my inner turmoil has spilled out into my relationships with Trevor and the kids, etc. I know I've been really uptight and demanding. ON a particularly bad day as I felt things spiralling out of control--and everyone's tension levels going up and up, a little voice quietly said to me, "Happiness is a choice." I've heard this several times in conference, Relief Society lessons, etc. But that one line came back to me this week. Anyway, I've been thinking about the fact that I can still feel happy and peaceful even when outside circumstances are distressing. The only problem is....easier said than done. I do think that I've been calmer, and more patient and peaceful inside just thinking about the fact that I could choose to be happy, or not. And wouldn't you have to really be crazy to choose to be stressed out and depressed on purpose?

On another note...kids had good soccer games today. Max can run so FAST! He's down the field in a heartbeat. He plays hard, that's for sure--as evidence by the fact that he falls down at least 10 times as often as any other kid out there. Sam got to be the goalie today. Sam is SO determined, and a perfectionist like Emily. Any time a ball got past him, he was really upset by it. His coach and I kept telling him he was doing great--just to keep trying, but he got so frustrated. I wish he wouldn't be so hard on himself. Just like his big sister. Emily actually scored her first goal ever today. She played well on defense, too. When the ball went in the net, I saw her wipe away a few tears. I think it meant a lot to her to score a goal.

We came home and listened to conference, and then rented a movie to watch while Trevor went to the stake center for the priesthood session.

Kid Quotes

Sam is thinking about dying this morning. I heard him asking Emily about it this morning before she left for school. I remember the other kids thinking about this a lot at about the same age. Anyway, he came in to talk to me about it, and I talked to him about Heavenly Father's plan, and how he would live a long, long time before that happened, etc. But then he said, "Mom, I'm just going to have too many birthdays and then die!" I guess that's one way of thinking about it. Too many birthdays...and to think I have another one coming up!

This morning while Max was practicing the piano, I would occasionally call in from the kitchen what a note was, or what hand position he needed, etc. After several of my interjections he said, "Mom, I do not need any help here!" Poor kid, it's rough taking lessons from your mother.

We've been working on helping Ginny say her "L" sounds--which she usually pronouces as "w's" So one day I was trying to help her say "leaf" So I said, "Ginny, can you say, L L L Leaf?" She promptly replied, "L L L Weaf!"

visit to Normal

At the last minute on Saturday, we ended up going with Trevor up to the Civil War band's concert in Illinois. It was close by Normal, so we visited some friends, and then I attended the Relief Society broadcast at church there. The best part was being able to visit with my friends from church there at the dinner that preceded the broadcast. It was a real boost, especially after being so stressed out lately. I love all those ladies so much. Their hugs were just what I needed! The broadcast was great too, and the theme of allowing Heavenly Father's love to be a part of your every day life was also exactly what I needed to hear.

On the way to the concert, we stopped for gas, and I took the kids in to use the bathroom. Well, I guess the car door blew shut, with the keys still inside. Bad luck and bad timing when we were already running late for Trevor's concert. We had to call a locksmith. Another $30. Bummer. But...we made it, even though we were late, and we did have a good time while we were up there.

Today was one of those really frustrating days as a mother. My kids spent practically all day in time out, and my blood pressure went steadily up and up. Which of course rubs off on the kids and starts the whole thing all over again. I had to call my sister for a little r and r inthe afternoon, after which I felt a little better. I have been deep cleaning for therapy. PUlling out all the kitchen appliances, rearranging cupboards, dusting ceiling fans, etc. Funny how you can do all that work, and the house doesn't look any better! At least it's clean UNDERNEATH!

girls night out

I went out to dinner with some friends last night at a local mexican restaurant. I really needed the outing. It had been a long time since I last got away for a bit. We talked for 3 hours, enjoyed food that someone else prepared, and came home rejuvenated in mind and spirit!

Preschool

We've started our preschool on the last two mondays. Kara and I are doing it again, with Leslie joining this year. It's fun to have a few more kids in the group. Last week Kara did a lesson on money with the bigger kids, and I did shapes activities with the littler ones. This week, I did clock and time activities with the older ones while Leslie did activities on animals. I think next week we are going to take advantage of the nice fall weather and take a walk at the nature reserve. It's kind of a lot of work when it's my turn to host and teach, but we really have a lot of fun, and it's fun to watch the kids learning and improving in their letters, numbers, and knowledge of how the world works. Sam and Ginny really look forward to it. They love bringing something to show and tell and wearing their backpacks. They also love showing their work to Daddy at the end of the day. Sam likes to have his own homework in the evenings while the big kids are doing their homework, so we've been getting in some extra practice on his letters, etc.
Fun to watch them grow!

A few more pics of Japanese festival

Japanese Festival

On Labor Day we went to this Japanese festival at the Botanical Garden. It was huge, and tons of people attended. We were able to see a lot of realy interesting demonstrations including sumo wrestling, Taiko drumming, martial arts, bonsai trees, origame, Japanese calligraphy, etc. We also tried some Japanese foods--mugicha (barley tea), cold sesame noodles, and okonomiyachi (sp?) which is a vegetable pancake. Trevor loved it all, of course, and the kids enjoyed tasting, but didn't love it. But the one thing we all loved was the Japanese soft drink which I can't remember the name of right now, but Trevor said it had yoghurt in it. It was fun to walk through the Japanese gardens together, too.

Various pics of kids

Sam's birthday pics