Week 3

We're more than halfway there!

Here's how Week 3 went...

Sunday 5/13 (Mother's Day): The boys let me sleep in! They played Legos and ate frozen waffles until I finally got out of bed at 8AM. Those kids are the best! O presented me with a variety of truly awesome things that he made for me at school. There was an "ice cream sundae" made out of bath salts, this terrific information sheet about me:

 And a book entitled "If Mom Had Three Arms"

 

("If Mom had 8 arms, she cold do londry faster" 

(...'she could do laundry faster'))

 

("If Mom had 4 arms, she could be the captain of the uoonivers."(...'universe')) 

("If Mom had 3 arms, she could be the only one in the wold to have 3 arns." (...'only one in the world to have 3 arms'))

We spent a little time making Grandma Lundgren and Aunt Alisa tissue paper flowers after which the monkeys put on a fabulous production of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" complete with costumes, costume changes, narration, action, humor, an intermission, and bows at the end. Was my favorite when O was the troll who declared, "I don't charge a dime. I don't charge a nickel. I'll just eat you up like a crunchy pickle!" or was it when he was the biggest Billy Goat Gruff and wore pink pants cut out of a piece of paper taped onto his bare legs? I don't know. They crack me up.

After church we drove down to Millburn to spend Mother's Day with my in-laws. The kids got to play with their cousins, and I was able to relax and visit. It was so nice. J had called his mom in the morning, so she was happy. He called me on the way home, so I was happy too.

Monday 5/14: Somehow I slogged through Monday on very little sleep and some raging cramps. (Sorry if that's TMI.) I managed to dejunk the storage room and guest bedroom. I was very glad to see bedtime at the end of that day.

Tuesday 5/15: H went on a preschool field trip from 8:15AM-2PM. I almost did not know what to do with myself! Dejunked the garage, ran 7.5 miles with a couple of friends, dejunked the garage some more. Piano, dinner, bed for the boys. My wonderful neighbor came over for a visit, after which I went to bed!

Wednesday 5/16: I visited with a friend in the morning, went out to lunch with two other friends in the afternoon. Had a little quiet time before kids came home from school and managed to get everyone through our crazy Wednesday happily. 

Thursday 5/17: H graduated from preschool by sitting on my lap and refusing to participate in the graduation ceremony. He didn't want his picture taken and wouldn't even let his buddy talk him into sitting with his class. The second the ceremony was complete, however, he jumped up and was his normal, hyper, delightful self. He is a great little kid! We took his buddy to Jamba Juice and all was well. Here he is with his buddy. I had to sneak a picture.
 
We had a nice, slow afternoon and evening, complete with leftovers for dinner, and then I headed off to Chorale when the sitter came. Apparently I offended at least a few people, probably more, while I was rehearsing my song, but I was really just too tired to care. Is that bad? I'll work on getting some rest and being more tactful. In my journal at night I wrote, "Feeling strong, capable, independent, vulnerable, exhausted." Pretty much sums up my day.

Friday 5/18: I had a little anxious time in the morning which I remedied by wandering around Walmart for an hour and a half. Ran into J's cousin there and had a nice visit in the cookie aisle. Spent a little OCD time sorting out all the randomly found screws in my house and garage into an organizer purchased at Walmart. Finished getting everything ready for Saturday's yard sale. After swimming, I dropped S off at a birthday party and took O and H out to dinner (J Dawg's -- I know. I'm ashamed of myself. But it's so yummy) and to Old Navy for flip flops. Home to put them to bed and wait for S while pretending to care that my lawn is crunchy and treating my garden tools with sandpaper and boiled linseed oil (Thanks, Martha Stewart!). S came home so happy from the party and gave me a full report. 

Saturday 5/19: We woke up early, set up the yard sale and concessions and settled in to wait. Turnout was pretty good and we had fun, so I'd say our yard sale was a success. We closed up a little early, ate some lunch, and then spent some of our earnings on seeing "The Lorax" at the dollar theater. Home again to play, weed, clean out the shed, eat chicken quesadillas, and put my tired monkeys to bed. Full and busy Saturday made even better when J called from camp at 17,000'. They are going to try for the summit tomorrow. Wish him luck!

This week the blessing that stands out the most has come through O. On Sunday, I made a note to read the scriptures with O every day. We hadn't been up until that point. Reading has been such a struggle for him that I haven't pushed it too hard. Well, I didn't tell O about my impression to read the scriptures daily with him. I forgot on Monday and Tuesday too, until he said, "Let's read my scriptures," as soon as we sat down to read his bedtime story. He reminded me again on Wednesday when I forgot again. Friday I finally remembered. It was just such a testimony to me of Heavenly Father's care for each of us. How else could O and I have the same thoughts around the same time? I'm grateful for that this week. 

So I have a week and a half to go. It may be even shorter. J really wants to come home as soon as possible and spend some time with us before he goes back to work in June. Can't wait to see my mountain man.