Single Mom?

We are middle of the second week that Scott has been gone for AT.  Why is it so hard this time???!!!  I cannot seem to get caught up.  I have been staying up late just to get dishes done and clean.  Then I have been up multiple times in the night with Samuel and sometimes the other kids for bad dreams or wetting the bed.  Uggh!  I finally got sick with a sinus infection.  I have totally lost my voice.  It could be worse though.  It could be so bad I can't hardly function but thankfully it is not.  It is mostly an annoyance because I am low on energy, produce voluminous amounts of mucus, and now matter how I talk I always sound mad because of my voice.  I would really just like to whisper or not talk at all.  I have been feeling like a failure as I am having a hard time keeping the LeanMoms menu and workouts.  I cannot keep up with meals, cleaning, laundry, I don't spend time with the kids like I should.  Samuel never gets walks.  Has he even been on a hike?  What is going on?  Rubie is mad at me ALL time.  No matter what I do or say, it hurts her feelings and she goes on a rampage of how no one loves her or likes her or she is stupid or idiot or some foolishness like that.  Sunday morning she was really on one.  Thank goodness I was in the right frame of mind not to react.  I just kept a positive attitude.  She wouldn't let me do her hair, and finally when I did then she messed it up.  She finally put a dress on but then wanted to wear tights that didn't match and her old scuffed shoes and it wasn't just that she wanted to wear them but she told me she did it on purpose because it looked bad and she wanted to look ugly.  Gradually her attitude changed and she participated in the Father's Day songs in sacrament meeting (Eric didn't because Scott wasn't there) and she did her talk very well.  By the end of the day she told me she loved me.  But Monday morning it started all over again.  Yikes.

We have gotten into a rhythm of doing our workbooks and school review after breakfast then doing devotional in Samuel's room right before I put him down for a nap.  We have t-ball and coach pitch baseball games M-Th.  It doesn't seem like we have much stuff but we do.  Rubie still has dance until her performance on the 17th.  Yesterday she had to be to dance from 11-12, then 3-4.  Thursday there are pictures in the morning.  Monday she has rehearsal for 3+ hours and then the performance.  I decided to take a break from karate for the summer and I'm sooo glad.  I would be really hating it.

Saturday I decided to do something fun with the kids.  I called Beth and Andy to see if they wanted to join us.  We went to This is the Place Heritage Park.  It was really great!  I'll go there again.  We really enjoyed our time there.  I'm just trying to hang on each day and not drown.  Will I ever make any progress?  Despite that I am trying to be happy and positive and enjoy the moments of the day.  I love my children and they bring me so much joy.  I just wonder how people do it--it seems years ago that moms always had help with meals, shopping, cleaning, and child care.  How can I get help?  It seems that young girls aren't really willing to have a job like that anymore.

Rubie's primary talk

On Sunday June, 9, Rubie was assigned to give a talk in primary about baptism using a scripture found in 2 Nephi.  This is her talk:

When Jesus visited the Nephites in America he commanded, "Come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."

I will follow Heavenly Father's Plan by being baptized and confirmed.  Jesus teaches that children shouldn't be baptized until they are old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong.  The scriptures say this is age eight.  I am looking forward to the day I can get baptized.

When I do get baptized I will wear white and my Dad who has the priesthood will baptize me.  I will make a covenant with Heavenly Father which is a promise between me and Heavenly Father.

I will promise to remember Jesus.  Keep His commandments.  And take on me the name of Christ.  Taking on the name of Christ means that I will try to live like Jesus and do what He wants instead of what the world wants.

After I get baptized I will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost is part of the Godhead along with Heavenly Father and Jesus.  He has many jobs like comforting us and helping us know what is true and right.

I am preparing now to be baptized by learning about Jesus and His gospel.  I practice making right choices and listening to the Spirit.  I know that Heavenly Father wants me to follow Jesus Christ's example by being baptized.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

From Eric to Uncle Emmanuel

2 June 2013

Dear Uncle Emmanuel,

We have a workout room.  I can practice karate in it.  For the summer I will play coach pitch baseball and soccer.

Sincerely,

Eric

June update

Samuel is now approaching 7 months.  He is sooooo cute!  Two Sundays ago he began saying Mama.  It was actually on Mother's Day.  Scott was gone to Moab with his Relay team running the Moab Red Rock Relay.  I was busy getting us all ready for church, getting my lesson set, and getting us ready to go to Mom and Dad's after Church. I have a calling now of teaching the 12 and 13 year olds in Sunday school with Sister Atwood.  There are 14 in the class.  All great kids, it's just that there are 11 boys and only 3 girls and with all those kids in a small classroom--well, it gets a little loud and a lot chaotic.  But so far I'm loving it.  The church has new curriculum to follow called Come Follow Me and I really like teaching this format.  In my mind I'm teaching future missionaries and I try to approach each lesson like that.  I did ask who was planning on going on a mission and every single hand in the room went up.  This is a great ward with very strong youth.

Samuel can now sit up for a few minutes on his own.  He loves to sit and play with toys.  It's so cute to watch his jerky movements and efforts to try to get toys and control and manipulate them.  Eric and Rubie can totally entertain him and make him laugh and at the same time terrify and annoy him.  He has started to get mad when they kiss and hug and poke him too much.  He is now on 3 weeks of eating food.  I still don't think he likes it.  He tolerates sweet potatoes and butternut squash but does not want to eat the acorn squash.  I keep hoping he likes it because I'm not sure I am producing enough milk for him to be full.  Although his little body says otherwise.  He is chubby!!!  I have had to bring him to my Sunday School class because Scott has been gone or has Sunday School Presidency responsibilities.  All the kids in the class want to hold him.  They are cute with him.

Eric and Rubie are done with school for the summer.  They have been so looking forward to going to the pool but the two days after Memorial Day have been cool, cloudy, and rainy.  Memorial Day was sunny and nice but both Scott and I wanted to bike and then we went to the Tullet's for a barbeque.  Also Sunny and James Lawrence and their kids were there.  I am following a diet and exercise program called Lean Mom's.  I am really liking it and in just one week I lost 6 pounds and inches off my arms, legs, waist, and hips.  I am confident that if I can stick with it by the end of the summer I should be well on my way to getting back to pre-pregnancy shape.

Scott is going to AT this weekend.  He will be gone for 18 days.  I need to get some play date trades set up for the kids so I don't get too overwhelmed.  We are stopping karate for the summer and Rubie's dance will be done in a couple weeks after her performance.  They are going to be playing t-ball, coach pitch ball, and soccer for the summer.  Between those and things like the library, pool, museums, and play dates; hopefully some hiking and camping we should be able to stay comfortably busy.  I hope to catch up on some projects that I am way far behind in not the least of is this blog.

Letter to Noah from Eric

(All written by Eric)

Sunday May 26, 2013

Dear Noah,

My school is out for the summer.  You and Max are coming to my house.  We will play with Fay and Kimball too.  On my last day of school I had a field trip.  We went to a park.  Noah are you playing soccer and baseball?  I am.

Sincerely, Eric

Letter to Aunt Brandee from Rubie

26 May 2013

(First part written in Rubie's handwriting),

Dear Aunt Brandee
We got a new trampoline.  My Dad too us to see the movie the Croods.

(Now in Scott's handwriting)
We loved it.  One part was scary where the ground was breaking.  I was scared, and I wanted to sit on my daddy's lap.  I like your house because it is pretty.  We love to jump on our new tramp.  We have some friends in our neighborhood.  I love you.  I think your back yard is awesome.

I love you Aunt Brandee,

Rubie(signed her own name)

Letter from Aunt Jessica to Rubie

May 10, 2013

Dear Rubie,
What a fun surprise it was to receive your letter in the mail.  It made me feel so special that you would take the time to write me such a nice letter.  It sounds like you have a lot of Barbie's to play with.  When I was your age I had two Barbie's that were really special to me that I had fun playing with.  One of them was "Jazzercise" Barbie.  She had long blonde straight hair and came with a cool blue leotard and ballet/dance shoes so she could dance and work out to stay in good shape.  My other Barbie was part of a Rock group called "Barbie and the Rockers", she was awesome!  She rocked tons of blonde curly hair and wore cool funky clothes.  I always had fun mixing and matching her different outfits.

I'm glad that your dad took you to see the Croods.  I remember seeing the previews for it on TV and thought that it seemed really funny.  It's always fun to go see a movie that you can laugh at.  I think that's cool that you have a trampoline...I bet you can jump really high.  Maybe one day I can come to your house and jump on the trampoline with you...I think that would be fun.

I have a dog named Charlie.  He is small but he can bark really loud. Charlie likes it when we throw his Frisbee and he can jump really high and catch it in his mouth.  Charlie also loves going to the park.  He can run really fast and loves chasing the squirrels and the little bunnies that live at the park.  Maybe one day you can come to visit you can bring your swimming suit so we can go swimming.

I think you dress really cool!  Whenever I see pictures of you I can tell that you like to take the time to put together really cute outfits.  The way you accessorize your "look" is very original.

I work at Belvoir Federal Credit Union.  A credit union is like a bank...it is a place where people can open a savings account to save money.  I printed this letter on the paper that we have at our Credit Union so you can see our company logo.

Summer will be here soon, maybe in your next letter you can tell me all the fun things you have planned!  Love you Rubie!  You are such a sweet little girl!

Aunt Jessica