Talkeetna trip

Greetings from Anchorage! We made it!

We began our trip Monday morning. We left home at about 8 a.m., after getting Kaitlyn off to school. My dad had driven up to Snowflake with my mom Sunday night so that he could drive back down to the airport with us and then drive our truck to his house. Me made it to the airport close to noon and had lunch there before boarding our plane to Seattle. We had a good, sometimes bumpy 3 hour ride...but it was so cool to look out the window as we flew over the Grand Canyon....or the Snake river...or Mt. Rainer. I loved seeing all the trees and just couldn't get over how green everything is there! SO pretty! We had a hour lay over...which was GOOD because we were told that our gate number was changed...so we took the tram over to the other terminal...only to find out that the gate was back at the terminal we were originally at....so we took the tram back and still had time to grab a bite to eat before boarding our plane at 6 p.m. The flight from Seattle to Anchorage was about 2 1/2 hours out over the Pacific Ocean. Let me tell you...I paid extra close attention when they went over all the pre-flight safety stuff...and I read the pamphlet and tried to memorize what to do if we had to land in the ocean! :) It was very cloudy....so that's about all we could see...clouds and we weren't by a window for this flight...a man watching cartoons on his lap top was.....but as we got closer to Anchorage, we could see the shore lines and mountains......we landed, got our luggage and took the shuttle here to our hotel....the Howard Johnson....not the nicest hotel or most comfortable bed...but it's a place to lay our heads! It's SO strange for it to not get dark until around 10 p.m.!

So...we got up this morning, walked down and bought a quick breakfast at a cafe down the road and then we boarded a bus to go on our group tour. (We are with the "Fun For Less" tour group....most of the people are from Utah. There is a couple from Riverside, CA (that's near where I grew up) and another couple with the last name of Barrett...which is my maiden name.) ANYHOW...the average age on the bus was about 60! Maybe not....but Brandon and I+ his siblings + in laws are the youngest people. We drove through Wasilla(sp?), that's where Sarah Palin is from...we saw her house across the lake. I told Brandon that we're going to move there...they have a Target...and it's so pretty there...what more could you want from a place? Well...we didn't stop in Wasilla. We keep on driving...and all of a sudden the tour guide and bus driver were all excited and telling us to look out the window to our left because "You can see Denali". Well....I had no clue what they were talking about. BUT...they finally explained to us about Denali...aka, Mt. McKinley. It is a mountain and it has the highest peak in North America. They told us that it is so high it creates it's own weather and it is usually hidden in the clouds and only 20-30 percent of all the summer visitors get to see it. So...we snapped a few pictures...then continued on to Talkeetna. (I love all the Alaskan town names!) In Talkeetna, we visited a gift shop then took the bus down to the river....I am not sure what the name was....but we boarded these jet boats and took a river tour. (OH...and by the way...we got very little rain...just some sprinkles...the weather today was beautiful...so glad the forecast was wrong!) The water in the river is mostly from glacier run off. The glaciers melt in the summer and help feed the river. So the water was like 38 degrees. But the boat was covered...sort of like a green house...lots of windows on the sides and ceiling....so it was warm in there. So anyways...we rode up the river a ways...stopping to look at the bald eagle...speeding past a bear in the bushes...(I guess we were supposed to yell out when we saw some wild life and they'd stop the boat to look at it...but we didn't know that so by the time the guide heard that we'd seen a bear...it was too late to go back.)....then we saw a huge bald eagles nest up in the trees. I think they said it's been there for 10-15 years....I don't remember...but it was big...way up at the top of a tree. Then we docked and went on a little trail tour. We saw replicas of places and things the natives to the area would have used only about 110 years ago. Then we saw a trappers cabin and cache. I have pictures...but no USB cord...I of course forgot to pack it...but oh well. Then we got on the boat again and zipped back down the river and disembarked! Oh! I forgot to say that when we were on the little trail tour...our guide carried a shot gun...which I was very glad for because I was having a hard time trying to figure out a way to use my camera to defend myself from a bear! Did you know that if a brown bear is after you...you can climb a tree to get away...but if it's a black bear...then you better try to put up a fight because they will climb the tree to get you. ANYHOW.... By now it was about 2 p.m.. The tour bus took us to the Talkeetna Lodge...which is a really nice place with a great view of a mountain range...plus we also ate lunch but had to hurry so that we could get to the Iditarod Headquarters. We got there and took a little one minute loop pulled by a dog sled team. There's no snow right now...so the dogs pull a 4 seater big wheeled "sled". Those dogs are fast and powerful! All of the dogs that pulled us have been in Iditarod race before. The Iditarod is the dog race that goes from Willow, AK to Nome...it is about 1100 miles long. The fastest time was about 8 days and some odd hours+minutes. We also watched a little video about the race...and it looks like a grueling race! Our tour guide said it cost about $4000 to compete in the race...but if you're the first to Nome, you win about $100,000....plus they have prizes for those who are first to the different check points. They said that the dogs run about 100 miles a day!... After Willow, we boarding the bus again and came back to the hotel. We spent a LOT of time on the bus today. Oh! We also saw a full rainbow from the bus!.....(back to what I was saying)....This seems to be a very nice group to tour with as far as friendly people go. We all took turns introducing ourselves while we were on the bus. There were 40-50 of us on there...and that's half our group. The rest are coming today. SO...we got here, to Anchorage...then a bunch of us family went to look for a place to eat dinner. Food is NOT cheap here! We walked a ways and found Uncle Joe's Pizza. I had the best pizza ever! It was so yummy with this creamy garlicky ranch sauce instead of marinara and it also had broccoli and tomato...which doesn't really sound good...but it was SOOO good. Then we went to JCPenny (there's a mall close to our hotel) and got a back pack because that's another thing we forgot to bring and it'll really come in handy when we are at port and able to go one shore.

SO....it's probably time for me to get ready for bed. It's 11 p.m. We have to get our luggage out the be stowed on the bus by 9 a.m. tomorrow morning...then we will have until 12:30 p.m. until we take the bus over to Whittier, AK where we will board our ship!

I have talked to the kids a few times. They are having fun with Grandma. She took them shopping yesterday and bought patterns and material for their Halloween costumes. Kaitlyn is going to be a cowgirl. Addie, who has been saying she wants to be a witch, changed her mind, and she's going to be a fairy....and Weston is going to be a cowboy. My mom is so excited to make their costumes...and I think she already has then cut out. That woman is AMAZING I tell ya!

Well...I am going to go get ready for bed! Sorry there are no pictures...but I will post them as soon as we get home...in a week!

Take Care!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

We're leaving tomorrow morning to fly to Anchorage, Alaska....and neither one of us has packed a THING. I have been too busy trying to NOT think about the cruise...that NOW it's here...and I have no motivation to pack. Don't get me wrong. I know Brandon and I will have a great time together.....and we're going to make some great memories with Brandon's mom and siblings+in laws....not to mention all the wonderful things I have heard about the food they serve....but the thought of being out in the ocean...where I can't get to an airport quickly and get home to my kids if they need me is killing me! I love and trust my mom like NO other and I am so greatful that she's able to come stay with out kids....but I am still very worried and sad to be leaving.

Plus, we just looked at the forecast for all of our ports...and guess what!? They all have RAIN for the next 10 days...except for Vancouver Canada where we disembark and go home...except for Brandon who will stay there and work for a few days. I LOVE the rain....but it just makes me even more nervous about being out at sea with a storm or something.

I know what you are all thinking, "Cry me a river and get over it!" I know because I think that too.....

Just PRAY FOR ME!

I thought I'd share this (click on "this" then watch the youtube video)...I just came across it as I was looking for an article online for my Laurel lesson. It's a good message.

Did anyone else wake up to the sound of a "meeehiinggg" baby goat!? Lovely sound at 6 a.m.! :) I HAVE to once again....chuckle at "country life". I don't really think of living in Snowflake as "country"...more "small town"....but either way....what I am about to tell you would not happen in the more highly populated areas of any state. (I think). SO....if you have ever been to my house...you know that the majority of the people who live of my street don't enjoy yard work...and it shows in the amount of weeds that overtake their property. BUT....these non-lawn-mowers are getting resourceful! One neighbor has employed two goats to maintain his yard...and when he runs low on weeds (key word is "weeds"...there's very little grass)...he takes his goats and ties them up in other peoples weedy yards...(with their permission of course). He even tied them up down the street near the road where the weeds were getting out of control! But he's not the only one! I know of another family whose goat tenant works solely in their back yard...you don't see that one much. But this baby goat? It's a new one. Our next door neighbors brought this little one home yesterday and it just "mmmeeehhhheeeeddd" for the longest time! I imagine that he was saying something similar to what my kiddos say when they don't like what I fix for dinner! "Do I have to eat all of it?" I should really take pictures...and their little Pug dog just sat there staring at the goat like, "What are you and why are you here?"

...Now don't think that I am being judgemental talking about other peoples less than maintained yards. I am sure they have their reasons. Ours gets out of control sometimes too! Maybe we need a goat????

recent snap shots....

Hooray for the blow up swimming pool! The kids have had so much fun in it this summer! Their favorite is doing "cannon balls!"
Brynn came over to play today! She and Addie were little fish the whole time!
Addie wanted to take a shower by herself this morning and somehow that turned into a bath with Weston...the floaties were just a safety precaution! j/k They wanted to wear them...so I let them!

Love this...

...and this...the horse has wheels under it's hooves...and Weston likes to "ride 'em cowboy" on it!

Addie wanted her hair curled the other day...I did it for her and she loved checking herself out! I wish I knew how to curl my own hair.....

My dad cracks me up. I just called over to my parents house and he answered the phone. I heard a baby (my nephew) crying in the back ground and asked my dad,

"What are you doing?"

Him: "Feeding Daniel" (my sister had knee surgery yesterday and is still in the hospital....so my daddy-o is babysitting)

Me: "Oh...Is mom home?"

Him: "Hold on while I put the bottle back in his mouth." (crying stops and dad comes back on the phone...) "It's kind of hard to hold a baby and feed them a bottle and hold the phone at the same time."

Me: "I'll let you go...tell mom I called"

And I just had to chuckle! I wanted to say something like, "No it's not....", or "Try talking on the phone while breast feeding and eating your lunch at the same time."....or "SEE! Being a mom is hard!"

I love my dad, and I love Brandon, but for some reason, seeing them have a hard time taking care of kids just makes me feel good! :) It doesn't happen often, but when it does it usually has something to do with their inability to do 3+ things at the same time...or hold a phone between their shoulder and with ear!

....now don't ask me to drive a big truck or create a budget for a large company though....

This is from a book I am reading, "Fine Old High Priest" (it's a short (140 pages) fiction novel)....I accidentally read it's sequel first, "A Wise Blue Autumn"....which I thought was fantastic....heart warming....comforting and just a good book. The author is Donald S. Smurthwaite. ANYHOW...I am really enjoying this book and would share so many parts of it if I thought I could do that legally without being blamed for plagiarism (sp?).....but I will share this part....

...these are just some thoughts that the character Marcus has while sitting in sacrament meeting.

"We make an error when we compare ourselves to others, and we make an error when we think about the idyllic lives others seem to lead......We all have problems, we all have challenges, and because we are reminded so much to be perfect, some families try hard to construct a facade that perfection has been achieved within the walls of their home. I think that perfection in this life means that you are a complete person, one who tries hard, endures, repents, forgives, doesn't fudge on tithing, doesn't knowingly do very wrong things, and is nice almost all of the time, and is a good home teacher or visiting teacher to boot."

True? It is to me. I need to be reminded often about not comparing myself; looks, abilities, the way my kids behave, etc.... to other people. This is not good...it doesn't bring out good feelings...no matter if we think we are better or worse off than someone...neither of those feelings are good....but it's so hard to NOT do! And another hard thing is to give yourself credit for what you do that IS good.

Okay...but let me mention this....since it just proves that you can "win" at something while having fun and without trying. We had a ward party last night....adults only....we ate Mexican food, listened to Mexican music, talked, laughed and played! YUP...we played! We were assigned groups and we went around to different rooms and played musical chairs (yes, adults did...some of which are older than my parents...and still, they have very good musical chair skills....) we played a game...I don't know what it is called....I will call it "Retreat"....but I will not explain it because it would take too long, but I will know what I am talking about years from now when I read this (if the Lord grants me such a memory...Alzheimer's runs in my family...no joke....), and we played that game where you have to close your eyes and pick tiny safety pins out of a bowl of rice...(It's dang hard.....Uncle Dean...who was probably the oldest guy there, has a patch on one eye and doesn't have all of his fingers did the best at this game!) Then we had to write as many words as we could from a phrase that was written on the chalk board. The phrase was "I love to party". After this we added up our points. The person with the most points won...and YOUR'S TRULY had 78 which made me the winner and granted me and my group first dibs on dessert!

So....is there only one way to "win"? And forget about games, I am talking about life. Is there only one way to be a good friend? parent? spouse?...a good anything? NO! If we all tried to be just like who/what we thought was best...we'd just make ourselves nuts. Sometimes we think we are going to go nuts trying to figure out who we are and what we are good at...and to feel good about that even if nobody else is patting you on the back telling you that what you are doing is the best they have ever seen...or even close it mediocre. Do we need praise from our peers? No. It's nice...but whose praise should we really want?

ANYHOW....I think I am bored and trying to avoid fixing dinner and Brandon is napping and the kids are doing who knows what and so I am rambling on here like I know what I am talking about. It's one thing to say something but another thing to do it! Right?

What do you all think?

A message from my pal Jill:

"PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE vote for me????
ok. so yesterday i saw that www.ebsiwebsites.com is having an AMAZING contest.
the winner gets an AMAZING website + logo package!! (which i would LOVE to have to help me promote my photography better!!)
well today my WONDERFUL bff kelly wrote a poem in my honor + nominated me!
PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEASE go vote. and read the poem. PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP?
http://www.ebsiwebsites.com/_blog/EBSI_Main_Blog/
and if you really love me you could post on your blog or facebook or whatever too! :)
AND to thank you all this weekend i'll do an awesome giveaway!! :)"

okay it's me again (Jennifer)...so...if you wanna help make Jill's day and put a big smile of her face then go vote for her!

Free at LAST!

My dad called me today with some of the BEST news I have heard in a LONG time! He told me that his dad (my Grandpa Barrett) is "free at last!" CANCER FREE that is! He was diagnosed with cancer last October. He had a softball sized tumor on the back of his neck, in a place that made surgery too risky. He started chemo just before Thanksgiving....after several rounds of that...the cancer cells weren't gone....so he had several rounds of radiation....and the caner was still there...then he had a little more chemo. My Grandpa is one of the healthiest people I know! He's 83 for crying out loud and having cancer was like only the 2nd time in his life that he's been given serious medical attention. When he first went to his oncologist (doesn't that word just make you cringe?) he filled out his paperwork and turned it into the receptionist. Then she called him up to the window...thinking that he was just another absent minded geriatric patient and told him that he had forgotten to fill out the part where you list the medications you are on. But unlike most people his age....my Grandpa had NO medications to list. This guy is awesome. He works out every day, takes vitamins, you name something that might help you be healthy (besides not eating a big In-N-Out burger+milk shake) and I bet he does it or has tried it. And that was before cancer. He's kept it up all throughout this experience. I know that when he first found out about the cancer...he was feeling really low. He's not used to feeling sick and unable to do all the things he likes to do which includes working at the Orange County Fair taking school kids on tours of Centennial Farm. He LOVES being able to do that and I am SO thrilled that he still can! I have prayed and prayed for his cancer to go away. I called him to tell him how happy I am and he told me..."Things happen in the Lords time, not ours. Sometimes he lets us suffer first." So true...about so many things. I just can't tell you how HAPPY I am that it was in the Lord's plan for my Grandpa to be "free"! He told me that he "has a good 10,000 miles left to go....or at least until his warranty is up...whenever that is." And that he is just gonna "keep on keeping on." :)

ANYHOW! I just had to share that great news!

Well...today is the day I have been dreading since the beginning of summer break. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Kaitlyn is at school right now. We ended up driving her there because the bus came at 7:15 a.m......about 8 minutes too soon. Seriously...I hope they are a little later tomorrow because I don't want to have to wake up kids to take Kaitlyn to school everyday. Today wasn't too bad because Addie was already awake due to the fact that she'd had a little accident and had to be cleaned up. Weston would have slept another hour or more....but he's been in a good mood so I wont (or shouldn't) complain! Kaitlyn wanted her hair curled this morning...otherwise we probably wouldn't have missed the bus....but it was worth it to have her feel good about the way she looked on her first day of first grade. She got her hair cut last week....short. She had made up her mind that she wanted it short...and so I took her before she had a chance to back out! I have been wanting her to cut her hair just because it's so much easier to style! Well....that was Tuesday. Come Wednesday morning...she was hating life. She cried to me for a half hour about how her hair cut was a "disaster" and that she wanted her long hair back. She mourned the WHOLE day...seriously! I have been there though....having been on the receiving end of many hair cuts that were much shorter than I wanted...I could completely relate to her and I told her that a lot. She asked me if I'd go get my hair cut shorter than hers....and I had to draw the line of just how far I was going to let this sympathy thing go! Well...it's been almost a week, and even though Kaitlyn still misses her long hair and prays that her hair grows back fast... she's gotten used to the new cut and if she were being honest...she'd say something like "I like it now... but still want my long hair back." ANYHOW....back to the topic of school! I took the kids down to the school Thursday and we found Kaitlyn's classroom and even met her teacher, Mrs. Taylor. Now, she's at school until 2:20 p.m. That seems like such a long time! Adelin and Weston are sure to drive me crazy until they learn how to play together without Kaitlyn around to be the ring leader. We all miss her...well....I guess I can't speak for everyone....but it makes me want to cry that she's in first grade...all day. After I dropped her off at school I drove past to see if she made it in alright. She was walking up the steps...by herself...I know she has plenty of friends and cousins at school and that she's having a blast...but seeing her walk up those stairs with her back to me made me just want to get out, run over to her and give her a big hug and tell her I love her a million times! I don't know WHAT I am going to do when she goes to college...or worse...gets married! I will need therapy! These are all things you want your kids to do....they are good for them to do, they are experiences that they need to have in this life...because that's what life is all about....experiences. Sometimes you think of life as a list of things that are going to happen: birth, first smile, first tooth, crawling, walking, talking, going to preschool, kindergarten, losing your first tooth, then every other grade until graduation, then college...and in there are other things like giving your first talk in Primary, then Sacrament Meeting, then being baptized, going to YW/YM, then through the Temple, a mission, being sealed and so on.....these are all things on our list of life that are good...we want them to happen...but for some reason, when they happen to our kids....our first reaction is to be sad and mourn that our child is growing up....just as they should. Maybe by being a parent, and watching our kids grow up...we feel a little of what Heavenly Father felt when we left our Home at birth. He probably kissed us and hugged us and told us that He loves us a million times and then said something like, "It makes me sad, but you need to go. You can't learn anymore here. I promise I will be here when you need me. Don't forget that." Just like we do when you have to let go of our kids...little by little...one first day of school at a time...we learn...and they learn... and that is what life is all about.

Our mini-vacation

Last week, Brandon and I decided that we needed to take a mini family vacation. We couldn't decided where to go....we didn't really want to go to the Valley...because it's just too hot there right now. We thought of just going up to Pinetop or Lakeside to a hotel with a swimming pool just so that the kids could swim all day Saturday....but that didn't work out.....then we thought about driving to Albuquerque, NM for the weekend....but changed our minds and went to Sedona instead. Actually....we stayed in Camp Verde because hotel rates are much cheaper there. We left Friday night. We ate dinner in Payson then got back on the road again. We only saw one elk on our drive! We got to our hotel at around 9:30 p.m. We wasted no time...changed into our swim suits and headed down to the pool. We mostly stayed in the spa...because the pool wasn't heated. I think we got to bed a little before midnight that night. Saturday morning we slept in. Brandon went down and got food for us from the complimentary breakfast. It is a MUST to stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast when you have kids. We've gone to nicer hotels that don't and totally regretted it. Anyhow....after breakfast we went down to the pool again. We swam for a good hour or more. When it got too hot, we went inside, showered off, changed and headed to Sedona. We got there and ate lunch, then went to down town and walked through the shops, ate yummy Popsicles and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We stayed there for almost 2 1/2 hours. We got back in the van and Kaitlyn's flip flop broke! Perfect timing! We headed over to the little outlet mall in Oak Creek and bought one of Gap's last pair of clearance flip flops! I was so glad they had a cheap pair! Then Brandon and I checked out a few other stores. We got some good deals for Brandon. I got some pants for the cruise. You can't wear jeans in the dining hall...and I didn't own any pants that aren't jeans! Well...we left the outlet mall and found some dinner at Wendy's...then went to the grocery store to get things for a picnic the next day...then it was back to the hotel for another dip in the pool before bed. We hadn't packed church clothes, so on Sunday we slept in like lazy sinners, then packed up and left. Honestly...it was a real lesson to us that day. We decided that the next time we go on a weekend trip, we will take our church clothes even if we don't know where a church building is and try to find one because it just didn't feel right not going to church. So, anyhow....on the way home, we kept looking for a good place to have a picnic. We had thought that the Tonto Natural Bridge just would be a good spot. We started driving down to it....but I just couldn't handle the mountain road. It was SUPER steep and was just making me too panicky....so we turned around and kept on driving. We made it to Payson and then drove around on some back streets that we normaly don't go down and we found a beautiful little lake and across the way was a park with picninc tables and a play ground. We ate our lunch then let the kids play for a little while. After that....we loaded up and headed for home! It was good to get home and just sit and relax for a while. Then we had dinner and got the kids ready for bed. Brandon gave all the kids Father's blessings because Kaitlyn was starting school today....and Addie wanted a blessing too because she's going to start preschool when we get home from Alaska...and Weston wanted a blessing because he's just cute!

So....that pretty much sums up our mini vacation! We are glad we did it. It was fun, relaxing, and I think we made some good memories!

These pink havelina's were outside the "Pink Jeep Tours" office.

Doesn't that little one loot like it's sniffing Kaitlyn's head? I love how Addie posed too!The kids loved this little water feature.

Hmmm....now I know why Kaitlyn's flip flop broke!

And this is just one of the many great views of the red rocks!

"Mamma"

I have to write this down before Weston stops doing it and I forget.

More often than not, before Weston leaves to go anywhere I am not going (outside to play usually) he tells me, "Be good mama". Also, when he is talking to me, sometimes he starts and ends what he's telling me with, "Mama". For example, he just came inside and told me, "Mama, I see bug outside Mama". Sometimes he doesn't start with "mama"....but he always ends what he's saying to me that way! He sometimes forgets and says it to Brandon too!

9 years ago...I woke up with curlers in my hair and took a nice long bath.

Today...I woke up with my little boys foot in my face...and I still haven't taken a shower.

9 years ago...I skipped breakfast

Today...I am serving up bowls of cereal, sippy cups of juice and milk and buttering toast for three hungry kiddos.

9 years ago...My mom and aunt Cheryl did my hair in a french twist with curls on top and my cousin Shannon did my make up.

Today...I throw my hair up in a pony tail and only take the time for make up when I am not running late for something!

9 years ago...I wasn't nervous at all. The day seemed more natural than anything I have ever chosen to do.

Today...I sometimes wonder if I am doing things right for my husband and kids.

9 years ago...My mom helped me into my beautiful white beaded and sequenced dress....then we realized I forgot to put on my nylons and I had to hold my dress over my head while my mom helped me put them on.

Today...I order clothes online and wear them even if I don't really think they look as good in person as they did on the computer....and I only wear nylons on cold winter Sundays.

9 years ago...Brandon and I looked at each other over the alter with excitement, love, and maybe a little apprehension.

Today...we look at each other and try to remember what it was like to not feel tired, over worked and in need of a date night...if only we could find a good baby sitter.

9 years ago...We got married.

Today...We would do it again if given the chance.


*Also...Happy Anniversary to Skye and Kyle yesterday and Angela and Kevin today...and Happy Birthday to my father-in-law who isn't here....thanks for letting us be married on your 65th birthday...it gives us something happy to celebrate today now that you are gone.*

The Bride and Groom haven't seen these yet....but I thought it would be fun to put a few up on the blog anyways! :)

Don't they just look SO happy and in love!? That's the BEST part about a wedding...seeing the couple TOTALLY lost in eachother!

stuff.

So....we enjoyed a busy weekend! NaElle's wedding Friday and then a baptism for an old neighbor on Saturday....then church yesterday! This is our LAST week of summer vacation. School starts next Monday. We are all set as far as school clothes and new shoes go. Kaitlyn wants to get her hair cut...but that can always wait. I am not looking forward to being back on a schedule yet. I have enjoyed not worrying about what time the kids get to bed and not having to wake anyone up in the mornings. It's going to be wierd having Kaitlyn gone all day. She's very excited to start 1st grade though! I need to get a preschool group together for Adelin too. I want to take turns teaching like I did with Kaitlyn when she was Adelin's age. It will be good for Addie. She's ready to learn. It's going to be interesting to see how the relationship between Weston and Addie changes with it just being the two of them at home to entertain eachother. Addie loves to play with Kaitlyn. I have a feeling she's going to miss her sister.

This month already feels stressful and it just started. We have school starting, me trying to get a preschool group together plus taking care of everything that needs to get done so we can go on our cruise. Who would have thought going on a cruise would be so stressful? I have stressed about this cruise from day one. I hope I will be able to enjoy myself. I hate leaving my kids and I hate spending lots of dollars to go a vacation that they can't join us on. We haven't been able to take a family vacation this year because of it and it's bummed me out. But....I on the bright side, my mom will be watching our kids...and she is the ONLY person I could leave them with and NOT have to worry about her being burdened. She genuinely loves every second she spents with our kids and they can't get ENOUGH "Grandma time"...so it'll be a real treat for them to get to spend 12 days with her!

Oh! I got a new calling. I am going to be the Laurel advisor. I am thrilled to not be nursery leader anymore. I love nursery kids...I really really do. I have loved getting them on a schedule and teaching them to be reverent (or at least trying to) and getting the older ones used to sitting and listening so that they will be ready for Sunbeams. I have seen alot of progress in the kids....we still have our criers that cry no matter what...and that's what I am NOT going to miss! It's going to be a big change going from teaching the youngest kids in the ward to teaching the oldest kids (girls) in the ward. I am so excited to try though. I just hope that the girls and I can grow to love eachother and learn from one another.

Anyhow....I better go. Weston is stinky!