mom takes on Madonna (10/2018)

I've had 10 months to reflect on the changes that have come to my life and to our family as a result of my return to the workforce in December 2017. While it only recently feels like I'm able to keep my head above water and there are still adjustments needed, I'm beginning to see indicators that we WILL make it through to the other side.

• growing comfort with social invites rather than overwhelming dread
• I found time to host a Halloween gathering
• now averaging 3-4 home cooked meals/ week 
• a string of a few successful dieting days in a row
• signing up for PTO duty recently
• I'm not bringing work home in order to catch up  

The last 10 months have turned everything upside down but my days are rich, meaningful, and satisfying. I have always felt that social work is a big part of my life's purpose and I know that the work I do makes a big difference. There are times where doubt still creeps in but I wake up every day wanting to go to work, blessed by a husband's flexible job that miraculously covers all the major crossings, and have witnessed my children accepting and appreciating responsibility in a brand new way.

a case of the camp crazies (6/2018)

This past year has been one of my hardest yet... comparable in difficulty with my expedited graduate program while on Accutane or the identity crisis of first time motherhood with an underweight baby... my calling to be a first time stake camp director in the midst of a career restart was sheer chaos! 6 fun-filled days for 125 girls came together in what essentially amounted to three shifts: a first work shift at Madonna (8:30 -3), a second shift of mothering (3 - 9), and camp became a drowsy, difficult third shift (9 - 1 am). Some highlights: 

campfire sing-a-long

first years - hers and mine!

ropes course

community service project

devos

morning study

skit night

hiking

taking shelter from night one's tornado

ycl planned dance party

serving along some of the best women I know

that's a wrap for this presidency (adorned in daily matching tees)

Powell turned Texas (5/2018)

With wounds still fresh from 2017's Lake Powell disappointment, we uncharacteristically leaped at the chance to visit Lake Powell in May. We didn't care that it was off-season or that it fell during the school year or that we'd be navigating less enticing water temps - we simply had to get there! As the date approached, we were devastated to learn that the boat had yet again been slapped with a non-seaworthy sticker and we wouldn't be able to go. With one week's notice, we frantically searched for a getaway using randomized fingerpointing to decipher our destination. Texas was where our finger landed on the map and we took off (with Aunt Jordy as our trusty sidekick). We had a blast exploring new places: the Houston Space center where we met an astronaut, the Bureau of Engraving and Stockyards in Fort Worth, a tour of the Dallas Cowboys stadium, an over-hyped visit to Magnolia, touring an oil rig, and our favorite- an uncharacteristically clear gulf view for days. But, the real joy of the trip was the opportunity to see my children in a very different light. Apart from the cares of the world, we spent large amounts of time laughing and joking together. I found myself reveling in each child's unique sense of humor - as opposed to staccatoed glimpses during the daily grind. It seemed so easy to see and enjoy their budding personalities - absent of the inevitable flaws/ faults I allow myself to stress about in our regular environment. I am so grateful for the detour; however, with superstitious fingers crossed, I long for Lake Powell. 

choosy recap (12/2017)

Blogs have been 'out' for quite some time now but I've felt passionate about keeping up with ours as a valuable family journal. The demands of the past year (the craziest of my life yet - perhaps excluding my accelerated graduate program) have interrupted my efforts and I find myself looking at a full year's gap! Though I've kept a running list of treasured memories and photographic evidence, it's clear that I'll certainly have to be choosy about the tenacity with which I pursue a recap. I know exactly where to start - Christmas cards (speaking of ancient record keeping) - the art of creating a fabulous photo with carefully phrased highlights to represent a year finalized by a careful consideration of life's friendships.  Here you have it - my choosy recap #1 aka Christmas card 2017.   

and then she knew that you could become homesick for people too (8/2017)

These ladies right here! They were my saving grace during my young mother years.  They taught me how to mother, how to thrive in an otherwise flawed environment, and how to giggle through it all!   We've all left Laveen and life moves on without them- and often without noticing- that is, until we gather again.  I'm so grateful for my party planning friends who insisted we meet up for 4 days on Catalina Island.  We toured the island on golf carts, dabbled in snorkeling, held karaoke and dance parties, and laughed for days.   It wasn't until i left them (with tears in my eyes) that I realized that I'd been homesick for them!  I'd missed Tamra's candid conversing; I'd miss Jill's talent for fun; I'd missed Holly's left-brained flexibility; I'd missed Amanda's sheer goofiness; i'd missed Julie's quiet determination; and I'd missed Katie's psychoanalytic prowess.  So lucky to have these ladies right here!

bring on middle school (7/2017)

kindin started middle school this year!  She loves EVERYTHING about it - except an earlier start time.  she carpools with her two good friends and is the proud owner of a phone. (i very, strongly, unhappily, reluctantly agreed because school tests are administered through personal devices and she has a regular babysitting gig but for the record, I'm not happy about it.)  she has also seen the inside of detention already- i giggled uncontrollably when my responsible, overly anxious child earned herself a few minutes after misplacing an assignment.

These two, my first and fourth graders, have a new sort of camaraderie.  jack relishes in the opportunity to be THE big sibling and they now walk home with smiles rather than with arguments.

dalia felt a little panicked at the beginning of the year because her teacher talked so quietly (she doesn't but in contrast to her teacher last year, she sure does).  she is finding that she can read much bigger words than her classmates and has correctly realized it is from reading the scriptures every morning.  she is excited to add an extracurricular activity to her routine and loves tap class!

this year is a big homework year for jack and he spends lots of time plowing through it every day with mom. (writing is his very least favorite!)  but he often does so with a smile and it's kind of become a special bonding time for mom and jack.

chicaga! (6/2017)

when my overly generous parents offered to take us on an eichmann reunion, i pushed hard for the windy city.  (and am so happy my vote won!)  while there, we immersed ourselves in the best tourist traps: navy pier, lou malnati's pizza, the bean, millenium park, sue at the natural history museum, the museum of science and industry, the sears tower (sans heights-haters), the franklin lloyd wright house, portillo chicago dogs, and a new favorite - the sunset architecture boat tour with Garrett's chicago mix in hand.

what was particularly enjoyable was goofing off with my brothers.  the kids ALWAYS get to play but it can be rare that the adults have carefree moments together.   

all because these reunion-centered spendthrifts made it possible!