Weekend thoughts

1) We finally got our Fall soccer pictures. Corbin's coach was MIA at the end of the season. Luckily, the photo company was able to mail them to us. How cute is this little boy? I can't stand how big he's getting. And I really can't stand that it's only been a few months and he already looks much older than the boy in this photo. 

2) closet purge. I don't fit into my normal clothes yet, and won't for a really long time, or ever. But my maternity clothes look weird without a baby bump in them, so I'm sort of in this awkward in between phase. I've only put on something other than pajama pants like 4 times since Sloane was born, but they were maternity jeans. I'll probably break down and buy some new clothes so I can go out in public without sporting anything flannel or elastic. 

I'm slowly purging the pile of maternity clothes from my closet and I'm a little sad to see a lot of really cute pieces go, knowing I won't ever wear them again.

  

3) it does feel really great to go through the closet though. I did a lot of work last year to make this house feel like it's mine, with paint and getting the garden built. I plan to continue with that this year and make every space work better for our family. 

4) Reese's friend Madi had a birthday last week and Reese was determined to include a handmade item with the gift card we had for her. Madi loves orange, so Reese spent hours making this hat for her friend. She had me model it for size. I think it turned out really cute and Madi loved it. 

5) the kids are really into puzzles and games right now. It's fun that they're reaching an age where we can play something more complex than candy land together.  They learned a new quilting board game yesterday and really liked it. Now to work on being a good sport when you're not winning... 

6) Last week mom guilt started hitting hard that Soren is just home with me all day (remember my attempt to go to the library that turned into an all day event getting the battery replaced?).  I've accepted the fact that I just can't take him to enriching places every day just yet, but I took some time to give him extra attention and teach him something every day. One day, I decided he us ready to graduate from wooden peg puzzles and try something more complex. We did 5 or 6 of these age 3-7 24 piece puzzles together. Obviously, I had to help him out a lot, but he caught on so quickly that it blew me away. What a smartie. I loved watching his reaction to a challenge that he felt confident he could solve. It wasn't the frustrated toddler scream when a piece didn't fit. He would furrow his eyebrows and try someplace else or pick up another piece. And every single time a piece fit together, he would say, "I did it! It goes right there!" It was just the happy, learning, bonding, enriching experience I had been hoping to provide him with during this crazy time in his life when so much of his surroundings are changing. He's such a sweet little buddy.  I need to have some friends his age over to play soon. 

7) Corbin had his face pained at school on Friday. He refuses to wash it off, and it's not worth fighting him. If you see him at church today with the remains of a snowman smeared across his cheek, don't judge. He is in the bathtub right now. At least he's clean. That is a victory! 

8) I really miss going to church. I'm thankful for Eunice for picking up my big kids every Sunday and taking them so Aaron doesn't have to make a trip home between meetings. I really look forward to being able to be the one who takes my children to church, but I'm so grateful for friends who jump in and do what I can't. 

9) The measles outbreak in Ca has reached my hometown. It makes me sad that you can't even go to costco without risking exposure to a communicable disease. There are 99 problems for mothers to worry about. Measles does not have to be one of them. This whole outbreak is preventable and a sad textbook example of what happens when  large communities of unvaccinated individuals are exposed to highly contagious diseases.  Aren't we educated better than this? We have the privilege of living in a country with preventative medicine available and easily accessible. I think this outbreak is unacceptable and we can do better to educate and protect our children. 

10) Reese is winning at Monday with the note she left for me on the crockpot.

11) Aaron got to spend Saturday with the youth (12-18) from church on a temple trip. He came home filled with the love and peace and clarity of mind that comes from attending the temple. He loves his church calling and while I will admit I was initially overcome with anxiety and had a nervous breakdown when he suggested he be gone all day on Saturday, I'm so happy he had the opportunity to attend. The kids and I spent a good portion of the day baking treats and playing games at a friend's house and we were completely fine. That said, I can't wait for grandma Lynda to come this weekend. We're always fine, but I still really struggle emotionally with being alone after I have babies. Crazy hormones. 

12) I'm totally addicted to Kasey's pork egg rolls. 

13) anytime someone meets the baby, Quincy says, "she's still pink!" to describe her freshness. It's sweet. 

14) speaking of freshness, my tile floors are scheduled to be cleaned by professionals today. I'm actually giddy. 

15) this guy. One thing is for sure, I am definitely supposed to be his mama.