Here we go again! This post is not going to be anywhere near as long and detailed as the last one was (maybe that's a good thing) but I don't want to completely lose this week of our lives, so I'm trying again. I've decided to do it in a list format instead. The point I was originally trying to make with this post (besides recording our week's activities) is that we are not perfect! As I've been reading some other blogs lately I've noticed some discussion about how some bloggers make their lives look perfect. Not us! As you look over my lists, I think you will see that our life is pretty typical--lots of crazy, less-than-perfect moments sprinkled with those wonderful moments that don't happen as often as we'd like but which make it all worthwhile. Here we go....
(I'm going to go in reverse order, so that we end on a positive note!)
The Ugly:
- First 2 days of school adjustments / stress (T: I need 2 composition books by tomorrow or the world's going to end!; J: Why didn't you get me a ruler? (I did; apparently it's lost already); S: My backpack strap broke; I need a new backpack (from the kid who refuses to use his locker but instead carries all his stuff around with him all day); homework tantrums and parent lectures about the importance of school to kids' futures (yes, already--please tell me the whole year isn't going to be like this!))
- A nasty stomach virus / chills & fever going through the whole family (started with me, then Seth, next Frank & Tanner, from them to Jared, stay tuned for Scott)
- An infection in my left eye which began Friday evening. Red, swollen and very painful. And did I mention my glasses are broken so that they slide off my face incessantly?
- The hysterical words that came out of my mouth when Jared slammed Seth into the wall at the church (something about not using the brains he was born with--no, I'm not proud of myself.)
- Losing my first version of this post after a long, exhausting day of taking care of sick people.
- Me in my 8 year old glasses (or any glasses, for that matter.)
The Bad:
- Rain all day on Thursday and Friday, since we had planned an outdoor Pack Meeting with a camp fire and s'mores for Friday night.
- Jared running full speed down the hall at church, pushing Seth in the stroller & slamming into the wall, banging Seth's head.
- Getting up at 5:00 am to make sure Scott got to Seminary on time (and knowing this is only the beginning of many years of that!)
- My sun shades that clip on my glasses apparently falling into a black hole somewhere, right when I need them most! (As if my eye wasn't watering enough already....)
- Spending all day Saturday taking care of sick people; feeling totally worn out and crabby by the end of the day
- After a long day on Saturday, being up in the night for 2+ hours with Seth, who usually sleeps through the night but chose that night not to. Then getting up early for a Primary meeting, going to church with a red, swollen eye and having to wear glasses that slipped off my nose all day.
- Going to Pack Meeting with all four boys but without Frank, who was sick.
- Going to church without everybody except Scott (everyone else was sick).
- Spending most of the day on Friday making phone calls to let everyone know about the changes in Pack Meeting (and not getting all the other things done that I needed to do).
The Good (sometimes great or even wonderful):
- Scott starting Seminary on Wednesday. When I asked him the first day if he got tired at school, his reply was "No; I must have been blessed for going to Seminary."
- Not having to drive Scott to Seminary--he goes with two other older girls in our ward who live nearby. They take him to school, too.
- Having one of those rare spiritual moments as I saw my son head off to Seminary in the dark. 1 Nephi 14:14 came to mind. He is one of only about 12 LDS students in his very large high school, but in my mind, I could see them as a "little army" who are going to change the world for the better!
- Seeing Frank being totally sweet and patient with a sick Seth, even when he kept him up pretty much all night (I was at the "can't lift my head off the pillow without being sick" stage, so Frank was on his own.)
- Frank staying home with me all day on Thursday to take care of Seth & I while we got over the nasty stomach bug.
- Following that strong feeling that I should go investigate when I heard noises downstairs at 5:30 am Saturday morning...getting to a sick child with a bucket just in the nick of time!
- Frank figuring out how to fix my glasses so they don't slip off my nose (but not until Sunday night!)
- Scott getting to attend a party for Seminary on Friday evening because he completed his "homework" for the summer. (Read one of the 4 gospels, mark the 25 Scripture Mastery scriptures, mark all the JSTs in the New Testament)
- Being able to move Pack Meeting to the church (because of the rain) and having the Cub Master show up to help me set up tables & chairs
- Discovering that s'mores work just fine if you prepare them in the microwave!
- Tanner being excited to be in "Middle School". He talks enthusiastically about his "classes" and some of the things he is learning in them. Mr. Chaos even spent a few hours organizing his binder after school--I was stunned!
- Rain all day on Thursday and Friday, since we need more rain.
- No concussion or other significant damage to Seth after Jared slammed him into the wall.
- Having time to read my scriptures and say my prayers in the mornings (since I got up at 5:00 am).
- Tanner taking great care of Seth at Pack Meeting so I could help with the awards.
- Tanner doing so well on his math assessment that his teacher said he could choose whether to be in the Pre-Algebra or Algebra class. "Mr. Ambitious" chose Pre-Algebra. His teacher says she will move him up to Algebra if he isn't getting challenged enough, though.
- Scott going out the door to Seminary one morning, stopping, turning to me with a sheepish, goofy grin on his face, and holding out his arms for a good-bye hug. Not too old for that yet--love it!
- Watching Seth grow--2 new teeth this week, exploring everywhere (especially the garbage cans), pulling the knobs off the stove, always wants to be outside!
There you have it--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Overall, it seemed like a pretty stressful / difficult week. But I notice that there are more things under the "Good" category than any other. I guess I could work on focusing on the good!
