-I think I'm liking the lists. It's how my brain is functioning right now so that I can remember things.  And, I don't seem to have the energy to do a lot of deep thinking--I just think about to do's. And whatever needs to be done next.

-Last night I told Ryan I wished I cried more in life--I think it's so healthy to show emotion and let out some stress. I don't know why it's so hard for me to cry.

-We've spent A LOT of time at the Conference Center the last few weeks (and upcoming week) for the kids rehearsals with Luz de las Naciones. It's will be such a good performance. Although the children have a small part in it, it's been a good learning experience to be part of this huge performance and learn to sit through long rehearsals, etc. I'm so glad they've been doing it. A few weeks ago they had all the kids wear their "costumes/choir clothes" so they could make sure everyone had the right clothing (and no said anything to our kids so we assumed all was fine). Yesterday Hallie showed up in her same clothes (and it was the photography/recording dress rehearsal) and an hour after they got there Hallie called me, hysterically crying, and couldn't get out what was wrong.  Aubrie got on the phone and told me Hallie had gotten yelled at by one of the ladies for wearing a short-sleeved shirt and that she said I had to come RIGHT now with a new shirt or Hallie couldn't sing. For some particular reason, it just made me furious. I think I don't like when people don't plan or prepare well enough and then they take it out on others. The injustice of that bothers me so much. And Hallie is such a tender heart I was especially mad about that. Aubrie told me later the lady was then yelling at her for crying. I tried to talk to the lady and she hung up the phone so I didn't even know how to get her the dang shirt. It all turned out fine and we got her the shirt via a friend (since they were already up in the choir seats and there is so much security). And then I just needed a few hours to let it go. :)

-Blake started piano with Ryan the last 2 weeks. And I love this stage when they just beg you to sit down with them and teach them more and more. No fights. He's the cutest with his little fingers. And he plays songs during the day to anyone that will stop to listen.

-Robbie's basketball team played there last season Murray Top Flight game this week and won, putting them right in middle place in the league. Their first tournament game is this week against the 4th seed. He also tried out for another baseball team--Utah Fury--and they want him to play. I think that is who he will end up playing with even though its a little far away. Ryan is going to be Blake and Thomas's head coach for baseball. Spring is getting so close to showing up, despite the foot of snow outside.

-Aubrie has her last few indoor soccer games this week and next. They have lost almost every game, and sometimes by a lot, but they have improved so much. Indoor soccer is so fast paced, I think they just need to have more stamina to last the whole game at a high level. It's good practice and they will be ready for outdoor in a month. I hope she tries out for HS this summer. I think she'd love to play on a sports team in HS. Soccer is not her first love but I know she likes it a lot. She did a really good job on defense last night. She doesn't dribble around people, she goes through them with the ball or to take it away and more often than not, she's successful.

-Ryan has interviewed with Qualtrics (they reached out to him for a specific position) and Adobe the last few weeks. Qualtrics especially is intriguing to him. He's excited about that job, the interviews have gone really well from what he can tell, he's three or four rounds into interviewing. He'd be doing a lot of growing people/performance. It's in Provo, which is the biggest problem for me. I am NOT wanting to move and that is a horrible commute. I guess will see if it becomes a decision that needs to be made.

-We had a guy named Mark come over to assess what we want to do with some more remodeling and give us a quote. Hopefully he'll get started in 6 weeks after finishing some other things. Ryan and I will work with him, which will help with cost and hopefully allow us to get a little further with our budget. I am SOOOOO excited to have a new master bath. We also have to excavate a little in the guest room to put in a much larger window so that it can be up to fire code so some of the kids can move in there and move other kids around to leave the bedroom next to ours empty for the baby. And I am SOOO ready for Hallie and Clara to share a room so Hallie can get more sleep in her life.

-That last few Saturdays Dave has stopped by to see if our kids want to go on a donut run with them.  It's fun to live by the Pratts. Our kids are getting so close to each other. I love it!

Piano time

Ryan got the kids all pumped awhile back about watching the Dawgs together.  Clara had a passed down shirt and she was the only authentic Georgia gear besides Ryan and was pretty proud. 

The cupcakes that told us what we were having. 

Lots and lots of skiing

The day Clara got it!

When Pratts were living here waiting for things to be done on their house, Karla had the flu and this was her peppermint boiling water trying to get fumes in her body.  It was pretty hilarious! But it worked. 

Winter finally arrived in February

4th grade strings recital

Ryan helped chaperone the 8th grade Symphony field trip

Valentines breakfast (its kind of my thing I do for the family--I don't do much else the rest of the day--we have cups of "love" and notes for everyone to read of each others and one present for them to have that they need. There were some great love notes this year from kids to us and to each other. 

Cousin ski time

we finally FINALLY bought a trailer.  Camping/dirtbike time....

We took everyone to go see Coco (and Wonder a few days earlier) and maxed out our yearly movie going family time in one week:)

The 2017-18 squad. (B: Coach Matt, Braxton, Tiegan, Coach Ryan F: Parks, Ryan, Grayson, Caleb, Robbie)

Thoughts on Thursday

Apparently this is the day I am on the computer.  :)

-yesterday was such a fun day.  I love holidays with kids.  Any holiday is more fun!  Ryan and I have never treated it as a super romantic holiday and I think we both prefer it that way.  There are so many other better times for that:)  I always decorate the dining area and put candies/dried fruit and love notes on each place setting (like mom used to do) and Clara wanted to make all their beds (which was mostly me doing it) and leave a heart on each of their beds.  Last night Ryan had planned a family date and he came home pretty early and we went to see Wonder at the dollar theater at 4:30.  What an inspiring touching movie.  I rarely cry, and especially not during movies, but I left with a headache to keep from sobbing during the movie.  perhaps its being pregnant or just the way "a mom heart" can be so all consuming (in my case for different ways than in the movie, but in a lot of ways the same).  It was so relatable.  And I want the kids to be kind.  I really do.  I don't know that Ryan and I do a good job of valuing them being kind like we do about them getting things done.  And often I don't know how to change that.  I hope I show kindness often enough.  It was a well done movie!  One i would really like to own and watch regularly.  Pratts joined us at the movie and we went to Chipotle after (and when we got there we were the only ones there thank goodness).  We ate and then went to Cottonwood Rec center, we both recently joined together and it's been fun to start doing stuff there.  THey have awesome pools and diving tanks and their outside pool is the best around here.  Plus, I can start going to classes again and they have an iceskating rink, hockey and racquetball courts, etc. I think it will be used a lot this year.  I hope anyway. It was almost $1000 to join for the year so it better be.

-Ryan's best employee is taking a position in a different department at Instructure and after spending the last 3 months taking on ALOT of extra work (Ryan) to train another new hire, he came home pretty down about the next several months and what it would take.  He is the loyalist, hardest working employee I've ever heard of.  I would choose him over anyone to work at any company I owned.  He is pretty amazing (and unusual for this "new" generation of workers that are usually thinking about what they can gain from their company and how it benefits their resume).

-We are in a conundrum about Robbie's baseball.  We opted out of the team he played on the last 3 years--for logistical reasons only.  He had an amazing coach.  And one that is turning out to be very hard to replace.  There are not enough fields around East SLC and so many teams that are still in need of players are so far west.  Or are super organized and had teams/practice 1-2 months ago.  We are not sure how to move forward.

-I know we need water badly, and at the same time I sure love this warmer winter.  Sunshine is my best friend.

-Ryan has a business trip to San Fran and I think I'm going to join him (Tara, we need ideas:) to do an anniversary trip before we have the baby. I love going anywhere together so I am excited.  I'd love to go up to see the Redwoods so badly but I don't know if that will work out.

-Temple and priesthood preview is in a few weeks and Robbie is invited, which in some ways seems like he's been so old for so long, and in others I just can't believe he will be a deacon and going to the temple.  What a boy he is!! 

-I love living by the Pratts.  Karla is so fun and the kids get along really well.  It's so nice to feel like there is this built in support system of family RIGHT HERE on our street.  Skiing at Alta, playing at each others houses and now the Rec center is just good!

-The kids have been blowing it out of the water since we got alarm clocks for each room awhile back.  They are so good to get up (1/2 earlier than we used to get them up--I tell you what ownership is the best parenting tool ever) EVERY MORNING and get piano done immediately and then do their jobs, make their own lunches and be ready for scriptures.  It's worked 100 times better when we stopped waking them up ourselves.  We've told them many times how proud we are!

-We have so many house projects on a to do list it's crazy.  One major one is part of our back fence fell down (twice) and we need to cement it in and we can't seem to find a day free (ok, that we want to do it).

-A few more weeks and the kids have their Luz de Las Naciones performance in the Conference Center.  Karen is so kind and is flying out for it and staying with us for a few days.  I can't wait.

Thoughts on Thursday

No particular reason to post but just wanted to capture some things mulling around in my head for fun....

-I am so glad to not be feeling quite so miserable. Truly I am so glad. Now, to have a little more energy. It'll come. Even with this being the 6th time I still have to fight that hopeless feeling that I will never feel normal/energetic/active again like I love to feel. I just love doing things and playing and working hard and that tends to be less of a priority or desire for pregnancy and months after while I am sleep deprived. I am sure I'll be normal again (cross fingers).

-I spent an hour at school this morning with 3 of Robbie's teachers--he got slammed the last three days with "getting in trouble" and I wanted to find out what the heck was going on. I think in large part it was unfortunate timing for Robbie with all three incidents. I do not think Robbie is a disrespectful kid and is pretty sensitive by nature. I DO think he tends to come across as "too cool for school" often on purpose and sometimes he's just perceived that way. And that is something we're going to just have to keep working on. Mr. Mack, his main teacher, is a wonderful fit for Robbie--and he genuinely likes him and vice versa. Again, I feel so thankful for their school. I LOVE it. Yesterday Robbie's group went to the senior center near the school for their monthly visit and Mr. Mack said he watched Robbie at a table with a 90 year old man that couldn't hear well at all and was bent over trying to speak loud and use his own hands to help him to play Bingo.  I am so glad he notices those more tender things Robbie does. I think it will be a hard lesson for Robbie to learn that he is responsible and needs to be aware of how he acts NO MATTER who he is around. He controls himself. I sure love that boy!

-Mr. Mack said today in our conversation "I am constantly trying to teach the kids in my class this concept: 'there is always a consequence to our every action... is the way I'm acting going to bring about the consequence that I want to have happen'". I've been thinking about it since then. What a positive spin on behavior and if kids (and me) could really process that thought as they go about their day--how powerful they're choices will be. So much more proactive, then reactive.

-I have done elevendy million batches of laundry this week--besides regular 6 or so batches, I have washed so many blankets/sheets/towels from having a lot of visitors here for the last 3-4 weeks. I'm surprised we still have hot water.

-I am SOOOO anxious to remodel our master bath. I hope it's done by spring. Slowly but surely our house is making progress.

-Having my mom at our house for a week was just fun. She had a lot she needed to do while she was here (I mean, she was here for "business") but when she is around I feel like she exudes this sense of calm that is just awesome.

-Clara continues to be such a source of smiles/laughter for me.  She is a happy happy girl.

-I having been trying to "exercise" more in the mornings since I've felt better and today Blake called me when I was walking home and said he was looking out the window for me. When I was a block away I see him sprinting out of the house to join me for the last block. It made me feel so good inside that he likes to be with me. Things change the older kids get but I think there will always be this hint of "my buddy" with Blake--since it was so much that way for quite a few years.

-Sometimes I worry about how "tight" Ryan and I run this ship here at home.  It is so hard to know the best balance.

-I listened to a talk "Courageous Parenting" this morning on my walk and felt a renewed confidence in talking about hard things with the kids, not being afraid of saying no whenever the Spirit tells me to (or yes when needed too), and that offending our kids or making them mad at me is JUST fine.  It is good to have solid boundaries and to stick with them. GREAT talk. Especially as we start navigating teenage years.

-I hate wearing them, but compression stockings are my best friend and will be for the next several months. And I am grateful they were invented.

-Me and making dinner=no bueno lately. I want to eat healthy/filling food and I have no desire to make it. I have gotten some form of convenience food more in the last 2 months than ever before in my life. Especially lunch.

-My cousins Kelli and Tasha (we were called triplets growing up) and all their sisters and my two aunts are all going on a cruise to celebrate our 40 birthdays and I want to cry that I (we) won't be able to join them. I had so many fun ideas for our 40th year and none of them are very feasible with 8 months pregnant or with a newborn baby. Oh well. We definitely went crazy for our 40th birthdays--having a baby and what not. :)

-Aubrie has become quite the musical girl. She spends a lot of free time on the piano/violin or drum (especially the piano). She is getting pretty good.

-Hallie started a crochet business with her friend Zoe--called Yarn Houz. I paid her to crochet a beanie for Mariam for her birthday and Karla paid her to make 4 small stuffed snakes (they are cute) for her kids and Hallie was like--"I can earn money doing this and I love doing it anyway." So she plans/thinks about/shops for this new store/business all the time. I just helped her buy some 100% cotton yarn to make me some crocheted wash clothes which I LOVE to use but don't know how to make myself. I told her once they're made, I'll post about them on social media and see if we can drum up business for her. She is SO uber creative it's just coming out of all her pores. There are projects all over her room which can be frustrating but she just has so much cool going on.

-We find out in a few weeks if Aubrie got into AMES for high school and I feel like all our eggs are in one basket and I am nervous about it.  We all really hope that works out.

-We have been eating A LOT of brussel sprouts lately--cut up and sauteed in garlic butter. Like... yum!

-Ryan drove for Aubrie's (middle school's) field trip to the Utah Symphony yesterday and got a good taste of a van full of 8th graders and I was cracking up when he got home from work and told me about it.


That's probably enough rambling for today :)

Ski cousins

Mom came to Utah for almost a week (she is still here) to go and check out Glenwood (near Richfield) as a retirement location--which it looks like a win (more on that next)! Anna came down with Bricky to join the party. Bricky's birthday was last week and for his birthday he got the Utah trip, with 2 full days of skiing with Robbie and then a day with Anders and a day with Isaiah down in Orem. We bought the boys the 6th grade ski passport (which allows them to ski at each resort in Utah one time free--and it cost $35 so it's a killer deal). We dropped them off at the base of Big Cottonwood on Thursday and they took the shuttle up to Brighton and skied for the day and then we dropped them off this morning again and they shuttled up to Solitude for the day. Lucky boys. They packed a big lunch both days and carried a backpack and then they found a cool spot under some trees to eat their lunch. The other one carries a camelbak with water. I haven't talked to them about Solitude today but at Brighton they spend hours at the terrain park trying jumps and tricks.  I don't know if Solitude has a terrain park so we'll see how it went.

I am SOOOO grateful for how close they are to each other and how much fun they have together.  JB's are the best!