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This week has been just what I needed. A break from normalcy.
Several years ago for spring break, Tyler was unable to come with us when we hiked Calf Creek Falls. So we decided to go back and take him.
I've got to say this trip was much easier. There was no hauling a child on my back while hiking through an ocean of sand. Alex made the entire 6 mile trip by himself. And while it was snowing at home, we were enjoying beautiful, sunny weather.
There is something about Grandma and Grandpa's house that is magical. I suggested doing several things for the break, but when I mentioned Ferron, the discussion ended.
Erik repaid their hospitality by cleaning the windows. Yea. He wasn't too thrilled with me snapping photos.
I hired him to clean my own when we got home, and Ash also got in on the action. I sure do love me some spring-clean windows.
I got to work in my yard: mowing and weeding and planting peas and lettuce. Ash and I painted my end tables and beans poles. When I put my bean poles up I realized that the yellow in conjunction with the turquoise pea sign were the exact colors of Kiersten's wedding. It was a sign! We are hosting an open house.
I took Erik to a foot doctor to ensure his self-diagnosed bunion have an actual doctor-certified diagnosis. And yep. Sure thing. That's what he's got. Not on one foot but on two. The doctor was slightly mystified that no one in our family has one. They hardly ever see teenagers and even rarely see male teenagers. He won't need surgery thank goodness, but they did send him home with some orthotics they custom made to his feet that he is required to wear regularly. Bunions aren't hereditary but his pronation is which is what has caused the bunions.
And then Good Friday really was a good Friday. Tyler had an initial interview with CUNA Mutual Group for a position we've been waiting to open up for 18 months. He's also interviewed for a different position with Wells Fargo. In my prayers I just tell the Lord that we are in need of better employment to afford the many good things happening in our lives right now. He knows what lies ahead and which position will be best for us. I'm just hoping that either of these will work out. While he was interviewing, I took my growing family to the Jordan River open house.
It was fun to see the sealing room where Tyler and I were sealed many years ago, and for Kiersten and Jason to envision themselves kneeling across that altar in a few short months.
Kiersten told me that Jason's parents were also married in the Jordan River Temple and that this temple was hers and Jason's first choice. However, when they called to reserve a day and time, the temple told them they weren't sure they would be open and operating by the end of June. So they went with option B: Payson. I even managed to get a picture of them in front of that particular temple. Ha, ha. Actually a picture of the Payson temple.
Later it was a Jazz game for me and Tyler.
Only 38 days, 7.5 weeks, left of school. For me the countdown has begun with so many things happening in this short period of time.
Just submitted my final paper for my classroom management class. Just 19 pages long. And I submitted my big unit plan consisting of six lessons a few days ago. I've got a few days reprieve until I start my next classes. These next six won't be as long. A month here. A few months there. Several that are a week long. My science class got moved so instead of 4 weeks of class in June, I only have three. Hallelujah!
Of the two courses I just completed, the classroom management was hands down a favorite. I really enjoyed looking at different management styles and thinking through behaviors. I also spent the day really picking apart a classroom economy system I've been thinking about for over a year.
I met with my professor over Google Hangouts and she just about scared me off from doing it. She was afraid it was too complex for a first year teacher. After our discussion, I just about pulled it out of my plan. But then I decided that I've invested so much time and thought into it and I still had a great desire to do it. I appreciated her candor and decided to keep it in my overall plan with the idea that I might not implement it right away. As a first year teacher who is also finishing school, it might be a bit much.
But oh what fun! I talked through it with Nate and Ash for an hour today and they both helped me iron out a lot of details which is something I've known I had to do.
Monday I start an online reading course and in two weeks, I begin one about special needs in the classroom. That one should be interesting given the classroom I'm currently working in.
I took the day off for my birthday and went walking with several friends in the morning. I've missed that. Ash somehow found out I was going to lunch with Grandma and my sisters and connived her dad into pulling her out of school to come with. We picked up Kiersten on the way and ended up running into my cousin from Idaho at our lunch place. What are the odds!
I only wanted new running shoes that I was desperately in need of and ended up finding a brand new pair of my favorite on Ebay for $30 cheaper than I've spent in the past. I needed cheap.
And Erik and his notes never cease to make me laugh.
Ash had a birthday soon after that made me a mom of four teenagers. Oh what a fun time of life. Her friend Claire has crazy art skills, and she has a crazy sense of style. Shirt came from Kiersten; pants for DI; and socks from Erik.
I again pulled her out of school to take her wedding dress shopping with Kiersten and friends. I brought my ugly veil along not realizing that the rental includes it. She tried it on anyway.
I'm relieved to have that little part done.
Twenty-one years ago this exact month I was doing the same thing . . . trying on dresses. I never envisioned that I would be my mom one day.
Jason's parents came over for dinner and we discussed all the little intricacies of pulling this wedding together. So much to do! I pray every night that I can manage and that we can do it cheaply. Or that the Lord will send miracles in the way of better employment that will help pay for our crazy expensive summer coming up.
These boys of mine have worked their tails off all winter to be ready for this day. The day couldn't have been more beautiful for a tennis tournament (Nate's on the left and Erik is on the right . . . both playing at the same time . . . Nate playing 2nd singles and Erik playing first singles).
Unfortunately, tempers went awry during the first match and Erik had to suffer the consequences. I'm afraid the start of his tennis season didn't quite go as planned.
When he couldn't control his frustration for the mistakes he was making, his coach made the decision to pull him from the match with several sets yet to play. He also didn't allow him to finish the tournament and he had to write several apology letters before being allowed to practice and play with the team.
As a mom, I totally backed his coach and his decision. Coaches are not only coaching the sport, but they are coaching people. And I'm afraid Erik had a hard life lesson to learn here about self-control.
As a mom, I also hurt badly for Erik. I KNOW how much work and dedication he has put into this sport. He has been fully invested, and I KNOW he was expecting to play better than he did. I KNOW he's a wonderful young man who regrettably has more of his mom in him than he'd like or than I'd like him to have. I'm afraid I haven't always been the best role model on how to leash and tame the angry emotions that surface. I KNOW how badly he wanted to play and redeem himself. I also wanted to watch him play more. But I also believe in accountability for choices. He was told he would be pulled if he couldn't restrain himself and unfortunately, he had to learn that very difficult lesson.
Erik was paired with a player who was just as good as he. Everyone there knew that these two should have been playing in the championship match not the first round. I was impressed with the other coach who made a point to talk to Erik and got my number so that she can have Erik come and practice with her team. She knows how important it is to be able to practice against people with your same skill level.
And Bob. I can't thank him enough for the mentor he has been to both Nate and Erik. He gives of his time freely. I hope that one day my boys might pay it forward to other young men in the same way he has.
Nate finished the day winning his first two matches and losing the third. He took second place in second singles.
Well if I thought my life was busy before . . .
I am starting a new chapter in the book of life. Kiersten is engaged to Jason.
And I couldn't be happier for them.
I won't lie though. I'm not old enough for this and thought I had a couple of years before embarking on that journey. It's going to be a busy summer with a graduation, wedding, missionary, baptism, and a month of school for me thrown in there. All good things.
They've created a countdown chain.
I'm not even going to go there. It will be here before I know it. The Lord knew this summer would be a crazy one so there must be a really good reason why He decided it was time for me to go back to school and throw all that into the mix.
I am seriously going to need a getaway when all of this is done.
I love my girl and am excited to add Jason to our family. Had they waited three more days, they could have gotten engaged the same day Tyler and I did -- March 8.
It's a new school so I was glad to see them implementing some ideas from our old school, namely the Book Battle. The Book Battle is a quiz game where kids have to answer questions about books they read. Only 12 compete across the entire grade, so students have to take a test to qualify. Alex made it. Originally I was told the time was 9:15 so I planned to take a half day off. But then a note came home with a new time of 2:15. I had to leave just 15 minutes early to make it. Another tender mercy from the Lord in the past couple of months.
When I got there Alex had already answered a few and was on a roll.
The second and third round he didn't do as well. But they must have scored it across all three rounds because he was awarded first place, something none of his other siblings have managed to do.
Later that day at home as I was going through his backpack, I discovered a note from a former classmate. Oh how I laughed and laughed. My little guy is becoming a man.
