Storm of the Brain

otherwise known as brainstorm.

Here is what I stayed up all night tossing and turning over...silly me.


I FINALLY figured out what will pull Sam out of his "phase" he is in. It has been a major struggle. The poor kid just needs more attention. He is the middle child, and regardless of how much I don't want to believe it, there is middle child syndrome. 20minutes of playing Batcave a day, as well as some other Sam and mom or dad moments through the day, and he is a much more obedient and happy kid. He can be such a fun buddy. I feel guilty for not doing this sooner, but grateful for the insight, and with the big changes it is making.

I learned that Mary's most fond memories and favorite things to do are simply playing games as a family and being together. I had a very special time with her last night. Thank you mother daughter night. It was priceless. My little girl is growing up way too fast, I need to cherish the moments more, and make the moments happen more. She is a great kid.

I had some MAJOR inspiration for some home decor ideas. I am so excited! We are finally going to finish the guest room downstairs, so the paint is coming out! The carpet will be in soon. It will be a very cool room! I have it all planned out. We will be finishing up the living room decor as well. It looks pretty blah right now. I am very ready to spruce it up more, with some awesome finds from Tai Pan. I might as well paint the main floor bathroom, our bathroom (which will be so relaxing and awesome), and do some touch up while I'm at it. Mary's room is already getting a new make-over and it is going to be absolutely adorable. A lot will be the same, but my new ideas are more bright, cheerful, and oh so fun! Pictures will be coming once the projects begin!

Preschool is at our house next week. I love pre-school, but I am not a fan of teaching it. It always falls on my most busy week of the month. It is worth the days I don't teach though. This will be the last year I do a co-op. I am on the hunt for a preschool for Sam next year. Oh Colleen, if we only lived closer!

Ben and I are planning a trip for just the two of us in the next month or so! It has been a LONG time coming, but our kids will finally all be ages where they can be with grandma overnight for a few nights. We are having a great time brainstorming all sorts of fun things. It keeps me smiling! The ideas just get better and better.
Just me and my hunny having a blast together, oh, the anticipation!

We are also planning some family trips for this summer. Aside from a week long family reunion at McCall, on the lake, in a cabin, skiing every day, fire every night, with my whole family, (i'm not excited for that or anything ;) ...Lagoon will probably be the big one for our own little family. Waterpark and roller coasters...all kid and adult friendly. And of course, lots and lots of camping.

PLEASE let spring be here soon. This has been the longest winter EVER! Blah

If I have to do one more long run on the treadmill, I think I will croak. Every fiber of my being wants to run OUTSIDE!

I wonder if Mary will get into the Charter school we applied for. I like her school now, but the Charter School is on a tradition schedule, and it would be so nice not to deal with the track system. Also, this charter school is supposed to be fantastic.

William can get all around, but is not doing it the traditional way. I wonder if he will just bypass crawling all together. He gets chubbier by the day. He is pushing 25pounds and is 9 months old. He is in the 95% on the chart! I love the chub and I kiss it all day long.

We switched Mary back to Olympus gymnastics (the very first place we tried here, recommended to us from her coach in CO). They changed things up, so it is WAY more reasonable, and the coaching staff and their training programs are still phenomenal. I watched the class on Monday and was very, very, very pleased. Mary had a blast and can't wait to go back today! They will work incredibly hard, but in a good way.
Mary will get to compete this summer! She is already learning the routines and the tricks. So exciting! This gym rocks! No more changing, few. We pretty much went full circle with this one. Gotta love moving, and all of the exploring that comes with it.

Sam is all registered for T-Ball. I just hope he won't be too shy to participate. I know he will love it, if he will just be brave enough to try it.

My calling as choir pianist is SO STRESSFUL right now. I can't seem to play these very difficult pieces! Argh. I literally started sweating at the last practice from nerves. I got the piece 5 minutes before practice and it was one I cannot play. Oh man. I plunked my way through it and felt like a total idiot! I finally asked the choir director to ask me if I can play the pieces before choosing them and giving them to the choir. He agreed. Things should be less stressful after the next two performances. So, so nerve-wracking.

My marathon training program is a blast! It has lots of variety, so I get excited to see what I need to do that day. It is nice to change things up a bit. Four fast miles on this day, 13 miles at pace that day, cross training another day and so on.

I love the Activity Day girls. It is such a great calling. We currently have 12 in our age group and will have 19 by the end of the year. Woah momma! I better get to planning next weeks activity, pronto!

Our puppy's baby teeth are falling out. Nasty, but normal. I found the last one in Williams mouth! I almost lost my breakfast at that moment. I think William thought that WAS breakfast. Blah! cringe


I have been greatly humbled this last month or so, in several ways. As a mother, as a friend, as a church member, as a pianist, as "STILL the new kid on the block," as a stay at home mother, ect.
The Lord is refining me in all sorts of ways. I know for a fact, that that is one big reason we are here in Utah. Our family is going through the refiners fire, that could only happen here, away from friends, out of the comfort zone, in a new ward, and through some experiences that would only happen here. I guess I needed to be greatly humbled first. Not that I thought I was big stuff in the first place. Believe me, I usually see myself as just the opposite. Sometimes I wonder what is more important, the thing that humbles you, or what it takes to pull out of it a better and more refined person, having learned the lesson and grown from it.

I am changing. Growing up. Getting a new perspective. Being forced to find happiness is some deeper ways, that will not change with the wind. Not only just realizing what is most important (that is the easy part), but learning to spending my time on what is most important. That is the hard part. There are so many distractions.

My mom wants to plan a fun girls trip, and I can't wait. We have never done this before, and I have always wanted to. I have never once left my children overnight with Ben. I haven't ever taken a trip with just me before. Not that I don't love my family, but it would be such a wonderful break. Some much needed me time.

I LOVE living closer to family. There are lots of perks, and I bet I still haven't seen them all.

We have been here, in Utah, for 7 months! It doesn't seem like it has been that long, but at the same time it does. Maybe I can start calling it home sometime soon. Crazy, so crazy.

And that is what's on my mind. Take it or leave it. The end.