The Six of Us

Today I offered to pick up a shift for a co-worker.  It was hard to leave the kids today for some reason maybe because we are heading up to the cabin tomorrow and I know our family time for the next month is really limited.  But here I am with 25% weekend differential plus another 10% for my evening shift.  My hours for the next few weeks are lower then normal so by picking up this shift it evens out.  I did turn down a shift at the other hospital.  I could have made it work but it seemed like too much effort and it is the week that Lee is gone and it means I would have not seen the kids for an entire day.  Which I am doing next Sunday but with Lee gone it didn't seem fair to them or me. Rumor has it that we will start adding more hours to cover the ED but I am really hoping that will not effect me at all.  I am working the entire weekend next weekend.  Yea time and half boo limited family time.  Although the fourth of July is usually pr...

So I love summer I love being outdoors I love getting more vitamin D then I know what to do with, I love planting flowers. I love running and hiking and long summer nights.  So over Spring Break when I took the kids to SLC Lee bought me a bike.  The tires have had some issues so today was the first day I rode it.  Jake and I rode through an neighborhood where they are building some new homes.  One was still just framed so I asked Jake if he wanted to walk through.  He was shocked we could and while we were walking through I was pointing out where the kitchen and bedrooms would be and he turned gave me a hug and said this was the best mother/son one on one time ever.  It was nice after the frustrating day to get out and do something healthy.  I took Victoria and her cousin to the mall Victoria was going to get a hair cut but her cousin said she didn't want to wait so we went shopping and the girls found matching dresses and insisted we bu...

When I left the drive way on Monday I reset the odometer so I would know how far I drove this week.  Exactly 1300.0 miles. I was a little shocked it was so exact.  I drove it all myself.  Most of the time was just me and the little boys (having the older kids was nice when I had them).  It was long and tiring and stays at the hotels were hard.  But we survived we had a lot of fun and now I am thinking I should be able to drive to Phoenix or Texas sometime in the next year.  I feel like I accomplished this great thing.  I love that the kids and I  can go off and have adventures and I can do it with out Lee We miss him and wish he could come with us but why stay home if we have the time and money even if he doesn't.  It was nice to be around extended family.  It was nice to have the kids run around outside and just be kids with other kids.  Hide and go seek was a favorite and there were so many places to hide.  J...

Today Lee and I and my sister in law and their cousins and spouses ran the "Drity Dash"  Honestly I wasn't super thrilled about it.  But I went and had fun.  Lee's cousins and their spouses are crazy fun.  I am sad to be missing the beach this year because I do really enjoy hanging out with them.  It was hot and dirty and I am sore and tired as I sit at work.  It was more physical then I thought it would be.  There are lots of pics on facebook but I can not figure out how to get the pictures to be posted on here or anywhere else for that matter.  I am truly blessed to have married into such a crazy extended family.  Rumor has it that another cousin is moving to Nampa although it is just a rumor at this point.  But I didnt learn that I I should have trained somewhat for it and I should have drank more water this week on my trip. 

Went camping with the kids for one night.  It was great.  Luke woke up 5 times but quickly went back to sleep.  We set up a pack and play in the tent and it worked out well.The three older kids slept in their own tent and Andrew thought it was cool he got to be one of the "big kids". Jake cooked all the meals and did the grocery shopping for one of his badges.    I really think that I could handle camping during the week with the kids without Lee.  Of course it is much easier with him.  We are planning on going camping for two nights in two weeks.  We learned some and there is some stuff I forgot that we will take next time.  We decided we needed to find a place with more hiking so the older kids can run around more.  Today I got home in time to do one and half batches of wash before running out the door for work.  Tomorrow will be packing and cleaning and we leave again Monday.  My mom is taking Victoria tomorrow wh...

I am leaving next week for a family reunion in Utah.  The kids have been asking to go to Lagoon for a while and I thought we could to the reunion a day early and spend that day at Lagoon.  But after some questions to my mom's group (which I am very glad I did) I found out the new ride which was one of the main reasons the kids wanted to go is not up and running yet.  So our plan is back to me leaving Monday and home Friday in time for work.  I know where we are staying Monday night but Thursday night will be a see how far I can drive and then stop for a hotel.  Which I hate doing it gives me anxiety and I will have the kids.  So we will see how it goes.  I think we may end up at Lagoon when Lee is on his bike trip but right now it is a wait and see.  I need another adult and my mom isn't sure she can go.  We have considered waiting until Lee can join us We are heading camping on Friday which I am slightly nervous about.  Ja...

Lacrosse ended today.  It has been a tough season for the boys losing more games then they won.  Coach mentioned today most of the games were with in a few points.  There was one blow out where we lost 13-4 or something. Today was Day of Lacrosse.  It was hot.  There were three games.  Little boys did well through the first one and 3/4 of the second.  I left after the second for work.  Jake's team played so hard and worked so hard as a team.  I wonder where they have been all season.  Out of the three games today they won two and lost one and according to Jake they are the "Consulation Champions"  And they were good with that and I am good with that.  Jake asked if next year I could ask for it off.  :(  I did but then the date was changed.  I loved being there cheering.  Seeing my healthy active (not so) little boy play his heart out.  Dance ended last week.  Amazing recital.  My b...

But they do.  And it is hard and my heart breaks for the family.  And all I want to do is hug my kids a little tighter and be kinder to them a little more.  One moment he was there and then he wasn't.  And it doesn't make sense.  How do you pick up the peices and move on?  You do because you have other kids who need you. Life does move forward even though you don't want it to. 

We are on day three of summer vacation.  My original thought was to make the kids do chores before they could play or watch TV.  But I have decided to do things different this year and so far it has been going pretty well.  All chores not done by 4 have a penalty and any child who doesn't have chores done by the time Lee gets home loses privileges for the following day.  Less stress and it give the kids the chance to manage their own time.  I still haven't started any of the big projects I was hoping to. But there is always next week and next week has no science camp.  We are going camping for a night next week.  I am making plans for Yellowstone when Lee is on his bike trip.  Not sure it will happen the back up plan is Lagoon which I would need a second adult and my mom isn't an option.  I am kind of hoping I can talk the kids into going to Yellowstone early September.  Less crowds.  But Jake will be in soccer and dance will be b...