Do you have a handle on life?

The question that is on my mind: Does anyone have a handle on their life? Or, do we all just live in a constant state of chaos? I feel like I am constantly just trying to get a handle on things, but never get there. Does anyone have advice for me? Please?!?

Daddy's Day

We had such a fun Father's Day. It was so relaxing. The kids made Jay breakfast in bed....French Toast. I passed out chocolate chip cookies for all the dads at church. After church we had our weekly grilled cheese sandwiches, Sunday nap, and then lots of games. Risk, Hearts, King's Corner, you name it. We completed the day by having pulled pork sandwiches. I love how Jay is so low key and loves the simple stuff. If it's un-fussy, he's happy.

I am so grateful that my kids have Jay for a dad. He is so awesome. He understands each kid individually and has such a good relationship with each of them. He's always such a good example for them, too. Even when things don't go his way, he's open about it and a good example for how to make things better next time, or how to get over it and move on. Besides being a great dad, Jay is the best husband ever. I love him more and more as time goes on. Time may be taking it's toll on the two of us, but I still see him as the same guy I married. That's cheesy, I know. But true. It's a weird thing, after you've been married for 16 years, you see a picture of your spouse, and wonder when he (and you) have aged. Sorry, I won't get any gushier. Jay has been the source of joy, a life-saver, best friend, cheering section, coach, motivator, and all the other good things in life. He's also been the pain-in-the-butt when he needed to be, which makes him even better. Anybody that will put up with my crap for as long as he has deserves some sort of reward.

I also need to pay tribute to my dad. He's always supported me, even when he wasn't crazy about what I was doing (cheerleader in high school, getting married at 18, etc). He works harder than anyone I have ever met. He's always looking at how to make things better for everyone else. At the same time, he's realistic. He doesn't judge when things don't go perfectly. I have always held my Dad's opinion in the highest regard. I have always wanted to make him proud of me. Even now, at 35, I still crave my dad's approval. My dad has a big & tough front, but underneath he is the most empathetic person ever. I have no doubt that if I needed something, my dad would come through. He always has. Love you, Dad!

Back Where We Belong

Everyone is back home where they belong...finally. When we left CA last week, Rebekah stayed in HB with the grandparents for an additional week. Eric was home for 2 days from wrestling camp, and then had to go on the Trek (a pioneer-like camping/reality experience with church) for 4 days. David went to baseball camp for 5 days, 9am-2pm. With all this free time, I did nothing. I don't know why. I didn't get anything done. It was like going into hibernation for a week. Anyway.......

We came home from our San Diego/HB trip on Friday night. David started a baseball camp on Monday morning. Intense pitching and hitting coaching with pizza for lunch every day. His dream come true. It turns out that it was a good thing for us to shell out WAY too much money for his week-long training, because he made the Little Leage All-Star team. After the regular season, 2 kids from every team are nominated for the All-Star team, which goes to regional, state, and national championships, and the Little League World Series (of course, they have to make it that far first). Last year David was nominated, but wasn't drafted (selected by the "Alll Star" coach). This year, he's first on the list! Yea, David! I'm so proud of my ball-playin', 11 year old, future hall-of-famer!

Rebekah had a fun week getting spoiled by the grandparents. She got to fly home (first time on a plane) Saturday. I missed her so much. There was much less talking going on without her:) I thought she might be a little freaked out by flying alone, but she was fine. All the people, signs, crowds.... no problem. She's such a born traveler. It helps that she's my thrill-seeker and probably thought that flying out of John Wayne Airport was like a boring roller coaster. She said the worst part was the two little kids behind her who kept fighting and yelling at their mom the whole time. All I could do was smile at that one. (Don't worry....that mom is actually one that I have never been. We've never taken our kids on a plane. They're so deprived.)

Eric left for the Trek on Tuesday morning and got home on Friday afternoon. He had such a good time! We basically had to drag him there, but it all ended good. Anytime you tell an almost 15 year old boy that he has to miss football for a week, wear pioneer-period clothing, push a handcart for 20 miles, sleep out in the open, etc.... he's not going to be thrilled. Once he got there he decided to participate in all the "stuff" and see if it was worth it. I'm so proud of him! He mastered the handcart, including tying down the load properly (apparently that's tough), killing a chicken (complete with plucking it, gutting it, and cooking & eating it...nasty!), being Mr. Personality at the square dance, and all sorts of other stuff. I even got a call from his "Ma" telling me how much fun he was, etc. It's so nice to hear the good stuff your kids do. You usually only hear when they do something stupid.

It's back to normal now........we're holed up in the house because it's 110 outside!

Are we gonna move out of this hell, or not? (to be continued)

San Diego Decompression

Sometimes you just need to decompress. Last week, Eric went to wrestling camp in SoCal. The rest of the fam and I went to San Diego for a reprieve from the heat and to take a mental and physical "breath of fresh air". Warning: lots of photos!

First up was Mission Bay. You know how the crowd at Mission Bay is kinda crazy...my kids are not so much. Apparently they are very sheltered....I thought they were going to crawl right out of their skin. After walking around getting creeped out, we people watched some more at a corner taco shop. Like the homeless guy sitting behind the kids? He was shootin' the breeze with this totally creepy hippy lady with not enough clothes on. It was hilarious to watch the kids' faces....sleezy people, college party animals, scantily clad old women, homeless guys... so funny!

Next was Sea Port Village. A LOT tamer. We had a Ben & Jerry's at 11:00. I can't think of a better vacation brunch. Can you?

Later we had a BBQ with our friends, the Banks. Bekah decided to be a monkey...the Banks' kids thought it was great. We always have so much fun with them. For me, it's like stepping back in time to when I had three little kids under 5. How did I live through that? It was so nice of Brett and Kami to feed us, too! (Thanks, guys!)

A trip to San Diego isn't complete without seeing Shamu. Kami and the kids met us for part of the day. It was such a great day. The weather was perfect!

I always have such a great time with Kami. It seems like there is never enough time to get all the way caught up. I am really thankful for the time we did have though. Kami is so awesome. She basically saved my life and I will always be indebted to her for that. She is such a great mom, so patient. She is a great and talented triathlete (I'm sure she'll be pro one day), and a great friend. She is one of my biggest supporters, and I am so thankful that we are friends. Love you, Kami! Thank you for EVERYTHING. I'll have to post my Kami-the-lifesaver story sometime, but trust me....she's great.

The rest of our trip was spent up in the OC. That's where the relaxation ended. Back to real life. We had an extended family crisis to attend to. Jay's mom has cancer. She is one tough lady. If anyone can kick cancer's butt, it's her. Still, it's going to be a scary, emotional, and trying time for a while.

We missed seeing some cousins we had planned on getting together with. Next time, Jackmans and Potters for sure!

We had a great trip and are not happy to be back home. It's hot. Like 105. It was weird to not have Eric with us for the week. I missed him!

I miss the ocean. A lot. There will be another trip soon.

Good-bye, May!

The hell-ish month of May is finally over.

Last week:

Wednesday & Thursday: Bekah graduated from 6th grade & the last day of school.

Friday & Saturday: The weather turned cool (relatively, AZ speaking, high 70s & sprinkling) and we did yard work. For 2 WHOLE days. I hate yard work. REALLY hate yard work. My arms are still all scratched up.

Sunday: Kelly & fam came to town for the weekend and so the whole fam-damily came for a BBQ. How many cousins can you gather around one Wii?

It turns out that 19 people can fit in my house at the same time, for about 4 hours, and no one will die. Close, but no deaths. I think most of the kids had fun. It was fun for Julianne, Kelly, and I to visit for a little while. I even got to do the big-sisterly thing of making fun of Kelly... her bowling Wii form is hilarious!:) You know, I just realized... it was so hot and there were so many people, and so many things to get ready for dinner, I have no idea if anyone actually went outside to shoot hoops, play on the swings, etc. I do know that the kids were loud and seemed to be having fun, and Julianne, Kelly, Jimmy, Amber, and I got to talk for the first time in...YEARS.

This is Jimmy and his two boys, James and Patrick. James is DONE with the crowd, ready to go home, and Patrick is just chubby:) It was fun to watch Jimmy and Kelly interact again. After not living close to each other for years, they still fall into the same rolls immediately. Teasing, laughing, just like when they were teens.

This is a rare photo of Eric and Bekah actually together, and they are both smiling. Of course, Julianne's baby, Colby, had to be involved. But still, can't you see the sibling love?

This week:

Monday, we took the fam to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Lame. Don't bother wasting your money.

Tuesday, I took Bekah to get her hair cut and highlighted. She's been begging to get her hair highlighted for months, so I finally caved for her birthday. It looks so cute!
Wednesday, I managed to finally clean out my laundry room. I've been meaning to do it for at least a year. It took all day and night. My laundry room is and always has been the resting place for all things miscellaneous, needing to be picked up in a hurry, "I'll put it away later", etc. I hate laundry and hated it worse when I felt like piles of crap were gonna fall on me if I turned around the wrong way. I'm so relieved! Of course, now it's the cleanest room in the house. Why is it that as you complete a big project, everything else around you seems to blow up? If Mom is sorting, cleaning, tossing, organizing...why is that a signal to everyone else to leave the biggest mess possible everywhere they go? I don't get it.

Anyway, that's a brief update of my week. I'll have to get into the latest teenage shenanigans next time. I'm so underwhelmed with life right now, but at the same time I'm very overwhelmed with all my parental responsibilities, work load, weight issues, and life crap. I think this is one of those "hang in there" parts of life.

Migraine May

It's May.......and I have a Migraine. I've been fighting this stupid headache for a week and it's finally got the best of me. Plus, I'm out of my migraine meds. Super.

Last week was nuts. Tuesday's book club was a hit. I never did finish the book, but I did watch the movie. I made cupcakes, fruit dip with strawberries, etc. I enjoyed the cupcakes much more than the "book" we discussed. The group was split... about half loved Jane Austin's "Emma", the other half thought she was awful. I thought it was interesting to see a girl of her "society" mature into a woman. The age difference between her and Mr. Knightly was creepy.

Wednesday was a scouts, young men/young women. I think I went to work that day, I can't remember. Drugged fog.

Thursday.......don't remember.

Friday was the ward picnic. That I remember. Crazy, unmedicated, busy day. I had to go to a client in Scottsdale in the morning, then get my hair done (really, had to...too much gray to go more than 4 weeks...it had been 4 1/2), then it was off to set up the picnic. I had 6 foot subs for 200 people. I think it went well, as I only heard one complaint...but that's just what I heard. Anyway, it's over with. As far as I could see, everyone had a good time. Done. BTW, the complain I heard was "I didn't know we were suppose to bring our own chairs". Duh! It was on the flyers!.......Bring your own blanket/chairs........it's a picnic.....did you really think I was going to set up tables and chairs in a park for that many people!?! Sorry, that was the drug fog not allowing me to sensor my sarcasm.

Friday night (after the picnic), David had a heart-breaking baseball game. Not good. They lost in the 6th inning. There were tears.

Saturday was another drug fog...I remember going to Costco for the FOURTH time this week.

Sunday we ditched church because of my migraine and David's asthma attack. That night the Kings came over for cake, ice cream, a birthday song to Bekah, and games. I lost at Peanuts AGAIN, but Eric and Jay really sucked. We really need to play a different game. The kids played Wii and watch videos with Rebekah. It was also 104 that day...so no one really went outside. I think the heat contributes to my headache.

The sudden increase in temperature, May's stressful schedule, a teenage boy who can't seem to stay out of trouble, a teenage girl on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to convince my type-A personality 11 year old that nobody is perfect, and the post-race endorphin bust, all have sent me to bed for the day.

The kids' last day of school is Thursday. Let's hope the headache goes away by then... This week I need to start working out again, too. It's really hot outside...I hate working out in the heat. I may be confined to the hamster-wheel at the gym. Doesn't that sound fun? NOT!

I just found ants in my kitchen. Maybe spraying Raid will help my headache.

Bekah-Baby Turns 13

My baby girl turned 13 yesterday. We went to Rain Forest Cafe for her birthday dinner on Saturday night. I just realized that the rootbeer bottle in the pic probably looks a little out of place:) I promise, it's rootbeer.
When they brought out ice cream and a candle, she was excited.....
...then they started to sing. This is the "Holy Crap! People are looking at me!" look. SO Holly. So cute.

She absolutely cracks me up. I just love her so much. She has the purest heart of anyone I have ever met. By nature, she loves everyone, sees no fault, sees people for what they really are. She always sees the best in people, even when they don't deserve it. She's becoming a little more cautious as she gets older, but in a smart way. I hope she can keep the courage to stay true to herself in the next few years. Heaven knows the world needs more people like her. I admire her pure heart, courage, innocence, and quiet leadership. Happy Birthday, Rebekah. I love you more than you'll ever know. Just to think about you makes me happy.