Can't believe it is almost November!

Well I guess it is true the older you get the faster time flies! Jeremy had surgery at the beginning of October and it feels like the month went by in the blink of an eye! I am getting into a crazy routine of Kelsey's homeschool stuff in the morning and Kenna's preschool Spark stuff in the afternoon and then Keira and Kyle come home and it is one to homework and sports practices. So I don't mean to be anti-social just having four kids to keep up with has become very time consuming. But I do enjoy it. I am sick of pollen this fall. It has been a lot worse for me than in the past and I am ready to be done with feeling bad every other week it feels like. But hopefully there will be a break in a high pollen count soon! I don't sit down to the computer much with having an iphone other than when I am doing school work for Kelsey so the blog is pretty much neglected but I thought I would take the time to record a little bit of the fall here.

Soccer for Kelsey has gone really well. She has played great all season and at ODP she has done great. Try outs are in January and I think she may have a shot at playing up. She is going to Athletic Republic for PE and that has really helped her and her speed and agility is amazing. I am amazed at the things they can do to help those kids learn to use their bodies with the proper mechanics!!!! It is so worth the time and money! The owners were telling me that none of the other ARs were getting the results that they were-these guys here in Humble are taking almost .9 seconds off of the 40 yd dash. That is huge! In six weeks! But you can see it in one session in how the kids body movement changes. I just think it is neat to watch. But I am a nerd like that.

She is doing great in her school work at home but she misses her friends at school and has dreams of doing EVERYTHING so she has decided to go back to school in January, I think. So she can be a cheerleader, in athletics, drama, and honors classes and soccer. I think it is really neat to see her blossom and grow up. Hard to let her grow up-you want them to stay little but amazing to watch them blossom!

Kyle has made just as amazing of a transformation this fall as well! He has grown into this handsome young man! He is maturing into the leader I always knew he was. He is in athletics and decided that he wanted to try out for 7th grade QB. Well we thought having never really played that he would end up on the B or C team, but he worked so hard he has earned the job of the A team QB and had led the team all year. He has three more games and they are playing great. They get better each week and he is really just showing what maturity he has that even when he had an very painful ingrown toenail-he still got up every morning at 6am and practiced until we got it taken out. He is still playing tournament baseball as well and has become a powerful hitter on the big field. He had an amazing tournament this weekend with his bat and some great catches in centerfield. He pitched a little and did well but we don't want to stress his arm too much. But he is also making straight As!!!! I just think this is so great with his ADD and all that he is doing is such a huge accomplishment for him and I couldn't be more impressed with his choices. He is taller than me and I am sure that he will be sprouting even more!

Keira has slowly gotten into the first grade groove. She is settling in and as I have gotten to know the teacher better I am very grateful for her. It has been such a busy fall that I have been worried about her-and I not too sure about the new school administration yet, but I know she is surrounded by a good teacher and good specials teachers so I hope that makes for a good day and we will be able to catch her up from the disaster called kindergarten.....We are still straying to find an activity that she enjoys and wants to stick with for more than a day....It has been a challenge!

Kenna has done great at Spark and I owe a lot to Lori and Melissa! They have really pulled her out of her shyness and she is improving every day! She is talking to people more and interacting and I couldn't be happier! She wasn't scared of the same things she was scared of last year so I can't say enough wonderful things about the SPARK program!!

Lastly,

In the past two weeks I have had my friends lose their friends suddenly as well as a friend lose his dad. This made me realize that I wanted to make sure that I had written down that I am grateful for my friends and all that they do for me. They brighten my day and are there for me when I need something. They know me well enough to know when I am faking it and when I am good. They know when I really need help. They know my kids and my husband's sarcastic wit and aren't offended by it. They accept me as I am. If I lost them suddenly I would miss them terribly, but I hope that I tell them how much I love them and appreciate them often. I know I would see them again on the other side....

I am grateful to the Lord for all of the blessings in my life and for all of the many wonderful things He has given me. I never lose sight of that ever. My children are my four greatest blessings and to watch them grow into these wonderful people is amazing.....It is my greatest gift from the Lord....after the Atonement of course...

Two weeks almost done!

Well I have a ton to do today but I figured I would jot down a few thoughts...

We have survived almost two weeks of school. Kelsey and I still like each other. Kenna is still happy. Kyle LOVES football and seems to be doing ok in all honors classes with good teachers. However, Keira is still having a hard time and I wish I could figure out how to help her. She had such a rough year last year and I had hoped that it would get better but she is still not wanting to go to school. It just breaks my heart. She is such a sweet spunky spirit. She shouldn't have that much anxiety about school.

We are headed to Austin this weekend for a soccer tourney so it will be fun in two ways from a totally selfish standpoint...

1. All of the other kids get to be with grandma and grandpa for the weekend. This is much needed time with them and I know all parties involved will be in heaven! Thanks mom and dad!

2. It will be nice to spend time with just Kelsey. When you have more than one kid this doesn't happen very often. So I am grateful for these opportunities...

I also have been thinking about why is it most of us are motivated by things that HAVE to get done instead of by desire? It seems that mentality of checking off my list is how many live their personal, professional and spiritual lives. Why is that? It is the very few who stop and can see and feel beyond. Keeping up with the "Jone's" really doesn't matter if you are drowning in debt or you end up divorced. Pushing your kids in whatever it is to the point that they don't like you anymore causes a void that you can never get back. Yet too much freedom and being their too much BFF causes just as much harm. It is a balancing act that is so hard to find and manage. But as my kids get older and I watch all of these parents around me-I am so grateful for the ones who have gone before and have great kids.

I am grateful for the adults who take the time to get to know my kids and give them their unique perspective on life. I think that is probably the greatest gift my grandmother gave to me. She always told me to keep an open mind because you never know what somebody can teach you. I am realizing that there are lots of great "things" I could have accomplished but most of all I hope my kids grow up to be good, honest, loving people who value a hard day's work.

I want all of their dreams to come true....Professional athlete, olympic athlete, marine biologist, vet, coach, etc. I hope that they will learn with commitment and humility they can become leaders and find great success.

So I have set my own goal to run a half marathon in March and by my 40th bday run a marathon. I don't know that I will ever have the time by then to get all of those miles in each week for the marathon, but I know I can do the half. So I am set to do it and I am excited. I am soo sore right now, but I am excited (yet tired) when the alarm goes off at 4:50am to get up and run. I can knock out 2 miles right now and I look forward to when I can run more regularly. Maybe I will try a few races in between...I was fast back in the day...So

happy fall as LAbor Day weekend approaches. I look forward to a new adventure.

first day of school

well I am a teacher now too...

It is almost midnight and I am already behind

The morning sun is soon to shine

My sleep will be not too much

in these months of books and stuff.

Hope my KEEIraboo

comes to love school

that teachers cherish

not letting her perish

My baby boy may be the QB

I may have high anxiety!!!

He had a great day with

teachers he likes..

I hope that it stays

and seventh grade

is not a hike...

Kenna will see a new Spark or two

Mrs. Gregory and a few new

faces that will hopefully delight

She will learn her days of the week

and maybe even change the song by a tweak..

As for me I will learn if a teacher I am cut out to be

A testing ground this will prove of me

I hope I make it

I am excited to try

But man, these nights are gonna fly by....

Reflections of the Sun.....

So as I have been absent from the blogging world for a while I have learned a lot about myself and the world around me....

I have remembered how much I love to be outside even if it is really really hot. I love getting a tan in May that lasts all summer long and taking the kids swimming. I love that I had the chance to coach again in June and look forward to doing it again in December and April. I am not sure that I am doing a good job at being the mom of a teenager but I am doing my best to raise a good boy that will become a good man one day. I love the sound of happy screaming children at odd hours of the day running around my house because as my title suggests-I do fly by the seat of my pants....however, I love even more after all of that screaming the silence of a quiet house at the end of a day that is clean and organized. I have gotten so much better as the kids have gotten older at cutting the clutter monster down to size and I look forward to chopping it into tiny pieces once and for all!!!

I have watched Kyle sit on the bench for almost three months supporting his team as his elbow healed and sat as he went through PT all summer so he could play in the world series with his team...

I have been given good friends these past few months that have taught me that true friends love us no matter what. They listen, and talk and laugh and love. They will tell us like it is and even if we are wrong they let us know. They stand up for us. They help us out. They love our kids-even the hard one that no one ever really wants....If we call or text in tears at 2am-she'll answer with what took you so long. Those few friends I have found these last few months and I am so grateful for them.

I had the privilege of spending time with not only Jeremy's family this summer but to also see my mom married to a great guy. I feel very blessed to have all of these wonderful things this summer. The trials that life brings sometimes seem suffocating but I am grateful that even when it feels like there is not strength to make it through that over the years the Lord has helped me.

In three days I will have been married for 15 years...how time flies! I am grateful for the dedication and commitment that Jeremy has for me and the love and affection that he has shown me over the years. We have walked a journey that has taken us over mountains and valleys and canyons and raging rapids and hot deserts and grassy plains and thick forests and sandy beaches to vast oceans. But we have also seen beautiful horizons and colorful sunrises and poignant sunsets....Thank you Jeremy for this life that I would not trade for another. I have learned things I would have learned no where else....I love you always!!!!

Thank You Kelsey Call Photography and I am back in the blogging world!

so we took these pictures at the end of May but I have been off of the blog since I got the iphone. I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. As we have had the summer to stay busy and spend time together it makes me grateful for all of the wonderful experiences that these kids get to have. We saw Grandma and Grandpa over memorial day. We saw Grandma Kip and Tony get married in a beautiful ceremony and spend time with them as well. It was a special treat that we got to spend time with my Uncle Dave. Then we were able to have my nephew fly down from Utah for 10 days and we played and had fun. Poor Jeremy has been working so hard and we have missed him so much but we really appreciate all that he does for us each and every day. HE gets up at the crack of dawn and works until the sun goes down, coaches Kyle's baseball team, and plays with the girls. I think he has set a record for going swimming this summer with us even with his crazy schedule! so thanks J! We love you lots!!!! You are the best!!! I am sad to see the summer come to a close but as crazy as it sounds I am a little excited to get back in to the swing of things and even more excited to start watching Kyle play football for TMS. It will be a fun filled busy fall! But I know that the Lord has blessed me with a good life and I am grateful for it.

Mother's Day thoughts

So I celebrated my 13th mother's day this year. It was a sweet one considering that in 1994 I was told I wouldn't be one. Each of us have our own road of motherhood, whether it be easy and natural- hard and with medical intervention-adoption-or just being the village mother. But each woman's heart longs for that feeling to hold and nurture and child and call them her own. We are not perfect in the words that we say. Our emotions can blind us throughout our lives. It is a shame as to the pain it can cause others. Primary infertility or secondary infertility-motherhood is still that longing....As I have read so many different thoughts this Mother's Day I have been reminded over the many different emotions I have felt over the years from grief, to sorrow, to happiness and joy to longing and aching....But this Mother's Day I woke with gratitude in my heart that no matter that journey, no matter the cost-I am able to celebrate Mother's Day.

Sunday morning each child gave me something when I woke up and (Jeremy went out of his way this year and gave me a picture of us at midnight in a really cool frame.) Then in the morning he had Kenna give me opal earrings and then he gave me an opal necklace. (my birthstone) Kelsey gave me a mother daughter necklace that made me cry. Keira made me a sweet card and Kyle made me a certificate and card. It was such a sweet day and one that I will cherish. It has been a rough few years transitioning with older kids and "feisty" Kenna. She can still be an armful, but she is maturing in some ways and getting a little easier. When she is in a good mood she is really cute!!!
As I watch each of them grow and develop it is amazing to me to realize how much I love this job called mom. I may not have the great paying job or some cool degree that will earn me a great paying job-anthropology degrees probably are not worth much :) but I finished what I started and I do still hope to get a graduate degree one day...
But looking at how in the blink of an eye Kyle and Kelsey are turning into handsome and beautiful young adults-it makes me sad to think that I thought I appreciated all the time I have had with them and yet I wish I had more....The next 6 years with Kyle will go by so fast it makes me sad to realize that he and Kelsey will be in college in 7 years. So sad....I will really miss them...
Don't get me wrong-I love Keira and Kenna just as much and I look forward to all of the time I have left with them and I know that I can appreciate that time just as much-and that being a mom does not end when they leave home and that the next 7 years will not be easy-but these kids are so precious to me and I love every minute I get to spend with them and with Jeremy as a family. It has been a lot of fun!
Thank you Jeremy for not giving up on me and believing in me all of these years. I know it is not always easy and that at times it is easier to give up and start over, but I still believe in true love and still believe that Black Hawk's song "Love Like This" is our song. Thanks for sharing this ride called parenthood with me all of these years and I look forward to all of the years to come....

One of the moments of being a parent...

So we took family pictures last week with Kelsey of course. I know I keep giving shameful plugs on my blog and facebook, but I really think she is the best photographer with how she captures personality in a way that most people are not able to. It is an art and she is an artist. I have not even seen most of them, but as I looked at the sneak peek of my own kids and then looked at a sneak peek of some mutual friends' kids the stark reality of how fast my kids are growing up hit home even harder. I am not sure where the time has gone. On some days it seems just yesterday that it was Kyle who was the 3 or 4 year old that was the sun kissed blonde kid causing trouble in Primary with these mischief laden blue eyes. Not much has changed in almost 10 years as Kelsey can attest from our photoshoot-he is still full of mischief and mayham, but he will be a teenager in 3 short months. When I look at Kelsey, she is this beautiful strong smart athletic young woman now. Not the little chubby blond toddler with a toothy grin that I probably will always see her as....And Keira...well she is not a baby anymore that is for sure...She is definately a six year old full of opinions and ideas and worries and wanting to be like her big sister and brother. When she gives us her true smile it will always remind me of the day she was born....Then there is Kenna....she is still a handful...she is still clingly....she is still opinionated like no other...but she does not look like a baby anymore. She is a preschooler on her way to becoming a little girl. I am entering a new phase in life and it definately shows in these pictures... Now if only I could catch up to Jeremy in the weight loss department and look younger like he does then while the kids look older and we look younger it will all balance out in the end......RIGHT????