All is calm

Thursday morning we were all so exhausted from our festivities on Wednesday night (think late concert and DQ trip)! I got up with Hayden, got him off to Seminary, then went back to bed for a while longer. I got Landon and Regan up with no time to spare, got them to school, then back home to get Port off to school. My visiting teachers were going to be coming at 9:15 so I was trying to be on time so I would be back from dropping him off. Well, I looked out the window at 9:05 and Chanda was already there, so I ran out to tell her that I hadn't even taken him to school yet, but did she want to wait for me inside? She offered to drive him to school for me, which was perfect. While I was waiting for her to come back and her companion to join her, I got the boys up and dressed and fed. Melinda showed up and we visited for a few minutes and she brought me some treats. I was very glad I stayed up late the night before and got my dishes done and floors swept so at least I wasn't embarrassed about my kitchen. Chanda got back and they gave me a message and left. Then we ran down to Grandma and Grandpas for my 9:45 piano lesson. When that was done I gave Turner a piano lesson too. Then it was back home and off to the library and then to get groceries. The boys helped me carry in groceries and then I got them BOTH down for naps. Which was needed, since I knew they would be up late again that night.

Hayden had a swim meet up in Lakewood, but due to my exhaustion, I opted to miss this one. I picked Porter up at 5:30, dropped him off at home, took the rest of the kids to Timberline for Turner and Regan's last swim lesson, then got them changed and drove to the church for the Relief Society dinner and Christmas program. It was a beautiful program that really touched me. I was especially grateful that they had a children's class for my four youngest kids. It was a little wild in there, but they had a great time and they calmed down really quickly once I got them home. Hayden was home from his swim meet by the time I got home and had practiced his violin. He is working on a Mozart Concerto and is hoping to master it in a couple of months, so he's working really hard.

On Friday I had NOTHING on my calendar! It was so nice! I was planning on just staying home and cleaning all day, but then I remembered that I needed to exchange some clothes that I bought for Regan a few weeks ago (she has grown!), so I decided to go to the mall as soon as it opened so I could miss crowds and traffic. I called my sister on my way over and she agreed to meet me there after a while with one of her daughters. We let the three little ones play in the play area for a little while before we headed off in our separate directions. Cooper fell asleep on the way home, and I wasted my time in the afternoon doing nothing productive. I put away the rest of the groceries from Thursday and I ran a load of dishes. And that's about it. I got the kids to bed fairly early that evening and then scooted over to my parents for a piece of banana bread fresh out of the oven. Never mind that I was already in my pajamas. I'm sure none of the neighbors thought it was odd to see me walking down the street in the rain wearing pajamas, flip flops and a coat. Landon slept over at Grandma and Grandpa's that night.

We overslept on Saturday morning. Hayden had swim team practice at 8, and I didn't wake up until 7:55! It felt so good! I ran him to the pool, then when I came back Dix called and said that he would be flying in at 11:30, so I laid around reading for much of the morning, then got dressed and took Cooper with me up to the airport to pick him up. Cooper has really missed him. Every morning he asks, "Where Daddy go?" He's not used to him being gone, so he missed him a lot! We were glad to have him home, especially since he fixed our toilet first thing! I spent most of the day over at my parents' house sewing Lacy and Rose's Christmas skirts. They turned out really cute and I think they were really excited for them! Our next project: Winter skirts (snowflake fabric, light blue fabric, snowmen, etc). Should be fun. I'll take a picture of the three girls in their skirts on Christmas day. I didn't get home from there until after 7, so I bathed the boys and then when Dix and the big boys got home from delivering Christmas baskets, Dix and I left for a hot date. Porter did a fabulous job babysitting. He got Cooper to bed with no problems, and he and Regan and Turner had a list of things they were planning on doing together that night (Landon was having a late-over with our next door neighbor and Hayden is at a party). They had ten things on their list and only made it through five. The things that they crossed off their list were: Played Candyland, played Guitar Hero, practiced playing Need for Speed Carbon, made mashed potatoes. I can't find the list, so I know I'm missing something, but I thought it was really cute of Port to make a list and do stuff with them other than just watch a movie.

Regan's been coughing the last couple of days and tonight she threw up, so she probably won't be able to go to church tomorrow. I hate having to make Dix stay home with her every week. But I guess that's just our life right now. Hopefully nobody else will get sick just in time for Christmas.