341/365

Today was my first time teaching the scouts.  This is going to be a really fun calling.  I'm so happy to be able to be there with Kade ever week.  It's the perfect age. Even though there are nine 8 year old boys, they are at that cue age when they are still so excited to be in scouts.  They aren't too obnoxious yet, and most of them are Kaden's buddies.  Pretty cool combination.  Kaden was so excited for me to come with him tonight. Last night he asked me if he could help plan our activity. He's going to be a great helper.

So, I had no clue what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to do something centered around the monthly theme of respect.  I found an activity where they could earn a belt loop if they learned "manners".  They did better than I ever imagined they would! They were so good! Not even too wild! I was proud of them.
I decided to set a table and give them pizza, peaches, a cookie and some green beans. Water or Apple Juice to drink.
They had to learn how to eat correctly (which foods you use forks and which you can eat with your hands), they had to ask for things politely, and say please and thank you. They had to take at least one bite of everything....even the things they didn't like! They were so darn cute! I wish I had a video camera to show off how darling they were eating their food in their little cub scout uniforms. I have never heard a room full of 8 year olds so quiet and respectful (I probably won't ever again either!).
I taught them how to shake hands with adults and how to introduce themselves by shaking hands and looking them in the eye as they said it was nice to meet them.  They did a great job. It's going to be to be their leader.


(update from a week later)
The best part was that I saw one of my scouts a few days later and I went to say hi to him and he stuck
out his hand to shake my hand!!!! I was so excited!! They actually learned and had fun doing it.
I felt the night was pretty successful.

340/365

Great news!!!!
THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL!!!!!!!!

Today was a glorious day. Kaden and Avery in school. Brighton at preschool. Connor taking a nap while they were all away.
                                                          It was HEAVEN!

I love my kids. I really do. But I REALLY love my alone time!!!

And the other good news?
Kaden totally rocked his Karate test tonight! I'm so proud of him. Next week is graduation. I hope he gets his purple belt. He deserves it. He's worked hard to know all his moves.

339/365

I was sooooooooooooooo excited for them to back to school after a three week break.  Today was supposed to be the day.
but.............
All four kids have been coughing up a lung.
Kaden has thrown up twice.
Now he's got the runs........

Why does this always happen the day they are supposed to go back on track?
WHY????, WHY????,WHY????

338/365

We've been trying to deal with sick kids today. Connor had been a bear all week long. Poor guy can't get over a slight fever and nasty cold.
Now the other kids seem to be getting the same thing.
The cutest thing about today is that I came into the family room to see these guys on the couch watching a movie.  I didn't put him there. Bright must have pulled Connor up himself so they could cuddle.  Geez, you can just tell Connor feels yucky... poor little guy.

Good thing he has such a sweet brother.

337/365

Today has been on of those days that was a whole lot of running around but not getting anything really accomplished.  I seem to have those kind of days alot.

I really need to get my life organized and get control of it a little better. In my heart I want to be an organized mom where menu's are planned, work outs actually happen, schedules are set, homework and reading time is priority and time is not wasted...... but the reality of it is....  my brain and body obviously don't talk to my heart very often because they don't agree on the above mentioned "lifestyle" habits my heart wants to achieve.  

How to I get them in-sync? 

Any Ideas? 

I need some serious butt kicking to get my life back in order so I can be the best mom and wife I am meant to be. 

336/365

Friday nights are usually set aside for Date Nights, but tonight it was craft night instead! 

The kids had late over at Tyler and Jana's and Brian had to work, so that left me to fend for myself! One of my neighbors planned a craft night, so I invited Callee to hang with me and we "crafted"! We had such a fun night.  There were about 8 of my friends hanging out working on Christmas gifts, talking, drinking yummy italian soda's and of course eating! 

I've got the coolest neighborhood with the neatest people.  As I was hanging out with them watching some sew, some just chatting away and others on the cricut cutting machine, I realized how much I appreciate the women in my life.  I value the friendships I've made while living here. I enjoy being around people who are raising children some older, some younger than my own. I love having the church as a common ground for us to fall back on.  It was so fun to be with all of them, but especially to be there with my sister. We don't ever get to just hang out.  I wish we did it more often.  

I hope that someday she will live in a neighborhood just as incredible as this one is for me.  One that will have women going through life's stages the same as her. A neighborhood where they will watch their kids grow up together and see friendships evolve and grow over trials and hardships as well as parties and Girl Night Outs.  It's one of my greatest joys of being here in Bluffdale for me. I love the people I'm surrounded with every day of my life. I love the kids my children are surrounded by every day. The women in Springview Farms are some of the dearest friends I have ever had. I can't wait for Callee to experience that someday. 

335/365

Last night was my final "Thankful" post.  It was a little weird to not post something I'm thankful for today. As I took this little challenge, I learned something very valuable. I learned that when you are intentionally finding things you are thankful for, it is then when you start to realize there are so many things in your life you have been blessed with.
I tried to find some of the daily things that touched me on that particular day, but now that the month is over, I realize just how much more I have to be thankful for.  I have been given so much. I have been blessed with amazing people in my life. I thank my Heavenly Father for circumstances in which I have been born into and the great blessings I have in my life.
All I can say is THANK YOU! I guess the bottom line is what I'm thankful for the very most is that I am a daughter of God. HE is my Father. HE has given me all of this. HE has trusted me to live my best life and teach those under my care.  HE will continue to love me and have faith in me even when I screw up. HE is why I have so much to be thankful in the first place.  I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father.
In my most humblest prayer, I bow down and thank THEE for everything that I have.

(here's just a few other things I didn't get to write about that I'm so thankful for)

334/365 & Thankful Day 30

333/365 & Thankful Day 29

332/365 & Thankful Day 28

If you can believe it, her second tooth came out two days later! Wow... this girl is going to be toothless before the new year!

331/365 & Thankful Day 27

330/365 & Thankful Day 26

329/365 & Thankful Day 25

328/365 & Thankful Day 24

327/365 & Thankful Day 23

326/365 & Thankful Day 22

325/365 & Thankful Day 21

324/365 & Thankful Day 20

I got released from primary today got called to be the wolf leader.  I have to admit, my first reaction was a little disappointment.  I don't know why, I guess it just took me by surprise.. I hadn't even thought that I would be in with the cub scouts.  A bunch of wild 8 year old boys trying to entertain them each week?  Listening to the obnoxious cub scout cheers on a weekly basis? Ahhhhh! I don't know if I can handle it!!

Then in one split second, my attitude changed.  

I came in and told Kaden that I would be his new scout leader.  His face lit up, he gave me a hug and could not stop smiling.  He then said, "Now you get to come with me every week! You never have to miss pack meeting!" 

On Sunday, He told all his friends in primary (woops... guess I should have told him it was a secret), then when the sustained me in church, he leaned over with that same lit up face, cuddled up to me and said, "Mom, I'm going to sit by you every week!"

It's all worth it. One little boy made it all worth it.  I am going to LOVE this calling.

323/365 & Thankful Day 19

322/365 & Thankful Day 18