Welcome Home Mommy!

"My pancake fell off my fork!"

"Mine did too!"

"And we're both so tired that it's the end of the world..."

Good news after managing to get a few bites in they're doing much better.

This weekend I was at an Interpreting Conference in Phoenix. It's always hard when one parent has been gone and comes back home. I wasn't going to go because I just didn't know how to pull it off with a nursing Kenzie; and what do you do with 5 kids while Mom runs off to a conference? Well, last minute (as in the day before it started) we got it figured out. Thanks Ashleys (both of you)!!! Turned out Ashley here in Tucson was willing to let the little kids play at her house and Ashley in Gilbert was willing to let Kenzie stay there so I could be close enough to still feed her. Seriously, never would've happened without them. The conference was fabulous! So fabulous that I'm still rolling some of the things I heard around in my head. Sign of some great information there. Good stuff for the working side of me.

During one quick break I was talking with Ashley about kid stuff. I've been frustrated that consistently reading and praying with the kids seems to have NO effect on them. (There's some insight into my evil little mind.) I thought after so much time we should see at least a little improvement in behavior and a reduction in the mouthiness...yet they're still as naughty at home as ever. They are super well behaved at school so I know they have the ability to behave. As I was telling Ashley about it in a "what the heck" kind of tone she said, "Maybe they are better, imagine what they'd be like if you weren't." And that, my dear friend, is why I need you close by. You've always provided that perspective I need. I'M SO GLAD YOUR BACK TO ARIZONA!!

OH. MY. GOSH. what if this is improved? What if we are being blessed? But they're still so naughty...and this is the blessing?!?

Told ya I have an evil little mind. ;-D 

That continues to roll around in my head. What have I leaned from it so far? 

You can't order the blessing you see fit for obedience.

Doing something in order to earn a blessing isn't such a great idea.

Even though I was completely off in my reasons, the kids are learning and growing from daily study and prayer.

Just because it wasn't the specific blessing I had on order doesn't mean I've been missed.

Maybe behaving at school is the blessing? Maybe an unrelated blessing or two has come our way?

Just imagine what they'd be like if we weren't consistently doing it...

Be grateful for what you get. 

Such a good weekend of learning and growing in so many aspects of my life.

Now, back to the exhausted little yahoos that really need to go down for naps right now, but have to wait till we get home from school pick up. Should be exciting... 

In other news:

The whole reason we bought this house was so we could take care of Stephen's Mom. I had planned on 6 months to a year to get settled in the new ward. I struggle mightily with things like that. Looks like it'll be sooner. I have very strong feelings on the the VA that I'll keep to myself. There's some SERIOUS flaws in protocol! To all of our service men and women...FIND AN AGGRESSIVE ADVOCATE *before* you pursue care through the VA. It's not all the recruiters claim it is...bunch of liars.

We'll be nice for a couple weeks, then we'll just camp out till they get their heads out of their rears and provide some care. I'm pretty sure the crazy lady waiting to be seen, with 5 kids in tow, will elicit quicker service. :-D Most of the time I feel weirdly at peace with it all. I'm still terrified of the logistics of it and the strain that our marriage will have put on it, but weirdly ok. Knowing we are both fiercely dedicated to the preservation of our marriage will help in making decisions. That will be the priority in each and every decision. Fun times...I hope to get completely unpacked by....the time we die.