A week at the Doctors March 26-April 1

It's hard when you get behind, looking back at this week I was so busy I don't really want to write about it- so we'll see how it goes.

Sunday: Church as normal - I've been conducting for the month, I still stumble over my words and forget things.  What is it about being in front of people that makes you ten times worse than you normally are?   

After church was quite busy.  Doug went home teaching at 2:00, our home teachers came at 3:00, Tyler and I went to choir at 4:00 then we had dinner at 5:00.  We had our family home evening at 6:00 and then we went back to the church at 7:00 for Damon's Priesthood Preview.  I didn't have to help much with this meeting so I was able to enjoy it.  It was a great program and I hope that Damon and his friends realize the importance and significance of receiving the priesthood this year.  They all sang "A Young Man Prepared,' and did a great job. 

 This was a week of being at the school and at the Doctor's office for well check-ups.

Monday was Chris's turn.  He didn't have to have shots, so that made him happy.  He didn't do so well on his eye exam, so I made an appointment with the eye doctor.  We may have another glasses wearer in the house.  Chris also missed a bit on his hearing, we are going to retest in a month or so - but I really wonder if he can't hear as well - it would explain a lot of things at home.  Chris is just above 50% for height and weight.

Tuesday I went visiting teaching to both of our ladies.  We like to talk so it usually takes 2 1/2 hours.  It is great but takes up my whole morning on those days.

Wednesday I worked hard in the kitchen while the girls were at preschool.  I was getting ready for a surprise birthday luncheon for a friend.  I made a yummy Toscana soup and super yummy Chocolate Torte Cake.  They were a bit labor intensive so I'm glad I got them done the day before.  I also made sugar cookie dough and frosting to help things be faster in the morning.

My friend picked up the boys from school for me so I could take Damon to his Dr. appointment.  He is getting older and has to do a few more things at his visits.  I have to take him to a lab to get a lipid panel drawn.  He also received a bunch of shots - he was sore for a few days.  He is healthy a just a bit below 50% for height and weight.

Thursday - I can't remember if I have blogged about it, but usually on Thursday mornings I lift weights with two friends.  We meet at 5:30 and go to a gym that my one friend works at.  We had a great work out this week and I was really sore for a few days afterwards.

In the morning I worked fast to bake the sugar cookies and decorate them.  I also finished the chocolate cake and got a present ready and some decorations.  I went over early to help and we barely got everything done in time.  We had a great turn out, over 25 moms came to help celebrate.  It was a fun luncheon.  I felt bad that I had to leave a bit early to go to Jenna and Kaylee's doctor appointment.

Their visit was fine, but they did need shots this year.  They were pretty upset about it.  Jenna did ok, but I really had to force Kaylee down to get her to hold still.  We went to Sonic after and got some slushies though so that of course made everything better.  Their legs were a bit sore, but not too bad.  The girls of course are still small.  Jenna weighs 2 more pounds than Kaylee and is a bit taller.  But they are growing and their percentages are increasing.  I think are in the 10-19th percentile.

 I picked up the boys straight from the doctors and then I dropped all the kids off at my neighbors so I could go back and get my stuff from the party.  Crazy run around day.  - but it's not over :)  I went back to my neighbors to get the kids and visited for a minute, Damon came in as well, seeing that my van was there.  We left around 4:30 and then we had to leave our house at 5:00 to go to Chris's 1st grade program.  They learned some cool routines drumming on Yoga balls.  It was pretty fun.  We had dinner afterwards then we all loaded up in the car again to go to Pack Meeting.  Tyler received his Bear.  They did some fun face painting as part of the ceremony.  It was a long day with kids getting to bed a bit late.  I was tired. Doug went to church ball, they had the late game at 9:15.

 Friday I went to the school to support Tyler and Chris with their good grades for the 3rd quarter.  The do a little assembly and recognize those who have perfect attendance, all A's and B's, all A's, and who have good citizenship.  They receive these little embroidered pull tags (called spirit sticks) that they put on their backpacks.  Chris and Tyler both did well and Chris even had perfect attendance - guess he wasn't sick during that stretch.

I went back to the school in the afternoon to watch Tyler walk in the Hall of Fame.  This is for students who have been caught doing good things and then they earn a ticket.  If you have 10 tickets by the end of the quarter you get to walk in the Hall of Fame.  They get a shirt and all the of students sit in the hall and clap and give high-fives as the group walks by.

I took the boys home after that so that I didn't have to go back to the school another time. They were actually kind of bummed to leave early since it was fun Friday and they were missing their game/fun time.  Tyler was really upset - but he eventually calmed down.  I thought they would be ok since we were going to go swimming at a friends house and have pizza - you would think that they would be excited to go have fun - but I understand how unmet expectations can make anyone upset.  We all have a hard time with changes in plans and trying to be flexible.  We had a fun evening though and Doug came home early and joined us.  We are grateful for friend with pool who invite us over.

After we got the kids to bed we went to our friends house for Game Night.  We have a great group and we had a fun night talking, laughing, and eating yummy food.  I was all baked out so I brought over popcorn.  It was good to have something salty to go with all of the sweet.  

Saturday we got up early to do some service at the Church.  This has become an annual tradition on Saturday Conference morning to do yard work at the church.  We weeded and spread mulch.  It looks much better now.  The kids did pretty well  - we were there for about 1 1/2 hours.  Doug and Damon did some more lawn aeration with the Scouts for their fundraising.  They did a lot of yards and worked hard.  The rest of us did our jobs at home and listened to conference.  I was surprised at how well my kids listened and stayed quiet.  They liked playing conference bingo or coloring while we watched.  

As soon as Damon got home I took the kids and we went up to Conroe for some BBQ and the Montgomery County Rodeo.  Dinner was great but I should have had Jenna and Kaylee share.  They never eat much when we go out.  The boys all ate their hamburgers and Chris was so excited that I let him have Dr. Pepper.  I had a pulled pork sandwich that was really good.  We met another family there so it was fun to put all of the kids together and the adults at a separate table.  

After dinner we drove to the fair grounds.  Of course the kids all wants to go on the rides or eat fair food, but they did pretty well when we said we were just coming for the rodeo part.  We got there pretty early so we could get good seats.  I've never been to a rodeo before so I figured while we lived in Texas we should go.  They had the youth events first, mutton bustin,' a boot race, and the goat pull.  The kids did ok, but were starting to whine since they were tired and hungry.  We usually put Jenna and Kaylee to bed around 7:30/8:00 and that's right when the main rodeo started.  But they perked up again after a bit and I was glad that I had a granola bar and fruit snack for everyone.  The girls liked the barrel races best.  Chris was tired too and tried to rest on my leg or the chair with his jacket as a pillow.  He liked the event when teenagers tried to chase some calves.  If they roped them and pulled them to a certain area they could keep them.  Damon and Tyler were fine, maybe a bit bored, but they liked the bull riding and lassoing events.  It was a small rodeo so there were not many riders in each event.  There were many misses and most riders didn't stay on long, but it was perfect for us to give us a taste of the Rodeo life.  

Of course everyone was tired and the three youngest fell asleep on the way home.  We got back around 10:30.  Doug had enjoyed the priesthood session and went to Whataburger afterwards with some guys from the ward.  

The great thing about going to bed late this night was that the kids slept in on Sunday and it was a week that we could actually let them sleep in - and Doug and I did too.!  

Whew! that was a busy week!