Busy Busy

Since school started life has been so busy.  Too busy.  A lot of it is temporary though which is helping me maintain sanity most days.  I spend so much time driving around right now.  Taking the kids to school in the morning is around a 45 minute round trip for me.  Afterschool, depending on what we have going on, I either pick them up at school or their bus stop in Wellsville--that's another 30-45 minute round trip.  Once a week Luke and Seth take piano lessons from our new neighbor so on that day we kill time at our lot or over at the neighbor's house until it's time and then for an hour during lessons.  Everywhere we go I have to bring snacks, changes of clothes etc. so that we can go straight to soccer practices or something else.  Luke has changed in the bathroom at Heritage Park in Nibley at least once a week since school started.  I have used the public outdoor restroom by the Stake Center in Wellsville numerous times on my way from point A to point B.  I feel like we live in the van...not down by a river, but wherever we happen to be.  We're transients!

There are lots of days I've had to leave the house in the morning with all the kids and myself ready for the entire day and all the snacks, gear, etc. we need for numerous activities.  That is not easy for me!  The kids and I have "killed time" in parks all over the valley on our way to soccer when we don't have time to come back to Providence first.  It has been crazy.  I will be so glad to have the bus again and send the kids off to school without loading up the littles every single day!  I am also in the Primary Presidency now and Jer is the Executive Secretary.  We both really like our callings, but they are really busy and we have to commute to them.  Now that our Primary presentation is over things have settled down a bit.  I now get the kids ready for church solo, but that hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I have also been doing some freelance writing gigs to make some extra cashola in addition to my online classes I teach, and in a ridiculous move I signed up for my second to last class towards my master's degree.  I'll be honest, I am not good at keeping quite this many balls up in the air when you add all the stuff that goes along with building a house to it (there are a million errands to run and things to choose)...and the fact that Jer is almost never home between work and the house.  Ugh!  I am not cut out for single parenting, and I am counting down until we are settled again.

I have had some serious blond moments lately.  I've done more ditzy things the last month than in my entire life.  Like the time I got Seth all dressed for soccer and took him to the right field at the right time except it was actually Ian's practice. So Seth played on the playground and Ian went out and practiced soccer in his jeans. Or the time I had the wrong time in my calendar so Ian and I showed up to his soccer game at 12 instead of 10.  Or the time I went to my Primary meeting at the wrong time.  I really upped the ante on that one when after the meeting (second time I went at the right time) I ran out of the house without Leah!  Don't worry I remembered and ran right back in but seriously!

I'm sure I will look at this time someday and laugh.  Thankfully a lot of the busyness will go away when we move in, and I will have Jer back.  I'm looking forward to having a bit more time and saving some gas and wear and tear on the poor van soon.  Our painter blew us off and messed up our schedule (a lot), but we got someone new and he's on the job.  He seems slower than cold tar, but I'm praying for a Thanksgiving miracle!

Favorite Trail

One thing I will miss a ton when we officially move from Providence is the trail up the canyon.  I have ran up there a lot the past few years, and I love it.  I plant to head back once a week or so during the summer to hit the trail.  I took Ian up there the other day while Leah was at her dance class.  It was chilly but so pretty.  I love fall.

 

 

Pumpkin Hunters

A few weeks ago we went to the pumpkin place.  The kids had lots of fun.  I do love this time of year, and it will be a sad day when they start thinking stuff like this is lame.  For now they love all things holiday!

 

 

 

 

Seth lost his other front tooth.  Once again he had us tie it to the door and yank it out!

School Pics

I decided I'm not ordering any school pics anymore (besides a class one) because I don't usually even put them up anyway.  I did snap a few cute pics of the boys though as they were heading out the door wearing something other than basketball shorts and a t shirt!

 

Hiking the Wellsvilles

Back in September we had one other adventure.  Jer and I organized a Wellsvilles hike with our dads and Luke.  We went up Deep Canyon in Mendon and hiked to the top then along the ridge and down Rattlesnake in Sardine.  It was over 13 miles!  It was a challenge for Luke, but he did a great job and was proud of himself.  He couldn't believe how much we climbed--it is a steep one.  There were a few times his legs were getting really tired on the way down--Rattlesnake is so steep and a really rocky, loose trail. Despite that he had a great attitude, and he was proud of his accomplishment.  He even had a soccer game that morning, so he had quite the day.  He was being downright silly by the end and once he had his Cafe Rio in him he was good as new.  He was up by the crack of dawn running around the next day!  I'm thinking there are not many nine year-olds that have made that particular trek.  The grandpas weren't too shabby either!

 Very bright and so stinkin' windy on top.

  
 

 

 

 

 

We made it just before dark!

White Pine Tradition

Back in September the boys got away for a little backpacking adventure.  They kept up the tradition of going to White Pine Lake and since Seth is 6 this year he got to go too.  Needless to say he was just a bit excited about it.  The hike is four miles each way, and they both did great.  They hiked in on a nice Friday evening and hiked out in a downpour on Saturday.  

 This is the famous photo rock, so we'll have to see how much they grow by next year.

 Luke had to pull his own weight a bit more this year.  His pack looks worse than it was, but he did carry about 16 lbs.

 Seth's weighed in at about 6!  I have to laugh at his untied shoe.  There is pretty much never a time when both of Seth's shoes are tied.

Love these boys!  I wish they were always giving each other the love like this.  When they pulled up at home they were both in their undies.  They were so wet and muddy by the time they got to the truck that Jer made them strip down for the ride home.  (Don't worry—Jer kept his pants on!)