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This week…

* we had Monday off; it rained all day and was only 49 degrees; so me and the boys rented movies and enjoyed taking it easy (plus a trip to IKEA)

* Samuel's music teacher asked me if I was tired or pregnant this morning…oh dear – do I really look that bad? – just very, very tired.

* I'm recovering from my big ride on Saturday pretty well – Derek's acid zapper supplements have helped with my soreness

* Caleb has two baseball games this week and a practice

* Jacob has his last speed & agility class – I hope to get pictures

* Samuel is wearing his rain boots just because it's fun to wear rain boots, even when the sun is shining

* Derek is in San Diego and thorougly enjoying the weather and the view of the temple from his hotel window

* I'm helping sell concessions to a bunch of choir kids.  I've done this for 3 years now despite the fact that I don't have a choir kid myself.  Hmmmm…?

* I'm working the book fair – which means I'm spending money at the book fair – I can't help myself.

* I'm hosting playgroup here at the house - scratch that – I just decided I'll be hosting playgroup at the park.

* I'm enduring another doctor's apptmt for Jacob with a dr I dislike.  Don't ask…

* I'm bringing my favorite new drink to a fun Cinco de Mayo party with the High Priests Group from Church.

* I'm hoping to start re-organizing our home office (we'll see if I get to that).

*I'm going to go see my sweet nephew Reid, and I'm going to shop for my other sweet nephew-to-be

*I'm going to try to find meaningful gifts for the Mother's in my life

*and I'm going to work on my Women's Conference lesson and my F7 Fireside talk coming up this month

I better go, because I have a few things to do. 🙂 🙂

 

Samuel’s favorite saying (and practice) is “I’m gonna hug your guts out!”. And none of us really mind.

Once again…a list of excuses for why I haven't blogged:

1.  If there was a contest for the worst allergies on the planet, I would win it.

2.  Easter is so fun – but a lot of work.  And I loved it.  Pics to come.

3.  Samuel requires both of my eyes and both of my ears.  He painted my carpet – again.  And is currently icing a fat lip.

4.  I've been cleaning up and cleaning out - and yard selling (at a friend's).

5.  Baseball, Scouts, Piano, etc.

6.  Visiting with an old friend who was in town – and cuddling her cute baby.

7.  Planning parties.

8.  Hosting book club.

9.  babysitting, taking meals in to people who are moving, and other opportunities to serve

10.  Preparing mentally for a very long bike ride on Saturday (I won't even mention the physical preparation that has been lackluster).

That's it – just normal stuff.  But it seems busy around here this week.  Funny thing is, I'm also working on a lesson I'm teaching at a Women's Conference in May.  The topic?  Living a simpler life – getting back to basics – and putting first things first.  I'm trying VERY hard to practice what I preach.  Sometimes I'm successful – sometimes I crash and burn (literally). 

My sweet friend, Carrie, was in town visiting her family recently.  She currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband and daughter.  This was my first time to meet cute little Elena. 

A little history about me and Carrie: 

1.  she and I became instant friends when I was home from college one time and she had just recently followed her family to Texas from Utah…we hit it off really fast

2.  she and another friend were instrumental in Derek and I meeting for the first time (in fact she was there for our first blind date)

3.  she was my maid-of-honor when we got married

4.  she lived in Switzerland for a few years and I went to visit her in 2002 – we hiked the Swiss Alps together and visited Zurich (she was living in Lucerne)

5.  when Derek and I traveled to Beijing in 2005 with his SMU MBA program, Carrie was living in Hong Kong, so she flew north and met us for a few days of sightseeing in China.  We saw the Great Wall together!

6.  she is one of the most genuine and energetic and lovely people I know – everytime we're together it's like we haven't been a part

It was so fun to spend a few hours with her in our home.  Love you, Carrie!  Can't wait to plan our trip to Brazil together (Carrie's husband Eduardo is Brazilian and they spend several weeks there every summer.  Isn't it fitting that we should continue meeting up around the world?!)

 

 

Dyeing eggs for FHE – We used food coloring and vinegar this year - not the PAAS stuff like we usually do.  I liked the warmer colors.

 

Frisco 5th Ward 5K and Egg Hunt – This was Derek's "dream" since becoming a Bishop – a ward 5K!!  Ok so maybe not his "dream" – but something he was excited to implement.  The EQ President, Scott Ferguson, and his wife (the Easter Bunny) did a great job of putting it together.  Fun for the whole family.

 

Neighborhood HOA Egg Hunt and Party – Derek and Jacob decided yard work was more of a priority so I took the younger boys to this.  The highlight was Caleb finding a ticket in one of his eggs which one him a big yellow chick.  That's just what we need – a yellow chick to add to the yellow banana!

 

Easter Traditions – the Easter bunny left a trail of jelly beans from their bedrooms down the stairs again this year.  I think Samuel and Caleb ate them all before Jacob even woke up.  Then the boys worked hard to find their hidden Easter baskets.  The E.B. hid them VERY well this year – it took them a good hour to find them.  Samuel's was in the "tea cart", Jacob's was in the dining hutch, Caleb's was in the oven (the oven?!).  The two big boys have been begging for Reebok zigtechs, but this momma doesn't buy $80 shoes – knowing that they will be destroyed in 6 weeks.  My limit for shoes is $40 (and I prefer them less than that).  So I told the boys that I would pay for half of the zigtechs but that they would have to pay for the rest.  Well, as it turns out zigtechs are hard to find because of their popularity.  So the E.B. found them in the colors and sizes that my boys desired.  But after consultation with me, he decided to give the boys ONE of the zigtechs and asked them to earn the rest.  I just love a practical Easter Bunny!  The boys were pretty stoked – even with ONE zigtech!  And now those cool shoes sit on my dresser, while the boys work hard to earn enough money for the other shoe.  Other treats included the Tangled movie for Samuel, Big League Chew and chocolate bunnies.

The big boys also got new church ties and Samuel got a new shirt.  So handsome.

 

Easter dinner – this year we had Easter dinner here.  I made ham, potato casserole, asparagus and homemade rolls.  Anne brought salad and deviled eggs.  Mom brought corn casserole.  It was relaxed and lovely.

 

As always, I love all of the fun things that surround Easter – the colors, the tastes, the flowers, the eggs.  It's all fun.  But I especially love the real meaning of it all.  The hope, the love, the eternal perspective that comes because of Christ and His great sacrifice for us all.  I love that each day can be a NEW day – a resurrection of sorts – because we can be forgiven through Him.  I love the quest to come follow Him.  I do – I love it.  And I'm grateful.

I asked my 15-18 year old Sunday School class to memorize together the document The Living Christ that was published by our church in 2000.  It is a moving recap of the life and ministry of the Savior.  Each youth memorized a paragrah of it and they recited it in Sacrament Meeting on Easter Sunday.  I was proud of them!  Two of the girls took my "extra" challenge to memorize the whole thing and they get a special gift from me (a necklace).  I made the class cupcakes to reward them for their efforts and they will also be having a pool party at our house this summer.

 

Caleb is having a WONDERFUL first season of baseball.  He's playing for the 8U Rangers with coaches that are SO kind and also helpful.  They are really teaching the kids well.  And Caleb has really taken to it – getting a hit every time he steps up to the plate.  It is kid pitch (they are allowed 4 balls and then the coach is allowed to throw however many strikes are left – 2 strikes left, 2 pitches, etc.).  Last night Caleb had 2 strikes, so I got my camera aimed and ready knowing that he would probably be swinging at the next pitch.  But the poor guy got HIT with a pitch – HARD.  The photo that I got shows the ball bouncing off his thigh.  He has a baseball-sized bruise to prove that he got hit.  He did get to limp to first base and have a timeout to walk it off a little bit.  He's tough though. 🙂

 

 

The Rangers practice twice a week and are 3-0 so far in the season.

My new little nephew, Reid Michael Robinson was born on Tuesday, April 5th at 12:10 pm.  His proud parents, my brother Michael and his wife Olivia, are elated and so blessed to welcome this little guy after years of trying to get pregnant.  Reid was 8 lbs 12 oz and 19 and 3/4 inches.  He has blonde hair and long fingers and feet.  He's beautiful!

Mom, Dad and Christy, Anne and I hung out at the hospital that morning awaiting Reid's arrival (along with Olivia's parents from OK and some of their family friends).  The thoughtful parents-to-be thought of everything and even had treats for hospital visitors!  It was so fun to be there when Michael came out and said "he's here" and showed pictures of Reid from his camera.  THAT was a sweet moment.

 

 

Later that evening I took the very excited and proud cousins to meet the newest family member.  Each of the boys was elated to hold Reid and see him for the first time…and so was I!  We have talked about…prayed about…thought about…dreamed about…baby Reid for a LONG time and to have him here is so fun.

 

Michael and Olivia even let me come stay the night last Wednesday night – a whole night of cuddling and loving on my new nephew!!  It was delightful for me to hang out with them and watch these sweet new parents in action.  They are doing all of the things that new parents do as they try to feel out everything…worrying, cuddling, marvelling, and experimenting.  It's wonderful!  And they're naturally good at it.  They do have things that they are trying to figure out – little Reid has torticollis and will need physical therapy for his neck muscles.  His foot is a little bent out of shape from his position in the womb.  He had some jaundice at the beginning but is doing better.  But he is, overall, healthy and pretty content, incredibly handsome and VERY bright!  Gifted, even.  🙂

 

And to think that we get to do this all over again in 3 months with Mark and Anne's new baby!  I am elated.  Playing "Aunt Mer" is really fun.

Dear blog friends:  I am riding in one day of the MS 150 this year – a family tradition that, up until now, I have enjoyed from the sidelines.  Click HERE to hear more about why I ride.  And if you can, please consider donating to the cause on my behalf.  Thanks!

Meredith

I thought you all would probably feel better to know that today I had a VERY productive (not to mention pointed and honest, but respectful) conversation with the teacher that Jacob is struggling with.  I also invited the principal to attend that meeting (which she did) and she and I had a wonderful one-on-one chat afterwards.  This teacher's style is "old school" and lecture-oriented.  She has a good heart, I believe, but her personality + Jacob's personality do not mix well.  She is very rigid and nit-picky.  She had made strides with him in the past, and we hope that with some prodding and some awareness she will re-direct her efforts and her tone with him again.  We hope. 

In the meantime, it's good to know that, as adults, we can sit down – talk about the issues candidly – try to come up with solutions – and leave feeling hopeful about the situation.

The bottom line is…I was heard.  I was validated.  And it was the right thing for me to stand up and advocate for my son.  I usually avoid confrontation or uncomfortable situations at all cost, so this is a big deal for me.  I didn't sleep last night because the conversation ran through my head all night.

But I feel better, at least for today! 🙂

A lemon layer cake from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook. I’m taking it to the RS birthday celebration tonight. Just call me Betty Crocker!