I'm baaaack

I returned to my mommy duties Monday morning in full swing. We left the house at 9:30 in the morning and didn't return to it until 2:30!! Not fun. But the girls all behaved fabulously and were quite helpful in the stores as I moved about at turtle speed. (The reason it took so long.) I was pleasantly surprised that I did not feel completely exhausted Tues. morning but deccided that a couple more errands could wait until Wed. and I'm glad I did because by 2:00 I felt so tired I could not function. We ran some more errands yesturday and visited a pet store for the girls and another nap was essential by the time we returned. So, I'm not 100% yet but certainly better than I expected. For some people, I've heard that this string of flu affected them for 7-10 days with residual fatigue for a week or more after that! Be careful with this one! Sleep and fluids- don't cheat yourself.

Reflections Award

Every year the older girls participate in a "Reflections" program. There are different categories that the children make entries in and they are judged and the first three places are sent on to a state wide contest. For the last several years both of the older girls placed. This year was a bit dissappointing for Mardi though. She loves to write and entered into the literature category again this year. But we remind ourselves that the judges are different and that perhaps there were more entries than other years. Her entry was fabulous and something to be proud of. It was also about one of her favorite subjects and a common one for her entries for this particular contest. The theme this year was "My favorite Place..." and each contestant fills in the blank. Mardi's was "My favorite place is wherever my best friend Emmy is." Tersa decided to try something different. Literature has always been a competitive category so she entered in drawing/art and photography. Her photography entry was "My favorite place is outside." She took pictures of all the things she enjoys outside. Her other entry was entitled "My favortie place can be found when my head is in the clouds." She drew her head surrounded by clouds and in the clouds were some of the things she day dreams about. This is the entry she won third place for. Keddi entered this year with a drawing as well. Her entry was entitled "My favorite place is at the pool with my family." We are so proud of all of the girls and encourage them to enter every year. But this year I was as proud at how dissappointment was handled as I was about a place won!

More of Joel's family

And here is Joel's "baby" brother Mitchell. No not the baby, the one on the other side of the window.
Here's the baby (and his daddy, Micah.) His name is Jonah. We'd never met him and it was fun to watch him and get a feel for his personality.
This is Grandaddy and Mamoo. It's always good to be able to see and spend time with them.

Texas trip

Did the long absence make your hearts grow fonder?!?!? Here's the scoop. After spending Feb. 14- 18th in Texas we arrived home to our girls to find them well and in mixed emotions about having to go home. If we would have allowed, Shinara would now be known as Shinara Lucy Wilson and we would only have three children living in our home. No really, it was that bad!! My girls returned home to find that all was not well with Mom and as I lay in bed calling for Shinara to come say hi to me, she was clinging to Joel (still bawling) saying she did not want to say hi to mom, she wanted to go back to Connor's. She's only three and we try to let some things slide. Next morning, Joel headed off to work and Shinara cried that she didn't want him to and he said he only had to go for a little bit today. So she asked him to take her to Connor's. Evidently, after a phone call to the Wilson's she was content enough to live another day. I didn't know what was going on because I found myself staying in bed with fevers that would constantly come and go. I slept most of Mon. Without giving the details of my week, suffice it to say that I hve been in bed all week. On Wed. Joel made the observation that I have never been this sick in all our years of marriage. Almost a week later and I am still too weak to assume my usual schedule. Thank heaven for Track Break and two older girls who are quite capeable and willing to help out. After a day of laundry, making breakfast and lunch for the little ones and checking to see if I wanted or needed anything, Mardi told Joel "It's hard being a mom!" when he returned home Tuesday night. (Only day two of my being laid up.)
Our trip was fun, but we missed the girls and everyone there wanted to see them. Our comings and goings aren't all that interesting for the most part. But we enjoyed being together and stayed up far too late every night talking & playing video games. Here is Joel with two of his brothers, Micah and Jamin.


And two of his beautiful sisters with their mom in front of the temple.

Nothing to see here folks!

I've put off posting a blog because I didn't have any pictures to post. But, that means that some are wondering if we are well and stuff. We are! Today is our first day of Track Break and last night Tersa decided to be bored already. She is in for a long two plus weeks! She enjoys the social aspect of school and needs to be doing and going all the time. We will plan a few activities and try to keep busy but it is never enough for her. Even Keddi said something at dinner about track break being a long time and that she likes to "work." I often tell people that I had roughly the same children twice. Keddi is very much like Tersa and Shinara more like Mardi. Even last night, Mardi and Shinara were content to sit and watch a movie before dinner but Tersa and Keddi were in their rooms with their music on and doing make-up. They definately have their distinct personalities, but sometimes the similarities are surprising.