Keepin' Up With The Joneses!!!

Man, keeping up with the Joneses makes for a BUSY life!! I like how Alison just made a quick update on her family's busy life, and thought I'd do the same. Making lists like this seems to help me feel like we are at least trying to do something worthwhile with our time!!!

DARIN: Continues to be busy at work solving problems left and right, hiring and firing, implementing new plans, and pretty much being worth his weight in gold to the college. Is loving his new hobby of road biking. Did a 100 mile ride a few weeks ago with his sisters. Requires all kinds of fancy gadgets, riding gear, spandex clothes, etc. New Elders Quorum President in our ward. Happy to report he is still alive (barely) after the massive family reunion he was forced to attend. Still the more level-headed parent in the house, handling the kids "episodes" in a much more parent-like way than I seem to be able to. Still does the dishes at our house--all of them, all the time. Took me on a date tonight to see "The Help". Both loved it. Does not get nearly the attention he deserves from me, but loves me anyways!! Lucky me!!

ME: Enjoying teaching morning kindergarten. Feel motivated and dedicated to making those 22 kids learn as much as possible this year, while still letting them be little tiny kids. Love doing stuff in my classroom and usually end up staying there til 3:30 when Logan and Ellie get out. Had 22 parent teacher conferences in ONE DAY this week. Whew!! Had to make up for being gone to the family reunion. Happy that my forever planning of a massive family reunion was worth it. Relieved it is over. Now on to planning a get-away of my own, and a family vacation or two for Darin, the kids, and I. Has anyone ever noticed that I like to plan?? Still in the stake primary presidency. Not sure if I should type it out loud....but it is a piece of cake calling!! And I fear it will be over very soon. Sigh. Reading the Eyre's new parenting book, "The Entitlement Trap", to see if I can't do a little backtracking on my parenting. Wish me luck. Still not doing much house cleaning. Still don't see the point. But I do keep it clutter-free!! For the present moment, trying to not think about the fact that I have 50 pounds to loose. Looking forward to enjoying this fall weather that is settling upon us. And looking forward to listening to conference this weekend.

LOGAN: Growing up way to fast!! His body is turning into a pre-teen. Deodorant every day now, at age 8. Although the maturity level to match it will be years away. Such a great boy!!! I still can't get enough of kissing his cheeks, and looking into those big eyes. Is LOVING flag football. I think this is the best sport we have had him in so far. He loves practices and the games. They have won every game so far, four in a row. The team won a laser-tag party from the coach for not letting the other team score for a whole game. He does well in school and his teacher has so many good things to say about him so far this year. Enjoying scouts, even though he has to wear that darn itchy button-up shirt every week. Taking piano lessons and memorizing every song the first day his teacher assigns it. Plays the piano like he does everything else--fast!! Friends rule in this boys life!! That's all he wants to do with his time--play with friends. For the reunion talent show, he taught everyone a little bit about the Wii Mario games, since that is what he is super good at. Is currently mad that Halloween is the LAST day in October. He wants to be Harry Potter and Ellie will be Hermoine. Love this time of year!! Love my Logan boy!!

ELLIE: Pointing toes, hand stands, splits, back bends, round offs, back handsprings, flitting and fluttering about. That is what this girl does. All. Day. Long!!! I am constantly being startled by her feet pounding the floor or the wall somewhere in the house. And you gotta love it that we can't make it through a meal without her getting up to do a few tricks between bites!! She goes to ballet two nights a week, and is practicing for the Nutcracker in November. She is not as confident at the piano, but her teacher is working on that. She does great, but compares herself to Logan's speed-playing. I am proud of her for sticking with it. Has Activity Days twice a month. Is a 100% girl and has the bedroom to prove it. Stuff. Lots of stuff. Lots of girl stuff. Everywhere!! Has insisted on doing her own hair for pretty much two years now. Is almost ready to try the curling iron on her won. She does fabulous in school--straight A's. Has made some new friends this year, but mostly sticks with the neighborhood girls after school. Today I was in my classroom and got a call from the secretary, asking if Ellie was with me. Nope. So her teacher and I were worried and looking all over the school for her. The class had not left the room, so it didn't make any sense that she was missing. Ten minutes later she pops out from under a classroom table where she had been reading. She had no idea anyone had been looking for her. I was barely entering the panic stage, as I seem to let my imagination get the best of me. Whew!! I sure do love my Ellie girl. She is growing up way to fast!!

The FAMILY: We all leave the house by about 8:00 every morning. The kids hang out in my classroom until 8:45. We are trying to have scriptures more often, but we struggle. At least we manage family prayer morning and night--not always with willing participants. I confess, family meals are few, and the kids are getting really good at making their own meals. We consume lots of cold cereal. Surely it's just a phase. I'll make a goal to cook dinner three nights this week. That's a good week for me. After school it's homework, chores, practices, friends, etc. Bedtime comes before we know it, I've hardly seen my kids, and we get up and do it all over again. Sometimes I'm ready to home school and move to the mountains to have my family all to myself!! Looking forward to some great outings together this fall season, and maybe a fun trip or two, we shall see!!