Music Man

Gage decided to be in the Musical again this year.  The practices sometimes run late into the evening.  It's 3 hours after school everyday for 4 months.  It's so much work and by the end I feel like hiding under the covers and Gage is so tired he can't even see straight.  But Gage loves it.  They did the Music Man this year and Gage was in a group of kids called student council.  There were in Tommy's gang and were picked for their dancing.  The dances were complex and long.  One dance was 8 minutes long and during that time he was lifting chairs above his head and climbing ladders.  It was pretty incredible and we learned that dancing is athletic.  He also learned to waltz and watching him dance with these cute girls was surreal for me.  Of course, he had no complaints.  Hee hee!  He made so many good friends and it's fun to see him turning into a teenager.  He recently had a dilemma of which table to sit at for lunch.  He really wanted to sit with his new friends from musical but it's a boy/girl table and there were cute girls at that table and he wasn't sure he was brave enough to go up and sit down.  He mostly didn't want to catch flack from his friends but he did it and is loving it.  Brave boy!        

These are some of the boys on student council.  Such cute boys.  Love them!  

Opening night is such a nail biter.  This year was really bad.  The sets were huge and it's just a technically hard play.  Tim and I went alone opening night.  I had been to some rehearsals earlier in the week and honestly did not think they were going to be able to pull it off.  They more that pulled it off....they nailed it!  After the show the kids go into the cafeteria for the meet and greet and the energy in the room is hard to explain.  They were so relieved and knew they put on a good show...the room was buzzing.  The kids are hugging and laughing and jumping on tables.  It is so much fun to watch and be a part of. 

My dad and Tim's parents came to Friday night's show.  Gage loves the support!  Luke and Claire could not wait to see it!

It really feels like an accomplishment for the parents too.  Tim helped build sets and during the set moves I think every dad holds his breath.    

On opening night it's customary to give the performers a gift.  I thought I was really crafty this year. Gage did not get it.  It says, "Be Twix you and me.  York the best dancer in the M&M (Music Man)"  I guess I need to keep it simpler next year!?  The other one says "You're a star!"  I thought that was pretty straight forward?

On closing night the performers sometimes give each other gifts.  This is what Gage gave.  It says, "Without you Student Council Would Suck!" Clever huh?

Christmas 2016

Whoa, is this post out of order or what!?  As I've been playing catch-up I realized I missed Christmas.  I had dreaded Christmas from the moment Tim was laid off.  I just had this fear that he would still be unemployed by December and I think we worked so hard to keep that from happening.  When Thanksgiving hit we pretty much knew we would finish out the holidays unemployed.  I have to say that this Christmas was the most enjoyable and the most meaningful though.  I never could have imagined myself saying that. Certainly there were moments of fear that the kids wouldn't have a good Christmas but for the most part it was a wonderful Christmas.  When you have no money to spend it is amazing the stresses that melt away.  Our church began a Christmas campaign called Light the World where each day members were encouraged to serve as the Savior served.  We tried to be a part of that campaign and I realized that you don't need money to light someone's day.  Other's certainly lit our Christmas and I'll never forget the pure love of giving that we received.  

The kids were very content this Christmas.  They did not ask for anything extravagant.  Gage was amazingly sensitive.  Asking me early in December why I was so stressed.  I told him I was worried about providing the kids with a good Christmas.  He said, "Oh, you don't need to worry about that Mom.  We don't need anything."  I knew they didn't NEED anything but I wanted to give them something special. But Gage said "Don't worry, we'll be fine."  He really is amazing.  They asked for simple gifts and I found the joy was actually greater than more extravagant years.  We talked more of the Savior, we talked of ways we could serve, we enjoyed the lights, we sang together, we watched movies, and played board games, we played in the snow, we read stories, and  we were humbled by the service of others.  I think I discovered Christmas for the first time.    

The kids really look forward to Christmas Eve.  This year, we had a great time!

In the morning we said goodbye to our elf Twinkie and thankfully he remembered to bring the Santa key because our house has no Chimney.  I cooked a Turkey dinner this year for Christmas Eve and so much of the day was spent in the kitchen.

By 5:00 p.m. Claire was ready for Grandpa and Pam to come.  And so she waited....

And then Luke began waiting....

And then Sarge.

When they arrived we had such a great night.  The turkey was good.  Go me!  Luke and Claire sang a song they learned at school called Suo Gan.  Luke sang it in Welsh and then Claire sang it in English and then together each in the different language.  I was impressed and they sang beautifully. They had been practicing all day.  Gage played Jingle Bells on his trumpet.  My sister Pam even played her violin and then I played my guitar.  Surprisingly the whole family, my dad included, sang while I played Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy.  One of my favorite hymns and so appropriate for our circumstances.  Then we played a game and finished off by watching Home Alone. Such a great night!

And in the morning, well Claire's face says it all.

Sarge went crazy with the wrapping paper and loved nothing more than helping the humans open their presents. 

Sledding over Christmas Break has been our tradition.  This year we had PLENTY of snow and it was super cold!

 

Tim and the boys built a sweet jump!

Spending time with this group is the best!

Luke Is 10 And Can Draw!

 Gage and Claire really like to draw and they are pretty good at it.  Claire started drawing from a young age and I was always amazed to see perspective and the like in the drawings of a 4 year old.  Gage has always doodled and enjoyed drawing and now that he can take art as an elective in Middle School he just keeps getting better.  Luke has had a hard time with pencil grip and he struggles with penmanship and has flatly refused to even attempt drawing.  Last summer I held an art class with the kids every week and they were torture for Luke.  He hated it so bad.  About a month ago I went through Luke's backpack and found all these drawings that he had drawn and I was so taken with them.  They are so angular and have such a strong aesthetic.  So different from what I was teaching him it's no wonder he hated what I was teaching him.  I love these drawings.  So glad he found that can express himself through art.  I feel like it's a breakthrough for him. His handwriting has also improved as well as his spelling.

I know I owe much of it to Mrs. McDonald.  Mrs. McDonald is a retired teacher who volunteers at Luke's school twice a week with the students who are struggling. I had been trying to get Luke some extra help and was getting the run around from the school that he was doing "well enough" not to qualify for services.  I was so discouraged and then his sweet teacher referred him to Mrs. McDonald who typically meets with 1st - 3rd graders but since she volunteers she can do what she wants and she took him on.  She has truly worked miracles with him!  100% spelling tests started coming home from school and I couldn't be more thrilled with his progress.  

Mrs. McDonald wrote Luke this note that came with his Christmas present.  In my mind she looks like Mary Poppins.  Who can write like this anymore!?  Special place in heaven for people like her!

Luke also turned 10 years old last week!  I"m still not sure how it can be possible.  The Doughnut cake tradition is still going strong.  I was super sick over his birthday (see post called Celiac Woes) and sadly we didn't do much.  Thankfully I had already bought his presents so he did have something to open and thankfully he is so easy going he loved spending the day with Claire and Gage watching movies and playing video games. 

He loves gems and rocks and really enjoyed digging for quartz in his rock kit.

Tim loves airplanes and he loved helping Luke put together his WWII model.

He also got fun cards in the mail and loved going shopping with Grandma Carol. 

Claire's New Hair

Claire has had super long hair and it's been driving her crazy.  She hates it when I brush it.  She hates it that I need to help her wash it.  She especially hates it when I blow dry it.  I never had long hair as a little girl so I think I'm giving her this great gift and she hates it.  I finally got her an appointment to get her hair cut.  After the stylist washed her hair she asked Claire what she wanted done.  Claire told her to cut it above her shoulders.  The stylist was shocked because it was over 9 inches of hair and said to me, "Is that ok with you mom?"  I feel like lately I disagree with Claire too much about clothes and misc other things and even though part of me wanted her to keep her hair long I was proud of myself when I heard the words, "It's her hair so she gets to decide" come out of my mouth.  Claire was beaming and I took a mental picture of the look on her face and filed it away under, "priceless."  The next time I think of something trivial to argue with her about I'm going to remember that look and that I love her more than any stupid opinion that I have.  Not to mention, she looks beautiful!  Can't believe my baby girl is growing up.      

Tim's Job

Why does this guy look so happy you ask?  Well, I'll tell you!  This is the face of a man who just got a rockin' job offer after over 7 months of unemployment.  In the beginning I was so anxious for him to get a job that I jumped at every phone call and every text thinking, "This is going to be Tim telling me he got a job!"  The repeated disappointment really started to wear on me by the time December came along and so I just started "leaving" my phone in my purse at work or at church meeting etc. so I wouldn't become distracted by my hope only to have it dashed.  By January I had to give myself little pep talks and remind myself that ONE DAY I would get a call or text that this ordeal was over and Tim would support our family again.  The text came and wouldn't you know it I was at a church meeting!  I was sitting in the Stake Relief Society President's kitchen getting trained on my new calling. Did I record that I was called to be the 1st counselor in RS?  Anyway, there were 12 of us sitting at her table and I was using my phone to look at the handbook and I started getting all these texts from Tim. He had received a rejection letter earlier in the day and I thought, "Don't get your hopes up!  But that is a lot of texts in a row from Tim so you should probably look..."

When I looked at the texts I couldn't believe my eyes.  The offer was amazing.  The job was this unique mixture of his artistic talents and his newly acquired web skills.  The moment we had prayed for was finally here and I was sitting in this stupid meeting!  I have no idea what they said after that.  I just started to cry like the ninny I am and just prayed it would be over soon.  When I got home, the kids were running up and down the hall and Sarge knew something exciting had just gone down and was barking like crazy.  There was dancing and screaming and this happy face.  He's been working for 2 weeks now and he is really enjoying it and I'm so thankful!  The hours are flexible and most importantly he isn't making video games anymore!          

The roller coaster that is unemployment is one that no one wants to ride.  In fact, it was horrible in almost every conceivable way!  But, now that's it's over there are so many things that have came from the experience that I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for the desperate moments because those were times my prayers meant the most.

I'm thankful for the lonely moments because that is when I felt the spirit the strongest.

I'm thankful for the moments I felt forgotten because those were times when a friend or family member would call or show up with encouragement or with a temporal item we needed.

I'm thankful for the sleepless nights because inevitably I would sleep like a rock the next night and dream of my mom.

I'm thankful for the moments that drove me to the temple because that is where I found rest and perspective.

I'm thankful for the stressful moments because that's when people were the most generous.

I'm thankful for the moments of doubt because these were the times I found my faith.

I'm thankful for the patient moments because I knew they came from above.

I'm thankful for the quiet moments because that is when I noticed the beauty of summer sunsets and winter sunrises.

As I reflected on our experience I realized that I was so fixated on the ONE blessing I desired from the Lord that I sometimes missed that the Lord wanted to give us MANY blessings instead.  I approached the Lord like a vending machine.  I put in my 2 quarters and pushed A5 and expected the Skittles to fall immediately because I had done my part.  The Lord was willing and able to give me the Skittles but while I was so preoccupied with the Skittles I didn't realize that the Lord was also willing to give me the Snickers, Sour Patch, M&M's, and Milky Way in addition for free.  The Lord's timing is perfect and if I had gotten things on my timetable I would have missed so many other blessings that the Lord was willing to give.  Truly, the last 7 months were filled with miracles and ones I'm so thankful for and I learned that miracles so often come from other people and that angels from both sides of veil blessed our lives.

But let's keep it real....I don't ever want to do that again!  Hahaha!        

Celiac Woes - Sorry Kids

Growing up we had the world's mangiest dog ever.  His name was Sparky and he was born in the last litter of puppies that my sweet dog Ginger ever had.  When Sparky was a puppy he chewed through the cord to an electric blanket and it caused quite a spark.  Hence the name....Sparky.  Ginger died when Sparky was still a puppy and he looked a lot like Ginger so we decided to keep him.  Sparky was not the brightest crayon in the box and he went on to eat an entire velour robe and a leather ball glove.  In our backyard we had a huge apple tree that never produced apples that WE could eat but that didn't stop Sparky.  So when most dogs were chewing things like raw hides or tennis balls Sparky was kicking back dozens of sketchy apples a day.  I half suspect Sparky was drunk most of his life.  Anyway, one day while the groceries were being brought inside someone left a big bag of M&M's on the picnic table on our back porch.  Sparky was outside and seized his opportunity; grabbed the bag off the table, tore it open with his snaggle tooth and began to gorge.  The bag was more that half empty by the time someone realized what Sparky was up to.  So, chocolate isn't good for dogs and the vet gave us a grim outlook.  We all thought Sparky was going to die for sure but I'll be darned if the next day Sparky was still kicking it.  However, he did look even more scraggly than normal.  His fur looked greasy, his eyes were glassy, his ears hung low and the poor dog just sat.  He didn't even reach out for an apple.  You could say Sparky had no Spark.  It was sad and we did all we could to keep him comfortable.  He was like this for over a week and then one day he was bounding around the yard again, climbing the apple tree, (did I mention he could climb trees?) chasing his ball, and eating his apples again.

The reason I tell this story is because when Sparky ate all that chocolate and looked and felt so horrible...that's how I feel when I eat gluten.  I look and feel like a mangie dog who ate chocolate.  The fatigue, joint pain, brain fog and stomach pain is debilitating.  I got glutened really bad last week.  It was my own stupid fault.  I opened the wrong bag of croutons and ended up putting gluten filled croutons on my salad for dinner and didn't realize it until I had gone back for thirds.  I have been paying for that little episode for over a week.  Did I mention that gluten also causes my hands to shake and swell to the point I can't wear my wedding ring or that I feel so emotional that I cry for no reason and that I can't sleep?  It really is quite horrible.  The house is a mess, I'm overwhelmed by the most menial tasks, and I have intense feelings of guilt for not being the kind of mom I want to be.  I feel so much fear and worry that I've passed this horrible disease to my sweet kids.  I so hope that when my kids look back on their childhood they don't only think of me as that sick mom who spent her time in her bed.  Kids, please remember Sparky and that he climbed trees again and I will too! Maybe the only thing worse than having Celiac is having one for your mom.  I'm sorry my body isn't stronger for you. I love you so much!