Well.... it's been another wonderful, busy, fun-filled month at the Marston home! Aside from our beach trip, the weeks have been filled with soccer practice, voice lessons, book talks (reports), piano practice, juijitzsu, and afternoons of pretty much every child needing mom at the exact same moment. to help with homework, piano, get a snack started, change a dirty diaper... you name it! If there is one thing that overwhelms me about my job--- it is that two-three hour period of time after school when all children are very needy and there is just not enough of me to go around! When I am distracted constantly, and couldn't dream of emptying a dish washer or cleaning out a lunch box without at least three or four interruptions.
That being said... I read an article that mentioned how blessed it is to be interrupted from our daily tasks and duties. The mere fact that you are interrupted so often is an indication of how desperately needed you are! How valued your help is!! After reading this little upbeat thought, I've been able to shift my paradigm and remember how short lived this crazy, hectic period of life really is. My kids need me right now! How wonderful!
Now, I've described the weekdays for you.... but weekends are equally as thrilling! Soccer is a main staple on Saturdays. We travel to three games each Saturday and love every minute of watching Dane and Grant do their thing! It's been such an interesting thing for Blake and I.... learning how to be good sports parents. To encourage and support, but not get overly excited or overly eager to put in our two cents and advise. We are doing much better than we did last year! After reading yet another article that quoted a former sports child saying: "the worst part about sports growing up was...... the ride home," both Blake and I realized we didn't want our little boys and girls to feel that sort of strain-- the critique that really is quite unnecessary. And yet, it's so hard to bite our tongue sometimes! But we are doing MUCH better! Evelyn is busy on Saturdays with her play practice and tap lessons. She is in the play, "The Rocking Tale of Snow White" as one of the seven dwarfs. Certainly not her first choice of a role, but she took the news well and has had such a positive attitude as she's learned the dance numbers and lines.
A few more pictures that I neglected to post on the first day of school. Grant is doing marvelously! I really am so proud of him for attending school each day with a great attitude. He is full of happiness and though it is hard for him on certain days to leave mom, he tries his darndest to be a big kid and go to school with a smile (his goal for the year). And I'm so proud of sweet Evelyn for being the big sis who drops him off each morning.... and sits with him until he feels comfortable with her leaving. She is so responsible this year. So competent! I never say a WORD about homework or piano practice.... it just gets done. Talk about happiness for this mom! She may need my help here and there, but life is good as she is taking on the responsibility and getting the job done on her own accord.
Anna and I are enjoying the good life in the mornings... just the two of us. Man, I can't begin to describe what a sweet little side kick that gal of mine is. We go just about everywhere . Visit teaching, cleaning houses, errands, and lunch dates. Most of the time, Anna is as good as can be. It is a specie time to cuddle up and read together, to paint nails and take baths. I love every minute!
We had our primary program last Sunday. Boy, was I ever stressed the week before it all went down. Thankfully, I have a down right amazing primary presidency and singing leader. I felt it was of upmost importance this year to teach the kids to be missionaries through bearing their testimonies and inviting friends to the program. We had a wonderful turnout and I was very proud of Ev and Dane for inviting friends, though no one actually came! We did our parts (including mom who invited two families). I felt so happy after the program. The kind of happiness that you don't feel every day. A happiness that just fills your heart as you realize you were a part of something pretty special and that all of your hard work paid off!
Yes it's been a blessed month and more than ever I am so grateful for my family and for the gospel. So grateful to be a mom and wife and to have this amazing family to raise.
A few more highlights:
Macaila's 12th birthday party! Macaila is our new neighbor and we adore their family. The Casamalhuapa's have kids to match most of our kids' ages and everyone is best of friends:)
A fun karaoke party to celebrate a friend's birthday! We sang "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi and "All I wanna do is have some fun" by Sheryl Crow.... not realizing there were a few inappropriate lyrics there!
Ev has been doing her breakfast dishes lately! And even her brothers' breakfast dishes! She leaves me notes too:)
Sea World on a no-school day with Grandma!
