Super Bloom

The weekend we got the keys to our house, we tried to swim as much as we could! The pool is warm and the weather has been beautiful! We can't wait to get started on all of the home improvements and really make this house ours. The kids have been so happy and excited about everything! Makes me so glad to know that this will be such an easy transition for them. It doesn't get much better than moving across the street!

Sunday was a much better day. I've been struggling with Sunday's. I don't know if I've said this before but, I feel like each Sunday my weaknesses and vulnerablitles are under a spotlight. My kids are loud and not very well behaved and it makes me feel like a failure as a mother. I compare myself and the kids to others around us and it breaks my heart. I don't know why I do this to myself. But when people make hurtful comments about my kids' behavior, it stings. Even if they are well intenioned. It makes me want to hide with them under a rock until they are old enough to understand how to sit quietly. I know these "problems" are minute compared with the troubles I could be facing. It is my greatest and only goal to raise my kids in light and truth and have them establish firm testimonies of the gospel. It would break my heart of they ever denied the church. I want them to always WANT to go to church- to learn and grow and have friends and leaders who uplift them. So, it's a duty as a parent that I don't take lightly and maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself. But it's only because I love them so much and want to see the happy and successful.

But this last Sunday was great! The kids were relatively good during sacrament meeting (they are getting better and better each week) and even though Rayleigh was all over the place during primary, I was right there with her helping her. She will mature enough one day to sit with her class, but for now she literally doesn't understand the concept. And that's ok! I then taught the relief society a lesson on prayer and I thought it went pretty well. I brought cookies and treats so that always helps. :-) When Tanner got the babies from nursery and class each of their teachers said they did really well. And that just makes my spirit sing!!!!!!

After dinner we took the kids on a little hike up Walker Canyon to see the wild flowers. There has been a Super Bloom due to all the rainfall this year. It was beautiful but suuuuper crowded. There were like 10 thousand people there. It was crazy. But everyone was really friendly and I felt like we were all bonding over the beauty of nature. Tanner was busy flying his drone and while I love the video he made, I was frustrated at time with chasing the kids around and keeping them away from all the other people who were around. Welcome to SoCal! (so not Utah) I'm excited to do more hikes like this in the future though. My soul longs to be outside and it's hard to keep myself inside with babies all the time. I really do suffer from wanderlust. The good thing is that Rayleigh is going to be such a great adventurer when she gets a little older. She was totally in her element during this hike!

On Monday, I kept Parker home from school so he could help me start moving some boxes and things over to the new garage. And he had an orthodontist appointment. It's nice that I can just drop him off and wait in the car for him but there's that last 20 seconds of his appointments when I have to make his next appointment... I have to drag the babies in there and they are terrible. Rayleigh apparently did something and Parker tried to stop her which made her scream and throw herself on the floor in a fit of rage. People were plugging their ears and giving me dirty looks and all I wanted to say was, "Hey, you guys are the ones who dragged us in here." I just got down next to her and calmed her down. It was actually a nice moment because she responded really well and we ended things just fine.  But man, I cannot WAIT until this phase of crying/screaming/whining is over!!!!!!!!! I drove the kids through McDonald's when we were done and got myself a Diet Coke to self medicate.

Tanner came home slightly early to help me pick out paint so we were able to swim for FHE! We talked about tithing and the importance of putting the Lord first. More swimming FHE to come in the future, I'm sure!!!