Summer School

This mama got schooled.

No, wait. I meant to say:

This summer has been filled with terrific learning opportunities for me.

If I were in fourth grade, this post would be my response to "What did you do this summer?"

1. I learned that it didn't do much good to complain about Ben's work schedule, or pine away for the good ole teaching career of summers off. A bad attitude (mine) didn't shorten our summer days without Ben.


2. I learned that I sometimes saw a little Miss Hannigan (Do I hear. . . happiness!?!) in my parenting (Stop having such loud fun. . . Dad's sleeping!). But many days I succeeded at not having kids who were "bored." This doesn't mean they ignored the siren calls of Spongebob and Patrick. But we had fun at home swinging on the back yard swing (*bragging edit* homemade swing) and hammock, making tents in the bedroom, taking dips in our 12' pool, and injesting two Costco-sized boxes of Otter Pops.


3. I learned that always shopping surrounded by four kids is tedius. Before this summer I'd taken all four children shopping with me, but having to do it this summer anytime I needed to buy anything was somehow way more stressful.


4. I learned that in an effort to compensate for the long working hours, I shouldn't have spoiled the kids rotten by letting them each buy a pound of candy at WINCO. Especially since the sugary indulgence happened to fall on the exact same day that their daddy brought home candy for his little neglect-a-reenos. (Flanders nod.)


5. I learned that free summer movies and summer school are awesome ways to NOT spend money spoiling your kids.


6. Wait, did I just say something about not spending money or spoiling my kids? Oops. I took the kids to the local pizza place about 10 times. The first time we went I talked with the owner about her expensive renovation process after arsons burned it down last year. I learned that when my money goes to a "good cause" my kids eat pizza and play A LOT. Oh, and the kids were always so exhausted after playing there--making it so worth every penny!


7. I stand by my decision to not take four children to any major amusement parks or water slides. I'd go bonkers doing head counts and chasing CO.


8. I learned that there's only one thing worse than mowing the grass hopped up allergy meds. Weedwhacking the grass along a chain-link fence! Hate that tiring combination of allergen exposure, drugs in my system, and ricocheting powertools. Hate. Thanks, K2, for stepping in to mow the yard. I should have given you a call in June, not September.


9. I learned that I am not capable of keeping a 12' swimming pool properly chlorinated for a whole summer.


10. I learned that having Costco muffins for dinner won't kill anybody. (I did this only once, I swear!)


11. Ditto that for Saimin, a.k.a. Top Ramen for dinner. (I did this lots, I swear!)


12. RO learned to make Saimin.
13. When cleaning along the bay window one day, I successfully identified a weird brown spot as a Saimin powder packet spilled on the carpet. I did not successfully identify the culprit. I learned that nobody did it.


14. I am struggling to learn that it's important to get a good night's sleep when you're the only parent your kids interact with all day long.


15. I learned that two year-old CO is not funny when she wakes up one hour after going to bed at night; hands on hips, nodding, and declaring "Is is morning now, Mom."


16. I learned that watching someone paint a room on HGTV is more entertaining than painting a whole basement. . . 18 gallons and counting (bathroom still needs paint).


17. I learned that my boys are awesome. They've decided to play indoor soccer in the spring. A little wiggle-room in their fall schedules will be almost as much fun as their first day of school was. And they still have scouts, piano, and RO is learning cello at school.


18. I learned that potty-training my fourth child is a much smoother process than when I first starting potty-training years ago. The accidents are no big deal and the gummy bear rewards are still as sweet.


19. I learned that showing up late to sacrament meeting (3x this summer!) isn't as inconspicuous as it was before we had kids.


20. Way too many well-intentioned folks at church asked me about Ben with a look of deep "concern" on their faces. Ben suggested I start a few rumors by answering with a sniffle, twirling my wedding ring aimlessly, or turning on the waterworks. If I was a better actor/liar, I'd have totally tried it! I learned that I'm okay with people wanting to know where my hubby is, but I'm not okay with people who kept on asking over and over. And over. Okay, it was one person. No two people. No. One person asking over and over and one person wanting to know how Ben was enjoying his tropical holiday. ehh, heh, hah, ha, hmm


21. I learned that this summer was a big trial in my life. I can live through life's trials and even grow. I know God loves me and my summertime-dysfunctional family and He has blessed my life in so many ways, even this summer.
22. I learned that my four babies were so sweet to run to hug and kiss Daddy. They missed him so much. Not as much as I missed my sweetie WELCOME BACK TO FORTY-HOUR WEEKS AND THE DAY SHIFT, BEN. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME.

This is my sister, Sh-M-A-R-E-N

It's weird to know somebody for their whole life and not know their name. My sister was visiting us this past weekend and I think I know her name now. It's Maren. It always has been. But growing up she went by "Shelley." I love her dearly, but she's gone back to using her given name. It was weird introducing her to people as "my sister [pause] Maren." Folks were probably wondering why I didn't know my sister's name. She did a great job taking pictures of her nieces and nephews and blogs at www.hawaiianshells.net/ take a look at her blog for more photos of my babies.

Keep coming back to visit, Maren. And I'll keep remembering your name.