Field Trip and a Card

A couple weeks ago I went with the 2nd Grade on their field trip to the Natural History Museum.  I seriously debated driving myself instead of riding the school bus with everyone else, but I knew that Aubrey was excited for me to go with her.  The last time I went on a field trip where buses were involved was her kindergarten field trip to the L.A. Zoo.  I drove myself, and she literally bawled her eyes out because I wasn't on the bus with her.  To her credit, the crying did make it so she could go in the car with me.  

Anyway... I rode the bus.  Two hours, each way, on a school bus is not my idea of fun, but I did it anyway.  Because there were so many parents who volunteered to chaperone, I only had three girls in my group, one of them being Aubrey.  One was Hailey, and the other was Riley, her newest best friend.  We had about 4 hours to explore, eat lunch, and basically do whatever we wanted at the museum.  It was fun, but surprisingly tiring.  I'm thankful that I got to go with Aubrey, since she had been talking about it for MONTHS in advance.  I may not always be able to go on field trips, so it was an opportunity I took, even though it wasn't how I could have spent my day.

This chart is something we saw back when we went as a family a couple years ago.  I don't have that photo on this computer, so I'll have to add it when I do.  I can't believe my 8 year-old is already over 4 1/2 feet tall.  She's going to pass me up before I know it.

~~~

This year I didn't have any idea what the kids did in school for Mother's Day preparation.  I've either previously seen or heard about their projects in past years, so this was a nice change.  Even though my Mother's Day was not an amazing one this year, the cards from the kids were the highlight of my day.

I don't actually have a picture of Aubrey's card, but it had a poem about her fingerprints and how she's growing up.  Along the top there was a heart that she had used her fingertips to dot out "Mom."  Cute and sweet.

Mason's card was an interview type card with info about me (according to him).  It's always fun to see what answers they come up with.

He got my age right: 31.  The rest is all really good to know about myself!  I like to clean the house, and I am an expert Macaroni and Cheese maker.  Nevermind that I can actually cook things that are much more complicated!  My favorite food is hot dogs.  Good to know.  My favorite line is that I am really good at boxing.  He was either being his normal hilarious self, or Mason got that from my working out at home.  I'm hoping he's seeing it as good habits from me, though "boxing" is not typically my workout.  We like to go to the park, and he loves me tucking him in at night.

And this is a picture of the picture inside the card.  What a cute kid.

I'm Still Here

Ahhh!  It's been a while since I've posted anything.  I knew this would happen!  I will get back to posting more regularly, but in the meantime here are a few things happening in our world:

• Spring Semester through BYU-I (which really goes to almost the end of July, so I don't know why it's called Spring)
• More course-work for said semester
• A quick one day trip to Disneyland before our passes are blocked out for summer
• Me chaperoning a 2nd Grade field trip to the Natural History Museum
• Trying to find time to fit in workouts
• Finishing my application (with requisite ecclesiastical endorsements) for Fall semester
• A Lead Student assignment for the Institute course this week
• Another Lead Student assignment for the dreaded Math course in two weeks
• Cutting Kindergarten help-out time down to just reading groups one day a week
• Piano lessons for Aubrey
• Sunday School lessons (which I am trying REALLY hard to finish before Saturday night... which is not working out so well right now)
• Trying to stay in touch with friends
• Laundry
• Cleaning
• Feeding of the wild animals... or children... whatever you like to call them
• Generally keeping the peace
• And this: My grandma passed away on Tuesday night

Grandma, who lived three houses down, fell about two months ago, breaking her hip, pelvis, elbow, and wrist.  She made it through surgery and was in a convalescent hospital.  Due to some issues with medication and her overall dislike of discomfort (not that any of us like discomfort, but she REALLY didn't like it), her condition deteriorated to where she wasn't getting out of bed often, and she eventually stopped eating.  Although we knew it was coming, it's still a lot to deal with.  Thankfully we have the gospel, and know that there is more after this life.  

So yeah... life is a bit crazy right now.  But overall, life is good.  

#BecauseofHim

Because of Him, I can be a better daughter. 

There’s a photo challenge I found, thanks to an instagraming friend, Lavinia.  With Easter coming up, I’m doing the “Because of Him” challenge.  Today’s topic is above.

In the past I have found some photo challenges that I thought I would do, but then I always missed the first day.  That OBVIOUSLY meant that I couldn’t start it, right?  This challenge is different, and requires more thinking.  I look forward to reflecting on how Jesus Christ has played a role in my life in very specific ways.

Daughter…

I like to think I’m a good one!  Just ask my parents… I was the angel child. ;)  But how has Christ made me a better daughter?

I’m nowhere near perfect, and obviously have a long way to go for that, but I can try to follow the example of our brother, being obedient, humble, and teachable, etc.  As I have learned lessons as parent, I can see the opposite of how I should behave, as a child.  I am a child to my earthly parents, as well as Heavenly parents.  I hope to be a daughter of which my parents can say they are “well pleased.”

 

Photo from the amazing Justin Hackworth's "30 Strangers Project"
Check him out here.

Mom and Dad- they have truly been my lifeline.  I’ve actually thought a lot about that lately.  As the three of us attended the temple last week, I realized how blessed I am to have a relationship where we are so close.  We WANT to spend time together.  We WANT to take vacations together.  We WANT to hear about each other’s days.  Heavenly Father blessed me beyond measure with my family.  And because of Christ’s atonement, we can be a family for eternity.

Want to know more about the topic?  Visit www.mormon.org/becauseofhim.