Sometimes you can't catch up...

I realized that I can't catch up with all the possible updates from the past few months so I'll just start where I am.

High/Low

Low:
Let's just skip to the Highs, nobody likes whiners. ;-)

Highs:
My house is so clean!  I think I'm suddenly addicted to keeping it clean because I love how it feels to enjoy life in a clean and organized space.  It's not that I'm a hoarder or disgusting but keeping clutter picked up, dishes done, and toilets clean simultaneously doesn't happen very often anymore.  It's a lot of work to keep it up but hopefully I'm on a roll! ;-)

Nothing makes me more proud as a mother than seeing one of my kids stand strong in the midst of "peer pressure", especially when they don't know I'm watching.  Roman was playing outside with some neighbor boys.  Let me just say they are really great kids and I feel so grateful that Roman has good friends to play with - he needs some boy time!  Anyway, I looked outside and saw Roman standing at the edge of our property with no sight of the other two.  I suddenly saw their heads pop up from the neighbors yard.  Our backyard neighbors (about an acre or so is between our yards) have a large pit in their back yard...I don't really know how to describe it but it's a big grassy-empty-pond???  The boys were playing in it while Roman stood back telling them not to do it.  They were having a great time rolling down the hill.  I called Roman over and asked him why he didn't join in and he said, "Because we're not allowed to go over there."  I hugged him and told him that I'm proud of him for choosing the right even when I wasn't there.  I then told his little friends that we shouldn't go in the other neighbors yard without asking and they quickly ran to our house to finish playing.  Maybe it seems small or silly but I was very proud of Roman. 

Scarlett is talking like a boss.  Really.  For example, Darin and I were talking and she started hitting the counter top and yelled, "Mom! Mom! I talking to you!"  As I cleaned up her mess the next day I reminded her, "Say thank you Mom, you're the best."  She looked up at me and said, "No Mom, I da best!" LOL  My kids are really lacking in self-esteem.



Kate got her braces off!

Kate is doing great in school, violin, ballet; she comes in from school and does her homework without a reminder!  She says her favorite subject is math, which makes me very proud.  Kate has an incredible memory.  If Darin and I are ever in doubt about something, we ask Kate and she ALWAYS remembers every detail!  I think I'm going to use her as my planner, just in case technology fails me...maybe a little bit I already do. ;-)

Allie was able to go to Camp Kern (inspite of my nerves)!  Fifth graders go to a YMCA camp through school for two and a half days.  They get to do lots of cool things like hiking, canoeing, archery, rock climbing and much more.  She had a blast!  Allie's also great at coming home and getting her homework done immediately...mostly because she can't wait to finish her Harry Potter books.  I think she's on the 4th in a very short amount of time!  I love that she has a passion for books!

Darin, ahhhh Darin. In all honesty I'm so happy for him because he finally has great friends to golf with!  I know someday I might complain about him being gone but for now I really think he deserves a break.  He comes home so happy after a day of golf and says, "Just so you know, I love golf!" LOL  It's the perfect way for him to unwind from all the stress of running his practice (wow, that's a lot of stress!)!  The practice is going well though.  I think we have really high expectations so it's hard to keep that in perspective sometimes...it's easy to be disappointed when you expect the moon.  Soooo, we are already doing better this fall than we were last year and I'm very grateful for Darin's hard work and for the Lord's blessings! (PS - He only golfs about once a week.)

Me....well, I already talked about the house BUT I also ran today which I haven't done in a while.  Even a 20 minute run is better therapy for me than anything I can imagine.  I must be very sensitve to endorphins because the whole day went better than any day has in the past few weeks...gotta remember to go for a run every morning!  Darin calls it my "happy pill" and I know he's right!  Also, if you haven't noticed I really love exclamation points, like REALLY!!! ;-)

I promise to update again very soon...lots going on!