This is Life...for Now. And I Love It.

I'm trying to blog every Sunday, but I make no promises...so don't hold me to it! 

We typically do all of our exciting, fun things on Saturdays when Brandon's home, but this weekend was General Conference, so we didn't go anywhere.  Don't get me wrong...General Conference is way better as an adult than it was when I was a kid.  We were the ones who went to every session on Saturday and Sunday at the stake center to watch Conference via satellite.  I can't even imagine taking my kids to church to sit through those meetings today, but I'm sure glad my parents instilled the habit in us early on. In fact, our kids love it and have been looking forward to General Conference for a few weeks now!  I wish I could say it's because they love to hear the spiritual messages, but I'm sure it has more to do with our Conference treats.  We set up containers with key words on them, and the kids can pick out a treat (one per talk!) from the container with the word on it that they heard the speaker say. 

This time around we used words associated with preparing for baptism because Nicholas will be turning 8 in just 6 months!  I can't believe my boy will be baptized soon!  Sniff.  They grow up so quickly.

I thought I'd actually write a little about what life is generally like around here most days.  For me, it's heaven to have Nicholas and Renae in school all day.  I'm not one of those moms who dreads the beginning of school.  This year I was positively giddy as I waved good-bye when their bus pulled away.  I even did a fun little happy dance in the living room!  My kids and I have wonderful relationships, and I'm very close to each of them.  I just don't have the temperament to handle having them around me all the time.  Especially when Brandon travels as much as he has in recent months.  So with the older kids in school, I've had a lot more time to spend with Seth and Andrew...and it's been so fun!

Right after Andrew was born, Seth had a really hard time adjusting to not being the youngest.  He has always been my cuddliest kid...to the point where he's almost overwhelmingly clingy at times.  Now that he's the big kid at home (i.e. he's not competing for as much attention), his sweeter side has returned in full force.  We started Mommy School, which is a very relaxed version of preschool here at home.  I follow an early literacy program known as SEEL and is available for free online through BYU.  I like that it's pretty much a no-brainer when it comes to planning, and I just follow their recommended sequence of teaching letters and concepts.  I probably do Mommy School once a week, but Seth is a very competent and willing pupil!  We spend maybe 10 minutes doing one of the lesson plans, but he retains all the information.  As we drive around, Seth is constantly pointing out all of the letters he's learned, which makes me happy! 

We learned about the letter 'T' in our Tent the other day.  Seth LOVED this!

On days when we don't have Mommy School, we have a pretty relaxed schedule.  We are never gone all day long, but we do try to get out a little.  When it's nice, I'll pack the boys up in the stroller and go for long walks on some of the beautiful walking trails around here.

These two often fall asleep on our walks, which buys me some extra time!

More often than not, however, we end up at the library.  I LOVE THE LIBRARY!  Ours is so fantastic because the children's area is nicely closed off such that the noise is generally contained, and my kids can't really make a break for it without my notice.  Plus it has fantastic puzzles, magnetic toys, and other educational games for the kids to play with.  They can easily sit and entertain themselves for an hour.  ALL of them.  When Nicholas and Renae come with us, they usually run off to pick out their own books and then bury their noses in their respective books for the rest of the time we are there.  Works for me!

Seth looks so tall next to Andrew!

Andrew loves playing with the puzzles at the library!