A Full Life

I  realize I have not been updating during the week.  It seems the days are just flying by and even the evenings seem to be filling up.  This is not a bad thing as most everything has to with family life which I am loving day by day.  School is really the focus these days and I can only imagine what it is going to be like in a couple more years.  This week on top of our normal homework requirements both Brayden and Becca had reports.  Second Grade is the year of book reports, one every month.  Sounded a little overwhelming at the beginning of the year but each report is in a different format and is actually a lot of fun to put together.  This month's was an oral report given on an arctic animal.  The class took a field trip to the public library and all checked out books.  Brayden did his report on the Wolverine.  I wish I could be in the back of the room listening to the kids give their report....I really have no clue how it goes, although he had a smile on his face telling me about it.  This report had a hands on project requirement...thankfully Ron is good and creative for this part.  Brayden made a clay impression of a wolverine paw print-pretty fun.  I was just glad to get it all done and hopefully still conquer spelling for the week.  Brayden is FINALLY loving reading.  He has found his Captain Underpants books and is on a roll.  Not my favorite books but I love not having to hound him to do his 30min of reading every day. He is also loving piano, amazingly he doesn't complain about is daily practice sessions, and I am loving starting to play little duets with him.
   Becca had her first report this week.  Nice thing about having Brayden a little older is that I know what is coming and what to expect.  This is also a bad thing because I tend to not make such a big deal about these things as I know the outcome.  Turns out to be a good combination with Becca being so laid back.  Her report was on a Community Helper.  She had to write a short couple sentences describing her Helper, workplace, what they do and then how they help the community.  I remember pulling my hair out with Brayden with the writing-neatness doesn't run in our family.  I still had to bite my tongue but we got it done.  She picked a teacher....a friend at church who teaches Bible and then swimming during the summer.  Becca was off to school in flip flops, suit and cover-up.  Once again I sure wish I could have seen all the kids give their reports.  After school they were all so excited to show me their props and tell me what they talked about.  I just love this age...you hang around enough they start feeling comfortable and now just talk my ear off after school....so fun, for me and the kids. Becca also had her first episode of forgetting something this week.  Mid morning Thursday I had a sinking feeling that I had never seen her put panties in her swim bag.  Thursday is swimming and they wear their suits to school under their clothes and it is their responsibility with a little reminding to pack their bag.  I stressed over what to do, not wanting her to be so embarrassed but also wanting her to learn to remember what she is told.  I ended up calling the teacher, who never callled me back.  I was braced for an angry and upset little girl at school pick-up (what I would expect from Brayden, along with lots of blame).  Becca showed up with her friends with a smile of her face and not a care in the world.  I finally whispered and asked if she packed her panties...she looked at me and just said, nope....but I won't forget again mom, like no big deal.  I just love that girl.
   This week we were able to go to a rollerskating party.  Such memories for me, learning to skate in our basement around the ping pong table to having my own pair of skates complete with pompoms winning races at the local rink.  Brayden  is getting pretty good, he loves to go fast but is always on the verge of being completely out of control.  Becca has noodle legs but by the end of the party was about to make it slowly around the rink with just a couple falls.  Andrea stuck with a push bar which helped steady her and by the time we left was able to skate pushing it around by herself.  It was just a workout for me but still lots of fun.  Still something about disco balls, lights, music and fast skates...nostalgic.
   The week is full of activites.sports, church.. but I find the most fulfilling are those special moments with each kids.  This week it was spending time with just James....listening to his little voice in the back seat tell me about his friend Oliver, or telling me he loves me (okay, he does tell me he doesn't like me too...forget that!).  I love hearing Becca in the morning taking care of James, getting him underwear, playing and entertaining him...being just a little mother, while mommy sleeps just a little more!    Lots of things pull at our time, good things but I am finding by not sweating the business and taking an attitude of enjoyment in all things proves for a fulfilling week. even if all I learned was that a Wolverine is a scavenger, Zerubbabel helped rebuild the temple,VBS is going to require a whole lot more volunteers than we can get,and that finding time for friendship is worth the effort.