History of 9:00 A.M. Church

No this is NOT the actual church history of the 9:00 am meeting time for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This is just MY history of dealing with 9:00 am church since I became a member back in 1994.

So here's a brief explanation (yeah right, I don't know how to be brief)  of 9:00 am church.

The early years - preteen:

No big deal. Waking up wasn't so bad. Plus I got to see my friends at church.

Teen years:

What the crap? I wake up ALL freaking week at the crack of dawn for seminary, and now I have to wake up by 8 on the weekend TOO? It's just RIDICULOUS. But, at least I'll get to see my friends at church.

BYU years:

I don't remember what time church was exactly, but I just remember hated having to walk to church in the cold. If it was a snowy day, then... well even my friends weren't that enticing. (I hate the snow!) But, I only lasted at BYU for a short while. No, not because of honor code issues (JERK for thinking that) or church attendance issues. It was the cold. The bloody cold! (Why do people volunteer to live there?)

Early married years:

This means just my Sugar and me. 9 am church was always admired by him, but I still liked sleep. I wasn't as, AS, grouchy and mean as when I had to wake up early like in my teen years. Sorry MOM.  But it was STILL super hard to get up, get dressed, do my hair, put on make-up, because did I mention yet, I liked sleep.

Afton arrives:

9:00 was awesome. It worked out so well with me getting up, getting dressed, hair and make-up done, before she woke for the day. The rest of the morning was so smooth and nap times weren't interrupted. Now, 11:00 church was just plain dumb in my opinion at this stage of my life, but 1:00 pm... REALLY? Just plain silly.

Jack joins the fun:

Ok so now we have two babies to get ready, on top of ourselves. But, at least my sugar was home to help me. So 9:00 church still reigned supreme. There were always major tantrums during our "peaceful" Sundays when church interfered with naptime - every freaking Sunday when we met at 11:00. Every one. 

Jocelyn is here:

So when Jocelyn was born our ward met at 11, which wasn't too bad now because Afton and Jack are older, and still manage to take a little nap after church. Plus, it allowed ME, singular, to get everyone ready for church, including myself. Why by myself? Well, my Sugar has served as the ward clerk for awhile now so that means he's gone all Sunday mornings in meetings. ALL morning. I'm NOT complaining, well just whining (and when am I not whining?), because it could be much worse. He could be the bishop. Ahhhhhhh that would SUCK! Okay, back to the point. I was finally okay with 11:00 church.

Then 2015 came, and 9:00 am is our new meeting time. So far, things have been investing. We missed the first Sunday of the year since we weren't 100% yet from that terrible flu but the second week made me realize that 9:00 church is ABSOLUTELY horrible! And ABSOLUTELY wonderful at the same time. 

On that Sunday, I got almost entirely ready, while Afton, Jack, and Jocelyn were eating breakfast. Then as soon as the food ran out, Jocelyn began to scream bloody murder. Coincidentally, Afton and Jack began to scream bloody murder because they couldn't hear their morning movie because of Jocelyn. Stop judging me for putting on a movie so I could distract my children, while I hurried to finish up getting ready. But unfortunately, I didn't get me done completely. I had to turn my attention to my children. Finally, I got all three babies ready to go by 8:45. By myself. MYSELF! Phew. 

Only 15 minutes till church starts, so I ran upstairs for me, grab my shoes, put on my dress (not just my slip - which I have done before one time when Jocelyn was a brand new baby - pregnancy brain almost allowed me to go to church in just my slip. Thankfully Afton caught me before I got in the car!) I was feeling proud that we did it. We even managed to snap the important beginning of the year pictures announcing their new primary class for the year.

We pulled into the church parking lot at 8:57. As soon as I placed the car in park, I realized something. Something important. Something important that I forgot.

I didn't brush my teeth. 

Nice. 

Glad I had gum. Oh, 9:00 am church. 

The next week went a little better. Daddy came home a few minutes early to help, but I had already brushed my teeth and documented  the babies matching outfits (THIS is extremely important. Ha!) It was all around a good Sunday, even with 9:00 am meeting time.

Seahawks colors for the Sabbath day. 

Happy 10 Months (belated)

So you're already 10 months old. The first 9 months of your life I was able to get this post done on the actual 8th of the month. That's because I would write it after all the kids were asleep and I could just sit down and write down fun blog posts about the current events of our family.

BUT, since you're NOT sleeping through the night anymore, and you've become a needy (crybaby) that won't allow me to even go to the bathroom without you turning on the tears, I have less energy to stay up and write. So I apologize that this is late baby Jocelyn, but you also should be apologizing for my lack of sleep. ;)

Just kidding. I know it's NOT your fault. You've had a rough last couple of months. Not being in your own crib, but instead the hotel pack and play affected your sleep. Teething always affects your sleep. And to top it off, croup and all sorts of illnesses have rocked your little world as well, my poor baby.

But during these struggles, we have all survived, barely. It's not been easy, but that's okay. We still love you so much.

This last month, you have accomplished many big things. You are pulling yourself up and walking around whatever you're holding on to for support. You're eating more adult food, because baby food is SO last month. You have 6 teeth, that you like to grind, which is terrible! Don't you know your Daddy is a dentist? You still make the scrunchy face when you're excited and it's adorable. (It was your saving grace on days when we had a rough night the night before.) You like to empty out the diaper basket, diaper bag, and anything you can get your little hands into. You LOVE to say "Mamama" and "Dadada." You're very fair in your love, because you say them equally as much as the other. You've decided that sitting in the tub isn't as fun as standing, which makes things a bit more difficult. You love to be tickled, and you'll tackle whoever is on the floor. You're the light of your brother and sister's lives, even though you tear up their pictures and books (that they shouldn't leave out in the first place - you're just teaching them to be responsible.) You love to kick your legs in the grocery cart and smile at strangers.

We LOVE you so much. We hope that you get back on schedule, feeling better soon, and return to the happy, CONSTANTLY happy and more independent baby that you once were. We LOVE you no matter what, though.

Our sweet Jocelyn Claire

Frogs!

"Mom, Ms. Higley wants you to come in to help."

I thought back to when I was a teacher. I really, REALLY, only liked having parents being in my class on certain occasions. It's not that I didn't like my students' parents, but they were a distraction, and I know they never intended to be. The kids always acted differently, little stinkers.  It didn't matter what they were doing, even the best kids became a little more chatty, or distracted by the other ADULT in the room.

However, I always welcomed with open arms and warm friendly smiles, parents to my classroom when it was time for a holiday party (I hated the cleanup, sugar everywhere, and the constant asking of can I have another...?) AND the most important time to have parents in your room... when the Fellers were at your school.

Who are the Fellers? They are the sweetest little older couple. This  husband and wife pair travel all over the nation, leaving the peace of their home of Spokane, Washington to teach kids how to make amazing masks and create special songs on the spot. They love all the kids they meet and the crazier the input for a song lyric, the better in their opinion.

The kids at my school LOVED the Fellers and the animal masks they would make whenever they came by. They loved the songs and creative masks, but they were indeed very intricate. For 2nd graders, they (I) needed those extra adult hands in the classroom to help them (me) construct their masks, ever so perfectly. Did I mention that I needed them TOO? :)

When I found out that the Fellers were coming to Afton's school, and this was why Ms. Higley needed help, I knew it was important that I find a way to be there. (It was tough with second grade... but in kindergarten? Had to be torture!)

Thanks to my sister in law Stephanie, I was able to help. And it turned out not to be torture at all. Not even a little bit.

The kids did great and were really creative. I had fun asking them about lines of symmetry and horizontal/vertical folds. One little dude assured me that symmetry was NOT a word, and another kid said "That's a hot dog fold, not a horilontal fold, or WHATEVER you just said." I smiled, and then I got sad. (Man do I miss teaching!)

But then I smiled again because I was so thankful that I got to be in my girl's classroom helping her TEACHER out. I get to be there experiencing her special classroom and will get to for many years to come.

It was a lot of fun hearing the song these kindergarteners made up about frogs. It was cute to see them holding their masks up high as they sang, "Frogs over a rainbow, Frogs over a rainbow, Frogs over a rainbow, ALL day long (yes), ALL day long!" (All 5 lyrics of this song were awesome, but this was my favorite.)

After it was over, I stayed and had lunch with my girl. It was Burrito day. Yeaaaaah! I LOVED burrito day. So does my girl. It's the only day she gets to have hot lunch, and the only one worth eating. They had a Dance session in the classroom too. It was so cute to see them all get down!

We had fun. My girl had soooo much fun, that the next morning she wanted to make more masks. She was showing Jack what to do. She even said "lines of symmetry." My smart girl knows what she's talking about, and my smart boy does too.

Afton's Explanation of Why I Must Help in Her Class

The day of Jack's winter performance was also the day of Afton's class party. I thought that I would be able to easily be at both, since my Sugar would be home on his winter break.

I figured that Jack's performance would be at 11 and Afton's party would be late in the afternoon. So no problem.

But, I was wrong. I found out Thursday afternoon at pick up that Afton's individual class party was going to start at 12:20. The entire kindergarten party would be in the afternoon, and they would just be watching a movie.

Argh. Dilemma.

As I was explaining to Afton on our drive home that I might not be able to come help at her class party because I had to support Jack during his first preschool performance, she thoughtfully and rationally explained to me how I should deal with this time constraint.

"Well mom, I think that Daddy should go to Jack's performance with Jocelyn. And you come to mine. It makes sense because Jack loves Daddy more than he loves you. He's always crying for him like a little baby. And I love you more. I still love daddy, but I LOVE you just a little bit more. Plus, you like to be in classrooms because you used to be a teacher and Ms. Higley invited YOU. It would be rude for you not to come. So, how does that sound? (No moment for me to respond) I think I just solved your problem. You're welcome. Oh and can we stop by Sonic? You can get a Dr. Pepper and slushies for me and Jack."

With that sort of problem solving provided for me by my five year old, HOW could I not reward her with a slushie? AND myself, with a Dr. Pepper?

Needless to say, we worked it out. I was able to attend both events. I quickly left after Jack's performance. Daddy kept Jocelyn and Jack so I could be with my oldest girl, in a classroom, honoring her teacher's invite, and maintaining my status of being the most LOVED parent.

Ms. Higley

Her crew!

Somehow she remained on the nice list!

(This freaking girl knows just HOW to work me!) 

Jack the Evergreen

Jack did a great job in his winter program a few weeks ago. I intended to blog about it, because it was a monumental event in our lives. (Okay, not monumental, but still pretty special.)

Somehow with with packing up from the hotel, unpacking to get into our house, cleaning the house, setting up for Christmas, wrapping ALL presents for Christmas, cleaning up Christmas, and then trying to survive this freaking flu, it just hasn't happened.

Anyhow, Jack was an Evergreen. He has proven to be very different from his sister (in many ways), in that he speaks nothing of his learning/encounters at school, so I only found out about his actual part a few days before the program.

"I don't want to be an Evergreen mom. I wanted to be a snowman. Mrs. Bahati doesn't listen to me."

My poor little evergreen.

The day of the program, he did great. He was Evergreen #5, which had the most important line in my opinion, "Is that a flake I spy?" He smiled for our cameras and sat down, well behaved for the entire show.

The next part of the program was the snowman part. As it began, I knew exactly WHY Jack wanted to be a snowman instead of an Evergreen.

Alyssa. (Elf in the corner, next to the snowman in glasses.)

Alyssa is sweet and pretty, and has been since the first day of preschool.

Alyssa got to be an Elf that would decorate the snowman.

Alyssa would be decorating Jack's good buddy. (They both have a tiny, tiny, crush on Alyssa.)

Jack said he didn't get to be a snowman because he didn't want to dance. "AND he (his buddy) wanted to dance, so I was stuck being an Evergreen. I was just a silly tree."

Come on. Melt my heart. My boy is the sweetest little thing in the world. And the world is filled with tons of Evergreen trees!