A Great Weekend!

I grew up in a home where birthdays were always celebrated. They were always a big deal celebrated with cake and presents no matter your age. I still feel that way and my kids and husband have caught the birthday bug. I turned 30 years old over the weekend. It doesn't feel different to say that but it sure SOUNDS so much different than twenty-something. We don't really have enough $ for presents this year with 2 kids birthdays coming up really quickly but Peter made it clear that I was getting something anyway. I was totally clueless and he was very happy about that. I have this gift of guessing that really annoys him. Well, this year he certainly surprised me. I had a sneaking suspicion but he never gave it away. On Friday he took the day off and surprised me when I went to pick up Eric at my parent's house after the big kids' art class that morning. (It's really more of a craft get-together at this point, lol.) I ran in to get Eric and there was Peter, hiding in the hallway with a bunch of roses. Stinker! So the kids stayed with my parents and we went to eat lunch and went bowling. We haven't been on a date out of the house in- I honestly can't remember. I'm pretty sure it was before Joseph (5 months) was born... We have a lot of date nights in the house but getting out is more difficult. Eric woudln't ever let us leave him with anyone- he would seriously cry the WHOLE time. Now that he is probably okay with it, we have Joseph and he doesn't take bottles. Plus, we really can't afford a baby-sitter at this point anyway, lol. It was really fun to get out and a GREAT birthday present. The next day I was able to sleep in until almost 7:30- that is a great luxury! The kids had wrapped up their own presents for me. Sarah made and painted a bowl out of oatmeal clay for my jewelry (wrapped in manilla paper stuffed in an Easter basket with that grass all over it, lol), Robert created his own card game with cards that he made- I'm still not sure of the rules, they seem to change every time we play- Kaela drew me some beautiful pictures of flowers and butterflies. I'll have to take pictures later. My parents gave me the book Twilight that I had been wanting to read (it's great!) and I was able to spend a chunk of the afternoon reading it. Later that afternoon the kids helped Peter decorate a chocolate fudge cake. I blew out all 30 candles and we were grateful that the smoke alarm didn't sound. I was later blessed to play the piano for a baptism of a wonderful lady who has been coming with her husband to church. Last week she announced in Relief Society that she was getting baptized and is expecting her first child! Then I came home to get the smallest munchkin and got to the General Relief Society Broadcast. I took Joseph so I could stay as long as I wanted to tonight since Grandma is in Colorado and I wouldn't need to bring her home right away like I usually do. We had a delicious dinner and spectacular dessert afterwards. It was fun to catch up with others but a little frustrating- that's another post.

Our Stake President spoke to us before the broadcast- he is such an inspired man. He spoke about how we really need to concentrate on family and that many are confusing needs and wants and that we need to be careful about that. He said kids don't need cell phones, cars, and their own rooms. They don't need to be in so many activities that you are driving around all week to practices, games, and other activities. I've seen many friends try to deal with this and it's not something I'm willing to do. To me, it's more important that they undertand the importance of eating dinner together than playing a competitive sport that they won't use for the majority of their lives. They learn plenty of competition and how to deal with being a good loser/winner when playing games together. That is one of Robert's biggest challenges in fact. I often wonder what happened to the good old days of playing outside? My kids were so excited for summer because they figured all the neighborhood kids would be able to play more now that school was out. Not so. I can count the number of times they played with kids on the block on one hand- and NOT use all the fingers. It made me sad really. I have such good memories of playing with friends on the block, using our imaginations to make up silly things, playing soccer and baseball for fun in the backyard or down the street at the school. I think it's probably a good thing that we can't afford to put them each in an activity of their choosing. It gives me a chance to slow down and look at priorities. I feel the guilt- often. I want my kids to learn everything they want to learn and try out everything so they can find something they love. With a large family though, can you imagine if I let them each pick a sport and an instrument? We'd be in the car every night to cater to that and they'd never get a chance to be kids like I was. SOme think it's selfish for me to not want to be that busy. Maybe it is. I just think that for our family, this is best for now. I think increasing the bonds we have together will help us in the long run more than learning a different skill/sport/instrument right now. The difficult thing with this decision is that those are GREAT things for kids to learn. They are not bad by any means. They can teach a child discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork, self esteem, fitness, and a myriad of other skills that are great to have in life. I guess I just think that that isn't the ONLY place they can learn those things- or the only time. There is a time and season for everything right? Now, I don't want anyone reading this to think I look down on those who choose differently. I know we know what our kids needs and that as parents we do the best we can for our families. Of course we do! I'm just sharing my view because, well, it's MY blog, lol!

Anyway, that was a ramble if I ever saw one. I loved all of the speakers at this year's conference and can't wait for next weekend. We were given the new Stake Goals- awesome. We were given a new goal program for the women of our stake- also awesome. I can use my reading every day for a month goal given to me by Kathleen. I'm always good and fired up after these things. I have so much more to say,a few vents and some other things but they will have to wait. So little time!