Back on Track

Last week really did a number on us! But I'm relieved to say that this week we got our head back in the game and things went pretty smoothly. I mean, the bar is set pretty low around here for what I consider smooth, but you get the picture :)

Michael:

put another call week under his belt and it's always nice to get those out of the way! But he's actually on call again in just a few days because of how the schedule worked out, so he's kind of (definitely is) dreading that. He almost missed church today which would've been sad because it was Westin's primary program, but he showed up in scrubs just a couple songs before Westin's part. It was cute to see Westin's face light up when he saw Michael made it. Then tonight Michael wanted us to have a lemon feast since we had a bag of fresh lemons from his coworker. We ended up with lemon garlic salmon, lemon parmesan brown rice, roasted vegetables, mint lemonade, with lemon poppyseed muffins with a lemon glaze for dessert. Quite the lemon experience. Took me back to my pregnancy craving days when lemon was all I ever wanted.

Maddie:

felt like a different person this week after feeling like every day last week just beat us down. That's probably because of prayers from the people in my life who have to hear about my beaten down days :) We'll take the change however we can get it. We played at Emily's house on Friday and I'm just once again so grateful to have such a good friend here. I can't imagine our four years of Fresno without Emily. I've been spending some more time lately figuring out how to launch a project a friend and I have been working on for a while and it's exciting/intimidating/frustrating/fun. I also started on my first cross stitch order post-Camden and... I'm pretty sure I'm going to shut down my Etsy shop for the Christmas season. Expectations, people. Keeping them managed. 

Westin:

had parent teacher conferences this week and his teacher was so fun to talk to. She said Westin works hard, listens so well, loves to follow the rules, and has never acted out in school. None of this surprised me but I told her that I was actually a little worried about him being a little too far on that side of things -- he has told me that if he ever "clipped down" (they move their clothes pin names up and down on a behavior chart throughout the day) that he would never go back to school. I think he's quite the perfectionist and I just want him to learn that we all make mistakes and it's ok. She really noted that and he came home from school one day saying that he and Mrs. Brundage talked about how trying your best is always enough and it's ok if we don't do things right all the time. She seems like such a sweet teacher. Westin did great in his primary program and seemed so much older than he was in last year's program.

Bennett:

I took Bennett to two different speech appointments this week, his regular gig plus an evaluation with the school district. Hoping to get some closer speech appointments soon but the assessment process is pretty long. He's so cute. It makes me sad when I understand him perfectly but I can tell a stranger has no idea what he has just said to them. I just want him to be able to express himself as much as he wants to. When I picked Bennett up from nursery today the leaders said he was totally on one and such a riot the whole time. I think that's last night's trunk or treat talking. We had fun with our ward Saturday night!

Camden:

is so sweet. I feel guilty every time I force tummy time on him. And guilty when I don't. #motherhood. We were a little bummed this week because we had a pediatrician appointment scheduled for his shots and I knew that was a mistake because he's not four months -- but when I called to check on if I wrote it down wrong or if it was schedule wrong, the girl said that it was right and he was fine to get his shots that day. I mentioned he was only three months and she said to bring him in because it had been long enough since his last shots. So we all showed up, and my pediatrician checked him over (all is well!) and then went to order his shots and noticed he wasn't old enough. Annnnnd told me I couldn't get them for him that day. We were both so bugged that the appointment was made and kept, but the older boys got flu shots so at least we got that done. Westin screamed and cried and cried. Bennett watched the needle go in his leg in silence. Parenting would be so easy if you could just raise each kid the exact same way... :)

Guys! This kid spends so much time in my bed. I never thought I'd be able to sleep if a kid was by me.
But when you're tired, you're tired. 

Ready for Western Day for red ribbon week!

Oh this dog. She's only four months old. Camden's age!
When she first came she was terrified of the kids and just wanted me. So it was great....

But by the second day she was NOT afraid of them. And jumped on them constantly.
And made them cry. And jumped on me constantly. I was going to give her another chance but then...

She literally jumped into the swinging baby sing with baby Camden.
And I was like, no. 

So we kindly invited her back when she's a few months and few training sessions older,
but for now we're taking a little break. She sure is cute though!

His ukulele looks even better on him during Western Day.

No school on Friday! Play time and lunch with friends.
I love that Emily's table is Amish made from Indiana.

Three boys on the bed and the little one said...
Westin thinks that song is the funniest thing in the world.

My view from my yoga mat. Black Panther and Iron Man kept me safe during my workout.

We had to bring cupcakes to the cake walk for our trunk or treat so I let Westin go wild.
I have such little patience for baked goods.

Annnnd guess who dropped one of these cookie sheets while carrying a carseat in the other hand on the way to the car.
It wasn't Michael. Or a kid.
Dang it.

Many were salvaged though. Some weren't. Oh baked goods.

Shortly after the dropped cupcakes we discovered that last year's Mater
only managed to make it to this year's party with one eye.
But I mean, still pretty much a win.

Bennett eats: Best thing on his plate down to the worst thing on his plate.
Westin eats: Worst thing on his plate down to the best thing on his plate.
Like I said. Parenting would be a whole lot easier if they all came the same :)

Sweet Camden bones!

Camden ran the cake walk!

Lemon Feast