Completely FRUSTRATED

UUUURRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I am so frustrated with Andy's work situation I could just scream...I just laid in bed for an hour trying to go back to sleep, feeling completely bitter and so ready for it to be over. I actually kept track last week on my calendar and he put in 120+ hours last week, they are suppose to cap it at 88 hours a week, but it hardly ever happens. I know what you must be thinking, I am bitter because I'm on my own with the kids a lot, NO. Seriously, I am way, way past that...got over that one a long time ago, I am fed up with them sucking the life from my husband whom I absolutely and completely LOVE, he is utterly exhausted. Every morning I feel completely helpless as he leaves, I do what I can to show my support, but on a morning like this where he got home at 2:20 a.m. and was gone by 4:30 a.m. what can I say to a man who quietly pushes on. He is not bitter, never complains, he amazes me with his goodness and character...I know he wants it to be over, but IT'S NOT and he just isn't the type to wallow in it. Well, I AM! How can they ask this of any person? It is brutal, plain and simple. I literally pray he can just make it to work and home without falling asleep at the wheel, let alone...do his job safely. I know, I know, this is the life we chose, I am grateful he loves what he does enough to go through this, although there are times along the way we have both wondered if it is worth it. Okay...so if you've made to the end of my sob story, thanks for letting me vent my deep frustration...this is, in the great scheme of things, just for a time, and will end. I do have much, so very much, to be grateful for and I'm not acting like it right now, it's just tough to watch him go through this.

It is DONE!!!

I've been talking about doing THIS for a long time...





and NOW that it is DONE, I'm so GLAD I finally went through with it!



Elisabeth and I got cut short too, but it wasn't nearly as exciting...




THANKS NANCY! How am I going to SURVIVE without YOU???

FUN in D.C.

Okay, it's already been a month, but I wanted to post about our trip the end of February to D.C. We met our REALLY WONDERFUL FRIENDS, Jason, Katie, and their children, whom we hadn't seen since Nathan was born, way too long! Andy and Jason go back to their Freshman year at BYU...great friends. Anyhow, we've been talking about getting together and have kept in touch these many years, when last year they moved much farther East and so we decided to meet up in Washington for a day and then they came to our house for a visit. We had so much fun catching up and the kids all get along extremely well...like cousins, only they had no recollection of each other. Seriously, I was amazed at how well they all took to each other. We started with Air and Space, then the National Archives, then we got to go to the top of the Washington Monument (thanks for getting those tickets, Katie) and ended up at Natural History, add: a trip to and fro on the METRO (that rhythms) with nine children, four adults, several backpacks, strollers, etc...it was way fun, and could definitely be catagorized as an adventure! We stayed at a great hotel, close to the Washington D.C. Temple and both got a chance to go, WONDERFUL. Then on Saturday we all headed down to our house. It was so great to have them! Wish I had taken more pictures. Jason and Katie are the type of friends where we came away truly uplifted, inspired by their goodness, and feeling so fortunate to have friends like them in our lives!

It's OFFICIAL, as of last Friday...

It was a huge RELIEF when the FOR SALE sign was finally up in our yard...and for the first time, it really hit me that we are MOVING! We have been working so hard to get our home ready, it has been so CRAZY here. Andy is on the worst schedule none to MAN (okay, well worst for his profession) right now, so he took care of the bigger fixes on the weekends he had off, but I have had to take care of almost all of the repainting...four kids, five years in a house...you know every room/hallway/ door/baseboard/ stairway/porch had some, if not all painting involved. We also minimized our stuff by going through everything and packing up what we could live without for a while and giving a lot away. The boxes are in storage and it has helped me feel like we've done a bit to prepare for the packing phase. I have felt like an awful mother, wife, and friend the last month and a half, focusing so much on the long list of "TO DO'S" everyday, and doing a very lousy job with the PEOPLE in my life...my kids have been very helpful and understanding, especially the boys! My sincerest apologies if I have seemed completely self-absorbed and a thank you to so many who let me vent or helped out with the girls. Right now, keeping it clean feels like a cinch...although no one really lives like this...it's impossible to keep a house spotless and I've determined to just do the best I can. The good news: there has been a fair amount of interest so far and in this market we feel very blessed.

Looking FORWARD to my new sewing project...

Official Congrats to the winners of the Pay it Forward post, you know who you are! Okay, so I know you must be wondering what will my lucky prize be??? The only clue I'll give you is that it involves me sewing...those of you who know me WELL, no worries...I am really excited about the idea I found and it only requires the ability to sew straight lines, which I can totally handle. Admittedly, I ordered the pattern and will be starting this weekend. I am NOT the craftiest person, but lately I've actually had a desire to make a few things...like randomly right before Christmas I decided to sew these aprons for my girls as a gift, it was really fun, and I was so proud of how they turned out! My neighbor has an embroidery machine so they even have their names on them, I really am looking forward to sewing again...my goal is to complete Heidi's and Anna's before we move in June...and no, you're not getting handmade aprons with your names on them, something totally different, I'm so excited!!!