it's been a while

there are so many things in my life to be thankful for, but yesterday in church, i was very especially grateful for Trevor! Craig sat in Daddy's lap before the sacrament and seemed to be pretty good for him (which is a nice change because he has been a little awnry at church recently). It reminded me of how grateful i am to have such a wonderful priesthood leader in our family who can teach our child to sit and be reverent even when I am up on the stand for the music.

last Sunday, Trevor was not able to go and I was running late. So, Craig came up on the stand with me.... talk about a mistake. the first song, he walked a little. the next, he almost played the piano. then for the closing song, i thought i would hold him. halfway through, he's wanting down, to run around and decides to bite me!!!! it was a very rough day. i really missed Trevor and if i would've thought more, i would have sent him to be with my parents, but i kept thinking that ___ would make it better. if i hold him, he will be better....etc. it didn't. instead, i felt like a fool in front of everyone.

so yesterday, i was so relieved to have Trevor with us. he really is such a blessing in my life.

heidi

the other day, Heidi (my sister who is always trying to tell Craig what to do, or having a cow about something he is doing), Heidi had a dr's appointment. when they get home, my mom tells me that she has something for Craig. at the end of her appointment, she got to pick out a lollipop. she turned to my mom and asked "what about Craig?". and so, dear Heidi does like Craig and brought him home a lollipop.

it sure did make my day! and i think craig!

struggling

Last week, with my class, i had a very hard week. i have several students who like to act out and then they are just very talkative and immature! but Friday was a little better. i'm trying my best to encourage and reward positive behaviors. i looked up tons of ideas from other teachers that i got all last year. i was even going to video record so i could see what i could do better. i talked with the two other teachers before school started and they reassured me that things will get better and it is not just me or just my class. all of them are having a hard time, but it will get better. one of them was the lady i had my practicum with last fall. she is really a great teacher and everyday i think about how she taught something. she was so sweet. she said that if her daughter was going to the school, she would put her in my class and not worry about it.
Friday was better.

i think i'm having a harder time because craig is being more grumpy too. i am so grateful for the sweet moments with him that remind me how precious he is and how i still need to teach him too.

i'm also sick, with a cold and my head is all congested. it makes me appreciate all the times that i feel better. i'm glad that we don't get sick very often.

i got a random call this week, from Laura (Henrie) Pennock. it was such a surprise but it was nice to talk to her again. we went to high school together and she was my best friend the last two years of it. it was nice to hear how she is doing. i am very grateful for her friendship during high school and the good impact she had on my life.

school and enjoying

well, i have had two days in the kindergarten and it is the third day of school. i must say that that first day for me, was pretty miserable! we had 25-5 year olds! i had 3-5 adults in the room the entire time and hallelujah! we were able to have some adults help with one on one for some kids and i was still able to help with the entire class. yesterday, was even better. i was surprised and went to the library for an hour of the time (with mrs. greenberg's class- special ed inclusion). so that helped. the librarian taught kinder for 5 years, so she knows them very well. we are just working on going over the rules tons and i think they will get adjusted to school and procedures.

when we came back on Saturday from st. george, it was WONDERFUL to see Craig again! i really think it was good to have an overnight without him. I did miss him while we were gone and even thought about taking him with us. but this is the one time a year that we have an overnighter without him, plus i knew he would not sit still for the play. so we took advantage of it and it was so good to come home and to be able to enjoy him even more and not lose my patience over little things! i hope i can keep this up and be a better mom, even with working and things.

well, school is back in session for Trevor. uggh! this is going to be difficult for him, i think. he is ready to be done and yet he isn't. i pray that I'll be able to help him hang in there. he has 2 classes and a study class for his big professional engineer test. also, with work, the man retired and so we are waiting for the job to be advertised and he can apply! we are still praying that things will work out.

no news about the hiring freeze for me, but i am almost kinda glad that i don't have my own class yet and am just substituting and getting used to being on my own a little. we'll see how this kinder goes, but i might switch to preferring first grade.

i am enjoying spending the mornings still with Craig. i definitely have a blessing being able to work a little, but still enjoy time with Craig.

change

we received some free leather couches a couple of weeks ago and we cleaned the love seat up and put it in our little apartment yesterday. it is always nice to get some change. i was grateful that Trevor metnioned the idea.

Also, yesterday was Cyndi's birthday, today is Anita's and a week ago was Karl's. i am very grateful for trevor's wonderful family. i got really luckily marrying into his family. he has great brothers and sisters and it just reminds me more when it is their birthday. when cyndi was downhere around the fourth of july, i was able to drive her around a little and run some errands. it was fun just hanging out withe her, emma and craig. Anita helps us out so much! she is going to help watch Craig a little when i work this next year.

Today, our speakers discussed the leadership training from febraury. it was great to hear it again and hear other people's thoughts about the guidance from our leaders. i love love the words the leaders gave us in the meeting. it was great to hear the words again. i think i might just have to read through them again.

I also got to sub in the ctr 6 class. it reminded me that i really do like that age. some kids had just finished kindergarten and some are just about to start kindergarten. i like that age range. i really am hoping that i will be able to teach kinder or first. we'll see. I know that Heavenly Father will help me out and things will work out. i need to get better about scriptures and prayer, both personally and our family. i really think that the most we are doing, the better Heavenly Father can bless us. I know things aren't gunna be just what i want, but it will be better than if we weren't doing the best we could do.

fixed car

On Monday, I was able to take the car in and I think it is fixed! I've been driving around for two days and the air conditioning is working great and the temperature is not getting too high! I am very grateful for cars! they can be annoying when problems occur, but life without them is very difficult. I wish we had a good busing system, but we don't.

Craig has been a little crazy. But he is still so cute! He likes to scream a little when he gets mad, still throwing himself down on the ground. but he is getting better about saying prayers. He loves to read a book with me before he goes to sleep. Yesterday, I got him in his pjs and he ran up into our bed and grabbed a book. it was so cute! He is such a blessing and i shelping Treovr and I be better to each other and him and also have more patience.

sharing clothes

We have been so blessed in many ways, but i wanted to make note of one in particular. before Craig was born, many people in our life shared with us their blessings! We received many clothes from kids that had outgrown them. Some were given and some were borrowed. But we have been so blessed because of this.

We have had to buy a couple of clothes, but compared to the thousands that we would have had to buy. here is Craig in one of his 'new' outfits.

Yesterday, I took out more clothes for Craig, 2T. we had too many summery clothes that i didn't have room for them all!! I picked out some of the cuter, less stained, less able to stain and put them away! the many others, i put back away in boxes and kept them in mind for later in the year, or next summer.

then, since we have some clothes, I have been able to share with my brother who has a baby! I am so very grateful for all those who thought of us.

Craig

I really enjoy being with Craig. During the day, he is usually so good for me! Of course, when he starte getting tired at night, he is not so happy. And by the end of the day, Trevor and I are tired too and our patience is a little low. We both are working on being better.

But yesterday, we went visiting teaching and he was really good for me. When i was getting him dressed in his pjs, he was so fun to cuddle with. He found a fun board book at the library Are you Sleepy, Petey? and he really likes it. It's a little boy trying to get his little puppy to go to sleep and Craig thinks it is so fun.

well, when I put Craig in his crib, he didn't seem too tired still (he started jumping up and down), so i left two books with him for 5-10 minutes. then, later I went in and told him it was time to go to sleep, so i turned off the rest of the lights, tooks his books and pulled his blanket over him. He fell asleep soon after. He is so good for us.

I am so grateful for Trevor and his striving to be better. He always is helping, supporting and encouraging me to be better also.

And Craig, he is such a great child of our Heavenly Father's. I have always known, since he was born, that Heavenly Father blessed us with Craig, a fairly easier first child, since we gave in and had a child while we were both still going to school.

Trevor and I both had scholarships for UNLV that paid us to go to school. Neither of us could stop going to school, or else we would lose the scholarships. And if we lost the scholarship, I probably would not have finished school.

But Heavenly Father blessed us for being faithful and helped us by choosing a wonderfully easier child. Craig didn't have very many problems with sleeping when he was younger, he picked up on nursing pretty good, took a bottle and pacifier. he didn't like cereal, but he liked eating banana and other baby food.