It's September, Right?!?

One thing that seems to always hold people back from starting to scrapbook is that they feel so far behind. In my case I've got 4 children and 12 years of marriage to document - and that only takes me back to being 25!!! That's exactly how I'm feeling about my blogging right now. I didn't post a single entry in June or July. I've only posted 18 times since the beginning of the year ... and now it's September. I've missed out on writing about so many things, posting silly happenings, stresses, accomplishments, struggles, etc, yet I'm going to take a page out of my scrapbooking theory - start with the current. Don't worry about what you haven't recorded yet ... you can always come back to that.

The girls started school on August 3rd and progress reports are just around the corner. Brinley is in 5th grade and is clearly growing up. She even said that recess is SO boring now because there is nothing to do now that she is older. I've been meaning to get her into an orthodontist to see when we will be diving into that whole mess ... maybe I keep putting it off because I know how expensive it is going to be. She ended up needing glasses this year and just got them yesterday. She had been complaining about not being able to see the board clearly and sure enough - she couldn't. She is still extremely focused in school and is planning to run for student council again this year. She is still taking piano lessons, singing in the school choir, and is taking a swim stroke clinic right now. She really loves to swim and did a great job on the swim team this summer.

Ashton started the 3rd grade this year and loves it. She has a few friends in her class again this year which is always nice. She's lost a few more teeth and is starting to care a lot more about what she wears ... ugh. She got her ears pierced back in May and is always concerned about what earrings will go with her outfits. She is jumping into the world of soccer this year and will begin practice tomorrow - officially making me a "soccer mom" for the first time. She is also taking piano and singing in the school choir, too.

Kendyl is FINALLY old enough to start Kindergarten!! She misses the cutoff here by only 2 weeks, so she was really more than ready to go last year. Lucky for her she got to spend 2 years with Ms. Beckie so at least she was getting top notch preparation for her "big" school debut. She absolutely *LOVES* school! She has a wonderful teacher and even with all of the crummy state budget cuts to education she is attending all day - really a good thing for her. She has a class bunny named Chloe who gets to hop around the classroom while they do their morning work. I go in on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to check homework folders and offer my help for a few minutes. It is so fun to get to know the children in her classroom as they adjust to being in school full time. She has decided that tennis may be the sport for her (at least for this month) so she will begin lessons next week. She will probably do the swim stroke clinic in October with Brinley since it has been so fabulous. She also started taking piano lessons in August and she's learning to read music but also picks out melodies by ear! I miss having her with me on our Tuesday lunch dates with Beth, but am so glad to know she is happy to be at school.

Cougar is a mess. That boy keeps us moving at all times. He makes us laugh and scream in frustration. It became very clear the first week the girls were in school that life would be much more challenging with only one at home. I have never had only one at home his age ... I always had another by this point (and no, I will not be having another). It is a challenge, to say the least. He changes his clothes at least 3-5 times a day. His clothes are literally all over the house and it is rare to find anything in his drawers ... even if I've just put laundry away. Errand running is great but trying to get any housework done with a shadow is near impossible - I never noticed how much the girls helped to entertain him!! Well, I noticed it, but never fully APPRECIATED it until now. If I am folding laundry he is on the bed unfolding it. If I am trying to sweep he will get out another broom and mess up my pile. He loves to feel "helpful" even when his help is usually more destructive. And yet we get the best smiles and silly expressions out of him when he is on his own. Lunchtime is so much fun when Steve comes home and it is just the 3 of us. He constantly has us cracking up!! His favorite word right now is "AWESOME," and he always turns things around on you. "Cougar, pick that up." "No, YOU pick that up!!" He cries everytime someone else starts to say the prayer, so we have to let him bless every meal and offer every family prayer - even if we follow it up with someone else (who's prayer he will cry through because he is not the one offering it). He has at least one weekly playdate and is still my Tuesday lunch date buddy (along with Beth and Alex). So much fun and so much work all in one little boy!!

Steve was released from being the Young Men's President this past week and called to be 1st Counselor in the bishopric. UGH. The up side to this is he was already attending most of the meetings that he is required to attend now, so hopefully scheduling won't be that much worse - except for Sundays and an added night during the week. He was so sad to be released from YM ... he was really starting to see things moving in the right direction ... but I know he will enjoy working with the Bishop and getting to know the ward members even more. I'm so proud of him. He's always been such an amazing example to me. He drafted his Fantasy Football team this weekend and is looking forward to a great BYU Football season as well - starting with the BIG game on Saturday vs. Oklahoma. GO COUGARS!!! He is always looking for the perfect practice to buy and even tosses around the idea of opening his own. For now I am just grateful that we have a good, stable job!! He wishes he could golf more than he does and still plays basketball on Tuesday nights.

I should probably save myself for another post for fear of writing an entire novel in one sitting. Anyone who actually reads this should really receive some type of medal. Then again, I'd be surprised if anyone even bothers to check my blog anymore. I deserve it. I haven't been posting and I haven't been checking/commenting on other people's blogs. Shame on me. I just got to the point where something had to give and blogging was the easy choice. Stinks, really, since it is the one thing that connects me to the "outside" world and keeps me informed, but it is what it is. A few of my highlights (to spare you the many boring details):
* I survived Girls Camp (and even tried rappelling for the first time)
* We traveled to Utah where we hung with family and ate at all of my favorite places
* I took on a co-leader position over the hybrid creative team at ScrapMatters and also help oversee the hybrid design team
* I became a hybrid designer at ScrapMatters and opened a teeny tiny (so far) shop at SM where I am selling my designs - and will be adding more as time allows
* I got to see Wicked again this summer and especially enjoyed sharing the experience with Jill and John
* I was in charge of coordinating the 2nd birthday celebration at SM ... so much work and yet completely rewarding
* I upgraded to CS4 from PSE6 and am loving learning my new software (when I'm not cursing because I don't know how to do something)
* I am still writing tutorials for The Hybrid Chick blog once a month
* I am still serving as stake YW Secretary
* I decided to chair the hospitality committee for the PTA this year and will also be Kendyl's room mom
* I've started running again after taking too long off - schedule took over back in January and after gaining back more weight than I wanted to (who ever wants to gain weight they worked so hard to lose?) I am regaining control and hoping to find some races to motivate me
* I learned to can chicken and have 24 pints to show for it (well, 22 after giving one to a friend to try and using one for dinner tonight)
* I am headed to Utah in a few weeks to meet up with some dear cyberfriends and help out at the first Digital Scrapbooking Experience - as a TA for the amazing Jessica Sprague
* After 10 years I am no longer a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator ... bittersweet
* I can't imagine how I survived (and held it together) before my BlackBerry

I'll stop there for fear of boredom (and sensory overload with the mere IDEA that I even posted again ... let alone wrote a book). The layout of me is actually one I did months ago that I never posted - it's still one of my favorites from my JS classes. I've got a few more pages and projects to post as well as previews of the goodies in my shop, but I'll save those for another day. Feels good to be back. Seems like I said that after I got off the treadmill this morning ;)