Life is Full

I finally got the mountain of laundry folded and, thanks to Nic, put away. I have felt like my house is out of control and it is sure hard to get it back under control. This seems to be an indicator of my life right now. Life is full. Full crazy. Full good.

Young Womens: Phew. YW in Excellence was this past Wednesday. That day I was driving around with 18 balloons and 3 kids in my not so big Jeep. When the evening was over I came out to see all 18 balloons still in the car... I forgot to bring them in! Brother. Full crazy. It was a fun sports themed evening. I gave a talk about how life is like a football game. I came away feeling so "full." Full good. Although my calling is very busy, I love it so much. I was so impressed by the girls: by my Laurel president conducting (Sam) and another Laurel's wonderful talk (Taylor) and the inspiring projects and displays by all the girls. They are fabulous. I love these YW! I also was so grateful for the amazing leaders I am surrounded by. They helped pull off an awesome night and I am so lucky to work with all of them.

It has been a stressful last couple of months. The day Easton was blessed I found out just a couple minutes before sacrament meeting that my 2nd counselor was going to be released. Then a week and a half later I was told at mutual that my 1st counselor was going to be released. I asked if this time we could please at least get a replacement first... but unfortunately that didn't quite happen. Then I had 2 advisors released. So without going into all my feelings and details... there have been a lot of changes! I miss the old leaders like crazy. It's hard when you get to see someone (lots of someones) twice a week for years and then suddenly you don't! But fortunately I have some new, fresh, diligent, fabulous leaders ready to dive right in. I planned a girls night out for the past and present YW leaders last night. There were 10 of us. It was fabulous! We ate and chatted. The evening flew by. I came home very, very full! I couldn't help crying as I thanked my Heavenly Father last night for all these wonderful friends that have come into my life because of my calling.

Trading: Aside from all my YW friends, I am grateful for two of my very best friends in my ward, Jennifer and Emily, who are so good to me. I love talking to them and being with them but they are also so good to help me with my kids. We often trade babysitting so we can go to music class, help in school... help each other with our good, crazy lives.

Bryson: Oh, it is a good thing he is so cute and loving... he is going to be the death of me! Here are just two quick stories to illustrate what everyday is like with him:

Last Sunday we went to tithing settlement at 10:00. Nic was looking over some papers. I was... who knows... looking or talking at one of my other two children for two seconds. And Bryson was gone. There is another ward going on in the chapel. I peek in and sure enough, there he is. I whisper his name and motion for him to come. He looks and heads right up to the front. He made it to the seats the deacons sit in the pass the sacrament. I had to walk right in there in front of this whole other ward to grab him. Oh brother!

Later that day, Nic was gone home teaching and had taken Hannah with him. I went to the bathroom. I was literally in there 3 minutes. I come out to the can of biscuits popped open and all over the floor, Bry's plate and fork that were on the set table ready for dinner now in the garbage can, and Bry sitting contently at the table eating Cheez-its that were all over the place. Full crazy.

This may be seem a bit embarrassing but I had to write it down. The other day Bry climbed up on my bed to snuggle with me and said, "I'm going to lay on Easton's food." Haha. Full good. :)

Specialists: Bryson is fine... but we went to Primary Children's Hospital 3 times in a 3 month time period to see a urologist and a neurologist. He had a surgery... if fact the same one he had when he was 6 months old. We hope it works this time. Too bad there isn't a money back guarantee with surgery!

When I came home from Easton's 3 month well child appointment, I said to Nic, "Well we haven't had to take our kids to a specialist in a while I was thinking it might be time!" Easton is most likely going to need a helmet for his cute little head. He favors one side of his head (usually caused by as torticollis, having neck muscles on one side much stronger than on the other). We've been doing some exercises with him, but that's probably not going to be enough.

Full crazy. But all is/will be well. Full good.

Milestones: I need to write down the details of so many things, but for now here are a few of my kiddos milestones:
Easton has started rolling! (So far just to the right, from back to tummy.)
Bryson turned 3!
Hannah lost her first tooth!
Full good!

Other Adventures: We went to Yellowstone with my parents and sister Ashley's family. It was beautiful and so nice to have a little get away. Full good.

I love my kitchen! We have recently been redoing our kitchen. I can't wait to post before and after pictures. (Well, I guess I can wait... because I need to catch up on my crazy life first before that gets done!)  When we bought this house it was in the 5 year plan, then we thought we would move on. However, now I think we will be here for quite awhile longer. I love having a kitchen that I enjoy being in. We painted our red wall tan and our natural oak cabinets white. It is fresher and brighter! Come see! Full good.
 
Now for a final story... this week Hannah got locked in the bathroom... without actually locking it! The door just would not open. We tried with the key. I could tell when it was and wasn't locked. We jiggled and twisted and pulled for a good 15 minutes with no luck. Hannah had some panicky moments. I called Nic. He was 45 minutes away working. Now what. Unfortunately the screws to take the door knob off were on the inside with Hannah... but I figured it was worth a try. I found a screw driver small enough to pass under the door to her. I told her which way to turn the screw driver and like a champ she was able to get the 2 long screws out and the doorknob off! Success! I was amazed and so relieved... for a minute. I tried to get the latch to... well, unlatch! Nothing. It didn't budge. I took the door knob off to my room to see how it worked and if I could figure it out. There is a little piece that is suppose to move back in forth as the doorknob is turned but on the bathroom door it was busted and just lay there loose.

I told Hannah at least she was stuck somewhere with a toilet! I told her she could take a nap in the bathtub, or that she might as well clean in there (she did whip down the counter!), and I could slip her crackers when she was hungry. She didn't think I was funny. Overall she stayed calm but wanted me to stay right outside the door.

I really like being self sufficient... but I had no idea what to do. Full crazy! We have some good men in our neighborhood who are often around. I called one, he was an hour away. I called another and he came right over. He pulled, poked, twisted, pried... and then asked if we has a jig saw. He ended up using a sawzall to cut through the medal piece and even then it took some more pulling and prying to get the latch to pop out! Wowwie. Zowwie!

Full crazy! However, when it was all said and done I am grateful it was Hannah stuck, not Bryson-- we would have had a flooded basement and a hole in the door by the time he was out :) And I'm grateful for good neighbors! Full good.