I love how family is always there for you. It doesn't matter if there's a major catastrophe going on or whether it's just to have somebody around. Lately me and my 2 sis-in-laws have been doing "Cousin Time" once a week where we all just get the kids together and play at a park, splashpad, or just at a house. It's been nice to know that at least once a week I will have real adult interaction. I also enjoy how it strengthens the relationships I have with these girls and how they are more like sisters to me than just in-laws. Here's just a couple of pics of one day at the park.

Pushing kids and my super cute little niece.

As a side note, I was getting all geared up for this half-marathon in October and running steadily and feeling good and pretty good distances too. But last week during one of my runs, my knee gave me some serious problems and pain. I thought that it would be good the next day, but it's not working out that way. I got some Glucosamine to try but it's not seeming to do much yet. I'm kind of decided that running just isn't something I can do anymore. I had knee surgery about 10 years ago and I'm having the same problems I had before the surgery. I kind of think that I shouldn't push it too hard and permanently injure myself so I can't do any physical activity anymore. I LOVE going to the gym everyday (which oddly doesn't bother my knee at all) and getting good exercise and making new friends so I would prefer to keep being able to do that instead of running and making it so I can't even do that. I don't know, I really really wanted to run this race and it felt good working towards a goal. It's frustrating and I don't really know what to do. Anybody have any ideas?

Also, tomorrow we should finish up our sprinkler system (thanks to some awesome friends who came and helped yesterday) and then hopefully grass this week!! Here's how I tried to keep the boys out of the way while we worked. I'm totally not a healthy mom, they're eating Popsicles and chips in their fort.

Still Alive

Hello!! Yes, we're still alive! Things have just been so crazy busy and stressful that blogging just has not been a priority. Lately we've been getting Ray ready to start teaching again and then he's also starting his Master's Degree in Education in a couple of weeks also. We've also been working on our back yard again. We hauled in a few truck loads of compost from the landfill (which is pretty darn stinky) and tilled it all in. The next step to do is to start the sprinkler system. Almost seems like a reality that we might actually have grass in the near future!!

Shoveling the stinky mulch.

Tilling the ground was a rather difficult task because our ground is rock-hard clay! Ray got a workout with this project.

We've also been car shopping for the last couple of months and can I just say that I HATE car shopping!! I don't enjoy the whole process of it. I don't think it would be too bad if there were more of a selection in St. George. If you can afford to buy a new car that are endless possibilities, but well, a new car is definitely not in our budget. But now we have to wait to until next month to even think of a car because we're in the process of refinancing our house! Interest rates dropped so we're able to refi and we're going to save a good chunk of change! Speaking of money (or the lack thereof) I'm supposed to be starting another piano student this month! I have 2 girls already and then this new girl starting. I would really like to pick up one more so if anyone is interested or knows of anyone looking for lessons, let me know!! :)

But lately my kids are giving me a serious run for my money. The boys are just out of control and I really don't know what to do! It's hard because I hear a lot of people saying that their kids (who are the same age as mine) just love playing together and they get along so well and having so much fun with this stage. Well, NOOO!!! Not in this house. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but it's nonstop fighting and contention and complete lack of respect. Disobedience is at an all time high and I'm ready to start waving the white flag and call it quits. They fight me with everything I do, even sleeping, especially Chase. The kid is always exhausted because he never sleeps anymore. He fights me for like an hour to get to sleep (a nap or bedtime at night) and then he only sleeps for like an hour during naps and wakes up super cranky and then at night he wakes up nonstop crying or just wandering around the house. He also has started this nonstop screaming thing. It doesn't matter if you're giving him juice or a treat or just looking at him, but he just starts screaming and going crazy. All I know is that I'm exhausted and stressed. Life is more difficult than I ever imagined and it's everything I can do to just make it through each day. I say a lot of prayers and rely on Ray like crazy. The poor guy already has his plate full without taking care of a basket-case wife. Please don't take this post the wrong way, I totally love my family and wouldn't trade any of them for anything. We're just kind of in a rough rut and trying to figure out how to get out.

Just Rylee being her happy, cute little self! She's rolling over like crazy and scoots around a little too.

The boys have loved playing in the rainstorms we've had lately.

One last tidbit though, I think I'm going to run a half-marathon at the end of October. One of my awesome gym instructors talked me into it. It's kind of difficult to find time to run because in order to beat the heat down here you have to wake up early and with being to tired and being up with Chase through the night, waking up is rather difficult. But I have to be back to get Ray out the door for school and get kids taken care of. Don't know what I got myself into, but it's kind of nice to go running and have a little time for myself. Thanks Ray for helping out so much!!!

Other than that, things are just plugging right along. :) All in all, the kids are healthy and doing good, and I've learned to be soooo thankful for what I have. If you stop and think of what you could potentially lose, all of the sudden you're so much more grateful and appreciative of what all I've been blessed with. Count your many blessings....that's what I'm trying to do right now. I just hope life works out right now.

PS-Sorry this ended up being so long. Didn't have intentions of sharing all of this when I started. Just kind of kept coming out and could use some advice, support, ideas...you name it, I need it right now.

Irresistable

There's nothing more that I can say except, I LOVE YOU!!!

Update

So Sister Dotson had her surgery on Tuesday and everything went fantastic!! She ended up not getting her whole breast removed and she is recovering very well. She is such an amazingly strong woman and I am so glad that we have the opportunity to have her as our neighbor and part of our family.

Praying

We have a neighbor that lives across the street that has become family to us. Last week she came over and told me that she has breast cancer and will be having a mastectomy. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and I'm very nervous for her. She is being very brave and taking it very well, and all she says she wants is prayers for her. I love this woman to death and she has filled the void of living so far away from my grandma's. I hope and pray that things will go well tomorrow and that she can recover quickly with no problems. We love you!!

My New Motto

Right now I am going through some of the most difficult challenges in my life. There are some really tough trials that are happening that are making me reevaluate myself. I'm feeling and intense desire to try to increase and develop a real testimony, not judge others and realize we're all human and just trying to do our best, not to take advantage of the wonderful family I've been blessed with, and rely on the Lord to take of me. While at my sister-in-law's church on Sunday, the girl giving the lesson read part of Julie B. Beck's talk from the last April session of General Conference. It hit home quite well right now.

A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently.

Smile

So right now, there is nothing that makes me smile more than my kids. Don't get me wrong, I want to pull my hair out most days, but all they have to do is give me one little grin and my day is so much happier!!

They were supposed to cleaning their room and this is what I found. Logan was totally passed out cold on the floor and then Chase using him as a bed. Made us laugh pretty good. Logan never even twitched with Chase climbing all over him.