Great things about Today

1.  Standing outside in the rain with my Yummers, watching the wind blow the yellow leaves off of the tree in our neighbor's yard.  And, even better, watching Yummers watch the leaves.



2.  Spending the day at home doing laundry and cleaning the house.  We had mountains of laundry piling up and I lost count after the 5th load.  I love days at home.  (Unlike yesterday, when I spent the ENTIRE day at the DMV renewing my driver's license.  It really wasn't the entire day, but nearly 3 hours is close enough for me.  Thank goodness that Yummy is SUCH a good baby and didn't even so much as squeak the entire time.)



3.  Isaac had a field trip to the Robert Crown Center today to attend a puberty education class.  This was my conversation with him when I picked him up from school today.

Mom:  Hey, how was your day?

Isaac:  Uh, seriously sooooooo boring.  That was the WORST field trip of all time. 

Mom:  Really?  Why?

Isaac:  Dude, it was just all of the 5th grade boys packed into this little room and we had to look at slides and hear this guy talk for, like, two hours.  We just had to sit and listen, and it was soooooo boring.

Mom:  Didn't you learn anything new?

Isaac:  No, nothing at all.  I was most disappointed in the lack of fun (his exact words).  We didn't get to walk around or anything like a normal field trip.  Dude, it was so bad that I told Derek on the bus ride home that I would rather have been taking ISAT's (Illinois's standardized testing) all day.  You shouldn't have even paid the five dollars.  And we didn't even get the goodie bag with deodorant and stuff like people said. 

I love 10 year old boys.


4.  Eating this for dinner.

Balsamic glazed pork tenderloin.  Yum!

Columbus Day Apple Picking

For a while now, I have been feeling the need to get out of the city and into the fresh smelling, slow moving, quiet country.  John thinks my obsession with rural living, with some animals and a big garden is a little over the top, but I don't really care.  I didn't exactly grow up in a metropolis.

Monday was the perfect day to escape.  The kids were out of school for Columbus Day, so Karen (my wonderful neighbor and friend) and I decided to go apple picking in Woodstock, Illinois, which is about a 90 minute drive northwest of here.  It was a beautiful day and the kids had so much fun running through the orchards, finding the perfect apples to pick.

After a little picnic, we came home and made apple crisp for Johnny's birthday.  Happy Birthday honey!  Here's to wishing you didn't have to spend it sitting in class!  We missed you!

Recruiting

For MBA students, Fall is recruiting season.  Didn't we just do this, mere months ago for summer internships?  In the back of my head, I can still feel the lingering stress from trying to decide which internships to interview for.

And the lingering disappointment from getting turned down. 

And the relief of finding that perfect summer internship.

Can it really be that time already?  I have learned so much about myself from this whole business school process.   One of these days I will write it all down, how we decided to come, why we knew we should even though to most people, more schooling seems ludicrous, pointless, and maybe even overkill.  But that is an entire story in itself.  So for now, I will just say this. . .

Recruiting is hard, and I am not even the one doing it.   It is work to try and figure out where we are supposed to be going, which jobs to apply for, which company will give him the best experience, best pay, best lifestyle for our family, etc.  Ultimately, what we really are asking is, where does Heavenly Father want us to go?  Where does He think will be the best for our family?  Which job does He want John to do?  I often tell John when he is stressing about jobs "It is all going according to plan."   Not our plan, no.  But His plan.  And His plan has ALWAYS worked out better for us in the long run, every single time, even though it has NEVER been the easiest route to take. 

So for now John will just keep filling out those applications, turning in those resumes, fraternizing at dinners, and knocking out interviews.  And I am sure someday we will look back with perfect clarity and understanding.

In the meantime. . .  this is Yummers, helping me make homemade noodles for chicken noodle soup yesterday.

And, Nathan went on his very first school field trip today.  They went to the Grove, which is kind of a forest preserve/learning center.  What he was most excited for:

1.  Riding the bus
2.  Doritos and a Caprisun in his lunch bag.

Cello and Hide and Seek Freeze Tag

Today was one of the most beautiful days ever.   I love watching the leaves turn to crisp Autumn colors, especially around here.  This time of year highlights the charm of where we live, and it makes me so happy.

After the kids finished their homework, they played hide-and-seek freeze tag with light sabers (yes, pretty much every childhood game, morphed into one giant running and screaming fest).   All afternoon, they ran and laughed and chased with our wonderful neighbors.  Thank heaven for good neighbors.   Then when they got tired, Brady and Nathan raked leaves and pine needles in the neighbor's yard.  They used the snow shovels to scoop it into an empty garbage can, and then drug it back to our yard to save for burning in our little fire pit.  Such cute worker bees.

Check out the intensity!  Go Brady!



Rosh Hashanah and General Conference

This weekend was filled with religious celebration.  Because we live in an area that is largely Jewish, our elementary school celebrates Rosh Hashanah by giving the students the day off.  Most of the Jewish students attend Synagogue for the day with their families.  We celebrated by going to Legoland.

Grandma and Grandpa Anthony gave us a year membership to Legoland for Christmas last year and it has been the gift that keeps on giving.  We have more than gotten our money's worth.  We enjoyed the day of watching Lego 4D movies, building Legos, riding on Lego rides and even seeing how they make Legos.  The kids loved it.

But this weekend, General Conference was definitely the highlight.  Even the kids look forward to General Conference.  Actually, I don't know whether they look forward to the conference part, or the treats and good food that accompany the weekend.   I'll take it either way.  I  love that they look forward to General Conference weekend.

Some personal highlights:

Elder Devn Cornish:

"In his mercy, the God of heaven, the creator and ruler of all things everywhere had heard a prayer about a very minor thing.  One might well ask why he would concern himself with something so small.  I am lead to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much, that the things that are important to us become important to him just because he loves us.  How much more would he want to help us with the big things that we ask which are right.  Little children, young people, and adults alike, please believe how very much your heavenly father wants to bless you.  But because he will not infringe upon our agency, we must ask for his help.  This is generally done through prayer.  Prayer is one of the most precious gifts of God to man."

Sister Elaine S. Dalton  (She seriously rocks!):

"The most important thing a father can do for his daughter, is to love her mother.  By the way you lover her mother, you will teach you daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion and devotion.  She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse.  You can show your daughter from the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less.  Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood.  You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves her.  Love her mother so much that your marriage is celestial.  A temple marriage for time and all eternity is worthy of your greatest efforts and highest priority."

Elder Neil L. Anderson :

"We believe in families and we believe in children. . . Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children, or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. . .  Motherhood is not a job, it is a calling. . . it is what God gave you time for.

"Across the world, this is a time of economic instability and financial uncertainty.  In April General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson said "If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and a family, may I assure that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save.  It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions."

Sometimes this is what General Conference really looks like at our house: