I don't think that word means what you think it means.

Conversation with Justin as we walked in the door from the bus stop:

Justin: "Is dad here?"
Me: "No, not today."
Justin: "Aw danggit, I wanted to be able to ignore him!"

Bittersweet

My cute little Justin started kindergarten yesterday. He has been looking forward to it for months and was so excited. He was actually totally ready at 7:00 this morning and was not happy that he had to wait till 8:20 to catch the bus.

He couldn't wait to get out the door. He was not thrilled that I made him stop so I could take his picture.


In every way; academically, socially, and emotionally he is completely ready for kindergarten. I am thrilled that he is excited, but I can't help but feel a little sad. I am not ready to have an empty house. This was not supposed to happen. I totally expected that we would have a baby girl by now. All of us did. Apparently Heavenly Father has different plans for us though. I continue to have faith and keep a positive attitude, but some days it is really hard.

I missed him while he was gone. The house was eerily quiet. I just have to believe that we will have another little spirit or two joining our family. Because the thought that I will never have another first day of kindergarten, another first step, another first smile, is so heart wrenching that I can't bear to think about it.

Why my family had cereal for dinner tonight

Here is a list of the things I did today:
-Wake up, make bed, and straighten room
-Type up the papers for soccer drafts
-Eat breakfast.
-Send e-mails to soccer coaches
-Get boys ready for school and out the door. Forget to comb their hair. Hope that they brushed their teeth.
-Call players on Wes's football team to let them know about change in practice location.
-Shower and get ready for the day.
-Help Justin get ready. Make him change out of the shirt that he's been wearing since yesterday.
-Drive to the city park to ask if the soccer goal posts can be fixed before I put the nets up.
-Drive to the doctor's office to pick up Justin's immunization record.
-Head to the hardware store in Payson to buy nylon rope to finish hanging the soccer nets (we ran out last night.)
-Drive to Rod Works in Springville to pick up iron scroll for master bathroom.
-Stop at Walmart to get Brandon some school supplies. They were out of what he needed, but I managed to find a few other things. :)
-Tell Justin for the 15th time that I am not buying him a matchbox car just because we happen to be at Walmart. Or a box of fruit snacks. Or candy.
-Stop at the church cannery to buy more wheat for our food storage but realize I left my checkbook at home. And they don't take credit cards.
-Drive to American Fork to take Justin out to lunch with Wes.
-Wes is in the middle of a conference call; stop at DI.
-Go to a late lunch with Wes and Justin.
-Drive to the bank in Salem to drop off the car title.
-Drive to the elementary school to drop off Justin's immunization record.
-Come home and recruit Brandon to help me hang the soccer nets because I am not tall enough to reach the posts.
-Hang soccer nets
-Come home and return all the calls I missed while I was gone all day.
-Drive Spencer to football practice
-Arrange time for photographer to drop of picture packets for all the soccer teams.
-Drive Tyler to Salem for football practice.
-Load up all the soccer equipment and head to the park with Brandon and Justin.
-Set up fields for kindergarten games, answer questions, and hand out equipment and picture packets to coaches.
-Keep time for the kindergarten games while trying to oversee the 1st & 2nd grade games, and watch Justin play.
-Help 3rd & 4th grade players find their coaches for the first practice of the season.
-Clean off the fields and come home
-Hold drafts for the 5th & 6th grade soccer teams.
-Eat the scrambled eggs Wes made for me because he knows I don't like cereal.
-Hold family prayer, and listen as Justin gets a father's blessing in preparation for his first day of kindergarten tomorrow.
-Install the toilet seat in our master bathroom.
-Look at the wreck that is our home and decide that I am much to tired to tackle it tonight.
-Go to bed early and hope that tomorrow will be a less, um, productive day. Staring at the wall and muttering to myself maybe?

End of a Pathetic Summer

Brandon, Spencer, and Tyler started school this morning. (Justin starts next Wednesday.) I was totally unprepared this year. I am never ready for summer to be over, it always seems like it just flies by. We had plans to go camping, hiking, bowling, swimming, and golfing. We had plans to invite neighbors over to watch movies projected onto a screen on our deck. We had plans to have BBQ's and relax on our new deck. But we spent so much time working on darn house projects that we didn't even get to enjoy our time together. I think this will go down on record as being the most boring summer ever at the Cook house!

Don't Try This at Home!

Just in case any of you have ever wondered.

This is what happens to a pair of sunglasses that you accidentally leave in the cargo pocket of your shorts, (which your wife doesn't happen to check like the regular pockets when she does laundry), and they go through the washer.

Teasing the Elderly

Wes's party last night was lots of fun. We had to move it inside at the last minute because the wind was out of control, but it still worked out fine. One of our first guests was Wes's good friend Dave. He gave him a gift bag filled with gag gifts. One of the items was Depends. When my boys saw it, they asked what they were, and Wes told them they were adult diapers. He explained that sometimes when you get old, you can't control your bladder. They thought it was the funniest thing ever.

This morning when Wes walked into the kitchen, Spencer asked, "Hey dad, are you wearing your new diapers?"

A few minutes later, Tyler came up with this joke-
Tyler: "Knock, knock"
Wes: Who's there?
Tyler: Die
Wes: Die Who?
Tyler: Dia-pers.

Yah, I don't think they're going to let him forget that he's forty now.

Happy Birthday Wes!!

Today is my husband's 40th birthday. We are having a party for him tonight, and we invited just about everyone in our neighborhood. I have no idea how many people will show up; I sure hope we have enough cake and ice cream. And I really hope we don't end up with a lot of leftover cake and ice cream. That would not be good for my hips.

Anyway, in honor of my talented, handsome, and amazing hubbie, here are 40 of the things I love about him:

1-He supports me in everything I do.
2-He is an amazing father.
3-He is just as good lookin' as the day I met him. (Better actually)
4-I love watching him play basketball; he's amazing.
5-He works hard so I can stay home with my boys.
6-His blue eyes.
7-He is a worthy priesthood holder.
8-He doesn't leave messes lying around the house.
9-He helps me with all my computer problems.
10-He listens to me complain.
11-He reminds me what is really important in life.
12-He unloads the dishwasher because I hate that job.
13-He has a great singing voice.
14-He makes sure we have family prayer every night.
15-He takes time to play with the boys.
16-He goes shopping with me even when he'd rather be doing just about anything else.
17-He always kisses me goodbye when he leaves in the morning.
18-He can pitch a baseball faster than anyone I know.
19-He doesn't roll his eyes at me when I buy baby girl clothes.
20-He brings me flowers for no reason.
21-His taste in music.
22-He is faithful in his church callings.
23-He was worthy to marry me in the temple.
24-He doen't complain that he has to park his car in the driveway because I'm using the garage as my painting studio.
25-He appreciates my cooking.
26-His smile.
27-His sense of humor.
28-When he gets excited about the program he's writing for the Pre phone.
29-He encourages me to get up and get walking in the morning.
30-He walks with me when I don't have a walking buddy.
31-He set up a tv in his office so I can watch it while I'm on the treadmill.
32-He's put up with me for 15 years.
33-He makes me feel better when I am discouraged about how long the adoption process has been.
34-He does the grocery shopping on his way home from work so I don't have to make a special trip.
35-He takes my car in to get the oil changed so I don't have to deal with it.
36-He carries all the heavy stuff, reaches all the tall shelves, and opens the dang food storage buckets for me.
37-He made me try things I was afraid of, like para sailing, kayaking, and riding a tandem bike.
38-He plans vacations just for the two of us.
39-He takes me on a date almost every single week.
40-He is the most amazing husband and father and he inspires me to be a better person.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WES! I LOVE YOU!!!!

I think you could say he's excited for kindergarten.

Last week I went and registered the three youngest boys for school. All of them have a friend in their class, so they are happy. Justin cannot wait to start school. When we got home from registration, he said, "Mom, I need to go get my shots." (I told him way back in May that he would need shots before he could start kindergarten.) I told him I would call the doctor and went about my day.

A few hours later, he walked up and asked, "Mom, have you called the doctor, I really need to get my shots." Dang, the doctor's office was closed by then. I told him I would call first thing in the morning.

Guess what he said as soon as he woke up. Yep, "Mom, call the doctor so I can get my shots." I called the doctor. He got his shots yesterday. He is at peace.

I wonder how long it will be before he starts reminding me that we still haven't found him a pair of shoes yet?