So, I crocheted some booties.

I actually don't want to start a new post reviewing the past few days. It becomes embarrassing and shameful to talk about that one time yesterday when sitting down in your room crying into your hands is a whole lot better than blubbering into the phone to your husband narrating the sequence of events called "mom tantrum". I understand how it can get a little awkward listening to a full-grown adult speak incoherently about something that makes no sense. And he goes on loving me anyway. How embarrassing love can be sometimes. 

At the time of me typing this, everyone in my family has thrown up or spent some decent amount of time on the pod since last Friday...except for McKay. Don't worry though, I know his turn is coming. One of the perks of having a large family is that the stomach flu gets to linger a little longer. 

So, I made booties.

Because what else are you going to do when cute-face is so nauseous he just... He just....is so cute? 

Wait--gotta get one of the puke bowl too:

Assuming that I will be a zombie tomorrow (since jack and I are still up at 4:30 am), I apologize now for unfiltered commentary that may stream out of my mouth. It has been known to happen around here when mom doesn't get enough sleep.

Things in my brain as of late: Heavenly Father wants me to go the temple. He wants me to bring a family name to the temple. And even more than that, he wants me to involve Addie. She turns 12 next week and boy oh boy, what else can I say? Here we go! I've got to figure out a way to get this world around me organized so I can spend some time doing that. 

So, I hired cleaners. They start tomorrow.

Now you see it.

Snip

Snip

Now you don't!

Curly mullet gone!

Another thing in my brain: I'm so tired, I'm starting to hallucinate that my kitchen floor is cleaned by a dog on an hourly basis. Oh wait, that's for real. 

Maybe I should tell the cleaners to nevermind about coming. Laci's got this.

Ya, ok. I'm going to bed.

Jack, ready for bed? Jack? Jack?

I think the night of hurl has officially ended.

Sick.

Why is it when you're sick does the hubs seem that much cuter? 

Stomach flu? Food poisoning? Either way--it isn't good. No good like someone just beat you with a 2x4 no good. Addie too. Oakley provided good guardianship seeing as how Addie's guardian was contained by the toilet. 

Good dog.

A week without going to church feels like...weird. Tomorrow will probably feel like Sunday but my kids will be at school. 

Thank goodness for Leah. To church and after church my kids went. We are all blessed by good and mindful guardians when we can't care for ourselves. That is such a comfort. 

Leah. I've never met anyone like her. I'll never forget when she approached me at a time when the twins were infants and said, "I would like to come help you before church. I feel strongly and spiritually directed to come help you." Not the "I had a dream about you last night"-and this is awkward kind of a way- but a real, genuine, sincere and loving way that came from the heart. The rest is history. She has come EVERY Sunday since. She has treated this kind act as a calling. Even when she can't be here, she finds a substitute. Every single time. THAT, my friends, is pollinating the world with the pure love of Christ that Elder Ballard was speaking of.

We have so many good pollinators surrounding us. The Densley family took Hollynd to a BYU gymnastics meet vs The University of Utah.

They could've overlooked sweet Hollynd --and her love for all things gymnastics--knowing that she would cheer for BYU and she would be the black sheep, but they accepted and invited her anyway. AND protected her from the wolves.

How nice was that?

Kaydee is another busy bee. Treating me with kindness when I least deserve it. 

Humored my boys by coming over for a "late night" when she could've easily justified not coming over because she was busy or because I can be a jerk sometimes and forget that I'm talking to my sister. 

[insert cute picture of me and KD here]

[Insert awesome quote about charity here--will find after sick cloud blows over]

We are a family blessed by manywho serve and love us. This shows me I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and places people in my life that blesses me for good. I must do the same.

Audition Day.

First, before we begin, I'd like to share a play I wrote. It's called "I Pick Up Legos All Day and I Still Find Pieces Under My Pillow." By Haylie Bowler.

Mother #1: steps away from computer while showing a sparkly smile."I blog every chance I get!"

Mother #2: incredibly attractive brown-haired mother of five walks up to mother #1. Smiles. And then...

[SMACK!]

THE END.

Today was a rough day. Audition day.

Oh, the agony!!

Any mother who has a child interested in theater (or any performing arts for that matter!) should get a subsidy from the government for regular intense therapy.

It all started with Addie. In the last year-ish she has dived in and embraced everything [tasteful] that happens on-stage. I'd like to say it's because of her culturally well-rounded, artistically refined and talented parents. But, most likely, it has more to do with some divine nature mixed in with very talented blood lines that (cough) skipped a generation. She was born singing. And, at a very early age, even her tone-deaf parents could recognize her affinity for all things that carried a rhythm and melody--even if it was a leaky faucet. Her ears perked up and she honed in on any musical sound that would play. Something near and dear to me are the memories of those spiritual pokings and proddings from The Holy Ghost to sing to her as a teeny tiny baby to calm her--as if my voice could calm anything?--but I did it anyway (as painful as it was). I can look back now and know that that crazy calling of Primary Chorister actually was intentional and inspired. Not just a Bishopric playing darts in the Bishop's office after hours (do Bishops even have after hours?? Lynn?? Lynn?? Where are you? Oh wait...) I digress. By the age of 2 1/2, she could recognize different singers' voices on the radio--even if it was a song she had never heard before. She knew that singer's voice.

All of that has lead to a passion and desire to act and sing, especially in the past year. Of course, the crazy parents that we are, helped her foster that love and signed her up for voice lessons and a musical theater class to help her get that creative outlet. And now that has led to a handful of opportunities in the past year to audition for parts in plays... school plays, city youth theatre plays, hale centre theatre plays and the like. All with the same result: a call-back but no part.

Oh, the agony!!!

Speaking of agony, I don't exactly know how to describe the agony that sets in after you release your child to the wolves. Because that is essentially what you're doing when your daughter says, "hey, I think I'd like to try out for that play" and you say, "meh, ok".

They muster up the courage to walk across a large room ALONE, without you, park it in front of several individuals whose only job is to listen to and critique every movement and sound that your child produces in a set amount of time while you, their giver and protector of life and the one who permitted the whole situation to occur in the first place, just sits. and waits. and waits. and waits. (Um, ya...I think I'll take up crochet! Booties anyone?)

and then they say we'll have the call-back list. some...time.

and then it's posted. 

"YESSS!!!! I. GOT. A. CALL. BACK, MOM!!!!!!! WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!", exclaims your child as they fly higher than a kite right past you and out the window.

and then more waiting.

and then some more torturous auditioning.

And more crocheting.

and then more waiting.

Oh, the agony!!

(Again, I have no idea why my kids are OK with drama and when/where in their short lives they were introduced to it. Not me (cough, cough)! And it certainly doesn't come from this guy):

Hello! That's where the cute comes from! I digress...

Oh, the agony!!

and then something happens...

either the happiest day of your/their life occurs...
or the pain equivalent to death like your iPhone accidentally dropping in the toilet.

And she still goes back for more.

So...today.
Today I saw a maturing little maid who made me proud by gracefully accepting a role that was different than the one she had originally intended for.  So, I admit, auditions are getting a little better.

Oh, the agony!!

However, because she is the oldest and leads well, sister Hollynd has also discovered a love for all things acting, pretending and musicaling (I know that's not a word. Just go with it.)

Oh! The agony!!!

This introduces a whole new dynamic in the torture we call auditioning. Think about it: what if one daughter makes it and the other one doesn't? Or...what if they try out for the same part? What if neither one gets picked and I have to teach them the art of drowning their emotions out with chocolate? (Wait. Did you say chocolate?)
I'm telling you. T-H-E-R-A-P-Y... THERAPY!!

Hey, look! I think I just made up a new song. T-H-E-R-A-P-Y... THERAPY!! T-H-E-R-A-P-Y...THERAPY!! [sounds of dogs howling in the background]...

Oh! The agony!!

See, maybe I should get into musicals!

OK, OK.... You talked me out of it. I'll just leave the musicals & dramatics to my kids.

I'm going to go eat some chocolate.