Contention, Get Thee Hence!

I have two children, who will remain nameless *see photo* who argue constantly! Everyday, all day long if they are together. It drives me NuTS! I have tried giving them extra chores, time outs, grounding, less time together, more time together!.!. Nothing seems to make it better. Today I was grocery shopping (with them)(arguing)(no shocker) and this thought came into my brain:

I immediately thought of this scripture after thinking of the idea:
It's found in Alma 31:5 (Book of Mormon)
And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

I'm hopeful that as they study these scriptures on contention and how it's not of God, that their hearts will change, followed by their behavior.

First Day of School 2014

Me & My Baby Girl. 

She started junior high today (sixth grade). I started college. 

It wasn't a super successful day. I will tell you why at the bottom. 

Cali in in 8th now! 

Crazy! 

Kensi is a sophomore

Braelyn is technically a junior this year but she is skipping a year and graduating next August so that really makes this her senior year! 

No. Just no. 

Today was nuts. I got up super early and felt anxious all morning. Got the kids to school on time. I sat down to look at my online classes and was shocked at how much there was. Let me just give you the low down. I am just now noticing this and it's 11pm. I tried to get organized today. Tried is the key word. I have a multi subject notebook and I gave each of my 3 classes a tab. I just realized that half my notes for government are on my English notes so I was utterly confused with that! And on my first online DISCUSSION for a student success course I listed why I was taking that course and I shared that I was taking GOVERNMENT as a pre-req! I didn't even have the correct class listed for that forum. Oh my gosh. So dumb. My head is spinning. I'm exhausted. 

The girls had good days as school. I think Bella was a little overwhelmed with the multi-class schedule. She's doing well at trying to get organized. I hope this will be a good school year. I hope I will survive because I don't know how I will. 

Just for reference. I am taking 5 classes my first semester. I am taking two mini-mesters that are 8 week courses and 1 full semester course. Starting off I have English (barf) and Government along with Student Success (required for all incoming freshmen). October I will begin my second mini with Psychology and History. 

Life As I Know It

I'm kind of freaking out, well my insides are freaking out. Today is the last day to enjoy life as I know it! Starting tomorrow everything will change and it will be that way for the next six years (and beyond, I'm sure). Tomorrow school starts. I was sitting in church and I felt that nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach. Ya' know, the one you get when you have to give a speech in front of many people?! That super nervous feeling where you want to throw up. I honestly wasn't even thinking about school. My body just knows. haha

I wanted to jot down a few thoughts so I can look back and remember.  My friend, Robin, helped me greatly with this entire process to register, apply for grants, and basically EVERY single aspect of preparing to go back… and IT IS a process! I started in June and am still preparing now in August. One night that first week of registering Robin had been over helping me with computer work and as she left Braelyn and I went out to eat. It was late and we found a Chinese place open. We enjoyed a sit down dinner and I found the following that night in my fortune cookie:

It was very fitting! It still sits on my desk. 

I have pondered a lot about how this will all work. I waded through a lot of mental turmoil following my decision to go back to school about whether or not to continue babysitting. At one point I was going to stop watching Gentry when school started so I could focus just on school. That didn't feel right so I'm going to try to continue watching her until her mom stops working (mid November as of now). I am going into this tomorrow planning to do school, babysit and do vinyl (though I have been training Kensi to do as much of the business as she can and she will help everyday). 

I am understanding that things may change and I need to be close to the Spirit so I know what may need to fall away in my life. ??? Not sure how the Lord will help me but I know He will. I know this is His will. It's been an amazing process. 

I am nervous of the added responsibility, that's what I'm scared of the most actually. I am committed to my goal of weekly temple attendance. That's what I've been doing and feel that now more than ever I will need to draw upon that power and perspective. I am also committing to no school work on Sundays. I need to show respect to Heavenly Father and keep His day separate from the others. I also know I will need one day with my children and to rest that isn't distracted by school and work. 

I am very excited to see how this goes! And to see the Lord's hand in my life in how He will sustain me through school, single parenting, business owning and babysitting. 

Impromptu Games

Tonight Bentley & I had an amazing time playing a spontaneous game of kick-the-beach-ball-in-the-dark-garage-to-score-goals-while-mommy-does-high-kicks-for-cardio! It was a thousand degrees in there but that enhanced my "workout"!

Pretty cool when a high kick in motion can defend your goal. I was beat by my 4 yr old but his goal was wider than mine too! Excuses! He told me after that it was fun!! :)

Free Milk

I got a coupon from HEB for free organic milk. The girls refused to drink it because, of course, it's in a different looking carton & it's organic. 

What's a mom to do?! Wait until the normal milk gets low & pour free milk in! Good to go! No one knows. 

#yayforfreemilk #likeaboss 

"But First, Let Me Take a Selfie", Part 2

Found these pics of Ken on my computer from the cell phone and camera! 

"But First, Let Me Take a Selfie"

I was going through some pictures on my computer  and came across some "self portraits" that Cali has taken over the past couple years. 

Cute Things Bentley Says

I will just add to this post as the time arises. For now I have a couple cute things he says:

He calls balloons "gabloons"

At night I rub his back and sing songs to him. He always asks me to. And I always ask him which song he wants me to sing to which he always responds, "which one you ever want". You can see why I continue to ask him. So dang cute. 

Our Summer Vacay

Last summer we were able to go to Crystal Beach. To get there you must be ferried across from Galveston to the Bolivar pensinsula. The ferry is so much fun and we knew then that we wanted to take Bentley back next year! 

This summer that was my only real plan! To take all my babies back! We haven't had much free time without me working so we found one afternoon that would work! And we took it! We had Annie with us that day too! Such a FUN time! We were able to see the dolphins again and that made us happy. 

After our relaxing time on the (nasty, smelly, but still wonderful to be at the) beach we drove back to Galveston and drove around for a bit then grabbed dinner! 

Seriously fun day! I loved our time away. 

<3

Blog Worthy Pics

Bella with Lexi & Rania at the Museum field trip this past spring.

Beautiful friends. <3

Kensi's softball banquet that I never got around to blogging about,
also on her birthday!
Ry, Ken & her admirer, Avery.

 Something I'm not too proud of but should look back & laugh at, I got my *feelings hurt at the banquet dinner and left super early. I missed everything. Something else memorable happened that night but
didn't pan out. Looking back, not the best memories of that night but it was fun to dress up. Ken looked beautiful! It was fun to take pictures.
*I don't love big social settings and I got embarrassed about sitting at the wrong table. I left early to pick up Bentley from being out of town. Not a huge deal.

 Bentley and Gentry love each other so much. They are so sweet. 

They were both sitting on my lap this day, holding hands. 

 Braleyn got her license in May. This was her first (legal) excursion :o

 Truth:

 I am a sucker for a sleeping baby. 

 Bella's puppet presentation. We were very proud. 

:D

Brae & Ken went to a masquerade the same day the girls got back from Dallas this month. 

They looked beautiful! <3

I love to see the temple. 

This is an un-edited picture I took one night after walking out of the temple. My caption for it is:

"Nothing Else Compares".