Fathers Day

Bridger told me he had a nice Fathers Day.  I am glad.  I am grateful he is the father of our children.  On Sunday, he had taken Daven out of sacrament meeting to go to the bathroom.  When they came in, we were ready for a prayer.  Daven ran in.  Bridger was waiting in the back until it was over.  Daven got up to the front and didn't know what to do.  He saw Bridger standing in the back and ran back to him.  He knew he would be okay if he was standing where his Dad was.  I hope he remembers that feeling and can always trust his Dad to lead him to safety.  We went to the Wildlife Safari Adventure on Saturday.  It is a place where you drive your car around to look at animals.  There were deer, elk, moose, cranes, wolves, eagles, bears, etc.  It was pretty cool.  That is what is in the Pocatello zoo so I wasn't too excited.  But I have never been in a car driving so close to them in their natural habitat.  We then took Bridger out to dinner. We can say it was for me but I feel just as blessed for not having to cook and do dishes.  Sunday we made him a special breakfast and dinner.The kids gave him gifts and cards.  He got a massage ( a tradition in our house on Fathers Day).  I think it gives the kids an opportunity to serve their Dad.  He also got a nap.  Any day with a nap is good with me! 

Progress

We got both cars in the garage this week!  That is not to say we are done, but still making progress!  I heard someone compare moving and trying to find the place for everything in a new house like Tetris.  I think it fits!  I am not very good at that game. Maybe that is why it is taking me so long.  I also did some yard saling last week and got some more items to make the house more the way I want it.  It is so funny how many little purchases you have to make to fit the new space you have.  They all add up!  I had a friend tell me how awesome the yard sales are here and she did not lie.  It was amazing.  In one neighborhood alone there were over 60 yard sales!  I hit my yard saling budget before I was ready to be done.  It was fun to get out and see some more of Omaha, too! 
I got my hair cut.  I am not sure that she is as good as my last hairdresser.  When I asked people here for referrals, their hairdressers were not taking new clients.  It will probably be fine, but I may try someone else out next time, too.  We also made our first trip to the pediatrician here.  I am sure we will make more.  Schools want all children to have their well child before school starts.  I think that is crazy to have all school age kids trying to get in for a well child in a 3 month period during the year.  We hit the pool this week.  The Gretna pool is small and lacks the bling of fancier pools but still has created a daily request to go to the pool.  We signed up for swim lessons, too.  That starts next week.  I took the kids to the zoo again.  Corban was less than thrilled.  We still haven't seen everything!  We will go back but I will be convincing him that we should go.  With five kids, it is hard to please everyone all of the time.

Fireflies

"You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep..."  When this song came out I thought it was catchy and had a dreamesk quality to it.  I feel like I am living in a dream.  Last week, my husband noticed little sparks of light in the sky.  Never having seen fireflies, it it quite a sight to sit and watch for the light and where it will show up next.  I was enchanted.  One night as I opened the window to let some air in, a bug that was caught between the screen and the window came in.  I quickly squashed it and threw it in the toilet.  I turned off the light to go to bed and saw a phosphorescent glow in my toilet.  It was a lightening bug!  They don't quite look so magical when we look at them up close!  I guess life can be like that, too.  Do we enjoy the glow or do we look up close and dissect the beauty and in the process ruin it. 
In other news, the daily battle of getting chores done to do fun stuff continues.  It is a natural wonder to me that my girls can find all sorts of things to do and play at our house when there is work to be done.  But should there be no work to do, they are bored to tears.  One would think I would want to constantly have work for them to do, but the constancy of never getting them to complete their chores is a drain on me as well.  Thus the war wages on, victories and defeats on both sides. 
Kjerstin had her 10th birthday and is now officially in double digits.  I think of Elizabeth Smart always on her birthday becuase she had just been abducted that day and was all over the news when I was in the hospital.  I thought, "What kind of a crazy world have I brought this sweet girl into?"  Elizabeth's strength through and beyond adversity is a testament to me that good will prevail if we let it.  I hope my daughter will follow such examples of strength to make it through each year of her life as her challenges become more complex and double digit. 
Kjerstin chose a friend to take out to lunch, to a bowling alley and play laser tag with.  She had a panda cake ( which I think was inspired by our recent trip to the zoo).  She had a good day. 
We also met Bridger's relatives who live in Iowa.  His grandfather was married previously and had a son  (Jack) who lived here in Iowa.  Jack has died but his wife Eileen lives here.  Eileen's daughter Pam and son in law Joel Bane came to meet us as well.  It was fun to see them and talk to them.  There is just something about knowing you have family nearby.  It may have to do with the fact that I had such a good family growing up, and knew that they would be there through thick and thin. 

To end on a high note, there are no more boxes in my basement!  That is not to say there are still boxes waiting in other areas of my house, but I feel a bit of a victory.  Last summer I had my kids set a project or goal they wanted to work on in the summer.  This summer I told them their and my goals were going to be finding our home in this house we are living in and finding our way in Omaha.  I am one step closer to my goal!  To celebrate, I am going to go dance with some fireflies!

Memorial Day Weekend

Well the week ended well.  I was a little frustrated at the beginning of the week.  We had a termite inspection before we purchased the home.  It was guanteeded that the home would be free from termites, carpenter ants, etc.  that are damaging to the home.  I had seen 3 large ants in the basement.  We called the company that did the termite inspection and they agreed as a courtesy to come out and spray.  While they were here spraying, I mentioned in passing that we had problems with other ants as well.  As he was spraying, he told me he figured out why we were having problems with other ants.  He showed me where the siding in the back of the house had water damage and allowing ants (a line walking in) to enter.  I was frustrated.  It should have been caught by the home inspector.  We are trying to get him to come and look at it so we can start tearing out siding (and possibly drywall) to get the repairs done.  Just what makes you really feel like a home owner, repairs! 

The kids got out of school and I have been trying to establish a routine for them.  Brynna told me that her teacher told them their assignment was to have a fun summer so she was unable to do chores because they aren't fun.  She should be a lawyer!  After 2 unsuccessful assembles of one of ten shelving units, I finally have one together. Only 9 more to go!  My goal is one a day.  Bridger and Corban went on a scout campout on Friday night.  The kids and I joined Camille Chamberlain's sisters and parents for a bonfire at a local campground.  Kjerstin was sure I was driving the wrong way the whole way there and home.  I guess I don't inspire a lot of trust.  Kjerstin and Daven each caught a little fish (2 inches long).  It was perfect!  They are so kind and so nice.  I am so grateful for them.  Monday we went to the zoo, and it did not disappoint! We didn't make it through the whole zoo so we have plenty to go back and see.  It was well worth it for a season pass.  It was a good weekend.  It is nice everytime we get to have time to get out and explore a little more of what our surroundings offer.  I hope that is what will happen this summer, if I can convince Brynna to get her chores done first!

Being Good Enough and Change

Last week we went out to dinner with Bridger's boss.  He said he would either take Bridger and I to a nicer restaurant or the entire family out for pizza.  Bridger had heard that he talks to me or the kids the whole time and thanks us for letting Bridger do what he needs to do for State Farm.  I didn't think I could pull off a successful "your welcome" so I opted to let the whole family go out to dinner.  Can you tell I am still bitter about the move?  He did tell the kids there would be times when Bridger would need to work a lot.  He gave all the kids a personalized handwitten note thanking them for moving to Omaha and a $2 bill.  It was nice. They were better behaved than they normally are at a restaurant, and I didn't have to fake a your welcome. 
Bridger and I went on our first date here in Omaha.  We went to Maggie Moo's for ice cream and then went to a bookstore to look at books.  There is so much to do here in Omaha! I love all the stores, I just don't have time to go to them.  It is a nightmare taking the little boys with me, so unless I am shopping by myself, it isn't so fun.  It was so nice to get away and do something fun and not have kids for a little bit of time.  We let the kids watch themselves.  Kjerstin and Brynna have recently brought their sibling rivalry to full on physical level.  It was a gamble letting them watch themselves.  It will have a steep learning curve.  I read so many blogs where women say they take their mothering seriously.  It makes me feel guilty wondering what more I could do to be a more conscientious mother.  I don't feel like it comes naturally to me.  I then read this which seemed to be an answer to my inadequacy.

"Julie Beck blew me away with this statement.
“And for all you women who say you’ll never be enough? Well, that is true.”
There was a long pause and then she continued, “But it’s okay. Because we have the Atonement in our lives. And the Savior makes up the difference for all our inadequacies and imperfections, the things we miss and regret, the things we need help doing. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and his power in our lives, will get us through the difficult journey.” So maybe we ought to stop saying it. That we’re not enough.Because she’s right. We’re not. And we won’t be. And that is okay. We give it our best go, and most of the time, it will be good enough." 

I went to several graduation open houses this week.  This is an event I have previously never heard of or attended so I was unsure what to expect.  I am still experiencing things totally new to me. I seem to be looking for something similar so I can find my footing on the same ground.  I need to open up my palate so to speak to experience the wide range of new flavors Omaha has to offer!

One more week

  I got lost in the Costco parking lot yesterday.  I have no mountains here to help me figure out which direction I am pointing.  I totally thought I parked in another area of the parking lot and thought someone had stolen my car.  I called Bridger and then started walking in another area just so I could say I checked the whole lot and I found my car.  Can you say embarassing? 

I have had ants in my house, too which is driving me crazy!  I spend some time everyday battling them.  I have sprayed the foundation outside our house.  I think I can add exterminator to my job description list as a mom.  My kids pray at night that we won't find any more ants in our house.  Our neighbor said he has some every year but this year is worse, probably due to the mild winter.  The spiders are icky, too.  They are bigger and hairier-maybe I just imagining that, but it seems everything grows well here. 

Bridger surprised me by taking the day off on Friday to help me (for my mothers day present- who would want that besides a organized crazy like me :).  We went to the DMV.  I got some unpacking done while he watched the boys in the afternoon and he was home early enough so we could go to the elementary carnival that night. I remember my "first real mothers day."  It was awesome!  Bridger totally pampered me, then a reality sunk it that, "Crap, I have to do all THAT for fathers day now!"  I have totally backed off now.  I don't want to sit and enjoy if Bridger can't sit and enjoy with me so I try to do it very simple. 

One more week done in Omaha.  It goes fast and slow.  I feel like we have been here forever but it still doesn't have the same comfort level for me.  Kjerstin said she is starting for forget what our house in Idaho looks like.  I still break down and cry at least once a week, too.  Bridger told me to expect a year and a half adjusting time.  That makes me wish it would go faster so it would be easier.  I will enjoy having the kids out of school in 8 days to keep me company during the day.  Their last day of school will mark a month, another milestone to cross and say we have made.  That is good!  Just like passing each mile marker on a marathon.  I will get there eventually!

A Culture Lesson

This week has been a cultural experience for me.  It started Monday.  At 9pm, our doorbell rang.  We went to the door and found a container of popcorn and candy with a note that said, "Happy May Day!"  Bridger went to work on Tuesday (May 1st) and found a mug full of popcorn and candy and note that said, "Happy May Day!"  Brynna brought home a bag from school from a friend full of you guessed it... popcorn and candy with a note that said, "Happy May Day."  Bridger asked a co-worker about it.  I guess in Nebraska May Day is a big deal.  Wikipedia says, "May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If they catch the person, a kiss is exchanged."  I am glad we didn't catch our mysterious givers!  It is so interesting to see the customs of a certain area.  I think when I was a kid I danced around the May Pole at school once or twice and that was it! 
That evening we were given a light show in the night time sky which has continued every night this week.  Bridger then gets up in the morning and checks the internet to see what joys the storm has brought with it that are associated to his job.  It is very interesting.  The humidity has set in.  It is between 70 and 80% humidity and temperatures are in the 80's.  I caved in and have been running the A/C non-stop.  It is so humid that people mow their lawn here twice a week!  I don't know if I can keep up with that! 

I also made it to the little tiny grocery store in Gretna.  It will do in a pinch but I need to brave Omaha so I don't pay $3.50 for a gallon of milk.  I got to help with the Young Women's fundraiser this week.  I will teach for the first time next week.  I have bookshelves assembled!  Now I need to fill them up!  That should help eliminate my basement of boxes.  I also cleaned (deep cleaned) for the first time).   For me, there is nothing like cleaning something that makes it feel more like it is yours.  Lucky for me, with 5 kids, it always needs cleaning!  I will soon feel so at home that I will need a vacation to Idaho!