I never realized how much time a calling can take even when you are not actively doing something with the calling.  I constantly have something about Primary, Scouts, Activity Days, Nursery, etc.  on my mind.  It is so crazy how much time I have with my calling in addition to Justin’s calling.  He has weekly appointments to go visit with the EQ members in the ward.  And then I weekly attend Scouts as we don’t have leaders right now called.  Last night was pack meeting and there were enough adults there so I was able to sit in with Activity Day Girls, which was a real treat.    Girls are so different than the boys.  Though both groups like to talk a lot when separated in their groups.
So Justin is out once a week for his appointments, then I am out once a week with my calling, and then there is usually something else that comes up during the week for one of us.  Add in visiting teaching and home teaching.  When am I supposed to have time to do anything???
I take care of the kids during the day.  I HATE!!!!! taking them shopping with me.  I tried that again Tuesday and it ended in disaster with me in tears.  But I did manage to still use lots of coupons and save $80.  Yay me!
First of all, it takes so long to bundle up the kids to get them out the door for an errand.  And second of all, they fight the entire time in a store.  So not fun for them or me.  All 3 don’t usually fit in a cart.  Only a few places I have been have a 3 seater.  But even with those the kids tend to freak out after an amount of time no matter how I try to bribe them.  So here I sit at home away from any other interaction with adults trying to understand the ramblings of my 1 and 2 year olds.  Thankfully I can understand 99% of what comes out of Ryan’s mouth.

So my callings in life at this point in time are, wife, mother, sister, daughter, Primary 1st counselor, visiting teacher, friend, neighbor, have I forgotten anything else?  Seems like an awful lot for one person.  Yet I am expected to do all of this and still maintain sanity???  I’ll be the first to admit, I can’t keep my house clean, I can’t keep my kids in line, I don’t always make it to 100% for VT, I do argue with Justin, I don’t feel like I have many friends here so it makes it even harder.  So yeah, I am so far from being perfect in any of these many callings in life and yet things keep getting added to it.  I feel like my effort in one is suffering sometimes when I focus more on another.  I don’t want it to be like that and need help balancing it all I guess.  How do I do that?  And how do I keep from getting so down in the dumps this winter?  Last year was a bit easier as we had preschool more regularly and Wendy lived closer so we could watch each other’s kids while we each ran errands.  Don’t have that luxury anymore.

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Now on to our lives…..it’s pretty chilly right now.  Single digits mostly, so the kids aren’t too excited about going outside right now.  They have only gone out a couple times since it has actually snowed.  It’s sometimes not worth the hassle of bundling them up though because it usually lasts 30 minutes at the most.  I am done with the cold.  I am usually found sitting around in sweats which make me feel twice as big as I usually am.  So when the days come around when I actually get some nice clothes on and some makeup, I feel a bit better about myself.
Justin is looking amazing.  He is such a good example at keeping in shape.  I really wish I had the drive to do it.  Maybe on the Wii I can try to start a routine.  Because we know it isn’t gonna happen outside of the house.  Not gonna pay someone to watch my kids nor pay for a gym membership.  So outrageous.
Ryan just got all his hair buzzed off.  A little more than usual as I grabbed the wrong size clip attachment when I started cutting.  Whoops!  He loves playing video games, just like most boys.  And I wish he was more interested in learning more.  Reading is not his thing and I wish I could change that.
Kara on the other hand LOVES books.  She usually has one in her hand most of the day.  She is getting more independent and still working on potty training.  I’m still really nervous about completely taking her off the daiper during the day.  I don’t want any more messes to clean up.
Brooklyn had her eye surgery last week and is doing great.  Both eyes are now aligned and look normal.  She is still super small and petite, but there are no health worries.  So that is great news.  She has her followup appointment with the opthamologist tomorrow so we will see how her eyes are doing.  Thankfully all has gone well there.
We are so very blessed as a family.  Our 8 year anniversary is coming up and it has made me bring up all the memories over the years.  This is the longest I have ever lived in one place, one house and it is very weird.  I really want to move.  But I am so grateful for Justin’s job, that I will go where that takes us.  So if we are to remain here, then I just need a different house with more room.  It feels quite cramped in here especially during the winter.  I can never escape for my own time.  Unless everyone is asleep.  Then I am alone in the living room usually.
Okay enough of the nonsense rambling.  I will say until next time (which could be tomorrow or next year, I am not on a blogging schedule)