It’s hard not to be a proud mom at the end of the school year watching the end of year performances and programs. I don’t have good pictures of everything that has been going on, but they are worth recording at least for the sake of a family journal. I must admit that with each event I give myself a little mental “check” that I am one event closer to having a baby. So here is the checklist of things that have taken place in the last couple of weeks.
1. Caleb finished a great spring soccer season. (The best part of the season for me was the beautiful, warm spring weather this year.) It is interesting to have an athletic child when Josh and I are so not into sports. Caleb’s coach has been encouraging me to let him play on a competitive team (rather than the low key recreational soccer we have done.) I have felt very adamantly “no” because of the time committment but tonight I got an email inviting Caleb to play on a competitive team (something I have not sought out) and I must admit that the pride kicks in and I think, well maybe. Josh is all for it. He loves watching Caleb play. I was beaming with pride at his last game when he scored 3 of the teams 4 goals. I would say that offence isn’t his big thing; really he is best at defense and is a fantastic goally. In fact, today he came home with his second pair of broken glasses in the last month from getting hit in the face with a ball. He is willing to do whatever it takes to keep someone from scoring on him, and his heavy big kick is really a gift for his age. He isn’t a great runner and is almost never in the pack so I question how he can be so good. His coach just keeps telling me “he has instinct. He knows how to be in the right place.”
He still really wants to play football, he has even saved up his money all year to pay his portion of the fee to play, but I think I have talked him out of it by offering to let him go to the one day USU football camp and take swimming lessons if he doesn’t ask to play fall football. (He isn’t interested in flag football, only tackle football, which is a huge commitment.) When I drove in the driveway tonight there was a soccer ball, a football, a basketball and a Frisbee all of which he has played with today. How did Josh and I get this kid?!
2. The 2nd Graders had their end of year program. The focus of the program was service they have performed throughout the year. Caleb did a great job. He refused to wear nice cloths. He is in a t-shirt and basketball shorts. His argument is that he would be in the back. I have to choose my battles very carefully with him or we would be fighting all of the time. I thought I would die sitting on the bleachers for an hour, but he was cute. Our ward has over 150 kids in the primary and 27 of them are turning 8 this year so it also helped that I know about ¼ of the second graders just from church.
3.
It is the season for spring recitals. I have been teaching Caleb piano lessons since he was four and I told him that when he got through his third set of books he could have a “real” teacher. He just started with his teacher about a month ago, just in time to participate in the spring recital. He is getting to be a good piano player. Having children who are exposed to music is really important to me. He is getting good enough that he doesn’t hate it like he did for a while. He doesn’t love it either. It is hard and hard things just aren’t that fun for most kids. He does do it though, and I was proud of him at the recital.
4.
Starting a Suzuki Music School has been fantastic for Cara. She started for her 6
th birthday mid March. She has been counting down the days to her recital. You would think she would have the last day of school marked on her calendar, but no, the big circled day with a Sunshine was Saturday, recital day. She was adorable and obviously takes it very seriously. She goes twice a week for an hour and does 20-minute rotations of violin, piano, and recorder/theory. Then she goes twice a month to a “large group” lesson where they practice performing in front of each other and work on theory. I am a big fan, and a bonus is that she can ride her bike there. This recital was all group performances except the short piano solos.
5.
Andy had his Joy School Graduation tonight. He was so happy. He loved everything about it. He has really enjoyed Joy School and I am excited to do it with him again next year. I was preparing him that he would be singing and saying a poem for the program on the way there and he asked if he could play the piano too.
Ali enjoys the refreshments after each program and is a good sport about all of these events.
I seem to cause a scene everywhere I go. My belly measured 40 centimeters at 34 weeks. (A pregnant woman should measure the number of centimeters as weeks she is along so basically I was measuring 6 weeks big.) I don’t think I have ever been this uncomfortable in my whole life! My back is giving me major issues where my hip joints connect to my spine. I can hardly walk. I imagine labor pain to be a relief from the day to day pain of living right now. At least it will be an indication of the end. I really don't know how people live in chronic pain. The only thing keeping me semi sane is knowing that it will come to an end.
The thing that I wanted to blog about though is how everyone has an opinion about how I look. I have never been offended by what people say, but it amazes me how many people say something. In our culture commenting on someone’s size is usually considered bad manners, but that rule must go out the window if someone is pregnant. The most comments I got was when I went to the endowment session with Gabe and Alexa. Every temple worker said something ranging from, “are we going to have a baby in the temple today?” to “bless your heart.” I never go out without being asked “when are you due” and I don’t know how to answer because I had better have a baby within the next few weeks, but I’m not due for five weeks!! I should also point out that I cut off my hair. It was getting super long and I needed a change. It is a fun razor cut and so far I really like it. So go ahead, comment on my size, I won't be offended. The funny comments are when people say I look small. It is hard to know how to respond to that. "Are you blind?" "Well that's not what the tape measure says." I usually opt with the simple "thank you" and then I waddle away.
