Three More Weeks

Usually by this time of the summer, I am SO ready for the girls to start back into the routine of school. But for some strange reason, this time I am not. We have had a great summer. We have seen almost every member of Cory and I's family within the last two months. We've had LOTS of relaxing days playing at the pool. We've had lots of memorable family activities at the water park, Six Flags, splash pads, bike rides, trips to the temple, and watching the Olympics. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better summer. The weather has been hot, but I'm pretty sure that where we live in Texas is less humid than Chattanooga, so I am actually not dying like I was in August last year. I am also LOVING the ages of my girls. I have the best of both worlds....the babies to keep me smiling and the older girls to keep it exciting. Yes, there has been fighting and days that I would give anything to just walk out the door and go on a long drive ALL BY MYSELF, but...that's just life as a mother. We only have three weeks left and I just feel like summer is coming to an end way too quickly. I'm not ready to be without half my children for most of the day. I miss them when they're gone, but more than that, I worry about them. I worry about what other children are talking about around them or what types of messages they are receiving about themselves and the world they live in. I worry that I haven't done enough to build them up and prepare them for the world outside of our home. Thankfully, they go to a really good school and have made some great friends, but still....I worry... because that is also the life of a mother. But until then, we will keep on enjoying each day and each other...savoring the moments and making memories. Here are some of the things we will be doing in the next three weeks... -playing with Grandma and Grandpa Mann, Aunt Amber, and MORE COUSINS!! WOOT!! WOOT!! -our stake women's volleyball tournament. I've been playing for the last month or so and it has been SO MUCH FUN!! We are in second place right now but I know we can beat the other team, so hopefully first place will be ours. -a dance recital. The girls have had SO MUCH fun taking dance class from my CUTE cousin Kayla who was home from BYU for the summer. Tomorrow they are going to perform for everyone at their final recital. -a youth baptism trip. I LOVE going on temple trips with the youth. They never look more beautiful than they do in the temple. -providing dessert for 8 youth in our ward for their progressive dinner group date. I'm so excited!! It's a Mexican food theme so I'm planning on going ALL OUT!! -more speech therapy for Hailey. I don't think I've blogged about this, but when we first moved to Texas I took Hailey in to be tested for her delayed speech. I have loved the team that has been working with her. The therapist that comes to our home every Thursday morning has been AMAZING!!!! I love her. Hailey has progressed SO much in the last two months. It has been so fun to hear her making sentences and telling us what she really wants or thinks of things. -Katelund's 9th birthday. I think we are going to have a surprise family party for her while her Las Vegas cousins are here. -Cory and I's 12th anniversary. I'm not sure how we are going to celebrate but I've gotta think of something good. I'm thinking of planning a date that includes a night alone at Six Flags...maybe we'll even go sky coasting like we did when I was 16. -Today I started my training for the half marathon I am running at the end of October. I have kept up my running since the marathon but I have kept it around 4-5 miles each run and I have also been doing a lot of biking (way more enjoyable in the Texas heat). I am running it with a team that my uncle has put together. We are called Team Moroni. I'm really excited to run with a team and I really need to put some miles down so I can beat my half-marathon time of 1:59. Let the countdown begin...