This Week at Our House # 36

1. Again the job front is not looking that great. I've heard that there are so many jobs out there, but we are not even getting interviews and the few that we've had were very competitive. My friends husband just got a job after being unemployed for a year, but he is making less than half of what he did before. I also have another friend whose husband lost his job this week and they will be moving to UT to live with family as a result. I wish I had better news. John and I have been attending the temple together again and that has brought back the peace I had been lacking over the last couple of months.
2. It was a bit of a rough week with my little toddlers and their antics. Just when I think I am learning patience, I am afforded another opportunity to increase it. Otherwise, things went pretty well this week. I got 4 hours of volunteer service in at the school, and I actually have my visiting teaching appointments made earlier in the month. Susan is sleeping well, so I am not needing as many naps and exercising is getting easier, though not funner.
3. Junior year is in full swing for Ruth. She has two big tests in her two hardest classes to look forward to this week. She was going to skip a hike with the young women in order to study, but went when she heard there was a non-member girl attending that wanted to meet some girls her age. 
4. Kate has at least two big tests too. She is surviving having to wake up early and is once again swamped with homework. Since Ruth and Kate have the same math class, they can help each other with the homework which is great. 
5. Johnny has been pretty quiet lately. I think he is tired from going to bed early and waking up late. He is keeping up with his school work, which is a nice improvement from last year. He has also been getting himself out of bed and right into the shower every morning.
6. Adam tried out for the school musical and made it in. He will have 2 solo parts. He did a great job during his audition, and even though he has really never sung in front of people before he worked hard on his audition piece and sang well, Adam also had scouts and two soccer games so he was pretty busy.
7. Rachel auditioned for the school musical too. The teacher told her that she had an awesome audition and sings very well. Rachel will have one solo part. She is a little disappointed that she did not get a speaking role, but honestly she was lucky to even make it in. More than 100 kids auditioned and there was only room for about 50. I am proud of my little song bird.
8. Anya seems to be liking first grade and is reading very, very well. I love Legacy Prep.
9. Joseph completed his second week of kindergarten. He may be giving his teacher a bit of a run for her money because he has come home twice with unfinished school work that he is required to do at home. But he is progressing well and learning his sounds and words without too much struggle. I worry a bit about him being so young in kindergarten. He also dunked our camera under water "to clean it". Fortunately, the camera survived.
10. Josh has been a little stinker breaking pens and spreading ink. I am still having him walk with me to pick the kids up from school. I think it has been a good time with mom and good lessons in obedience.
11. Arwen has turned into toddler mayhem. This week she 1) put all of the dirty laundry (full hamper) into her full bath tub when I stepped out for a minute (That was nasty) 2)  went into the kitchen, climbed up into the highest cupboard, got a bottle of allergy medicine and starting eating it. The crazy thing is there were 4 older kids in there with her and they didn't even notice. 3) got into the fridge and dumped out a bunch of the groceries I just bought onto the dirty floor 4)  undressed, undiapered, climbed into our deep bathtub, plugged it in and turned it on 5) took off her own poopy diaper and we still have not found it 6) bit Adam's bum through his clothing and almost drew blood 7) snuck into Kate's room and ate all of her chocolate 8) with Josh, threw crayons across the floor 9) dumped my journal in the bath tub 10) drew on the wall in several places, and 11) plugged the downstairs bathroom sink with pencils.
12. Susan is doing well. I adore the age she is at with all of her cooing and smiles. I love that she likes to cuddle me. Little babies are just so sweet.

This Week's Pictures

apparently these these ugly, freaky, lobster-like crawfish were introduced into our neighborhood and are flourishing