The Heroic Exploits and Daring-Do's of Samuel Ross Haggen, the Great and Powerful Continued....

So I went to state for One Act yesterday and it was basicly the bomb. It was probably the most emotional I have ever felt in my life. I really love theatre; its pretty much the best. We went for two days and started out watching single A shows all of Thursday which were pretty good. After we saw like 8 shows we went up to the hotel and hung out for a bit, ate a pizza, went swimming, played apples to apples, and went to bed. We yelled at my friend Mitchell for not brushing his teeth and that was fun. Then yesterday, we saw the AA day and I literally cried during one of the shows (and my own of course). But we came home and I fell on my bed and went to sleep and here is a picture of a chameleon.

Ponderous Friday

Hi family! Oofta, it's Friday! I have had lots of things on my mind today. It has seemed that lately there are so many people that need things from me. I think that is good because that means people trust me, and feel like they can have someone to talk to. But, it is also hard sometimes because I feel pressure to make everyone happy. And that is bad for my health. It really stresses me out. So I have come to a conclusion, that is easier said than done. Sometimes you have to do whats best for you first. Even if people get mad at you or if they don't like you, you can only be yourself and do your best. If you're not in a good place you wont be able to help other people. 

And this is one that someday I will conquer. :D

Last but not least, I like to end my blog posts with something awesomely funny. HA! So here are some cats in hilarious places! Love you all!

-Mia

Randoms

Today was one of those days where you get home and hide in your room all afternoon and evening so your roommates don't even think you're home.  And then you get hungry, but you don't want to talk to your roommates so you just don't eat so you don't have to go upstairs and talk to your weird roommates who eat your food and think that your stuff is their stuff too...

Last weekend I went to St. George.  It was amazing! I learned lots of cool things and I got to see some of my friends from school.  Also it was 80°, and I skipped some sessions and laid in the green grass in the sun and it was glorious.  I wish that everyday could be like days like that.  Why does there have to be grind of everyday life where you have to do things you don't want to do?  I just wish I could do something where I want to go everyday and do it.

But, alas that isn't how life works.  So instead I spend my days dreaming about going on adventures in the mountains or exploring the city or taking weeks long road trips with people I like.

Yesterday I was working with a kid who seriously struggles with playing the trombone.  He just doesn't get it, so I've been working 1 on 1 with him.  His mouthpiece was stuck and so I had to use the mouthpiece puller to get it unstuck.  I couldn't get it and was about to give up, but I tried one more time and got it.  He told me, "The important thing is that you didn't give up." I couldn't believe how profound this 12 year old was.  I hope he takes his own advice to heart and doesn't give up.  Maybe he won't play trombone for the rest of his life, but whatever he chooses to do, I hope he doesn't give up when it gets hard.

Today one of my kids ran away from school.  I feel sad for this kid.  He comes from an abusive home life and his girlfriend broke up with him.  He was at an honor band at a different school and during break he just ran. away.  He showed up at my school 3 1/2 hours later.

Well, I don't really have much to say...here is my playlist of the week:
Ane Brun-Rarities

Face Meets Concrete: The story of the two things that were never meant to come together

This week has been hard.  Towards the end of last week, I was finally getting over my previous cold, and began to get a new one.  I am sick.

Again

I have pretending to not be sick, because I cannot stop life for three weeks.  Who am I kidding?  I don't even get a break if I'm sick for a day.

Being Mom is hard.

Anyway, we went to playgroup this morning.  I thought about skipping, but a friend of mine was in dire need of a babysitter, since hers backed out last minute.  I agreed, and figured it would be an easy place to meet.  I'd bring the kids home, and then she would pick them up an hour and a half later.  Easy, right? 

It would have been if I was not sick, and tired, and clumsy.

I sent the 4 big kids up the stairs (big being relative, as the oldest and most "responsible" was 5.)  I then started gathering the things and Henry.  I had a big stroller, a little umbrella stroller, a backpack, an extra diaper bag, and Henry.  I tripped on the first step, and fell.  I dropped the strollers in my right hand, and tried to catch myself so Henry and I didn't get hurt.

Big fail.

I did catch myself, but not before Henry's face, and my left arm found the stairs, and by "found", I mean crashed.  Hard. 

Henry immediately started a high pitched painful scream.  I didn't know what to do.  I left the strollers, and raced up to the apartment for a icepack, and hoped the other four kids were doing ok.  I hoped, since he was screaming, and not out of it that it was not too serious, but I was still panicking.  I sat there in shock for a couple minutes trying to hold the icepack on him, and I sent the five year old down to look for the phone, which I thought I had left in one of the stroller cup holders.  She got back up, and I thought to call mom on Skype and ask her what to do.  Thank goodness for The Mom, right?  She told me to call our pediatric clinic, and ALL of the nurses had gone to lunch.  At the same time.  Who thought that was a good idea?!

I told the receptionist the short version of what had happened.  i think she heard the panic in my voice, so she said she would go looking for Henry's doctor.  Dr. Sampson-Fang is a fabulous pediatrician, by the way.  She said for that big of a fall, we should probably come in to get it checked out.  I called another friend, and she came to get Tammy's kids, and offered to take Gabe as well.  I am so grateful to good neighbors and friends.  Then I called Evan, because he had taken the car to work.

When Evan got there, I hung up with mom, and we drove to the clinic,  and during all of this time, Henry was supposed to have lunch, and a nap.  He was super crabby, and wanted to go to sleep, but I sat in the back and kept him awake, because we were worried about the head trauma.  

Dr Sampson-Fang checked him out, and ordered a skull X-Ray.  Were were there for about 2 and a half to three hours, but that is about all that happened--well, I had lunch too, I suppose.  Everything came back looking good, so we came home and picked up Gabe.  By the time we got home, it was about 4:30, and we were all pretty exhausted, so early bedtime for us probably.  Henry went to bed around 5:30.  We were just told to watch him, in case he starts acting abnormally, and so far he's been ok.  When we came home, he was mostly just tired and hungry, since he didn't get a nap all day.  I'm pretty sure he has a whopping headache too. (mommy guilt :(  )  We did give him some tylonol before putting him down to bed.

So... yeah, it's been a scary day.  I think Evan and I will watch an episode of Arrow, and go to bed as well.  I hope all of your days went better than mine today.

I love you all.

Emma

Trying for a Change for the Better

(Here is your musical link for your 

listening pleasure as you read.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywkarAwB0W8&list=RDHCbb8237scZpo&index=4

Hi All!

So today I deactivated my facebook.

We will see if I can stick to it or if I knuckle under

and go crawling back in a few days.

Here's the dealio:

It was making me feel bad. 

About me,

my marriage,

my life,

my home,

our finances.

Way too much of my time and thought and energy

was going towards Facebook.

I decided that just wasn't very smart.

Why do something

 ALL Of THE TIME

that is a waste of time and

that makes me feel bad?

I have been focusing out, and not in the 

"how can I help and serve" way. 

It was in the much less attractive "compare" way.

I need to put more focus on taking care of our home and family,

being the best me I can be,

setting a good example,

taking care of my body and my mind.

I have decided to just focus on doing the right things

 and making sure that I am awesome.

Also, I need to hang with people that are truly my people.

Like the quote below says.

Those weirdos would be all of you, for sure.

There were so many people that, while

I wish them well, they really are more

acquaintances than friends.

I wouldn't necessarily choose to hang 
 out with them in my free time.

Can I get an amen?

I have other priorities.

I feel a strange sense of relief.

It doesn't matter what kind of house anyone else has.

Or where they vacation.

Or any of the fancy things they do.

I mean, I am happy for people's good things,

make no mistake.

I just don't need to see them in such a way 

that makes my stuff seem less.

I have been given an incredible family and I am given

blessing and experience miracles on a regular basis.

That's nothing to complain about!

So.

On to better things!

It was crazy rainy/sleety/snowy here today.

The windows look like the bumpy opaque church

 windows from the sheet of ice on them.

I am cozy, warm and making delicious Onion Dill Bread

while listening to the choral stream.

Life is good.

Really good.

I hope that you are all having a fabulous day

and being the awesome people that you are

Love you!

Mom

PS I am so ridiculously excited to see The King's Singers!!!

I can hardly wait!

The Dad

I know this is Monday. The Harry Potter marathon took presidents. Oh yea, we had a lazy sunday. We did go to church though. We were only a little lazy there. So the battle goes on in Minnesota.
Work is good. I did something bad on Saturday though. I went to work for some overtime, "$" and was using the forklift to put up a very expensive piece of testing equipment to get it out of the way. because it's really heavy and awkward and didn't fit anywhere on the shop floor. I put it on a pallet rack Thinking I could bolt it on nice and secure. So when I put it on and lowered the forks I started backing away, it started to lean forward, then never stopped. From 10 feet up it came down and smashed on the floor. OH MY GOSH! The Dad panicking. Thank goodness that part of the floor was free of really expensive things oh and people too. the steel frame took the brunt of the fall. Nothing was broken thank goodness. The guy in charge of the area said no harm done. then helped me make it look like we did it on purpose. HA HA HA.Of coarse all the gossipers made that impossible. So there is my exciting weekend. During the day I think about my great kids. I am very proud of you all. Off living life. I am sorry It gets hard sometimes. My days are filled with ways I could make it easier for you. But then I have to start fighting my own alligators. You're Mom and I went to ney nature center. we took the long path. it was a lot of fun. Many of our prayers are being answered. That always helps keep your faith strong. It's nice. So there's my blog for the week Love you all. Remember work had and play nice with others,
                                                                                    THE DAD!

All the pictures! Week 1

I have hundreds of pictures that I finally took off my phone and have on my computer! So for the next few weeks I'll be bombarding you with memories! (Also, as a side note, I just put a pot roast with potatoes, onions, garlic, and seasonings in the crock pot so you should probably have yummy food smells while you look at these pictures.)

 It's mom! With her eyes closed! ...Sorry...

I think we were crafting at my house.

 Mia and I went to Salt Lake

 I want this flower in my yard. There's a running flowers 

theme in the pictures on my phone.

 The other one had better coloring, 

but this one was happier.

 Girl's Caaaaaaaamp!

 This is the crazy rose bush taking over my yard.

 Isn't this such a Mandy picture??

 Are you ready for next week's pictures?

ARE YOU??

Here's a sneak peak!

Love,

 Kayla