Mother or Mayhem?

We are enjoying the cooler weather SO MUCH!  It makes exercising so much easier when you have the option to just go for run vs having to go to the gym.  I have really enjoying running lately (Seriously there is something wrong because I've always hated running!!).  

I have been a funk ever since we went to the Renaissance Fair this weekend, not sure why I can't shake it.  Tyler's scout troop went camping there Friday night and so Andy decided to make it a family affair Saturday.  I was skeptical about the boys camping there and my concerns became a full reality within the first five minutes of walking around.  It met every expectation I had about it.  It is an entirely different breed of people that go to those kinds of things.  SOOOO out of my comfort zone...especially when they are all talking in accent and saying things like lassy and lad....I'm sorry, I was just weirded out.  The drinking, smoking and scandalously dressed women were the icing on the cake.  I was in a bad mood the entire time.  Ask Andy.   

There were THOUSANDS of people there.  HOARDS of people.  And with that came tons of booths set up for shopping.  When we finally said enough was enough we started heading towards the entrance and walked right by a kiosk set up with framed pictures of fairies, and to my complete shock NAKED women.  Kaylee being the first to spot it said, "Mom!  Why are there pictures of naked women??"  I whipped my head around and to my horror I saw what she was seeing.  Within that split second my eyes went strait to Tyler's, as I watched him look -without turning his head- right at the pictures.  As we walked passed I said in a loud voice, "That is SO inappropriate! Tyler don't look at those."  He said he didn't, but I knew better.  As we continued to head to the bathroom my heart just started pounding harder and harder, and I started get angrier and angrier.  I took the girls into the bathroom and as soon as I returned I looked Andy straight in the eye and said, "I have to say something.  I will be right back."  I b-lined it to the kiosk weaving through the masses of people, grabbed the worst picture off the outside of the hut and put it on the counter.  One of the employees across the room looked at me and smiled as if she was saying, "are you ready to check out?"  But that smile turned into bugged out eyes as I started expressing my absolute distaste of the situation.   The lady behind the cash register knew exactly what was coming as I opened my mouth.  In the firmest voice I could muster without letting my emotions get the better of me I said, "I am HIGHLY offended by these pictures.  My young son just walked by here and I find these terribly, TERRIBLY inappropriate.  You need to think about your audience, there are children all around."  She mumbled something I couldn't make out and I walked out.  It took me the ENTIRE rest of the day to calm down.  I still can't believe that would be allowed- and WOMEN were selling them.  I started asking Tyler if he had seen anything else while he was walking around with the boy scouts (we didn't get there until 11am and he was walking around since 8am-ish).  He mentioned there was a mirror in a store that he saw that said "BREAST ARMOR> Do not open unless over 22, or you will be arrested."  He said he didn't look and I believe him, but it makes me mad that they are teasing these young, innocent boys.  Talk about evil.  No wonder I was in a bad mood.

Needless to say we will never go to anything like that again.  It was my worst nightmare.  Still gets my blood boiling as I write this.  I have wondered if I should have been kinder to the ladies running the shop, but I'm not sure it would have made the point I wanted to make.  I do however recognize that saying something may not have made a lick of difference to the the owners and they probably put that picture right back where it was, but I'm sure my words were ringing in her mind the rest of the day.  Even if they weren't I felt strongly that showing my children that something like that is absolutely intolerable would leave an impression upon them.  Hopefully it did and I didn't peak Tyler's curiosity any more because I made such a big deal out of it. 

Other than that lovely experience I received a new calling yesterday.  I am right back in YW's.  First counselor.  I was little surprised they put me back in, but upon talking to some of the leadership in jest they mentioned how I was actually on the list for YW's Pres and the only bishopric member (the exec secretary) from our previous ward chimed in saying I just got released in August.  I am so grateful that I am not President.  I feel like I need to recharge from the last few years of putting my all into those YW :)  There have been really kind words from everyone though saying things like, "Oh we have heard about you!  You're a YW legend. We had to FIGHT for you!"  Which I'm sure was meant to be flattering, but it actually has made me feel a great deal of pressure.  I'm not sure I can put the same amount of energy I did the last time.  I'm just not feeling as capable as I was, not sure why.  It may be because I am in charge of them mia maids who are the hardest group to be in charge of....especially when some of them are dealing with same gender issues.  I don't know how to deal with that kind of thing.  Or Maybe it's because I am still in my renaissance funk!  I am praying that I will feel love for these girls and have a desire to serve them :)  Hopefully it will come.

I let the girls ride there bikes to school this morning all by themselves for the first time.  Sam woke up with a HORRIBLE croup cough that is just painful when coughing.  She sounded absolutely horrendous when she got up.  I put her straight in the tub and then turned on my shower to fill the room warm steam.  It seems to have helped, but we will not be going to the gym today.  We will be going to grab some cough drops and maybe a vaporizer (I only have a cool mist humidifier).  The girls got to school just fine.  I had Audrie text me as soon as she got there.  

Sam also cut her hair yesterday while the rest of us were playing a game....to the scalp in one part, but left about an inch in other parts.  Fortunately I can just part her hair differently and it seems to be okay this morning; albeit some are sticking straight through the combed part of her piggy tails :)  That girl!!!

Audrie finally found out about her play.  She didn't get the part of Ariel, which she took really well.  She did get assigned the part of the Chef :)  She will be chasing Sebastian, trying the kill him.  And that's it.  Minor, but something.  Actually it may be a blessing because we found out practices are Monday's and Weds, which are the only days her dyslexia therapist does therapy.  She will miss a couple of sessions, but it doesn't sound like she will need to be at all the play practices so hopefully she won't miss much!

I'm concerned about Kaylee's eyes again.  I have started asking, when I notice her eyes look funny, if it's blurry and it seems I nail it every time.  Which means it's probably happening much more than when I catch it.  I'm not sure what to do at this point because the doctor basically said it's minor and nothing to worry about.  Hopefully I'm just being overly concerned.  

We are all VERY excited about Lyndsey's internship.  We are getting her room ready slowly (which is actually Tyler's early Christmas present.  He's wanted a new bed forever!  So Lynds, you are just the kick in the pants we needed to get this going!).  This weekend is going to spent painting.  It's going to be great.  I have this fun plan to make a map gallery on a wall in his room and above or below the map writing "I hope they call me on a mission" or "when I grow a foot or two" or something missionary related.  Hope it turns out.

Faith of Enos

We had our first meeting with our new ward today.  It was SO SMALL compared to what we are used to.  Seriously the small overflow was open and that was it.  We couldn't even see a lick of the cultural hall…which is so unusual.  We were enormous.  And now we are the smallest ward with 311 members…and get this:  300 are active.  Yep.  That’s pretty awesome eh?  Talk about a great activity rate!

They called the new auxiliary leaders today, just the quorum leaders and presidents, no counselors.  So we will see in a little bit what we have in store.  I hope they call Andy back into YM’s, he was really enjoying that change, but of course we will go wherever we are needed J  I feel like we are actually going to be able to have a ward family like we’ve never had since we’ve lived here.  It will be great.  I really enjoy change, although I have had a little bit of sadness about leaving all the wonderful families from our Katy 3^rd ward.  Truly a wonderful ward with some of the best people I have ever met.  The eternities are going to be so great….I feel like there will be no boundaries up there and we will be able to keep up with everyone!

I feel very tender soul-ed today (aka emotional, ha!).  I just feel so much love for people at times…I don’t really know how to explain it. I was trying to tell Andy today how I feel like our new ward is full of amazing people, that are capable of anything and any calling (as was our last ward).  I felt as though I was feeling just a tinge of what our Heavenly Father feels and sees within us.  We all have such great potential and I’m sure we don’t even understand what we are capable of in our current state J  (I hope that doesn't come off the wrong way, it’s just what was in my heart today

We had a great Halloween, although Sam was very vocal after about the third house we trick or treated at, “Whew!  I’m tired.  Can we go home now?”  HA!  Then later (after pulling out the stroller) she started refusing candy saying things like, “No thanks.  I have enough.” What kind in the history of Halloween has refused candy?  She got several neighbors giggling J

We swam yesterday during the coldest day we've had this fall!  Andy heated the pool and it was perfect….although after the sun went down both Andy and I succumbed to the hot tub!  Kaylee and Audrie swam ALL DAY.

Attached is a note that Audrie put on top of the pancakes I made for breakfast this morning.  I thought it was so very wise and mature of her to say such words.  It filled my heart J  Kaylee also has been drawing and writing LOTS of notes lately.  They always involve a stick figure of each person, lots of hearts and then words like “I love my family so much.  They are the best.”  Drops in my bucket.  Love. Love. Love.

Quick story about Tyler.  Once upon a time a year or so ago he watched a PG-13 movie in one of his classes.  I remember him saying something about this gross part in a movie.  Upon asking him about where he had seen such a movie.  I was appalled that it was in a class at school!!  I couldn't believe that they would show that without permission from the parents.  Anyway, after talking to Tyler about it we decided together if that ever happened again he needed to text me or talk to the teacher.  So this week it happened again…but Tyler remembered to say something.  He had the teacher call me and then after talking to the teacher I talked to Tyler.  Apparently he got teased later because of what he did, but this mama couldn't be any prouder ;)

I have been waking up with the story of Enos in my mind lately.  Particularly the part where he pleads with the Lord to preserve the record and when he receives the answer that they will be preserved and they would be brought forth in the Lords timing.  He knew it would be according to the Lord’s will, and then his soul did rest in that knowledge.  What faith!  He would never actually see the thing he was praying for come to pass, but yet he knew it would be and rested in the knowledge that the Lord knew.  And that was good enough.  I YURN to be more like Enos. 

Agent Maria & Barbies in Bondage

I am slow this week ;)  We are doing well despite being a little grouchy.  Sam has been so fussy the past week or so and it is starting to wear on me….plus Audrie has had a few meltdowns that are also beating me down.  I need to get more sleep too, which I’m sure is a MAJOR factor in my attitude.  I will be working on that today, (the sleep part which hopefully in turn will help the grouchy part) ;)

 

It’s been a fun week.  We’ve had some seriously funny things happen.  Some of you may have seen my post on facebook, so disregard if you have.   Sunday we were moving a little slow because I was trying to teach Tyler a little bit about family search (which I am still learning myself) and we were looking for baptism names he could take for his first trip to the temple.  (BTW Grandma Whicker if you have any male names for baptism we would love to get some from ya!)  After being on the computer for a while I looked at the clock and started bustling around to get everyone ready.  I send the girls upstairs to brush their teeth….which I should know better by now that I have to go upstairs and watch them obey otherwise they can be real stinkers…this was no exception.  Some time went by and not one of the girls had returned with clean teeth, or returned at all actually.  So Andy sensing my frustration went upstairs and came back down with his phone in hand and a half smile on his face.  Recognizing that he was finding something humorous I asked him what he was looking at on his phone.  He then handed it to me while explain what he had found upstairs.  There was tape, fan blades and the entire Frozen cast BOUND to the fan in Kaylee’s room.  Arms behind their heads and everything.  I couldn’t stop giggling….these poor barbies!  And how in the world did they come up with such a thing- not to mention in a relatively short amount of time?!?  Oh my goodness.  I am still laughing about it (see attached).

 

I guess my kiddos just needed to continue to make us laugh because once we were at church the funnies continued.  Sam was looking that that pop up temple book with Audrie during the sacrament.  On one of the pages there is an Angel Moroni that is on the top of the temple.  Audrie was trying to explain to Sam that the Angel Moroni had a hat on (I’m not sure where this originated).  After finally helping Sam see what Audrie was saying she leaned over to Andy and whispers, “Audrie said that the Agent Maria has a hat!”  Of course she meant the Angel Moroni, but I am still not sure where the hat came from- maybe the trumpet somehow??  Either way I’m not sure I’ll be able to see Angel Moroni the same again J  Good times.

 

We watched my cousins kiddos this weekend.  It wasn’t too bad except for one part.  The oldest kiddo woke up hysterical and just couldn’t gain control and ended up vomiting all over me (Oh yeah!).  She finally went to sleep after that, but that was the only bad part.  Their kids (Kemarie and Jerry Whiting) are so mild mannered; starkly contrasting our loud boisterous nature.  They were all really sweet and I am glad we are able to be the “family” in this neck of the country.

 

Our big ward split is happening this Sunday.  I am anxious about it! This will be our 6^th ward and 3^rd stake we have been in (and that is living in 2 houses).  It’s crazy how much it’s growing constantly in our area…unbelievable actually.  Cami said her stake just got split a couple of weeks ago and it’s the same story all over Houston (and we’ve been in the area for 11 years!  It hasn’t slowed down at all while we’ve been here.)

 

Rowan Family Days & Pumpkin Patch

You know it’s funny I have to REALLY think about it when I spell ‘heart’ now…it’s pretty funny.  But then again we all know I am not the best speller, or even close as I have had many misspellings as of late and Lyndsey ALWAYS finds them ;)  Love ya Lynds.  Most of the time I don’t realize I even have put “pue” instead of “pew”, which is even more embarrassing.  It’s very dyslexic of me, which perhaps means I am in fact mildly (or moldy as I said before) dyslexic J  Good times.

 

It’s been a fun week!  We tried our darndest to do something fun for Columbus day and it kind of fell through, but we still had some fun.  I was determined to find a REAL LIVE pumpkin patch, but we had to deal with what our area offered.  It was a cute little pumpkin patch, but a very, very small patch of live pumpkins.  Most of them were pre picked and brought in.  Anyway, we knew it was going to rain that day, but decided to get there RIGHT when the park opened to see if we could beat the rain.  Well within 2-3 minutes of buying our tickets and grabbing a wagon it POURED cats and dogs, I mean torrential downpour.  We were absolutely soaked within seconds.  The older kids thought it would be fun to go down the slides and do the hay maze in the rain, but Sam, poor Sam wouldn’t have any of it.  Getting rained on was NOT fun in her book and she did NOT want anything to do with it.  See attached.  Pretty cute if you ask me.

 

Saturday was Andy’s annual family work party.  They have cut down on the way they do things this year, not nearly as big and they have made it local.  So instead of driving to Louisiana they did a smaller, day time event for the corporate offices just around the corner.  It was fun.  Tyler Zip lined and played bingo, the girls went down the water slides, got their faces and hair painted, had a gazillion cups of shaved ice while Andy and I mingled and played as well.  Ever since we won our ipad at this event three years ago the main thing the kids look forward to is the big raffle at the end of the evening!  Every year I always tell them ‘guys we probably won’t win anything so don’t get your hopes up’!  And EVERY year we have won something except one.  But we used to be able to put one ticket in per family member, but the last couple of years it was only one ticket per employee…no wonder we always won, we are bar FAR the biggest family hanging around the corporate office folk ;)  They always have the prizes up on display for all to see beforehand and Tyler had his eye on the Playstation and the xbox (which we probably would have had to sell if we did get, lol, I am such a mean mom).  Anyway, they started the bidding and about 3 or 4 prizes in they held up a mini ipad pulled a ticket and said, “Andy Hart!”  I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.  The only ipads we own are won from the very same events.  Crazy.  Then the final prize was a custom made BBQ (it was a raffle on it’s own that they let each family member put in a ticket for) and they swirled around the tickets and yelled, “Audrie Hart!”  I mean, seriously!?!  I couldn’t believe it.  So we went home loaded up with prizes J  My kids expectations are going to be SO HIGH now hahahaha.

 

 

 

Andy is at mutual with Tyler and Audrie is at A-days.  He is helping with an activity about missions.  He has been prepping for weeks!  It’s been pretty cute seeing how much thought and effort he has put into this one night.  You should see the plethora of food he made and brought to represent his mission! He has several mission stories that he is going to tell, some of which were new to me.   I wish I could have gone tonight to hear him, but it’s my turn to be home on Tuesday nights after years of me going.  I hope he takes a couple of pictures. 

 

I had a lady in our ward come to my house to do my hair today.  She cut it and I got some really sutble highlights, which I am now having remorse over, but they are subtle enough that it won’t require maintenance.  I just need some change and I thought this would do it :/  I met this girl at the craft Super Saturday evening that the ward put on and I instantly felt a connection with her.  She is clearly different because of all of her tattoos and loud look, but she has a real tender spirit about her.  Anyway, as soon as I heard that she did hair in your home I knew I needed to have her over.  She was a doll and I am anxious to be her friend.  Hearing her lifes story really puts things in perspective for me though…people can really cause hardships for others, it seems so unfair sometimes!  This lady has had one rough life, but she is still going to church and is trying to be a good girl, which gives me such a sense of hope considering my meager problems. 

 

On Sunday it was announced that there would be a special meeting for our ward and one other ward in our stake where a new ward will be made.  I was CERTAIN we were going to be split and put into the new ward the last time this happned a couple of years ago but was shocked to find out we weren’t.  This time I am even MORE certain that we will be apart of the new ward, hahahaha, so we will see.  I like change, always have, so this is exciting for me.  New people to meet, new friendships, new callings, new challenges, I just love the prospect of it all!  I wonder where I get that from?  Do any of you sisters feel the same way?  Mom? Dad?  Maybe it’s from all our years moving around?  I do remember whenever we found out we were going to move as kids that I would often think “Okay what to do I want to change, or do differently when we move?  They will only know me how I am when we get there…should I cut my hair, or try to be better in a certain area of my life?”  It was always neat to think I could start over wherever we went.  So maybe that is the source of my love of change.

 

Glorious

If you haven’t downloaded the song attached, you need to before I tell you this story.  It is by David Archuleta from the movie coming out “Meet the Mormons.”  They are letting anyone download it for free, so go for it!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GytW_rgr0RM

So as you all know my life has been focused on Audrie and her struggles for about 4 years now and it’s always in the forefront of my mind.  Always.  It’s probably a little unhealthy how much I think about it, but it’s all out of love.  Anyway, yesterday was dyslexia therapy.  When I drop her off at the therapists house usually I sit in the car for an hour reading, fiddling or working on necessary things.  This time after watching her walk in I didn’t do anything different except while sitting there I remembered about this song (I stumbled across it a couple of days ago) and wanted to download it.  So I did.  And it instantly tugged at my heart strings. 

 

The third time I listened to it I had something begin to happen.  I don’t really know how to explain it, but I suddenly felt all our ancestors around me.  Hundreds of people; from my line and the Hart line.  Then in my mind I saw multitudes of people, faces of people I once knew, all dressed in white emanating love towards me.  They were somehow all telling me they were part of Audrie’s symphony, and I HEARD them say, without words, “we are working on our side for her.  You are not alone.”  Then as quickly as it began it ended.

 

At first I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what was happening.  Then afterwards my heart felt like it was going to burst with love and I just couldn’t contain myself.  Tears, lots of tears just flowed.  I’m certain that this is not only the case for Audrie, but for Katie and each one of us.  There are MANY unseen faces working for us, part of our symphony, trying to help us and influence those involved in our lives.  The power and love I felt are inexplicable.  The only word that truly begins to describe it is simply Beautiful.

 

I love you all and remember we are never alone!

Rice Experiment

This is going to be short as I put all my energy into yesterday and I am feeling quite tired this morning. 

 

I wanted to share with you an experiment we are going to start today for FHE.  It is called the Rice Experiment.  I have tried really, REALLY hard to help push out any negativity in mind for the past couple of weeks and this lesson is hopefully going to be a memorable one for the kids.  My sweet children are struggling with talking kind with one another and I had heard of this experiment quite a while ago and wondered if it was legit.  It’s kind of silly, but it will (hopefully) prove a point.   Kindness matters, and unkindness hurts.  Check it out here.

 

This is also the same place I found the “clicker” experiment.  Do you guys remember that?  You count the positive thoughts you have with a clicker you keep with you at all times?  Another experiment we will do eventually, but I think we could ALL benefit from things like this J  In fact I was thinking we could base our 2015 P& G Whicker Family Reunion on this very idea.  Everyone would get a clicker at the beginning of the week and at the end we would have a devotional  that would let everyone share how it affected/effected (I STILL don’t get that one right) each person.  If you don’t remember check it out here.  (very poor graphics, but I love the original video, the new one is good, but the original is so funny and real)

 

Other than that I am not going to lie this week has been tough.  I have shed mucho tears over Audrie and fighting the school on particular accommodations.  The good news is that I am now feeling peace about it all.  I just have to keep telling myself what Andy keeps telling me, “Heavenly Father has a plan for that girl.”  And I am trying my darndest to have faith and getting rid of those doubts.  So far I am doing well (pat on my back!).

 

Women’s conference was AWESOME.  I had so many little whisperings to my heart.  Audrie came with me and REALLY struggled sitting still, but it was a great excuse to get her all to myself.  If there is one talk to listen to it’s Elder Uchtdorf’s.  LOVED it.  I keep thinking “I hope Katie is listening to this, I hope Katie is listening to this.”  If you haven’t Kate (and you happen to read this) then please do!!  Love, Love, LOVED IT.

"Everything's gonna be alri-ight!"

Do you remember that little jingle sisters?  That is what I keep singing in my head every time I start having a doubtful, sad or faithless thought regarding Audrie and her situation.  I am determined to have FAITH!  It is hard for me, but having those negative and doubtful thoughts are just bringing me down and I am done with it J  So just remember, “Everything’s gonna be alri-ight!  Everything’s gonna be alri-ight!”

 

Nothing much to report on.  School is going well, we are having our struggles, but we are hanging in there.  Tyler is having his usual beginning of the year organizational struggles and has reaped the consequences of that grade wise so far.  I am trying my darndest to teach him how to stay on top of his stuff, but he is just having to learn the hard way.  If any of you have any suggestions PLEASE send them my way.  (Just FYI- He has a planner, but will not use it, he thinks he can remember everything.  He has a zipper binder with pocket folders for each class so he can just shove stuff in the folders.  They have an online website that posts hw (albeit it’s not always updated).  He has his ipod to take pictures of assignments, notes, hw, etc; although I am worried it may be part of the problem-so we will be taking that away to see if things improve)

 

Audrie is keeping her spirits up, although she is failing her reading class already.  I keep telling her grades don’t matter as long as she is trying her hardest, and she is trying.  I am meeting with her reading teacher tomorrow before school to discuss some things to help her be more successful.  They gave her a reading passage that was front and back page with the tiniest font and no spacing…which totally throws her off.  This is what I mean when I say people truly don’t understand dyslexia.  It is truly ignorance and I am determined to teach the teachers….but my goal is to do it in a kind and loving way so I don’t come across as an overbearing mother (which may be unavoidable, I don’t know).  I continue to have answers regarding her, little tender mercies telling me that everything is going to be okay and I am trying my hardest to hold onto those in the midst of hw struggles and tears.

 

Kaylee is thriving.  She is doing great.  Loves school and loves learning.  She does have some similar tendencies that Audrie does in her writing which does raise a red flag (dysgraphia is related to dyslexia…and I actually think Tyler may have a touch of that).    But they won’t make a big deal out of that until 2^nd grade (which technically she could be in since she did kinder twice).  I would take dysgraphia over dyslexia any day.  She is so shy but yet always has a mischievous twinkle in her eye!  She can be a clown when she wants to be.

 

Sam is my little happy go lucky child.  Smiling and giving me the occasional hug with light just beaming through her eyes, and DEFINTILY is a clown…but lately she has a dark side.  She is showing some rebellion!  My sweet Sam is starting to blatantly disobey L   We have had several children do similar things and are going instill our “poop pick up” program again.  It is the ONLY thing that seems to work with our kids.  As much as we talk about poop I guess it only makes sense, hahahaha.  Why is that a constant topic of conversation at our house?? 

 

Quick Sam story.  Since I was released from my calling I feel like I have been so much more on top of making sure the kids are looking their best for church.   Well, at least until last Sunday.  We strolled into church finding a pew to sit in.  And upon sitting down Kaylee and Audrie started giggling uncontrollably.  I quickly went up to them and asked what the problem was.  They blurted out (LOUDLY of course), “Mom!  Sam doesn’t have any panties on!!”  My face turned red I’m sure, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.  Holy cow.  I must be worthy of some reward now…how many mothers have sent their children to church without PANTIES ON??!  Well the Hart’s have.  We are awesome.  And to top it off Audrie decided to strike up a conversation with the family in front of us about the fact that Sam was currently bare bumming it right then and there, in the very pew behind them.  We are definitely a special breed.