Happy March Everyone!

 It has been a roller coaster of a week to say the least with the weather, job interview, emotions, etc.
Although it has been a roller coaster, it has been a really good week. One where there has just been a  lot to be thankful for.
Today was Elsa's very first Scottish Highland Dance competition. She prayed really  hard for the competition in February to be canceled, and it was due to snow. This time she was ready. She was feeling more confident and excited. We had an early day as check in time was at 9am in Portland. We got her hair all done (yay for big buns!), dressed, and in the car on time! She remembered, as we were pulling out of the driveway, that she had forgotten to have Chris give her a blessing. When we parked the car at the competition we got out, but Chris and Elsa stayed in the car because she was determined to have a blessing. It was exciting to pin on her very first number. It's going in her scrapbook. She had such a good experience, and she can't wait for the next competition. It was good for her to see that everyone forgets steps, everyone messes up, and yet they keep going and keep competing. She competed as a beginner in the Highland Fling and the Sword. The Sword proved a bit difficult only because the floor was slippery, and her shoes kept slipping. She said she lightly touched the sword too. Her teacher said she'd teach her some tricks that they use to help combat slippery floors for next time.
There was a pretty good turn out to the competition and quite a few beginner dancers. She managed to get her very first stamp on her FUSTA card. She placed second in the Fling and third in the Sword. It was so fun, so exciting, and we are so proud of her for overcoming her fear and anxiety and trying her best.

 Not great quality, but a few of my favs:

 Showing her ribbons for second and third place:

Elsa and her teacher, Miss Jocelyn:

These are not the best quality. It is hard to get good quality while only filming "our" dancer from where we were sitting.

 
 
 This was our scenery on the drive home. It was absolutely gorgeous out!

 Myles and Chris entertained themselves before the start of the competition and during lunch playing with their new magnetic chessboard.

 My beautiful tulips that Myles gave me for Mother's Day are blooming.
 

 Myles made us special blueberry muffins this week made with almond flour. He didn't care for them, but the rest of us loved them:

As always, February tends to be a rather melancholy month for me until we pass March 2nd. My absolute best friend was so sweet to check in on me, on her birthday, as she has for the past three years. Both girls let me know they were thinking of me today and how much they loved me. I also got a sweet text, that I won't post, but it was just what I needed. It was very heartfelt and buoyed my spirits. 

As I posted in the last post, Chris had a job interview with Boeing. While I, for the most part, felt very calm about it, I had to keep working on my worry of the $5.25 an hour pay cut that he would receive if the job offer was made and accepted. I kept running into scriptures this past week during my morning reading of how nothing is impossible with God, to lean not unto my own understanding, to have faith because God takes care of even the birds and lilies of the field, and submitting to his will. I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and it is always so much better than our own plans. I also believe he is well aware of our worries and our needs, that he is a God of miracles, and he blesses us with tender mercies. 

Chris received a job offer from Boeing yesterday. To say he is on cloud nine is putting it mildly. We both have seen too many non coincidences, as I call them, to know that accepting was the right thing. So many things fell right in to place at the right time. This past week we have had affirmation that this is where he is supposed to be. This is what he's been prepared for. So, the job offer was accepted, and by exhorting our faith we are already seeing blessings. Chris will only have a two dollar pay cut, which he can make up fairly quickly with raises and OT. 

Life is going to get a bit interesting with Chris's new job. He will be working night shift to start, but they aren't crazy hours. Chris will get to help with home school. That will be fun!!! He doesn't have a start date yet. Once he does we will see how our already planned trip to get the girls at the end of April will pan out. I'm really hoping I don't have to make the trip alone, as in without Chris. I have faith that it will all work out :)

With that, we've come to the end of our week.

PS: Don't forget to check out Aeva's blog post for the week.

Another Week on the Wonderful Merry Go Round of Life at the Lindsay Home

This week started with Family Game Night!
It was a little hard for the three kiddos to agree on games. We played Jenga first, and then we played I Spy Go Fish. We sent several pictures to Rhaevyn and Aeva of our game playing. I love technology! It makes the distance in miles seem like the older girls aren't so far away.

 

 

 I love listening to Meg play. I love all the little story lines she comes up with and the voices for her "little people." I love these moments. Oh how I wish I could slow time down...........

 So, I had a bit of minor surgery done this week. This is me on my way to have a small mass on the side of my knee removed. Feeling a little nervous, but thinking it was gonna be  no big deal.

 I took a book with me to help me not focus on the fact that I'd be awake for this "simple" removal of the mass. So, my nerves started to get the better of me. I thought I was going to pass out twice. I kept having to reread sentences and refocus my thoughts. When I had the consultation the week before I was led to believe that as long as I wasn't going to be out jogging or doing aerobics I could just go about my normal daily routine. Yep, that got shattered about five minutes into the office visit and confirmed at the end of the procedure. So, home I went to put my leg up for three days and not feel utterly frustrated that my plans for the next three days were now obliterated.

 Mollly was my couch partner for three days.

 
 At one point Molly had wedged herself into my back and put her head on my pillow.

 
 

The kids were so good at retrieving my ice pack every hour and warming up rice bags for my feet which kept getting cold. Friday they were good at trying to entertain themselves and feed themselves until Chris got home. Chris had taken half of Thursday off, which I am glad he did. He  pretty much ran the house and took care of me Thursday once I got home. Friday evening he took Elsa to get a birthday present for a party she had been invited to. Then he dropped her off at the party and took Meg grocery shopping with him. Myles stayed home to take care of me. Saturday and Sunday was pretty much the same.............couch and being taken care of. I was ready to be up though. I was getting bored. Loved my wonderful caretakers though!!

This was me the day after. I don't look half bad for Jerry- rigging a shower I wasn't supposed to have. I was supposed to wait 24 hours post procedure. I just could not do that. I hadn't gotten any sleep because my incision was a bit painful all night. But, I got somewhat of a shower in, my hair washed and done, and I even put on a bit of makeup so I looked like I was in the land of the living. LOL it only took me over an hour 😀

 I had some great entertainers while confined to the couch.

 
Since I couldn't really look out the window, Myles videoed the snow that was falling off and on.
 

Elsa and I, on Sunday, painted our toenails. Then I went back to the couch and did my fingernails.

Monday was the day that I was up and at 'em. I might have overdone it just a smidge. My knee was killing me by bedtime. Myles left me a sweet note in my daily schedule notebook.

Monday night was Family Outing Night. We took the opportunity to look for some new clothes for Chris at our Goodwill in town, focusing on the fact that he had and interview at Boeing Tuesday morning.
After trying on 20 pairs of pants and 10 shirts we found him three pairs of brand new pants, tags still on, and three new shirts. Plus we let the kids each pick out a book. I had just been thinking of the Corduroy book last week. When I saw it for 99 cents I just had to get it. I love that book!!

Doesn't he look handsome??? New duds, haircut.................
The older girls sent him well wishes and were sweet to say how snazzy he looked and thought he could pass for a model.

All set for his interview

Meg's Forget Me Nots are starting to sprout. She is so excited.

Rhaevyn and Aeva went to see the Carry Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie "Charade" Friday night. They really enjoyed it. Rhaevyn took part in a murder mystery night/skit. She said it was fun. It's right up her alley. We love watching British Mystery shows together. This coming Saturday is the ballet that the girls are attending together. .
The weather has been crazy here. The weather can't decide if it wants to be sunny and warm or to snow and be freezing cold.
That about wraps up another fun, at times frustrating and crazy, exhausting, exciting, and magical week around here.

Another Magical Ordinary Week

Elsa had her first lesson with her new violin teacher. She came out with the biggest smile and has been going gangbusters with her practice time. She loves her new teacher. The first thing she said when she got back in the car after her lesson was, "Rhaevyn was right! Sarah is so patient, and it's so easy to tell her you are having trouble playing a song!" I think we've found the right fit for Elsa when it comes to violin. She was so excited about her lessons that she got out the other violin and sat down with Meg. It was so sweet to watch the two of them.

 

 

This week consisted of a lot of crafting as we made a lot of Valentine's Day cards. We got Rhaevyn and Aeva's package mailed off in time for them to get it Valentine's Day, but when they went to pick it up they were told it wasn't there. Sigh............the students must have been having a rough February 14th because they were not very nice about it at the mail pick up spot in the Cannon Center. It worked out for the best, I suppose, for the girls to retrieve their package Friday morning. This way they could video call us, and we could watch them open up their package and see their reaction to their goodies and hand made cards. They laughed the most with Christopher's cards.

Wednesday night was family craft night, so we made Valentine's cards for each other.
Chris hand crafted a hat for Meg:

 

 

 

 

 Chris had me try it on once he was finished. Meg happened to peek around the corner from the living room and see it. She started to cry because she was so sure it was for her. She was very happy Thursday morning when she was given the hat and got to wear it.

 
 I gave the kids their cards and treats Thursday morning, and I found a wonderful Valentine's surprise on the kitchen table from Myles. He had me take him to buy a tulip plant and flower pot, telling me that it was for Elsa. I was so surprised at this sweet gesture; it made me tear up.

 

 

 

 Elsa made Chris and I sweet cards.

 

 My handmade card from Chris.

 

Meg's best buddy, KK, 

 

stopped by so they could exchange Valentine's cards and gifts, paint, and play a game.

 

 

KK's mom made a cute little video of the Valentine exchange:

My video footage from different angles:

 Her buddy got her some really cute gifts..........strawberry seeds, forget me not seeds, a sun catcher to paint, and a terrarium. Myles helped meg get her seeds started, and Chris helped her put the sand terrarium together.

 

 

 

 

 
 Poor Meg, she dropped the terrarium right after this picture and the sand got all mixed up. She started to cry because she thought she'd ruined it.

 

Valentine's Dinner was heart shaped pancakes.

Miss Molly just chilling.............

 

She got groomed on Friday.
 
 Myles has been busy with his little greenhouse and perfecting his dragon drawings:

Myles really enjoys playing chess with Chris. They have decided to up their game and get competitive. Myles and Chris are teaching Elsa how to play the game, and Meg even asked the other night if Chris would teach her how to play. He sat and went over the basics with her and then played a very short game :)

 

I sent these two videos to the girls. I think our weeks apart are made up of funny videos that we send to each other of our little inside family jokes. 

I sent this one to them after Elsa's dance class. I told them I felt like I was in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds". For an hour and  a half this is what I saw and listened to.

Then I sent them this video of Molly. I was telling them I have many conversations like this one with Molly. She is not a good retriever, but it makes me laugh. Mainly I think it makes me laugh because we all know I am not an animal person, at all, but have found myself very much becoming one. And if I'm totally honest, yes, I do call her my fur baby and yes, I am her mommy. I love that she follows me throughout the house and lets me snuggle and cuddle her. I'm laughing at myself as I type this confession.

 

Don't forget to check out Aeva's latest post too.

The girls are doing well, but say they miss us and are counting down the weeks until they are home for summer break. I love that they are so independent. I love seeing how they are venturing and branching out. However, I love most of all that they still call home for a few minute a couple times a week to tell us they love us and that they miss us. I love that they take time to talk to each of their siblings and how excited the littles here at home are to talk to their sisters. And I very much love to hear their voices and their laughter.