Hey everyone, this is Abe blogging tonight. I’m not super sure how to use this new blogging platform well, especially when it comes to pictures, so sorry for the mess!
We are quite overwhelmed right now. I had to travel again last week for two days, which puts Lily it a very difficult spot with the four kids. I always worry when I go because I know how chaotic and demanding things are right now.
Monday of last week, when I was gone, Lydia announced that her giant term book presentation (on poster board) was due that day. Whoops! Georgia went to the store for supplies, and Lily spent hours with Georgia and Lydia making a Rapunzel poster. I was way impressed with the product!
On a different note, Clarissa is going through an incredibly hard phase right now. She cries a ton. She cries in her seat when she eats solids. She’s been sick a lot so maybe that’s related, but it just seems she needs to be held a lot, which makes it hard, especially for Lily, to try to do things like make lunch for the kids, clean etc. Although she’s going though a very hard stage, she’s cuter than ever. You will see below that she just recently discovered her tongue. She sticks it out all the time and it is so funny. Also, Ammon loves Clarissa and is super cute with her. Here is a video on that note.
Lily has been continuing through an amazing faith journey that she has been on as she’s trying to reconcile her LDS faith with certain troubling facts of history and policy. Her journey has taken her to a beautiful place where she can fully enjoy her faith and believe in the inspiration happening in our religion without feeling the need to hold leaders to a standard of perfection. She’s also been learning a lot more about how women related to the church and the gospel, which is providing her with some great content for her upcoming mother’s day talk and also helping her feel more whole.
I’ve been focused at work and trying to stay in shape. Lily loves to join me for morning exercise, but her plantar fasciitis really acts up every time, so she joins me as much as she can.
Aside from my travels, last week happened as normal, but Saturday through Tuesday (today) were especially awesome. Here is a quick recap.
Saturday: Lily and I got to see the play Hamilton! It was hands down the best play I have ever seen. I had a tear streaming down my cheek at the end. Lily is a mega fan and has heard the sound-track many times and loved every second of it. I just can’t get over how funny the King George character is. After Hamilton, I had the Stake Daddy Daughter Dance with my girls. I look forward to that dance all year. My dad came up so we could take Lydia and Mary on a double date. We danced the night away, had refreshment meatballs, brownies and punch and had an amazing time. I’m so in love with my daughters!
Sunday: Lily taught relief society on the talk “Hard is Good” by Elder Ellis and had wonderful participation. We hung out outside after church and had a wonderful low-key evening.
Monday and Tuesday: I took staycation days from work to just be around, get some rest, help Lily get rest, and just be around for extra time with the kids, getting ahead on the chores etc. I have become such an incredible fan of staycations. They are lowkey, but in the end, we are all a little more ahead, a little more rested and refreshed, more connected in our relationships, and just more ready to take life on.
Picture Smorgasbord!
