Mother's Day

I realize I didn't take a single Mother's Day picture, but it was a wonderful day. My sweet husband took all the children home, including the extra ones that we take to church, while Alei took me out to lunch and we went and got our hair cut. Later in the day, as a surprise, Deb came to take care for the kids while JD and I went out to dinner and chose my gift of my choice - a new kitchen trash can. I've been eyeing a big, industrial one that just has a hole in the top - no pushes, catches or flippers for the kids to break. On that note, I realize how often we are shopping and say, "how long until you think that would break?" One of the realities of a large family!

This month is one of exciting events for our family, but they come with a lot of work! JD is leaving for CO this upcoming Sunday and I leave the next Friday. All before we I leave, we have scheduled a ton of events. JD is wrapping up another college class today, Alei is taking a major CLEP test on Friday, Alei is also going to test for her driver's license tomorrow. We are buried deep in soccer, in fact, we have soccer practice or games, or both, almost everyday except Sunday for the next few weeks. We are scheduled for two do-nut sales (for Alei's fund-raising,) an art show for four kids, Alyssa's violin concert, swim team sign-ups, a cat neuter appointment, a trip to the zoo, a graduation party and a few birthday parties. We are also hosting Ben's birthday camp-out this Friday. I also have at least three doctor appointments and six dentist appointments. This is just from memory, I'm sure I'm missing plenty. If we thought it would slow down at all after the CO trip, we have out-of-town company crammed in between us coming home and Alei leaving for Uganda!

On the Uganda note, we are pleasantly surprised to only be several hundred dollars away from the amount that Alei needed to raise for this trip. She has been working at CVS and spending very, very little and worked on fund-raising. I wish I was going with her, but am so excited that she is getting this opportunity!