WOW! Almost one full year behind!

I know, I know.  It's been almost a year since I have posted anything on this blog.  Where have I been you might ask?  Well, we did move 2 summers in a row.  But that's not the only thing that has kept me away.  I have learned a lot in this past year of how to stay away from my blog.  I thought I'd share in case any of you need some excuses to get away from blogging:

1.  Moving within the same ward is harder than moving across the country to a new ward.  We were moving throughout the month.  Any chance I got I was taking boxes up to the house (since we only moved a mile away.)  But when the BIG move day came on a Saturday (and we were so blessed to have so much help.) the following Sunday I still had to be prepared to do my callings.  When you move to a new ward you have at least a week or two where no one knows you and you get that time just to focus on unpacking. 

2.  When you move into a house don't assume that the inspector found every problem with the house.  The night before our BIG move day, we were at the house and we found a leak dripping from the second floor right next to the laundry room.  That was one of many problems that we found.  We spent a lot of TIME, energy and money taking care of these items.

3.  Try to plan your moves aaround any travel that your husband has to do for work.  Our BIG move day was a Saturday and Tim left to go out of town on Monday. So I got to spend the week alone unpacking.  The best part was I got a lot of sympathy from him and a lot of work out of him before he left and when he returned.

4.  This is a BIGGY!  When you are having babies, try to plan it that you have a daughter going into high school and a new Kindergartener going half day.  Especially if your high school is out in the middle of no where and you choose to have your children go to a charter school that doesn't have buses on the complete opposite side of town.  One day I was in the car so long that I decided to calculate just how long I had been in the car that day.  5 HOURS!  Just driving kids back and forth.  But I'm sure I'm not the only one with these joys.

5.  Again, when you are having babies, try to plan their births a week before major holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  That helps make the holidays even busier.

6.  When your daughter is in the school play, let the director know that you know how to sew and would love to help with sewing the costumes.  You may get voluntold more than you bargained for. 

7.  If you love to paint and you love to serve make sure to let people know and you may find the opportunity of helping someone paint the inside of their house.  It may take time but well worth the time to help others.

8.  When you find out that your schools are changing their standards throughout the whole country be prepared to spend a lot of time researching what exactly is going to happen to your childs education.  You can spend HOURS and HOURS reading and learning. 

9.  When you decide to finally sit down and post on your blog, make sure to stop and play a game with your sweet little one that keeps running in wanting you to play a game with you. 

But, what have I learned that just brought me back today?  My girls have spent the past few days looking at past posts, laughing and reading and enjoying the history that is on this very blog.  Now, I have to put away the excuses and continue so they don't miss out on any memories.

So, be ready.  There will be posts coming - hopefully soon.