You Snooze You Lose

Last Sunday I came home after church and crashed for a big two hour nap. I rarely do this, but those puppies hadn't been letting me get much sleep. That meant I didn't take time to add to my blog, which I am committed to do, so today, NO NAP FOR ME! BLOG ON!
It's been a good New Year's. I'm grateful to get back to routines and to motivate myself and the kids to accomplish goals.
Emmy and I have been trying to set up a trip to LA as she has a agent and casting director who have given her a "call back" and would like her to stay in the area for a few months. This is a challenge for Peter's care with Marv away as much as he is, but we will likely go soon if the Screen Actor's Guild doesn't strike and if we feel we can afford the expense. Meantime, she did a fabulous audition yesterday for Suessical. We hope she gets a principle role. She is also working on a solo dance for Let Me Be an Instrument of Peace which she will perform with her school choir next Wed. night.
Peter and Marv began basketball practices so our home is humming with boys coming and going on Tuesdays and Thursdays for practice. Their team had a decisive victory yesterday. Peter is a great defensive player and hopes to improve his shooting. He would also like to fit in a ski trip this week. He went snowboarding for the first time with Lyle and Ciara before they left.
Primary presidency duties keep me busy--we gave a fun "meet your teacher" breakfast last Saturday morning while Peter went out with the scouts to pick up Christmas trees. We played a tag game with a little snowman that passed from person to person--many thanks to our Jackie for helpful ideas with that. I presented the Sharing Time lesson today and will give a teacher training in two weeks.
I went back to teaching my regular classes at Tricks. Even after the short holiday break I could see either physical growth or other types of maturity in many of my toddlers. It's such an amazing developmental age--I love it.
I've been able to look in on my dear friend Erin Clarkson who was hospitalized when her appendix burst on New Year's Eve. She had some complications, but yesterday finally turned a corner and should be home tomorrow.
Last Wednesday, Emily attended the birthday party of her friend Sophie at John's Incredible Pizza, which I saw as an opportunity to relax. I took Peter and Blake Clarkson along and let them play (using coupons and frequent diner points!) I put my feet up and read my Team of Rivals book. Taking time to do something like this for myself at least once a week is one of my goals, and I still try to get my regular workouts about three times a week.
One last tidbit of news. We decided to find another home for Susan, the bigger of the two puppies. I hated to do it, but Marv had only authorized one Christmas puppy and he was never very keen on the commitment of time and money when I doubled it with two dogs! I stipulated that I only wanted her to go to a family we knew. We were so lucky--our friends the Lamberts who live nearby had been wanting a puppy just like her. Their son John is Peter's friend. I'm looking forward to puppy playdates and maybe even puppy sleepovers if the Lamberts go out of town.