Just Wait.

So with all four kids in school all day I've had a lot of people (both those I know and complete strangers) ((I'm looking at you, Walmart Cashier)) ask me, expectantly, what I plan to do next. As in "Hey, you bum. When are you gonna get a job?"

To which I want to reply, "I have a job. It's apparently a lot harder than yours, because otherwise you wouldn't ask me that question. Also, mind your own beeswax."

What I really say is something along the lines of "Oh, I plan on being really involved at school. And editing more. And plus, with 4 kids there's almost always someone home sick, so I might as well hold the fort down. They're still pretty young."

(And this is true. Not even a month into the school year and Josh came down with the flu today. High fever, aches and pains, and (worst of all) a low tolerance for anything not to his liking. Which is everything.)

But all of this has got me thinking about what my next step in life will be. I'll always be a mom, sure, but at some point they will grow all the way up and won't need me on call all the time. And that's okay, because my job is to get them to reach that point. High functioning, contributing members of society and all that.

I have a good friend who is going back to school to get her Master's in public health. (Shout out to you, Cyndi! You're amazing!) And she is amazing. So when she told me about this I seriously considered going back to school. Trouble is, anything I'm interested in probably wouldn't make enough money after I graduate to warrant the debt we'd have to take on for tuition. Also, my brain feels fried most of the time. Part of it's my hormones, part of it's getting older, and part is just mom brain. (It's a real thing.) Could I even hack it in a graduate program? Okay, yes, I'm sure I could. But at what cost? And, when it really comes down to it, I don't really want to go back to school. At least not right now.

People have mentioned that I could watch other people's kids. You know, for money. To which I reply I would be far, FAR too expensive. I like kids. But other people's kids? Every day, all day? NOPE. Not for me. I would HATE it.

So, no to a job outside the home, no to school, and no to an illegal daycare.

What then?

I still don't know. In fact, I've been thinking and praying about it a lot. And you know what my answer has been?

Just wait.

Wait for what?!  WAIT FOR WHAT?!?! AAAUUUGGGHHHH!!
(Sometimes I am 38. Other times, just 8.)

This response has not changed the answer.

So now I'm waiting. I'm volunteering at the school and and editing more and cleaning the house and working on mini home improvement projects and mowing the lawn. And I'm getting kids off to school in the morning and working on homework with kids when they get home. I'm making meals and cleaning messes and doing laundry and getting my kids to do their chores. I'm going on field trips and debating whether or not to take forgotten homework out to the middle school. (I haven't. Natural consequences seem to be excellent teachers.) I'm doing my visiting teaching and trying to support Lance in his calling. I'm reading and listening to podcasts that teach me something, and I'm even doing a little blogging. (Hah!) I'm sleeping more and exercising and eating better sometimes. (Sometimes, because I now have much more time to bake. Once cold weather hits, I'm in trouble. Delicious, homemade bread and cookies trouble.)

I'm trying to be patient and not apprehensive about what I am waiting for.

I'm just waiting.

And, as of this week, finally... I'm okay with it.

Stupid Fridge

Remember how I hate my fridge?

I still hate my fridge.

The lights don't work, it's too small, it's the wrong color, the water runs slow, and I just have never liked it.

And now it's rusting from the bottom up.

Annoying. Unsightly. But still not worthy of a replacement.

Or is it?

Probably not. *sigh*

Prophetstown Death March

Today I had the crazy idea to go to Prophetstown State Park for a little hiking with my family. (I use the term hiking generously. Glorified country walking is more like it.) The weather was beautiful, it's a three day weekend, my kids are all old enough to walk a bit...

Bad idea.

Seriously, you'd have thought I was forcing them on a death march. Sure, we walked just over two miles, but still. It was flat. On grass. And it was beautiful. A little warm in the sun, a little buggy in the shade. But nothing horrific.

At least, not in my mind. In the minds of my kids? HORRIFIC.

It started in the car. At one point both Josh and Spencer were crying. We're still a little unsure why. But still. Tears.

Then, when we actually got there and started our walk, Josh kept running ahead and Cole kept FREAKING OUT. I thought we were done with this phase. Nope. If he couldn't see Josh, it was THE END OF THE WORLD. Even when Lance and I explained that we weren't worried about Josh, and that if we were we'd make sure he'd stay right by us. Nope. Cole was sure Josh would get lost forever.  And he let us know this. Loudly. The entire time. *sigh*

Lance trying to calm Cole down. It didn't work.

At this point none of my kids wanted anyone else to talk to them, but they kept making remarks to each other. I mean, really? All of you just hush. But nope. Someone always had something to say. I told Josh to walk more mopey, since that was how he was acting. He was not amused.

It was at this point that I decided we really should have just left the kids home. It would have been so pleasant with just Lance and myself! Also, look how beautiful it was - 80 degrees, slight breeze, puffy clouds. Idyllic. Except for those little imps of Satan children of ours.

I think this was about the halfway point. Josh wore this face pretty much the entire trip.

Tess was constantly "tired of walking", but had no problems climbing and jumping and playing around during our little breaks.

All three played on this rock...

... while this one scowled.

Spencer kept going back and forth. He'd be fine and even happy, but then make some comment to one of his siblings and get yelled at. Oy.

During our last break we discovered a hornet's nest under the bench. Everyone ran away and thankfully no one got stung. (That would've been fun.)

The walk ended as all our walking adventures do: with Lance and Spencer far ahead while I bring up the rear with all the stragglers/whiners/children who walk right in front of you and slow down or just randomly stop. It was a joy.

You'd think their reactions would make me swear off walking trips like this forever. But nope, this just makes me think I need to plan more of these forced marches. What wimpy kids I have! Good thing they're so stinkin' cute.

Roadtrip 2016 - Voit & Reva Roper Family Picture

"Family is the center of life. It is the key to eternal happiness." - Elder L. Tom Perry

Roadtrip 2016 - Roper Family Reunion

Omigosh you guys. WHY IS THIS TAKING ME SO LONG??!??! I don't know. Seriously, I have just gotten out of the habit. Oy. Okay. I'm trying. Really. Let's do this.

The Roper Family Reunion was held, once again, at the Camelot Resort at the Strawberry Pinnacles up in the Uintahs. And once again it was wonderful!

The first evening is spent eating and chatting and catching up. The next day is spent eating, playing games, eating, swimming, eating, taking a family picture, eating, more games, and then maybe a bit more eating. (Do you sense a theme?) The final morning is spent cleaning up and making our good byes. 

My aunt Janee took a lot of great pictures at the reunion and was nice enough to share them with everyone, so I'm going to include a bunch of them here. I love my extended family so much! I love Indiana, but if I were to ever contemplate moving back west it would be so I could see more of these amazing people!

Okay, so these aren't in any particular order, but now's the time to get this done or it's gonna take at least another week!

My cousin Laura and her mom (my dad's only sister), Valerie.

Baby Miles and me! (Miles is my cousin Brad's 2nd child & son.) I'm not baby hungry at all, but it's sure fun to hold a cutie every once in a while. Brad was handing him to me once and he totally spit up all over me mid-pass. Good one, Miles.

Uncle Bryce

My cousin Emily and her husband. (And I'm kicking myself because I totally cannot remember his name right now.... Ryan? Maybe. I've only met him this one time!)

Cousins Shanna, Alison, Brad, and Aunt Tammy

Uncle Delwyn, oldest of the Roper kids 

My cousin Delaney and Josh 

My Dad! 

My Grandma Roper. Isn't she so pretty! I hope to be as active and on the ball as she is when I'm older! 

Miles and Shanna 

Susie and Dad 

Our two most recent Return Missionaries, Peter and Cameron. As in, Cameron got home from Chile the day before the reunion and Peter got home from CA the day of the reunion!

We played a car race game or something. The kids in boxes were cars. They had to run a lot. The rest of the team had to do random challenges, like cleaning the windshield (hence the goggles), changing tires (taking shoes off and on), etc. 

My kids REALLY wanted to be the cars! 

We also caught balloons...

That my uncle shot from his big ol' water balloon launcher. It was pretty impressive. 

And we played frisbee tic-tac-toe. I totally beat my dad. 

Lance is so great. I'm sure it's sometimes weird to be with my extended family, but he's awesome about supporting us in going every other year. 

My uncle Jarod, who is married to Valerie. (And a member of MOTAB. Celebrity!)

My cousin Andy and his wife Lili. 

Jarod and Valerie. I didn't get to chat with them nearly as much as I wanted to. Aunt Valerie is one of my faves. Seriously awesome. 

My oldest cousin, Jen. 

My dad liked to show off by catching water balloons with his hat. 

Tess and Susie. It's hard to be happy when you're up late, sleep in a tent, and eat too much sugar! 

My cousin Chris and his wife Caitlin 

 My cousin Dan and his daughter Gracelyn

 Mr. Josh

My uncle Teryl and his granddaughter... whose name will come to me as I fall asleep tonight... 

Cousin Cameron 

My brood. They LOVE the family reunion. Like, ask about it every summer love. They only have 2 teenage cousins on Lance's side and none on mine, so my younger cousins are the cousins they get to play with. They had a blast.

Uncle Bryce and Aunt Janee. They are really so great. I had such great conversations with them! They are a great example to me, especially in raising kids. Goodness, I love them! 

The view

Another view 

Cameron and Grandma 

Cole's version of a sandwich. When you can't tell that the rolls are sliced you just take two rolls and put some meat inbetween. Done and done. 

Cousins Alan and Colin. Alan's wife Lindsay had just given birth to their first child the week before. I totally missed Lindsay, but it was great to see Alan! 

Despite the cool weather, icy water, and storm blowing in, these kids were bound and determined to go tubing in the "river".  

I owe Lance a huge debt because he was willing to go so I wouldn't have to. 

Somehow Cole got left behind. This made him angry and sad. 

Plus, he had a hard time getting on the tube. This made him angrier and sadder. 

Grandpa finally got him on, but the water was cold and he was freaked out. He screamed all the way do the river - you couldn't see him for the brush in the way, but you knew right where he was. My Uncle Bryce said "Well, he'll either drown or grow up a bit today." This is why I love my Uncle Bryce. 

Cole was eventually saved and then got to go down with Lance. Father of the year! 

The view from our little cabin. There's a little loft in there that a couple of the kids were going to sleep in, but they decided they all wanted to sleep in the tent. Lance and I encouraged this decision. 

Cousin Brad and his two boys, Landon and Miles. 

Nine square. Kinda like volley ball meets four square meets... I'm not sure. I was too busy chatting to get up and play. But everyone loved it! 

Uncle Teryl and Aunt Tammy. Uncle Teryl is my go-to guy for any agricultural questions. (And there have been many this year!) 

A grouchy Josh found solace in a hammock. 

Susie and Dad 

Lance and I. We were going to take a family photo but the kids would have none of it. 

Josh on the very popular tire swing. 

Tess pouted during the big family photo. And for pretty much the rest of the evening. What a grouch! 

Pout pout pout. 

But not too pouty for a selfie with mom! 

Love that man. 

Tim is the master at glow stick jewelry! 

It was a great way to end our trip. The day after the reunion ended we loaded up the mini van and started the long trip home, which was, thankfully, fairly uneventful!