Balancing Life as Mommy and Wife: Lots to update

We have a lot to catch up on, so here we go!!!!!!!!
Last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we took 40 TDF students and 8 adults to Paoli, Indiana for a ski/snowboarding/tubing trip. We got in late Friday night and hung out for a while and also had a "re-image session." All day Saturday we ski'd, snowboarded and tubed. I decided to ski - it was my 2nd time going - and I had a blast. I'm getting better at it! I'd love to live somewhere I could go more often, but I'll take my once a year trip for now. I took a couple of tough spills and was very sore Sunday and Monday, but it was well worth the adrenaline rush! I love it! I also got to spend some time on the slopes with my hubby which was nice. He taught me to do new things (thus a few of the spills I took), but it was fun to be with him. Most importantly from the weekend, our lives were changed. We used the "ski trip" as our winter retreat. Aaron "spoke" from his heart 3 times and our students' hearts were tender to the Word of God. Lives were changed - hearts and minds were molded, "re-imaged." Thank you, Lord for a mostly injury-free trip, but for helping us realize how we can be more like you!
We returned home Sunday afternoon and mom and dad came in late Sunday night. There is a youth pastor's conference going on in Nashville, so dad has been attending that while mom has hung out with Des and myself. Aaron's mom was also in town (expecting the delivery of my sister-in-law's baby girl), and she didn't have her before she left for home. We have had several adventures in these few short days. Let me just let you in on a few of them.
Monday, we spent some time with Aaron's mom, sister, and niece...along with my mom. We had a nice lunch and visited for a while before she had to fly out. Mom went with me to go get Max - he's a 6 year old boy that I get from school and spend a couple of hours with until his parents get home. He has a 13 year old brother, Alex, and an 18 year old sister, Casie. Because of all of the pointless snowdays, they have extended the school days 30 minutes for a couple of months to make up the days. So, we headed out a little later than usual to get him. We picked him up and headed to his house. When we pulled in the driveway, their garage door was open. Weird! I tried calling his parents to see if they perhaps just forgot to close the door when they left...no answer. So, we sat there for a second and then decided to head on inside.
As we entered the house from the garage, we noticed the lights were on! Then....we heard footsteps upstairs! We darted out of there! When I say darted, I mean we have never run so fast back to the car in all of our lives! Mom stood erect next to the house thinking whoever it was couldn't see her if she was under the overhang. I shoved Max in the car - literally, SHOVED - mom was screaming at me to get in the car and call 911. Mom sat in the front passenger seat and I DOVE in on TOP of her. My legs still hanging out the car, the nice 911 man (lets call him George) answered. Max didn't know his address...and all I knew was the street name. I finally wiggled and squirmed to the driver's seat (probably hurting mom in the meantime) and pulled out of the driveway.
George assured me the police were on their way and when it was safe, we needed to get away from the house. I pulled in front of the house next door to where I could pull away if Mr. Robber came running out of the house. We noticed all of the lights were on throughout the house and there was a strange car parked next door. Mom SCREAMED the license plate number and I tried to calmly repeat it to George. Mom tried relentlessly to get a hold of Max's parents and I stayed on the phone with George - Max prayed in the back seat. After about 10-12 minutes of waiting, 4 police cars pulled up and they piled out. One of them stood behind a tree - gun pulled, staring at the front door. One went darting through the garage after Mr. Robber and another was pulling a HUGE rifle out of the trunk to use on him. After several minutes (seemed like an eternity) of them searching the house, the front door finally opened. They had him! The police officers escorted him out....Max's older brother, Alex! WHAT!?!?!? Are you kidding me? Come to find out, instead of Alex and Casie going 30 minutes late, they were going 30 minutes early to school. Casie had dropped Alex off and then headed to play practice...forgetting to close the garage door in the meantime.
Well, our heart rates were through the roof and blood pressure sky high - all for nothing. We could have made it a much more interesting ending, but I'm glad it wasn't. I'm just so glad mom was with me and we were able to have the right state of mind to do all the "right" things. WHEW! My blood pressure is up just reliving the story to you...and that's only MONDAY!

Yesterday, my sister-in-law had a dr's appointment early, so she brought my niece over for me to watch her. I went and picked up the other little girl I watch, so mom and I had 3 little ones. We had to run an errand at a friend's house and when we were on our way home, heard that they were going to break my SIL's water. I was going to have a new niece! Kaylee Ann was born at 3:04, weighing in at 8 lbs and 11 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long...I think. She is beautiful and perfect! Everyone is doing well...grandkid number 8 on Aaron's side!