Still Busy!

Things here are, of course, crazy busy, but I am really liking getting settled into a school routine. The big kids have become MUCH more self motivated and they are going great guns on subjects that have caught their interest. I have instituted a new plan for decluttering the house in tiny small bites, so I hope that I can maintain my focus and not get terribly sidetracked.

I took seven of the 8 hens I have been fattening up to get butchered (the other one made her escape and blended back into the flock , and I didn't have the energy to chase her around!). They still weren't very fat!

I was pretty bummed to find out on Friday that My Favorite Gentleman wouldn't be coming home on Saturday, because we went to the Renaissance Faire! It is about a 3 hour drive, and we took my Uncle R (the photographer) and LargeCousin with us. A good time was had by all--the big kids were all costumed, which increases the fun quotient. I had the least fun, since I was buddies with SmallDaughter in the wheelchair, and all the paths were gravel--and hilly. They have lots of fun rides, which are all human-powered, and she LOVED them--which meant every time she was not on a ride (grinning like a loon--it was heart meltingly cute!)--she was BEGGING to be on a ride! So much fun we were all exhausted!

On Sunday, I reminded a Bishopric member to announce the Summer of Service Ending Social for the next Sunday, after Church, and he asked if I would mind if it was postponed, simply because of how busy September is. I didn't mind at all (truthfully, a bit of a relief!), but I only give it 50% odds of happening at all, since October--and indeed the rest of the year--are just as busy!

Remember what we did for My Favorite Gentleman’s Birthday? (Nothing.) We did it AGAIN for our anniversary! Actually, we did do one cool thing. Each day we had an assignment of 5 things that we texted to each other ( one day it was character traits we love, the next day was things we do together, etc.). It was very fun and surprising, and really nice bonding and communicating.

For BigGirl’s 17th birthday, she made cupcakes to share with the Seminary Class, and with the Young Women at church (since her birthday was on a Wed, when they have an activity). SmallDaughter had a Dr. apt. which went well. BigGirl is going to have a Halloween party in Oct. instead of a Birthday party, so our celebrations were pretty low key. She asked for (and received) a full set of Harry Potter, and she also got a super cute Totoro poster. There are a couple of other gifts, but some of them haven’t arrived yet! On Thursday, it was the VIP open house for the newly remodeled Library, which I had to miss (even though I do count as a VIP, since I am a Trustee!) because it was at the same time as SmallDaughter’S FIRST SESSION OF HORSE RIDING THERAPY! And there was MUCH rejoicing! She has been asking to ride her horsies since the day the last session ended!

Friday was absolutely crazy. We had seminary (5:15 to 6:05) then got SmallDaughter dressed and on the bus, and the boys out the door to school (6:30 is--but the bus was a bit early !!!@#%!)--but we got it done! LargeBoy hopped in the shower, and we were on the road by 8 for his 8:30 apt at the Orthopedic Doctor, where Doctor pronounced that his arm is healing well--barring any stupidity! We zoomed back home, where I took a 20 minute power nap so I wouldn't fall asleep while driving, did a bit of housework, and at 11:30, drove BACK up North, picked up SmallDaughter from school and took her over to the Children’s Hospital to see her Neurologist (1 hour, 24 min, according to Google maps, but actually slower because of the muchisimas road construction). We were a bit early, so she got to see all the things she loves at the Hospital, and then we went to meet her new neurologist (as her old neurologist just got married and moved to TX). SmallDaughter loves the weighing, measuring, taking vital stats part--she is VERY good at that routine. Then they showed us to our exam room, and she played with the toys BUT, it took him over 45 minutes to get to us, and she was pretty out of patience! Then we had to go to the lab for bloodwork--and she was SUPER good. She still doesn't like it, and she stiffens up like a plank, but she didn't cry!

We finally left at about 5:43, and I realized I would not be able to make it home, put SmallDaughter to bed, then turn around and go 45 minutes back up the same road for my VERY important beekeeping class. So, I just gave her her meds on time and took her to the meeting with me. That made us a tiny bit early, so I was able to stop at a Farmers Market, and get some yummy fruit. The meeting was excellent--it was the class on how to prepare the hive for winter, LOTS of good info. We came home and I got SmallDaughter into bed (she did NOT sleep through the meeting, as I had hoped she would!), and I took a quick shower and My Favorite Gentleman got home at midnight. BigGirl’s friend (and my seminary student) came over for a birthday sleepover, but I barely saw her! I had terrible insomnia, and couldn't sleep until around 2:30, which was particularly bad since I had to get up at 5:30 and go to the big City for Seminary Inservice. Fortunately, another Sister from the Ward was just called as one of the 2 teachers for the other Seminary Class, and so we rode together and she drove! It was really excellent, and I felt (as I always do!) uplifted and inspired.

I made it safely home and took a nap, and then BigGirl’s new friend who has just moved in, and who is a TOTAL kindred spirit! came over. Her 5 year old sister was totally enchanted by the chicks (which are getting big, but aren't ugly yet), and all the kitties! My Favorite Gentleman took the whole group of us out to the Mexican Restaurant, which was really fun. Afterwards, we rented a movie, and had a family movie night while I worked on sewing the girls circle skirts for the ‘50’s social that the YW are putting on this weekend. It is shaping up to be quite the blowout!

Church was very good--My Favorite Gentleman said the Opening Prayer in Sac. Mtg, but had to leave during the 1st talk (just like usual). The speakers were excellent and I really got a lot out of it. SmallDaughter fell asleep, and slept all through Sunday School on the bench! Her helper sat with her, so he got to go to Adult Sunday School! We found out at about 9 am that the Primary Sacrament Meeting that we have been practicing for--that we were planning to have on Sep. 29th, can’t be then, because it is Fast Sunday--and more importantly FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING (because of General Conference), so we were kind of scrambling, because our plans changed so suddenly! None of the teachers had lessons prepared because we had planned to be practicing in the Chapel the whole time! We have rescheduled the program to November, and we just ran through it anyway!

We have had several beautiful babies welcomed into the family, and I am feeling particularly blessed!