We just had the busiest weekend I can recall in a long time. At the moment, I should be cleaning the aftermath, doing the dishes and catching up on laundry. But I just can't right now. So here we are.
I was driving home from work about a month ago, when I suddenly realized that George's First Reconciliation and Communion were scheduled for the same weekend as the Annual Maple Fest. I had also promised friends that Lexi could babysit in the middle of it. I nearly drove off the road when it hit me that this was going to be nearly impossible. All of these things were scheduled to take place in different directions, and the logistics were going to be tricky. I explained to the Sunday School people that George had to march in a parade in our town at 11 am the day of First Reconciliation, and that it was going to be tough to get him to church, half hour away, by noon. I said we may be a little late, but that we would be there. I was regretfully told that the dates and times couldn't be changed, but, they were understanding, and I promised I would do my best to get him there in time.
Friday evening, the insanity began. George had last minute baseball practice. Joe had a friend from Boy Scouts spending the night so we could get him to the parade the next morning. Last minute a friend of mine came over, and we ended up visiting until two in the morning. Since I will probably be pulling a lot of second and third shifts in the very near future with job number two, I figure this was good practice.
Saturday morning dawned with annual Maple Fest Book Sale. The line cutting old ladies from years past have settled down, so, the initial wait to get in isn't as much fun as it used to be. We all filed into the library in relative peace and began the annual search. I was surprised, as, this was probably the smallest book sale I can recall. I mentioned that to one of the volunteers, and she agreed that it was smaller than usual. There just wasn't as many donations. "Be careful what you wish for. When I die, you're getting all these back, plus the rest of my collection..." I cautioned. They laughed, but, seriously, I have a lot of books. I can confidently say it would be a pretty big addition to the annual sale. I have recently discovered a love for Mary Higgins Clark. Not sure why I haven't really read her books before, but, I found myself picking up all the Mary Higgins Clark books I could find. And then putting some back, because, what if someone else wanted some too? Then picking them back up. Then putting them back, because, it's not nice to be greedy. So, I only took about half of them, so I wouldn't feel guilty. And now I wish I would have just bought them all anyway. Ah well. Hopefully the rest of them found good homes!
Back home, it was time to get ready for the annual parade. Where it poured. And poured. And poured. I ended up missing most of it, as, Bearded Man shoved George out of the parade at me, and I took him home to dry him off and haul him to church.
Somewhere along the way, I began to wonder how I am going to handle the second job. Partly because I have no time to take it on, and partly because I was suddenly I was more exhausted than I could bear. Well. I'm sure I will manage. I always do.
Sunday, George put his suit on for his First Communion. He added sunglasses to the ensemble and flatly refused to take them off. His Sunday School teacher asked that he at least put them on top of his head for church, but I managed to get them off of him about halfway through Mass. I managed to keep him in line for the entire duration of church. I didn't see a halo over him at any point, but I am sure it was there somewhere
He wore the entire suit ensemble to school today. It's been a rough year for George's teacher. She graduated from college shortly before getting hired as a Second Grade Teacher this year. ("I was captain of the college cheer squad the whole time I was there!" She gushed the first time I met her.) Not sure who thought it was a good idea to initiate her with George, but, here we are. I think she will be happy to see him move on, truthfully. Anyhow. George informed her today that he was with the FBI. The impression I got was that she was not as excited about it as he and his friends were.
While we were at church Sunday, Kaila was assisting with the annual SAPS race. She had volunteered Bearded Man's truck and herself to be the 10k water girl. Bearded Man has a big Dodge Ram quad cab 4x4. This truck is a tank, and the first time I drove it was through a raging snow storm (where I was terrified not of crashing, but what Bearded Man would do to me if I crashed his baby...) anyhow, it held up like a champ in the snow, and I feel perfectly safe driving it in crazy weather. Somehow, Kaila managed to get this beast stuck in the mud with two other kids in the truck. Apparently a teacher had to call her husband to come pull the truck out. He allegedly pointed out that his truck was smaller and managed to pull the behemoth out, which certainly chaffed the Bearded owner of the insulted truck. Anyhow, Kaila wasn't sure she would survive if her dad found out, but, mostly we laughed about it, to her relief. She greeted us nervously as we backed in the driveway after church with "I can explain!" and "I promise the truck is FINE!" Since the truck was fine, she is still among the living.
Anyhow we survived the weekend and everything got done and I have no idea how we did it. But, we did!
Mention needs to be made of Joseph here. I know he's set on being a scientist. This year, he joined "Youth Court" and takes the entire process very seriously. Youth Court is where kids preside over actual cases involving kids. Joe memorized most of the law book they were given, and, uses it frequently in every day life. This has made me realize that Joe has a definite knack for law. Recently one of his sisters got in trouble. I was lost as to how to deal with it, until Joe stepped in. " Make her write a very long essay about the potential consequences of her actions on herself and others." he advised matter of factly. So, calling her from her bedroom, I announced the punishment, and then added Joe's spark of brilliance to it. She was told she has to write an essay, the terms and subject matter were given, as well as the timeline. "Make sure she includes resources and web links, Mom." interrupted Joe. "Yes. That too." I agreed, while his sister scowled at him in a way that left no doubt as to her future intentions to beat the daylights of him as soon as we were out of earshot.
That pretty much wraps up the current craziness. It's been so busy, I haven't had two seconds to do these blogs. This morning I reminded Kaila that we are going to go see The Phantom of the Opera this week. (Biggest fan ever over here! I think this will be at least the eighth time I've seen it now?) Kaila didn't display an adequate amount of excitement at this announcement, and, even though it's part one of her 17th birthday present (part two is "Love Never Dies, the Phantom Returns") She was informed that she had better step up the enthusiasm for this show, or forfeit it - nothing personal. I was once again informed of my insanity, and she left to get ready for school. So, I guess I will probably still take her.
One more thing: I have a lot of landscaping bricks and concrete garden boarders I need to utilize, that are stacked next to my house. Mostly, George has been using them for whatever creations he can come up with to destroy my side lawn (you can have a nice lawn, or you can have kids. You cannot have both.) I have decided to put them to use this year, and have all sorts of plans for my gardens. Springtime: when the optimism of gardening is fresh and the amnesia of the neglect they had during the previous years sets in. Once again, I have lots of plans, will spend lots of money, and, invest lots of time initially, and then, two jobs and motherhood will remind me I don't have the time or energy for this and the guilt of the neglect will hit me every time I look at my unweeded flower beds.
The good intentions are there though! I can't bear to see a neglected plant. Yesterday, I was walking past the high school on the way home from the Maple Fest, and I stopped in front of the ag room greenhouse. I looked in horror at all the wilted and dying vegetable plants in the window. Right in the middle of the massacre, was a watering can. "Kaila! What kind of person plants these things and then neglects them this badly???" I demanded in outrage. "I don't know. It's the ag people." "LOOK at that!!!!!! There's a watering can RIGHT THERE! It's like some sick horror movie, where you die a long and miserable death, while the only thing that can save you is right out of reach!" "Mom! Really?" "I mean, LOOK! This is terrible. Those poor plants!" "I think we should cross the road mom." anyway. I have good intentions. Just like the monster in the ag room.
Okay. I really need to get to bed. I am sure I will think of thirteen other things I should have added to this as soon as I hit the publish button, but, I've had three phone calls, two different Facebook private messages, sent four kids to bed, and promised someone I would make sure I check out the full moon before I go to bed. Therefore; this is choppy and probably a mess.
Ah well. Till nex time!
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