random thoughts, scattered musings...

As per usual. I was driving down the road this morning at a rather un-Godly hour (is that offensive? I wasn't sure, so I wrote it anyway.) The sun was so low in the sky, it gave the whole world a different look. The trees have unfurled their newborn light green leaves. The lilacs are blooming, and the morning dew makes all of it sparkle. I drove down the curvy back roads out here in the country, and thought about things. (I wasn't just out driving, I had to take Kathryn and Suzanne out to church where they are working on a construction job this week.)

Anyhoo, I thought it would be convenient if we could just lie our foreheads on pieces of paper, and have all the tangled thoughts line up all neatly, so we could sort through them easier. The appointments and reports, the things we want to list on ebay, the paint we want to buy for what and where, the items that need to be returned, and the different kids and what they need (soccer cleats! soccer socks! a new bra! more pads! bobby pins! conditioner!....), and today...is Charlotte Claire's 9th birthday!

In the midst of all the things going on, it's party day! She didn't want a birthday party, just to have her cousin Danielle over. So...yesterday big sister Abigail picked up Danielle, and Char and Cam, and took them to the mall. They asked to go to the clearance room in the shoe store (the apple doesn't rot far from the tree:)), where they played, "runway". They tried on shoes and purses, and marched around the store singing Christmas carols. Cam said that people stared at them, but no clapped.

They went to Claire's and picked out jewelry from the one dollar rack, Abigail let them take as long as they wanted. She took them to lunch at Friendly's. She let them pick out flowers for me. They came home with giant cans of iced tea, all happy and excited. A text to Dani's mom (Kim), and YES! Dani can spend the night! But...when I was cooking my Mother's Day dinner, the princesses stood in the kitchen and asked me to feel foreheads, Dani's felt hot. Well, it certainly did. 102.7, said the thermometer. Poor girl. I confirmed with her dad (my brother Tom) that I could give her some medicine, then drove her home. She wanted to go home she didn't feel well. My girls were super bummed.

And today, we were going to go out to lunch again...maybe Char will want to postpone until Danielle is better...I don't know. Char asked for pumpkin pie for her birthday, so I had better get busy. How in the world am I supposed to not eat pumpkin pie, is what I want to know.

Well, I guess I should go hang up the Happy Birthday sign and decorate a little, perhaps drag all of her gifts out of the closet and see what we have. She is a StarWars nerd, so I already gave her a really cool hooded beach towel...

Last Minute Louie, that's me.

I already did all of this stuff in my mind, of course.

Our minivan is making a new noise, and it is not a fun pleasant noise. I hesitate to bring it to the shop because Margaret works in town, and takes the other car...and I don't like being carless. I guess I could always drive her to work. Details, details.

And in the midst of all this fun, we are having a church conference this coming weekend, and are doing our grill/candy store. I have to buy the candy, and lots of food...

But: I won't be there until the afternoon on Saturday, because Evelyn and I have a date that is non-negotiable. Non-breakable. A promise. I am taking her to a mental institution/asylum. Seriously. This place has been closed for a long time, but is open once a year for guided tours, as a fund raiser for a local charity. Evelyn is a voracious reader, and this kind of thing fascinates her. When we read about it, I promised on the spot that I would take her to this event...then found out it was the spring conference at church. So, we are going to the asylum. I keep teasing her that she had better not back out on me. She is fifteen years old, and one of sixteen kids. It is a big thing that we are spending this day together. We are planning to leave extra early and have breakfast in some greasy diner. It's all fodder for that big book I know she is going to write someday.

My kids know I love them, but I seriously doubt they know the extent that I love each and every one of them.

The thing I wish I had more of: time. I like to spend time with them. I hate that they feel slighted if I have to interrupt a conversation with one of them to attend to something for another one of them. I like it if I am always free if they need me. I enjoy them, each of them. They are all so different. I never ever need to punish any of them, they are such good kids. If the younger ones ever do anything wrong, I just talk to them about it, and encourage them to be good. It mostly works. I do remind them not to let the water run, or to shut the refrigerator door, then decide what to eat...and not to walk across the couch. Or slam the door, leave toothpaste in the sink, and to please replace the toilet paper, as I am usually the one sitting there yelling for a roll.

Anyway. Life is interesting, and good. My little friend Davian is on his way over...so bye for now. I am not proof reading this, so sorry if there are misspellings or offensive things I would have edited out...:)