If you give a mom no butter

Today's plan, originally: get the bigs on the bus, take Natalie to preschool, go to sleep. Wake up to get Natalie, eat lunch, go back to sleep. Pick up kids from school, supper, then work a 12 hour shift.

Instead...

• Katie had to be at school early.
• Since I had to take her to school, I might as well take Lainie and Maggie, too.
• Because Katie had to be there so early, we had 15 minutes to waste, so we went to the zoo park.
• Because we went to the park before I dropped off Lainie and Maggie, then Natalie, I was too awake to sleep, so I thought I'd make cinnamon rolls.
• Because I needed butter for the cinnamon rolls, I needed to go to the grocery store.
• Because I was going to the grocery store, I might as well make a menu for the week to finish all my grocery shopping.
• And, because I was going to the grocery store, I might as well take the recycleables to the landfill on my way.
• And, because I was going to the grocery store, and little bro Anthony is sick, I might as well get him some orange juice, soup, and medicine.
• Because I went to Anthony's apartment to give him the soup, meds, and juice, I saw his apartment was bad-dirty.
• Because I was already there, I might as well clean his bathroom and dishes.
• Because that took until it was time to pick up Natalie, I might as well get her delivered to daycare before I go home.
• Oh, and because I was going to the grocery store, I asked Jay if he needed more sugar for jelly. Which reminded him that I was available to open buildings.
• Because it's now almost noon, I might as well make some lunch before I go to sleep.

So, when I got home I unloaded groceries, threw a pizza in the oven for me, opened buildings, and am maybe getting to bed by noon.

So much for >3 hours of sleep today. All because Katie needed to get to school early. Or, maybe it's sort of my fault for wanting to make cinnamon rolls.

(And why am I blogging instead of sleeping? Because it takes 13 minutes to cook the pizza and 12 minutes to post on my blog.)
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How can you be frustrated when you see this hanging on your doorknob? Thanks, Lainie!

Weekend car ride

Driving 300+ miles in a vehicle with four girls is either certifiably insane or could drive you certifiably insane. It does, however, bring lots of opportunities for laughs:

• Sitting at breakfast in Hays, Lainie asked me how to spell pancake. I started, "P-A-N" and Natalie finished "P-A-Out." 
• Watching Natalie's face when she, for some reason, shook her juice bottle, not realizing it was open. I would have gotten upset at the juice all over the ceiling of the car, if not for her expressing at the juice all over her.
•  Listening to the four girls somehow talk and giggle nonstop for the entire two-plus hour drive from Hays to Coldwater. 

And a few moments of frustration:

• Our conversation through Greensburg was this: Lainie: Where are we? Me: Greensburg. Lainie: Where are we? Me: Greensburg. Lainie: Where are we? Me, turning, pronounciating and increasing in volume: We Are In Greensburg. Lainie: But where are we? ME: GREENSBURG!!!!!
•  Lainie hollering "NOOOOOO" in frustration, just as the couple started to say their vows. Here's hoping it was just that loud to us.
• My promise that if one more person made that kids meal toy bark, I was throwing it out the window. 

At the stops in between all the car time, we got to see my friend get married in a beautiful ceremony and fabulous celebration after, visit some dear friends who just moved a few more hours away, pop in to see my parents for an hour or so, and even see the rebuilding effort in Greensburg. Quite a weekend, indeed.

Lots of Firsts

I have an excuse, really I do. First, I found out I was pregnant but didn't want to "go public" so I posted nothing. Then first trimester ickiness hit and I didn't want to do anything. But, well, I at least want some record of this little one's journey.

We found out the last week of June that we were expecting #5, now named Baby Jalapeno. It was confirmed with a blood test about a week later, then reassured with another blood test about four weeks after that. The nausea has been bad, but not as bad as Katie's or Madi's pregnancies. The only different symptom with this one is the dizziness, which still hasn't gone away. The girls are quite excited for this new addition, thankfully. They didn't even complain about those couple weeks when I would lay down right after supper to keep the food down and they would clean off the table so I could rest. Yes, I know how lucky I am.

A little scare in August sent us for our first ultrasound and confirmed how hopeful we are that this little one arrives safe and sound in March. Hooray for a healthy heartbeat and a beautiful first photo:

There were a lot of other firsts in the past couple months. We had the first day of school for Katie, Maggie, and Lainie:

Natalie's first day of preschool:

I love how they seem to get more excited the younger they are.

A first time playing on the new swingset:

Taken at dusk, just as the last swing was hung.

First vacation to Mahoney State Park:

From the observation tower at Mahoney State Park, Nebraska.

 And our first new-to-us four-wheeler:

Just for pretend. No, I don't let them drive it. This is a Daddy-only toy.

So that about wraps it up. I'm working full-time but have a schedule that I really enjoy, and the family is adjusting to my night-shift. Things are starting to settle into some sort of routine. I might even get my house back in order after two years of neglect...maybe by Halloween. Ya, I think Halloween is a good goal.

But for now, I think I'll just enjoy the quite house. After all, around here, quiet is a rare commodity.