the last two weeks...

...have been way more crazy than I would prefer!

Thought I would take a few minutes to write a bit. Of course, a few minutes will end up taking longer than I think just as everything else seems to be taking longer. Heck, even turning on the computer took longer as it did some wonky thing.

Things just seem more crazy and busy but really, I am not sure they are. 60-75% of the time everything is just going along and doing it's thing, then there are these moments of just plain ahhh and tension and it feels like things are exploding. We've had doctor appointments, VBS, getting ready for the fair, the bili blanket, something new will come out of the garden that needs to be cleaned or frozen, Brian was behind on some work...things here and there just add up. And then of course you throw in feedings every few hours. It feels like there is always something going on, something to be done but then you look back on the day and wonder just what got accomplished!

The kids for the most part have adjusted well to Charles. But let's face it, then do know they are getting a few extra jobs added on and there is a little less time for what they want to do. Myron and Henry are too interested in Charles sometimes, and of course at the same time so they have to argue about everything including who gets to sit where. There seems to be a lot more of that overall-just attitudes and "disagreements" about toys, chores, getting to do what they want. And with Brian gone sometimes all I can do is yell down the stairs. As you can imagine that is REAL helpful.

I was planning to start school next week, but I am not sure. I may just start Cybil so we can navigate a week of high school without having to do the younger kids' stuff too. It may take more than a week to figure out her rhythm, then we'll plug the others in. We are starting piano again, this time all 4 girls, so that is an afternoon away. We have a home school co-op that meets every other week so that is another afternoon, Joe has occupational therapy one day a week, so that will be another afternoon where I have to go somewhere. We're just not used to that. I can't imagine if they had after school activities most nights too...

It seems we are a family that just needs structure. Not that everyday at 10 am we do this or that, but the kids seem to do much better when we at least have a routine order. Breakfast, pickup, school until noon, lunch, finish school, etc. While they enjoy their free time, they do end up getting bored. There is only so much house and yard work that needs to be done, and with so many helpers it just doesn't take very long. It's been great for Cybil and Mariah to work with Brian some, but it is not quite part of the routine. So while it's good, it also seems to get us out of sorts. Someone asked Mariah if she was ready to start school yet and she said yes!

And yes, I am being hard on myself. Just like they say you "forget" much about labor and delivery after your baby is born, I think you forget the adjustment period afterwards too! It's hard to remember and compare though because after each kid you have different ages, different seasons and different jobs that it is hard to compare and keep expectations real.