All Sorts of Out of Sorts.

 I've been sick. The wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-with-chills-and-aches sick. The throat-so-sore-you-can't-tell-if-you-are-drinking-water-or-shards-glass sick. 

Now I'm a terrible patient. And a terrible nurse. Conversely, Dan is a great patient who asks for nothing when he is sick and who will also do anything I ask plus think of extra things to do for me when I'm sick. It's why we are so good together.

When I'm sick, I never think to take medicine. I'm not a pill popper. Dan always has to bring medicine to me and remind me to take it. This time I feel like he gave me 32984729837 different medicines and didn't check if they go together or not. I have been downright loopy. Also I read in the Book of Mormon this past week where Amalickiah has Lehonti poisoned by degrees so that Amalickiah could become the king of the Lamanites. Coincidence? I think not. I brought this up to Dan, and his retort was, "But remember, Heather, what Amalickiah stood to gain by being the king. What kingdom am I inheriting if you die?" and motioned to the four hungry and squabbling children around us, the piles of laundry spilled over everywhere, and the general disarray of the house. 

He has a point. 

I'm on antibiotics now and feeling much better, but still somewhat foggy and dizzy and definitely super disorganized. I learned the acronym "EHAP" last year--Everything Has A Place--and despite my calling it out to my children in a range of tones--playful and sing-songy, sadly and full of sighs, irritated and saracastic, and then just downright frightening--no one seems to care about my awesome EHAP ideas. Things are out of order at the Jolley house. 

Now the photos:

I had to take photographic evidence of this amazing exchange between June and myself. June is in the process of being evaluated for vision therapy. As part of the extensive paperwork I filled out for her was the question: What behavioral problems does the child experience at home?

Now June is a great kid, but she is stubborn as all get out (obviously inherited from Dan's side of the family) and she will argue with you until you pass out. I have waved the white flag of surrender with that child more often than I care to admit.

So I wrote "Lots of arguing." June was sitting next to me reading her book while I was writing this all up and of course, she happened to look over and said, "What did you just write about me?" and then realized what I had written and got so upset and yelled, "I do NOT argue with you! I never do!" and then proceeded to take my pen and cross out what I had written. So then I wrote another note, pointing to what she had crossed out and explained my side of the story. 

I cannot make this stuff up.

We also hosted a laser tag party with our neighbors at our church building. I don't know what kinds of amazing pictures I was hoping to catch in the dark but here is the fabulous photo evidence of said event.

The End.

This is Wonderfully Weird.

I'm experiencing something very weird right now. The plan for today was the normal plan--drive 45 minutes to drop the girls at their fine arts co-op and entertain the boys for 3 and a halfish hours while we waited for their classes to be finished.

But the local school districts are out today for President's Day. Harris was invited to a friend's house. Dan worked from home and offered to keep Beck so that Beck could take his afternoon nap. 

I. Was. Free.

Now what kind of terrible thing is that to say? I mean I love my kids. I choose to homeschool them. But I have just sat at a coffee shop for the past couple of hours sipping my bottled water and have gone through my to-do list and crossed thing after thing off.

Tax return approved, emails sent, Relief Society assignments completed, forms filled out, play tickets bought, rental cars priced, homeschool science classes scheduled, etc. 

I feel alive! I feel like I could run a marathon. Or probably just drive one.

We had our annual Valentine's Day party. We exchanged valentines with my brother Mark's kids. As always, we sent them some crusty and falling apart valentines, and they sent us amazing and beautiful presents. Thank you, Shayla, for continuing this tradition with me year after year though I'm sure I give you zero incentive to.

Speaking of having a bit more time lately, I'm very pleased to announce that basketball and wrestling seasons are both over. For some reason, I love signing my kids up for things, but love it even more when they are canceled or finished. Why don't I just NOT sign us up to begin with? It's a deep question, and the answer is: I'm not okay upstairs.

Aren't my girlies so cute and affectionate in this little impromptu team photo. My favorite thing about this basketball league is that the team photo session consisted of a bunch of us parents aiming our cell phones at the girls and giving the ol' click. No picture forms, no $45 for the smallest package, nothing. My favorite. Our coaches were amazingly nice and helpful to my non-baller girls, but of course that didn't keep me from razzing them about their Eagles allegiance when the Chiefs beat them in the Super Bowl. Zing!

And I will leave you with the disturbing image with which I was met whilst exiting my bedroom one day. This is Gwen. I was quite startled. I gasped at the sight of her, and then she whispered, "I. Am. Death."

The End.

Things Were a Little Off.

We had a slightly "off" week. I took the girls to their fine arts co-op Monday and brought my laptop with me to get some work done while they were there. I then accidentally left the laptop at co-op when we went home. The co-op is 45 minutes from us. In order to get my computer back Tuesday, we had to skip a lot of our regular plans. So instead of the usual Tuesday stuff, we had a field trip day and saw a dairy farm near co-op.

Add baby cow to the list of animals June thinks we should own.

It was also a different week because of Groundhog Day. We celebrate every year with pancakes and watching Punxsutawney (that just might be the hardest word to spell in the history of the world) Phil make terrible predictions I don't agree with. And what's with the whole "shadow" business not happening? That may be what other groundhogs do but P-dawg picks a scroll. Even less scientific than that shadow biz. 

We only live 3 and a half hours from Punxsutawney, and every year I suggest to my kids that we actually go one year. I always think they will jump at the thought. But instead, they look at the people on TV who have been shivering for hours and would rather stay home. 

Another "off" thing was that Forest School was canceled this week due to crazy cold temps and high winds. So we cleaned the whole house and went to the library to play with the toys.

Something that wasn't "off" at all about this week but instead was just so special was attending the temple with some dear friends. One of the things I love about the church is that I am friends with so many women who are in a different life stage than I am. I took Grace, a freshman at college, and Marilyn, a women a few years older than I am, to the temple. Marilyn was baptized in December, and this was her first time. She was able to perform baptisms for the dead and also was able to have one of the young men in our ward be baptized for her husband who passed away a year ago. It was one of those experiences that puts all parts of my life into perspective--what is important, what doesn't matter, and how I want to spend my time.

 

And today, trying to get back to having nursing home visits be a part of the "on" schedule. We are striving to play for the residents one Sunday a month during lunch. Of course, one of my meetings after church ran late, and most of the residents had headed back to their rooms already. But we were able to play for a few of the men, and they were so kind and appreciative.

Harris started piano a few weeks ago, and I tried to get him to play something and he said NO WAY.

Church photo today:

I came home from the temple yesterday to find out that Beck had been sick all day and that Dan hadn't wanted me to know because he didn't want me to rush home. He had a hectic day of watching the girls play at their basketball game while also monitoring a sick Beck in the car (who didn't appear sick until they had arrived for the game). Poor Dan. So Beck stayed home today and Dan stayed with him. Another "off" thing but hopefully just for this week.

A funny Beck-ism from this morning: Dan, when Mom leaves can we watch movies?

Dan looked at me in horror as he exclaimed that he doesn't just let the kids watch movies as soon as I leave the house.

Sure Dan. Sure.