You might as well get comfortable...

because I have a lot of catching up to do. I make no apologies for it either (jay). So put on your comfy pants, get yourself a refreshing beverage and settle in. This might take awhile.

My week of stress hasn't been good for the blog. Or the diet. Or my back. My casa is a mess. Not just a mess but a disaster. Clean laundry covers my bedroom floor because I haven't had time to fold it and I don't have enough baskets to hold it. My kitchen countertops are covered with junk that needs to be put away but not thrown away. But this is not the point of the blog. This is just the result of the week that will now be blogged about.

THE HAIRCUT

Thursday morning, I dropped Sam and Henry off at Andreas and went to see Janet, my hairdresser. Janet is....young. She gives a nice haircut, does great color but to spend three whole hours trapped in conversation with her is very tedious. I've had a few hairdressers where it's almost like going to therapy, it's so easy to talk and banter. That is not the case with Janet so I find myself asking her a lot of questions to steer the conversation into a tolerable area for me. I took my camera to the appointment but as soon as I turned it on the screen displayed the "battery empty" message. So no Janet or before and after photos to entertain you. Janet is also very good at waxing eyebrows. I used to never wax my eyebrows. I've plucked them a few times but it wasn't until a year ago that I tried it for the first time. The last time I had them waxed, I didn't like the shape my brow had taken with my plucking so let them grow in. When she saw them, she said, "oh my...those do need some work" and felt she needed to further make her point by showing me how much hair she had removed by holding up the paper she used. It was a tad humiliating to feel like such a hairy beast and I vowed to not let it happen again. But it did. When we were in Phoenix, I lost my tweezers and was surprised how fine my eyebrows were growing back in. But then they turned obnoxiously dark and long and by then, it was overwhelming to pluck them all out. I knew I had this appointment in a week and that she could just get them back into a nice shape. Clearly, I hadn't learned my lesson so when she lifted my bangs to apply the wax and said "holy cow!" I was inwardly cursing her. Doesn't she know that people go to salons to feel pretty? Well, apparently, you have to already look good to avoid any of those helpful comments. But I am a hairy beast no longer.

THE TWINS

Finding babysitters is always a challenge for me. There is really only one girl in our ward who babysits and she is usually busy. As I am not one to think a great deal ahead, I am usually looking for a babysitter that very night or the next night. I knew this week was going to be incredibly busy, however, and started my search on Monday. I left many messages and kept getting disappointing replies. So on Wednesday, I panicked and called the old reliables....the twins. They are always available. For a reason. They aren't very good. I think the reason I even consider them is because, although I know they are extremely inept, no major disaster has happened. Diapers might not get changed, food not put away and I might find DVD's in the VCR but still....nothing bad happens to my kids. They don't even complain when I bring them home, which I figure they would if it were miserable for them.

When I called on Wednesday, Cassie answered who, of the two of them, is the most awkward. That's not saying much but she has some minor handicap that makes her hard to understand and walk with a bit of a limp. Her sister, Amanda, is normal in that regard but still extremely awkward. Cassie told me that her mother wasn't home. Pause. I asked if she could call me back when she knew if she could and she said yes. No call back Wednesday, another babysitter calling to say she couldn't and I'm starting to panic. I had reservations for a temple session and really wanted to go. Thursday afternoon, the phone rings and I say hello. "this is Cassie". LONG pause. Me: "are you calling about babysitting?" Her: "yes." Me: "Can you?" Her: "yes." Me (rolling my eyes and how painful this is) "can I come get you at 5:30?" Her: "yes". End of conversation. We ended up having a great night going to the temple and then to the Olive Garden with our good friends, Chad and KariAnn. The house didn't burn down. The kids were in bed with clothes on....what more can I ask?

FIELDTRIP

Friday morning, Sam, Henry and I drove to a U-pick farm where Sammy's preschool fieldtrip was being held. We couldn't have picked a better day to go. The sun was shining bright, the air was crisp and apples and pumpkins were ready to be picked.

right before we started. Sammy is feeling very self conscious because he is wearing a patch and the kids keep making comments. It's sad but he's starting to care and tells me he looks "stupid" when he wears one.

Sammy with his teacher

First, his class got to go sample apple butter,

listening to "Granny Apple" talk about apple stars and apple butter

and see how an apple is sliced and cored. Then they went on a tractor pulled "train"ride to the apple orchard and each person picked an apple.

Sammy picked a green apple and was able to eat it on the ride back

After the ride, we all went and watched apple cider get made and sample some fresh cider. Delicious. Then we walked over to the pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin.

Sammy found one right away. I wondered if he wanted to look around but he was happy with his choice.

Henry just hung out in the Baby Bjorn and we were all glad to be outside and together.

Beautiful day!

I knew I had a lot to get done that day so it was nice to do something fun in the beginning of the day so that Sammy didn't feel ignored and drug around all day.

EVENING OF THE ARTS

This is a design that Devin did. So much talent! I love it.

On Wednesday, another group cancelled. We had asked a local Baptist church to come and perform (they had done this several years ago...so there was some relationship) and they agreed and committed over 2 months ago. At the dress rehearsal Tuesday night, they didn't show up and the cultural arts chair made a comment to me about how they hadn't returned any of his messages. I sort of did the pursed-lips-what- do- you- do- shrug (maybe only I do that) and hoped for the best. But on Wednesday, the dreaded call came. There had been a miscommunication, they'd been double booked....blah, blah, blah. I couldn't believe our "featured" performers were backing out and felt dumb because most of our advertising had them on the posters. People that cared would definitely notice their absence on the program. I went over after Seth got home from school to start setting up...music stands, lights, extension cords, microphones, pianos, signs, put some white lights on the fake trees, set out the programs. It took longer than I thought and by the time I was done, it was time to pick up the babysitter. I still had to change and freshen up but the babysitter could start feeding the kids and entertaining them so it was actually easier. I made it to the church around 5:45 and the problems started. There was some interference so that whenever the wireless microphones were on, BYUTV could be heard over the speaker system. I had no idea what to do and was frustrated that our "sound" guy wasn't there. Performers started to arrive by my instruction at 6:00 for a spot check and our spotlights weren't even out of the closet because someone had put them away into a closet that noone seemed to have a key for. I was totally stressed out and could feel myself losing my cool a bit. Thankfully, everything got sorted out and the event turned out fabulous! The talent was so good....so professional.

The Master of Ceremonies for the concert

The first act was a bluegrass band, then a flute duet,
musical theater from Wicked,
a harp solo, unbelievably good jazz saxophone and piano duo,

original poetryopera aria, two piano ensemble blues band, and celtic fiddles. There were no glitches, the variety just flowed and the night was so great.

Rebecca helped me put these favors for the performers together.

As soon as the concert started, I had a grin from ear to ear because I knew it was just so good. I really didn't know how most of the acts would sound so was so relieved that not one was just mediocre. They were all so, so talented. So then there was the post show high that came from mingling and the relief that it was over. I'm so glad it's over! But mostly I'm glad that it turned out. It's always a nice reward to have your efforts matter and the comments I received were positive and that the show was really entertaining.

BABY GIRL

Saturday morning, I drove down to attend Jen's baby shower.

We're really more of the same height. I'm slouching or something because she looks a lot taller than me here.

I was able to meet her friends and ooh and ahh over all of her fabulous, cute baby girl clothes. She did get some diapers but everything else was just ridiculously cute and pink. There was some lavender too but this will be one, well outfitted little girl. Jen looks so good for only having 2 weeks left. I can't believe we have the same DNA because she just has this little basketball where I always spread out a bit more comprehensively. She's worked her tail off, doing T-Tapp practically every day so I have to give her credit. I find out I'm pregnant and don't move on purpose for the next year. Her hostesses had a nice shower for her with a yummy breakfast spread. They had parfait glasses and we could all build our own with yogurt, berries and granola. There were also scones, pumpkin cookies, banana bread, hot chocolate and O.J. I could tell she had some great friends and it was nice to see her for the day.

Jen and her four hostesses.

Sammy came with me and played with his cousins all day. We went out to lunch after the shower for some yummy mexican. Then I drove home in time to pick up dinner. I have been eating such crap lately. But having a lot of fun doing it:)

That's mostly my weekend. I woke up this morning with the worst backpain yet. I don't know why. I think my stress is settling there. I was having some serious spasms and tried a couple of ladies to find an organ substitute but neither could do it. So I dug through my medicine cabinet and found some old prescription drugs from my postpardum days that weren't expired and popped a couple of those. Jay was on call today so I called my visiting teacher who is a newlywed and doesn't have any kids to sit with my three boys during sacrament meeting. I am always humbled by service for me and am thankful for the kindness of friends. KariAnn called and invited me over for dinner even though Jay was gone. It was so nice to go over there and have the kids entertain eachother and just sit around and talk for hours. It made Sunday go so fast! I was dreading the rest of the day...lifting Henry around. But my back doesn't hurt at all right now. The drugs definitely should have worn off by now. Maybe my tearful prayer before church was answered.

I'm looking forward to this week. I have a lot of housework to catch up on and I need to get my choir for the Christmas Creche organized by the weekend. I'll be busy but I'll be busy around here so I shouldn't have to write a novel next time.