Busy, Busy -- WAY too busy

Well the last couple of weeks have been busy (to say the least). Tim, Josiah and Elijah left for Boy Scout Camp on the 27th. They had the opportunity to spend summer camp at Melita Island which is in the middle of Flat Head Lake. All of them said it was spectacularly beautiful and they had a great time. They had the opportunity to do some boating, kayaking, archery, wilderness survival, and other great things including a lot of swimming. Tim and Josiah returned the 2nd of August and Elijah stayed an additional week as one of the troops older boys he was given the privilege of staying behind for some extra opportunities. He and his best friend had a great time.

Gabrielle, Zachariah, Judah, Bekah and I decided to move while the boys were gone. I reorganized the garage and then we packed, cleaned, and moved the girl's room, both bathrooms, about half of our room, and started the boy's room before Tim and Josiah returned. Very intense week of focused attention on packing. There is something very cleansing about packing/moving - as much as I hate all the work and stress. You can accumulate a lot of things that really are just STUFF and moving makes you reevaluate why you have all this --- is it really worth packing up, is it really worth moving it AGAIN??? :)

Things were pretty crazy and definitely stressful so Timmer suggested we work until late evening and then head to the lake to camp. That was an AWESOME idea, approved of by all. We took our tent over to Canyon Ferry Lake -- we'd stop about 6 pm each night, drive over to the lake (it's about four miles away) and just spend the evening recouping. We played games, roasted marshmallows and just took some time to breathe. In the morning, we'd get in the car, drive back home, do our chores and hit the project full force.

We had two doctor's visits last week - BUMMER!!! Josiah got a bee sting (wasp not honey bee) in his little toe. The little booger flew right into his sandal and then stung him for his impudence. By the next day his foot was VERY swollen and red. I was a little concerned so we had to run him into the doc. Cellulitis which was a weird reaction to a bee sting but antibiotics have taken care of it. Doctor says no threat for systemic reactions -- was a little nervous about him getting stung at the hives with such a strong reaction -- Doctor said we are safe and good to go, just a weird reaction and could be due to a number of issues.

Also had to take Bekah-boo into the doctor. We were playing and she popped her elbow out. "Nursemaid's Elbow" they called it - never HEARD of such a thing. Again easily remedied but a bummer. Doctor had it back in place in a matter of two seconds.

Elijah came home Saturday just after 4 -- just in time to clean up and head out to our ConfiDance. He came out with Timmer just before six :) We always have a blast at our monthly dances - LOTS of fun!!! My good friend and one of my partners in crime for ConfiDances (she is one of the leadership) is moving (sniff - sniff). Saturday was her last time with us (did I say boo-hoo yet?) Great opportunity for their family - HUGE loss for us. Glad that we have email to keep in touch anyway. The Lord provided another lady to step in her administration position. I will be calling all the dances for a while. She taught us another new one before she leaves - loads of fun.

We spent our first night in the new house last Saturday (August 9) Hurray!!! Bekah and Judah both have bigger beds now -- they did pretty good considering all the changes. It was exciting to be over there. I LOVE our new room - Tim's work is always FABULOUS! He is still working like crazy, finishing up things that need attention. He moved over our school satellite equipment and is currently working on a front porch so that he can finish roofing that side of the new house.

This week we are back to packing, painting, cleaning and trying to get this house ready to put on the market. I must confess that yesterday was my "feel sorry for myself day". One of those lovelies where nothing goes right. Machines quit working (did I mention my vacuum seriously had a melt down -- smoke everywhere, motor that won't turn off, the smell of burning electric - blech), children are wound up and into EVERYTHING, moody teenagers, school equipment is not cooperating, etc, etc. etc. Just a very trying day all told.

To top off my already maxed out state, I look in the kitchen and realize that one of the kidlets caterpillars is missing. These are not the simple orange and black critters that we had when I was a kid but rather the ENORMOUS very fuzzy ones ranging in color from yellow to black and all shades in between. There have been a lot of them this year and the kids have been collecting them to watch them as they metamorphosis into butterflies (I actually suspect moths but we will see) Zachy is frantically looking for the creepy critter and I am trying to round up the younger kids to corral them for a nap.

I make some comment about not being able to take much more, grab up Bekah and head to the door only to FIND SAID CATERPILLAR WITH MY BARE FOOT!!!! There is something innately base and reactionary about the feel of squished caterpillar on your foot and bug guts squirting between your toes causing a need to vomit.

Why do I even SAY I can't take anymore -- it seems to be a toggle switch for my encountering "something more"????

That's all I have to say about that --- except to add that I got a very accusatory comment from Judah following this episode to let me know unequivocally that he did not appreciate the fact that I had killed his FAVORITE caterpillar with my foot (as if I had done it on purpose).

There are days when I think back to those commercials for Calgon -- Yes, PLEASE take me away!!! When I stated to my husband that I wanted to run away he said it would do me no good -- they would just load up the car and follow me, yelling loudly out the windows for Momma to COME BACK!!!

So I sit this morning, trying to gear up to face what promises to be another day full of excitement :) I have Gabrielle's room repainted, carpets cleaned, a few minor details to finish there and her room will be DONE! My bathroom is almost ready to paint -- did I mention I was back to mudding/taping this week??? The house had bats in between the Sheetrock runs so they didn't have to fill in seams. I have been working on remedying that this week. My bathroom is the last I think that has seams to fill -- otherwise it is just cracks, picture hanger holes, etc. The kids bathroom is ready to paint. The living room is ALMOST ready to paint. The realtor said my house would show better in neutral colors, so my living room is being painted. I loved my living room I must say -- purple is beautiful!!! Oh well.

I am going to leave our room and the kitchen though, just touch-ups there. Closing in on it -- hopefully by the end of next week we will be pretty well finished up. We'll see........

Gotta quit hiding and get back to business or should I say busyness. Judah has informed me that he is STILL hungry and needs more breakfast. Have a marvelous (bug-free) day!