a new normal

Tomorrow begins our first full week of school, I kinda think starting on a Friday is a bit of a tease but anyway. As I am trying to get prepared for the school week and new sleeping arrangements (which I will talk about in a minute) I find myself trying to find a new normal. This is a difficult task for me I am having a hard time. Typically, schedules just sort of happen for me but lately I find it increasingly more difficult to get into a routine. Luke still won't start school til either this Friday or next Monday so I keep telling myself to wait til then. Football is in full swing now. That means trying to squeeze homework in the afternoons with football practices and games. Matt plays for his high school, Jake for the city, and Ashley is on the dance team at her school and they have to attend and perform at their games. I need to start potty training Caleb, in the very near future. I recently moved Caleb and Ben in the same room. Caleb kept trying to climb out of the crib so he is now in the "big boy" bed. ( which is a nightmare, he never falls asleep in his bed now) Trying to get both babies to sleep can take hours, seriously! I often wonder how I ever did it with twins! My fall semester begins this coming weekend and I am taking 3 classes again. I know I said I wouldn't do that again but if I can do 3 during the summer with the kids home and pass with 3.5 GPA, I think I might be able to handle it. (Though I have heard this microbiology is hard.) But that just adds to my very long list of things I need to do and mostly on my own!
Ronnie will help when he is home, but lately that has been rare. He is so "involved" with this football stuff he is always at the fields or on the phone. I feel like football is his mistress. I know he enjoys it and I hardly say anything, but....well.....anyway....!
So I am just going to hope that a new normal will be developed very soon in this house, I am not one that can tolerate much chaos. So for all of you that read this and thought that I was "super mom" before, sorry to disappoint! So many use that phrase to me and call me "supermom". Do you know what I want to do when I hear it? Cry! Because I am not that, though I try, it seems like an unreachable title for me!

All eyes on me

I am not one who likes attention. I like to try to blend in with those around me. You know, so I don't stand out too much. So I had to go out in public a few times this week with all the youngins (something I try to avoid). We took a trip to Hobby Lobby one day. My plan was to run in and run out. I knew what I needed and that is the only way to shop when you have 8 children in tote. Of course Hobby Lobby is one of those stores that have all things pleasing to the eyes. Especially those of small children! The entire trip was spent saying things like " stay by me please", please don't touch", " oh my goodness how many times do I have to say the same exact thing"! Believe me I did not blend in with those around me! In fact, I could feel the glare of eyes all around me wondering what on earth was I doing taking a child's day camp on a field trip to Hobby Lobby!! We eventually made it to the car, where I think the stares may have ceased!

So you can most certainly label me as crazy when I forgot something and decided to go back the next day again with all of the kids! It was like de ja vu! Amazingly, the exact same phrases that had rambled of my tongue just 24 or so hours before were making its way of my tongue again! With blood pressure rising and patience already running thin, I was not in the mood for any more stares much less comments this time! As we looked by the greeting cards, this associate pops her head down our aisle and says " please don't touch the cards". Now first I was looking for Candid Camera crew to come waltzing out saying" smile your on candid camera" but then when was the last time that show aired? It couldn't be that! Was she joking? What on earth? So I asked her why we could not look at the cards and she says" oh, no I meant the kids". Well this did not help me mood one bit! Last I knew this was a retail store where you shop, look for items and buy them. I would never allow my children to play with the cards, rearrange them, or destroy them. However, I was totally offended and told her exactly how I felt. Not my best day, but this poor lady happened to be the straw that broke the camels back!

I have decided to keep my distance from Hobby Lobby at least til the kids return to school. Hoping maybe then she won't recognize me without my caravan with me! Or maybe I should invest in a wig! Maybe several!! That would make things a heck of a lot easier, everywhere I go!