Well, today is going smoothly. I can open my eye and the selling has gone down, so I should be able to see well enough to get the girls to Spanish class. It only took 3 days of pressing it with hot wash cloths.
Tomorrow, Nathan finally has a day off. Already it's filling in. We have to go to my dad's house to assist in electronic advice. Then Cas has a doctor's appointment. I'm praying- praying -praying She's okay. These past few months adding up, have my mind spinning with all the negative possibilities. I'm hoping it's just something simple, but deep down I suspect more, and it scares me a lot. Maybe it's just my imagination running away with me.
I don't know.
Those girls are just, well, they are so innocent that I don't want the real world of sickness and worry to bring them down. It's probably just another cold or something, and I've probably been watching to many Dr. shows. Hopefully tomorrow, we'll find out something.

It has been very crazy here lately. Sticking to the budget has proven very trying at times $300+ of our last check went to unexpected Septic issues.
Now getting ready for Thanksgiving is consuming me. I don't have the ham I wanted and I'm just going to deal with it. After looking at this months budget my mind hurts. Hopefully spring will be better for us.
Nathan and I are both really tired. This overnight schedule has been killing us. When he's at work I can't sleep thinking I have no back up to help protect the kids if something happens. When he's here, he tends to be more awake at night so that's when a lot of our time together happens. He sleeps during the day, but the kids need an adult to do their school work with so I can't lay down. I'm so exhausted all the time. I just want to get away from everyone for a day or two and rest.
The kids are great and witty as ever. We put our tree up a few days ago. It's pretty.
Not much else is going on.

These past few weeks have been crazy busy. Maybe not by other people's standards, but last night I about cracked. It is really taking a toll on our lives. I'm really hoping that we really get this new schedule. I don't believe it's going to happen, but Nathan thinks it will. I know how they work, and am anticipating that things won't be like they're supposed to be.
In other news Millie goat still hasn't had that baby and since I don't remember putting her in with Adam, I'm not sure that she's really pregnant.
Cas and Ravi did really well in their Vanity performance. I just wish that more people supported them. At least their Aunt Cindy and Shirley came to see them. It would have been nice if some of their other "grown up" friends would have come.
At church things are going okay. I've started teaching the Sunday class again. I'm trying to take it more slowly this time. Nathan teaches all the time now. The puppies are getting big and have decided chasing the hens is really fun. That's taking some work. The insurance adjuster is coming today. Hopefully we'll get some good news.
I've started re-discovering some old music I grew up listening to. Tom T Hall and Roger Miller. And Nirvana, Beck, Soul Asylum. They don't exactly go together, but we grew up weird.

We've been having a lot of happy days lately. We got to go see Lisa and Sam and their new house. There was this awesome park made of wood and tires. I went on the zip line and about fell off, and laughed my tail off. I've seriously considered moving there. Lisa is the funniest person I know and so patient with Caspian and Aravis. She and Same are awesome. Every time I leave I miss them more.
The best part was this time I didn't worry about getting home. I actually just enjoyed the time with the kids and Nathan.
The Harry potter exhibit was awesome. There were all the costumes and props. We walked through Hagrid's hut. I wonder why they didn't wait until the last movie had been released before they made this Exhibit.
This last trip reinforced my enjoyment of spending time away from the world around me. It can be so peaceful. However, I realize too that the kids need to stay in contact with their friends. They've been having so much fun with Tabby and Vera. Speaking of which, I'd better go check on them.

Okay so a couple of weeks ago we started homeschooling. Largely decided by the fact Nathan's work schedule was due to change to a 3 on 3 off long day schedule. Well, now they've changed their minds and are, for the time being, not doing that. While that was not the only thing we based our decision on, it was a large factor. Now it's just me and the kids 24/7. It's pretty cool, and they are hilarious when the think no body's watching, but I feel like I have to constantly have them working on homework or projects. Like if someone found out they were home schooled, but were playing in the yard in the middle of the day, I'd get in trouble. Maybe I'm paranoid. They are learning a lot, but there's that propensity to wonder if it's enough.

In other news our goat friends will be arriving in about 4 weeks. There is so much to do. As if our barn weren't broken down enough, we lost more siding in the wind. We've got to get that patched up and the inside cleaned out. Any volunteers? I have an extra pitch fork.

Since the last I've written, 50% of those stick butterfly bushes are actually producing leaves, small though they are. Also the kids have officially started their home school adventure. While we're still working out the kinks, I think we're going to like it. They have a lot more opportunity than they would've at school. It is going to be more expensive than I originally anticipated and I don't know where a lot of the funds are going to come from, However, those things have a way of working themselves out.
At church last Sunday 3 people were baptized. (2 were re baptized) I don't know what to make of that. I think it's great, but I never thought re baptism was necessary. I was baptized young too, and I wonder what they think of me. I went through High School and youth making all sorts of mistakes post baptism and I've asked for forgiveness. I thought that's what you were supposed to do. Maybe not. There are a lot of new young people at our church and I just feel myself slipping further and further into my cynicism. I don't like that I'm that way, but I tend to be on the look out for evidence of the vibes I'm feeling. Sometimes I feel like a snake slithering through the grass, constantly monitoring the air looking for something to strike.

I just came in from planting my mail order butterfly bushes. They arrived looking like dead twigs. Nothing like I thought I was getting. But I planted them and can only hope that they'll take off. The kids and I fed them some sugar water to give them a little food to help them take root better. I'm really hoping they take off. There were also 2 red maple trees in this order. I don't know where to plant them yet, but if they survive it will be really great to see their bright red leaves in the fall.
Tonight is the parents meeting for beginning homeschooling. I'm nervous and excited. Hopefully it goes well. I'm looking forward to getting some information.
Fernie and Violet are growing so fast. They hardly seem like puppies at all, but you remember that they are when they take off with your garden plants in their mouths begging you to chase them. I had to wrestle Fernie for my watermelon plants just the other day.
Cas and Ravi are excited about homeschooling this year. Ravi wants to learn Spanish. Cas doesn't really talk much about it. I wish people could see what Nathan and I see in them. Aravis is very social and Cas is very introverted and awkwardly funny in public, but at home they are goofy and witty and intelligent. The world is missing so much.
I am so lucky to have them.