One Busy Day After Another

This week has been full of events so far. Some weeks it just doesn't seem to let up. A part of me feels exhausted from keeping up with the latest news on the horrible wildfires burning in So. Cal. I can't believe how bad it is and how many people have lost their homes. How devastating! I would much rather lose my home than a loved one. I just couldn't understand some of the people who weren't going to evacuate. Wouldn't you much rather know that your house burned than melt with it? I don't mean that to sound insensitive. I just don't know how anything else would matter more than a person's own life. I have never been in there shoes and don't know what crazy thing I may come up with in a moment of panic.
When I saw that it was starting to burn in Live Oak Canyon, I felt like it was hitting home. That was an area that was in our old Stake in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Yesterday was the ugliest "sky" day I have seen up here in nearly 2 years. It was so dingy and just blah. It is from all of the fires. I can't imagine being right in the thick of it. So scary!

Monday:
I took Em to go have her eyes checked. Yep, her pediatrician recommended that she have her eyes checked from an eye dr. since her little vision test came back 20/40. Since we have a history on both sides of people wearing glasses at a somewhat early age (the dr. claimed anything before high school is early), I had no problem having her checked. It was such a long visit but she was a trooper. She had to have her eyes dilated. She was so tough. She wasn't going to cry yet it was all over face. She did great until we had to wait in the room with all of the equipment. She just wasn't so sure of it and kept telling me that she just wanted to be home. It was so cute yet so sad because I could understand how all of that would look to a little 4 year old. We were there for an hour and a half and the consensus is.....she has to wear glasses. She was in heaven to wear the flimsy dark glasses the rest of the day because her pupils were dilated. She is really into this! I can only hope she thinks so once her real pair get here. She is farsighted and has an ever so slight astigmatism (I have astigmatism as do some of my sisters). I heard the girl say that one of her eyes was 20/60. I had no idea. The dr. said that kids don't usually tell you because they don't know any different. He said that she may just have to wear them for a time to correct her eyes. He was really pushing that it is important to get these things corrected by the time your child is 7. We go back in 4 months to see where she is at. In the meantime, I have been on a hunt to find her some glasses that are right for her little face.

TUESDAY:

Emily had preschool in the morning and so I went and had an oil change in the truck. That was overdue. I tell you...too many things to do and not enough time. I think we have all said that. After school, I ran Emily up to a few places to look at glasses. She was in heaven trying on such cutsie glasses. Her little face is so precious with glasses. I just have to giggle when she tries a pair on. We made it back just in time to pick up the boys from school. I hate not spending time at home with just the two girls while the boys are in school. I do need to enjoy the house with a little less noise and fuss each day. We were on homework duty...the boys have been great with their homework. I can't imagine if they were really needing much help. I would be stretched too thin. Todd had a late meeting in Bakersield yesterday afternoon and so didn't get home until 8:30... the night before it was after 7:30 and tonight he has Bishopric meetings. When he isn't around in the evenings that many days in a row it really wears on me. It is a grind for sure.

WEDNESDAY (Today): We ran to another eye shop this morning after I dropped off the boys at school. We had to be ready for her dance class so it was a bit of a race this morning having everyone dressed and ready to go so early. We stopped in Wal-Mart for a few items and then off to dance. Emily is doing so well in her class. She has the timing down with the steps. It is so cute to watch. She is really learning the steps and the terms for all of her moves. It's fun to hear her talk about the different ones here at home. She loves her class and I'm happy that she is having fun and learning a new thing. Her teacher is opening a new studio right by our house in January sometime....YEAH!! I will be so happy. The drive will be just a couple of minutes instead of 10-12 up the freeway. Todd met us at another eye shop to look at glasses during lunch. It is so hard taking Ellie to all of these shops. She is fussing and wanting out of the stroller, Emily is pulling every pair of kids glasses down and trying them on and I'm supposed to be making sure they fit and look right on her. We were able to make a decision on a pair. They are cute and Emily loves them and can't wait to wear them. That is what matters! We then took her to McDonalds and she and Todd had lunch. I grazed on some french fries and Franks red hot sauce. Ellie was pretty much exhausted by this point. She had had no nap and was fussy a bit. She was asleep the minute I hit the freeway.

On top of all of this they all have a runny nose and that tires me out. I have a stash of kleenex every where I go.

It is so nice to have the glasses finally picked out and off of my chest....now onto the next many items of business in the next 6 days...
~planning Mitty's baptism which is stressing me,
~getting Mitty's slacks tailored,
~preparing the house for many guests next week,
~trying to write out a talk for Ressa's baptism on Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga,
~trying to have something fun for Mitty on his b'day (Friday). I told him I just couldn't plan 2 big parties this close to each ~other.
~Make and package 22 cookies for Casey's class party
~Attend Casey's class performance for the Principal's Tea
~Provide drinks for Emily's class party and attend
~Ward Family Service Project in our town Saturday morning
~Decorate my trunk and provide candy for our wards Trunk or Treat
~Figure out costumes for my kids

And I can't forget the laundry that is always a chore. There is so many items of clothing it kills me.

I am so dang sleepy tonight and I'm staring at 3 loads of laundry to fold and a dishwasher that is full, ready to be put away and dirty dishes from dinner tonight. Oh, I am praying for a miracle to have the energy to finish it all in the next hour before it's my bedtime. I better go set the timer and get busy.