Random Venting So My Brain Doesn't Explode Post

Have you ever had one of those days when you had so much to say but you didn't know how to say it? My brain is on overload, I'm tired, my legs hurt, the weather turned cold, and I have five gazillion things to do before Friday. I'm having loads of company for the weekend, and Brandon doesn't get home until Saturday --and now I'm thinking it would be nice to just skip April altogether.
Sigh.
So, I'm gonna make this post a random one, okay? Just to get the overloaded brain some respite:

*My oldest daughter is turning 8 --since it's an even year, she gets a friend party. I asked her to think of what she'd like to do (what theme she would want) and she came up with the best idea! Her birthday is the day before Earth Day, so she wants to do an Earth Day party. We're going to buy flower pots, decorate them (that was actually bythelbs' idea), and then plant flowers. Then the girls can take them home. That's it! Flower pots and cake/ice-cream/gifts. I'm so proud of her for coming up with something so unique and fun.

*I'm almost 24 weeks along now. It's strange, because I feel the baby moving around constantly now, but I keep forgetting how big I'm getting. And I'm starving! I can't stop eating. I need to slow down at least a little bit so I don't gain TOO much weight this time around!

*#3 is finally registered for Kindergarten! Yay! They had a new rule this year that the kids couldn't even be put into the system until ALL their immunizations were done. I had no idea that could be done before they are 5 years old --why didn't they say anything? So, yesterday, I took #3 to get his shots. He was not happy about it and I had to physically hold him down so the nurse could get the shots in his thighs super quick (she was fabulous, btw). He cried and screamed, but when it was over, he was just fine. Me, on the other hand? I couldn't stop crying! I cried the whole way home. Just holding his body down KNOWING it was causing him pain was enough to open the floodgates of tears. Plus I'm hormonal. And I love him.

*I'm so nervous for the piano recital on May 3rd. I hate it! Every time I have a recital, my students somehow become the biggest slackers. It doesn't matter how much time I've given them to learn the songs or memorize; it doesn't matter how much I emphasize the importance of such an event --every time (every time!) I have at least 5 or 6 students who humiliate themselves. Sure, they do great all the rest of the year, but put "recital" in front of a song? It's like a subconscious alarm goes off and they turn off all effort.
Sigh.

*A friend of mine I haven't seen in YEARS drove up to my house the other day to say hi! It was so awesome to see her! Even better, she reads this blog --isn't that crazy? I had no idea. So, here's a shout-out and hello to Amber M.! Hello! :)

*I'm very excited and mostly terrified of the new Critique Group I was asked to join. It's Thursday night, and I have the chapters printed out (9 copies!), ready to go. But I'm so nervous! And shoot! I haven't got a sitter, yet...

*What the heck am I going to do about the lawn? I cancelled our lawn service for financial reasons, but our sprinklers aren't working, there's no WAY Brandon can do the lawn this summer (what with school and work and callings and travel) and I'm going to be a little too pregnant for it...but what else can I do? And who do I hire to do the sprinklers? And how much will that cost? And what do I do about the lawn? Do I hire a neighbor kid to do it? Do I just put on my big girl panties and do it myself? Oh, if only our children were old enough to do it themselves...

*We did the Easter FHE Monday night --and it went really well! I had forgotten about these FHE kits I had made in the last ward we were in, but I found them when we cleaned out the office. I was so happy! The Easter one was all ready to go. The kids loved it and took turns holding pictures and opening the eggs. Did you have an Easter FHE? What did you do?

*My calling is so frustrating. I spend a lot of time editing and putting together a fabulous newsletter for the ward, right? It comes out twice a month, so I am thinking about it a lot. Then I pass it along to the distributor who prints it and gives it to the boys in the ward to pass out. That's it. That's all this calling entails --printing and passing. And yet month after month after month it doesn't get done --and if it does? Never on time. Never. And so, all of my work is usually wasted. This time? It was done a WEEK late. If that --I don't even know because I still haven't gotten my own copy! I shouldn't vent about this here, but I'm just tired, that's all. I've spoken with the Bishopric about it, but nothing has changed, so I just do my job, and pass it along. It doesn't help that this person refuses to take phone calls from concerned neighbors who never get their newsletter --so I'm always flooded with phone calls (as is my assistant editor). I just don't know what to do anymore. I think I need to pray about it more...

*There's so much more to talk about. Like the stuff I need to clean, and the shopping I need to get done, and our vacation next week, and how my Burt's Bees lotion from my SIL (thanks, Bren!) works so much better on my sunburn then cheap aloe vera sticky gel --but I'm sure I've already bored you all to tears (if you even read this far, eh?). So, I'll just stop there.

Do you need to vent or get stuff out? You are welcome to do it here --go for it! (Just maintain a sense of decorum and respect, okay?)