Lucy's Birthday

On Sunday Lucy turned 14! She opened her presents when she woke up as per tradition. Her big gift from us this year was getting highlights in her hair, but we also got her a blanket, colored pencils and a coloring book. My parents got her a sweatshirt and name brand lip gloss. Tyler's parents got her a target giftcard. Penny got her candy and Ben got her a bundt cake. The rest of her day wasn't too exciting with church and a fireside, but we did sing to her after dinner and we all got to eat some yummy bundt cake (I had bought a few other bundlets for the rest of us to share).

Monday night Lucy had her party with her friends. Jenny, Geli, Vera, Mila, and Claire. While the girls were waiting for Geli to come, they went outside and hit the volleyball to each other while I chatted with Jenna's mom for a bit. After about 30 mins of waiting, Geli's mom told us just to meet them at Culver's. That worked out because we all got there at the same time. The girls enjoyed some food and then I took them to Target for a stroll. I wandered the aisles while the girls did their thing and then eventually we met up and left. Her Renaissance friends all bought matching PJ pants for PJ day at the school. Once back at the house we sang happy birthday and then she opened gifts. Most of her gifts were money and giftcards- she was pretty spoiled. All in all I think she had a good party- she just had some moments where friends were sharing inside jokes/stories that did not involve her and made her feel a bit left out. I don't love that. I think the friends that sometimes leave her out are the "cool" kids and I wish she would worry less about them and gravitate to the friends of hers that really do care about her.

Tuesday morning Tyler and I voted. We went at a good time and it wasn't super busy. Unfortunately the candidates that we voted for did not win. I am not excited at all about those who won. After we voted, we took Ruby for a walk to 7-11 and Ben joined us. We ended up walking a little further, into Mill Race park and hung out there for a bit. It was a beautiful fall day and a nice little outing. Except that I stepped in dog poop. Cleaning that off my shoe made me want to puke. And to add salt to the wound- Ruby pooped in the tub later that day and I had to clean that up as well. It was a poop kind of day.

Tuesday after lunch I had my first physical therapist appointment. I got there and explained my leg pain and my inability to pin where this came from. She immediately told me she wasn't a doctor and couldn't diagnose me but she could help me strengthen my leg with stretches and exercises. Cool. I am just going where my doctor sends me, but no one knows what is wrong with my leg I guess? The physical therapist emphasized that I should get an MRI to help with figuring things out so I scheduled it for the end of December. Not excited for that. Then she moved my legs around to assess weakness and assigned me daily stretches to do and scheduled me to come in once weekly. I have been doing these stretches for a bit now and am not really seeing any positive difference but hopefully over time things will improve.

Later Tuesday, we went on our annual trip to Bronners to pick out Christmas ornaments. A bit early but we always try to get there before Thanksgiving. It actually was a really nice outing- very little fighting and the kids enjoyed strolling Bronner's and even took pictures without too many complaints (although getting them all to smile at the camera is still a feat). Steven got a minecraft ornament, Ben got his Game Night Snowman ornament, Penny got a pink Stanley cup ornament, Lucy got a Coca Cola Bear ornament and Ruby got a bunny ornament. 

After getting our ornaments, we got dinner at Wendy's. Both Ruby and I got Frosty all over our shirts. Like mother, like daughter. 

Wednesday Penny had an appointment with her orthopedic surgeon. We had to wait an hour just for him to come in and say her arm looks great and we can get the rods out soon. I am glad I followed my intuition to not bring Ruby to the appointment so I didn't have to entertain her in a small room for an hour. They talked about scheduling her surgery for the week of Thanksgiving. I am not in love with that but we will do what needs to be done. Hopefully they call soon so we can have that in the schedule.

We canceled playgroup Thursday morning because Ruby had a yucky cough. I was sort of relieved because I have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. Too many appointments for me and the kids. I ended up taking Ben, Ruby and Grams to Costco instead. It's ok to spread our germs there right? We got our things and then had lunch. Despite my self control with not buying junk food and snacks that we do not need- it always costs us a fortune.

When we came back from Costco, we heard the washer making some crazy load thumps. It was trying to spin but couldn't. So now apparently our washer is dead. It was not as old as our dryer, we only had the washer about 6 years and I really think it should have lasted longer. So now that's another expense for this very expensive year. 

Thursday night was Ben's Soccer Banquet. I had been dreading this for weeks- especially when I found out Tyler could not go with me because of archery. Now that he is being paid to coach he doesn't like to miss it. I have no soccer parent friends so I was feeling very anxious about sitting at a table full of strangers for hours (because it always takes hours). Thankfully I feel like God guided me to a good table. I sat by this really nice couple who chatted with me and didn't make me feel awkward. Their kiddo is a captain on the JV team so they don't quite understand the plight of us bench sitter families, but their kid did come from a small private Catholic school so they related some with the transition to public schools and leaving the shelter of small school. The night was still much longer than it should have been but I am grateful for that couple. Ben was told that night that he was "hardworking and coachable" and he got a paper plate award for being "Tekky Ben". He said it was in jest since his technical skills aren't the best. Also I thought he had dressed too fancy last year so I told him a polo and jeans was fine...everyone was in suits so hopefully next year we remember that he actually needs to dress up.

Friday morning I got my ears cleaned out and my hearing checked. It was grossly satisfying. She showed me the "clog" in one of my ears and then had me look up at the screen while she cleaned out the other ear. Apparently I have super tiny ear canals so that was part of the problem. She recommended I put olive oil in my ears twice a week to keep them clean and to keep them from drying out.. I am hoping this helps and I have less future issues. Afterwards they had me do a hearing test for no apparent reason- I guess to get a baseline of my hearing. I do hate tests like that though, because you can't study for them, lol. They had me repeat things and say "yes" when I heard beeps and sometimes I felt like I was missing things. Also some of the words they had me repeat felt like they were awkward or could be if mispronounced (yearn, ditch..). But I passed the test so that's good. Hopefully it didn't cost me a fortune.

Friday afternoon my parents and Tyler left. I do not like being the only grown up at home. It gives me anxiety. Hopefully life is uneventful until he gets back and they all get there safely. We are going to miss having my parents around. It has been fun having them in our lives- dinners, games, walks, lunches out...At least we get them back in 6 months.

Saturday morning Ben had an archery tournament. I am grateful he was able to drive himself. He was responsible and got himself up and out on time. I know I am blessed because not all teens are good at that. My morning was spent running a couple errands. Then Penny's friend Claire came over. I ended up taking them to the mall, along with Ruby. The mall was so crowded- there is a reason I do not go to the mall on the weekends. I ended up letting Claire and Penny go off together- just checking in on them every 30 minutes. I hope Claire's mom doesn't hate me for that. Meanwhile I chased my crazy toddler around and it was very overstimulating for me but I think she needed to get out. Penny and Claire got pink drinks at Starbucks and shared some pretzels with me and did plenty of window shopping. I think they had a good time. 

Saturday evening I went to pick up a Barbie House for a Christmas present for Ruby. It was 45 minutes away but they were willing to give it to me for less than they were asking so I could stay in budget and it was in really nice condition.  However, I was dumb and didn't measure out my trunk to make sure it would fit. As soon as I saw it, I knew that was not going to fit in my trunk. They were very nice and the husband disassembled part of it for me so it would fit. As I was driving home, I was freaking out thinking that it might not even fit in our playroom and wondering if I should have spent the money and put them through that hassle. But when I got home, after putting it in the basement, I measured where it will go- and it does fit! I am relieved and I think Ruby is going to love it. It has a pool, elevator, door, furniture...it's pretty amazing.