A Bit of This and That

This week has been hectic, where I feel like I've just been running from one thing to the next.  And inbetween that running around is getting myself or the kids or the house ready for whatever event/activity is next. Does anyone else have weeks like that?  It's not like I plan it to happen that way, it's just that everything seems to want to happen at once and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm wiped out.  Fortunately, tomorrow is looking slightly slower.

*********
The air conditioner is broken.  We know there's a freon leak somewhere, but our air conditioning guys can't find it.  So last time they were here they put more freon with some dye into the unit, so when they come tomorrow they will hopefully be able to figure out what's going on.  I just hope we can get this all fixed before the heat really comes on in the next couple of weeks.

I also just hope we don't have to replace the entire unit, but I'm not holding my breath.  We all know this house's sordid history with random appliance replacements.


*********

The dang paid-for mini van is giving me issues.  The Check Engine Light lit up on Saturday during the father/son's campout.  And it stayed on.  So I set up an appointment to take the car in.  (Side note: my car guys always seem surprised that I want an appointment for my car to be fixed instead of just dropping it off for the entire day.  Seriously, gentlemen.  How many mothers do you know who would be willing - and able - to function without their vehicle for the day?!)  So I rushed to get ready and everyone out the door this morning - only to start the car and discover that the light was no longer on.  

Dang.

They said there was no reason to come in if the light wasn't on.  So we went to Aldi instead.

*********
I had to go to the BMV the other day because our stupid car loan people sent our mini van's title to our old address.  This after I had called them THREE TIMES to get the address changed.  But apparently they only ever changed it under my name, and not Lance's, who was the primary person on the loan.  But no one thought it useful to tell me this or ask if Lance's address should be changed as well, so why wouldn't I assume that, after talking to them THREE TIMES, that the title would be sent to our current address.

*sigh*

So they sent me a lien notice that I had to take to the BMV so I could get a copy of our title.  But of course I also had to update my driver's license since I never went down there to get it changed on my actual license after we moved. Yes, I know, it's been THREE YEARS.  I've been busy.

So I got that done.  And after filling everything out and getting everything done the BMV lady asked me which address I wanted my new license sent to, because my dang name is still linked to that dang old address because Lance still hasn't changed his driver's license address and I'm still linked to him.

Seriously, sometimes being married makes things more difficult than they need to be.

Or, rather, sometimes being married makes the government dumber than they need to be.


*********

Tonight was the 5th Grade History Fair at the elementary school.  Ordinarily I would have nothing to do with that, but around this time last year I got hoodwinked into being in charge of the refreshments for the evening. It really wasn't all that hard to do, but it was kinda like pulling teeth for a while, trying to get info about the event.  (It was a case of I didn't know what I didn't know.  I hate that.)  Things went really well, although we totally overestimated the number of ice cream bars we needed.  Oh well - the teachers will have a delightful treat as they get ready for summer! 

Kudos to Kanien for coming out to help me - the night before she left on vacation, no less.  You rock, Kanien.

No kudos for Josh, who only came for the treats and was put out for the entire evening when I wouldn't let him have more.  He acted like a punk for quite a bit of the time.  Punk kid.

*********

I belong to a Mom's group now.  I can't believe I haven't mentioned it before!  We meet once a month and discuss an article we've all read about mothering. (We get them here.) The group is made up of a pretty diverse group of women from my ward.

It's truly awesome.  

When it first started I wasn't sure how I would like it.  I have very mixed feelings about self-help and parenting books (mainly because I don't like books telling me what to do) and I was nervous this group would be like that.  But it's not.  The discussions we have are really insightful and helpful.  I've gotten some great ideas, have tried to change some of my mothering techniques, and, most of all, have discovered that other moms go through a lot of the same stuff I do.  If anything, it really helps me feel like I'll survive this whole mothering thing and that I'm not alone in all the crazy stuff that seems to happen.

I'm so glad I'm a part of this group.

*********

Mom's group was at my house on Tuesday, and since several of our members have May birthdays I made a cake to celebrate.  

This is crazy, because do you remember how awful I used to be at making cakes?  Seriously, several years ago I did a "Cake of the Month" feature on this blog just so I could practice and get better. 

I didn't get better.

At least not then.  But now?  Now I'm getting better.  I'm not sure why.  But after the last few cakes I've made this year - including the chocolate raspberry with chocolate raspberry ganache cake I made for Mom's group - I can now honestly say that I can make cakes that look and taste good, too!  Hooray!  Someone give me a medal.