Who? What?

Who am I? What day is it? What was I doing?

Departure to Zambia is less than 48 hours away now. I'm semi-packed. There are a couple of things I still need to buy and some cash to take out, but they have to wait until payday tomorrow. It's really messing with my head to think I'll be gone for 14 days but need only 1/2 that amount of clothing. I'm a notorious over-packer and my fear is I may have gone too far in the opposite direction for this trip. I mean, I still have room in our suitcases... As far as our flights go, we've already been rerouted and lengthened due to unhappy BA employees. Now we can only hope that Mount Eyjafjallajokull continues to behave. I think I'll be in a happier, more settled place tomorrow night after I get groceries stocked up for the fam and get the bills paid for June. Todd & Grammy have their color-coded schedules and I'll be finishing up the end-of-the-year teacher gifts tonight. And, I think that should about do it.

Work is insanely busy only because I'm trying to make things as easy as possible on those who'll be fielding my customers while I'm gone. I'll probably owe Tina big when I get back - please everyone, no emergencies while I'm gone - go easy on her for me!

Oh, and family, that applies to you too - NO EMERGENCIES - do you hear me?!? I want to hear of no surprises when I get home - just smooth sailing, okay? Grandparents are really going to be life savers for Todd, and I'm sure Ryder & Piper won't mind either, but it's no substitute for mom, right?

Oh, and just to help me along with my happy feelings about my departure, Ryder decides tonight would be the perfect night to get overheated at baseball practice and throw up all of his dinner - from the 2nd carpeted stair to the bottom, including the walls. I guess I need a portable Hurl Helper!

P.S. I've not forgotten about my promise to upload prom/graduation pics... Blogger hasn't been cooperative with photos this week, hence the failure of a Wordless Wednesday. OR maybe I'm just keeping you in suspense. Nope, it's Blogger.

My retirement plan

Tonight is Preschool Prom and Graduation - check back for pics, as it's sure to be a hoot! While talking about the dance and ceremony, the following mini-discussion happened:
Me - "Ry, this is kinda a big deal. I mean, you graduating from preschool and going to kindergarten kinda makes me sad and happy at the same time. You are really growing up."
Ry - "Why are you sad that I'm growing up? Because I won't snuggle with you anymore?"
Me - "Yep and before I know it, you'll graduate college, move away, get married and have your own family. And I don't know what I'll do when I don't have kids to take care of."
Ry - "You can move with me, mom."
Me - "Your wife might not like that."
Ry - "That's okay, you can just stay in the basement."

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Must cook.

Last night we had a great (although never long enough) time with our friends as we had our "until we meet again" get together. Today, Corey, April, Alex & Jocelyn left to finish up their work in Washington before their big departure for full time missions work in Alaska. But here it goes, thrown out for all to know: I didn't cook! Yeah, that's right - I bought fried chicken, potato salad, bagged salad and the delicious strawberries I've been personally o.d.ing on for a week. While I did cut and wash the strawberries, I didn't even make my own salad! I've never done that before and while I would love for it to come naturally and do it again, it has not sat well with me since. So for all the ease that is fully PREpared food, it's too much for this little hostess to handle.

In other news, Nala gets groomed and "shotted" this week. Softball is coming out of our ears. My cold is heading into week 2 and I'm drowning in snot. Ryder has been completely obnoxious - I'm blaming it on a phase and not bad parenting. My grandma's coming from Minnesota. I got flowers from my hubby today - a very rare occurrence, not from his lack of want but from my frugalness. I'd love to have someone buy my house as a birthday gift. yeah?

Zambia

Africa is barely over 3 weeks away. To be precise, it's 22 days until we depart. So much to do...and I'm still trying to figure out where to start. I'm not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda girl, so I feel like I'm behind schedule with preparations. Tickets - check, immunizations - check (except malaria meds), sleeping bags - check (thanks to gracious friends who loaned us fabulous tiny travel ones), skirts - check (must be worn while ministering in town), but there's still a laundry list of stuff to purchase and prepare!! And I'm already certain I'll forget something - so here's praying it's something small and expendable.

I'm trying to come up with clever ways to leave behind notes or maybe video/sound clips for Piper & Ryder while I'm gone since it looks like a global phone isn't going to be in the budget. Two weeks with no contact with Todd & the kids is going to be nerve wracking. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'm open to suggestions!

My second biggest concern, after leaving the family, is my strength. Not my physical strength, but my emotional strength. Anyone who's known me for a good amount of time, can tell you that I've always had a passion for children and care taking. And I can feel little cracks in my heart already starting simply thinking about being face to face with this:

Overheard at our house this week:
Ryder singing (to the tune of Electric Avenue): We gonna rock down to peanut butter avenue, and then we'll make some toast!

Wordless Wednesday