THings I did this week instead of writing blog posts

Took two latch key kids under my wing for a while since they were on spring break and their mom works 12 hour evening shifts. I figure it’s probably hard on a 13 year old girl having to make dinner and get your 6 year old brother to bed every single night all by yourself. So they’ve been tagging along with us as we go to the library, farmer’s market, pool, and for dinner most of the week. This trend will probably continue as they are sweet and lonely kids and and I am trying to do the thing in front of me that I see needs doing instead of pining away for some grand world changing scheme that will do things on a large scale. The little boy is also quite obese and shy and, oh my heart breaks for him, he’s so sweet and timid. I’ll never forget his face as we stepped off the elevator into the children’s part of the library and he saw a whole floor of kids books. He had never been to the public library before. He was awestruck.

The Boy asked me a few nights ago why his friend was fat. His friend had said earlier that night, “I used to be skinny, but now I’m fat.” So we talked about nutrition and exercise, and sneaking candy, which they both do, and the Boy was very serious and thought he should help his friend by telling him that he was fat and shouldn’t eat so much. I finally was able to make him see that it would be more helpful to just be his friend, and play with him. Because he stays inside all day because he can’t find people to play with.

His older sister is sweet too and lost in her own way, as kids who have been displaced and through a few broken marriages can be. She’s teetering on the edge of womanhood, and carries a lot of weight on her very young shoulders.

Anyway, besides them,

I have taken kids swimming 3-4 times.

I have baked 4 loaves of bread, one cheesecake, 42 homemade chocolates, homemade hummus, and carved a watermelon to be a special fruit salad bowl for the GH’s grandparent’s 60 anniversary party. The Boy things I’m a really great mama because I can carve 60 into the side of a hollowed out watermelon. (My mom would be so proud.)

I’ve attended many family functions.

I have eaten too many cookies.

I have done laundry, a lot of laundry.

I have made the GH lunch every single night.

I have spent at least two evenings hanging with him instead of my computer.

I have made muesli, and yogurt.

I have cleaned the kitchen.

I have planted daisies with the Girl.

I have danced at horsey dance parties, DJed by the demo track on the kid’s synthesizer.

I have stood outside at the park and talked to neighbors while our kids run around in circles.

I think I’ve made a new friend.

I’ve helped the GH with important paper work.

I’ve convinced the new manager at our leasing office that she really does want to pay for our carpets to be cleaned since we are renewing our lease AGAIN, and it’s been more than a year and a half since they’ve been cleaned.

I wish I could say I’ve gotten more sleep but that’s not true. The Baby is teething.

All this time I’ve been writing in my head. Much of what I write in my head never makes it from there to anymore permanent medium, I rarely have the time to record even the seeds of ideas. But I feel I am about to explode with words that I want to write.

Almost all of this list is good, better even than this little blog of mine. But I have missed it so the past several days. Hopefully I will find a way to squeeze out a few more minutes in the coming week.