I am here to report that the goals for the month of April were an absolute bust… If it could go wrong (or break) it did. My main goals for April were to get the plumbing fixed, and work out in the yard on the Summer gardens.

We had been waiting on plumber number one to show up, and then we called plumber number two that gave us the run around for another two weeks. When it was almost two months waiting we decided to call a contractor. They did show up, worked a full two days, and when they left, water still poured from the ceiling… Looks like we are going to call plumber number three, and wait even longer.

The weather was crazy. We had storms, snow, heat, storms, freezing temps, high winds, and allergies. Not much yard work was done… I worked a bit on the side porch, and babied along seedlings through a late snow storm. I was really exhausted most of the month, and had a good two weeks of migraines.

That brings us to May. The kids have just nine days left to the school year, and all three kids have multiple activities for each and every day. I’m just going to try my best to keep up with all of it, and make sure everybody gets where they need to.

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and I am working on myself a bit more. I’m going in for my yearly well woman visit and prescription refill requests, as well as having my second mammogram. I would like to take Agnes shopping and restock our makeup bags, and maybe get a few new clothing items for Summer.

I am also working on my ongoing mental health struggles. Summer is when my seasonal affective disorder goes haywire and I battle severe depression. With the kids home full time, and the noise level elevated, insomnia creeps in, and panic attacks in my sleep are more common. Summer is always a challenge.

I also want to enjoy Summertime more. I often feel like I’m in the same old rut of cooking, cleaning, laundry, cleaning, cooking, and never really getting to relax. I want to be able to enjoy the lazy days of Summer without just being a handmaid to the household.

I hope the month of May goes well, but after April, I’m not holding my breath.

Today I woke up grumpy… Weekends always make me grumpy. I’m stuck in the house doing the same thing that I have done all week, cleaning the same messes, washing the same dishes, cooking around the clock.

I’m also in a bad mood because the second plumber, the one that said he would be here on Tuesday or Wednesday, never showed this week. James texted him on Thursday, and he said, oh I have you down for next week. Seriously, it has been a month and a half, I just want the upstairs bathroom fixed, so I can start putting the house back together again.

I turned forty-one yesterday, and I didn’t feel too fantastic about it…

I never really handle birthdays, or holidays well, or celebrations in general. Yesterday hit me really hard though. I took Agnes out to pick up dinner, and pick up a birthday cake and cupcakes, I just didn’t feel like baking. I picked up a few of my favorite candies for presents, and grabbed some groceries as well. We were expecting even more snow, and I’ve been running through the pantry.

Dinner was good, the cake was o.k., the whole evening just felt off… I counted the minutes until the kids were finally in bed, and I could end the day.

We are still snowed in today, the kids are home doing school online, and I’m attempting tasks with frozen pipes. We have had really challenging winter weather this last week, and I think it is adding to my stress, and sadness. Its just been a really long week…

Yesterday I picked up the kids from school, and both of them had to clean out their desks and lockers. The schools are closed for next week, and will hopefully be back in session on the 30th. They were also instructed to bring home all of their login information, and add zoom to their phones. It really feels like we might be switching to online only soon…

Right now everyone is home for the next nine days. My husband has taken time off work, and so far I’ve been in the kitchen nonstop. The weather is amazingly cool, and I have been spending time baking breads, brownies, and making homemade soup.

I’ll start the Thanksgiving baking soon, and I still need to menu plan for next week too. I’ve got a load of laundry waiting on me, so I had better get back to it.

Whenever May rolls around it is always the shortest month of the year, and the busiest too. This year, December has been the new May. With only three days left before Christmas break, I am not ready for the noise, messes, and fighting that comes along with a teen and two tweens…

Also, Agnes has been sick. She missed three days of school last week, and I didn’t get any gifts together or wrapped for Christmas. I think I tell myself every year that I should really start in October, before flu season wreaks havoc on Kansas.

Three days before Agnes was sick, I got a horrible migraine… A stress one, no less. It hit me after shopping for a birthday present for Dylan’s friend, and it wiped me out for a good three days.

We have also had at least two to three different things on the calendar for the very short twelve and a half days that the kids are in school this month. There’s debate, choir, basketball meetings, haircuts, doctor’s appointments, and ensemble practices too. And debate tournaments, and I forgot to pick up my prescription for my contacts at least three weeks ago.

Yeah, I’m not ready…