Fall stretch

As a teacher, the hardest part of any school year for me was the long stretch from Labor Day to Thanksgiving break. I'm not even teaching this year, and it's been the craziest year yet! Brian works at least ten hours every day (and many Saturdays this fall), leaving me at home alone in isolated Mono City with the two kids. Before we had Jack, I remember a friend of mine saying that, when her husband got home at the end of a long day, she'd hand him the kids and go off and hide, by herself, for a little bit. At the time I thought, Can it really be that difficult? It's just a kid or two, and they're yours, and you have naptime and downtime, and you don't have to get out of your pajamas all day... But now I understand! Being a mom is definitely the hardest job I've ever had. I think Lynnette from "Desperate Housewives" said it best: "Motherhood means you feel lonely all the time, but you're... never... alone!" Which makes this upcoming Thanksgiving break especially needed. Brian is off for the entire week, and what's more, his mom's coming into town as well! I am so looking forward to having their company. We've planned a relaxing week; hopefully I'll have time to get out and walk the dog, take a bath, or just breathe.

The "news"

I'm lying in bed in our RV just outside Phoenix, about a mile from the racetrack which will host a NASCAR race tomorrow. The kids and I just spent five days in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, visiting my sister. My parents also made it down from Idaho for the visit, and we all got to meet Val's boyfriend RJ. Now, Phoenix for a few days. I'm lamenting my lousy blogging the past month or so, and how much writing I'll have to do to catch up, but there is a good excuse! My laptop went on the fritz awhile ago. Brian tried to reformat the hard drive, but it just didn't work. So he's been bringing his work laptop home for me to use in the evenings. The situation has not given me much time for frivolous things like blogging! Alas, it was time to order a new computer. Not complaining or anything, but there's been a lot of new stuff in my life lately. This, for a girl who's happy with a new three-pack of socks from Target. It all has my head just about spinning! Starting back in June, here's a list of my new things:

* baby * travel trailer * church * mommy group * school year * several sets of neighbors * cell phone * Internet service * insurance plan * pediatrician *

And next, a new laptop. It should arrive Tuesday, which is also Jack's birthday and our first day back in town after this trip. I look forward to posting some pictures and tales of our latest adventures very soon afterward.