My weekend in rewind

This weekend started off optimistically good.
We had a lot going on but it was all manageable, and my husband was going to be home! Things with two adults always seem easy when you've been doing them,  struggling but still accomplishing them, with one.

 

 Friday night

 

I had to take #1 to dance class for her solo practice. I had told my husband that since the oldest two had been being such great helpers, I was going to take them both on a girls date as well.  My husband was completely exhausted and I discovered that not only had he been working like crazy the past few days, he was also averaging two hours of sleep a night.  Lovely.  I decided to take #5 with me as well.

Girls night!

  (#3 &#4 were busy combining with Grandpa)  We went out for a fun dinner and then did some girly shopping before dropping #1 off.  About five minutes before dropping her off Grandpa called, #4 was falling asleep and could I come get him.  Nope.  I couldn't as a matter of fact. We finished up some errands, picked #1 back up and then went to get the boys.  Bedtime had more than passed and #5 fell asleep on the drive home.  We get to the front door with everyone exhausted only to discover my hubby had turned all the lights off and locked the doors.  He had no real memory of doing it and must have been half asleep.  We tried calling him, knocking, screaming, shining a flashlight in his bedroom, and just generally making a ton of a ruckus.  To no avail.  After about 20 minutes he appeared in our bedroom doorway, looked at us, turned around and shut the door.  All of the kids started bawling hysterically except for #1.  I was pretty sure we were going to have to go and get the ladder for the second time this week.  Thankfully he woke up enough within a few minutes to actually open the door. (The next morning he had no memory of opening the door and looking at us either.  He couldn't figure out why everyone was crying so much. Hmmm go figure, not sleeping doesn't allow you to function)

 

Saturday

 

We started the day with some cleaning of bedrooms and other chores.  Shortly after 10 we started getting 1-4 ready for hockey.  They are all in a learn to skate program and although there was some resistance by #1 at first, they all love it now.  (And they all can skate independently!) Afterwards we grabbed lunch and dropped some clothes off at a Laundromat.  Have I mentioned that I have not had a washing machine for over two months?  With six kids?  And a newborn?  Oh yes that's been fun.  We finally got home and the kids went upstairs to do some quiet reading.  At which point #2 started screaming hysterically.  She ran down the stairs screaming "MOUSE!!"  After 3 1/2 years of living in a very old house in the country, I am used to mice.  (Well, not quite used to because they still freak me the heck out and I have traps everywhere and my kitchen is meticulously cleaned and checked constantly.)  My dear sweet husband went upstairs, caught the mouse by the tail,  and brought it to me so I could freak out, screech and have a panic attack.  Finally he brought it outside to the porch, and showed it to our kitten.  My children all watched through the large glass windows leading out to our porch as the mouse was taken care of by said kitty.  I can honestly say that if this had occurred to me even five years ago, I would have been an absolute mess.  Nothing surprises me anymore though.

#6 With our ferocious mouse eating kitten, Mary.

 

Once everyone was quieted down from the mouse situation, my husband decided to take a quick nap before a banquet we were going to for the kids' saddle club.  The second he laid down, he received a text message from his brother.  It said simply, "We are done ripping for awhile"  with this picture attached:

 

Any thought of a nap went out the window and he headed out to investigate. 

 

 

By the time he returned, it was time to get everyone ready to go to the saddle club end of the year banquet.  #1 has had a difficult year riding. She loves to do it but is so cautious about everything she does.  She was so excited to get grand champion for pony pleasure age 13 & under, reserve champion for pony horsemanship, and 3rd place for pony barrels.  So proud of her!

#1 and Mitsy

 

#2 Didn't get an award this year.  It was difficult for her, but she was ok.  She knows that next year she will have to really work hard and hopefully she can get an award.  # 3 got a plaque for reserve champion in costume and lead line.  #4 won grand champion for costume class and 3rd place in lead line. It was a fun night, but we left just as they were starting bingo because some of the younger ones were fading.  And in all honesty I have no idea how my husband was even alive still.  He makes it impossible for me to complain about being tired, because he is always much more tired than me!

Sunday

Finally came our "day or rest"  We went to church,  the oldest two had faith formation afterwards, and then hubby cooked a huge Sunday breakfast.  Hubby took children to help combine with grandpa and the uncles.  They all had a blast driving around in the tractors that hadn't caught on fire this weekend, the semi trucks and of course the combine with Grandpa. 

 

 

Now we are back to our normal weekly grind.  Maybe next weekend will be a bit more uneventful?