Does "Normal" Exist?

If a normal exists in our life I guess we returned back toward it this week. Joshua was back in classes and preparing for mid-term exams. We were back to cleaning day, mommy school, visiting teaching, Please Touch Museum outings, laundry, parks, Young Women’s activities, grocery shopping, play-dates and all the little things that make our world go around.

I am still on my quest to learn to like running. I had to go without Josh this week. I missed him for two reasons: 1) it is harder than it looks to push the running stroller, and 2) without Josh talking to me I was back to my old problem of not being able to think about anything but how tired I was. The important thing, however, is that I went--TWICE--by myself so on Saturday I was ready for our long run together. We started off without a plan, got talking, felt pretty good, and ended up running an 8 mile loop along the Schuylkill River. Today I am sore. Good sore though and I think I am ready to officially sign up for the half marathon we have unofficially been preparing for.

We often finish our runs at the Art Museum steps and then run up and down them Rocky style so that we feel cool. We let the girls follow us up and down so they can stretch their legs after riding in the chariot, which is a really cute site, by the way. When I was preparing for my first independent run this week I said, “Come on girls, let’s get in the chariot and go for a run.” Jane clapped her hands with joy, started running toward the door, and said, “do stairs!”

Our weekend got a little more exciting. I had two friends come into town. Jen Fairbourn, a Shimai from my mission, and Risa, a fellow staff member from Brighton Girls camp. The girls and I took them to Longwood Gardens. It was a beautiful day. We happened to catch the Orchid Auction & Sale so there were incredible displays of orchids in the conservatory in addition to the usual gardens. We had a nice time. It was strange to have three phases of my life suddenly meet: camp, mission, and mom in Philly. My brain would jump among different memories and our present reality. It was really fun to touch base with good friends from the past.

Friday evening as I was cooking dinner my friend here in Philly, Emilee Palmer, called. She was in labor! A few minutes later we brought her boys over for a sleepover and she and her husband had to brave rush hour traffic to make it to the hospital. I sent Jen off to Art After 5 by herself and started the bedtime routine for the four kids. It wasn’t our best night sleep ever, but we were happy to have some little friends over and help in the small way that we could. We have to stick together out here so far away from home!

Saturday morning I left Josh making German Pancakes for all the kids and went to a breakfast for Wharton Mommies. I felt a little bad walking out the door to go to breakfast at a cafe while he was playing super dad, but I had planned the activity so I couldn’t very well not show up. It didn’t take too long to brush aside the guilt, however, and I had a grand time chatting with the ladies.

Josh has been enjoying March Madness. At the beginning of the tournament, when I was feeling very neglected, I decided they call it March Madness because the anger level of the wives skyrockets as their husbands become completely worthless for a month. All I can say is, I am very grateful for the sake of our marriage that we don’t have a TV. I do enjoy watching college basketball sometimes, especially cheering for the cinderella teams, but not when there are children and dishes and laundry to be attended to. Jane on the other hand has become a huge basketball fan. She parks herself right in front of Josh’s computer so she can watch the games with her Dad. I think that makes him feel better too because he can say he is spending time with his daughter.

Kate had the quote of the week. Dinner was taking a little longer than expected so I started her off with a banana cut in slices and sprinkled with a little brown sugar. She emptied the bowl in just a few minutes and then smacking her lips proclaimed, “I was so hungry for brown sugar that I ate all my nanas!”