Weekend Review

Well, we made it through the weekend.

The weekend was great. Saturday, we found a queen bed at a good price for the guest room downstairs (yes, that former indoor soccer arena) and brought it home. Jesse strapped it to the top of the van and we made it back before it started to rain.

Once here, we discovered that the box spring won't fit down the stairs. WILL NOT. We, who have moved so many things so many times and have not yet had to set a couch afire to get it out of an apartment (although we thought we might, that time in Philadelphia) have finally met our match.

Yesterday we visited a new church--the third since our arrival. The familiar prayerbook liturgy was calming and familiar, so that I felt at home instead of a stranger. It also helped hook me into worship in spite of a tantrum on one side and a serious wriggler on the other. The stone and stained glass windows felt familiar to us all, after last fall, and the choir and organ were throwbacks to so many places besides the present that it felt like home.

The church is downtown, so afterwards we walked over to the Princeton Jazz Festival, saw some of campus, and even stopped to explore a classic toy store the kids have been wanting to visit. Tucked onto a bookshelf there I found a book I promised for a birthday gift earlier this summer: only to then find it was out of print. I've been checking, just-in-case, every book store I've passed. There were two copies. VICTORY! I bought them both. (It's coming, Salem!)

Today we were back in the saddle with school, finally with almost all of the resources/curriculum/books I need. It went pretty smoothly. I am still pretty scattered, but the children are finding their rhythm. No fish died today. However Charlie may have broken a toe--kicking something else in the basement (a balloon with no water in it, this time).

I had decided that this afternoon would be the day to go and get proper church clothes for cold weather. The boys especially were in need. We traipsed around from one store to another in the late afternoon (never a good idea, but staying home all day wasn't either). As the afternoon progressed Bud started complaining about his toe. I know his incredible tolerance for pain and I should have realized--but I didn't, until we got home and I saw how swollen it was.  (He didn't mention it before we left the house). We'll see how he wakes up.

We got home late and I warmed up leftovers while the kids got in pajamas (it's J's long day in, so we haven't seen him since breakfast). I was dangerously close to "the edge," and if another marble had gone down the sink I think I would have lost it. Instead, as I was scratching one of the boys' backs at bedtime--one of our special sabbatical traditions--Bud asked, "How do you KNOW just where to scratch? This is perfect!" Wombles said, "I think it's because she's read a lot of books. She's really smart." So while I may not be a king, I have at least moved up to Queen-with-knowledge status. It made me laugh.

Last night I told J that I bet there was a video online for how to get that box spring down the stairs.  Ever since a few years ago I found about a dozen instructional videos for how to fold up a Playhut tent, I have known there are probably people out there who have faced every logistical challenge I can face. And made a video to show how they conquered it. And today, sure enough! I found directions. J's a bit skeptical, but we even already have the circular saw!!

Happy Monday,
H