Far too tired

Work again kept me very busy this week. I'm not quite sure when things will relax, but it needs to happen soon. There is no way for me to continue this pace of work without snapping, and it has kept me so tired that I have barely enjoyed spending time with Ken and the girls. I'm not even going to start in on the lack of cross-stitching or reading that I have gotten to over the last week - because I didn't. I'm in bed seriously early because I'm too exhausted to do anything else.

This is the stack of reports that I need to write over the next two weeks. I have NO CLUE how this will get done along with all of the other duties I'm supposed to have at work. Each file folder has a minimum of 1 hours' worth of time. If there is background information I need to gather, or if I have to get information from the student, that adds more time. Um, I only get paid for 38 1/2 hours per week. I hate that there is no way for me to do a "quality"  job - everything is just quantity.

Ken and I made the time to go to the school to watch the girls' last cross-country meet. Mandy decided that she wasn't going to run, but Jordan did. Sadly, Jordan ran around so much before the meet that she was too tired to run in the meet.  She came in 32nd place, but she did finish.

We're planning an overnight camping trip for next week - as it turns out, it will have to be Monday overnight to Tuesday. Ken is completely excited and hoping that the girls and I become addicted. We spent some time at REI getting some items that we needed. I found the wicked clothing that I need for hiking and walking. I hated the price, but I kept it to just one outfit, and I'll see how it goes. Of course, men get nice and comfy clothes and women's are tight and clingy. I am loathe for anyone else to see me in these outfits, but so long as I do not collect all of the sweat and moisture, maybe it will make it easier for me to exercise and participate in the hikes with Ken. We'll see.

Taylor and Mandy asked to get waxed. Taylor usually gets her eyebrows and lip done when she gets her hair cut, but I'm pushing out their haircuts until November so they can have it done for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Keeping them in shoes and clothes has been a financial mess for us, but we've made it work. I was surprised when they asked about waxing though since it's an evil necessity, and even more surprised that Mandy asked for it. She has completely refused to go through the procedure because it is painful, but I guess her attending her first dance has her a little more self-conscience about her appearance. I have never had an issue with the girls getting waxed, and, in fact, Taylor's decision to start it a couple years ago has made it to where she rarely needs to get it done. It seems that her facial hair decided to stop growing. Yay!! Mandy now seems to want to get started and not have to go through this torture as often as I do.

Mandy didn't scream, but she had a difficult time sitting still. What a huge difference it made, and it is really nice to see her eyes!!

Ken was really happy that his middle son, Justin, decided to come over and spend some time with us last night as well. The boys are all trying to set up a backpacking trip with Ken, and he is very excited about it. I was happy when Justin said that he needs to hang out with Ken and me more often - because we're fun. I guess he forgot that we weren't the complete assholes that his mom had him believing we were. I reminded Justin that he hated we had rules in our house, but it's easy to follow them and life is pretty fun. He just smiled rather than make a comment, but it has to suck to know you made a really bad decision so young in life - he never should have been in a position to have to choose his mother or his father, but that was what Sheryl did to her boys, and they each chose poorly. It's been so difficult for Ken to watch each of the boys suffer for it, and it's been worse for each boy down the line. Brian is going to get screwed the worst - but at least Sean and Justin are learning. Hopefully, Justin will figure things out very quickly since he will be 18 soon.