Fourth migraine in a week.

Or is it just one extended migraine, with a few spurts of relief? Where's the Excedrin?

On a trip to the Orient Market.

I've been on the prowl for Pork Sung. Ever heard of it? Couldn't find it last week at the Asian market I usually go to (though I did find a bag of tapioca pearls - the main ingredient in bubble tea - yay!) so after school yesterday I hit up another store close to Anna's school. Pleased to report we found it and I will be using it to make sushi rolls within the next few days. But that's not really what I'm blogging about.

The girls were well-behaved, not running up and down each and every aisle or proclaiming loudly how much the place stinks (because, let's face it, Asian stores have a knack for retaining smells to which the typical American simply isn't accustomed). In fact, they walked hand in hand down the aisles, keeping little Eve in check by politely replacing every item she dared remove from its shelf. It was a sight to behold.

Even still, the checker asked me a question I've heard only slightly more than a bajillion times, "Are they all yours?" To which I wanted to reply, "Why no, of course not, I just like inviting all the neighbor kids out for a jaunt to an Asian food store 25 minutes away from my home. Of course, they're my kids, you idiot." Sorry for the rant - can you tell I get that question a lot?

Anyway, after I replied in the affirmative, he said, "Oh, man, they are gonna hate you in a few years." Please. They already hate me. It's what I live for. And on that note, isn't this one cute?

In other news.

Lily learned to ride a bike - officially - early this month. Thank heaven for Indian summers, otherwise this post might have come next April.

A new tradition.

We, I mean I got a fondue set for our wedding. Because, let's be honest, fondue really isn't all that macho. I thought to myself, in order to get the best use out of this nonessential appliance, I need to allot myself a girl's fondue night with some regularity. I chose during the priesthood session of General Conference to plan my first shabang and vowed to make it a tradition. Except I didn't. Oh, I've planned a handful of gatherings over the years - all loads of fun, I might add. But circumstances have not permitted it to become the tradition I had hoped. So this year I began a new tradition, and it does not involve the fondue pot. Although it very well could.

You see, I have four adorable girls. And I have a husband who faithfully attends the priesthood session of conference semi-annually. So this year, we had our first designated "Girls' Night In" while dad was all out being spiritual and stuff. (Though, technically we've had loads of these over the years - this time I actually made a concerted effort to sell it to the girls as something special). It's been a few weeks, so the details are a bit hazy, but basically we ate junk food, watched a girly movie, braided hair and painted our nails. Even Eve, who loved getting in on all the action.

Reflections by a mother in a hurry.

I really love blogging. Really. A long absence from the keyboard is more an indication of life's imbalance than a dwindling interest in blogging. Blogging is not the only pasttime that has taken a backseat to the mundane, though. I'd like to consider myself a reader. And yet, the sad irony is that I've had two books sitting atop my nightstand collecting dust for the past two months, one of which is entitled, Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry. Ha!

I sat down to sing and play the piano on Sunday but only allotted myself a mere ten minutes to belt out a few tunes - there was work to be done - mouths to feed, dinner to be prepped, meetings to attend, lessons to read, and so on and so on... And it was Sunday! Yes, the day of rest.

Not to sound like a total downer, I'm actually keeping somewhat on top of things - at least my house isn't a complete disaster yet. But my garage, oh, my garage. That's a post for another day. Anyway, I think what I need to come to terms with is that this is the new "normal". I will continue to make an effort to minimize the craziness of each day by simplifying as best I can. But, in the meantime, I will choose to recognize that, though I have little time for what I would call leisure, I actually enjoy much of what is pressing in life.

For instance, I like cooking. I don't enjoy that dinner is an obligation to which I am bound every single stinkin' day of my life. But I'm going to focus on the fact that it's been a good dinner week so far - Grilled Pesto Pizza, Perfect Pot Roast, Ravioli Bake, and Lamb Korma. Nevermind that it took hours out of my busy schedule. Our family has eaten yummy meals every day this week and that makes me happy.

I love gardening. I've got tomato plants to pull, a lawn to mow, and bulbs to plant. Yes, they're chores that I tick off the to-do list when I finally get to them. But I like doing them.

I love being a mom. There are kids to shuttle to and fro, books to read aloud, one-on-one time to squeeze in, Joy School to teach, homework that needs assistance, and school volunteer hours to dedicate but you know what? I like doing those things - they make me happy.

It's easy as a homemaker to feel as though you've lost a bit of yourself - to feel frazzled that, at the end of the day, there's no time left to take that well-deserved bath, dive into that page-turner, or express the thoughts of the day on paper. I'm sure there's much I could do to prioritize more effectively so that I can fit in some of those things. But in the meantime, I'm going to appreciate the fact that what I do find time for is meaningful to me, that the hours I spend creating a happy home, serving in my church calling, yes, even doing laundry, are scoring points for me up in heaven. And on earth. And most of what being a homemaker entails is stuff I enjoy in the first place. So there. I have plenty of years left to pine for a soak in the tub.