Back in the loop/society

Dang! Where do I even start? We have all been under the weather all'a last week. Man!

LOL**I just now had to dig in the trash to find my blog notes--cause I have a lot to talk about & I did not want to forget and right when I was sitting down to write, I was like, 'where are my notes?' Trying to think about where to start? I am repeating myself now. Echo. Echo? Should I vent or should I break it down? Let me vent for a minute, then I will break it down.

I shouldn't even have to explain this! Hmm. Do people think we as a family are like twidelling our toes or something? or do people remember that we are just as busy as anyone else in LA? Because, we just got an email, I think on the 11th about a workshop at church from 12P-5P for this Saturday the 23rd and it was clear that my husband & I had plans already & then our family group at church had planned some fun date thing for that night...........

...Waaay before we learned of these things, we had already mapped out our original plans for this Saturday. So of course, someone asked what we were doing that made us not able to attend the IMPORTANT workshop?

What are we doing?

Hmmmm--If I had to explain or answer to you for asking me WHAT could we possibly be doing that prevents us both from attending this IMPORTANT workshop see below:


Dear______

Yes, it is totally a conflict in scheduling here. Wish we could go on the date...

Basically: multiple birthdays--we'll be having a birthday weekend: our youngest daughter's 1st birthday is next Monday, the 25th & I was originally going to have her birthday party on Sat. the 23rd--but some close friends of ours are having their son's 3rd birthday party (from 2P-6P)--he & our oldest daughter go to school together & we had already given our word that we would be there quite a long time ago. IN FACT/FYI: I have missed his birthday celebration for the past two years & I had given our friends my word that I would be there for sure this year.

But now, my husband & I decided that he will go to the workshop--I guess for the whole thing (poor thing--no one really knows how hard he works during the week & all he wanted to do was play soccer with his buddies from 9A-noon & rest before going to our friends' place for their son's birthday party (from 2P-6P)...& he had known about this date thing before me, but over a month ago, a good friend of mine invited us to her birthday party...So our original plan was to go to their place for the 3 year old's birthday party & then only me will go to our other friend's birthday party later that night--she had invited us a month ago but because (we have someone keeping the girls Friday night, because we are spending some time at another couple's place), & the double events, I will just put the kids down for bed, after the party & then just go on my own. So we for sure won't be able to make it to the date--these were commitments we made long before the announcement of the meeting. Our daughter's birthday party will be on Sunday, the 24th and on Monday the 25th as well.

& that is just the run down for Saturday--not even mentioning, Sunday morning going to church (& supposed to be teaching Sunday school class) & getting the girls home (for nap) & going back out to the park for her birthday party & then Monday having another (was to be) "small" party at our place!!!

NOW SHOULD I HAVE TO EXPLAIN ALL'A THAT? BUT I FEEL OBLIGATED TO EXPLAIN, BECAUSE I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING--AS IF PEOPLE DON'T MAKE PREVIOUS PLANS & ARE JUST SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH, SIPPING LEMONADE-SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR!

Stress (not to mention the hot weather) was how we all got whatever "bug" (ear-nose -throat challenges) in the first place. No one asked about that! Like 'how is your family doing health wise?' It is just, you need to be at this workshop. If only I could express my frustrations with church/American Christianity...huh!

I refuse to people-please and I refuse to live in OBLIGATION of having to explain myself & answer to someone, who obviously does not have a clue as to all we do.

Though, it felt good to at least put it out there.

Here is my email version:

Dear _____,

For most people, there is always something going on. So I feel the need to update you a little on the week (& last week we were under the weather due to the hot weather & also just going & going & no one really realizing that everyone thinks their event is an important event to have people attend).

So Friday, [hubby] & I are meeting with the X's at their place & will have child care for our time with them...Saturday (23rd) was originally going to be [youngest daughter's] birthday party, but some close friends of ours (we have known for many many years) are having their son's 3rd birthday party at their place from 3P-6P & we planned to attend the whole event long long ago (he & [oldest daughter] go to the same school together); in fact I missed his birthday two years in a row (b/c last year, I was almost about to give birth & the previous year, we were in the Virgin Islands)...Then a single [friend's] I am close to is having a birthday party later that night & I had plans to just go alone to that, since the girls will be tired & ready for bedtime after their friend's party. So, to do our morning plans, workshop/3rd birthday party, date & friend's party--would be too much. But we reworked our original plan & will have our morning routine, (& we only have one car) and then [hubby] will go to the workshop & I will take the girls to the birthday party (factoring the one car thing, [hubby] may drop us off early or get a ride), prepping at 2P & leaving for that shortly thereafter to make it there by 3P...& it is not something we could just do a hi & bye, due to the nature of our friendship... If we had no kids, it would be very simple to just pop here & there, but also child care is hard to come by & we already are using some other good friends of ours to watch the girls, while we meet with the [X's] the night before. Then Sunday is Kidspoint, home (before 1P) to hopefully have at least the baby to take a nap from 1P-3P & her birthday party starts at 3:30P at a park ..., but I obviously have to be there a little early to prep, but of course we only have one car!!! (I invited people who have kids our kids age out of respect for other people's time)...Then her 1st birthday is Monday & I am doing something "small" at our place, that actually turned big--with all our neighbors within our proximity invited (and our neighbor across the street/his wife just passed away yesterday, so we wanted to be able to encourage our neighbors & also, I invited the fire department to come--they were the ones that helped get me to the hospital & help me with the afterbirth process in the house & ambulance & I have been wanting to thank them/in addition to some of my family & close friends coming)...so you see that we just have a busy birthday normal weekend!
...so that is some of what is going on.

Just wanted to have you in the loop.

XO,


___________________


& had to comply>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Perhaps my friend will say after reading the "PC"/gentle version:
'You didn't really have to explain, I understand.'