OK, the rains have stopped and I’m no longer frantically treading water. I seemed to have dragged my bedraggled self to the shore and am now lying on the shoreline in the surf gasping for breath.

The Halloween decorations are packed away. (Except for the stuff on our porch. It is too wet/cold to go out there. Gasp. Gasp.)

All the suitcases are unpacked. (Except for the smallest one. Full of Kulia’s clothes that need to be hung, folded, and tucked away. Gasp. Gasp.)

The new kitchen cabinets/desk are installed. At least temporarily. Now I have to fill them up and rearrange everything to my liking. (You guessed it, more gasping.)

The fridge is stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. When questioned, Kevin admitted that he only fruit and/or veggie he bought while I was gone was a bag of pre-made salad. And some tomatoes. So for the last few days my girls have been begging me for an apple or banana or grapes or carrots and I’ve shoved crackers and cookies into their hands and told them to go away. – mommy is busy trying to tread water. The result, of course, is that now when I offer them an apple or banana the insist that all they want are Cheetos. Or cookies. (Gasp. Gasp.)

And the Christmas presents? Well, those are actually moving right along. If I can convince my girls to entertain themselves for four more days I should be able to get everything into the mail and sent. Yippee!

Except for our Christmas cards. I totally forgot about our Christmas cards. Drat. Maybe I have a few more yards to haul myself before I’m truly on the beach and out of the water.

Gasp.

Gasp.