Trill: big decision, but sounds like one that he will be thankful for in no time. i love that he comes home on Fridays. keeps the family together and means that he has a safe place to vent and relax away from the other kids IYKWIM.

Arte: oh man, if i even dropped my purse for a second here it would be G.O.N.E. probably not helped by the fact that there is a really ugly, sad Keno bar (gambling joint) on the corner. Such a sad place...saw a family (mum and 3 kids) waiting all day for the bloke to finish gambling the other day

AFM: well, we have had some really lovely happy days . so nice after the monstrous week or so! thankfully we are also getting a wee bit more sleep with marta down to only one wakeup overnight. i am hoping that now that she has cut the tooth that that was what it was. i am not so sure, but live in the land of hope nonetheless

And the LA trip gets closer! we have finally locked in the people that are looking after the house and the animals while we are away they have agreed to the price ($150 a week to cover rates and insurance). so that is also such a relief as that will help at our end IYKWIM. It is going to be strange having the two girls on my own in a new country, but am also looking forward to it as well. Also, am relieved to be getting L out of her current place as there is a girl in her group that i have some serious doubts about and, now, some concerns. (warning TMI sensitive topic ahead!) The other day L came home and role-played having a penis in her pants and put a ball there. I know that it sounds fairly innocuous, but my bestie growing up endured sexual abuse and this was the kind of role-play that she would get me to play...so when i saw L playing this game it gave me chills. there have been some smaller instances but after that game the other day it kinda put the other behaviour and games that they play into more perspective ITMS. i dunno, i feel like bringing it up with the centre as i am concerned about L being exposed to any of that kind of stuff (as i was, and it was pretty hard to deal with).

maybe i am overreacting