As of October 1, Olof joined the ranks of the unemployed. No biggie, really, as we’ve been half-expecting this news for close to three years now, and I think it’s something of a relief for both of us to finally have it done.

Also a relief is that he’ll continue to get paid for six months, especially considering that our above-the-norm expenses this month make up a list you really don’t want to see laid out days after losing your job. In the past few weeks we’ve had to buy a violin, replace four windows, get a new washing machine, buy a new bunkbed for the younger kids, fill our pellet storage with a few tons of pellets, and order new eyeglasses for Olof. And there may or may not be a speeding ticket dropping down in the mailbox for me in the next week or so, depending on whether the speed camera got a good picture of me. Egad … when it rains, it pours.

Otherwise, things are pretty uneventful around here. Lydia has been grounded for the past couple of weeks, which seriously cuts down on the mischief she can get up to, and the other kids are fairly well adjusted to their new routines. We’ll be shaking things up soon enough for Brynja, moving her out of our bed and into a shared bed with Petra, and then, potty training. I’m sure there’ll be some tears shed there, and possibly a sleepless night or two, but for now, calm reigns as well as she’s able here in our four-kid circus.