It's broke-ded.

Something is in the air here besides spring. (A 90 degree spring with a blazing hot sun, swaying palm trees and bright green macaws flying overhead. Be jealous, one and all ....)

But this something in the air. It's not the wind in the palm leaves or the macaws (slightly annoying) squawking. It's the air of BREAKING THINGS.

It all started with my sewing machine last month. Right when I was finishing Little's Prince's quilt it suddenly hacked a couple times and DIED. Quite tragic.

And then let's not forget My Man's tooth. Broken. I'm rather fond of his mouth and I don't like anything that hinders kissing. I mean eating.

Then, a couple weeks ago, my beloved camera decided not to open anymore. My CAMERA, people. It records my life. I mean, what if I FORGET the incredibly darling way Ouro Branco eats yogurt? Or today's PARTICULAR smile on Jellybean's face? Children change by the hour, and I'm usually there to document it. We just found a camera-fixit-guy, but I have yet to drop it off, as I'm secretly hoping My Man will do it for me. To avoid dragging three kids around looking for a tiny hole-in-the-wall shop in I Have No Idea Where.

Thing fourth. Last week, while on yet another service trip, My Man's VW Gol had a heart attack. Arteries clogged. As in, oil pump died. That would be part of the motor. And that would be bad. Our poor Gol (I call it the Black Bludger. My van is the Silver Snitch) works tirelessly - it's always the first in line to offer someone a ride and puts on an average of 70 km EVERY SUNDAY MORNING picking people up for church. It is still in the hospital running tests and we're hoping to visit it soon. Should be released next week. In the meantime, we're doing a ward fast. And I'm driving My Man to work three times a week. With three kids. Did I mention it's a half an hour away? And he starts at 8:00?

And to top it off, my beloved WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY. Oh yeah. I'm in the middle of a Young Women's pool party (literally - I was in the water playing Marco Polo,) when Little Prince comes running, "FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!!" I run into the laundry room to see the electrical cords in flames, along with the exhaust pipe. And yes, both machines were full. I had to wash an ENTIRE LOAD BY HAND. I am many things, but I am not THAT WOMAN.

It better end there.