My oldest has already put in her birthday request for next month: a strawberry-banana cake. Not just any cake, either. The kind with layers, effort, and a little bit of “who do I think I am, a professional baker?” energy. I found a recipe online: strawberry banana cake, and it looks really good, but also… ambitious. Apparently, I’ll need cake rings to build those neat, even layers, which feels like a step up from my usual “hope it stacks and call it good” method.

Still, I’m kind of excited about it. It feels like one of those projects that’s equal parts chaos and fun, me in the kitchen, trying to keep everything level while probably getting frosting everywhere. But if it turns out even halfway decent, it’ll be worth it. And if not, well… it’ll still taste like strawberry and banana, so we’ll survive.

On a heavier note, I’ve been thinking a lot about Alexis. She’s really anxious about school right now. They haven’t emailed her yet, and the silence is getting to her. And because she’s worried, I find myself worrying too. It’s hard not to absorb that, especially when you just want things to work out for her.

I told her that if she doesn’t hear anything today, she can call them next week, just to check in and get some clarity. Sometimes these things take longer than they should, even when it feels urgent on her end. But for Lexi, waiting is the hardest part. She likes things to be settled, confirmed, and done. When they’re not, her mind fills in the gaps, and usually not in a reassuring way.

I’m trying to stay steady for her, reminding her (and honestly, myself too) that no news doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. Just… unfinished. And unfinished doesn’t last forever.

My morning got off to a later start than usual. Tommy had a migraine and didn’t leave until about an hour later, so everything else, laundry, filling the pill boxes, and studying, shifted back with it. Now that it’s already lunchtime, the day feels like it sped up on me a bit.

I’m also stuck in that in-between place where I know I should eat, but I’m not actually hungry. I just had coffee, and it tends to suppress my appetite. Still, I know I need something more than toast. Maybe I’ll keep it simple and make a quick sandwich, something easy, but enough to carry me through the afternoon.

Hmm… I still haven’t eaten, I just kept studying and let the time slip by. Now I’m here trying to decide what even sounds good. A sandwich would be the easy answer, but I’m just not feeling it. Part of me wants to pour another cup of coffee and push food off until dinner, even though I know that’s probably not the best idea.

A lazy grilled cheese crossed my mind, the kind where you toast the bread, add a slice of cheese, and microwave it for a few seconds. Technically, a grilled cheese… just without the effort. But even that doesn’t sound quite right. Maybe something warmer? Soup, maybe. Soup and a grilled cheese actually sounds a little more comforting.

I’ll probably wander the kitchen again and see what stands out.

Everest managed to escape this morning. She was only outside for a few minutes while I ran to the bathroom, and that’s all it took. I had to call her back in; thankfully, she came, but it’s frustrating. It doesn’t seem to click for her that she’s not supposed to do that. I tried putting her in the cage for a bit right after, hoping she’d connect the behavior with the consequence, but I’m not convinced it meant much to her.

She’s in the office with me now, completely unbothered. Tommy thinks she actually enjoys the whole thing, that it feels like a game to her. That would explain a lot. I just wish I knew how to make it stop without turning every bathroom break into a high-stakes situation.

Alright… I’m going to go find something to eat. Even if it’s just soup. That feels like a good enough place to start.

I had soup. Ok, I’m going to post this now. Kel is house-sitting for our friends this week. Tommy should be home soon. I need to get dinner started.