McDonald's and Burger King

I can almost guarantee you that this post is not at all about what you are thinking it's about!

Saturday evening we were driving home from my dad's place at the lake. It was 7:30 by the time we left, so it was definitely dark. We were driving on a particularly wooded stretch of road, and my husband noticed two deer along the side of the road. He wasn't driving all that fast to begin with, so he stopped, put the car in reverse, and backed up so that the kids could see the deer. We sat there for about a minute, looking at the deer, and then realized that there was another one on the side of the road. We discussed that one side was probably waiting for the other side to cross the road, and we were obviously in the way. We continued on our way, and as we were driving HT announced that when we get our own pet deer, he's going to name them McDonald's and Burger King. My husband and I laughed out loud! We have no idea why he thinks those would be good names for deer, why he thinks we would ever own pet deer (is there even such a thing?), or why he thinks he get sole naming rights! He is something else!

Not Sure How to Get it all Done

I am experiencing another "first" as a working mom...running out of hours. I realize that Thanksgiving just ended, but I am already panicking about Christmas. I realize I still have plenty of time. Part of my neurosis is the fact that I simply prefer to be way ahead of schedule. I worked today, and will work again tomorrow. Friday my grandmother is having surgery and I'll be at the hospital all day. I REFUSE to go to a mall or do any shopping on the weekends. I'm beginning to wonder how I'll be able to accomplish everything in the next 26 days. That really seems as though it ought to be plenty, doesn't it? I know that I can always tell the school that I won't work on a certain day, but I really hate to do that. I hate to turn down the opportunity to earn some extra money. I know that it will all turn out just fine, and if I'm so worried about it, I should probably be doing some wrapping right now instead of blogging! =)

Where is the time going?

I can not believe the last week has just flown by so quickly! I didn't have to work at all, but felt lousy at the beginning of the week and really didn't get anything done. Tuesday I spent all day doing laundry and packing and Wednesday we drove to the in-laws. Thursday we had a very nice Thanksgiving with that side of the family. It had been seven years since we had spent Thanksgiving there so it was nice to do that again. Friday we got up and drove home, and we were home about an hour before we were out the door again. We had plans to visit our dear friends who moved away this summer but were home again for the holiday. Oh, we miss them so much! That was a very late night, and yesterday we were up and at 'em early to hit the road to the cottage. We were there in time for the noon kick off of the Ohio State/Michigan which was dominated by the Buckeyes! We were all dressed in our red and thoroughly enjoyed the game! By the time we got home last night it was about 9, and the kids pretty much tumbled into bed. Today is decorating. I am determined! I am so looking forward to getting the decorations up. I know I'm working Tuesday, and there is a good chance I'm working tomorrow, so I'm hoping I can be extremely productive today!

Short week

Thank goodness it's a short week here! I've just returned from the doctor and I have a sinus infection. I've had it for about a month and tried to fight it off myself, but it just hasn't gone away. In about an hour I'll be able to pick up my prescription and I'm looking forward to feeling better!

The kids only have school today and tomorrow so there shouldn't be a lot of homework headed our way. Tomorrow evening JR will go to karate, and then Wednesday morning we are headed to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws. We'll be back Friday to spend the evening with some friends who are here from out of state, and then the rest of our weekend will be spent in a decorating frenzy!

What a week!

It was quite a week here. I'm definitely part of the world of working moms. Tuesday, when JR was home with the stomach flu, was the only day I didn't get called into work. I got to sub in fifth grade Weds & Thurs, which meant for one class period a day I had JR. Very interesting experience! I wouldn't necessarily let him know this, but I've got a pretty good kid here at home based on some of the things I saw those two days. I couldn't believe how mouthy the kids are! Yesterday I subbed in as a music teacher. Thank goodness for those years of piano lessons. I could pound out one note at a time! Anyway, my house is an absolute disaster, and we've been eating less than healthy dinners as well. I'm not superwoman, and I don't want to try to be. I'm really, really hoping that there aren't many four day (or five, gasp!) workdays in my future. Don't get me wrong, I'm very, very grateful for the extra money and if called I'll go in. But the person I most want to be right now is mom. That job is my favorite!

Home with the stomach flu

I knew the stomach flu was going around the kids' school yesterday. I was able to choose from my choice of substitute assignments because so many teachers were out, and I was also aware of more that "bit the dust" as the day went on. I knew it was just a matter of time before the germs set up shop in our house, and I was pretty sure it would be with me. After all, I'm the one who's really in the schools for the first time this year, and being exposed to all these germs without any immunity. However, it was JR who woke me up at 3 this morning after getting sick. Poor guy feels pretty miserable today. Hopefully it's a quick moving bug and will exit our house quickly. I'll be disinfecting today to help it out the door!

Apparently my house keeping is lacking

I've never been the best housekeeper out there, but I do try to especially keep our living room picked up and keep the room clean. I'm finding that by working again, things aren't getting done as frequently as I may like, but for the most part we are hanging in there with the housework. The last month has had some challenges, because in addition to the working, the kids have had lots and lots of activities, and I've had a sinus infection which really wears me out. I always wanted to have a house where anyone could drop in unannounced, but in this day and age of cell phones and schedules, no one really just drops in anymore. That was my justification in kind of letting things go. Last week though, I noticed that the dust in the living had started to develop layers and I just couldn't take it anymore. I spent my two days off last week cleaning and cleaning, and I was very pleased with how much I managed to get done. Apparently I've really not been doing well with trying to keep up because when JC walked in after school, she looked at the living room, noticed how clean it was, and asked, "Are we having company?" Yikes!

A trip home

Yesterday I got to go back to my hometown. This isn't exactly a rare event...after all I only live 40 minutes away. However, yesterday's trip was different. My husband and JR had gone up so that JR could participate in a rocket class. He got to build a rocket and then launch it...he had a blast (literally, sorry couldn't resist)! This weekend is also a winter festival where all of the downtown shops are open and with discounts, and many community organizations have little booths throughout as well. I love my hometown. It could not be more like a Normal Rockwell painting. It's historic and cozy, and well, it's home. I was also the eighth generation of my family to live there, and when I married my husband and left, it was somewhat by kicking and screaming. I couldn't wait until our life circumstances changed and I could move back home. Our life circumstances changed all right, of course not at all like I had envisioned, and of course now I couldn't imagine leaving this cozy little town that I now call home, and the friends that have become our own little family here in town. Anyway, yesterday my mom wanted to keep the younger two kids while I did some shopping throughout town. Not being a shopper I wandered only briefly, but then I decided to just drive around town. We are having an indian summer, and my little hometown could not have been more quaint and cozy. Although I'm there at least once a month, my parents now live outside of town and I seldom get to go into town, and I almost never get to do it by myself. In some regards I couldn't believe how much things have changed in just the few years since I've been gone (especially since the little town I live in now has changed almost not at all). I enjoyed driving through housing developments where I spent so much time visiting friends. I remember I used to be able to name who lived in each house...another benefit of a small town. After all these years though, I could only remember where my good friends lived. With the others, I would think, "Oh that's where the Smiths lived," then see another house and think, "Or was it that one?" It was amazing to me the feelings and memories that came back to me as I drove though the town, and it was also amazing to me the things I couldn't quite recall anymore. I realized we never really can ever go back home again. At the same time, it helped me to feel even more peaceful about the life I currently have...it's my life and I get to share it with my amazing family!

It's Friday

I am so happy that it's Friday. Not because it means I get to spend a fun filled weekend with my family and some friends (although it does mean that) but mostly because it means I don't have to nag anyone to do homework this evening. I had to work today, and on top of that I have a miserable head cold. All I wanted to do was to slip into warm pajamas (which I've done) and go to bed (which I will be doing earlier than normal).

JC also seems to be "done" with her week. I'm not sure exactly why, but she is one of the least pleasant people I've ever been around this afternoon. Hopefully a good night sleep will serve her well and she'll be cheerful again tomorrow!

Apparently the color matters

HT seems to be having difficulty holding onto his school supplies. I was getting a little annoyed by the notes coming home from his teacher, asking for refreshed supplies for him, but by being in there yesterday, I realized it's not just my little guy who seems to be having this problem. We never had this problem with the older two, so I'm not sure what is happening in this room, but regardless, HT needed glue sticks and pencils. There were some Halloween pencils laying around so I sharpened them, wrapped them in a rubber band with some glue sticks, and handed them HT to put in his backpack. He grabbed a pencil that was striped orange and black and exclaimed, "Mom! Why did you give me this one? It's Bengals colors!" I was very proud of my little Steelers fan!

Loved every minute!

Today, at the last minute, I was called to be a sub in my youngest son's classroom. I had already been scheduled in a preschool room for the morning, and didn't mind staying to be in first grade this afternoon. I loved every minute of getting to be there! My little guy is used to having me in his class from when I would volunteer in pre-k and in kindergarten, so I wasn't really concerned about how he'd behave. I had such a blast getting to see him as he is every day. I loved getting to put faces with the names of friends I didn't already know, and I loved getting to see how the routine worked in his class. I'm so grateful for the opportunity!

Another work day

I have to work again today, just as I did yesterday. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to earn some extra money, but my house is about to drive me crazy! I feel like I've completely fallen behind in my everyday chores, let alone the things I was hoping to get finished before the holiday season descended upon us! But all-in-all, everyone is plugging along okay, and I am very much looking forward to the holidays. Last night my wonderful husband had a meeting and tonight he has his second batch of teacher conferences, so I'm on my own. But the rest of the week looks light on the calendar and I've got a mission to catch up!

Decisions, decisions

We've spent a great deal of time this weekend mulling over some decisions that need to be made. These are decisions that truly only affect our immediate household, but they are long term decisions that will have a tremendous impact on our family. Just when we think we've made a decision and are feeling good about it, something comes along to make us re-think. It's stressful, but I am grateful that we are dealing with options of opportunity. It's truly a blessing!

One decision that was easy to make yesterday...we got to sleep in! And of course last night, we gained an hour of sleep by moving the clocks back, so I'm almost feeling rested!

Catching our breaths

We've had a heck of a week around here, but the end is in sight! On Sunday, I awoke with the stomach flu. We had spent Saturday evening with several other families, and between everyone five of us awoke Sunday with the flu. After much discussion, we can't pinpoint anything that all of us ate, so we can only assume it was some sort of bug. Yuck! I felt much better by Monday, just in time to begin our whirlwind week. I spent Monday basically disinfecting the house and trying to get things back in order after our weekend. Tuesday I was scheduled to work, and that evening my husband had dinner plans with some guys from work. I had to drop JR off at karate early so that I could get JC to girl scouts. They had a field trip to the Auntie Anne's pretzel place at the mall. She loved it, but didn't get home until after 9. Even today, two days later, she is still dragging and I'm just hoping she can keep herself together to behave at school. Wednesday I had to work again, and unlike Tuesday's angelic class, it was a heck of a day. What a group! I also had a conference with a teacher yesterday afternoon, and my wonderful husband had conferences of his own at school. Everyone crawled into bed very tired people last night! Fortunately, we had an hour delay here this morning, and I was pleased that the kids actually slept the extra hour. They obviously needed it! Today I need to get some errands accomplished and some laundry folded because I'm scheduled to work again tomorrow. HT also has scouts this evening, but in about 30 hours our weekend begins! Looking forward to a relaxing weekend!