Heading out tomorrow

Today is our third day out of school, and we are spending the day packing up to head out to vacation tomorrow.  I love ocean vacations, but the stress of getting ready for them, and the actual trip itself, is something I dread each time.  It's been three years since we've taken a vacation of this magnitude, and while it helps us to appreciate it more, I'm kind of grateful I haven't had to get everything ready.  I'm regretting missing the family things scheduled here for Memorial Day weekend, but this is when my family needed to go.  I know that the week we are able to spend in the Outer Banks is going to be so worth all of this, but the anxiety of today is going to make it a long day...making vacation even more worth it.

Unfortunately the weather on vacation doesn't look cooperative.  A tropical storm might be forming and it looks as though it could rain every day.  Since it is just the five of us and Andrew's parents aren't coming it's not even like we get the joy of visiting and being together, but I still think we can have a great week.  After all, we are going to get to eat out every evening...and it's going to be spectacular food!

Not good news

Unfortunately, we have learned that there was a miscommunication and Robert is not eligible for cross country in the fall.  He is understandably disappointed and while I'm disappointed for him, there is also part of me that hopes a lesson is learned.  This is not anything that has happened "to" him, it is something that is directly related to poor choices he has made.  I hope he doesn't just decide school isn't worth anything and completely shut it down in the future, but again these are his choices.  Praying for peace for us all.

Last day of school for this year

It's here...we've made it.  And when I say "we", I mean all five of us.  For my husband, this has been the most challenging year he's had in a very long time.  This year's freshmen class is going to be notorious by the time they graduate...and somehow I suspect many of them won't.  They've been legendary, and Andrew is fine with seeing them move on.

I know that every year I am ready to put away the book bags and lunch packs to where I can't see them.  Our summer is full of twice daily swim practices, cross country warm-ups and camp, tennis practices (Thomas is trying something new), band practices, Vacation Bible School responsibilities, Robert's job, doctor and rehab appointments, etc., etc.  I just feel like everyone is a little less stressed.  The behaviors I have seen in my kids this year have astounded me and I've never felt so lost in my entire life...and scared as well.  The influences on my children outside of our home are very prevalent, and I'm not sure they are at all positive.  I'm sure some are, but way too many are not.

Right now I'm trying to enjoy a few quiet moments before I have to go to work and then start driving everyone around.  I'm so grateful to be their mother, but there are certainly days where I wonder if I haven't just messed up completely somewhere.  I'm sure I've had mess-ups, but I HOPE it isn't completely.  This summer my prayers will be for peace, kindness, and respect not just in our home, but in our world.

Just one more day...sort of

Tomorrow is the last day of school.  I can't tell you how excited I am to not have to be worrying about how late we might eat dinner, or whether everyone has their homework finished, or lunches have been packed, etc., etc.  Sadly, in this house someone did not worry enough about getting his homework done and now has to take summer school.   It's just one class, but there is literally no excuse.  His teachers commented that he pretty much "checked out" again for the last month, and I'm just so sick of it I can't even put it into words.  He's very fortunate in that a couple of teachers allowed him to turn work in even this week, which goes against general policy, and that has apparently kept him eligible for running cross country in the fall...but trust me when I tell you it's just barely.  He is paying for summer school, and I've decided I'm not going to nag.  He can figure this out on his own, or he'll be taking it again next summer...and it will be much tougher by then.  I love my son and I'm not giving up on him, but he needs to start figuring out how to make better choices, and accepting responsibility for the choices he is making.

Everyone is under the same roof again

We received a phone call about 6AM this morning.  I'll be honest, for a minute my heart sank as I was terrified something awful had happened.  Fortunately, it was just Catherine letting us know that they would be about an hour late arriving home.  She walked in the door shortly after 8, and I was so happy to see her.  She had a great time and had lots to tell us.  I'm so glad that things went really well for her and that she was able to have this experience.  It is so nice to have everyone under the same roof again...at least for 45 minutes until Robert had to be out the door for work!

One home, one to go!

I picked Thomas up from school less than an hour ago.  I didn't realize how excited I was to see him until I actually did.  I had arrived several minutes early, and was sitting in the lot reading a magazine while I waited.  When I glanced up and saw the first bus pull into the lot, I involuntarily began to cry.  I hadn't expected that!  I didn't jump out of my van right away (not wanting to appear overly anxious, and also not wanting anyone to notice my tears), and waited until the second bus arrived.  When it parked I walked over to the buses, and I caught a glimpse of my little man, I developed tunnel vision.  He was still a distance away, and I just felt like I couldn't get to him fast enough.  It was so nice to have him home!  He has a busted lip from a face plant he took at lunch today, so I decided ice cream was in order on the drive home.  I'm so grateful that he had such a blast, and now I'm looking forward (very much so!) to Catherine arriving home in about 16 hours!

So many new things

I had written last June about how much money we had manged to spend in about a week.  It didn't end there.  In August, our drains clogged and we had to bring a plumber in to work on it.  At the end of September, our computer died and we had to purchase another one.  In October, the brakes on our van needed to be replaced even though we had replaced them just 13 months earlier.  In November, our dishwasher began leaking and had to be replaced.  Gratefully, there was no damage done to our house that required expensive repairs.  This year Andrew's cars required a repair, although our vehicles are both 2008 models so that isn't surprising at this point.  In March our washing machine broke again, after countless repairs.  We decided this last time that we just needed to get a new one...repairing the part that continued to fail was almost half the cost of a new one.  This week, our stove started acting crazy.  It had happened once last fall and we know it is the electrical board.  Again, one of those repairs that you might as well just buy a new one.  That's what we did yesterday...purchased a new stove.  It was certainly not money we had planned to spend right before our vacation in ten days, but it is what it is.  I'm so grateful for my church hours that are allowing us not to dig too terribly deeply into our savings, and I'm eternally grateful we've made the choices that we've made so we have savings.  I'm grateful I get to be home with my kiddos each day.  I'll take these repairs any day over major medical crises or anything life altering like that.  Knock-on-wood though, hopefully nothing else stops working!

Eating out

With fewer kids to feed, we've been taking advantage of eating out.  Tuesday evening we ate at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town with just Catherine and Robert.  While I miss Thomas terribly, I enjoyed the quiet, "older" conversation.  Catherine left that evening, and then last evening we only had Robert.  We returned to our former town to purchase a new stove (another story altogether), and decided to eat out again.  We love the Mexican restaurant there, but weren't interested since we'd eaten it the night before.  Since we've moved however, we haven't been able to find decent Chinese food...the little place in our former town is the best!  We decided to take advantage of being in town, and it works out especially well since Robert LOVES Chinese food, and is the only one of our kids that does.  As soon as we each took our first bite, we all agreed we were thrilled...it tasted exactly as we had remembered it...and exactly as it was supposed to taste.  It was so good!  Now we have plenty of leftovers, including some from the Confirmation lunch over the weekend, and tonight and tomorrow will be eating things at home that are already here!

They are both out the door

Catherine and Thomas are both out the door on their respective trips, and pieces of my heart are with each of them.  I feel a little lost, and I don't feel like I will feel complete again until Saturday morning when they are both back under this roof again.  I also know that I better get used to it, because my kids aren't getting younger.

I took Thomas to school this morning and dropped him off.  I was so grateful he was excited, although he had told both Andrew and I that he would miss us, and I walked into my bedroom and shed a couple of tears.  He also made sure to say good bye to the cats, and I also made sure we took a picture together before he left.  After I dropped him off, I drove to our church and parked in the lot.  I didn't feel the need to be in the building to pray, but being in the lot made me feel better.  I was fortunate in that I had an all-day training to attend and didn't have time to think about missing him.

Andrew is taking Catherine to school right now (late, late departure) and I'll breathe a sigh of relief when I feel they have arrived safely.  The traveling is the worst part for me, and it gets easier when I know the destination has been reached.  I am sure they are both going to have an absolute blast, but I will be so, so, so glad when my kiddos are home again!

Time to switch focus

We had a very nice day for Catherine's confirmation.  It's very chilly, but the sun was finally shining after several dreary days.  We were joined at church by Robert's Godparents & daughter, and then Catherine's best friend from our former town came over with her mother.  My mother, sister, grandmothers, and an aunt joined here at the house for lunch, and it was a very nice day.

Now our focus switches though.  Thomas leaves Tuesday morning for three days of camp with the sixth grade, and Catherine leaves Tuesday evening for her 8th grade D.C. trip.  Since last week so so insane from a schedule perspective and I was trying to get the house ready for lunch today, there was no time to really think about packing...now is that time!  Probably better this way, as I haven't had time to think about how much I'm going to miss my kiddos!

Another early Saturday morning

Last Saturday, Catherine had to be at school at 6:30AM.  This week, Robert also had to be somewhere at 6:30.  Unfortunately, this "somewhere" was located in our former town, so he and I, as well as Andrew (who took him) were all up at 5AM.  I'll be honest...I do not love Saturday mornings that begin that early.

On the upside though, it is awesome how much I get done!  Last week I was out working in the flower beds by 7:30, and worked until 2:30 that afternoon.  It was so nice to have them done though, and I certainly never would've been able to find the time this week.  This morning, before I even had my coffee, I decided to go ahead and do some mopping, and was able to get the floors done in our dining room, living room, and front hall...all before 7AM.  I'm on cleaning overdrive since Catherine's confirmation is tomorrow and family will be here, so I'm doing a little bit of spring cleaning as I go along as well.  I'm in pretty good shape for the day, and it's really nice to be this productive so early in the morning.  I'm not going to lie though...there better be a nap in my future at some point today!

More reasons to be happy about the end of the school year

Today and yesterday there have been bomb threats at the middle school Catherine and Thomas attend.  Fortunately both have been "pranks" but I can assure you they are not funny.  What is wrong with people????  Thank goodness there are only eight days left in the school year.  Our school hasn't been alone in this either.  In surrounding counties, there have been about 20 threats in the last two weeks.  It absolutely needs to stop.

In addition, the drama of middle school is starting to spill over into our home.  I don't understand kids who have so little respect for others, and I certainly don't appreciate them calling my home.  They live in our neighborhood, so I suspect it is going to carry over into the summer.  Grrrr...so tired of teenage drama!

So very grateful that we are into single digits!

Praying fervently

I am sitting here crying and praying fervently...begging God to bring my sister's dog back to her.  Rockne went missing this morning.  My sister got Rockne in February, and she is an old English Sheepdog, just like her previous dog.  Unlike Nuxie though, Rockne is just the sweetest little thing and absolutely loves people.  My sister has sent me text after text with pictures over the months, and I'm just devastated that she could be lost.  My mom has been out looking, and has even stopped trash people to ask, but so far no luck.  My sister is single with no children, and her pets are such a huge part of her life.  She's been gone for a few hours now, and I'm continuing to pray and pray that she is found safe and sound!


Update:  Rockne has finally made it home after being gone for over five hours!  I'm so incredibly grateful and can't even put it into words.  Apparently she had a tour of the neighborhood, and then spent several hours in a garage until connections could be made.  Such a huge relief!

Even crazier this week

Last week was definitely crazy...and this week is crazier.  I made the comment to several people last week that May is becoming one of my least favorite months.  The schedule of everything is absolutely insane...just crazy!

Today I have a 9:30 meeting at work.  I am definitely hoping this doesn't take forever because I have tons of things to do.  I need to pick Robert up from school at 2:30 and drop off the 28 2-liter bottles I have for tonight's dessert function.  I have to get Robert to his volunteer shift at 3, then pick Catherine up from drama at 4:30.  I am picking Robert up at 5:30 and then going straight back to the high school to drop off the 600 desserts.  I have to be at the middle school by 7:00 to Catherine's student recognition night.  I am so proud of her for being recognized for her hard work and her grades!  Tonight is Andrew's evening class he is teaching so I'm on my own.

Tomorrow isn't as awful, although Andrew has a meeting after school and then I have a meeting tomorrow evening.  On Wednesday, Robert has a meeting after school.  I will need to pick him up from that and get him to a doctor appointment.  That evening, I have a meeting and Andrew has one as well.

Thursday is my day to make hay!  I may not have to leave the house the entire day, and that is fabulous.  I will need to be working on the house...big time!  Catherine is being confirmed this weekend, and many relatives are making a trip to our house...for many it is the only time of the year they are here.  The house needs to not only be picked up, but CLEAN.  Not weekly clean, but vacuuming window sills and washing windows clean.  Hopefully Thursday will be a day to really get that accomplished.

Friday I have a haircut, and I'll need to get Robert after school again for his volunteer shift.  When we pick him up from that, he'll need to head to work and it's going to be a rather late evening.  Catherine also has her 8th grade "formal" dance (I'll post about that at another time) and I need to make sure she looks decent.  On Saturday Thomas needs to go to our former town for a birthday party, Robert has a crack-of-dawn scouting event and also has to work all of the day.  If my in-laws are able to be here they will arrive on Saturday, although some things have developed that might keep them from coming.

Sunday we need to retrieve Thomas from our former town bright and early and then will spend the day celebrating Catherine's confirmation.  I'm trying not to be annoyed that of the 30 people we've invited that all of one person has responded to let us know about attending.  Communication folks!  I'm looking forward to spending the day with whomever can be here and celebrating my beautiful and kind daughter.  Next week she heads to D.C. for her eighth grade class trip.

Life is absolutely crazy, and I'm so grateful for each and every moment!

How I spent Mother's Day

I've never been a huge fan of Mother's Day.  I think mostly because I have questioned my worth as a mother.  I don't think that's uncommon...I think most moms do.  This past year has definitely been a tremendous challenge as a parent, and yet, I realize that all moms struggle.  Mom's are never "on it" all the time, but I know that I'm doing the best I can, and my best isn't that bad.  I recognize that right now the kids think I'm a terrible person because they aren't getting away with things, and maybe they'll never be grateful for our guidelines and discipline, but it means we are making good decisions as parents.  I decided not to expect the "storybook" day that you see in commercials, and it was the way to go!

I was able to sleep in, and then I got up and started baking.  I am in charge of a dessert function this evening for my volunteer job, and since I hate spending the organization's money, I decided to bake 600 desserts.  Yes, it took me absolutely all day, but I got it done.  There are several varieties of cookies, two kinds of muffins, some bread and some brownies.  I'm grateful Andrew was willing to handle dinner (grilled steak) and everyone just left me alone to get it done.  I'm happy that is over, and I thought it was a perfect way to spend the day...baking a doing laundry...exactly what mothers do!

Not my favorite day

Today, Catherine is off to a band competition and then gets to spend the day at an amusement park.  She is beyond excited.  Many local people have a season's pass to the park, but it's just not something we enjoy all that much.  Even as a child, I didn't really care about going.  It was fun, but not something I'd like to do all the time.  The thing about this day is that it requires Catherine to be at the school even earlier than she would normally get on the bus...yikes!  I remember three years ago when Robert was going to school here but we were still living in our former town.  My fabulous husband left home at 5:15 AM to get Robert here on time...meaning there was still a "4" on the clock when they got up.  Ugh.  Selfishly, it also requires a ridiculous amount of work on my part for my volunteer job (although thankfully ahead of time, not this morning), and it's just not my favorite day of the year.  The nice thing about being up though is that I can get to work in the flower beds!

Ladies lunch

I've been wanting to write all week about my plans from last weekend, but as I wrote on Monday, the craziness of this time of year has begun.  This is nothing compared to next week, but that is another post...this one is about the fabulous time I had with some friends last weekend.

When my best friend Stephanie married her husband, I gained an entirely new set of friends.  Pat had a group of friends since high school that were very close and had stayed in touch through the college years and beyond.  Many of them had stayed local for college, and had local college friends, and the group just kind of kept growing.  It was through this group that Andrew and I met.  At our wedding, we had a picture taken of our group, and the group has been added to by additional spouses and children.  Of course, the "children" part is what can make getting together so very challenging.  Several weeks ago I attended a baby shower of the "newest" friend, and because everyone's life was so crazy, I was the only one there.  I decided this just couldn't be, and so I sent out a message about a ladies' lunch and proposed a date.  Our husbands have often been together, but the ladies always are home with the kids or just being the the "responsible" ones, so I decided it was our turn.  Ironically the date I proposed suited everyone, and the plans were made!  We spent several hours just hanging out and chatting, and I truly can't explain how much I needed that time.  I've never been one to particularly relish "girl time", but as I've grown older I recognize how important it is to maintain such special friendships.  It was a dreary day, but I was cheered immensely by getting to spend the day with these fabulous ladies.  Our friendships are such blessings!

It starts getting crazy

May has arrived, and the end-of-school-year craziness is also upon us.  I kind of forget each year how ridiculous it becomes as everyone tries to have a meeting/ceremony/recognition to wrap up the year.  Today Robert has a doctor appointment and then I have a meeting in the afternoon.  Robert has a volunteer shift after school and Andrew teaches his night class.  Tomorrow Catherine has drama practice, and that is our easy day of the week.  On Wednesday, Robert has another appointment, Catherine has a band concert, and I have a meeting.  Thursday Robert has extra study help and Catherine has a track meet.  Friday Robert has another volunteer shift and Catherine has a track party.  On Saturday Catherine has an all-day band function and on Sunday Robert works all day.  Really this isn't all too bad...frankly it is nothing compared to next week!  I'm grateful my kids have these opportunities though, and I'm grateful that we can work it all out.  I know the day is going to come when things seem so quiet and uneventful around here.  At the same time, I'm looking forward to our summer days and not having to run through the morning "check list" each day!

New bike

Thomas is the proud owner of a new bicycle.  I am really excited for him, and it is so excited to see how excited he is as well.  Of all of our kids, he enjoys bike riding the most.  Robert received an "adult" bike for his 15th birthday, and I think he's ridden it once.  Catherine received one her uncle had at the house that he purchased for a girlfriend before they broke up and had never been used.  So far, Catherine hasn't been too excited about using it either, although now that Thomas has one, maybe she will be more so.  We are really strict with what the kids are allowed to do with the money in their savings account, but this seemed like a decent investment.  Even though I'm not in love with bike riding myself, I am looking forward to a couple of family rides around the block this summer!