Sleeping in a cocoon

Now that the cooler temps have finally arrived, I am back to sleeping in my cocoon.    I'll be honest, this is just about the only thing about the cooler temps I don't like.  While I hate being hot when I sleep, my (apparent) OCD about falling asleep when cooler is rather annoying.  When it is chilly (the best sleeping weather) I have to sleep completely wrapped up.  I am a side/stomach sleeper, and in cooler weather it becomes almost exclusive stomach.  However, I can't sleep on one side of my head very long, so there is still "flipping".  And when I say I need to be wrapped in my cocoon, I need the covers to be completely wrapped underneath my torso so that no air can come in.  It's a little ridiculous...not to mention not fun for my husband who has to deal with my constant "fixing".

I'm not going to complain about this though.  Last evening I lit my Pumpkin Spice Candle and oh goodness!  Everything smelled absolutely wonderful.  I am in love!!!!!

Early bedtimes

I don't like Wednesdays because Andrew has games and it is so late when he gets home, but for the rest of us, it's our early night of the week.  It's early release day from school for Catherine and Thomas.  They were both home by 2:30 this afternoon.  I picked Robert up from the bus at 3, he had an appointment, I ran to work, and after I picked him up we were both home by 5.  The boys usually aren't home until at least 5, and there are evenings where Robert has to work or he runs errands with me.  Catherine has band two nights a week and mock trial once.  This doesn't count the weekends...when Robert works nearly every evening and there is Friday night football.  We are just a tired house.

It also happened today that there wasn't much homework, and there was plenty of time to do it.  I was up until after 11:30 last evening getting ready for today's volunteer assignment, and then was out the door by 7 this morning to spend the day at the school.  I came home and just sat.  I could be unloading the dishwasher, working on laundry, or any number of other things, but I just wanted to sit down.  I had the kids take early showers and we were just hanging out.  I happened to close my eyes during the evening, and when I awoke at 7:00, I realized that Robert was sound asleep in the other room on the couch.  I got him up and sent him to bed.  He'll be able to get ten hours, and that is awesome.  I'm a little jealous!  I put Thomas and Catherine to bed 1/2 hour early as well.  It never hurts to get some extra sleep when the opportunity presents itself!

Only three more games

It is 9:00, and Andrew still isn't home.  In fact, he isn't even in town yet so it will be at least another 1/2 hour before he's at the house.  I'm so grateful he is coaching middle school and not high school.  It's tough enough as it is.  We are getting there though.  There are only three more weeks left in the season.  Almost finished!

I'm really trying not to complain.  The extra money is very much appreciated.  It's just turning into something of a long week.  Thomas has two weeks of cross country remaining, and Robert has three.  Catherine still has five weeks of marching band remaining (the season that never ends!) and she has also joined Mock Trial.  So yep, there is a lot going on right now, but I know that there will come a time when we are going to miss this...especially after my lunch time experience today!

A "first" that made me a little sad

I am spending my day at the schools today helping to promote a fundraiser for our bands.  I don't mind, and I even enjoy the opportunity to see my kids during the day.  I enjoy being able to see them in their own environment.  It's part of the reason I enjoyed subbing so much.  The kids always enjoyed catching a glimpse of me during the day as well.  Thomas, in particular, loved having me around.  I remember so many instances of him incorporating me into his day.

I've always tried to respect my kids and their need for space.  As high school students, they already know that their dad is always there, and honestly I'm at the high school a great deal as well.  Today though, I'm also at the middle school.  I knew the schedule somewhat, and when it was time for 7th grade to eat lunch I decided to walk towards the cafeteria.  About half way there, I ran into Thomas.  I stopped and said hello, and asked if it was okay that I walk with him.  His answer was, "no."  To be honest I was surprised and definitely a little sad.  Not so sad that I'm going to make an issue of it.  He is certainly entitled to all of it.  It's not surprise that these days come...it's part of the process of them growing up.  I'm grateful for all of our experiences, but I miss those days when I was the center of their world!

Looking forward to it

In about five minutes I'm going to walk out the door for parent/teacher conferences, and I'm looking forward to it.  Catherine is having some minor adjustment difficulties to high school, but overall I'm sure she's going to be okay.  She is a hard worker, and takes a great deal of pride in her school work.  And I'm really looking forward to having a meeting with her world history teacher!  I love seeing Andrew at work, and since it is going to be a really late evening, I appreciate being able to see him even more!

Cooler weather is arriving

We turned our a/c off this weekend, but it's still been pretty warm.  I've been refusing to have it on though, because it was the last weekend in September.  It was getting cool enough in the evenings that it was tolerable.  Finally though, fall has arrived!  The temps this week won't reach out of the low 70's, and the overnight lows are going to be in the 40's.  I am so excited I could do a little jig!  This is my kind of weather!!!

His return to running

Yesterday was Robert's return to competing on the cross country team.  I wasn't able to be there because Thomas began his art classes.  Knowing that he hadn't run at all in nearly four weeks, and hadn't finished a race even before that, I was nervous about how things might go.  The coach had a conversation with Robert this week about not going out to hard.  He needed to recognize and accept his current physical condition and limitations.  Robert had told me his plan was to run in the 25 minute range, which is nowhere near his personal best, and also is nowhere near being competitive.  Andrew called me when it was over and said Robert had completed the race...and I let out a huge sigh of relief!  It took over 24 minutes, but he did finish.  Robert has learned a lesson about his lack of preparing this past summer, and combined with the surgery might very well take him out of any post-season competitions.  He still has his senior year though, and hopefully be running track, and actually preparing in the off season, he'll be able to be competitive again.

The day after Homecoming

Yesterday was Homecoming.  Today is the day after.  One makes me happy.  One does not.

Robert attended Homecoming with his current "girlfriend".  I use the term in quotes because they don't really get to spend much time together, but generally speaking they are identified as a couple.  Anyway, the young lady had a family wedding to attend in the afternoon so Robert attended with her.  They ate dinner there, then the young lady's parents chaperoned the dance and brought Robert home afterwards.  Being a guy, he had a sport coat and nice clothes, so we purchased nothing new.  That's the way I like it.

Catherine attended with a young man who is also a student of Andrew.  They apparently are also boyfriend/girlfriend, but I'm not quite identifying them that way yet.  This young man lives with his grandparents, and they brought him over later afternoon.  The two exchanged flowers here and we took some pictures.  The grandparents then drove them to dinner and the dance, and we did the late night return.

Thomas did his best to stay awake until the older siblings were home.  He was awake when Robert got home, but sound asleep by the time Catherine and Andrew arrived about 25 minutes later.  He had been so excited and especially wanted to hear about his sister's evening, but it was just too late.  After he went to bed, the four of us sat around and discussed the evening.  Everyone had a nice evening, although as you might expect with a high school dance there was some drama.  Some of it involved friends of Robert's date, and some involved Catherine herself.  We discussed it all, and I was a little amused at Robert's take on things that happened with Catherine.  It was nice to see him care so much about how things went with her.

Today is another story...although it is coming around.  This morning, everyone is tired and we decided to stay home from church so people could sleep.  There was plenty of snarkiness and passive aggressive tattling.  Andrew made some waffles, and again we had the opportunity to do breakfast instead of dinner (Robert works a double shift today).  The temps have also dropped, and right at this moment, I'm feeling so grateful for this life!

It seems ridiculous to decorate for fall

Yesterday was the official beginning of that season AFTER summer, known as fall, or autumn.  Mother Nature clearly didn't get the memo.  Summer is OVER.  Today's high temperature?  Ninety degrees...a full fifteen degrees above normal.  I would be completely okay with fifteen degrees below normal, but noooooo.  It seems completely ridiculous to get out my cozy fall decorations at this point!

A big weekend around here

This has been a particularly crazy week.  Today is the first day I've actually been home most of the day.  Only most mind you, as I have to leave around 4:15 and won't be done running around until after 9.  This crazy week leads into this crazy weekend...homecoming.  Yikes.

The day begins early tomorrow morning with Thomas having his first art lesson and Robert having a cross country meet (this one is high school only).  Robert has officially been released to run this week and will be allowed to participate tomorrow.  I'm pleased to hear he isn't going to try to push himself too hard, and I'm grateful his coach took the time to have a conversation with him about it.

A quick turn around will lead to the homecoming dance.  Both Robert and Catherine are attending...and we are entering a new phase for which I'm just not sure I'm ready.  Robert has had a "girlfriend" for a few weeks.  She is a freshman at high school and since he is attending the career school, they don't get to see each other very much.  In this day of texting though, there is definitely much daily communication.  She seems to be a fine young lady, and I'm grateful that it seems her parents are as much into supervision as we are.  Catherine is also "dating" (although they haven't actually been out on a date yet) a young man who happens to be a student in one of Andrew's classes.  We were able to meet his grandparents last evening (he lives with them) and I feel better about the situation.  They will pick Catherine up and take her to dinner and then the dance, and we'll do the Midnight drive home.

I'm having a tough time accepting that the dating phase of life is upon us...especially for my sweet little girl.  Watching both kids with their "significant others" last evening at the parade really hit me.  These aren't my babies anymore.  We are oh so very close to the end of my 24/7 parenting, and well, just wow.  I'm not ready for all of it yet, but clearly, I better find a way to be.

I hurt when my kids hurt

Parenting teens is just really tough.  I love my kids with all of my heart, and when they hurt...I hurt right along with them.  The worst part is the hurt that comes in the form of discipline, or life lessons learned.  Well, maybe not.  All hurt just stinks.  I'm grateful though, for the understanding that this is part of life and I have to let my kids experience.  Grateful, only because I know it will serve them well in the long run.  In the short run though, well again, it just stinks.

Catherine shared with us this week that she was being excluded from a band sectional dinner, and she was visibly upset about this.  As we discussed further, while we don't necessarily agree with the actions taken by other band members, we do understand it.  It turns out that Catherine hasn't been doing what she needed to be doing at practice, and she is struggling in that regard.  I think Andrew and I helped her to see that, and we also gave her some advice on how to begin to make amends for her part in the situation.

We also learned that Thomas made a very poor choice this week, and made a very poor choice last week.  Both choices resulted in other students being hurt (not necessarily physically).  Thomas needed to step up and accept the consequences for his actions.  The tough part as a mom is that he didn't intend to hurt these kids, and as he read the apology note last evening the hurt in his voice nearly broke my heart.  As a mom, I just wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him that I know he didn't mean it and all is okay.  That isn't the case though.  Sometimes our actions have unintended consequences, and that is why it so SO IMPORTANT to think before we act.  I know he gets that...but oh goodness.  It really was heartbreaking.

I miss the days when the worst my kids had to deal with was a scraped knee or something so insignificant, and that a hug and a kiss from me could fix everything.  Those days are long gone though, and I'm grateful for each and every day we have now.  Thomas even crawled up on my lap last evening and I'm grateful I can still be of comfort.  There are so many days when I'm just not sure how I'm going to get through my emotions of watching my babies grow up, but I'm more grateful than I can put into words that I get to watch them do it.

Ready for cooler, cozier temps

This Thursday is the official beginning of my favorite season.  Meteorologists even feel September 1 is the beginning of the season.  Yet, there is nothing but eighty degree temps in the forecast.  We actually have our a/c on...at the end of September!  I'm really ready for sweatshirts and lighting candles in the evening.  I remember eight years ago running our a/c in October, and I'm beginning to wonder if this is going to be another one like that.  Fingers crossed for some cooler temps!

Family dinners aren't really happening

I think the biggest regret I have about this fall has been our lack of family dinners.  They just pretty much aren't happening.  Mondays and Thursdays I have to leave at 5:30 to get Catherine to band practice (and she is there until 8:30) and Andrew isn't home until 6ish.  The four of us can do dinner on those evenings and we have (if Robert isn't working), but I miss my girl.  On Wednesdays, Andrew's games have been lasting until past 8PM.  I can do dinner with the kiddos, but I miss my hubby.  On Friday, Robert usually works, and most weeks Catherine, Andrew, and I have responsibilities at the football games.  Even this past Friday, Catherine and Andrew still had to go even though it was two hours away (and Robert was working).  Saturdays depend on the week, but last evening Robert worked and Catherine had a band competition.  Some weeks we can make it happen though.  Tuesdays used to be pretty good, but we've had some weeks where there have been some cross country meets (like this coming week), some where Robert has worked (like last week) and starting in two weeks Catherine will have mock trial practice every week.  We can probably still squeeze in dinner though, at least sometimes.  That leaves us with Sundays.  I have always, always held Sundays pretty sacred during the school year.  They are even more important to me now with not having much to go on the other six nights of the week.  Today though, Andrew had a meeting to attend, and next week Robert will be working.  I know this is reality, and I know that we are no different than any other family with children, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  It does mean though, that I better accept it, and treasure whatever moments we can all squeeze in together.  This morning was an example of that.  Instead of church, we stayed home and Andrew made us all bacon and eggs for breakfast.  I'm so grateful for this morning...so very grateful.

September is kicking our butts!

I'm not going to lie.  This is a tired house.  We are five tired, but happy people.  I'm very grateful that my husband is enjoying coaching middle school football, and I'm grateful for the extra money it will give us.  Catherine is loving high school and marching band.  She is also planning to work back stage for the fall play and is planning to do mock trial.  So far, Robert is doing well at the career school and is very motivated.  In addition, his new job is absolutely fabulous, and I'm so grateful for the improved environment.  By the middle of next week, he will be able to resume running, although we aren't entirely certain how much success he'll have this season as a whole.  Thomas is making it through cross country, but it's not his most favorite activity.  Overall, I have to say, middle school just kind of stinks, but he is doing okay with all of the drama that tends to happen at that age.  So all-in-all, we are doing well but all of these activities are making us very tired.  I'm grateful for all of these opportunities though, and in just about five more weeks the real craziness of it all will pretty much be over!

Mom the taxi driver

I know I spend a lot of time in the car, but something happened on Wednesday that really spelled it out for me.  On my way to picking up Robert at school, I filled up the gas tank and reset the trip mileage.  When I finally pulled into the driveway for the final time that evening, the trip odometer read 54 miles exactly.  All of that was driving my children around.  My, my goodness.  The good news is that Robert has his temporary driving permit, and by next spring he should be able to drive himself around.  I am particularly looking forward to that day!

Renewing my license

I have officially begun the process of renewing my sub license.  I have such mixed emotions about this.  I have loved, truly beyond words, being able to be a full-time SAHM for the last three years.  I know without a doubt it has been the best thing for our family for the past three years.  Not working is what my family needed.  I also know that it is time though, and for the first time since we've moved here, I'm actually a little excited about it.  That doesn't mean it isn't without some mixed emotions because it is going to be different this time.  I prefer to be with the younger ones, and I had such a network established at our old district.  Here now though, I need to be on the same schedule as the kids, and that means upper level classes.  I refuse to be at the middle school because I think it's such a rotten age, so that means strictly at the high school...with my husband.  That is going to be a little weird for us, and there are even going to be days when I might be in for him.  Something new!  I'll still have my job at the church and my volunteer responsibilities, so my goal is to only work two days a week.  I want to be "mom" and that is my goal for the next 5-1/2 years until Thomas graduates.  I also want to make some improvements to our home, and in order to do that, I need to work.  I should be working by November at the latest, and I'm hoping it will be just as fun as before!

A beautifully blue sky on this 15th anniversary

Fifteen years ago today was the day that changed our country forever...perhaps more so than any other day in our history.  My kids don't understand that you used to be able to go to Canada just by driving there and stopping to tell them you had nothing to declare, or that there used to be a day when you could actually walk to the airport gate to meet whomever you were greeting.

One of the things I remember most about that day was the gorgeously vibrant blue sky in New York.  It was the same here that day as well.  I thought it made the horror and destruction all the more stark.  Up until the planes crashed that day, it would've been considered by so many as a "perfect day".  We are having similar weather here today, although there are a few clouds in the sky.  The blue is so dramatic again though, and it's such a vibrant remember.  I can't imagine it all, and I'm grateful for that.  I pray daily for the safety of my friends and family.  God bless America.

We received sad news today.

We received very sad news in our family today.  Our dear friend Pat, who was so important in the lives of our children and who loved them very much, passed away yesterday.  Her husband called Andrew and it was a good thing he didn't call me.  I just couldn't get over the shock.  My heart is broken for her family.  My heart also hurts for my kids.  Pat was so very good to them, and would travel clear across the country to visit them.  She had told me once that she planned to be here when each of them graduated from high school, and even though I knew it would mean traveling, I fully expected that she and Eric would be.  My kids were that important to her.  I'm completely in denial that I'm never going to be able to share stories with her again.   We are sending prayers of comfort to the family.

A week into September

Life is moving along.  The oppressive heat and humidity is back, although a cold front will come through sometime this weekend.  Not soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.  In addition to the poison ivy I've been battling which finally stopped seeping yesterday, I am absolutely covered in bug bites of some kind, and I've also got some kind of cold/allergy/sinus issue and feel pretty miserable.  Mom's aren't supposed to take sick days though, so I'm fighting through it.

Our Labor Day weekend was nice, and rather relaxing.  We loved visiting with your friends Sunday evening, and we all especially loved sleeping in.  I'm tired, my husband is tired, and the kids are tired.  The thing is, none of them individually are doing too much, but it all adds up.  I'm looking forward to what I hope will soon be cozy days of fall.

It brings tears each time

Today was another cross country meet.  Obviously, Robert is out of running for a while.  We left he and Catherine here today since she wasn't feeling well either, and made the hour drive to the meet.  Thomas cut five minutes off his time, but still finished 262nd out of 263 runners.  His teammates though, well they are just the best.  Several high school students were positioned near us at the half way point and were cheering him on.  Andrew commented that he couldn't believe these high school kids remembered he would be out there so long after all the other runner had passed or that they knew his name.  I commented that I'm not surprised.  After all, Thomas is a very sweet, friendly, and likable kid...and he is Andrew's son.  Andrew doesn't think that has anything to do with it, but I strongly disagree.  Every one of the kids that were standing there were either current or former students.  I am so grateful for these kids who cheer on our son, and I'm so grateful that Thomas has learned to persevere even when he's struggling.

Three day weekend

The nice thing about starting school so early in August is that when Labor Day rolls around, we are really on a break!  It's not just right after school starts (or even before, as it used to be), but it's a break that we can truly enjoy.

And of course, Labor Day weekend means college football!!!!!  There are some absolutely great games this weekend, although I may not get to see either OSU or Notre Dame.  Ironically, we don't have that many plans, but the few ones we have are during those games.  Although we don't have a lot of plans, I am really looking forward to the ones we have.  This evening, Robert is working for three hours, and Andrew and I are having dinner with friends.  Tomorrow, Thomas has a cross country meet (Robert isn't able to run for three weeks) and then we are having lunch with friends.  Sunday Robert works in the afternoon and then we get to go to our former town and visit with dear friends, and Monday is NOTHING!  I was also able to have lunch today with some friends, and tomorrow evening we are bringing in Chinese, so there is plenty of down time to go with all of the visiting.  I am so, so looking forward to this weekend!

Happy to see August behind us

I've written for years that August is not my favorite month.  I am glad this one is behind us.  It was far, oh so very far, from the worst, but it had some not-fun moments.  For one thing, it was just really busy with school starting again, both boys having cross country, Andrew coaching football, and Catherine having marching band, along with my volunteer responsibilities.  We also have Robert at school 1/2 hour away, and I have my part-time job.  Busy, busy.  We had our garage flood at the beginning of the month, and our month ended with poison ivy and Robert's surgery.  We also had our a/c on almost the entire month, and many of those days were oppressively hot.  So yep, I'm ready for September.

Already the temps are cooler, and hopefully we are more settled into our routines.  College football begins in full force this weekend, and I'm so ready!  I woke up with a migraine, but I'm hoping September is a great month!