Christmas decorating

Our house is mostly decorated for Christmas.  We needed almost entirely new sets of lights this year, and Andrew also decided to put lights up outside.  He outlined the top of the front of the house, and it looks nice.  In fact, I especially enjoyed it this morning as I was waiting for the bus with Robert.  We had the trees all put together and lights on by Saturday evening, and then spent the evening decorating with the ornaments.  The kids all looked forward to it, and all of them seem to realize that the years of this being how we do things each year are limited.  One of the things we most enjoyed this year when hanging the ornaments was remembering those no longer with us.  So many of those ornaments hold precious memories, and everything seemed to recognize that this year.

Really not ready for this weekend to end

As we cruise later in to Sunday afternoon, I am just not ready for this weekend to end.  I hate to sound complaining as this weekend has been an amazing blessing, but I'm just not ready for it to end.  That is due in large part to being well aware of how grueling this week, and the one after, and the one after that, are going to be.  Robert got off work early and we were home by 8PM Friday evening, and I remember ecstatically exclaiming to my husband that if we wanted, we didn't have to leave the house until we took Robert to work at noon today.  Forty uncommitted hours are extremely rare in this house, and I'm so very grateful for them.

This week my kids have six hours of swim practice, two hours of dryland conditioning, at least two doctor appointments, and we don't know Robert's work schedule yet.  Andrew has parent conferences one evening this week, and I have to work at school on Wednesday and Thursday.  I have an all day volunteer commitment on Friday, and also need to get some time in at the church.

Four weeks from today is Christmas.  It will be here before I know it, and I'm again, trying to be present in each moment!

One of the greatest games ever

Yesterday was the annual OSU/Michigan rivalry football game.  This was a BIG one with the match-up between #2 (us) and #3 (TTUN...that team up north for those of you not from here).  Robert of course could not have been less interested in the games, but the other two sat and watched most of it with us.  What a game it was!  Double overtime before OSU finally prevailed.  I'll be honest, there was lots of yelling and jumping up and down on my part!  Thomas even announced, "this is the best rivalry game ever".  It was such a great game, and yes, even when I thought there was a chance the Buckeyes would lose I still felt that way!  I am so grateful I was able to share it with my family!

A really fabulous Thanksgiving

This has been such a fabulous Thanksgiving full of so many blessings.  We made our quick trip to visit Andrew's parents and had a fabulous meal with them last evening.  Andrew's brother can't really leave the house anymore so he didn't come over, but Andrew took the kids to visit after we ate.  It was such a truly nice visit with his parents and I didn't fail to recognize our blessings.  We were up at 6 this morning and on the road by 8:20.  I know it is hard on his mom when we leave.

We made it to my aunt & uncle's house by 12:30.  I am so, so grateful that my aunt is still willing to host the entire family.  I was able to visit with my cousins and enjoy their kids.  My grandmother was there as well, and I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to share such an amazing meal with my family.  I'm also very grateful that we still have three full days ahead of us to watch football and begin ringing in the Christmas season.  Life is more blessed than I can put into words!

Being present in the moments

I want to make sure that I am being present in the moments over these holidays.  In 2012, I took so many pictures and recorded so many memories.  I didn't know it then, but it ended up being Dad's last Christmas with us.  It was also the last holiday season we spent in our old house and town.  I'm so grateful for the pictures and memories from those holidays.

I find myself feeling the same way about these holidays.  I'm sure some of it is the age of my kids.  Nothing in life is guaranteed, but Robert is a junior and after this holiday season there is only one more where I can be confidant he'll get to be with us for the celebrations.  I'll be honest, that is often front and center in my thought process, and I want to soak up the special memories as long as I can.

I know the age of my in-laws is also a factor.  My father-in-law is 81, and my mother-in-law is 77.  We'd all like to think they'll be around for another 20+ years, but we are realistic people.  And of course my brother-in-law continues to deteriorate.  During the summer of 2015, I remember telling everyone that I was sure he'd be around for those holidays, but doubted he'd be there to celebrate two years later.  That would be next year.  

That's why I'm making sure the camera goes with us as we celebrate these holidays.  I'm grateful for each of the memories, and I'm grateful for the peace this recognition brings.

We need this break

Thanksgiving break begins this evening.  Our family needs a few days off, although I am completely realistic that it isn't going to be the quiet downtime that we might really want.  We need these days though, and at this point even sleeping in until 6AM is an extra hour of sleep for Robert and me.  I am grateful that my children have opportunities, but I wouldn't mind if the opportunities required a little less time commitment.  We are just tired people.  I know if my Dad were still alive he would point it out each time he saw us.  I remember once he even told me my email sounded tired.  He always worried about me, just like I worry about my kids.

We are heading to my in-laws this evening and it will be late when we get there.  We will be there all day tomorrow, and then will be on the road by 8AM Thursday morning to get back to my aunt & uncle's house.  I always look forward to spending the day with my mom's family.  On Friday Robert's girlfriend will be over for several hours, and then Robert has to work.  I'm not entirely certain what is happening Saturday because we have so many different options, but one thing will be Robert's driving lesson.  Sunday will bring more work for Robert and another driving lesson.  Definitely plenty going on!  And of course, there needs to be plenty of decorating happening this weekend!

He makes me not want to move

I am currently sitting on the couch in our family room, and I need to get some things accomplished.  Specifically, I need to head out the door to the church office and get things done there.  However, our dear cat Lincoln has other thoughts.  About 15 minutes ago, he came up on the couch, curled up right beside me and is nestled in the crook of my leg sound asleep.  It is so very sweet!  It really makes me not want to get up off the couch, let alone head out the door!

No art either

If you scroll down just below this post, you will learn that Thomas isn't going to be able to play basketball this year.  We just learned this weekend that the art classes he has been taking each semester aren't going to be offered next semester either!  This poor kid!  He was disappointed at the beginning of the school year that he wasn't able to take art in school (we don't really understand why, but it's what happened), and now it just seems as though nothing is working out for him.  It certainly is not the end of the world, but I feel badly for my little guy.  We will definitely be looking into other options!

No basketball this year

We received the official word earlier in the week.  The rec league doesn't have enough to form teams in Thomas's age group, and there will be no basketball for him this year.  Originally we had hoped they would do what they did with Catherine two years ago and put him on a grades 5/6 team, but it didn't work out that way.  When I told Thomas the other night, we could see how much it hurt him all over again.  He is such an emotional kid, and so much like me in that regard.  Our excitement and enthusiasm is high, and therefore the depths of things are pretty low as well.  It breaks my heart to see my kids hurting, but I know they have to learn to cope with disappointment...that is life.  I'm going to miss watching basketball this year, but Thomas is planning to do some running with an after school club.  I'm glad he wants to stay busy!

In for my husband

Today, I get to sub in Andrew's class.  To be honest, I'd been looking forward to this for weeks, and I absolutely love it!  I know many of the kids, and after we got through first period, they have all been pretty well behaved.  I'll be honest, the students at this high school amaze me almost every time I'm in the building.  For the most part, they are an absolutely fabulous group of kids.  In some ways, it makes me frustrated with my own who don't seem to be able to get their acts together nearly as well.  I know though, that many other parents would probably feel the same way.  At school, we generally only see the good stuff...it's the parents who deal with everything else!

I'm so grateful for these opportunities to add to our family income!

Pleurisy

I neglected to mention the latest medical issue in our house...Catherine has pleurisy.  About five weeks ago she came home from a chilly band competition and mentioned that her friends had talked her into leaving her jacket on the bus.  Sure enough, she developed quite a cold.  Nothing that made her miss school, but enough to not feel great.  Her cough went away, then returned.  It's never been deep, but when she does cough, it's pretty strong and continuous.  Early last week, she mentioned that her side hurt right around the rib cage.  She came home from swim practice last Monday nearly in tears from the pain.  I suspected pleurisy, and after taking her to the doctor last Wednesday, it was confirmed.  He put her on an antibiotic, and although she does still have the cough, it has gotten better.  She feels today that the pain is better as well, although she tried to return to the pool Monday, and that went so poorly that she now is not allowed back until next Monday.  Of course being the anxious parent I am, I become terrified that something is seriously wrong, but hopefully it was just an upper respiratory infection, and all will be well soon!

Three years without my dad

It's been three years now since Dad passed away.  To say that it doesn't seem real is so very true on most days...even after all this time.  At the same time, I'm grateful for how much less it hurts  As my mom stated when Dad died, echoing the thoughts of her own mother when my grandfather died, this is just our "new normal."  I'm so grateful for the memories, for the man he was, and ultimately for the fact that he is no longer suffering.

Lost Christmas present

About a week ago, a Christmas gift I had ordered online for Robert arrived in the mail.  Catherine saw it and asked what it was.  I explained it was something I had ordered online and then left the room to put it out of sight.  The problem of course is that it is not only out of sight...it is out of my memory.  I can't find it anywhere.  I have absolutely no idea where I put it.  I've spent this week looking for it, and I was convinced it would show up yesterday when I cleaned out the closet where I put the gifts.  No such luck though.  I'm not even sure I know where else to look at this point!

An interesting start to my morning

This morning, before 7AM, was absolutely crazy.  I should've known it was a bad sign when I received a text at 6AM.  It was one of our local teacher friends.  She had read a facebook post about a teacher and was very concerned about the dark tone.  One might wonder why she would text me.  This happens to be one of Andrew's colleagues and is also someone I have worked with in my volunteer position.  I agreed it was concerning and we were discussing how to proceed, using Andrew's experience as a union rep as our guide.  At the same time, my friend with whom I work at my church job is also texting me because she can't get the donation statements to print correctly and is in a panic wanting to know when I can get to the church to help her.  I also learned that Thomas hadn't been taking care of the cat boxes all week because he "didn't want to", and when I am informed him very calmly but firmly that he could do the job next week again, he began to throw a temper tantrum.  He is entirely too old for that!  I get to work this morning and run into Robert's girlfriend.  She mentions that Robert sent her a text while he was taking a test yesterday.  This of course means that he has installed a texting app on his school laptop and this probably explains why his grades suddenly started tanking again.  I am a little sick to my stomach.  While I know it's just one little thing, I can't help but feel it will start leading to bigger poor decisions again...that tends to be his pattern.

I am so grateful that we are going to get to go out with friends this evening and again tomorrow evening.  It's been a rather grueling week, and we need some time to laugh and be distracted!

Very emotional ceremony

I am working again today at the high school.  I hadn't realized there was going to be an assembly for Veteran's Day until I got here.  I was a little intimidated, as I didn't know exactly what my role might be during such an event in terms of monitoring students, but I just followed the crowd and went with the flow.  The students filed into the gymnasium and I eventually made my way to the far side and up the steps.  The ceremony began with the principal reminding the students that although we were in the gym, it was a serious ceremony and not a sporting event.  The colors were presented by the county sheriff's office and I was so impressed by how silent the students were.  That was followed by the pledge of allegiance and the National Anthem, both so very well done.  After that some students read their winning essays, and then the veteran's were introduced.  The very first veteran was a 94-year-old WWII vet.  He stood, and the other veterans and students all stood as well in an ovation.  I was completely moved to tears.  The principal then recognized all of the other veterans, followed by current students who have already enlisted.  One of the enlistees is the brother of Robert's girlfriend, and I couldn't help but think about my own son and his plan to join the Navy.  In just another year that could be him being recognized, and tears filled my eyes again.  The program ended with a student singing "Proud to be an American", and even a few students became emotional.  I was so impressed with the students, and so grateful that I got to experience that today.  It was truly a blessing.

Marching band season has ended

Marching band always feels like the season that is never going to end...ever.  It began so early in July, and yesterday was finally the end of the season.  Catherine really enjoyed her season, although she struggled with the marching skills.  Yesterday was an all day band competition, and that officially ends the marching portion of the season.  There are so many good things that happen in band, and I'm grateful that Catherine enjoys it.  At the same time, I'm not sad that it has come to and end!

We really needed it

Last evening Thomas admitted he was drained and went to bed at his normal school bedtime.  Catherine was sent to bed even a little earlier than her school bedtime because she had such a long week, and by last evening some of her choices weren't the best.  She'd also had a very long day at a marching band competition, and just needed some sleep.  Robert worked until 9, then came home and ate a late dinner.  As soon as he was finished, he announced he was going to bed...before 10:00!  I was a little astounded, but it had been a long week for him as well, and he'd been up early to run in a local 5k race.  Andrew and I were a little astounded that it was that early and ALL of our children were in bed.  I decided to take advantage and go to bed around 11:00 myself.

And of course, last night was when everyone gained an extra hour.  Our family put that extra hour to good use by sleeping.  Today is remembrance Sunday at our church, and I had told Andrew during the week that I wasn't going.  I don't want to go to church and cry through it, which is exactly what happened last year.  So we all got to sleep in...and everyone did!  In fact  Thomas & Catherine slept nearly 12 hours, Robert slept over 12 hours, Andrew slept over 9 hours and I slept over 10 hours.  There is no question this household needed some sleep, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get it!

Just as awful as we thought it would be

Thomas has been home about 25 minutes from basketball tryouts.  It's just as awful as we thought it would be.  His heart is absolutely broken about the results, and of course as parents, our hearts break right along with his.  This is one of the toughest parts of parenting, and Andrew and I can't put into words how much we wish we could take away the pain.  I'm looking forward to his big sister getting home from her band competition so she can give him a hug.

A very happy memory

Nine years ago today is one of my most favorite memories.  My dad had just bought his cottage and we took the kids up so we could all see it for the very first time.  We had a great time visiting, and that was the beginning of so many fabulously special memories.  Being the first Sunday of November, it was also the first day of the end of Daylight Savings Time.  The kid couldn't wait to tumble into bed that evening, and everyone was in bed well before 8:00.  I'll be honest, I enjoyed the early bedtime for the kids, and it came at the end of a day that is such another fabulous memory.  I am so incredibly grateful for all of the memories we were able to share with my Dad at his cottage!

Too funny

This evening we had another somewhat crazy evening, but we were all (except for Andrew who is out with a friend) home by 8:30.  We hadn't been able to watch It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown when it had been on before.  We have it on DVD and I decided that this would be the evening the kids and I would sit down and watch it.  We even had some snacks and all settled in.

The first comment that amused me came from Catherine.  Just a couple of minutes in she suddenly proclaimed, "Wait!  Where are all the parents?  Who's keeping an eye on the kids?"  I love that she is old enough to have that perspective.

The most comical though, clearly came from Thomas.  It was the scene when the Peanuts gang was explaining to Sally about the concept of Trick-or-Treating.  She thought it sounded too good to be true.  She even asked, "Are you sure it is legal?"  Thomas announced, "She must be worried about her political future."  Oh goodness!  The perspective of that one is always comical!

A working Friday

Today is a working Friday.  I'm looking forward to this being the end of the week.  Things are just continuing to be unbelievable with the kids' schedules...and they aren't even involved in nearly as much stuff as some kids!  I don't know how other parents work two full-time jobs and make this all happen!

It's definitely an adjustment in our house.  I think Andrew forgets how much I handle being home all day, because it just gets handled.  He doesn't even have to think about it.  I've been a little frustrated this week as I worked every day except yesterday, still had dinner on the table between running kids, and Andrew just doesn't seem to realize I'm still handling things on my own.  We'll get through the adjustment though, and it is what makes me so very grateful for school breaks!

Looking forward to a bit of sleeping in for the weekend!

I'm not looking forward to what is going to happen

This weekend is tryouts for the middle school basketball team.  Thomas is not going to make the team.  We have absolutely no doubt about that.  Last year in his rec league he was the worst player...in the entire league.  However, Thomas wants to tryout and we are not going to be the people who tell him he can't.  We have to let him face the disappointment that is about to happen...and that is really, really hard.  It's also part of life and I know it is part of my job as a parent.  Part of my job is to teach them to cope with disappointment, but it sure isn't the part of my job that I like.  I know there are going to be tears, and I strongly suspect I'll be crying right along with my little guy.  I'm ready for this particular event to be over.

Back as a working mom

I am off today, and I'm very grateful!  I've worked every day this week.  Not all day, mind you, but still every day.  I'm keeping my job at the church while returning to the world of being a sub.  I really enjoy being a sub and I really enjoy my job at church, but I had forgotten a bit about how crazy things can be when I'm not available all day to work on laundry, dishes, etc.  We've also had a band concert and cross country awards in the evening this week, and Andrew has his football awards tonight.  Tomorrow is another band performance and I work again, but I know that families everywhere deal with this every day.  I'm so grateful that I have two jobs that I really enjoy, that allow me to still be home with my kiddos...so very grateful!

Mild mornings

The last two days we have tied record high temperatures...upper 70's in November!  It's been a little ridiculous again, and definitely not my favorite weather.  It's not awful, but I am NOT turning on the a/c in November!  The cold front is coming through though, and there is nothing about the 60's in the extended forecast.  I've enjoyed not turning on the heat yet, but I am ready for those cooler temps.

The one thing that has been REALLY nice though, is the mornings.  Robert and I walk outside at 5:40 in the morning to wait for his bus.  He stands in the drive way and I sit on the porch, usually with my cup of coffee.  I haven't had to worry about bundling up at all.  In fact this morning, I was in shorts and bare feet.  While I am generally looking forward to the cooler temps, those five minutes I'll be shivering in the morning is the one downside.  I can deal with five minutes though for an overall fabulous day!