Opening Day was a loss

The first game of the Reds season just ended, and it was a loss.  Sadly, I know the season might not amount to much again this year, but honestly, I just love the Reds.  They are my team, no matter what!  The game was supposed to be yesterday, but delayed because of the weather (if only the neighboring high school had done the same thing with track!), so today was the beginning.  The sun is out for the first time all week, and although it is cold, we might actually start to think that spring is right around the corner.  And of course it is Easter weekend, but sadly the weather forecast does not give us much to be excited about!

Track season is underway

Both Thomas and Robert had their first track meets of the season this week.  Thomas was on Monday, and although it was chilly, it was sunny.  Thomas ran the 100m dash, and also did the discus throw.  He threw a PR, and was very pleased.  Yesterday was Robert's first meet.  It rained literally ALL DAY, but they still had the meet.  It was windy, and only in the upper 40's even when the meet began.  Robert ran the 4x800m relay and the 1600m run, before they decided to cancel the rest of the meet.  I went because there was no way I was going to miss his first meet of his senior year.  He ran well, and we were all pleased.

I was a little more emotional about this then I thought I would be.  I haven't been particularly emotional about either cross country or swim, but track is making me more emotional.  Maybe it is because it really is the end...there are no more high school sport seasons for Robert after this.  It really seems hard to believe how quickly this time arrived!

A four day weekend ahead

We are at the beginning of a four day weekend!  Robert has been off all week, and now Andrew and the kids are off for Good Friday.  The kids are all off on Monday also, and Andrew took a personal day.  We are leaving for Andrew's parents on Saturday morning and will be back Monday afternoon.

I've spent this week painting the hallway, although I still have quite a bit to go.  Hopefully tomorrow evening I can get some more done, but it is going to be interesting.  If I can't get it done tomorrow, I'm not sure exactly when I will have the opportunity to finish it...and that is going to drive me crazy!

Only 37 more school days left this year!

Spring break is done

Andrew, Catherine, and Thomas are out the door and back to school.  Robert is home this week, so with the exception of half a day on Wednesday, I am not working this week either.  Not at school anyway...there is plenty of painting waiting for me here at the house!

Overall, it was a nice week.  The colonoscopy wasn't exactly fun, but life goes on.  It was really only 48 hours of unpleasantness.  Robert had no school Tuesday due to testing, and was home Wednesday due to weather.  We had some wii bowling tournaments, and Andrew binged watched some TV shows with the kids.  We had lots of laughter hanging out together.  Thomas only had track practice twice, and Robert only once.  There was no youth group, and Robert got off work early on Friday.  The kids had some doctor appointments, and in doing so I was able to spend some time one-on-one with both Catherine and Thomas...and I expect to do the same with Robert this week.  I enjoyed visiting my former high school, and on Friday Andrew and I visited with some friends at a birthday party for their daughter...a former student of Andrew.

Yesterday was a fun wrap-up of the week.  We had dinner at our family's favorite restaurant.  We allowed Robert to choose the location and he chose the original.  The meal never disappoints, and I love our family being together.  Last evening I was even able to visit with a friend from out-of-town and some other moms of teens.

Only four days of school for everyone this week, and then we all have a four day weekend.  It will be along stretch to the end of the year, but hopefully there will be some nice weather along the way!

An entire day of prep

I have decided it is time to paint our bedroom hallway.  It is one of many projects I want to accomplish before Robert graduates.  I decided these two weeks of spring break was the time to get started.  Of course, life keeps getting in the way, but finally yesterday Catherine and I were able to go buy the paint.  We had other things happening yesterday, and it was 8:00 before I had a chance to begin the project.  Andrew convinced me it was too late to get started, and in a way I'm glad he did.  I might have been up all night otherwise!  I knew I wasn't getting up terribly early this morning, but I had been fighting a headache most of last evening so I did go to bed early.  Late morning I got a start on it, and Robert and Catherine helped as well.  I knew I would have to wash all the walls, but I was not prepared for how much scraping and sanding needed to happen.  In addition to the woodwork, there are seven doors in that little hallway.  Based on how much paint came off, I have no idea how the paint hasn't been chipping off as time has passed.  Early evening we finally finished it all up.  I know tomorrow there won't be an opportunity to finish it, but I was hoping to get back at it on Monday.  Thomas has a track meet Monday evening, but I was thinking I could work until then.  However, it is the day I have to get payroll sent off at the church so that isn't going to happen either.  I can get several hours in during the morning, and maybe I can get the walls done and do the doors another day.  As with every house project, it isn't going according to plans!

I wish we had received more snow

In the middle of the week, it appeared as though a major snow storm was headed our way.  They were calling for 5-8".  Of course tomorrow would be in the 40's, but it was going to be the biggest storm of the year.  Then the track changed a bit, and we were forecasted to only receive 3-5".  Still a pretty decent storm.  By yesterday morning, it was only going to be 1-3".  I was pretty disappointed.  I was really looking forward to a significant amount of snow.  By last night, it was only going to be about an inch.  We had some pretty decent snow this morning, but everything melted on the grass and there really isn't any accumulation.  I had really hoped it would be one last big snowfall, but such is life.

We did receive a couple of inches of snow this past Wednesday morning.  We were mostly off school, although it did give Robert a day at home.  Nice to have another day together!

I spent some time in my old stomping grounds

When my dad passed away, his life insurance policy funded a donor advised fund through our town's local foundation.  My sister and I are the advisors of the fund and make the decisions.  Last week, we received a request from the middle school in my hometown, and they asked if we would come in and talk to the students.  I thought it sounded great, and I was thrilled that it fell this week when we are on break.  I decided last night that I would take Thomas with me since it is an 8th grade class.  The current middle school is in the building where I attended high school.  It was so fun to be able to walk those hallways again.  I was also so impressed with the kids with whom we got to speak.  My cousin's son is in the class, and the daughter of lifelong friends.  I took pictures of Thomas with the kids we know, and overall I just had a blast.  I'm so glad we made the trip!

Didn't leave the house all weekend

I'll be honest, I didn't leave the house the entire weekend.  I got home Friday by 2:00, and I was HOME.  Lots of basketball to watch, and we had frozen pizzas and salads.  Andrew brought Robert and Thomas home from track practice, and Robert had to work.  There was basketball and more basketball.  Robert came home from work...still basketball!  Robert and Thomas went to bed, but Catherine stayed up and watched history with us...basketball history!  UMBC, as a 16th seed, knocked off #1 Virginia.  It was a fabulous game!  I had contemplated going to bed early, but I'm so grateful I stayed up to watch it.  It was awesome!

Saturday morning we all slept in.  Robert went on a date that afternoon, then worked that evening.  He had to work until close and was very tired when he got home.  Andrew had to teach Sunday School yesterday morning, but we decided that the rest of us were going to stay home.  None of us had anywhere to be, and other than going outside to take care of a few things, I didn't leave the house again.  Our family enjoyed a board game and of course, there was more basketball!  It was a great weekend!

Trying to come up with something for dinner

I've been doing okay with the meal planning.  This week was tough again with our schedule.  On Tuesday Andrew is teaching an evening class, but we had plenty of leftovers so that wasn't really an issue.  On Wednesday Andrew and Thomas were at the basketball wrap-up where they served dinner, and I took Robert to a band event that was full of desserts.  Last evening was the swim banquet with dinner.  Each evening one child was home and that child was responsible for themselves that evening.  I was going to do a simple grilled cheese and baked beans dinner, but Andrew wants pizza...and that is fine with me!  I was going to make potato soup for tomorrow evening, but I am kind of feeling burned out with that.  I got online and tried to find something else, but I've remembered that I don't necessarily love soup and stews.  I also don't love having lots of ingredients and prep time.  I want my crockpot meals to be simple, and not complicated and time consuming.  I did find a couple that sounded decent, but I know that Thomas won't eat them and it is going to require a trip to the grocery.  I"m just grateful that I'm trying to plan and not just wing it each day!

We are at the Friday leading into Spring Break

The Friday leading into Spring Break has arrived.  Normally, it is one of my favorite days of the year, but it isn't the same this year (kind of like the basketball tournament).  For one thing, I think it is entirely too early to be having break, and by the end of April we are all really going to be going crazy.  Secondly, there is a winter weather advisory near us until tomorrow morning, so that doesn't exactly inspire "spring-like" feelings.  Third, Robert still has school so I will still be getting up at 5AM each day.  And finally, I get to have a colonoscopy done.  There is nothing wrong, but I have a family history and it seemed like a good idea to get one done.  Fortunately, that is early in the week so I will have the end of the week to look forward to.  Overall though, I just wasn't getting excited about next week being spring break.

I'm feeling a little differently about it this morning though.  I am tired, and knowing that we have this evening and this weekend with few responsibilities makes me happy!  There will be basketball on to watch, and some time to just relax, and not have to be thinking about getting everything done before bed.  Hopefully next week can be a productive week around our house!

It isn't the same this year

This weekend is the first (and best) weekend of the basketball tournament.  It just isn't the same this year.  I know part of it is that the Flyers had a pathetic year, and we knew there was no chance they were going to play after losing in the conference tournament.  I didn't get to see many of the conference tournaments this year.  For the last five years, Andrew has taken personal days for the first round so we could enjoy all 32 games in the first two days.  With next week being spring break, the timing didn't work as well.  Not only is he working, but weeks ago I had agreed to take a job for tomorrow.  I had thought that I would stay home today and at least enjoy most of today, but I received a text last evening asking if I would work.  I'm not going to say no to being in a class I enjoy when I am specifically asked.  And it isn't like I am "ruining" my whole day because we have the swim banquet this evening that will take several hours...so not much basketball this evening either.  It also keeps us from ordering our traditional Thursday night March Madness pizza.   The kids didn't even fill out brackets this year, and I'm not sure they really are concerned about it.  It is what it is though, and life goes on.  Hopefully the Saturday and Sunday games will still be pretty good!

Volunteering

I come from a long line of volunteers.  My mother is one of the most active volunteers you will ever meet, and my sister is very involved as well.  It's just what we do.  It's how we grew up.  Something needs done then you just do it.  There are so many benefits; however when it becomes a source of stress I have to wonder why I'm doing it.

This has been particularly true lately.  I am a Sunday School volunteer for our church.  I don't teach a class, but I need to be there at 9:00 in order to take attendance and help out as needed as an extra adult.  Last year I did it every 4-6 depending on how things fell.  That wasn't a problem as there were several of us who were willing to help.  This year I am doing it twice a month (although Andrew is helping so I can sleep a little more).  I've been asking people to help out, and I'm not getting any response.  One woman finally agreed to help, but when I contacted her to set a schedule, she never responded.  She finally did, and I asked her to let me dates when she wasn't available.  I then set up a schedule accordingly, and she let me know that date wasn't going to work.  It wasn't one of the dates that she had listed....aaaaaagh!  I was able to get someone else, but I've asked her to please take one of the remaining dates and haven't heard back.  I am desperate for people for next year.  My kids no longer need to attend 9:00 Sunday school next year (high schoolers meet after service), and I'm not interested in doing it 2+ times a month.  I am happy to do it once, but I would like to think others will step up.

Band has been another huge chore.  This week we have our annual "Sweet Music" event.  Two weeks ago at our meeting I said that I would handle getting the supplies, and would make arrangements to get the signup and advertising email sent out.  Early last week I began the chain of emails to our board in order to set these things in motion.  I wasn't hearing back from anyone, so finally I contacted the signup person directly.  At the end of last week she finally responded with a draft of how things could look, and some changes were suggested.  The communications volunteer was copied on all of these emails.  Nothing was happening from her.  Finally on Friday, I sent a specific email both to her work and her home email.  I heard nothing.  Three days later, I finally decided to just sit down and do it myself.  Of course, she has the software to put together nice emails and that software has the email list already entered.  I was going to have to do it all manually, and I didn't really know what I was doing.  I finally sat down yesterday afternoon, after not hearing from her, and put it together.  It took me well over an hour.  My first several attempts at making it happen didn't work, and I could've cried when I finally got it put together like I wanted and it actually sent it out in the correct format.

I'll be honest, I'm tired of spending my time on these things.  We have an entire board who is supposed to handle things, and yet I often feel as though I am the one that ends up handling way too much.  During the marching season, we do have parents who help out with the physical logistics of the band themselves, but if it doesn't directly involve their child performing they don't want to be involved.  I don't have any kid performing in the event this week, just like I didn't have one performing in jazz/chili supper last fall.  I had told everyone that I wouldn't be able to be at the event last fall, but that isn't how it happened.  I have to deliver the money items, and usually many, many other things, so it's not like I can just not show up.  I am always the first one to arrive at these things and the last one to leave.  Last year, even the band directors left before I did!

I know this is nothing but a whiny rant, and I should be ashamed of myself.  It's just frustrating.  I have a husband and kids at home who need things from me just like everyone else does.  While it isn't full time, I have a job as well.  I hate the fact that I have missed other things with my kids because I'm at an event with other people's kids...and those parents aren't helping one bit.  I know that someone needs to do it and I probably do have more time than many, but I'm frustrated that it always ends up being me.  I want my kids to know that I am there for them and they are the most important things in the world to me.  I try to take on volunteer activities that involve them so that it is time together...which is why I don't understand why other parents can't help.

Off my soapbox now...life goes on and I'm truly blessed.  I shouldn't forget that...but I shouldn't be taken advantage of either!  😊

The time change is tough

Another "spring forward" time change is in the books.  I think we all enjoy the extra hour of daylight, but it really feels as though it comes at a price.  Yesterday, not only did we lose the hour of sleep, but I was the Sunday School volunteer so I was definitely up and moving.  Robert had to work really late Saturday night, but Andrew stayed up to wait for him since I had to be the one up earlier in the morning.  After church, the kids had a meeting and we had to help with set up for an event.  I then made a trip about an hour north for a funeral visitation, and when I came home we ate dinner, spent some family time, and eventually went to bed.  I never felt overly tired at any point during the day.

Today though...today is another story.  As so often happens when I my sleep is thrown way off, it is the next day that is the roughest.  I was still asleep when my alarm went off this morning which in many ways was wonderful, but it definitely meant I wasn't ready to get up yet.  Fortunately, I am only working half day today, and hopefully, there is a nap in my future.  I always feel as though the time change throws us off for the entire week!

Game Changers

Late last week, one of Andrew's colleagues asked about something in our life that truly changed our life.  It could be an event, or music, something written...anything.  For awhile I didn't respond, but then I did.

Of course meeting my husband was life changing, along with getting married, and definitely becoming a mother.  But those events are pretty much life changing for everyone.  I wanted something more specific to me.  Six years ago next month, Robert decided to leave behind the unpleasant known factor of our previous school district and go to school at my husband's district.  I was so amazed with him that he was willing to make a change.  I hate change, and almost no matter what, I prefer the known to the unknown (oh, the posts I could write about that!).  I was so impressed with my child who was willing to jump into the unknown in order to attempt to find something better.

A year later of course, the big change came when we decided that our entire family was going to move to town.  For the younger two, of course it meant switching schools.  I will never forget the anxiety and dread I felt the first day Catherine and Thomas had to start at their new schools, and I can only imagine how they must've felt.  However, they NEVER complained or made one negative comment about our move.  I was then, and am still, completely in awe of how they jumped on board with enthusiasm at our major life change.

It definitely was a time in life filled with much emotion for me, and I wasn't particularly happy.  However, I never doubted that this move was the best decision for our family, and I'm grateful for that sense of peace.  Of course now, I can't imagine my life anywhere else!

Doing graduation things

I've spent this week doing things for graduation.  In less than eleven weeks, the day will be here.  I ordered his cap & gown, and his announcements.  I've been working on ordering his senior pictures, and I'm going to need to do something in terms of putting together some picture displays.  We really are starting to get close, and there is part of me that is beginning to think it might actually happen.  I know that sounds pessimistic, but there were many, many days when Robert's choices made it seem unlikely.  I am grateful that we are heading in the right direction.  I sincerely hope I am not jinxing myself by writing this post!

Meal planning in our house

About three weeks ago, I began going back to meal planning.  I did really great for two weeks, struggled for a week, and I'm trying to get back into it.  I find I'm much better about it if I think about it ahead of time.  Now, I'm sure this is true for most people, but it's not how I've always done things.  I used to do it such that I would cook whatever sounded good that day.  It was workable when I was home all day, but doesn't not so much when I work outside the home.  It was also very challenging (and unmotivating) when the kids were at swim every evening from at least 5:30-7:30, especially since Thomas wasn't done with basketball until 5:00.  Family meals were non-existent, and we just had a freezer full of things that were easy to microwave.

Now though, we are able to do family dinners again and I want to take advantage of the final few months we are still a family of five around the dinner table.  By using the calendar, I am able to make sure that I have the things we are going to need on hand, and also that we don't keep having the same things over and over again.  I even tried a new recipe last week, and while none of us loved it, we did all appreciate something new.  I am cautiously optimistic that I will be able to keep this up for a time!

He has a new perspective

For most of the beginning of our marriage, Andrew had to be up for work 2 or 2-1/2 hours before I had to get up.  His alarm would go off, and he would turn on the TV.  I hated that.  Really hated it.  He would then go take his shower, and then come back to get dressed...sometimes with the TV on again.  I can remember mornings I would be in bed trying to sleep, and I couldn't wait for him to be finished so it would be dark and quiet again.  I would ask many times if he could please find a different way to do this, but he was insistent, so I got over it.

Last year the tables turned.  With Robert having to be on the bus so early, I was up with him.  Before I was working, it made the most sense because I could take a nap, and once I started working, it allowed me to get in the shower before Andrew needed to on those days.  I think I could count on one hand the number of times I needed to turn on the light, and I made an effort to make sure the bedroom door was latched so he couldn't hear us in the hall and out in the family room.  Sometimes though, it wouldn't latch like I had thought, and I can remember him complaining to me about how his sleep was interrupted.  Gee, I wonder what that is like???

Many days now we are both up at the same time so he walks the dog while I am in the shower.  Yesterday though, he wasn't working because he had a dental appointment.  Once upon a time, we would enjoy those days together, but now I am his sub.  I like his classes and he likes knowing that his sub isn't an idiot (you would be surprised how often that occurs).  It meant that he really got to sleep in yesterday, and I tried even harder to respect that.  At the same time, he tries even harder on rare school mornings when I don't have to be up to make sure he lets me sleep as well.  Life experiences help us to appreciate each other even more!

New furniture arrived

At the beginning of the year, Andrew and I decided we could replace the loveseat in our family room.  In July of 2016, the lever to allow one of the seats to recline had broken, and it's the seat in which I usually sit!  It was also showing lots of age and had some rips and tears.  Andrew's parents had actually given us money for it last year, but at the time I couldn't find anything I liked, and then we found out we needed to replace his car so that was the end of that.  We weren't planning to do it this year either, but since my grandmother gave us more than expected and we didn't use it on rugs like we thought we might, we decided to get a new loveseat.  While we were shopping at our furniture store (we still go back to our old town...you can't beat the prices or the service), we found a chair that I absolutely loved.  I had been looking for a big chair to put in our living room to replace the blue rocking chair.  Blue had long been painted over in that room.  It was a discontinued chair, so it was marked way, way down, and the color would work!  We decided to add it to the order, and they were both delivered yesterday.  Everyone loves them both!  Of course we ended up having some major car repair expenses so it was an INCREDIBLY expensive weekend, but life goes on.

A lot of personality in these classrooms

I took a job today that I only took because I knew there is a student teacher and the focus would be on her.  The class of 2019 is a tough class and always has been.  This year is better than it had been because by this point there are so many options that most of them are not all stuck in one class.  However, they all need to take some level of English, so unless they want AP, English III it is.  I'm not really in charge though, and I don't mind getting paid to keep things legal.

Having said all of that, I'm a little astonished at some of these teens.  They really hate being told to put their phones away.  I swear sometimes some of them literally twitch at even the thought of not being able to be staring at the screen.  It see it in my own kids as well, and it makes me crazy.  In addition, there is an amazing lack of respect in many instances.  They can be flat out defiant and refuse to do the work, and they will tell you that.  This is the kind of class that makes me want my kids to be able to graduate and get away from this environment.  Fortunately, it is just this one grade level, and most of the kids here are pretty good.

Our week at the end of February and into the beginning of March

As I look back on this week, I've enjoyed it.  I only worked yesterday and then half day today.  I am so grateful for all of the down time, although it stresses me that we have some unexpected bills (another post).  In addition, track season hasn't begun yet, so it has truly been a peaceful week.  I had a meeting and Thomas had a band concert, but overall it was a rather relaxing week.

After last weekend was so incredibly rainy, this week has been sunnier.  Today, my afternoon is being spent in first grade, and I was out on recess duty.  I love this little school in the country, but the fact that elementary doesn't end until 4:00 is not conducive, most days to my family's schedule.  I also find that I'm not as young as I used to be, and really can only handle 1/2 days most of the time.  Their energy wears me out.

I'm also just pretty worn out most of the time anyway.  I seemed to have reached the stage in life where I'm just not going to sleep well at night.  I've been grateful that I've been able to go back to sleep most mornings this week, because my nights are not only too short, but too awake.  About 3:30 each night I am waking up and I'm just roasting, and then when the heat stops radiating I'm cold because I've been beginning to sweat.  It happens a lot during the day as well, and I realize it is just the joy of my age and hormones.  Life goes on and I'll be fine.

I am looking forward to our weekend.  I am especially excited that I finally purchased a new duster and am ready to clean.  It is the little things in life!

It's a long day

I remember waking up last night just before Midnight and being so excited to realize that I still had over five hours until I had to get up.  I then woke up around 1:30 and knew that I still had 3-1/2 hours until the alarm went off.  I was cautiously optimistic I might be able sleep through the night.  Sadly, NOPE.  I woke up at 3:30 like I've been doing for quite some time now.  I knew I still had time to fall back asleep, but then I heard Abby barking.  I hopped up, but Andrew ran to get her.  He took her out, she went, and then he took her back to Catherine's room.  He had just settled in when Abby barked again.  He went and brought her to our bed.  It took her a bit to settle down, and it took Andrew and I even longer.  At 4:30, I knew there was no more quality sleep left for me.  Sure enough, I had just begun to doze off when the alarm went off at 5:00.  I am working today, and Thomas has a band concert this evening where I have several official responsibilities before and after.  Robert has track practice after school and Andrew is going to remain at school until he is finished.  I'm ready for bed or a quick nap already, but we are many hours away from that.