I've been busy working on the house since I've had it to myself since Thursday afternoon. This is the longest amount of time I've had to myself since before I was married. I've been able to get a lot done, but I am so very ready for everyone to come home tomorrow.
One thing I am enjoying is having control of the remote to myself. Today I had the Reds game on while scrubbing cabinets in the kitchen. It was a fun game to watch as a Reds fan! I then took Abby on a walk, watered the flowers, and took a much needed shower. I knew that tonight I could watch whatever I wanted, and I settled on my favorite movie, Bull Durham.
I can't wait until we are all reunited under one roof, but in the meantime I am enjoying my television watching for the evening!
Saturday, June 30, 2018
This last day of June
Today is the last day of June. I love June. At no point during June do I really have to care what the date is...it's June. It is a month without much of a schedule. It is a glorious span of time because no matter what, we still have all of July and a couple of weeks of August. We aren't even half way through yet. It is spectacular.
This next week is the last week before school activities begin again. We will be busy getting ready for Robert's graduation/bon voyage party. The following week Andrew begins football, and the week after that band begins. I'm grateful we are still not yet to the half-way point, but I'm always sad to see June end.
The weather is certainly like July though! The heat indices this week (beginning today) are supposed to be over 100 degrees. It's miserable out there!
This next week is the last week before school activities begin again. We will be busy getting ready for Robert's graduation/bon voyage party. The following week Andrew begins football, and the week after that band begins. I'm grateful we are still not yet to the half-way point, but I'm always sad to see June end.
The weather is certainly like July though! The heat indices this week (beginning today) are supposed to be over 100 degrees. It's miserable out there!
Thursday, June 28, 2018
I'm emotional today
Andrew and Robert just left to visit Andrew's parents. It was hard for them to leave, and I had Abby in the yard with me waving her little paw goodbye. Catherine and Thomas texted quite a bit last evening and again this morning, and they are missing the dog terribly. It is hard for me to have our family in three different states. I know though, that this is the future of our lives. Robert leaves in a few weeks, and that is the beginning. Our days of being a household of five are nearly done, and it will continue to get smaller. I love my husband and I don't dread those days when it is just he and I, but I sure have loved being a mother to these three. I know I am always going to be their mother, but I'm not needed to parent 24/7 like I used to be!
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
My babies (and my heart) are out the door
Andrew just left with Catherine and Thomas. They are meeting the group at the church and Andrew is helping to transport to the airport. They should be in Houston in about six hours. I know that air travel is the safest, and I know that this is definitely the most efficient way to go, but oh goodness. My heart and prayers are with them. This is definitely an emotional summer!
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Moving along through summer
Summer is going quickly, as it does every year! Next Wednesday is the 1/2 way point, which just seems so hard to believe. Robert leaves in 26 days. Time is moving rapidly.
Tomorrow morning Catherine and Thomas leave for a church trip to Houston...which means they have to fly. I want to vomit about it, but I am working on making sure my anxieties and neuroses do not have an impact on my children. I have dreaded this day since last fall when they signed up, and will be so grateful when they are home again late Sunday night (actually early Monday morning).
I have applied for a job, but not one I wrote about recently. This one is at the University in town, but is still part-time. It pays much better, but of course would be year-round. I have tremendous guilt about the fact that I really don't want this job. I love, love, love what I do with subbing. However, we have bills to pay, and after all of the unexpected bills of the last several years and redoing our bathroom, our safety net is much smaller. Andrew is very supportive and says he is okay if I still only sub this year, but I really feel as though I need to be adding more to our income.
We are busy, busy around here trying to get the house ready for Robert's send-off party. I am grateful, for the most part, for how everyone is working together!
Tomorrow morning Catherine and Thomas leave for a church trip to Houston...which means they have to fly. I want to vomit about it, but I am working on making sure my anxieties and neuroses do not have an impact on my children. I have dreaded this day since last fall when they signed up, and will be so grateful when they are home again late Sunday night (actually early Monday morning).
I have applied for a job, but not one I wrote about recently. This one is at the University in town, but is still part-time. It pays much better, but of course would be year-round. I have tremendous guilt about the fact that I really don't want this job. I love, love, love what I do with subbing. However, we have bills to pay, and after all of the unexpected bills of the last several years and redoing our bathroom, our safety net is much smaller. Andrew is very supportive and says he is okay if I still only sub this year, but I really feel as though I need to be adding more to our income.
We are busy, busy around here trying to get the house ready for Robert's send-off party. I am grateful, for the most part, for how everyone is working together!
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
It was different
Last Friday we received word that Robert's departure date has changed. He is now scheduled to leave a week earlier than we were originally told. This is not terribly surprising given how things have worked up to now, and Robert is definitely ready to go.
This past weekend, we went to visit Andrew's parents for Father's Day. I'll be honest, it made me emotional at times, and I know Andrew's mother realized the reality as well...she even said so. Although Andrew and Robert are going back to his parents next week while the younger two are on a church trip, this was the last visit with all of us. This was the last time Andrew's parents will be with all three grandchildren at the same time for quite awhile. My mother-in-law even mentioned it might be the last time ever. While I hope that is certainly not the case, I also acknowledge that my father-in-law is declining, although not rapidly. We don't know when Robert will be able to have leave for a visit, and then getting Robert to PA could be challenging to see them (although we will certainly do our best). I am grateful that I will not be along with them next week when he leaves, because I know Andrew's mother will be very emotional. My own mother is becoming emotional as well and that is unlike her.
I know these changes are coming on the horizon, and while I think they are good changes, I know it is an adjustment!
This past weekend, we went to visit Andrew's parents for Father's Day. I'll be honest, it made me emotional at times, and I know Andrew's mother realized the reality as well...she even said so. Although Andrew and Robert are going back to his parents next week while the younger two are on a church trip, this was the last visit with all of us. This was the last time Andrew's parents will be with all three grandchildren at the same time for quite awhile. My mother-in-law even mentioned it might be the last time ever. While I hope that is certainly not the case, I also acknowledge that my father-in-law is declining, although not rapidly. We don't know when Robert will be able to have leave for a visit, and then getting Robert to PA could be challenging to see them (although we will certainly do our best). I am grateful that I will not be along with them next week when he leaves, because I know Andrew's mother will be very emotional. My own mother is becoming emotional as well and that is unlike her.
I know these changes are coming on the horizon, and while I think they are good changes, I know it is an adjustment!
Monday, June 18, 2018
There has been a lot going on
We've been busy since I last posted...just six days ago! Thursday evening the kids had their first swim meet of the summer season. They did relatively well. Thomas especially seems to be making progress. The important thing is they are enjoying it!
Robert had to be at a Navy commitment...at 4:30 A.M. on Friday!!! Ugh...that was early! I came back to bed for a bit after taking him (because he'd had such little sleep after the meet the night before), but Andrew had a class that day so I was on duty to get the kids to their swim practice. Robert had a major miscommunication (nothing new!) and arrived home from his event five hours later than expected. I'll be honest, I am tiring quickly of the demands being placed on him (and therefore our family). As I said to Andrew, they aren't yet paying him. If he was being paid, I would completely understand. However, that is not at all the case, and I am beginning to resent their expectation that he will have Navy obligations 3-4 days a week until he leaves for Basics.
I began painting our front hall Friday, and finished that for the most part on Saturday (I still have a couple of doors to do). Andrew was busy working outside on Saturday, and Catherine and Thomas helped with some outdoor painting while Robert spent the day with his girlfriend. Yesterday morning we were up and hit the road to visit my in-laws for Father's Day, and we will be here until tomorrow.
We've been busy, but I am enjoying our time together!
Robert had to be at a Navy commitment...at 4:30 A.M. on Friday!!! Ugh...that was early! I came back to bed for a bit after taking him (because he'd had such little sleep after the meet the night before), but Andrew had a class that day so I was on duty to get the kids to their swim practice. Robert had a major miscommunication (nothing new!) and arrived home from his event five hours later than expected. I'll be honest, I am tiring quickly of the demands being placed on him (and therefore our family). As I said to Andrew, they aren't yet paying him. If he was being paid, I would completely understand. However, that is not at all the case, and I am beginning to resent their expectation that he will have Navy obligations 3-4 days a week until he leaves for Basics.
I began painting our front hall Friday, and finished that for the most part on Saturday (I still have a couple of doors to do). Andrew was busy working outside on Saturday, and Catherine and Thomas helped with some outdoor painting while Robert spent the day with his girlfriend. Yesterday morning we were up and hit the road to visit my in-laws for Father's Day, and we will be here until tomorrow.
We've been busy, but I am enjoying our time together!
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
An opportunity
One of my daily online things I do is check the job postings at our district. I don't really know what I'm looking for. Generally speaking, the jobs I would want I would know they are going to be open before they would be posted. Today though, I saw a job that I thought would be fabulous. I'm not so sure though.
This job works less than six hours a day, and at the hourly rate paid I would actually make less per day than I currently make as a sub. However, it would be guaranteed to be all five days a week. I'm not sure that is what is best for our family though. While it would be a little more money, it isn't very much money and I would lose any and all flexibility. And the biggest thing for me is that I would lose the opportunity to be in the classroom WITH the kids. I LOVE getting to do that, but I'm feeling selfish about it. Andrew and I have a lot to talk about!
Monday, June 11, 2018
We had a great day
This morning the kids got up for swim, and I did some research. I really wanted to spend the day doing something fun with the kids. We've had a crazy couple of weeks, and I've been a little irritated how much time the kids have spent just sitting and on their phones. I came up with three solid choices, and all of them were free...just the way I like them! The nice thing though, about our quick trip to visit friends as our "vacation" is that we didn't spend a great deal of money and can afford to do some fun things, especially before Robert leaves.
We left late morning and went to the National Museum of the Air Force. The Memphis Belle aircraft from WWII arrived in May and had drawn lots of crowds. Thomas especially loves history and was thrilled with visiting that particular hangar. I enjoyed seeing everything as well, and Robert and Catherine humored us as we went along.
After finishing there, we were all hungry, and ate at our favorite place downtown. We haven't eaten there in a year or so, and they have the best cheese fries EVER. Robert, Thomas, and I all ordered them, and there were none left when we finished. It was the first time I've ever finished them, and I enjoyed every minute. At the same time, it is a little disappointing that there are no leftover to enjoy again later!
We really enjoyed our day. These are the days I want to remember as we spend our last summer as a family of five!
We left late morning and went to the National Museum of the Air Force. The Memphis Belle aircraft from WWII arrived in May and had drawn lots of crowds. Thomas especially loves history and was thrilled with visiting that particular hangar. I enjoyed seeing everything as well, and Robert and Catherine humored us as we went along.
After finishing there, we were all hungry, and ate at our favorite place downtown. We haven't eaten there in a year or so, and they have the best cheese fries EVER. Robert, Thomas, and I all ordered them, and there were none left when we finished. It was the first time I've ever finished them, and I enjoyed every minute. At the same time, it is a little disappointing that there are no leftover to enjoy again later!
We really enjoyed our day. These are the days I want to remember as we spend our last summer as a family of five!
Saturday, June 9, 2018
The last single digit day in June
Today is June 9. Tomorrow is June 10...and the single digits of June will be over. This is my favorite part of the summer...the part where it is still so early and there is so much summer remaining.
We have a lot we want to do around here, both in terms of the house and things we want to do with the kids. We are hoping to take a day trip, but we don't know where or when. We are trying to be flexible, but as a planner that is tough. I'm also afraid if we don't plan, then it won't happen. Our weekends are already pretty busy, and once July arrives our weeks get a little crazy as well. We need to just make it happen.
In the meantime, I just want to enjoy a little bit of less crazy time and relax!
We have a lot we want to do around here, both in terms of the house and things we want to do with the kids. We are hoping to take a day trip, but we don't know where or when. We are trying to be flexible, but as a planner that is tough. I'm also afraid if we don't plan, then it won't happen. Our weekends are already pretty busy, and once July arrives our weeks get a little crazy as well. We need to just make it happen.
In the meantime, I just want to enjoy a little bit of less crazy time and relax!
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Our summer so far
Two weeks ago was our first day of no school. In some ways I'm not sure where the last two weeks went, and in some ways it feels like forever ago. I think that is the way it always is though.
I am working very hard to not wish away our summer. I can't imagine anything worse than that. However, Robert needs to leave, and we need that to happen. I know it might sound like I am a terrible mother. However, I am well aware that the only chance we will ever have a decent relationship with Robert is for him to leave. In some ways I was the same way with my own mother, but that was also very, very different.
The kids have their twice-a-day swim practices, although their enthusiasm is waning for them. In many ways I can't blame them, but we paid an arm & a leg for swim and I need the to see it through. Robert has had some Navy commitments, and has been spending a little bit of time with his girl friend. I've been working on gettin my computer up and going the way I want it to be, and trying to recreate the band information. I lost two months of things, but fortunately I keep very good records. I'm trying to enjoy each day, and appreciate the laid back moments of the summer. At the same time, I'm also trying to be productive and get things done in this period of down time. It's a little crazy trying to do both, I guess.
Even though it is summer, I'm looking forward to the weekend, and enjoying some fun things with the kids.
I am working very hard to not wish away our summer. I can't imagine anything worse than that. However, Robert needs to leave, and we need that to happen. I know it might sound like I am a terrible mother. However, I am well aware that the only chance we will ever have a decent relationship with Robert is for him to leave. In some ways I was the same way with my own mother, but that was also very, very different.
The kids have their twice-a-day swim practices, although their enthusiasm is waning for them. In many ways I can't blame them, but we paid an arm & a leg for swim and I need the to see it through. Robert has had some Navy commitments, and has been spending a little bit of time with his girl friend. I've been working on gettin my computer up and going the way I want it to be, and trying to recreate the band information. I lost two months of things, but fortunately I keep very good records. I'm trying to enjoy each day, and appreciate the laid back moments of the summer. At the same time, I'm also trying to be productive and get things done in this period of down time. It's a little crazy trying to do both, I guess.
Even though it is summer, I'm looking forward to the weekend, and enjoying some fun things with the kids.
Monday, June 4, 2018
It worked out wonderfully
Our weekend away ended up being absolutely perfect! There was a lot of stress before we left, and the other family traveling also had some things happen, and I was beginning to think we were all just going to be tired and grumpy. It wasn't that way at all though.
We left late Thursday morning, and arrived at our destination Thursday evening. The other family wasn't arriving until Friday, and it was really nice to have some time with our friends by ourselves. Their house is perfectly arranged to host a large group, and since we had all been there before we know the area and it's just really comfortable. We got up Friday and did some sightseeing before the others arrived, and that worked out perfectly as well because Bob would not be remotely interested in seeing what we saw. We cooked in Friday and everyone chipped in to help with the meal, and we just enjoyed being together.
Saturday the adults got up and went to a distillery where we had a tour, had lunch out, then visited a winery for tastings. It was such a grownup day! Meanwhile, the six kids went out to lunch and then to a movie, and enjoyed their time together as well. That evening the adults went out to grab another drink, and we brought pizzas in for the kids, and we all just sat around and watched TV. Honestly, we all just loved being together.
As Andrew said when we left yesterday morning, the fact that we still want more means it wasn't too much time. I am so very grateful for these friends who are like family, and for the memories we make together. It was an absolutely wonderful trip!
We left late Thursday morning, and arrived at our destination Thursday evening. The other family wasn't arriving until Friday, and it was really nice to have some time with our friends by ourselves. Their house is perfectly arranged to host a large group, and since we had all been there before we know the area and it's just really comfortable. We got up Friday and did some sightseeing before the others arrived, and that worked out perfectly as well because Bob would not be remotely interested in seeing what we saw. We cooked in Friday and everyone chipped in to help with the meal, and we just enjoyed being together.
Saturday the adults got up and went to a distillery where we had a tour, had lunch out, then visited a winery for tastings. It was such a grownup day! Meanwhile, the six kids went out to lunch and then to a movie, and enjoyed their time together as well. That evening the adults went out to grab another drink, and we brought pizzas in for the kids, and we all just sat around and watched TV. Honestly, we all just loved being together.
As Andrew said when we left yesterday morning, the fact that we still want more means it wasn't too much time. I am so very grateful for these friends who are like family, and for the memories we make together. It was an absolutely wonderful trip!
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