The search for a new table cloth is going to push me to the edge

At our old house, we had a very "cute" dining room.  Our house was built in 1865 and had TONS of old house character.  Our dining room was a bright yellow with white trim and painted gray blue floors.  I loved our dining room as it also had french doors that led out to a stone patio.  I didn't necessarily have to worry about "decorating" the table.  Our table is a very large wooden table.  It looked very nice in our cute dining room.

And then we moved here.  I still like our dining room, but it presents some challenges.  First of all, the floor is wood.  So now the wood table with wooden chairs on our wood floor is a bit much.  I have three table cloths that I absolutely love.  One goes on around Easter and takes us through the summer.  One is clearly a fall table cloth, and the one that goes on for Christmas is not actually a holiday cloth so it can last until spring.  Our table can be three different sizes so I have many more in other sizes, but for our every day size this is what I have.  And the one that is currently on the table just got a stain on it that washing did not get out.  Ugh!!!!

I have checked out MANY online stores, and so far, nothing I really like.  I LOVE the one I have, so it's hard to beat that.  It needs very specific colors with a spring motif.  Oh, and I hate floral patterns so that is definitely challenging.  I am beginning to think this entire search is going to push me to the edge of insanity!

Masks

I've finally put away the sewing supplies.  Eighteen masks later, I am finished.  None of them are fabulous, but they are all very usable.  I barely made a dent in the fabric I had, and there is more elastic than I could imagine, but I've made plenty for now.  There are extra masks in our vehicles, and I even made a couple of extra for my mom and grandmother.  They both have sewing machines and can do it much faster, but I had some patriotic fabric that I thought they might like.  I've told the kids I'll continue to make "festive" ones as we come upon holidays, but for now I get to put the sewing supplies where they belong!

Thinking of my dad as we stayed really busy today

Today would've been my dad's 66th birthday.  It's true that time does help.  It doesn't hurt nearly as much as it used to, but oh goodness, I still miss him so much.

I really felt like we "channeled" him today, and I have no doubt he was smiling upon us.  Andrew worked on school stuff pretty much all day.  Anyone who thinks teachers are "on vacation" clearly doesn't know (or respect) teachers very well. Yes, he has some added flexibility and isn't getting up at 5AM, but he is working just as hard, and maybe even harder than he would under normal circumstances.  He is truly concerned about his students learning the material, but he can't instruct them the way he normally would.  So he is scouring for additional resources as well as learning new technology, and things just take longer.

On my end, I made five face masks today.  Ironically enough, the first one was actually the best looking one I made, but that was because it was thin material and and thin thread.  I used heavy duty thread and heavier material on the rest of them.  We couldn't get our sewing machine to work so I am hand sewing them.  I really don't mind, but I'm just not used to this.  I want to make each of us another one, as well as one or two for my mom, and send a couple to my in-laws as well.  I think I have enough material to do that.  Hopefully tomorrow the kids will be a little more willing to help as well.  I don't love wearing them, but I do appreciate the benefits to society.  And maybe they will make great graduation gifts as well!

I don't know anybody in my life who works harder than my dad did.  As I sit here reflecting on the day, I can't help but feel peaceful.  And for that, I am grateful.

It was really nice to ease back in to reality

Today is the first day I've worked this week.  It has been wonderful!  I enjoy being here at the high school, but honestly I wouldn't mind at all if I could be home full time.  If not though, this is pretty much second best.

I would love to say that I got a lot accomplished, and I did, but our house is an absolutely disaster.  Our trees are half way undecorated (probably not even that far).  Most of the household decorations are back in the tubs, but furniture can't go back to where it belongs until the trees are down soooo...  we are pretty much living in limbo.  The thing is that even though I've been off for three days, I've still had to work at the church (and it is busy season), spend a day taking my grandmother to an appointment, and had appointments and meetings.  This is life.  I work today and tomorrow, and tonight is a home swim meet.  So maybe Saturday things will get "done" at home.

It's been nice to transition a little more slowly for me.  I am subbing for Andrew today while he is at curriculum meetings.  When I got to his room, I noticed the coffee sign on the door and was excited that I would have some hot tea because they do coffee cart on Monday and Friday.  Then of course, Catherine pointed out to me that today is Thursday.  While I was a little disappointed to there would be no tea, I was thrilled that "my Monday" is already Thursday!

Enjoying a few moments of quiet before that all comes to a screeching (mostly likely) end

Andrew is at his parents and they will be home much later today.  Hopefully around 4 or 5, but we'll see when they make it out the door and head this way.  Praying for safe (and uneventful) travels. 

Catherine and Thomas are at swim practice.  They practice twice a day today and Friday, and still have workouts those days as well.  Clearly, Catherine woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  She's in a mood, and of course her mood affects those of us around her.  We have plenty of work to do today, but I just don't feel like it is going to be peaceful and quiet.  I certainly hope I am wrong though.

In the meantime, I am sitting here enjoying a few silent (almost, the dryer is running) moments before the kids come home and we really get to cleaning!

We will be hosting Christmas this year

Saturday when I was in my hometown, I stopped by my sister's house to drop something off.  The house was such a disaster area, I barely had room to walk.  I can not imagine living like that, but it is her house, she lives alone, and generally isn't bothering anyone.  I decided though, that she probably wasn't going to be hosting Christmas.  I mentioned to my mother that I assumed she would be hosting this year, and there was a less than enthusiastic response.  The dog that Robert left there last winter has done some very serious damage to Mom's house, and she doesn't necessary plan to take care of it until the dog is a little older.  I can't blame her.  I mentioned that I would be willing to host, although I seriously doubted that anyone would want to drive down to my house.  Mom called yesterday, and I was correct...my sister definitely doesn't want to drive down, but she wants to host even less, so Christmas Day is at my house this year.  I remember having to make an effort to slow down my racing heart when she told me that.  I truly am happy to do it, but suddenly it all seemed overwhelming.  I haven't had a school day off since September 9, and the next opening is November 18.  I also have the giant band fundraiser that finishes at the end of the month, plus a trip to get my in-laws for Thanksgiving.  Need the house cleaned before that, and then it is December, and aaaaccckkkk!

My goal is to try to slow down and focus on what really needs to happen (that includes grocery and laundry in the next 48 hours).  I want to remember to hug and kiss my kids, and just focus on enjoying each day.  Even thinking about that can be very calming.  I want to enjoy the next seven weeks, not wish it all away!

Torn between what I want to do and what I should do

I really feel like scrapbooking today.  However, I have several things I should do to day.  Several things that are responsibilities that should be done.  It's not even that I don't want to do them, it's just that I really want to do some scrapbooking today.  I am still 9-1/2 years behind and I want to get closer to catching up.  Andrew is taking Thomas to his parents next weekend, so I am going to force myself to wait until next weekend, and be responsible today!

I have been looking forward to this

I haven't worked at all this week, and I am sure that tomorrow being Day 3 will be no exception.  The only reason I was able to work the last two years during this week is because someone needed a personal day or other extenuating circumstances.  There have also been circumstances that have led them to have a building sub this year.  This person is considered full time, and I suspect that she is filling in for the one person tomorrow I know needs a sub.

It is what it is, and I'm not going to worry about it.  I enjoy being home, and I enjoy being at school.  We will be okay if I don't work as much last year, and I can always pick up some elementary jobs if needed, and middle school if I am REALLY desperate.  It's early and I'm not going to worry.

Tomorrow though...well tomorrow I have been looking forward to this day!  I don't get too many Fridays off, but I completely expect tomorrow will be one.  The house is picked up, I've run my errands, I've worked at church.  I've completed all of my commitments for the week.  If I am going to scrapbook during the year, Friday is the day I prefer...so that is my plan for tomorrow!

I made a lovely family dinner, but ate alone

My meal planning has been working very well.  I've been pleased that we are having decent dinners.  It's been great because not only do I not have to think about what to have for dinner each day, I can make sure I have the ingredients on hand and we can actually have decent meals.  It's going well.

Yesterday, Catherine was scheduled to work until 7, and Andrew was working at school for an athletic event.  I had thawed pork chops, and had decided I would plan to have them ready in the 7:15-7:30 range.  I was going to make stuffing to go with it, and green beans.  I found a fairly simply baked pork chop recipe.  I'll be honest, they were sooooo good.  I was so pleased.

But of course, I ate dinner alone.  Thomas was sick, but wouldn't eat something like that if you paid him.  Catherine got confused about her work schedule, and didn't get home until after 8.  Andrew was later than I expected and it was nearly 8:30 before he got home.  It was disappointing to have such a great meal (I even ate second helpings!) and not be able to share it with anyone.  It was nice though, to have a meal ready for Catherine and Andrew when they got home.

Tonight I have a meeting at 6:30 and hope to work at the church before.  Dinner is supposed to be grilled cheese, but maybe it will be last Friday's not-cooked meal of Tuna Casserole.  I really enjoy having things written so there are options already on my mind!

Time to put away winter

If only this could actually be done!  If only we could just decide we are "done" and move right on along.  Doesn't work that way though.

In my house however, it is time to put away winter.  It is still to early for Easter decorations in my opinion, but it is time to put away the snowmen and other winter decor.  I don't really "do" St. Patrick's Day, and I'm not even sure I really have much spring stuff, but maybe that's okay too.  Maybe for now, we can just live a little more uncluttered life!

I hate cooking

There, I said it.  I hate cooking.  Always have.  I hate baking, I hate grilling, I hate making food.  I don't like mixing, stirring, measuring, seasoning, none of it.  This is not new information.  This is the reality of our house.  However, I also accepted that I am the parent who has been home, and I'm the one that does the grocery shopping.  I get it.

Now however, I am often working 25-30 hours a week.  Still not full time, and with all of my husband's athletic responsibilities, still many fewer hours than Andrew.  However, before I could accept it was something I needed to do, and since I was home it didn't really get in the way of other things.  This is no longer true.  I am still the one who manages everything in the household, and it is in addition to the working hours.  I am not complaining about this because again, it is still fewer hours than Andrew.  However, if I'm doing all the cooking, other things aren't getting done.

Something has to change.  Honestly, because I hate food prep, I'm not good about planning ahead.  Andrew and I have got to come to some changes.  My grocery shopping lately has simply been processed foods and things to make quickly.  I don't know if the answer is to have Andrew plan and I do the shopping and then we both come up with a plan for cooking, or if the answer is we try to plan together...I don't know what the answer is.  I do know though, that something has to change for us to have healthier and more satisfying meals!

Days like this are rare

I am not working today.  I'm scheduled the rest of the week, so I'm trying not to overreact to this to the fact that I haven't worked a lot lately.

Originally, I was planning to go into the church office this afternoon.  However, I decided that I am not going to do so.  Our monthly meeting is twelve days away, so I have plenty of time to finish the January statements.  And more importantly, if I don't go into the office today, I don't have to leave my house.  Days like this are rare, and I'm grateful for the few that come along.  Catherine has a meeting after school, and Andrew will bring her home when that is done.  Thomas will come home as scheduled on the bus, and then the kids have swim practice this evening.  I went to the grocery yesterday, and ran a bunch of errands early last week before the weather tanked, so there is absolutely nothing I have to leave the house for today...so I'm not going to!

How I spent my snow day

Honestly, I didn't love that we had a snow day yesterday.  For one thing, because of Catherine's fever, I just didn't sleep well on the couch the night before, and I didn't really go back to sleep after the delay was announced.  For another, I had actually already taken a shower by the time we knew we were closed, and it seemed ridiculous to go back to sleep after 7:30.  Andrew and I were up, and we just decided to make ourselves some coffee.  Andrew was chatty and honestly, I just wanted to have some quiet time.  Our evening activities didn't change either since it was really just a snow burst in the morning that closed our school.

I did, however, make tremendous headway in getting the house really picked up.  There are still some frustrations, like the fact that there is still an extra mattress in Thomas's room because we aren't going to hike through all the snow from last weekend to put it away in the detached garage. Not looking promising as another 4-7" of snow is forecasted for tomorrow, and this with ice and gusty winds.  We also still have Christmas stacked in our sun room because the ladder is behind the detached garage.  The cot Robert slept on is still in there as well, so Thomas just has the tiniest bit of room to hang out with his Lego creations.  That room also has a tile floor so it kind of becomes our "mud room" this time of year.  The rest of the house though, is in pretty good shape!  I am looking forward to having three days off of school, and continuing to organize and pick things up!

Year end purchases

I neglected to write about some purchases we made at the end of year.  I am ridiculously excited about them.  I mean absolutely ridiculous!

I have to provide a little bit of background.  We put up two Christmas trees each year.  In our front room is a large tree we purchased seven years ago.  I had never loved the tree, but it suited our purpose and was pretty much the only thing we could find at the time we purchased it.  The other tree is in our family room.  It is only a little shorter, but much thinner.  I brought the tree into our marriage and it is every bit of twenty years old, but still looks wonderful.  It doesn't begin to look real, but I love that the tree is a very green tree.  I love this tree.

This year, the cats really did a job on the tree in our front room.  They never actually climbed the tree, but they sure did enjoy bending the bottom branches.  Because of how the tree was put together, bending them back wasn't really an option.  They were especially destructive on one side of the tree, and the tree looked ridiculous by the end of the season.  I really wanted a new tree, but refused to spend a lot of money.  I checked online the day after Christmas, but I still thought the prices were ridiculous.  I didn't want anything fancy, and I didn't want anything pre-lit.  I didn't really have time to go out and look because we had things happening.  It just didn't seem meant to be, and I really didn't worry about it.

On New Year's eve, Andrew and I needed to run some errands.  We found a tree that was $89 originally, and was 75% off!  And the best part was, it was a very green tree just like I wanted!  As you can imagine, we were both absolutely thrilled!  When I took down Christmas this year, it was really nice to just take the crappy tree out to the curb.

We were also able to purchase a new vacuum cleaner.  I had asked for money from my in-laws for Christmas so I could buy a new one.  I bought it the same day as the tree, and I am suddenly in love with vacuuming.  I want to vacuum everything!  Honestly, I am a little ridiculous about it.  These were some awesome year-end purchases we were able to make!

A great day to be off work

Today is really a great day to be off work.  Although, I don't necessarily think there is a "bad" time to have a day off!  Regardless, it's been a great day to our house put back together and try to live with some normalcy in our home.  The timing is great in that regard.

Also, it is a lovely spring day here.  I know January 8 is not "spring", but let me assure you it is a bright sunny day in the 50's.  However, the temp is going to plummet and tomorrow it may not even hit 30.  I am working tomorrow afternoon, so I am grateful I get to be off today!

The last day of solitude

Quiet days home alone have come to an end for this school year.  Not that I had very many anyway!  Most days that I was off there was a reason I needed to be due to another commitment, or if that wasn't the case and it just happened to work out, I was catching up on errands or something like that.  Yesterday I needed to be off for Catherine's award ceremony, and it was definitely an errand running day.  Today though, I could sleep in after the kids went back to school, and I could spend the day doing my own thing.  Of course that "thing" was trying to catch up on everything I haven't been able to do without a computer, but it was on my own pace.  It's a lovely day outside, and of course it is a Friday that leads into the weekend.  It's another pretty crazy weekend, but that is our life right now.  My life is an amazing blessing!

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!

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!

Six weeks into 2018

We have been into 2018 for six entire weeks now.  Time is flying by...again (or maybe still?).  Today is another Monday...but we only have four school days this week!  I suspect I might be working all four of them though...but I am not going to complain about that!

Our family a whole was feeling a little icky this weekend.  Catherine is definitely battling a cold, and Andrew had a slight one as well.  Robert was staying off his leg, and I didn't feel 100% either.  Thomas had confirmation class as part of his Sunday School yesterday and I was the adult volunteer during Sunday School, but then we came home and just spent the rest of the day laying low.  I felt badly that I didn't get more things finished, but then I realized I need to cut myself some slack.  I washed three loads of laundry, folded those and another three loads, finished our taxes, hand washed some dishes, emptied the dishwasher, made potato soup for dinner, and spent a great deal of time working on band stuff.  I understand that there are still so many more things I need to do, and yes, I probably had the time to get some of them finished, but it's not like I sat around all day and did nothing!

Someday I won't have so many dishes or clothes to wash, and I have no idea what I will do with all of my time.  Maybe I will live close enough that I can help with grandkids.  That would be a tremendous blessing!

I was highly motivated

For about the last week, I'd been feeling highly motivated to get our house in order.  For the most part things are, but I was talking really cleaning and organizing.  Things that take hours to do, not just a little bit of time here and there.  It's also something that I find I can do better when other people aren't home, although that isn't imperative.  I do however, need to not be transporting to activities.  Needless to say, those specific requirements are not easy to come by in our house!

Sunday, I was delighted that our annual church meeting was half the length I expected.  Although Robert had to work that evening, I had nowhere else I needed to be the rest of the day.  I was rather indifferent about the football games so I wasn't concerned about making sure I saw most of them, and I began to work with my motivation high!  I got a lot done in my bedroom and the kids even commented that they were impressed I was throwing things out.  I made dinner, and because Robert doesn't have to be there until 7:00 we enjoyed eating together, and I still had time to sit and relax since I had to wait up for him to get home from work.

I kept my eye open for sub jobs, but nothing was appearing.  Later into Sunday evening, and art job opened.  I really prefer being in "regular" classrooms.  I'm not a fan of art and gym, and the things kids usually enjoy the most.  Often, there is a lack of structure, and that tends to not work well with my Type A personality.  I told Andrew I would take the job if no one else did, but hoped that either something else would open up for me or that someone would take the job.  I was pleased to see when I got up yesterday that someone did, and there was nothing else available for me.  It took lots of checking to convince myself that I would be home, but indeed I was!  I allowed myself to close my eyes for a bit, but couldn't really sleep so I got up and really got some things done that needed to be done.  I was so excited about having the entire day spread out before me.  In fact, I had nowhere that I needed to be the entire day!  I was practically giddy about that!  I couldn't remember the last time that happened, although I know it was back to at least October.  I also knew that I would be working today, and that helped me to not put things off.  I was thrilled with how much work I got done in the kitchen and how much laundry was handled.  Everyone commented on how nice things looked as well.  It was so nice to have a day to be able to do that...and there might even be a few more coming up!