A day off by myself

Today is a teacher work day at my school, and I am thrilled to be off work.  During the school year, it is really challenging to take off days "just because" (or as I like to think of them, mental health days), but when the students aren't there it is much easier!  I asked for this a month ago, right after the week from hell when I was the only admin working most of the week and we had teachers out left and right.  In other words, when they didn't dare tell me I couldn't! 😂

Yesterday I finished painting Thomas's room.  It's the exact same colors, but we joke that his room was a toxic haz mat dump and everything needed refreshing.  I always channel my dad when I'm painting, because we were the painters in the family.  I also found my self spending the day listening to 90's country music, and that was quite a trip down memory lane!

I'm so very acutely feeling the passage of time lately.  The upcoming holidays have me feeling incredibly reflective this year, and a bit melancholy, and I'm just not sure where the time has gone.  I'm so very grateful for this afternoon where I can spend some quiet time with my thoughts.  A lot of those thoughts also involve our sweet pup whom we miss so much.  Those are sad thoughts as well, but there is so, so much to be grateful for, and this is the month to remember that!

An afternoon in my hometown

I made a trip to my hometown today.  I stopped to see my grandmother for just a few minutes.  She wasn't having a great day, but I'm glad I was able to see her.  I then met my friend, Heather, for lunch.  It was a quick lunch, and a nice visit.  I then did some shopping at the local stores, and I was able to see another high school friend who owns some of the businesses.  And lastly, I ran into my cousin.  It was a fairly quick trip, but a very nice trip.

Upon getting home, I began painting (what was) Thomas's bedroom.  My mother-in-law arrives in nine days and she needs to sleep in there.  Painting always causes me to channel my dad, and we are only give days until the anniversary of his passing.  I was also listening to a 90's Country channel, and lots of memories came flooding in with those songs as well.

I'm so grateful for this weekend.  And I'm especially grateful that I am taking Monday off work and get an even longer weekend! 

A peaceful weekend

This weekend was a very peaceful weekend, and it began with a great deal of productivity on Friday!  I had decided earlier in the week that if we had Friday off, I would spend the day cleaning my bedroom.  My bedroom is where I store Christmas gifts, and it is also often where things go when I decorate for the holidays.  It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, and having things decluttered and put away makes it peaceful, not only in there, but throughout the house.  And it didn't stop there!  I was able to get things picked up all around the house.  It really helps with my stress level to have a calmer environment.

Yesterday, Andrew and I made a trip over to pick up some clothes, and we enjoyed taking the backroads home.  We stopped to have Mexican for lunch and were home in time to watch the football playoffs.  Thomas went to spend the night with a friend, so we loved having a quiet evening.  I received a photo scanner for Christmas, and I was able to get some photos scanned last evening.  I really appreciate how much faster it goes since it is specific to photo scanning.  I'm also working on redoing the photos that are on display throughout my house.  Hanging some on the walls will help to make surfaces less cluttered.

Today was church and a major trip to the grocery.  And of course, more football playoffs!  I'm spending some significant time working on genealogy and I've made a lot of progress on it this weekend.

I truly needed all of this extra time off this past week.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get some many things accomplished and to help find peace.  I'm ready to get back to work and get at it!

Taking a long weekend

I am taking off work tomorrow and Monday, which gives me a four day weekend.  This is really my last laid-back weekend of the summer, and I'm grateful to have taken a couple of extra days.

I've really been using my time this summer to get our house organized.  I really want us to enjoy the space we have, and I want home to feel relaxing.  That means we don't just have piles of things everywhere.  Things have a place, and I want people to be able to come over and our house doesn't look like a storm just came through.

I am looking forward to having a fabulous long weekend!

A much needed lazy Sunday morning after a lovely Saturday evening

Andrew had been wanting to have colleagues over for quite some time.  Honestly, there hadn't been a good time for that, and I didn't really feel as though this weekend was any better, but he really wanted to do so.  My week was absolutely crazy, as I knew it would be.  Although I did a fair amount of cleaning Friday evening, I was stressed to the core yesterday trying to get things done.  We had dust and dirt just about everywhere, not to mention the piles of paperwork that had accumulated from band responsibilities.  Thomas had to work early which meant I was up early, but I knew I would run out of hours.  I was able to make the house look very, very nice, mostly by just stuffing things in our room and on my desk and closing the lid.  As it turns out of course, we spent the evening outside.  It was really warm, but with the pandemic rearing again, everyone felt much safer outside.  We had expected only a couple to be here, but all together there were eleven adults who brought eight kids.  Thomas had a date with his girlfriend and wasn't here, but the kids who were here were all around the same age and had an absolute blast.  As adults, we all enjoyed hanging out as well.

Thomas worked this morning, and Andrew and I decided we would not attend church.  My heart, my soul, and my body needed this morning.  While I love church, there are other ways to be spiritual, and this morning was one of those ways.  The house was so picked up, and there for sitting in a room was very relaxing.  I feel so grateful for having this morning to relax and regroup before we begin another busy week!

An afternoon to get some things done

Thomas has been struggling.  School is feeling overwhelming, and family emotions and the stress of a pandemic are not helping.  It's been an especially rough couple of days, and last evening was particularly rough.  I was feeling a little beat up over some things as well.  I made arrangements to leave work early.  Although I had to take care of a few errands, when I arrived home before 2:30, I didn't have to leave again,  I can't remember the last time that happened!  Most work days I've had since I started my new job I've either gone to church to work, or been working on band things, or running errands.  I'm not complaining, because this is life, and I know it won't last forever.

Today though, I was able to make sure Thomas was focusing on school work, and I was able to get some gifts wrapped.  I was able to clean out my purse, and I was able to go through some catalogs and mail that had stacked up.  I am so incredibly grateful to be able to have this afternoon!

Not using our dryer

I am extremely frugal.  I like the money in my savings account rather than spending it on things that aren't necessary.  If my family needs something, I want the money to be there, and I want us to enjoy things as well.  So if there is something I can do to save money, I do it.  In the last month I have been especially diligent about not using our dryer.  I've even been scheduling my laundry around the weather so that I can wait until dry days.  I'll be honest, I can't get over how much less laundry I have with only three of us, but regardless, I've been saving a lot of money without using the dryer.  Some days are like today where it is absolutely gorgeous when I hang out the wash, some days it is so hot that I am pretty certain some of the early hanging things are already dry by the last time I hang the last item.  I am grateful that I've been able to do this.  The lack of electricity use is also good for the environment!

The weather could not be more beautiful

We are having a couple of absolutely gorgeous days right now.  There is no humidity, and the highs are in the low 70's and upper 60's.  It does not get better than this!  Our family spent the day today planting flowers and putting down twelve bags of mulch.  I truly hate this chore, and I almost always have a migraine when I do this no matter how much I hydrate.  Today though, was perfect!  It was even cool enough that I could wear a long sleeve shirt which truly helps to keep down on the sun exposure.  It was fabulous!

Starting Saturday quietly

I had to be up before 8:00 today, which is never preferred on a weekend.  However, I had gone to bed at 10:00 last night, so that is still a very decent amount of sleep.  The kids needed to be at school at 8:30 for the swim bus, and Andrew wanted to be at school by 8:00 to work out before baseball at 9.  So with everyone out of the house, it's going to be a quiet morning.  I am always grateful for that!

After Andrew gets home from baseball by noon, he will have a hockey game to work at this evening, then we have to attend an athletic fundraiser.  He might also want to attend a girl's basketball game this afternoon, but I want to stay home and get the house put back together...like I've been trying all week to do!  Tomorrow Catherine works for a few hours, and she and Thomas will attend a skating event in the evening.  Andrew has a late afternoon baseball meeting, and hopefully I will be getting laundry done and things set up for this coming week.  I'm only scheduled three days this week, but of course you just never know!

The kids had a meet last evening, and Andrew and I ventured out to dinner since the college students haven't returned yet.  It's so hard to believe January is already 1/3 of the way over.  Time is flying by as always!

I just lost my mind

This was an extremely busy weekend.  It made it very difficult to feel in the holiday spirit, but we will get there.  I love Thanksgiving, and I plan to enjoy it.

We had a very nice lunch with my grandmother Saturday.  She never ceases to amaze me!  I was at the barn for our band fundraiser in the morning, and then again in the evening.  I also tried to get the house picked up since Andrew was having guests yesterday, and of course my in-laws are coming.  Yesterday I was up to make sure Catherine got off to work, and then did LOTS of house cleaning before heading off to the fundraiser...and this is where I just lost my mind!  I totally got confused about the time and was still sitting in my dining room when I was supposed to have been there ten minutes earlier.  Oh my goodness!  The day went along though, and it was fine.  As is always the case with this fundraiser though, even after spending four hours, I came home and basically spent the rest of my evening working on handling "issues" that resulted from it.  I even had to leave home at 8:30 last evening to drop something off at a house.  It felt like it would never end.

It seems as though losing my mind actually started a week earlier.  I went to do laundry this morning, and when I opened the washer, there was a load from last week still sitting there.  Ugh!  Everything obviously needed to be re-washed.  I wondered where several things had gone.  I can't imagine how this happened, but I guess it just shows I've had too much on my mind.

I am ready for a few days of family and fun.  Catherine is home sick today with a terrible cold.  I am hoping and praying that nothing more develops and she can still enjoy the week!

The day after Election Day

Since yesterday was Election Day, we had the day off.  I'll be honest, it was absolutely wonderful to be able to sleep in.  I went to bed so early Monday night, and I was thrilled to get about ten hours of sleep.  I even felt rested for the day.

It wasn't really a day "off" though.  I did three loads of laundry, although folding hasn't happened yet.  Of course I needed to vote, then  I had to run to our former town and close our checking account (finally!), then swing by the furniture store in that town because my mother needs a new recliner and they have the best prices.  I needed to see if it was worth it for her to make the trip from her place.  I then headed to the mall area to deposit the proceeds from the closed account, and then needed to pick up a wedding shower gift.  My grandmother, aunt, sister, and mother are going in with me for a gift so I was in charge of getting it.  On my way home I did my weekly grocery shopping, and home in time to realize that in spite of instructions before I left, my children had spent all five hours I was gone sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing...not even get dressed.  Then of course, they get irritated with me because they are "running out of time" to get things done, and aren't pleased that I still want crazy things like putting sheets on her stripped bed, or doing homework that is due today.  It's tough that Andrew doesn't get on them either.  He thinks I'm being too demanding.

After Andrew got home from voting, I left right away to go to my church job where I was for the next three hours.  I still wasn't finished, but knew the kids would be home from swim so I headed home.  That means going back Thursday evening again while they are at swim.  I made brownies for tonight's band fundraiser, but will still need to make two packages of corn bread before I have to be back at the school this evening to set up.  I don't have any kids performing at this evening's activity of course, but that doesn't really seem to matter.

Andrew has lost his car keys, and of course they are the only set we have for that vehicle.  He has a two hour meeting after school today, but Catherine needs the vehicle to drive to swim practice.  I can drop Andrew off at his meeting, but then will be at the fundraiser so he needs to find a ride home, and then find his keys.

All-in-all, life is pretty good.  All of these hours I am working are truly a blessing in terms of being paid.  The hard part is Andrew's reaction to things, but I know overall he is still a wonderful husband.  It's just a tough week!  And on the upside, the local election for school board went exactly the way we had hoped!

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!

It's amazing how quickly it piles up

For the most part, I was fairly decent about keeping the house picked up over the summer.  It mattered to me and we usually made it happen.  That doesn't mean all of the dusting and cleaning was always accomplished, but things were usually picked up.  Last week Andrew even commented on how fabulous the house looked.  It was awesome!  I was even vacuuming the rugs every day.  The weekend was fairly unscheduled, and even on Sunday the house looked presentable enough for someone to just drop by.

Of course, no one really does that anymore!  And right now...thank goodness!  I've worked every day this week (and I'm scheduled again tomorrow).  As my "transitional week" from summer back into the working world, I have gone home every afternoon and there has been a nap.  On Monday and Tuesday I had volunteer commitments that lasted a couple of hours, so my home time was strictly dinner, my nap, and just kind of "being".  By yesterday, I really noticed how quickly the piles had started!  Piles of mail, piles of dishes, piles of clothes, piles of many different things.  I was glad I had no where to be last evening, and I was able to get something put away (after my nap of course).  The dust is really starting to show, but at least I was able to make some progress!  Our weekend has a few fun things, but I need to make it a priority to pick up the house!

We had a productive weekend

This past weekend was very productive.  Extremely busy, but that was part of what helped us to be productive!

It started Friday afternoon when Andrew and I headed north to attend the visitation of my cousin's ex-wife.  Neither of us particularly wanted to go, and for the most part, our side of the family wasn't particularly welcome.  However, three children are involved and we felt it was important to make an appearance.  While we didn't love being there, it was nice that Andrew and I had an hour car ride each way.  It was just he and I, and we had nothing to do but chat with only each other.  We don't have a lot of time for things like that these days.

Andrew was gone literally all day, and then again all evening Saturday.  I got Thomas to school for set construction and then ran a bunch of errands.  After attending the memorial service Saturday, my day was just getting a few things done around the house...and nothing major.

Sunday we had a meeting after church, then dropped Thomas at school again, before heading out to my aunt & uncle's house with the chainsaw.  They had hoped we could help with yard work last fall, but that never happened.  After more damage to trees occurred from an ice storm, we really needed to get out there before spring really got started.  Another cousin met us there, and it was really nice to be able to get things picked up for them.  It was nice to have that done!  We stopped at the grocery on the way home for a couple of dinner things, and then we headed home.

This was the most important part of our weekend...Andrew fixed our dryer!!!!  The part had arrived Saturday and Sunday late afternoon was the first opportunity Andrew really had to work on it.  Fortunately, it worked exactly as it was supposed to, and when we plugged it in and pressed "start", it did exactly what it was supposed to do!  I don't know the last time I was so excited about doing laundry!  Because the dryer was fixed I was able to get all the drying racks taken down and put away.  I was then able to organize and pack the storage tubs that had been sitting around.  That isn't completely finished, but major progress made.  It was wonderful to have such a productive weekend!

Cleaning differently

I have been very pleased with the fact that our house has remained picked up since after the New Year.  It has taken some effort, but not overly so.  I'm sure part of it is the fact that I LOVE my new vacuum cleaner, and I'm sure part of it is the fact that only four people are living in my house instead of five (although theoretically he should've been more help than work).  I think the biggest thing though, has just been my perspective.  If something needs done, I do it.  Even if I don't want to, and even there is something else I would rather do.  And then I PUT IT AWAY.  I don't just take care of something and then stack it in a pile to take care of it later.  That honestly has been huge.

I recently read a "cleaning tip" that suggested cleaning as you go.  Honestly, I've started doing that, but it also triggered a perspective for me.  It suggested stashing dusting cloths in each room for a quick swipe.  I'm not going to do that.  However, I did realize that just because I might not be able to dust an entire room doesn't mean I have to keep staring at the dust around my TV.  Go ahead and dust!  Part of my issue is that I keep a chore chart, and I can't check it off each week if I don't do the entire room.  So what?  If I don't do ANYTHING, I certainly can't check it off either.  And really, who cares about the checkmark???  Stop staring at the dust, and just give the TV table a quick swipe!

Just about to another weekend.

We are almost there...really just an hour away...to another weekend.  This week went more quickly than I thought it would considering we just had two weeks off.  Honestly though, other than the awful 5AM wake-up time (and I am NOT a morning person), my life is so blessed and I'm grateful for our days!

We had a lot going on, although I was fortunate enough to have an entire day off Tuesday.  I had a meeting that evening, then another meeting after school Wednesday, then another meeting Wednesday evening, and then the kids had a swim meet last evening and I was a door worker.  I'm writing this not to sound as though I am so wonderful and take care of so many things.  No, no...I'm writing all of this to justify the fact that the clean dishes are still in the dishwasher after washing them earlier this week, and the dirty dishes are starting to pile up on the counter.  Most (but not all) of Christmas is put away, but other chores are lacking.  That is going to have to be okay too.  And I'll be honest, although we have only one thing to do this evening, the house will probably be in pretty similar shape when I wake up tomorrow.  Friday evenings are for couch sitting (at least after we replace the microwave that has suddenly stopped heating food.  Ugh).

As of right now, the kids have a swim meet tomorrow (and one tonight...no couch sitting for them), but we aren't sure.  The forecast for our area tomorrow is a good amount of snow.  The last report I saw was 4-6" for our area.  We are kind of disappointed that it is falling on a Saturday.  I'll be honest, I have some concerns about my kids being on a school bus tomorrow, and since it is the third day in a row with a meet, I don't think the kids would be disappointed either if we were home all day.  Both Catherine and Thomas are hurting, and an unexpected day off would be fine with us.

Sunday will be another full day as Catherine has to work at 8AM, and then I am both the nursery volunteer during church on Sunday and the Sunday School volunteer after.  But for right now, that is hours and hours away, and I'm just going to enjoy the impending weekend!

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!

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!

Yesterday was a real day off

I only worked 2-1/2 days this week, which is my minimum goal for the week.  I had to be off Tuesday because Thomas and Catherine both had a doctor appointment in the afternoon, and I had a meeting in the morning.  I also had parent/teacher conferences in the evening for Catherine, and because Andrew worked late I was the sole transportation for everyone.  It wasn't exactly a day "off".  I was willing to work yesterday, but the only jobs available were in phys ed and special ed.  Since I had worked such a great deal and have a good number of jobs scheduled, I allowed myself to be picky.  I didn't take a job.  I stayed home and I SLEPT.  I slept for several hours in the morning, then I went to the church office to complete payroll and a few other smaller items.  After finishing my job there, I came home and slept some more!  I had no idea I could sleep that much, but I definitely needed it.  I even still went to bed and fell fast asleep at my normal time.  Even with all of that sleeping, I still managed to get two loads of laundry finished, get dinner made, dishes done, and the house picked up.  Yesterday was much needed in many, many ways!