FFA Chapter Degree

This evening, Thomas officially received his FFA Chapter Degree.  I absolutely love that organization.  Thomas has been involved for two years, and my only regret is that he didn't join earlier.  I was so happy to be able to see many families that mean so much to me.  Early next month, Thomas will be able to attend the state convention as a member of the FFA band.  We are so thrilled for him!

Thomas also had a really awesome tennis match today.  He didn't win, but it was an incredibly even match.  He was able to fill in as a singles player for the first time this year.  There were some absolutely great volleys, and I loved how both Thomas and the other player congratulated each other when there was an especially great volley.  It was a fun match to watch.

It was a busy day, but I'm soaking up these last few weeks before we are done parenting high school students!

This past week

I'll be honest, last week was not my most favorite week ever.  For one thing, the weather really was crappy.  Additionally, my mother-in-law was here.  It's not that having her here is so awful, but because Andrew had significant evening commitments, it made it much more challenging for me.  I often felt I couldn't do my thing because I was focused on trying to entertain her.  Andrew doesn't really understand my feelings about the whole thing, but it is what it is.  

Last Monday Andrew had to work a lacrosse game, and wasn't home until about 8:30.  I had made a lasagna for dinner so that we could have leftovers during the week.  Tuesday he had a baseball game and wasn't home until about 9:30.  Leftover lasagna and potato soup was dinner.  Wednesday I worked until Noon, then went to the church to work for a bit.  Dinner that evening was a chicken stuffing casserole, and I skipped my band meeting that evening so we could eat dinner together as a family since baseball and tennis were cancelled (you wouldn't believe the amount of rain we've had around here).  Thursday I left work early to pick up my mother-in-law so that we could watch Thomas play tennis.  I was so glad that she was able to see him play, and I was even more grateful that he and his partner were able to get a win!  I was a whole lot less grateful that we had to slosh through so much mud though.   We had some chicken tortilla soup for dinner that evening that I had picked up the day before.  Friday I had to take the dog to the vet before coming home to get my mother-in-law so that we could venture to Andrew's away baseball game.  We didn't stay for the entire game because they were getting clobbered.  I came home to get pizzas in the oven, and Andrew got home around 8:30 again that evening.

By Saturday, I was pretty exhausted from not sleeping well, and honestly from being tense about entertaining my mother-in-law.  She's a lovely person generally, but it's just tough not having my own space for an entire week.  Usually when she is here I can take a little time for myself while she and Andrew do something, but he just wasn't available much during the week.  Fortunately, dinner Saturday was an effort by all of us, and my mom came down to join us.  Unfortunately, she was in a car accident on the way home, but she's okay overall.

It was a long week overall.  Andrew took his mom back yesterday and returned today.  It SNOWED this morning, so sporting events are canceled.  He's at practice, and I'm ready to enjoy some quiet this evening!

The end of tennis season

This evening was Thomas's final tennis match.  It was only the second match of the entire season that both Andrew and I were able to attend.  There was a home match last evening, but I was dealing with other things (a post for another time).  Catherine was able to be there yesterday, and I know that meant such a great deal to Thomas.  I've seen a lot of improvement during this season.  Today he was able to win his second match of the season.  It's a great way to end the season.

He also was allowed to play an additional set of singles.  He won't be able to participate in the actual last match of the season tomorrow because he is working (I messed up scheduling) so he was allowed to play the extra person that the other team brought.  He had played a really, really even and long match, so playing again was tough and he was totally outmatched.  We decided we aren't really counting that though, so in our minds, he ended the season with a great match and a victory.

We celebrated by bringing in Thomas's favorite fast-food for dinner.  Baseball also ends this week, and I can't be sad about that either.  We are so close to the end of the year, and life being just a tiny bit more relaxing!

A tennis victory

Today, Thomas's tennis match was against the parochial school in the neighboring town.  Because the match starts just as I get off work, I don't usually go the away meets because by the time I get there, the match would be over.  Unfortunately, I missed Thomas's first tennis win!  I am so excited for him.  He's not yet even an average tennis player, but everyone deserves to feel victory, even if not frequent.  I am so excited for him, and I love his enthusiasm about it all!

Also, Andrew's team had a come-from-behind-walk-off victory in their baseball game.  That was exciting as well.  So happy for everyone!

Great news for Thomas

Thomas has had a great week!  Today was the best.  He received news he had been waiting for.  He has been selected to be a delegate to the American Legion Boys' State convention this summer.  We are so excited for him.  My sister was a delegate to girls' state 28 years ago.  This is going to be a great experience for him, and we are so very excited.  History/Government/Social Studies has been his favorite subject, so this is awesome for him.  We are so, so very excited, and very proud.

Tennis is also going really well.  In his second match last week, he played singles, and he played better even then earlier in the week.  In this past week, Monday he played singles again, but I missed most of it by working.  Yesterday's match had him playing doubles again, and they played really well together!  In fact, they won the first set.  Unfortunately, they lost the match overall, but they played really, really well.  There were good serves and lots of volleys.  It's been a great week for him!

Easter weekend

It's been a very quiet weekend.  Andrew and the kids went to his parents.  I opted to stay home because my job doesn't really want me to travel.  I also thought my grandmother might want to get together since my aunt & uncle were going to be at her house, but it didn't work out that way.  I had dinner with my mother last evening, and I've enjoyed the quiet while cleaning pretty much the entire house today.  Tomorrow, our dear friends invited me to dinner, so I'll head over there mid-afternoon.  While I don't look forward to it being this quiet regularly, I've appreciated it for the weekend.

Our week was definitely not quiet, but I enjoyed it.  Catherine was home all week, and honestly that always makes life better.  I so truly love watching Catherine and Thomas interact.  I am so grateful they are as close as they are.

Thomas had two tennis matches this week.  The second one was better than the first.  He played singles in the second match, which required that he move around more.  Andrew had a baseball game that was an exciting walk off win, but we weren't at the game.  I was able to get the kids scheduled for their first COVID shots and that was the evening for Thomas.

The weather on Thursday was definitely an April Fool's joke as we woke up to snow.  It got colder as the day progressed, and I was grateful that the sporting events for the evening were cancelled.  It meant that we got an evening together with all four of us.  We didn't do anything exciting, but I always appreciate the evenings we have together, especially since they were all taking off for the weekend.

I am so grateful for the blessings in life, and I'm especially grateful for my faith this Easter weekend!

First tennis match

Today was Thomas's first ever tennis match.  Since there is no spring musical on which he can work, he decided this would be a good year to give tennis a try.  He is playing JV and is playing doubles.  Today's match was a little rough, although they played a school that matched with the talent well so it wasn't awful.  A new adventure has begun!

So much on the calendar

I just finished updating our calendars.  Andrew is coaching baseball again, and Thomas has decided to try tennis.  As both are spring outdoor sports, the "schedule" that is provided at the beginning of the season seems almost laughable.  Regardless, I spent quite a bit of time making sure our calendar was as up to date as it could be.  To be honest, I had forgotten how crazy being a baseball coach's wife can be.  Adding tennis which is also every day to the mix, wowza.  Last year at this time we were literally doing nothing, and I had just forgotten how busy this can all be.  Our calendar squares are fairly full, and of course I now work full time.  I'm excited that Thomas is trying something new, and Andrew loves coaching.  I sure did love all that family time we had last year though!