Mother's Day 2026

Mother's Day has arrived again.  It has arrived at the end of another school musical week, and that brings absolute exhaustion.  The Friday after the musical is always such a hard day, and I went to bed at 8pm that night.  I was supposed to spend yesterday working at my mom's house, but between my exhaustion and my allergies it felt like more than I could handle.  Andrew and I spent yesterday doing a bit of shopping instead, and today we literally just hung around the house.  I've been spending some time trying to get things organized (or reorganized), as well as cleaning.  Honestly, it's been exactly the day that I would choose.

I feel a little badly that I didn't see my mom this weekend, but we are seeing lots of each other these days.  Of course, I still wished her a 'Happy Mother's Day' today.  Andrew called his mom, and we are going to take our moms out to dinner at some point.  Catherine, Thomas, and Lyndi all texted today.  It was so sweet of them.  It was odd not to see any of my kids at all though.  And of course, as a parent, there is always the realization that I have three children and no contact with one of them.  Mother's Day also brings up all the memories of those years that I wanted so desperately to be a mother, and I also can't help but think about all of the moms that are no longer with us.  It just seems like a challenging day for so many.

I'm incredibly blessed to have my amazing kiddos, and I'm grateful for so many things.  I'm also incredibly grateful that there are only eight more days of school remaining!

Draft weekend

Andrew and Thomas have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time.  The draft is in Pittsburgh, and the guys have gone over to partake.  They left last night after Andrew finished parent conferences so they weren't at the first round.  But, they have spent the day in the city today doing draft things, they are at the draft tonight, and they'll be in the city again tomorrow before heading home on Sunday.

Honestly, I've been looking forward to this weekend as well.  Since it isn't fair to the dog to be alone for an entire day, I stay home with Janey.  This means I don't have to leave the house if I don't want to!  I can get the house picked up, and maybe even doing some photo digitizing.  I can also sleep as much as I want!  I'm very excited about a weekend with no obligations...other than making sure Janey gets four walks a day!

Right now we are receiving a soaking rain which makes it even more lovely to just get to hang out at home.  It's bringing a cool front through, and I'm happy that we won't be having more 80's right now.  Have I mentioned our house stinks?  I'm not going to get into it, but we need to be able to leave the house open to air out, so cooler weather is beneficial.  And tomorrow it is supposed to be very cold, and I'm so very excited about that!

We have 18 days of school remaining.  It's hard to fathom that I have to tolerate some of these parents for another 18 schools days.  It's also a little hard to believe that in four weeks it will be Memorial Day weekend.  I am 100% not sad about seeing this school year come to an end.

What a week!

This was a heck of a week.  Andrew regained his voice by the end of the week, so we are grateful for that.  He also had cataract surgery Thursday morning.  We are very grateful that also went well.  He jokes that he will be going back to work tomorrow as a whole new person!  Having some extra time off has helped him to get ahead on the classes he'll be teaching next year, but that is a post of its own.

Thomas also managed to land himself in the hospital Thursday evening.  We aren't entirely certain exactly what happened, but our best guess is that there was a medicine interaction that proved problematic.  His system is just sensitive and fragile.  We left to drive the hour to the hospital and got there at 9:30 Thursday night, then I had to drive the hour home and let the dog out, thinking I'd be going back in the morning, but Thomas ended up being released and I was on my way back up in the middle of the night, so it was 3am before I was in bed.  I went to work later in the day than normal, but needed to make sure I got there because we had to fire a teacher that day.  That was just a really long two days.  Holy moly.

The good news is that Thomas is doing okay, and Andrew and I were able to meet him and Lyndi for dinner this evening.  Yesterday, Andrew and I made a trip to Columbus to visit our friends we hadn't seen since last summer.  It was such a needed visit, although the two hour trip each way was an exhausting drive.

Today before dinner, I spent the day at my mom's working on her house.  It was a actually a little bit fun as we came across some old memories and things we had forgotten about.  Next week Andrew will be gone all weekend, and I'm looking forward to getting some pictures digitized and organized.

I'm exhausted and we are headed into the busiest part of the school year.  But, there are only 23 more school days to go, and then we are going to have a wonderfully carefree summer!

A Monday at school

Today was a school day.  This isn't really notable, as most Mondays of the year are indeed school days!  In our case though, the last four Mondays we haven't had school.  Our Winter break had three Mondays off, and then the Monday before break was a snow day.  And even six weeks ago, it was a Monday where we were pretty sure we might have a snow day the next day.  I'm able to take some solace in the fact that next Monday is another off day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful that I'm able to work the schedule that I work and have days off.  I'm also very grateful that the second semester is much less stressful than the first one.  One might ask how I can judge this on only the fourth day of the semester, but by day three of last semester things were brewing, and on day four I spent nearly the entire day in meetings figuring things out.

I also worked on church things this evening, but I'm happy to report after three hours I was able to submit the final info needed before our annual meeting (my least favorite Sunday of the year).  It's nice to have these things handled.  Now maybe I can actually get Christmas put away and my house back together!

Relaxing on Friday evening

Today was a working Friday.  That is certainly not at all notable, except that the last three Fridays were not working Fridays.  The Friday before that was a 2-hour delay, and six weeks ago was the day after Thanksgiving.  So, in the last six Fridays, I only had to work a full day on ONE of them.

It was a good week at work.  We are starting this semester with great optimism that things will settle.  I'm not at all sad about that!  It would be nice to not feel the stress and emotions that we felt in the first semester.

I'm enjoying this Friday evening of relaxation.  Andrew brought dinner in for us.  One cat is asleep next to me, one cat is asleep next to Andrew, and Janey, our sweet new pup, is also asleep with Andrew.  Janey had quite a day today!  Andrew arrived home to find that she had completely chewed apart the bed that is in her crate.  Oh my, it was quite a sight!  Overall, we are so absolutely thrilled that Janey has joined our lives.  She has a lot of similarities to our precious Abby, but she is her own girl.  She keeps us laughing and brings us a lot of joy!  I've started taking down our Christmas, but it's quite a process.  Tomorrow is lunch to celebrate Grandma's birthday, and then hopefully I'll get some more Christmas put away.  

I'm grateful for this relatively quiet weekend!

These last six weeks

Six weeks ago, it was the Sunday beginning our Thanksgiving break.  Andrew arrived home with his mother, and we were kicking off the beginning of the holiday joy.  There are only two of the last six Mondays where I had to work the next day, and on one of those, I was pretty sure it would only be one day before a snow day (I was right).  In the last six weeks, we have had 12 school days.  That feels pretty darn good.

We still have tomorrow off, but then Tuesday we go back to work and the students will arrive on Wednesday.  There is no snow in sight, so it will be all in.  To be honest, I'm not terribly sad to be going back to work.  I love my job (but I'm just NOT a morning person...and ironically I have the earliest report time at the office), and of course I need a paycheck.  I think what I'm most sad about is that the holidays are coming to an end.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!  My MIL wasn't here as much as she has been in past years, and at age 86, we can't ever be certain that next year she'll be here.  I loved having all the kids here.  Catherine has let us know that next year, her boyfriend's family is planning a week-long trip.  And of course, it is nearly certain that this was my Grandmother's last Christmas.  Oh, the memories of Christmas with her are so treasured, but I suspect she will love Christmas in Heaven next year with her parents, all her siblings, and of course Grandpa and my dad.

Life is good.  I do not fail to see that.  I love my job, and I am grateful for it, but there is a big part of me that still wishes it was six years ago.  I would love to get to do the holidays all over again.  I am so grateful for the time we had together and the memories we made!

So happy to get to school break, I thought I might cry

I had been counting down the days, then the hours, then even the minutes until school was going to be finished yesterday for break.  I don't think we had ever earned a break like we had this one.  Work has turned into a daily "what now?" situation.  We had one pop up at the end of the day Wednesday that required I put in an extra hour, we had ANOTHER one pop up in the morning before school even began, and then we had one that was a bit less of a surprise closer to the end of the day.  I felt weary to my core.  The hard part is that none of them can really be resolved right now.  Ugh.

We had a staff gathering at the end of the day, and I was happy to be there but was the first to leave.  It was a really wet and windy day, and although I was supposed to attend a meeting last night, I decided I was coming home and officially beginning my break.

I spent my day just kind of doing my own thing.  I wrapped a few presents, I cleaned a bit, I took a nap, I just kind of hung out and did my thing.  Maudie, the cat we inherited from my grandmother has been very clingy and wanted to curl up with me throughout the day.  Catherine had her last day at school and then left town for the weekend.  I've appreciated the relatively quiet day.

We got a bit of hard news today.  My sister informed us that this seven-day course of antibiotics will be the final antibiotic for my grandmother.  My grandmother has faded tremendously in the last couple of months.  Even if this round of antibiotics takes care of the current infection, it is recurrent and this life is not what my grandmother ever wanted.  She is 94 years-old, and I know that she will be ready whenever the time comes, as it's been apparent she's been ready for quite some time.  I'll be sad when she's gone, but honestly, she hasn't been the same woman for years.

Tomorrow, Andrew is going to get his mom, and I'm going up to my mom's.  Quite a bit to do over the next several days, but I'm so grateful to be on break!

All things come to an end, no matter how fabulous it's been

In 12 hours, I'll be double checking attendance and getting started on what will be a very busy day.  When the first work day of the month is also a Monday AND it follows a break, it's always quite a day.

I'm ready for it though.  This break was a perfect combination of exactly what I needed.  We had the right amount of quiet/down time and the right amount of all-in family time.  Three weeks from today, I'll be sitting here, hopefully with my MIL here again, and we'll be looking at two full weeks off.

I don't take any of this past week for granted.  None of us are guaranteed anything, including tomorrow.  I'm so grateful that we had the family time that we had.  I don't know how many more years my kids will want to help with the Christmas trees.  I don't know how many more holidays my MIL has left.  I do know that regardless of what happens today, tomorrow, next week, or next month, my family had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving break, and I'm more full of gratitude than I can even put into words.

And I'm happy to head back to work.  Can't get a paycheck if I'm not there!  I'm also very grateful that I have a job I enjoy so very much!

I'm not sure how, but we made it to Thanksgiving break

Without a doubt, the best thing our school ever did was decide to change our calendar and be off all of Thanksgiving week.  This is the third year for this calendar change, but it might be the most appreciated.  By the time I got to work on Friday, I was actually dreading checking my email.  I rarely remember a work day filled with dread while I've had this job, there it was Friday morning.  That is how crazy hard this school year has been. 

Friday was also a wet and dreary day, and it made it all the better to be home after school.  Andrew picked up dinner in town, and I forced myself to stay awake until 10.  Yesterday Andrew left to go get his mom for the week, and I began scrubbing the house.  I managed to stay up until only 9 yesterday, and then slept blissfully.

I'm so looking forward to this coming week, and hope to report about lots of fun times with family!

I feel like we've turned a corner

I woke up this morning, realized it was November 1, and I was instantly excited.  It's a Saturday, which is always a good thing!  A new month always feels fresh, and the beginning of November really feels like the unofficial beginning of the holidays (since I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, it doesn't count for me 😂), and the beginning of November is still very lovely around here since our fall really came later than normal.  And I can't help but feel we might have really turned a corner at work.  We had another incident at work this week, but it was so much more minor compared to other things.  I'd like to think the drama of our school year is over.  And regardless, November and December each only have 14 work days for me, so only 28 work days left for me this year!

Today was a good day

I have to be honest, today was one of the calmest work days I've had all year.  In fact, probably THE calmest of this school year.  I was able to get things done that not only did I not have time to handle, I hadn't had the "bandwidth" to handle.  The temps are perfect and even though I was the only admin working, it was really just a lovely day at work.

It was also a great day for Thomas.  He had an issue that was resolved with the almost the best possible solution.  He also started a new job last week that he really enjoys, and Lyndi starts a new job next week.  And in other fabulous news, his car has been repaired and they get it back tomorrow and we get Andrew's car back.

Life certainly isn't perfect, but I will happily take the good days when they happen!

It sure doesn't feel like the first weekend of October

The weather here is ridiculous.  I'm sweating.  Thankfully, the sun is going down and it is beginning to get cooler.  I"m hoping our new mums make it.  Andrew had to work at a cross county meet this morning and it was beginning to get a little miserable.  I've got a few fall decorations out, but honestly, it just seems ridiculous to decorate when it feels more like July.  Thankfully, the humidity isn't awful.  I"m looking forward to cozy weather, but not sure when that will happen.  Even when the cold front comes through this week, it will lower the highs to 70's.  I"m ready for long sleeves!

Our week at work is actually beginning to settle.  We are hopeful we can begin to focus on things that really matter rather than people who are just being difficult.  This is also the last week Andrew will have any events until around Thanksgiving, so we are very grateful for that break.  I'm definitely looking forward to life slowing down a bit!

We'll remember this school day

This has been another less than spectacular week at school.  There are two students who are continuing to cause trouble in the middle school classroom, and their behavior is astonishing.

Today though.  Wow, today takes the cake.  Shortly before Noon I was in my office and was called to an outdoor classroom over the Walkie.  My boss and I both took off because I NEVER get called to this classroom.  They had been doing a science unit that had turned into an archaeology unit.  They had been digging a hole to study soil levels, then found some broken plates, etc, and kept digging.  The hole had become about three feet deep.  The student jumped in feet first, and the hole managed to collapse around him.  We ended up having to call the fire department to extricate him from the hole.  As I told my boss, any day that we have to call 9-1-1, I think it is fair to say that isn't the best day.  The student was upset at first, but calmed down quickly, and the FD did a great job of getting him out.  Quite a day at work, and the end of a crazy week.  In fact, it's been crazy for almost three full months, and we are ready for things to settle!

Another weekend in September

It is definitely beginning to look like fall around here.  Sadly, it isn't colorful, nor is it cool, but because of the draught things are brown and yellow and beginning to fall from the trees.  And although our a/c is running, because of the lower humidity, the heat isn't oppressive.

Andrew and I both had long weeks.  Andrew had something every evening, and Thursday I even attended a meeting for him.  We've decided to "tag-team" a committee seat that is about serving our neighbors in need.  It is an honor to be able to be involved.  That should be the last really, really hard week for Andrew.  It's a little unfortunate that it happens at the beginning of the school year, especially when the school year beginning has been so rough for us.

He even had to work yesterday, but our evening was really lovely.  One of my high school friends was in town and we always have a blast visiting for a couple of hours.  It's always such a gift to be included in his plans!

Today, I went to work at my mom's house.  It's a daunting task to get things under control, but we are working on it.  It's hard to see a positive step forward for my mom with all of her mobility issues.  We are doing what we can though, and my sister is amazing about those things.

There are definitely a few stresses in life, but I am constantly reminding myself that we are basically safe and healthy, and we can work around the other things.

A lot has happened in two weeks

After I wrote on Labor Day, I received a phone call from Lyndi and she was crying.  They'd been in a car accident.  They were okay, but it was Lyndi's fault and I could hear Thomas screaming.  He's had a bit of PTSD since his accident five years ago.  We were over an hour away, but we made some phone calls, and some dear friends rushed to be with them.  Complicating life was the fact that the care was not drivable, leaving them with only the old 2001 that we don't trust for many distances.  It needs some work.  So after a week of that, we traded them so they could use Andrew's car and we are living with the Civic.

In the meantime, Lyndi took her driving test and we were so excited when she passed!  She really is a great driver.  However, because she is married she couldn't be on her parent's car insurance, and when our insurance found out they were married they had to go on their own policy.  So she isn't covered, which means she can't drive.  It's not overly convenient for them right now, but things will work out.

Last week was also crazy in that Andrew had to work almost every evening, and we were trying to get ready for the kids' party.  I am so grateful my MIL was here.  She made sure we had meals and helped with laundry.  We couldn't have made it through the week without her.

Work has been more insane than I can even explain.  These parents have lost their minds.  Their behavior has been astounding.  Today, a set of parents showed up swearing and yelling and making demands.  What is even happening with these people?  I have been spending literally HOURS in admin meetings trying to make backup plans for backup plans in case some teachers decide to leave because the parents are so awful.

There are also things going on at church and in other aspects of life, but overall we are hanging in there.  It won't last forever, and we are all healthy and hanging in there.  But wowza, life can settle in anytime now!

It's been a humdinger

This has been, by far, the most challenging beginning to a school year I have ever experienced...even more so than COVID in 2020.  We have three new staff members who are amazing, but still need some additional assistance, understandably.  We have some new students who have exhibited unexpected challenges requiring me to spend a significant amount of time in classrooms to offer support, and we have some parents who have lost their minds and have required an unbelievable amount of time to deal with them and try to resolve "issues".   It's been more exhausting than I can describe.

And it was HOT.  Oh my goodness, it was so miserable.  Thankfully, an amazing front came through late last week, and right, now it's beyond gorgeous.  Tonight will be down in the 40's!

This weekend is Labor Day weekend and college football begins.  I love this time of year, and I'm ready for school to settle down as well!

It's almost that time...

This coming week school begins.  Catherine, Andrew, and I all have students on Wednesday.  I'm ready...or as ready as I'm going to be.  I allowed myself to leave early yesterday afternoon, knowing it was the last Friday that I would be able to do so.  While I am very grateful for the summer, and for the flexibility and more laid back schedule, I'm also grateful for the full time schedule of the school year that allows me to have a "full-time" paycheck.

Last week I made sure that the kids all took time to visit my grandmother.  We were there about 45 minutes, and she really enjoyed having us all there.  I'm not going to lie, it is really, really hard for me to visit my grandmother.  For so many years, she was such an amazing force in lives and that person we visit now just isn't her.  I struggle with that.  Regardless, after our visit we drove into town and had dinner at a pizza place, where two of my cousins (and a husband) and two of their kids joined us.  We had a blast and we agreed it is something we should do more often!  I'm so glad we made those things happen.

Today I made another visit north to help my sister work at mom's house.  That is another post, but it was definitely a very long day.  I'm grateful for a quiet evening right now, especially since we had dinner plans with Thomas and Lyndi last evening.  Tomorrow is church and then dinner with more friends.  August is never my favorite month, but it is the beginning of college football season so I can't be sad about that!  And of course it will be the holidays before we know it! 😁

Last day of July

The last day of July has arrived.  It was a full day, too.  I worked until 4:00, so basically back to the normal grind.  A cold front came through, which at least broke the horribly hot weather we'd been having.  Two weeks from today it will be the second day of school.  Lots to do between now and then, but I am ready to get back to a routine...and regular sized paychecks as well. 😁

I really do love my job, and I don't love summer weather, so I've been wondering why I'm feeling sad about the end of this summer.  We had a great summer.  We enjoyed a wonderful vacation with everyone and then another great trip with friends, but summers are different then they used to be.  My children are now adults, and I accept that.  As with everything in life, it has both pros and cons.

I've realized though, how much my life changes when school starts.  It isn't just my job, which cranks up, obviously.  But Andrew goes from having almost no responsibilities during the year to having the busiest season of the year.  And our town COMPLETELY changes.  Our quiet little town adds about 16,000 students, not to mention that even professors and other staff leave town during the summer.  Right now, going to the grocery is a piece of cake.  That changes dramatically when we have all those extra people. 

I know this is a short-term "mood", and I love fall and all that it brings, followed by the holidays and hopefully some snow.  Hopefully the cooler weather of the weekend will help to life spirits!

Teacher of the Year

It took me two months to get this written, but I don't want to forget Andrew's big accomplishment of this year.  He was named the Rotary Teacher of the Year.  I am so, so proud that his talent has been recognized.  He's really awesome at his job.  He's going to use the prize money to take his kids on a field trip.  He's amazing!

It's been a very nice break

This spring break has been absolutely fabulous.  It's been a terrific mix of fun, productive, and relaxing.  We have 7-1/2 weeks of school remaining, and it feels really easy after this week.  I'll probably feel differently by about 10am Monday, but I'll take it however long it lasts!

I never really got into the basketball games last week.  There were only a couple of good first round upsets, and those teams didn't make it to the second weekend.  We had dinner plans with dear friends with Saturday and I did really enjoy that.

Monday was a day that I allowed myself to just hang out and do whatever I wanted.  The "thing I wanted" this week has been organizing photos, and I've gotten soooo much done.  I'm so pleased!  Tuesday, I worked, both at school and at church, and Wednesday I had lunch plans and then made a trip to visit my grandmother.  Yesterday, Andrew had a doctor appointment, so he was home, and we ran an errand and ate lunch out, then we settled in to watch Opening Day.  Not how we wanted it to go, but there are 161 games remaining.  Today I am home along again, although I didn't sleep last night.  I don't mean I didn't sleep well, I mean I literally couldn't sleep, so I've been awake now for the 25 hours.  I don't love that this is how break is ending, but I am super grateful I don't have to work today!  I've really appreciated the alone time from this week, but I've also really appreciated some time spent with family and friends.  It's been a fabulous break!