Lots of fun

We've been having a lot of fun around here lately, at least up until yesterday (another post...or maybe not at all...it involves kids' poor choices).  Last Thursday one of my life-long friends came down to spend the day with me for his birthday.  We had lots of laughs, and there is pretty much no one in the world who knows me as well as he does.  That evening Robert had a band concert.  My mom brought my grandmothers down and everyone was very impressed with how they sounded.  Friday Catherine had ball practice and then we enjoyed a nice family dinner and evening.  Saturday was scouts and basketball, which although we all had "bleacher butt", was a great day.  Sunday we attended church (another post as well) and Thomas had a friend over early that afternoon.  We then drove to our family's favorite restaurant Montgomery Inn.  There is no question that is absolutely our favorite place to eat as a family.  The kids always enjoy it, and the fact that we can only afford to go once a year makes it a special treat!  We even got to listen to the Reds game on the radio on the drive there and back.  It was a really great family weekend!

Basketball champs!

Yesterday was a long day in this house.  It began with Andrew taking Robert to our former town for a two-hour scouting function.  Shortly after they returned, we were off for our afternoon of basketball tournaments.  Five games and five victories later, we had two league champions living in our home!

I was so excited for the kids...so excited I couldn't sleep last night!  I was so happy for them.  My kids were by no means the best players on their teams, but they were blessed enough to be along for the ride.  We hit the jack pot with the coaches and teammates, and it was just an absolutely great season.  I loved watching Thomas jump into the air when his team won the final game!  He even told me later, "Mom, I was so excited when we won that I cried a little."  Oh my goodness, I love these children!

Hole in my heart

Today I was walking through Meijer getting my weekly shopping completed.  I was on the search for a headlight that is burnt out on Andrew's car, and I stumbled upon fishing poles.  I was unprepared to stand there and tear up in the grocery, and yet that is exactly what I did.  My dad loved fishing...it was his favorite hobby, and a connection that he shared with Robert.  I hadn't thought about all of the things that would remind me of Dad and how much they would hurt.  It's been 3-1/2 months, and I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get through a day without crying at some point.  It seems so selfish, because he was so very, very sick, but it is what it is.

And that led me to understand that I have a hole in my heart, and I always will.  It's much, much bigger than the ones that my grandfathers and other loved ones have left, but I realize that those holes are still there too.  Having children (or someday, grandchildren) doesn't fill those holes, but I believe that our hearts do grow bigger and we are able to have even more love in our lives...but the holes left by our dear loved ones are still there.  Somehow, realizing that is comforting.

A really beautiful day

Today is truly an absolutely beautiful day.  I walked Thomas to the bus stop this morning, then did my morning exercise (part of Lent, which I shall post about another time).  Shortly after, I was off to the grocery.  I loved the fact that I had all of the things I needed to get done today finished by 11:30!

And the weather is so nice as well.  I believe it is supposed to be in the 50's today and lots of sun.  And of course the fact that it is a Friday is just icing on the cake!

Reservations made!

Andrew and I just made reservations for our summer vacation.  After showing Andrew the budget with me not working, and knowing all of the things we want to do for the house, we both decided that this year's vacation was going to be scaled back dramatically from last year.  But honestly, I am just as excited, if not even more so!  No thirteen hour drives to the beach this year.  We have booked a two bedroom suite in a hotel in Columbus for three nights!  I am certain that doesn't sound very exciting to very many people, but it is to us!  There is so much to do around the Columbus area, and we've never done most of them.  The important thing is that we will save BIG time on gas and will only have four days of meals to plan for.  The hotel has free breakfasts and plenty of room for everyone to spread out.  It is going to be a really great experience.  It was very important to us that we take an opportunity to make fun memories with our kids while not breaking the bank.  I think this is an excellent start to that!  And of course, it's nice to think about warmer weather!

In like a lion...

Yep, everyone is home again today.  There really aren't words to describe my feelings for winter at this point.  It is what it is.  The part that really stinks is that everyone will now be in school on what will undoubtedly be a gorgeous day in June.

I have, however, decided there is no way we are all spending the day with electronics.  There will be board games or there will be reading, or playing, or crafting but there will not be computers, iPads, and TV all day.

I know that since March has arrived there is bound to be some decent weather (I should note, however, there is none in the five-day-forecast), but it definitely came in 'like a lion' this year!!!!

Still adjusting

Last evening was a prime example that Andrew and I have not completely adjusted to our new town...there is still some ways to go in that regard.  We attended the annual athletic boosters fundraiser.  I had been looking forward to it all week.  An evening out with adults sounded divine!  I am struggling a bit with the fact that not only do I not have any friends here, but this winter has been so brutal that I can't really be out.  My "old" friends aren't that far away, but in this weather it's too far.  I knew that we would know many people last night and I was really looking forward to that.

I acknowledged before we left that I was tired.  Robert had to be at a scouting function in our old town which required us to leave our house about 7:15 in the morning.  We then had a day full of basketball games and errands, and of course another trip back to our old town early afternoon to retrieve Robert.  But still, I was looking forward to the evening.

About an hour into it though, I was wondering how much longer we had to stay.  The kids were all tired and I was afraid they might implode on each other if left alone too long, and frankly, I was bored.  We did know several people there, especially Andrew, and he did a wonderful job of introducing me.  However, not one single person there could I consider a friend.  There was only so much small talk I could make throughout the course of the evening, and then it became evident nothing was left to say...and usually the person I was chatting with had friends and would move on anyway.  Andrew was very understanding when I decided it was time to go, and surprisingly, he felt the same way I did.  He knew many people there, but agreed it was mostly just small talk that grew awkward after time.  Obviously we still have a ways to go with making friends, and I'm hoping that we will be able to do so.  We are very blessed to have wonderful friends not too terribly far away, but it would be so very nice to be able to have some right here in town!