Catching up on things around here

This was supposed to be one of our quieter weeks this summer.  If that is the case, yikes!  There have been quiet moments though, and for that I am very grateful.

What has been going on around here?  Swim has continued of course.  The kids have no meets this week or next, so we allowed them to take a more laid-back approach to attending practices.  I've worked a little bit at the church, we've been dealing with the final stages of our bathroom remodel (a post of its own), there has been a drama exploding in our religious ed program (which is ridiculous), and Robert has been finalizing his process to enlist in the Navy.  I'll be honest, for privacy and security reasons, I'm not sure how much I'll divulge about that.

To be honest, it just feels as though everything has been a hassle lately.  I'm starting to feel that my family is the only one that can be organized and function efficiently.  I know that isn't the case and I know I shouldn't be so righteous about things, but there have been so many frustrations.  I'm trying to remember we are all working together for the greater good!

A weekend of entertaining

We had two different couples over this weekend.  Saturday afternoon we hosted a couple and their five-year-old twins.  This couple attends church with us, and Kyle played football for my husband over a decade ago.  He spent some time in the Navy and has decided to get a master's degree in education.  Things happened to work out, and he is going to be a student teacher with Andrew this fall.  We are all really excited about this!  It was an absolutely lovely afternoon and we enjoyed it tremendously.  I also really enjoyed the fact that we had them over in the afternoon and therefore our evening was free.

Last evening we hosted another couple we've known for many years.  Their children are the same age as the couple that came over Saturday afternoon, so we definitely covered an age spectrum this weekend!  We had an absolutely fabulous visit with them as well.  As an added bonus, Robert point out that as long as we keep having people over, our house stays picked up!

We've been out of school a month

One month ago today school ended.  In two weeks, band will be beginning, and things will be crazy.  Not necessarily as crazy as the school year, but still crazy.  I'm trying so hard to enjoy these moments, but it doesn't seem easy right now.  Lots of little things are causing my anxiety to be higher than I would like.

One thing I am enjoying is our evening with the kids.  Most evenings, they all prefer to be in the room with us, and I think that is very sweet.  Even though I don't always care for the TV shows that are chosen by the majority, I enjoy that the kids actually want to be with us.  I love listening to their laughter...that sounds never gets old!

A lovely Saturday afternoon in June

It is truly a beautiful Saturday afternoon and evening.  The weather is just perfect.  We also invited a couple over this afternoon, and had such a lovely visit.  They are a couple from our church, and have twin five-year-olds with another on the way.  They are young enough that they are former students and the husband is going to be a student-teacher with Andrew this fall (his second career).  It was truly such a lovely afternoon spent visiting.  I'm so grateful for this afternoon and friendships!

A rainy Friday in June

We are currently experiencing a lot of rain today thanks to the remnants of tropical storm Cindy which combined with a low front as it came up our way.  It is going to rain pretty much all day, and in fact the skies just opened up and began really pouring.  It would be a fabulous day to just lay around and watch some movies together as a family.  It isn't going to work that way though, as Robert has a doctor appointment later this morning, and I have a meeting at church this afternoon.  We are also having people over tomorrow so there are things around the house that need to be handled.

Speaking of handling, it feels like there are so many things that need to be handled, and sometimes it feels a little overwhelming.  Nothing is major and everything is being handled, but it is a little astonishing how things add up.  I try to count my blessings every day, and there truly are many!

One-third of the way through summer

As of yesterday our summer is 1/3 over.  We had a wonderful vacation, but I don't feel that we've really enjoyed much of anything except that.  Part of it is the car problems we've had, and part is that because of everything I'm extremely hesitant to spend money.  Part of it is also the youngest two kids.  They are often the most unpleasant human beings on the face of the earth!  There is also the fact that we are having our bathroom completely redone and it can be logistically challenging to leave the house or do much of anything fun.  I've also been having some stomach problems, so it all adds up to not necessarily being out having fun.

I cringe when I think that this is the easy part of our summer.  In just over two weeks band begins, and another two weeks after that football begins.  Cross country begins the week after that, and then school two weeks later.  AGH!  I'm not ready!

A discouraging day

Overall today has been a rather discouraging day.  Andrew went yesterday with Catherine and Thomas to visit his parents.  Robert and I were leaving this morning to make the drive over.  We'd had our van fixed, but certainly didn't need it just for the two of us, so we were taking the Honda we had purchased from my sister last winter.  Robert and I were about 45 minutes into our trip when I realized we were losing speed.  We were in the left lane, but I managed to navigate us safely to the right shoulder.  I knew we were about 1.5 miles from the next exit, and I told Robert we were going to try to get there.  Semis were currently whizzing by and it wasn't the safest place to be.  The car would move, we just couldn't go above 20 mph.  We made it though, and managed to get to a gas station at the exit.  I called Andrew, and he mentioned that we should have the car towed to my hometown since it was significantly closer than our current town.  I also called my mom and explained to her what was happening and she was just waiting to hear from us again to help us out.  The tow truck driver was a very nice guy, and we ended up making it back to our house (my mom brought us home) about the same time we would've made it to my in-laws.

I'm so grateful that honestly, things worked out so well.  We were able to get off the interstate, and honestly, it really couldn't have happened at a better spot on the interstate.  My mom was easily able to bring us home, and all worked out.  At the same time though, I'm so disappointed that I wasn't able to spend Father's Day with my amazing husband.  Because my in-laws will no longer make the trip here, Robert may not be able to see them until Thanksgiving.  I am grateful that we are home safe and sound, but it seems as though right now we just keep spending money on repairs for things.  Hopefully this will be an inexpensive fix, and we aren't broke...I know that.  I think the kicker is that we can't find the keys to the van.  Robert and I have spent two days searching the house, but they just don't seem to be here anywhere.  It is so frustrating, but I know that in the long run it will all work out.  I'm just glad we are safe this evening!