Kind of wishing it was last week

At this time last week, I was surrounded by family at my aunt & uncle's house.  In just a few hours we would be home, and the five of us had a fabulous evening snuggled up in our home.  Everyone got on pajamas, we were so stuffed that we just made a big bowl of popcorn for dinner, and our family binged watched Season 10 of The Big Bang Theory.  I actually took a picture of the kids and me because I knew I would always want to remember it.  And the best part...I got to sleep in for the next three mornings!  Even though it wasn't as relaxing as I like my Thanksgiving break to be, it was still more relaxing than our current every day lives!

This was the "easy" part of the week

I feel like all I do is complain on here these days.  I'm just so tired.  I was off yesterday and Monday...but they were hardly "off" days.  Robert had a navy commitment that required us to be out the door at 5:30 Monday morning.  On the upside, by 8:30 Monday morning I had completed my grocery shopping for the week.  Catherine also had a doctor appointment that afternoon.  Yesterday I had a two hour meeting in the morning at school, then drove to my cousin's house in northern Kentucky to deliver an item they ordered from us, then ran errands the rest of the afternoon for our band fundraiser.  Today I worked at school in the morning, then made more deliveries, then went to my church job.  This evening is more deliveries again...and then I work for the next two days.  In addition to all of the normal chaos of life, tomorrow evening is parent/teacher conferences, and we have additional swim responsibilities Friday evening.  I still need to find time to get to work for the monthly church statements, but Saturday morning Catherine is volunteering for a Secret Santa workshop at one of the elementaries, then she and I are volunteering at another band fundraiser that afternoon.  Thomas has honor band auditions Saturday morning, and Robert works until close both Saturday and Sunday nights.  Andrew is leaving Sunday morning for a school trip and won't be back until sometime Tuesday...maybe in time to attend a meeting he is supposed to be at after school on Tuesday.  I'll be parent soloing beginning Sunday morning  which really just means most of those days I'll be in my car.  To be honest, I haven't even looked to see what the middle of next week brings, because there is too much between now and then.

I don't mind the go-go-go so much.  What I do mind is the staying up late, and then being up early the next morning for a different child.  I just need to sleep!!!!

I'm not feeling it

Sadly, I don't really feel like I'm "feeling" the holiday season.  I enjoyed our time with family last week, but there was also a lot more going on then I usually prefer over Thanksgiving.  Robert had to work both Friday and Saturday night, and Thomas had basketball practice on Saturday.  In addition, we had people stopping by all weekend to retrieve the wreaths that were delivered to my house after the mixup of last week.  To be honest, it was a bigger hassle than I expected, and it kind of led to everything being a hassle.  I felt like we were in a huge rush to get the trees and decorations up Sunday, and it just wasn't the feeling I had hoped it would be.  On the upside, everything looks nice!

I'll be honest, I think a lot of my feelings have to do with feeling completely overwhelmed.  I want my kids to have opportunities and I want them to take advantage of those opportunities and to try different things.  At the same time, I'm exhausted.  Last night, Robert was up until 10:30 doing homework and then we had to be up at 5 this morning for him to catch the bus.  Less than eight hours, and definitely less than seven hours of sleep doesn't work for me.  I'm sure that sounds selfish, but it's not like I'm refusing to have these things happen.  I know we will figure it all out, but I just don't want to get to Christmas and be too exhausted and worn out (or even sick!) to enjoy the time together.  Don't get me started on how LITTLE time we will actually have together...that is another post!

It was a nice evening at home

The kids were disappointed about not seeing their grandparents last night and I know my in-laws were disappointed as well.  Honestly, it makes things a little crazy to be here for only 18 hours, but we are here, and that is the important thing.  They took us out to an amazing dinner, and I'm grateful we made the trip.  The car was TIGHT, but we all made it.  My goal was to sleep as much as possible so the time just went quickly...and I needed the sleep!

Last evening we decided to watch some of our favorite Thanksgiving episodes from the Friends television series.  Those shows don't disappoint!  I was grateful that we were still able to make a fun memory in spite of having to scrap our original plans!

We didn't make it very far

We left earlier than I had expected for my in-laws.  Everyone did a great job finishing their packing, and Catherine did a fabulous job of packing the dog (Abby gets to go with us).  I was doing the driving because Andrew wasn't feeling very well.  We had made it around the corner when I asked if the kids had packed their dress shoes.  Nope...so back around the block we went.  It only cost us a few minutes.  As we continued driving, Andrew mentioned he wasn't feeling well at all.  We stopped to fill the gas tank and to get candy bars for everyone.  We hoped something in his stomach might help.  We continued on, and the van began shaking violently.  I had the same problem last week, and we had taken it in to have the tires aligned, but the problem was still there.  We drove about 35 minutes away, and decided we just couldn't continue in the van.  We turned around to head home, and began discussing our various options.  Making everyone fit in the car could be a tight fit, although it could be done.  We have to take Abby though, and that presents some complications.  We still aren't exactly sure what we are going to do, but we decided for tonight we are just going to stay home.  Andrew felt worse the more we drove (although it could've had something to do with the violent shaking of the van) and not making the trip was a good thing.  We were less than five minutes from home when a bat (I HATE BATS) flew in front of us and hit the windshield.  Yuck and yuck!  Just another minute or so down the road, a deer ran right in front of us.  I slammed on the brakes and I have no idea how we managed not to hit the deer.  At that point, I turned to Andrew and mentioned that this trip could not end soon enough.  We did finally make it home safely, and unloaded the vehicle.  We still aren't exactly sure how we are going to handle tomorrow.  Andrew and I could each drive a car, but that is less than ideal.  Trying to squeeze into one vehicle is less than ideal as well.  If Andrew doesn't feel well enough, I might take the kids and go, because I know the kids want to see their grandparents.  We'll just see what tomorrow brings.

It's been a little crazy

Life has been crazy, but nothing we can't handle!  Friday evening Robert came home from school not feeling well.  There was no swim practice, and I had a couple of hours of work to do in order to get the band fundraiser ready for Saturday morning.  First after I worked at the school though, I ran to the grocery...desperately needed after not going for over two weeks!  We ordered pizza that evening, I had things ready to go, and although I had to be up at 7 on Saturday, I had a decent night sleep.

Saturday I was at the fundraiser by 8:30 to hand over the materials, then I dashed to Thomas's art finale.  He then had basketball practice, so Robert and I came home to work on cleaning the house since we were having overnight guests.  We had a blast with everyone, but didn't get nearly enough sleep Saturday night.

Sunday morning our guests had to leave early, and I drove to my hometown for a quick brunch with my mother and quick visit with my grandmother.  As I was driving back to town, I received a call from the person handling the fundraiser pickup.  We were severely short on items.  I came home and checked my spreadsheet, and the totals were WRONG!  The formulas hadn't calculated correctly.  I was just sick about the entire thing.  There just weren't words.  I spent Sunday evening at a church commitment and just couldn't stop thinking about it.  I wanted to cry and vomit at the same time.  Our vendor did tell me that evening he thought he could get more inventory in, but I needed a specific total of what was needed.  I spent a couple of hours working on that Sunday night, before I continued working on a church project that needed finished by yesterday.  Robert worked until after 10:30 Sunday night, and we were tired people yesterday.

I worked in the morning in first grade, and received a phone call that Robert needed to go home sick.  I sent Andrew to get him.  I went to church after being done at school, and I also began finalizing details for the additional inventory coming in later this week.  I also needed to be working on laundry since we are leaving this evening for my in-laws.

I am so grateful to be off work today.  I had so much I needed to take care of for the band, and I still needed to pack.  I have so enjoyed this day, and this quiet.  It's been a very nice beginning to a few days off, and hopefully we can enjoy some family time!

This year's gratitude

I didn't do a very good job of continuing my daily gratitude posts.  At first it really bothered me, but then I decided that was a little ridiculous.  I know how grateful I am every day, regardless of whether or not I post it here.

I am really looking forward to the holidays, and they kick off in just six days with my favorite...Thanksgiving!  We will be heading to my in-laws on Tuesday and plan to return to my aunt & uncle's house on Thursday for the meal.  In the past couple of years, we've had a fabulously unscheduled weekend afterwards, but I don't think it is going to work out that way.  I am grateful for the time we are going to be able to spend with family.  I am trying so hard to remember to keep things peaceful!