The rugs make me feel grown up

The house in which we currently live, just like our previous home, has absolutely no wall-to-wall carpeting at all.  When we first moved into our first home, we loved it because not only did it add to, and fit, the character of the house, my husband was having trouble being around cats and we thought that was our best shot to him being able to live with them.  It worked out well.  Our living room was very large and we had a large area rug in that room.  The kids rooms had fun little area rugs, and our bedroom had a fairly inexpensive area rug.  It was never very soft and with lots of cat vomit over the years, we threw it out when we moved.

Our second home is 100 years newer than our previous home, but the original part of the house had hardwood floors.  The kitchen and family had hardwood installed sometime before we moved in.  We knew that we liked wood floors, and already had some rugs.  The living room rug fit well into our new living room, and the kids' rugs also made the move.  We ended up getting Catherine a more "grown up" rug about six months after we moved.  Very shortly after we moved, I had found some VERY inexpensive area rugs to put into our family room.  They were a long shag, which is "in" these days, and if we purchased two of the rugs we could put them together and have the size we needed.  We had thought about sewing them together because I loved them and they were SO inexpensive.  However, they would also have been perfect to have on either side of our bed in our room.

Time passed, and nothing changed.  I knew what I hoped to do, but with me being a SAHM, the money just wasn't there.  Finally this fall, we are beginning to slowly rebuild our savings.  We also received an unexpected amount from my grandmother for Christmas.  Around the beginning of the year, I was online just kind of looking around.  I found an area rug that was a good size, and I liked it!  It was VERY reasonably priced to start, and was on sale for 15% off.  In addition, I had received gift cards from my in-laws for both my birthday and Christmas, and had some additional coupons from my Christmas shopping.  When all was done, we paid less than $10.00 out of our pockets...we didn't even need the extra amount from my grandmother!  I was so excited and couldn't wait for the rug to arrive.  When it did, we took the old rugs into our bedroom, and got everything all laid out like we wanted.  It's probably a little ridiculous how happy the new rug, and having the rugs in our bedroom make me.  Seeing something like that come together actually makes me feel grown up!

We are a family

This is the date that we celebrate our family.  Granted, sometimes the big, expensive, fancy meal that we have comes weeks (or even months) later, but today is the day we really, really celebrate our lives together as a family.  We are so lucky to have the little family that we do.

I am feeling a little bittersweet about it this year.  This will be the last year that on this date, my little family will all be living under the same roof.  I don't dread the next phase of our lives, but I sure do have pretty darn good memories of this current phase.  It certainly hasn't always been easy being a parent, and there have been more than a few days where I have felt completely lost.  I also have no doubt there are many more to come!  However, I wouldn't trade our lives together for anything.  I'm grateful for our lives, and I pray that although we may not be together as much as we are now, there is much fun to come in the future!

I am worrying a little about my grandmother

I've been worrying a little about my paternal grandmother.  She turned 87 earlier this month, and is one of the most able-bodied and healthy people I know.  I'm not really worrying about her physically in that regard.  And she lives in a retirement community so I know people are checking on her.

I'm worrying in different ways.  She hasn't communicated as much as she used to, although that might be because I'm so busy and don't respond as much as I should.  There are other things though.  We had a conversation last fall, and by the end of the conversation she seemed a little confused and it didn't go along very well with the beginning of the conversation.  The last two birthdays in our family have been Thomas and Andrew.  She didn't forget to send birthday cards, but she did forget to sign them.  I know that overall she is still doing well, but at her age I just don't want to take anything for granted!

Musical teachers

The gentleman I am in for during the beginning of this week is a math teacher.  He teaches Algebra I, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus.  Needless to say, I am absolutely useless as an instructor, and not much better as someone who can answer questions.  I can, however, sit in a classroom and keep things legal.  While this is relatively true nearly everywhere I sub at the high school, it is much more the case in a math room (and science would be a close second).  However, these students can't lose days upon days of math instruction.  The Algebra students have been reviewing and testing, so I can handle that.  During Geometry, I cover academic study hall (staffed by teachers for additional academic assistance) while that gentleman teaches the class.  During Pre-Calculus, the other teacher who is teaching the class this year comes in and instructs, but he has a class that also needs instruction.  Another teacher covers his class, and I go and cover that teacher's class because he has a student teacher.  It also happens that Catherine is in that classroom and I get to see her.  I love how this department works so well together and everyone pitches in to do what needs to be done for the good of the students.  I am happy to be here and do what I can, but I sure do feel useless!

Some sadness on this Monday morning

There has been some sadness early on this Sunday morning.  Before we even arrived to school, we learned there had been a shooting in a township in our school district.  I learned after arriving to school that it appears to have been a murder-suicide of a married couple.  While I don't know the family personally, or whether children are involved, it is sad.  Before school I learned about a fire destroying a home near my hometown.  After arriving at school, I learned that it is someone my sister knows rather well, and this man and his wife had lived in this house for over 30 years.  They got their dog out, but the cat is still missing.  It made me so sad to think about these people losing literally everything, and quite possibly a pet as well.  I also learned some sad news when I arrived at school.  I was asked if I could be in the same job for the bulk of the week because the gentleman for whom I am subbing today has a very ill wife.  She seems to be weakening, and they expect to receive some bad news this week.  This man has been a colleague of Andrew for nearly two decades, and it made me sad.

I am very grateful for my blessings in life, and praying for those in need!

It was a fun night at the pool

This past weekend was the league swim championships.  Catherine was only in two events, and while she did well for her, we knew she wouldn't be competitive.  Robert was in four events, and we expected him to be competitive.  One must place 6th in order to be on the podium, and at least 3rd in order to receive a medal.  We were thrilled that Robert was on the podium for all four of his events, and was in 3rd place with one of his relays.  It was definitely a night of red & blue!  In the 200 free event, Robert came in fourth overall...and fourth on his team!  The boys ended up winning by nearly 200 points and the girls won by 90.  It is the 12th consecutive league title for both teams.  Lots of new meet records were set, and it was just a fun evening to get to see with the kids.  And as always, I was proud of Catherine for her sportsmanship.  I'm so grateful to be their mother.

Days off

After being off Monday, I was a little surprised that I was also off Wednesday and yesterday.  Granted, I could've taken a PE job (ugh) or a middle school job (so GLAD I didn't), but I wasn't feeling 100%, and I was picky and stayed home.  I told Andrew that I hadn't had three full days off since the very first full week of school back in August!  Unfortunately, after being so highly motivated on Monday, my ickiness kept my motivation limited the last two days, but I did get lots of things done for my church office job.  I was grateful for the opportunity to get some extra sleep and to just kind of move along at my own pace.  At first I had a little mini-panic attack because I want to earn extra money, but I reminded myself that it's okay to enjoy a little time off.  I'm trying to remember this job allows me a win-win!