This should be the end of the oppressive heat

Today the high is supposed to be 85...ridiculously hot for this time of year.  Over the weekend, I would occasionally text Robert after having noticed that his temp was thirty degrees cooler and tell him how jealous I am.  He claimed it was too cold, but it sounded heavenly to me.  I turned our a/c way, way low last night in an effort to help me sleep and perhaps be a little less grumpy today. 

Tomorrow though, a cold front comes through.  We woke up to a temp of 71 this morning, but Friday night's low is forecasted to be 39.  I am so excited about this weekend's temps!

I feel irritated by everything

Honestly, this ridiculously hot weather is really starting to affect my temperament.  This morning when our alarm went off at 5AM, Andrew turned the TV on to see the weather for the day.  Folks, at 5AM on October 8, it was 70 degrees.  You have got to be kidding me!  We have had our a/c on since Friday.  This needs to end.  Thomas and I participated in an Alzheimer's fundraising walk on Saturday morning and I couldn't believe how much we all sweated.  By yesterday, I was pretty much all out grumpy.  Where are my colorful leaves and cozy clothing?  Nowhere to be found.

The evening of our engagement

Today is the anniversary of our engagement.  We became engaged exactly one year and one day after our first date.  We couldn't go out on the one year anniversary because that was a football game.  We went out the next evening to a lovely restaurant.  Andrew arrived late to pick me up.  Later I learned it was because he had stopped at my parents' house to ask for their permission to marry me.  My dad said Andrew needed to talk to my mother, who said it was entirely my decision.  I tease Andrew that he never actually asked me to marry him.  He simply said, "I want you to be my wife."  He maintains that since my response was, "Yes" it must have been a question!  Anyway, the ring (which he had just purchased that morning) was entirely too large, but of course I wanted to where it anyway.  After all, I had just become engaged to the man I love.  After a lovely dinner (this restaurant also catered our wedding) we stopped to buy some gas before we made the 40 minute drive home.  While at the gas station, I called my parents to let them know I had said yes, and I put my left hand down beside the seat...actually between the seat and the console.  The ring slipped off, and I remember hearing it "ping" as it hit metal.  I could feel it, but in the process of trying to retrieve it, it fell deeper.  Andrew went inside to get a flashlight to make sure it hadn't fallen on the ground, and we didn't see it anywhere.  I wasn't terribly worried as I was sure we would find it in the light of the next day.  We got back to my house and made some phone calls to tell people about our engagement, but Andrew was clearly annoyed by the ring situation.  I was completely convinced we would find it the next day.

The next day was a bright and sunny day.  We began looking for the ring...and looking for the ring...and looking some more.  My dad came over, and I was beginning to get upset.  We even took the front passenger seat out and pulled the carpeting up.  I still couldn't find it.  Andrew's irritation from the evening before began to soften as he realized how upset I was becoming.  My dad ended up taking the car home and using a shop vac with a mesh covering.  In spite of the fact that he called a mechanic who assured us there was no way the ring had fallen out, my dad was convinced we weren't getting it back.  Later in the week, we replaced the ring, and this time we had it sized before I could leave with it or wear it.  I love my engagement ring, but honestly I like the one Andrew picked out himself better.  Ultimately though, all that matters is I am married to Andrew.  Whenever we have a disagreement and I am proving my point, Andrew will say, "You lost the ring."  It's his zinger!  I am so grateful for our marriage...even if the engagement evening itself was less than ideal!

The anniversary of our first date

Today is the anniversary of our very first date.  Before we had kids, we made a bigger deal of it.  The first anniversary was spent at a very, very wet football game (hurricane remnant rains) so we went to a very nice restaurant the next evening.  It was the night we got engaged.  That evening is a post I should write some day!  Anyway, we don't always make a big deal of it, but when it falls on a Thursday, we always try to go out.  Our very first date also fell on a Thursday.  Andrew was coaching football at the time, so Fridays were out, and we had many Saturday plans so that was out as well.  Thursday was the day that football practice ended earliest, so that was the day chosen.  Tonight while Catherine and Thomas were at band practice, Andrew and I went out for Mexican.  I'm so glad we went out all those years ago!

Her first paycheck

About a month ago, Catherine's friend Austin decided he and Catherine were going to study together and then she was picking up an application at McDonald's.  We had been encouraging Catherine to look into getting a job for quite some time, and nothing...but Austin says to do it and it's done!  We laugh about the friendship of Catherine and Austin.  They are truly just friends, but sometimes fight like an old married couple.  It's really adorable!  Anyway, Catherine was pretty much hired on the spot, but with everything happening in life she is just now getting started on actually working.  Tonight is her training, but last week she was able to go through orientation before we left town.  With the way the pay periods fell, she was paid yesterday for orientation.  We had opened a bank account here in town for her a couple of weeks ago, and she received her first direct deposit.  She was excited and we are happy for her.  The kiddos have grown up so fast!

Sibling relationships

One thing I have come to understand over the years is the uniqueness of sibling relationships.  In my own sibling relationship, my sister and I would certainly not be friends, but we are sisters.  There are shared experiences that no one else has.  Regardless of anything else, she has always been my little sister.  We love our children unconditionally no matter what, and we understand the parent/child relationship on both ends.  Spouses, significant others, friends...they may come and go.  Sibling relationships are unique.

It was especially evident to me this weekend, seeing how excited Catherine and Thomas were about their brother.  Catherine tends to keep her feelings a little close, but Thomas is an emotionally sensitive child.  He has been excited about all things military, and especially Navy things for quite some time now.  As we left Robert on base Friday evening, I asked the kids if they had enjoyed seeing their brother.  They both responded yes, and Thomas added, "I wish it could've been longer."  I'm glad we were in a dark car, because my heart broke a little and I had to fight tears.  For all of the crap the kids have been subjected to because of Robert's poor decisions, he is still their big brother and they still look up to him.  I hope someday Robert comes to truly understand not only everything he put them through, but how important he is to them.  I think he is on that path now, but I truly hope it happens someday!

College visit

In addition to the excitement of Robert's graduation this weekend, we also took Catherine on a college visit.  Andrew had taken her to a local small school over the summer to begin the search process.  We had received an invitation to an open house from Andrew's alma mater and thought this would be a good opportunity for Catherine to check it out.  There were lots of things I loved about it, but to be honest, I don't see this as the school for Catherine.  As Andrew and I sat and talked last evening, he agreed with me.  One thing I did realize though, she needs to get started on this.  Waiting until senior year is not going to work.  While she has a decent sized savings account, she is going to need to start researching financial aid and getting things together.  The hardest part is that she doesn't really say much about her thoughts of things.  It will be fun to share this experience with Catherine, but I really can't believe how quickly we got here!