The weekends are so short

As always happens when the school year begins, the weekends feel sooo short.  Don't get me wrong.  I completely acknowledge that for many, many people, school year weekends and summer weekends are all the same.  I never fail to be aware that I am very blessed to be able to work as I do.

On Saturday, Andrew spent about 6-1/2 hours working at athletic events.  I worked for two hours at the church office.  Then, we traveled to our former town to spend the evening with our dear friends.  I was a little worried it would be awkward since "dear friend" is now also my boss, but we had as much fun as ever.  We checked out a winery, and we certainly wish we had visited sooner!  The wine is fine, but the atmosphere is fabulous!  We will definitely be returning!

Yesterday we enjoyed Andrew making a big brunch before we took Catherine back to school.  I then worked on band things for hours while Andrew was working on school stuff.  We kind of expect that Sundays may not be relaxing this year.  We'll see how it works out.

Here we are at Monday again!  Today is my last day in the French assignment.  I love Orange day (they are on block schedules, brown days and orange days) in French!  French isn't the same as it was at our school, but the schedule on orange days is awesome!  I will miss having so much down time during the day!

It was so different

I got my nap in.  Yay!!!  I needed it after a full week of work dealing with teenagers.

This evening was the first football game of the season.  Thankfully, it rained this afternoon but everything dried up before the game.  Catherine had to show our tickets to even be allowed to drive into the parking lot.  We then were only allowed to sit in certain spots.  I was watching the kids play football, and cheer, and play their instruments, and honestly, my heart broke a little.  It broke for me personally, because I miss these students soooo much.  I will always, always be grateful to our friend who has given me this income opportunity, but it doesn't mean I'm not sad that I can't be working here.  My heart broke for the seniors who are missing so many things this year.  Yes, they are able to do their activities tonight, but they aren't in classes with their friends and there won't be homecoming or so many other things.  There aren't big crowds at their games to cheer them on.  Senior night was tonight instead of the end of the season, because we all know next week isn't guaranteed.  I couldn't help but think how grateful I was to be allowed to attend because I am a participant's parent, but it still stinks.  I was sad that I don't get to be involved with the band.  I miss getting to know the kids.

I know at the end of the day, life is okay.  We are blessed.  I am lucky in so many ways.  But life was also pretty darn good before, and I pray that we can all find a way to get rid of this darn virus.

Really looking forward to a nap today

We have almost made it through our week!  I have 105 minutes until the final bell rings, not that I am counting or anything!  I am looking forward to some fun things this weekend, but also to some time at home.  I'll be honest, I miss my house.  Having a 35 minute commute each way is a big adjustment for me, and I've never done it before while being a mother.  Always though, I am grateful for this unexpected opportunity to have an income.

The marching band is performing at the football game this evening, and since Thomas is in the band, I am allowed to attend the game.  Catherine and I are going, although we could be sitting in hurricane remnant rains.  Wouldn't be the first time.  My plan is to leave as soon as the band performs at half-time.  Andrew has to work at the cross country meet in the morning.  I also have to work at church, but can be flexible.  Tomorrow evening we are hanging out with our very good friends (also my new boss!), and I am especially looking forward to that!  Laundry and housework are also on the agenda, but there is no 5:15 alarm (or even an alarm for me at all!) until Monday.  Looking forward to our weekend.

I loved hearing the sounds coming from our living room

After I got off work yesterday, I picked Catherine up and brought her home.  My job is less than fifteen minutes from where she lives so it works out perfectly.  It was so wonderful to hear her voice and laughter throughout our house again last night.  The best part though, was hearing her interactions with Thomas.  It's been so quiet without her there.  It's not that Catherine is a loud person, it's just that Thomas is lonely without her.  It was so nice to hear them talking and laughing together last night.  It made my heart beyond full.  She doesn't go back until Sunday, and I'm so grateful to get to soak up these moments and memories while I can.

How it's going this week

I'm not going to lie, this week has been a very big adjustment.  Just going back to school normally is a big adjustment every year, and after being home since March it would've been even more so.  Add to it the fact that Andrew and Thomas are home and I'm working full time at a different district, and wowza.

I'm beginning to find my morning routine though, and since I'm the only one up and moving at that time each day, I think I'll be able to sleep in 15 minutes later than I did last year.  I'll take that!  I'm home by 3:30 most days as well, which is nice.  Dismissal here is much smoother, so I am in my car out of the parking lot most days within ten minutes of the final bell, rather than waiting even 15 minutes to walk to the car because the parking lot was so awful!

This is a nice place to be.  I like the people and overall I don't mind it.  Still, if given the choice, I would go back to our district in a heart beat.  I've been "subbing" in French all week.  The teacher is at home teaching virtually, so really I am just sitting here keeping things legal...even more than usual!  Her schedule is extremely easy, especially on days like today.  They do an every-other-day-schedule, and this one is ridiculously easy.  She has a class in the morning, then a 2-1/2 hour break, teaches for one hour, then another hour off before teaching for the final hour.  I'm kind of going to miss this when they get the "regular" monitor in here.  It's been crazy learning new routines for everyone in the middle of this pandemic, but it's going along fine.

I'm grateful things are working out well, at least for now!

I still cried about it four years later

This morning I was reading a post I wrote four years ago.  I sat here and cried all over again.  The feelings and emotions of that morning were that powerful.  I can still picture so very much of it in my mind.  As emotional as it makes me, it is literally one of my favorite memories ever.

Today's tears though, were also about all of the things that have happened in the past four years.  That doesn't mean they are all sad, although certainly some of them are.  It was just a day that wrapped up so many of my feelings about our lives at the time.  I think many days of parenting are very similar, but that one was all just so amplified.

I'm very grateful for the blog and for all of the memories...even the ones that make me cry!

I really miss early release Wednesday

When I worked at school here in town, every Wednesday was early release day.  We got out 45 minutes early so that teachers could have meetings, etc.  It was delightful!  I loved working on Wednesday.  It was a nice little motivation to help get over the "hump".  I couldn't help but especially miss it today.

We had a particularly interesting day.  After some MAJOR chaos this morning of technology snafus, we then had the power go out.  We were literally just minutes away from dismissing early...like four hours early.  It came on right before an early dismissal was announced.

I am exhausted.  I am enjoying the job, but I am tired!