I love the fact that it is currently cool enough to have a candle lit. To me, candles are so cozy, and I just can't bring myself to have them lit when it is hot outside. As soon as it turns cooler though, I have often light a candle, and Yankee candles are among my favorites. I especially love the fall scents, and a few of the winter/candle scents, but I'm not crazy about floral or summer scents. That's probably another reason I don't light them much in the summer!
I also love the fact that we've been able to pull out the sweatshirts and the overnights are just so comfy! I know this weather isn't going to last, but I am certainly going to enjoy it while it does!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Another one of "those" days
I vividly remember December 17, 2013. On that day, Thomas was home sick from school, we had a major behavioral issue with Robert, Catherine threw such a temper tantrum that she picked up a plate of spaghetti and hurled it across the room hitting a dining room wall, Andrew's mother was admitted to the hospital, our laundry room flooded, and our sun room flooded...all of this while still dealing with Andrew's brother rehabbing from a stroke suffered the day after my father had died...just 33 days before. It is one of those days that you get through by the grace of God, and you look back on and laugh about one day. FYI, I am not sure we are there yet. :)
Yesterday was one of those days...although in many ways not nearly as bad. At the same time, it will ultimately prove to be much more expensive, most likely. It was a Monday of week 2, and everyone was just a little less pleasant about everything. No one was rude or misbehaving, but it wasn't exactly our best morning ever. I understand that this is the first time in our family that five people are up and at 'em at 6AM. This is an adjustment that we ALL need to make and we ALL need to work on it. Since I was up I decided to get an early start on my laundry. After all, I had put it off all weekend and it needed to be done! As I was hanging the first (and what turned out to be only) load of the day, I noticed ink stains on some of the clothing. Sure enough, Robert had managed to get a blue ink pen into the washer, and some of my clothing was ruined. I was grateful though, that it wasn't the entire load, and mostly it was just clothes I wear only around the house anyway. Unfortunately, I had also noticed during the wash cycles that the water was backing up into the sink. Not the first time we've had this problem! I tried a few "home remedy" fixes and when they didn't work, I let Andrew know that he needed to rent a pipe snake on the way home. We got to work with that as soon as he arrived home. After a great deal of time, we thought perhaps we had been successful in that we heard water running. And there it was running right into the undersink cabinet...perfectly crystal clear, clean, fresh water. How is that even possible?? We were working in the DRAIN PIPE!!! Needless to say Andrew quickly turned off the main water line. We did some experimenting and we have absolutely no idea what may have happened. We have no idea if this is related to the back up or if somehow we managed to put a hole in both our drain pipe and incoming line. All we know is that we are currently functioning without any water, although we are able to turn it on for VERY quick showers as long as we have a bucket under the sink. That's actually helpful though, as we can then use that bucket of water to flush our toilets. Fortunately, the plumber is able to come out this afternoon. Hopefully we will have running water again by this evening!
Much less dramatic, although equally frustrating, was an issue with Robert and his schedule. In the fall he is involved in both marching band and cross country. He is not the only one, and both the band director and cross country coach are aware and things seem to work out. This Friday though, was the first major conflict we've had in our two years. There is both an away football game and meet. I wasn't concerned though, because not all band members go to all of the away games...you are simply assigned to two of them. I put in writing back in the spring about this conflict, and the director and I even had a conversation about it, so I wasn't worried about Robert being assigned this game. Unfortunately, not only was he assigned to the game, but he claims the directors almost didn't believe him (Friday meets are VERY rare) and told him he'd have to find his own replacement. Needless to say, I am very frustrated. What is the point of communication and doing the right thing if it isn't going to matter? He simply never should've been assigned to this game in the first place. I have an email into the director and am hoping this can be easily resolved. Trust me when I tell you that one person is NOT going to make or break a pep band at a football game. I know in the big scheme of things this is minor, but we have so many dramatic issues with Robert that I find it very frustrating to have to deal with one that never should have occurred in the first place.
At the end of the day though, I felt so much peace. These aren't the worst things that have happened to us this year, and for the most part everything should be resolved. A hassle is just a obstacle on the way to a resolution!
Yesterday was one of those days...although in many ways not nearly as bad. At the same time, it will ultimately prove to be much more expensive, most likely. It was a Monday of week 2, and everyone was just a little less pleasant about everything. No one was rude or misbehaving, but it wasn't exactly our best morning ever. I understand that this is the first time in our family that five people are up and at 'em at 6AM. This is an adjustment that we ALL need to make and we ALL need to work on it. Since I was up I decided to get an early start on my laundry. After all, I had put it off all weekend and it needed to be done! As I was hanging the first (and what turned out to be only) load of the day, I noticed ink stains on some of the clothing. Sure enough, Robert had managed to get a blue ink pen into the washer, and some of my clothing was ruined. I was grateful though, that it wasn't the entire load, and mostly it was just clothes I wear only around the house anyway. Unfortunately, I had also noticed during the wash cycles that the water was backing up into the sink. Not the first time we've had this problem! I tried a few "home remedy" fixes and when they didn't work, I let Andrew know that he needed to rent a pipe snake on the way home. We got to work with that as soon as he arrived home. After a great deal of time, we thought perhaps we had been successful in that we heard water running. And there it was running right into the undersink cabinet...perfectly crystal clear, clean, fresh water. How is that even possible?? We were working in the DRAIN PIPE!!! Needless to say Andrew quickly turned off the main water line. We did some experimenting and we have absolutely no idea what may have happened. We have no idea if this is related to the back up or if somehow we managed to put a hole in both our drain pipe and incoming line. All we know is that we are currently functioning without any water, although we are able to turn it on for VERY quick showers as long as we have a bucket under the sink. That's actually helpful though, as we can then use that bucket of water to flush our toilets. Fortunately, the plumber is able to come out this afternoon. Hopefully we will have running water again by this evening!
Much less dramatic, although equally frustrating, was an issue with Robert and his schedule. In the fall he is involved in both marching band and cross country. He is not the only one, and both the band director and cross country coach are aware and things seem to work out. This Friday though, was the first major conflict we've had in our two years. There is both an away football game and meet. I wasn't concerned though, because not all band members go to all of the away games...you are simply assigned to two of them. I put in writing back in the spring about this conflict, and the director and I even had a conversation about it, so I wasn't worried about Robert being assigned this game. Unfortunately, not only was he assigned to the game, but he claims the directors almost didn't believe him (Friday meets are VERY rare) and told him he'd have to find his own replacement. Needless to say, I am very frustrated. What is the point of communication and doing the right thing if it isn't going to matter? He simply never should've been assigned to this game in the first place. I have an email into the director and am hoping this can be easily resolved. Trust me when I tell you that one person is NOT going to make or break a pep band at a football game. I know in the big scheme of things this is minor, but we have so many dramatic issues with Robert that I find it very frustrating to have to deal with one that never should have occurred in the first place.
At the end of the day though, I felt so much peace. These aren't the worst things that have happened to us this year, and for the most part everything should be resolved. A hassle is just a obstacle on the way to a resolution!
More beautiful weather
This gorgeous weather just continues right along...it is absolutely spectacular! In fact, the evenings and early mornings are down right chilly. It honestly feels more like September than August, but we will gladly take that!
As we are into week 2 of school, everything continues to roll along. I am so impressed with how the kids are getting up and moving each morning. I know it won't last the entire year, but so far seven days have gone well!
As we are into week 2 of school, everything continues to roll along. I am so impressed with how the kids are getting up and moving each morning. I know it won't last the entire year, but so far seven days have gone well!
Saturday, August 22, 2015
An amazingly beautiful Saturday morning
During the school year, Saturday mornings are pretty much the best time of the week...and to have one as beautiful as this one is, AND to have nothing scheduled...well it just doesn't get better than this!
Last evening Andrew and the boys returned to our former town for a scouting ceremony. I felt badly as it turned out Thomas had attained his first rank, but since I didn't know I didn't go. I'm pretty fabulous at being a lousy scout mom. Fortunately Thomas minded not one little bit. I took a Benadryl after everyone arrived at home and slept blissfully for over 10 hours. The temps last night were in the 50's, and it was just absolutely gorgeous weather. This morning I am even wearing a sweatshirt because it is too chilly without one. LOVE IT! Robert has to work this evening but for only two hours so we pretty much have almost all day to just enjoy our day!
Last evening Andrew and the boys returned to our former town for a scouting ceremony. I felt badly as it turned out Thomas had attained his first rank, but since I didn't know I didn't go. I'm pretty fabulous at being a lousy scout mom. Fortunately Thomas minded not one little bit. I took a Benadryl after everyone arrived at home and slept blissfully for over 10 hours. The temps last night were in the 50's, and it was just absolutely gorgeous weather. This morning I am even wearing a sweatshirt because it is too chilly without one. LOVE IT! Robert has to work this evening but for only two hours so we pretty much have almost all day to just enjoy our day!
Friday, August 21, 2015
A beautiful day for the end of a great first week
The weather, since yesterday morning, has been GORGEOUS! I truly can't imagine how it could be more beautiful. It's really too bad Robert hasn't had any cross country meets where we could all be out enjoying it!
Overall, the first week seems to have gone well. I am particularly impressed with how everyone is up and moving each morning. I know this isn't going to come close to lasting the entire year, or probably even far into the next month, but we've had five really good mornings. We were able to meet the teachers at the middle school last evening (although we knew most of them already) and I'm excited for the school year. I am also particularly excited that we get to sleep in tomorrow morning!!!!
Overall, the first week seems to have gone well. I am particularly impressed with how everyone is up and moving each morning. I know this isn't going to come close to lasting the entire year, or probably even far into the next month, but we've had five really good mornings. We were able to meet the teachers at the middle school last evening (although we knew most of them already) and I'm excited for the school year. I am also particularly excited that we get to sleep in tomorrow morning!!!!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Move in day
Today is move in day at our local university. It is the biggest freshmen class ever, and I can only imagine what it looks like in town. I'll get to find out later this afternoon though, as I have a meeting at church. I'm planning to leave about 1/2 prior to the beginning to make the 2 mile drive. Sadly, I'm not joking. It is ridiculously crazy.
Ironically, it was exactly 23 years ago today that I was one of these freshmen moving onto this very campus. My goodness, it doesn't seem as though nearly a quarter of a century has passed since that day. There are still things I vividly remember for that day. I remember that I drove down with my mom and my sister and grandmother drove down separately. Dad had to work, but he and my sister made another trip down over the weekend. I'm excited for the students are beginning their college careers today, but I'm not excited about the traffic!
Ironically, it was exactly 23 years ago today that I was one of these freshmen moving onto this very campus. My goodness, it doesn't seem as though nearly a quarter of a century has passed since that day. There are still things I vividly remember for that day. I remember that I drove down with my mom and my sister and grandmother drove down separately. Dad had to work, but he and my sister made another trip down over the weekend. I'm excited for the students are beginning their college careers today, but I'm not excited about the traffic!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A successful first day
Everyone had a good day of school yesterday...only 177 more to go! Seriously though, Thomas has done well in managing the transition so far, although I expect him to be exhausted by the end of this week. Robert is already exhausted as he had forgotten the rigors of participating in both cross country and marching band. Add in an honors class and a job, and he was already pretty tired last night. As with anyone, he is easily irritated and frustrated when tired, and the moody teen is back! Overall though, things are going well and we are all looking forward to the year!
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