Happy to have it in the rear view mirror

To be totally honest, I'd been dreading this weekend for quite some time.  I had agreed to help out with vacation bible school at our church, and it was Friday evening, yesterday morning, and this morning.  Because I am on the religious ed committee, it seemed something I should do.  It isn't my passion though, so I agreed to help as needed rather than as a specific placement.  Catherine spent her time in the nursery, and Andrew and Thomas spent hours at church on Friday helping to set up, and then hours again this afternoon tearing down and cleaning up.  Robert was working his job during most of this so he wasn't around, and I mostly floated back and forth between registration and kitchen.  It was just as exhausting as I thought it would be, and I'm so grateful it is behind us.  It's still going to be a really crazy week band, swimming, and other obligations, but I'm glad to be finished with VBS!

The unofficial beginning of her high school years

Last evening Catherine began her marching band practices.  My girl looked so young and little among all of those high school kids!  I'm so grateful I was able to be there though and just kind of be around and keep an eye on things.  She is also in a really great section in terms of the other students who play the clarinet, and I have confidence that she is going to enjoy this experience.  They are some fabulous incoming freshmen participating in band, and I think she'll have a good year.  I'm grateful to have her through the wretched middle school years, but I just can't believe high school is almost upon us!

Presidential Planes

It is still swim season, band begins this evening, and Andrew's middle school football coaching (have I mentioned that?) begins officially in two weeks.  Yep folks, we still have a schedule.  Especially with Robert's works schedule, my job responsibilities, and volunteer obligations.  We try though, to squeeze in one day a week for some real family fun.  Yesterday was a trip to the United States Air Force Museum.  I grew up going there rather frequently as a child given the location and proximity to my home town.  Andrew and his parents took the kids three years ago but I couldn't go...so it's been a while for me.  Recently though, they've opened the "fourth hangar" and Andrew couldn't wait to see it.  I hadn't realized that the retired Air Force One planes are there, dating all the way back to Franklin Roosevelt.  I enjoyed that part the most.

I was grateful that Andrew didn't necessarily wish to see absolutely everything.  Most of the things have been there since my childhood and I don't need to see them again.  However, the Doolittle Raiders display is more recent than my last visit and I enjoyed seeing that as well.  The best part was dinner.  Andrew took us downtown and we ate at the pub that serves pub fries that just make my mouth water.  For Thomas and I they are our favorites.

We were exhausted when we got home and Andrew and I couldn't wait to take a nap.  I didn't sleep long, because, well, I'm a mom.  But a few minutes sure felt good before swim practice last evening!

Hoping we have an opportunity to make a few more memories this summer!

Half way through summer

Six weeks from today Catherine and Thomas have their first day of school...and six weeks ago today was the last.  So yes, officially half way through summer.  Technically, Andrew and Robert were half way finished a couple of days ago, but for me this is the marker.  This is always the point where things start to fly, I always feel.

Overall, it's been a summer for which I'm very grateful.  Robert has (knock on wood, almost afraid to write this) been truly a joy to be around.  We've been making sure to take time to do fun things together as a family.  Catherine and Thomas have been extraordinarily challenging in terms of each other, but overall I've really enjoyed the summer.

Marching band begins this evening, and honestly the freedom and carefree schedule we have is pretty much in the tank right now.  I have to be there at 5:30 to help run a meeting, and I suspect I'll be there most days through the beginning of August.  I don't love it, but it is what it is, and I hope it will be something that Catherine will enjoy sharing with me.  Robert isn't doing marching band this year.  He will only be running cross country.

In spite of how quickly I know it will go by, I am looking forward to enjoying the rest of our summer and making the memories that go with it!

A very wet and rainy 4th of July

It's definitely a wash out of a day...just like yesterday was also.  Originally our plans for yesterday involved traveling to a friends' house for a big group cook out, but they had to cancel so we agreed to step in and host.  Most of our friends didn't want to make the trip down, so it was just Thomas's godfather and wife, and we had a blast.  We had originally planned to take in the town fireworks, but we were not interested in attending in the rain.  We ended up just hanging out here and enjoying the visit.

Today we knew would be a pretty wide open day, although Robert is working for a few hours.  I would love the opportunity to scrapbook, and I might still, but for now I need to get organized for band this week so that will be how I spend my time.  If I get that finished, maybe I'll get to let my creative juices flow.

I'm also looking planning to remember our blessing in life that we were born in this country, and the many blessings that it brings!

Awake even though I don't want to be

I woke up a little after 4:00, and about 90 minutes later decided I might as well get up.  We are having company this evening, and I might as well get some things done now that way maybe I can sleep later when I feel like I can.  I'm grateful I rarely have nights like this, but they sure do stink when I do!  No one likes being up four hours before the alarm is set to go off, but the good news is that I get to sleep in again tomorrow!

The beginning of July has arrived

Six weeks from today, Andrew is back to school for teacher's day, and Robert will have already started.  By the end of the month, I know we will be seeing "back-to-school" sales...and I'm just not ready for any of it.

Going to keep all of that off the radar right now though.  No one is half way done yet (though VERY close), and we are at a long holiday weekend.  We don't have a whole lot of plans, but some friends are coming over Sunday late afternoon for dinner.  Next week with marching band and VBS commitments things are going to be INSANE.  But for this weekend, we get to celebrate our country and even sleep in!