Friday has arrived again, and there is no football tonight!

This week has gone quickly, but I don't mind.  Except, of course, that the weekends go even quicker!  Time is flying by, and I'm well aware of that.

Andrew and I have especially been looking forward to this evening.  Four out of the last six weeks there have been home football games which require Catherine, Andrew, and myself to be at the stadium.  Another weekend was an away game, but Catherine was still required to attend and Andrew went along to keep stats.  Tonight though, no one is required to do any football related activities.  It will be the last football-free Friday evening for the next month, and Andrew and I are taking advantage.  We are going out to dinner to celebrate the anniversary of our first date (and engagement, a year later) and also to celebrate my birthday later this month.  Robert still has to work, but only for a few hours.  By 9:30 this evening, we should all be home!  The fact that we all get to sleep in until nearly 8:00 tomorrow is even an added bonus.

Old videos

The house is actually picked up and presentable, and I have no place I need to be until I leave to pick up the boys from practice.  This is VERY rare these days, so I took a "me" day.  I allowed myself to sleep and sleep this morning.  I've done a couple of loads of laundry, but other than that I am pretty much just hanging out.  I had been wanting to watch some old videos for awhile, and decided today was a good day to do that.  The first one I watched was Christmas of 1989.  I heard my Dad's voice, and it made me teary...and it was just the beginning.  I watched a family reunion video from 1987, and so many of my great-aunts and distant cousins have now passed away.  I watched Thanksgiving of 1986 which was the very first year we had the video camera.  My youngest cousin was only two, and she was definitely the center of attention.  It was also the last year my maternal grandfather was alive and I'm so grateful for that video.  I was a little astounded as I watched Christmas of 1990 where I introduced myself as a junior...the very age Robert is now!  My favorite family video is my college graduation video.  It's the last video I have of my paternal grandfather (he became ill that fall) and in the video my dad is seen giving me a huge hug.  He also became ill that summer, although he survived for another 17 years.

There were also lots of videos with friends, and it truly warmed my heart.  So many videos had my friend Andy in them.  Even though he now lives in Chicago, we see each other whenever we can.  Which reminds me...it has now been 18 months and we need to try to plan another visit.  All of the friends' videos had Stephanie and Chad in them.  They are my two closest friends in the entire world.  I laughed so many times because we've always known each other so well, and so many things haven't changed.  I couldn't help but think about the night before my dad's funeral.  Andy was in town and staying at a motel in our hometown.  Andrew and I decided we would stay there as well because it was too much driving otherwise.  We managed to get a room right across the hall from Andy.  After we put the kids down, Andrew and I went over to Andy's room, and Chad and Steph were there as well.  We were able to hang out for several hours, and I remember feeling the greatest sense of peace that I could possibly imagine.  Chad and I had a conversation later that, outside of my immediate family, the three most important people to me in the entire world, were in that room that evening.  There is no other way I would've rather spent that evening.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to watch these videos.  I'm so grateful for the memories, and I'm so grateful for the reminders to cherish those who are still with us!

Our engagement anniversary

It was on this date, many, many years ago, that Andrew and I became engaged.  It was exactly one year and one day after our first date.  For some reason, it is really kind of hitting me this year.  I just can't believe how much time has passed since that day.  I'm so grateful for the days we have together, and I hope we aren't even half way through those days.  At the same time, oh our days of this crazy parenting are so much more than half over.  I'm so in love with this life we have right now, even as exhausting as it is.  I wouldn't trade this time together for anything at all.

Another race last evening

Thomas had another race last evening.  Both boys will race this weekend, but there is a chance, because of the schedules of the others, that I may not get to see Robert race again.  It stinks, but as parents we do what we have to do.

Robert and Catherine were with us for this race.  I can't help but worry about Thomas and how long he takes.  Goodness, he doesn't move quickly.  At the same time he is exactly who I would be if I had ever thought about running.  I'm proud of him for never complaining, and never, ever asking to quit.  He's a part of the team, and he's enjoying the success as a team overall.

And folks, there is nothing like the sportsmanship of cross country.  I mean nothing like it!  My young guy finished second to last, as he pretty much does every single time.  His time was slower, because basically he pushes himself just hard enough to not finish last, so his time depends on the strength of the runner behind him.  There was one young man who finished behind Thomas, and I always make sure I stay and cheer on any runners who are behind Thomas.  They deserve the cheers for finishing as well.  After the race, the young man came by Thomas, and these two congratulated each other on running a good race.  And it was a good race because both of them finished.  I love, love, love seeing the sportsmanship.  It give me faith that there is still some kindness left in the world!

They all went well for the first time in years

Last week, we finished up the third of our three sets of parent teacher conferences.  For the first time in about six years, ALL of them went well.  Catherine is actually the one struggling the most with her grades, but that is part of the adjustment she needs to learn from middle school to high school.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that Robert stays determined and motivated, and I actually cried at conferences for Thomas.  Andrew was able to come along for that one (although he was part of Catherine's, he was only able to hear from one other teacher).  Sixth grade was just a complete flop for Thomas.  He didn't seem to know whether he was coming or going, and there were a lot of tears of frustration.  This summer, we began him on a very low dose of medication to help with his focus issues.  I had suspected for years Thomas might need some help, but because he didn't have the hyperactivity component, it was written off more as either laziness or a lack or organization.  I was just as guilty of that at times as the teachers.  Finally after sixth grade math, which is something Thomas is VERY good at, with my son sitting in tears because of barely passing things, I knew we had a problem.  This year, I sat and listened to fabulous reports across the board from ALL of his teachers.  It was kind of astounding, and when they even showed me some of the classroom work he was completing, I actually got tears in my eyes.  I'm so grateful for the medications that, even at such a very low dose, can help my son succeed and reach his potential.  I'm so grateful for the alternate way that Robert has an opportunity to learn by being in a career based program that motivates him, and I'm so grateful for Catherine's teachers, who while understanding that she is struggling a little, all mentioned what a truly nice young lady and hard worker she is.  I know all of this being so great won't last, but we will take it while it does!

Moving on into October

It is October.  Yep, sure is.  I love this month.  I pretty much always have.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that it is my birthday month.  It is also the month that Andrew and I began dating all those years ago.  And of course, generally speaking the weather is gorgeous.

Right now, I'm also feeling a little overwhelmed by the month, but we will get through.  Life is good, and very blessed, and I'm grateful for each day.

The first Saturday of October

October has finally arrived.  September felt like such a long month.  Andrew and I are understanding and accepting of how our lives are working and that we just don't get to see a lot of each other right now.  We also know that it is temporary though, and life will settle down in a few weeks.

Of course all Saturdays in the fall involve college football.  Notre Dame and OSU both had great wins today.  I was able to watch them because I personally had no place to be!  I had to transport some kids here and there, but that was the extent of my schedule as they were all "drop and go" activities.  This evening, Andrew has taken the younger two to a baseball game and Robert is working.  I'm enjoying the quiet time (and of course watching some football).

I'm also enjoying the cooler weather.  There will be a warm up this week, but hopefully nothing above the 70's.  The weather this fall has led to not much color yet, but I am hoping that come eventually.  I find the color changing such a peaceful experience.  There are so many things I love about this season!