Thankful for Busyness

Today has been a full and busy day:

1. It started with working at our school's Scholastic book fair all morning.
2. This afternoon I helped prepare for the School Holiday Sale by sorting and pricing items for children to buy for their families for Christmas.
3. After school Thursdays is always a whirlwind of homework, supper, dance, basketball, and bedtime.
4. Tonight I am busy working on some Christmas surprises of my own.

I'm thankful for busy days.

Not Ready for Snow!!!

Today I am thankful I live in London! Here is why:

This is what is happening in New Brunswick today! And I am sooooo not ready for snow! For a number reasons, but I'll list just a few.

1. We have cleared the front of the garage of summer paraphenalia enough to park both cars, but the back is jammed full of bikes and other seasonal items waiting to be stowed in the shed. I've been putting it off until a sunny day when I don't have a miserable cold. I think that day is today. I don't want to have to push bicycles through snowdrifts to get them packed away in the shed!
2. Neither of our cars have appropriate tires yet. Last year we never did put the winter tires on the Neon, but I don't think the all-seasons will cut it for another winter. The van does have winter tires on, but we left them on through the summer because we knew we'd have to buy new ones in the fall. It is usually Chris's "job" to arrange these things, but with his workload these days I'm afraid I may have to suck it up and do it myself. I don't want us to get caught in a snowstorm with two unsafe vehicles.
3. I haven't decorated the exterior of the house for Christmas yet. Also on my "to-do" list today, because I'll be out all day tomorrow, and I hate to get beyond American Thanksgiving with no evidence of festive spirit on my house. Plus, it's going to get way too cold for that kind of work. Must get it done before the snow falls!

Usually I welcome the first snow of the season. It was nearly a year ago that "Snowmaggedon" descended upon London, initiating us brutally to our first winter weather here. I was thrilled! I would have been happy for it to go on all week, all four of us tucked up cozily in our home, with Christmas carols drifting through the house while I decorated and baked cookies. But this week I am just not ready yet. Once I get these three items checked off my list, bring it on! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Until then....

I am so thankful I live in London!

Out of Control!

Today was a crazy day. If it weren't for my NaBloPoMo vow I certainly would not be writing tonight. I spent the day on a field trip with Connor, then ran to a shoe store to use a Groupon that was about to expire, then picked up the kids at school, both of whom had more than the usual amount of homework. Of course! On Thursday! Our crazy day! I was ahead of the game enough that I had dinner on the table by 4:30, but after that, everything spun out of control.

Janelle had to write two Christmas letters to soldiers overseas, plus a spelling test to study for, and Connor had an interview write-up to complete, rough copy and good copy. Janelle got most of hers done in time for her dance class at 5:00. I dropped her off planning to head right home and make sure Connor was getting his project done before basketball time, but before I made it out the door I heard one of the instructors remind parents that it's "open window week", the one week of the month when we can actually stand at the one-way mirror and watch the class. I haven't seen Janelle's class since she started, so I thought I should stay for at least a while. After watching half and hour of stretching I decided I better check on Connor's progress. When I got home, he was watching TV! He decided he needed to wait for me before he started his good copy! Grrrrrr.... And we needed to leave in less than an hour! I got him organized, and mostly finished, before I headed back to get Janelle. Meanwhile, I sent Chris a text to make sure he was on his way home from a meeting in Hamilton. I needed to know for sure that he would be able to pick Connor up so I could bring Janelle home to finish homework and go to bed.

I didn't hear back from Chris before it was time to leave for basketball, so I tried calling him. The call was immediately sent to voice mail. I knew that probably meant his battery had died, but as the evening wore on, that excuse wore thin. The last thing he said to me this morning was that he would be in touch about logistics for the evening. Surely he wouldn't just not call. Janelle and I sat through a two-hour basketball practice, my daughter happily finishing her homework and then entertaining imaginary friends, while I foolishly allowed my imagination to run wild. By 8:30, after multiple unanswered calls to Chris's cell phone, I was sure my husband was in a ditch off the 401. I was practically picking out music for the funeral! I was in such a state that Connor immediately sensed something was wrong when he finally got off the court. I told him I just wasn't feeling well. When we got home Connor insisted I try calling Chris's office number, which I had already tried and was sure he wouldn't answer. But to appease my son, and a bit out of desperation, I tried. And my husband, who is very much alive, answered! He told me he had called my cell phone 15 minutes earlier, as soon as he got to a phone. His cell phone battery had died.... Surprise, surprise! I must not have heard the ring in the noisy gym as we were packing up to leave. It's amazing how much better I felt after I finally heard his voice!

Tonight, I'm thankful that my husband was kept safe on the road home from Hamilton. I don't know why I allow my imagination to go in those directions. I know I shouldn't worry, but after a busy, exhausting day I just can't seem to manage my emotions. Now my kids are tucked in bed, my husband is on his way home (or at least he better be), and all is right with the world. I think it's time to climb into bed myself, end this crazy day, and start over. And tomorrow, I'll try not to let my world get out of control!

Crazy Calendar!

I'm struggling a bit with getting used to our new evening schedule. From Monday to Thursday every week there is some activity, usually two, on my calendar. This is the first year that I truly understand the meaning of the moniker "Mom's Taxi". Not that I would trade anything we have going on this year. If anything, I feel there are a few things we've neglected, like swimming lessons, but those are just going to have to wait a while, at least until we've settled into our routine. Last year I declared Tuesday "Crazy Day", and usually by the end of Tuesday evening I fell into bed, exhausted. This year I feel like every day is Tuesday.

It isn't really the driving that is the biggest challenge to me. Most of the activities aren't far away at all. Janelle's dance studio is less than one kilometre away. Our church is about two kilometres away. The home where we attend our community group is also about a three to five minute drive (depending on the traffic light between our house and theirs). And I usually don't mind ferrying the kids around. No, to me the issue is more the time we don't spend together at home. I am realizing that I really cherish our family dinners, the time that we connect around the table and recharge. I'm afraid those dinners will be at a premium this year. Chris struggles to get home from work before 6:00, and the kids' activities begin between 5:00 and 6:30. I'm going to have to be creative, but I'm determined to be able to find a way for us to have dinner together at least two of the four crazy days of our week.

Here's a quick run-down of our week:

Monday — Connor tried out for a competitive basketball team last week, and he made the team! We're so happy for him and we both think this will be a great experience for him. Connor has basketball practice 6:30 to 8:30 Monday nights, about a 15 minute drive from home. We'll probably alternate taking him, depending on Chris's work schedule. Chris and I have our Community Group, 8:00 to 9:30, not far from here, but for now we'll be taking turns since someone will be picking Connor up in the middle of that time.

Tuesday — Janelle's piano lesson, 5:00 to 5:30, about ten minutes away. I usually take her and Chris tries to pick her up since it is on his way home. That means I can probably manage to prepare us a family dinner that night. At 6:30 Janelle goes to Kids Night Out at Church, until 7:30. This is her busy night — homework has to get done right after school.

Wednesday — Busy last night because we had "Meet the Teacher Night" at 6:00, but usually Wednesday is just Connor's Jr. High Youth Group at the church, 7:00 to 9:00. That means we definitely get to have dinner together that night. Yay!

Thursday — Crazy night! Janelle has dance, just down the road, 5:00 - 6:00. Connor has basketball, about 15 minutes away, 6:30 - 8:00. Homework has to happen right after school, and who knows how we'll manage supper, but I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually. Today is our first day of the Thursday rush, so I'm planning to make homemade pizza (I'll try to remember to add the yeast to the dough that I forgot when I attempted this dinner on Monday!)

Weekends — For now our weekends are pretty easy. We are mostly focused on finishing the basement. The priority this weekend is to get to the half price paint sale that our colour consultant told us about when she came on Monday evening (yeah, somehow that got thrown into the schedule!) I may sign the kids up for a Saturday swimming lesson later in the year, but we'll see how things go before I do that. Connor starts weekend tournaments and exhibition games in November, with a tournament about once month. A couple of these will be in London, but others will be in Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Brantford, so we'll be travelling. Hopefully the basement will be finished by then!

I always swore I would have my kids involved in only one extra-curricular activity, aside from their church programs, and I'm still pretty convinced that is a good rule of thumb. Connor is only doing basketball and youth group, except for this month when he also has cross-country. He'll run a two kilometre race this afternoon, and then have a 90 minute basketball practice tonight. I'm glad it's him and not me! Janelle does have piano and dance, so I've strayed from my resolution a bit, but she so desperately wanted to try dance that we decided this year we'd make an exception. I'm not willing to let her quit piano, so it was really the only solution. I don't know how all those "Tiger Moms" do it, whose children are involved in and excelling at everything. I think this is as much as my kids and I can handle.

So I guess it's a good thing I'm not working right now. I'm far more able to cope with my evenings because my days are somewhat relaxed. The Lord knows how many balls I'm able to juggle. But I did apply for two more teaching jobs today. Still holding out hope...

My Calendar — The stickers help me remember things with just a glance. You can see how the craziness kind of snuck up on us in September!

A Long Break

I was ready to sit down and finally write a blog post today about the most exciting thing that has happened since I last posted — our trip to Mexico. I even had a good deal of it composed in my head already. But when my fingers hit the keyboard, I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that it has been a whole month and a half since I last added anything to my blog. Six weeks! And no blogging at all!

First I thought about how sad that is. This blog is supposed to be pretty important to me, and I've just IGNORED it for 6 weeks! I supposedly love writing and recording thoughts, sharing my life with my readers, and I haven't even once sat down at my computer with the intention of blogging. Shameful! It wasn't that I didn't have plenty to say. Mexico alone could fill several posts if I allowed it! There was also the visit from my parents, the suspenseful story of my ear problems prior to our trip, our lawn woes, new trees we bought for our property, finally ordering a shed, Connor's first tooth extraction, the progress we've made on our basement, and plans for our summer vacation. I've had plenty of ideas. What I have lacked is time.

I am volunteering at the school at least three mornings a week now: two mornings in Janelle's class and one in a Kindergarten class. I love being there. It fills something in me that I just don't get anywhere else. It is building a longing in me to go back to work that I haven't felt in years. I am so ready to be teaching again! I just hope I am doing the right things to make that happen! Volunteering, watching job postings, and spending significant time in prayer over the matter — I guess that's really all I can do.

I also try to spend at least one day a week with a friend. Shopping, going for a walk, having lunch, whatever. It is so nice to be able to say that I can do that again! I have friends here! A year ago I was despairing that it would ever happen! And as always, I have a home and a family to take care of, and that does take a good portion of my time. So blogging has fallen by the wayside, but only temporarily. I am determined to make it a priority once again.

The difference between now and a year ago, however, is that now my blog is only one of many priorities. A year ago I sent my husband to work and my children to school and looked forward to a long, empty day ahead, seeing my blog as a joyful refuge in an otherwise lonely day. Now I have to find time to fit it into my fairly busy schedule. That is a good thing! It means I have a life here, and that is something to shout about!

So I've taken a long break, but I'm back. I'll be here to write about our trip to Mexico tomorrow, and how a second honeymoon can in some ways be even better than the first. I'll post pictures of the improvements to our yard, and I'll share about my children's daily adventures. But if I do disappear for a bit, don't give up on me. I'm a busy mom, and sometimes life gets in the way of simple pleasures like writing, but I'll always be back.

See you tomorrow!

The Best Kids

I know, I should not be letting a whole week go by without posting. My mother and certain others of you will be very unhappy with me. But come on, it's "busy December", and I already wrote last year about how crazy December is! This past weekend alone we had the Christmas office party, practice for the Christmas Sunday School concert, performance of the Sunday School concert, and our Home Group Christmas potluck. PLUS I got the FLU! I always seem to get sick in December. I hope it's not my Christmas tree that is making that happen, but I seriously doubt that an evergreen would cause body aches and chills. The doctor told me yesterday that it really is just a flu that I have to wait out. So I'm waiting. Today I was supposed to help supervise at the school Christmas concert practice at the high school, but the buses were taken off today because of another storm (yes, it is once again a winter wonderland in London - they finally plowed our street on Sunday night, so it had to start snowing again!), so there was no transportation to the high school, and therefore, no Christmas concert practice, so I'm free to stay home and wrap gifts in my jammies. Unfortunately, that probably means no Christmas concert tonight. My kids won't be pleased about that.

Speaking of my awesome kids, the one great thing that happened this weekend happened after Chris and I arrived home from his office party on Friday night. We had a new babysitter because the one we had previously used was unavailable. I was pretty impressed with her from the beginning. She was very friendly and talkative when I picked her up, and once we got to the house and I introduced her to the kids she really made an effort to engage them and make a connection. I had told her that most babysitters say my kids are pretty easy to keep, so I didn't expect she'd have any problems. By the time we got home I was feeling pretty miserable. We had a lovely dinner and casino night, and I had a chance to meet a lot of Chris's coworkers, but by 11:00 I knew that the flu was beginning to settle in and make itself at home. We walked in the door and said hello to the babysitter and she immediately said "Those are absolutely the best behaved kids I have ever babysat!" Wow! We both just swelled right up with pride, and for a couple of minutes I forgot to feel like death warmed over. I know this babysitter wants us to call her again, so she probably would give a positive report about the evening, but she really didn't have to gush quite so much. On the way home she talked about how much fun she had playing games with the kids, reading stories and singing with Janelle, and then watching TV with Connor. She sounded pretty sincere, so I choose to believe that she really meant what she said.

I have to agree with her. Although they are not always on their best behaviour with me, I do have a couple of amazing kids. I'm a pretty blessed mom!

Today's ToDo!

The problem with NaBloPoMo is that I am spending way too much time on the computer these days! I'm writing every day, but I'm also getting addicting to reading blogs of other participants! Today, I've read a couple, but I've had to stop myself. I know these posts will still be here when I get home from Indiana, but I am leaving in 2.5 hours, and I have a lot of work to do. I guess it's list time!

• Finish blog post
• Fold and put away laundry
• Pack suitcases
• Get dressed, hair and make-up ready
• Go to bank and get American money
• Unload/reload dishwasher and tidy kitchen
• Apply one last (fingers crossed) coat of varnish to the TV cabinet doors
• Pack snacks
• Call my mom!
• Pack the van
• Eat lunch
• Pick up the kids from school early
• Drive to Indiana!

With Denise's help, I figured out how to write my blog posts ahead of time and schedule their posting, so I have posts ready for the next three days. I haven't done Sunday yet, though. That will have to wait until we get home Sunday night. Hopefully we won't be spending hours at the border!

Happy Second Thanksgiving! And I'm off....

Awesome Lasagna

Finding new and interesting meals to feed my family that we all actually enjoy is always a challenge. Finding new and interesting meals that are also easy to have ready for our crazy Tuesday schedule is nearly impossible. My kids are both somewhat picky, as I think most kids are. Connor will eat a lot of things as long as he can cover them with ketchup, but won't touch fish and usually complains about anything with too much tomato sauce (a ketchup fiend, go figure). Janelle will most likely become a vegetarian someday, since she loves most veggies, but must be forced to eat the meat on her plate. Chris would say that I am picky, too, and I really can't deny it. He claims that he is extremely easy to please. I would counter that he is fairly easy to feed, meaning he will eat almost anything, but not always easy to impress.

We have our old faithfuls, as every family has. Stir-fry is a biggie for us, because both of my kids love it and so do Chris and I. I try to do the traditional meat-and-potatoes meal once a week, and spaghetti or some other form of pasta meal usually makes it onto the weekly list. Rice with meatball or wings is an easy crock pot meal that often makes an appearance on our dinner table. Tuesday nights (remember the Tuesday treadmill?) I usually resort to breadmaker pizza, or something I've dug out of the freezer. The last two weeks I've been determined to break that mold and come up with something different and unpredictable for Tuesdays. It has to be something that I can get onto the table quickly, and preferably something that I can transport easily to Chris to eat at Connor's basketball practice. Crock pot beef stew was a roaring success last week (except with Janelle the vegetarian, who begged for a peanut butter sandwich instead), and this week I made it my own challenge to come up with something else to surprise my family with. Something all four of us would love.

I used to make lasagna fairly often. I use a recipe that evolved from my mother's recipe, with a little tweaking here and there. Chris calls it my "awesome lasagna", because once early in our marriage I announced to our dinner guest that "my lasagna is awesome". I was actually refering to my mother's lasagna, since at that point I really hadn't claimed any of my cooking as my own yet. Everything I made was someone else's recipe, someone talented and experienced in the area of cooking, which I clearly was not. I have to say, that lasagna was pretty amazing, though. And now it's even better. But until yesterday, I don't think I had made it in years. I even had to play around with the recipe when I couldn't find a 19 oz can of tomatoes at the grocery story. Oh, well, 28 oz — more is always better, right? This is one meal that I'm not afraid to experiment with. I was convinced that no matter what I did, it would come out "awesome".

I had serious doubts as to whether on not my kids would accept this very foreign food to our dinner table. I'm pretty sure the last time I tried to serve it to them they both turned up their noses. This time I was determined to prove to them that "my lasagna is awesome". I was prepared for the whining, and had my "You only have to eat 5 bites and if you still hate it..." practiced and ready. When I first put it in the oven before I took Janelle to piano lessons, Connor made a quiet, skeptical comment: "You're making lasagna for supper?" When I came home from taking Janelle to her lesson, I walked into my glorious smelling house and said "Oh, that lasagna smells SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!" Connor kind of hesitated before replying, "Yeah, Mom, it really does." Woohoo! I started to get my hopes up! When we arrived home after Janelle's piano lesson, the smell had changed a bit. I could tell that I had left it cooking too long. When I opened the oven door my heart sank. The cheese was brown, and the edges were nearly black. But I sucked back my disappointment and declared "Oh, you lucky kids are going to have the most delicious dinner!"

Connor actually smiled and made yummy noises when I set his plate on the table. He dug in with gusto. I guess he didn't care that it was slightly overdone. Janelle, on the other hand, said "Mommy, why did you make something I don't like for dinner?" I replied, "But how do you know you don't like it, Honey?" "Well, it sure doesn't look like something I like." It took some encouragement, but after the first frowny bite, she ate it pretty happily. When I sent her back to the table to finish her dinner (which I basically have to do every night, since my little scatterbrain inevitably finds something else she just has to do or check on in the middle of dinner), she ran back to the table and said "But Mommy, my plate is empty!" Hallelujah! Success!

When Chris came home from basketball practice I asked how he liked the lasagna and he gave me a half-hearted "Good". "Good?", I shot back at him. "Whattayamean, good?" "Well, that's no way to eat lasagna. Lukewarm, out of plastic, standing up in a gym." Okay, I had to give him that. Then I watched him pull the dish of lasagna out of the fridge and heat up two more pieces. I secretly smiled as he devoured them. I think I found another new Tuesday dinner.

Today I haven't thought about what we'll have for supper. But I know what I'm having for lunch. My lasagna is awesome!

Tuesday Treadmill

Not a real treadmill. Sadly that is still leaning up against the wall in the basement waiting for its home to be completed. But on Tuesdays I feel like I'm on a treadmill!

In the morning, I'm in denial. I clean up the kitchen from breakfast and lunches while the tv drones on in the background (because I have to be in the mood for a quiet house). I might read a book, or catch up with friends on Facebook. I have a leisurely shower. Then I look at my to do list for the day. Usually it includes some shopping or laundry, and it always includes getting an easy dinner started for when the treadmill is really on a roll. Today it's crock pot beef stew. At three-thirty I either pick up the kids, or wait for them to be dropped off by my neighbour. Then I run through Janelle's piano lesson with her to make sure she has met all the goals for the week set by her teacher, and make sure she gets her homework done before we need to leave for her lesson. I also nag Connor to get through his homework right away because, hey, it's Tuesday! At 4:45 we head out to Janelle's piano lesson, at 5 o'clock, for half an hour. Sometimes I drop her off and come home to make sure dinner is ready for when we get home at 5:45. Today, since dinner is in the crock pot, I'll be taking Connor for a quick trip to Party Packagers to see if any of the Halloween costumes inspire him, since he still hasn't decided what he's going to be this year. Pick Janelle up at 5:30, run home and hope there's not much traffic, serve dinner. The kids program at the church starts at 6:30, so Connor and I drop Janelle off there. Usually I have to have Connor ready for basketball before we leave to drop Janelle off at the church, because while she's there I take him to Chris's office downtown so they can go to basketball at Mother Theresa High School, at the opposite end of town. Tonight we've decided that I'll take Connor to basketball myself, since I've never seen his new team play. Chris will come home and pick Janelle up at the church at 7:30, then bring her home and put her to bed. Connor's basketball goes until 8:30, when we begin the half hour trip home. At that point I expect I'll put Connor to bed and fall asleep myself. Two weeks ago when the boys got home I was already in bed. That's Tuesday!

By the way, Chris and I went to our community group last night and left Connor and Janelle with a sweet 13-year-old girl who lives just around the corner. They loved her. I loved that they loved her! And she's coming back next week! Yahoo! Maybe we'll actually plan a night out together one of these days. Ahhh... that's a whole other blog topic...

What Monster Ate My Weekend?

Suddenly it is Sunday night. How did that happen? It must have been that ruthless "time-eating monster" again.

Friday night was quite peaceful. Chris and Connor went to a movie. Janelle and I did some shopping and junior web-surfing. The boys got home after 10, and we all went to bed shortly after that.

Janelle had soccer pictures taken first thing Saturday morning. Then we tried a new place for breakfast. It was okay, but we can tick it off our list and move on to another. Off to Costco, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and the local garden center to stock up for all the work we planned to do this weekend. Quick lunch at the Lions Club hot dog stand. Then it was time to party. Well, not for me. For my very popular daughter who was scheduled to attend her fourth and fifth birthday parties since moving to London. The first was a pool party, and although the skies threatened thunder showers all day, it was a perfect day for it. Hot, hot, hot. Out to buy a few more supplies during the party, including a flat of fresh Ontario strawberries, grown so near my house I can practically smell the field — YUM! Sent Chris and Connor to Home Depot to buy supplies for converting the cold room to a warm room. Back to get Janelle, so she could be delivered to the next party, at a neighbour's house. This time Connor was invited as well, so Chris and I could get lots done!

NOT. Sent both children off to the party. We unloaded the van and ended up debating whether or not we even need to convert part of the cold storage room to a warm storage room. Somehow that decision ate up most of our free two hours. We did manage to squeeze in an ice cream and some shopping for patio furniture. But didn't get done nearly what we both had hoped. Kids came home. Chris went back to Home Depot.

Suddenly it was bath time. Janelle got out of the tub and I went outside to find Connor. I spent 10 minutes looking for him and chatting with neighbours, and when I came back in I found Janelle sound asleep in her bed, no pjs, tangled wet hair soaking her pillow. She had a busy day!

My hubby suffered through televised chick movies all evening, mostly because neither of us had the energy to change the channel. Went to bed somewhat early, and woke up this morning to Janelle, (I apologize, but I had to suffer through it, so you do too) covered in vomit. Sometime during the night she had thrown up, but she had no memory of it, so the two of us had to get her and her disgusting (but still pretty purple) bedroom cleaned up. She felt fine. Do we go to church? Do we warn Jocelyn and Mark and their new baby, who are supposed to come for lunch? Yes to both. Janelle felt fine. Must have been heatstroke, which her brother gets fairly often. Off to church.

We went to the same church as the last two weeks. Still nearly ready to declare it is "our church", but waiting for.... I'm not sure what. I enjoyed the service. The kids happily ran upstairs at Junior Church time. It almost felt like home. Maybe someday it will. Church ended. Back on the treadmill that was our weekend.

Stopped at Home Depot and Canadian Tire to try to make a decision about patio furniture for the front veranda. Then hurried home to get lunch ready before Jocelyn and Mark arrived. They decided to come after all. After dessert, Jocelyn, Ellie and I left the dishes to our husbands and hurried off to her church shower. Two hours of new faces, but I did feel like an honoured guest, and it was so good to see how loved Jocelyn is in her church. So many people have prayed so long for this baby to arrive safely. I was thankful to be able to be there.

Back home. Supper time. Phone call from Karen. Made up Janelle's room with clean sheets and got her snuggled into bed. Then I took out my contact lenses and put on my pjs.

Hmmmm... I think I forgot something. What could that be? What did I promise to do before the end of the weekend? The end of the weekend? How could it suddenly be the end of the weekend? Some monster named "Busyness" ate my weekend. And I have to write my blog post.

Check. Now all I have to do is wrestle Connor away from the basketball game, tuck him into bed, and settle down with my book. On the couch. In front of my husband's beloved basketball game. Bye-bye weekend. See you in 5 more days.

Missed Post #2

Reasons I missed yesterday's post:

1. Went on a field trip with Connor's class to the "Children's Water Festival", a very cool, educational water expo, featuring 45 different hands-on stations illustrating various water issues like conservation, watersheds, water safety, pollution, storm drains, ecosystems, ph levels, protecting the water supply, water treatment facilities, etc.
2. Got home an hour before school ended, but Chris was still here (he had worked late the night before), so I hung out with him until I had to go get the kids.
3. Picked up the kids at school. Connor had a headache. I assumed that he had sunstroke, which he gets fairly often if he is in full sun and doesn't have enough water. It had been 28C at the water festival, and I'm sure he didn't drink enough. So he and I stayed in the air conditioned house for a while, until he felt like going out to play.
4. Got supper and hurried off to Janelle's first soccer game. We had the talk beforehand about how it isn't appropriate to pick flowers on the field in the middle of the game. I have to admit, she gave it a good try, running with all her might for about 5 minutes, but then she ran out of steam. She's not used to the full sized field they use at this level. I didn't catch her picking any flowers, but there was some wandering around the field singing happening!
5. Came home to find that Connor had been sick to his stomach (yep, sunstroke), and I had developed a pretty wicked headache myself. Chris and I put the kids to bed and then I spent the rest of the evening on the couch in front of the TV. I shamelessly watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, but, for the first time, I almost couldn't handle the blood. I happily fell into bed, still hoping for relief from the headache, at 11:00 p.m.

Today I'm finishing "my project". Then I'm starting another project: painting the kids' rooms. Connor's first: Bamboo Shoot Green. Just thinking about it makes me tired, but it has to get done! Maybe I'll get a chance to write another post today. Maybe...

A Run, Run, Run Day!

No time for more than a list today! Sometimes those crazy days come along when we just have to "run, run, run" all day!

• Started out the day getting everyone up and ready for school/work. Lunches packed, breakfast made, everyone clean and dressed and out the door.
• Drove to Janelle to school while Connor rode his bike.
• Drove Chris to the car repair shop to pick up our now extremely valuable nine-year-old Neon.
• Picked up milk on the way home.
• Grabbed some breakfast and tidied up the kitchen.
• Started cleaning Janelle's room. Now that is a huge job!
• Welcomed Jocelyn and her parents and her beautiful 6-day-old daughter Eliana for a quick visit. I even got to feed the baby!
• Finished cleaning Janelle's room, and going through all the clothes to swap out for summer clothes. Sorted outgrown clothing into bags: good will, back to Tracy, stuff that is still cute enough for Hailey.
• Put laundry in the washer.
• Inhaled a quick lunch.

And now I'm writing my blog. Still to do today:

• Start some pizza dough in the bread maker.
• Go visit Connor at school to watch part of his "Medieval Feast".
• Run to Walmart for soccer cleats and dress shoes for Janelle.
• Stop at the grocery store for pizza toppings.
• Pick up the kids at school.
• Laundry.
• Help Connor get his room tidied.
• Get the guest room ready for Nana.
• Laundry.
• Clean all three bathrooms.
• Supervise homework.
• Feed supper.
• Take Janelle to her first soccer practice of the season.
• Clean up the kitchen.
• Laundry.
• Put two kids to bed (unless I can convince Daddy to do it tonight!)
• Finish whatever I haven't gotten done yet.
• Fall into bed, definitely exhausted!

Sorry! No time for being literary or philosophical today. Today I have to be a Mom!