Monday Blues

I am exhausted today. It was a long holiday week, which I worked everyday but one. At times it was fun, I was the only one there and I went around and played on every piano! Other times it was either boring or discouraging. Then yesterday I was released from my YW calling. I think I handled it great until I got to church and saw Britt who is the President and one of my best friends and all of sudden I just couldn't pull myself together and cried the rest of church. I know it's going to be a good thing, I am so busy and it was hard to give my calling a 100%. Now I am the Primary teacher for the 10 yr old girls. Today it's gloomy and rainy and I feel like I went through a breakup and the other party already has a replacement. Pity party in bed is what I want to do, but the house is a class A disaster, dishes, laundry and Christmas stuff spread from one end to the other. But I have wassail simmering for my cold, a sudafed digesting alongside with a excedrin for my headache and Elle's ipod blasting and I'm getting started on the kitchen. Is there anyone out there who wants to come sit on the one clean corner of my couch and talk to me while I clean? Lonely on a post breakup-bad weather-sick-monday isn't so fun! (and Celeste wouldn't even go to lunch with me!)

need i say more?

Nothing like ending a tough day at work then going to a gun range and kickin Butt with the AR 15.... that's what it is right? The gun store guys were a bit speechless when I walked in, my red requins and heels and asked for ear covers to go back on the range. I had to ask 3 times ;)

New driver!

Well it's happened, Matt has a driver permit. I took him this morning and sat there so nervous for him I couldn't even read my nook that I brought along. He ended up missing 5 questions which is of course the max you can miss. He was just excited he got the sign section 100%. He was shocked and appalled that I wouldn't let him jump right into the drivers seat to drive home, on the freeway that very minute. I took him to get a gyro, our favorite lunch and he complained and joked and tried everything he could to get to drive. Finally about 1/2 way to his school on the back roads, he was actually quiet. Which allowed me to think, so I let him drive the last 3 miles to school, down giant hills, through misty Seattle drizzle, through a left turn at a light onto a 4 lane divided hwy for 200 feet and into a parking spot at school. The whole time, he was smiling and yelling intermittently how great it was. I was not yelling, but saying loudly to watch his speed, stay on the road, don't worry about the rude people tailing him since he was going the speed limit and they didn't want to. It was a harrowing experience, but his smile was worth it. A 15 year old kid needs some triumph in his life, right?

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts....

I bought a totally cute, very new looking Ann Taylor sweater and pants at goodwill for 7 dollars. Does that weird anyone out? It was a great deal. And you can't tell they are preowned, whats to argue with?

Our athletic boys!

Connor had a boat race on the Chattahoochee very early on this frigid morning, it was gorgeous with the steam rising off the river and the sun coming over the trees. He sits right behind the worst rower so the poor guy got soaked, but he is a good sport! We all laughed when the boat hit a goose, silly thing just wouldn't bother to get out of the way. Then Matt had his very first wrestling tournament! He weighed in at 119 and 8% body fat. But right on the line for hydration, clearly that kid needs to drink more! Anyway he was paired up someone very very good and so he lost, but he put up a good fight and learned some stuff! I worked today so I didn't see the match, and I'm not sure I want to. I could barely watch my brothers wrestle, how am I supposed to watch my baby boy do it? wrestling is just so mean!! Now we have 3 weeks until AJ's first gymnastics tournament!

My day off

So my day off goes like this.
6:00am wake up AJ and Elle
6:50 miss the bus and drive them to school
7:05 rewake up Kirk, wake up Matt, and Connor
8 go to AJ's Veterans day program.
9:30 Matt dermatologist
10:30 stop in mall for new shirt for MAtt
drive 1/2 way to dmv, 20 minutes, to realize Matt forgot a important piece of paper. drive home and drive again to Dmv
12:30 get to DMV to realize I am a moron, it's closed on veterans day.
Drive home so Matt can get him back pack and then drive him back to school by about 1:30.
drop my business card off at a music store to ask for referrals
get groceries and YW activity stuff for tonight.
2:30 get kids off the bus, snack and homework
3:30 make dinner
4:30 meet at target to get 2 extra boys for carpool to gymnastics
5 gymnastics start, 25 minutes away
6:30 leave gymnastics early to get to yw where I am teaching something, as soon as i come up with it.
8:30 yw end
9:00 i should be home to finish kids homework and finish cleaning dinner.
Gosh I'm so happy I had a day off :)

Send ME Love

Stayed up way too late reading the "Five Love Languages of Teenagers" could use all the help out there!

Happy Birthday baby!!

Happy 15th birthday to my oldest baby!! Just can't quite believe he is this old and getting older everyday! We spent his birthday weekend in Calloway with Kirks annual firm trip. He was sung to by everyone in attendance which was about 150 saturday night as he was sitting next to a partners daughter who has thought he was cute for years! they walked into the room together and sat together, it was adorable. And scary. I know there was more I wanted to say, but I'm little mushy brained this evening. I mostly wanted to show the baby picture compared to the birthday picture!! He sat on my lap so of course I took a picture to memorialize it!

Books

So to save money I try really hard to use the public library. However it doesn't always save money. For instance I had to pay 12$ in late fines last week, I could have bought several used paperbacks for that. And I have been waiting on a list since 3/15/10 for my turn to check out a new release and I am finally number 1 which means sometime in the next 2 weeks I'm going to get the book. Unless this person keeps it longer and owes 12$ in fines.
Matt in a grumpy mood giving my ultimatums isn't my favorite morning.

Thankful tree

This is the coolest idea ever and I am totally making a thankful tree of my own this week! I don't know where I have a empty wall but I am making one!!! I love this site she always has the most creative ideas!!

My first business card!

Ok I've sent this to fb and blogger who else can I show?? I'm so excited! ;)

Sad endings

Well I had to tell my piano students I couldn't teach anymore right now. I kept telling myself it was the right thing to do and I knew it, but I really didn't want to. Some of them have been with me for 2 years and I really love teaching and watching them grow. Everyone was really nice and asked to talk to me after Christmas to see if my schedule changes. I just really have no time. So is the pressure in chest just sad or too relieved to take a breath?

We love you Spike!

Our beloved pet Spike passed away last week. It was a disgusting smelly death and I will never stop being grateful that it was Kirk who discovered it and not me. Although I may have smelled something earlier, I was in a hurry and didn't look for the cause. Spike will forever be remembered as the lizard Kirk smuggled onto a plane bound for Georgia. He was a great pet and Connor loved him very much. We've known for awhile now his time would be short simply because he was so old and he couldn't climb onto his favorite perch anymore. we are very grateful that Connor has 2 birds he loves dearly to comfort him in this time of loss.

My Monday randomness

well one of our pumpkins completely rotted and slowly sank down on itself so when someone touched it last night it basically exploded rotten pumpkin guts everywhere. We never got around to carving which the kids were kinda bummed about. I got my first sleep in the morning in 2 weeks, well it was kind a sleep in. I had to get up and help Kirk find his keys and tie but then I got to go back to bed. I'd still be sleeping since the kids don't have school and they are still sleeping but Matt had wrestling practice at 9. And Matthew in a good mood is a beautiful thing! I'm reading the 5 love languages of teenagers and loving it.
thats all, thank you.