Watched the weekend disappear

On Saturday, I drove a bus of junior high boys to their basketball tournament.  I don't mind driving, and I don't mind watching other people's kids play sports, and I definitely like the extra money on my paycheck, but cutting hours out of the weekend sure makes the time short!  Luckily, the tournament was a small one, and I didn't lose the whole Saturday!  I was even home in time to watch the KSU game with Jim and got most of the laundry done!  :)  

Since I was gone, our weekly cleaning routine didn't get done on Saturday.  On the way home from church, I did my best talking into the plan of each kid takes a room, we all clean for 45 minutes, and then we are mostly in good shape.  The kids agreed, and they did get to work and got it mostly looking like a house again.  I was cleaning the bathrooms, and left my phone in the kitchen.  Even though they were being helpful, I can't help but notice they were also stealing my phone to take selfies, and eating all the snacks!  :)    I am letting it slide since they didn't argue about helping.  

Jim and I had to run to Topeka to make a final selection on the bathroom flooring.  We had a water issue, which caused some damage to the floor.  We hired a local man to re-do our bathroom, and have been on his waiting list for quite some time.  We have reason to believe he is coming soon, so we had to finalize the new flooring.  I am sure it will be amazing, but I absolutely hate deciding big things for the house.  What I like today, may not be what I like tomorrow.  What colors are in style now, won't be in style forever, and I know with an expensive project, I am going to have to like it for a very, very long time.  I like paint better, because I know if I hate it, I can probably afford to change it relatively soon.  Flooring?  Heck no!  I can't (or maybe I should say won't) even try to lay it myself, and it is expensive, so I better pick right!  I was actually fairly impressed.  I showed Jim what I was thinking about, he agreed and we were not there very long at all!  I had shown him a few things I found online, and he was genuinely unimpressed, so I had a basic idea of what not to pick!  

Little side story here - growing up, we lived in an old farmhouse.  My mom was always trying to make it better, but it was an old house that legitimately needed torn down.  My grandparents got some new bathroom linoleum and had extra.  My grandpa was convinced there was enough left over that my mom could use it on our bathroom floor.  He was right, there was enough.  My mom recruited me to help her lay it.  I was 10.  Do you know who should not help with flooring?  A 10 year old!  I had glue in my hair for a month.  The floor looked awful (worse than the one that was in there).  For some reason, we didn't take up the toilet, we just tried to cut around it, there were air bubbles trapped underneath and we didn't have the right tools or knowledge to get them out, and it turned out terrible.  My mom was not too excited by our results. Do you know who had to live with the awful results because my dad was planning to build a new house someday?   I am very glad my mom was not a DIY'er who took pictures of that mess!  Also glad that house is no longer standing so nobody can see our results!  And this is why I will always hire a professional for some jobs.  

I heard from the big boys this weekend.  It seemed to be a dog themed weekend.  Colin said it was cold, so he put his vest on Volt.  I honesty worry that dog is planning his revenge!  In every photo, the dog looks mad.  In every story, it seems to be Colin who is antagonizing him.  I need to plan a day trip down to see Colin and Spencer...it has been too long!  

Cameron and Lauren said that they had a ton of rain, and that Baton Rouge was experiencing flooding.  Bella refused to go out until Cameron shielded her with an umbrella so she could use the bathroom!  This for sure cracks me up....Cameron likes animals, but would probably never choose to own one.  This particular dog owns him instead!  

Evie spent the night with Mallory.  I was cracking up at her telling Mallory they had to have a "fancy dinner" for breakfast.  Jim's mom gave Mallory some dishes she no longer needed, or had room for.  I think it made Mallory happy to have an occasion to break them out!  Evie told me this morning that she used fancy dishes.  Of course, she also told me that she wanted it to be the weekend again.  Me too, girl, me too!  

Trying new things

I have a friend from school who started teaching some painting classes. She quit her teaching job and   now works at city hall with Jim.  She said she misses bossing people around and teaching them stuff, so she’s hosting these classes in her evening times.  I have wanted to go to several of the ones she hosted, but it hasn’t worked out until tonight.  I was so excited to paint a cow!   I love how it turned out!  It was a fun process and I plan to take more classes until I am the next Bob Ross!   I also loved spending an evening with Mallory and my mom. It is fun to try new things.  

Snow day!

Tired of snow photos?  I’m getting there!  This snow bought us a snow day though!   It was a heavy, thick wet snow that made the back roads really slick.  I was surprised we got the day off, but after driving in to work and feeling the roads were sort of slippy, I was happy I was driving my 4 wheel drive car and not a bus.  I didn’t really have any problems, but thankful for the precautions the transportation department took today.  

I know some people who work at the school who were absolutely elated about it, as well as some dogs who were happy to have their owner around today!  

After work, I was able to get several things accomplished that we have failed at.  Saige has been asking to have the bottom of her hair dyed brown. She doesn’t think we went dark enough, but was mostly happy about it.  We also got the thank you notes done from the fair.  Yes, it has been 5 months.  I put the list up in the cabinet, and  forgot all about it.  I found it last week, and was disappointed in myself, but it’s never too late for a thank you, right?  It’s too late to fix it, so I guess we are going to mail them tomorrow and pretend we will do better next time.  

Saige and I had RE tonight.  The roads are mostly clear so they went ahead and had class.  I have made a decision that this will be my last year teaching.  I have been doing it for somewhere around 20 years now, and it just doesn’t bring me the joy that it once did.  I still like the kids, I still like doing crafts and sharing A love for Jesus with them, but I’m just not as energetic or excited about it as I used to be.  Time to pass the job off on a more enthusiastic person.  I may be teaching my girls Confirmation class, but only if I can’t get Mallory conned into it!  Either way, this is going to be the end of Wednesday night class for me come May.  

Tomorrow it’s back to reality.  It was nice to have a little break….if you wanna call it that.  

Top 10

We found out yesterday that Preston is in the top 10 of his senior class.  We knew already, but the school made the "official announcement yesterday.  He is oh so close to being out of high school!  We are very proud of him!  He has worked hard.  I did have to laugh at him saying "ohhhhh whyyyyy did I cut my hair?"

Evie learned about D D D ducks this week!  The preschool does some of the cutest little crafts ever!  I enjoy picking her up and talking about her day.  She is having a lot of fun and seems to be absorbing stuff like a sponge!  

I am super amused with the photos that Lauren sends me where it looks like Cameron has an admirer.  I am pretty sure Cameron loves Bella too, but he would never admit it.  

Status - up to date!  

Happy bday Andrew!

Today is Andrew’s birthday.  He got to spend the day at Scheel's, and doing some stuff around KC.   We had his bday dinner tonight -Mexican food that we made - so not authentic but still pretty decent.  He also wanted a dump cake, which Evelyn thought was a dumb cake!  She had to help him with the candles, and consented to us singing the birthday song.   As long as it’s not for her, she’s good with it!   Evelyn loves Scheel’s, and she got a few new goodies for her dad’s birthday!  

She was also extremely excited about riding the Ferris wheel in the store!  

We woke up this morning to our first measurable snow of the year.  I say it was measurable, but not an impressive amount.  Annnnddd  even though I generally don’t like winter,  I will admit this was pretty.  Also, we have the most beautiful cardinal pair that come up to eat at my “feeding station.”   They are absolutely beautiful, but also extremely skittish.  I had to take a picture from inside the kitchen, while standing away from the window.  If I get close to the windows, they fly away. I’m glad they are scared, but it doesn’t make it easy to get any pictures.   Oh well, just matches with the rest of my photography I guess!  Also, yes, I have crossed over to the birdwatcher phase of my life.  I am amused how the kids point out birds who are outside feeding, but when I comment they tell me I’m old and weird.  Haha.  

 

Madison and Evie went to visit a friend of Madison’s this weekend.   Evie loves babies!  She had a lot to tell me about babies today! .  

Lauren sent me a first day photo!    Jim and I watched the KSU game together yesterday and I told him I am still looking Cameron and Lauren in the crowd there.  

Jim bought new batteries for the smoke alarms. Preston and Quincy were helping him put them in.  I was laughing at how every time they turned around, Jerry was climbing the ladder.  I’m pretty sure Preston wanted to off him.  

Now we are out of weekend time.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I could  use another day.   

Wahoo!

Madison found out that the new baby is a girl!  We are so excited.  Can’t wait to see what they name her - as I’m guessing Evie isn’t going to win with the idea to name her Ariel after the Little Mermaid! .  ;)   

Cameron and Lauren had their first day of their 2nd semester of grad school.  I don’t know where Lauren’s picture is?   Good luck this semester kids!  

Yesterday, Harper had oral surgery. She is feeling better now, although she did stay home today.  She said it’s a little sore and hard to talk or move her lips to eat or smile.  I’m very proud of what she has been willing to endure in order for her braces to be successful.  

Saige is getting ready for the next playoff game. She and Preston love the Bills.  I’m fairly impressed with her art.  

That’s about all the excitement we can do on a Tuesday!  

Just weekend stuff

This has been a full weekend.  Jim and I thought we would be smart and do pick up at Sam’s, Dillon’s and Walmart.  We had this idea it would be a quick trip to town and we’d be right back to accomplish our projects before the girls and I had to leave for my cousin’s baby shower.  It was a good plan until we stopped at Menard’s to shop for flooring.   I have a love/hate with Menard’s.  They have everything!  The cleaners I love in big jugs, snacks, plants, wild bird supplies, and all the regular hardware/building store stuff.  I love places where I can stop and get all sorts of my errands accomplished in one stop, but every single time I go in that store I find stuff I don’t actually need, and the prices are decent so then I buy all the stuff.  We have a contractor coming to fix our bathroom, and one thing that is necessary is picking out new flooring.  I found exactly what I was looking for, at a price that didn’t make Jim have a heart attack.  We brought home samples and I like it just as much here as I did there.  Also, I found a lot of other stuff I didn’t even know I needed, including some cute little pots that had seeds so you can grow cilantro and cacti.   They were on a clearance table….do I need cilantro and cacti?  No.  Did I buy them anyway?  Uh of course I did.  And I’m weirdly excited about them.  We did get all our pick ups done, had a nice lunch together and stopped by the pet store where I bought a few new fish, and got Carlos the cutest little hoodie.  The best part?  We made it back in plenty of time for the shower!  

Jim has stopped commenting on my infatuation with this little mess of a dog.  But he is soooooooo cuteeeee!  

When I got home from the shower, I saw my husband dressing the cat, so really he has to room to talk about my crazy.  Jerry however, was not at all amused with the pajamas or with Jim. He was running backwards and freaking out until Jim took the pajamas off!  

This evening, we had Sunday dinner and Mallory brought a dog cake for the dogs to share with Daisy-Paige for her 2nd birthday. Most of the dogs didn’t seem to love the cake, but Daisy has never let any food go to waste.  

When we were done eating, Evie wanted to spend the night here, but I have to work tomorrow, and although Jim has the day off, he has some meetings, and has to go in.  I told her we would have to do it sometime soon, but not today.  She changed her request into can Saige spend the night with me?  The kids have tomorrow off school, and I have a list of stuff for them to help with. Saige knew this, and jumped right in Madison’s car!  

Long (and odd) week

It was the first 5 day school week in about a month, so I knew it would be a long week before it even got started.   Nobody was feeling it!  

Evie came home from preschool on Monday.  She was acting very sad.  I asked her what was up and she very pitifully said “Grammmmmyyyy- nobody had ever taken a picture of my tonsils!”   Uhhh what?  “Nobody has taken a picture of my tonsils!”  I had a moment of how in the world does this child know what tonsils are, and why is that bothering her so much?  I told her I would love to take a picture of her tonsils for her. Problem solved, crisis averted.  She returned to her normal happy self, and I am now  the proud owner of her first tonsil picture.  I  am constantly surprised by this kid - she is so smart and funny.  

Also this week, she was worried because she wants to hold the baby, but she doesn’t know how to hold a baby.  She knows she has to be careful but she never held a baby before.  We explained she will need help but that we will help her and she will be a great helper for her mom and dad.  

I believe Cameron and Lauren had to return to work this week too!  It makes me laugh when I get the “Bella adores Cameron” photos.  The dog seriously loves him.  

Year end paperwork, and board meeting this week had me very preoccupied.  It’s not child labor if they want to do it, right?  She ran the vacuum around my office for a long time, and then watered the plants for me.  I know she is 4, but I truly appreciated her help and she did a great job!  

The kids were a little off kilter this week. My own kids and my bus kids.  Added to the oddness and exhaustion, the high school was robbed this week. Apparently (they think) a guy came in the building Wednesday evening during the kids club wrestling practice.  He hid out until the practice was over and the night  janitors left for the night, and then went through the building.  He for sure got money out of the vault, and a classroom. I heard multiple rumors about what else he took, and I heard he stopped to make a salad in the kitchen. He then left the school before the day started on Thursday, and tried to get away in the school’s van but failed at his Hotwire skills.  He did successfully destroy the ignition though.  They didn’t realize there had been a robbery for a couple hours, and then they put the kids on lockdown while they contacted parents and made arrangements to send the kids home.   It was a mess for a while. I spent 2 hours driving rural bus kids home.  For the record, even if you think they know, please review your child’s address with them. Yes they were in high school and could not tell me where they live.  “But I don’t drive…..”. Ok but honey what’s your address?   Blank stares.  Luckily they had phones to text parents for addresses.  Ey-yei-yei.   Everyone is safe and that is the important part.  When I think about him being in the school during the wrestling practice and with the janitors, it is pretty scary!  

Anyway, this is one week I was pleased to see end!