Two best things

Two of the best things my sis and I have done together, lately:
Dad's surprise 70th birthday party 5 years ago, and Mom's less-surprising but also amazing 70th birthday party this past weekend! :)

I'm going to tell you about this weekend. We had fun surprising Mom via email, that we both planned to come to Florida to celebrate with her. We knew she wouldn't want us to just show up one Saturday, especially if she already had plans for a pedicure or a DAR meeting or something, and then bring 25 people to her house with no warning. So we told her in August, I think. Something to look forward to!

We made lots of yummy food after a fun sisters' grocery-store run (and liquor-store run) Saturday morning:

• Sweet Potato and Bacon skewers -- as delicious as they sound! Sprinkled w/a brown sugar and cayenne mixture that gave them just the perfect level of sweet/spice! 
• Maple-Bacon Crack -- also delicious and decadent... but these weren't as crispy as the recipe promises. They were soggy and sticky, in fact, and we didn't serve all of them.
• Green salad w/cranberries and spiced pecans
• Veggie tray w/hummus AND Ranch, because we're just that crazy
• Fruit and Cheese
• Meat and Crackers
• Rotel dip and chips (it's not a party without them)
• Turkey Roll-ups w/cream cheese
• Frozen Mini Corn Dogs for the kids
• Cake!

And our signature drink, an Apple Pie Moscow Mule that you must try! So delicious! I could have had three of them, I think! (I only had one.) And I'm not usually a MMule fan, I'll admit. But these were light and delicious (apple-flavored vodka!) and now I need my own set of copper mugs!

Of course, it's not all about the food. (Most, but not all.) ;) We had fun with Mom and Dad's friends from next door, our awesome cousins and their spouses, our favorite aunt and uncle, and all of the next generation, too. I feel like I was a sweaty mess (working in the kitchen and chasing the youngest kids), but I had fun. Only person I didn't get a chance to talk with was (as usual) Shawn. We laugh about that a lot, after parties. But then again, I guess we talk to each other most days so it's cool. ;)

Sunday morning the kids got a quick swim in, in the backyard, and then we had to head home. Weekend, you were too short!

But I've been thinking about Time, this morning, after a little stress last night when Kate couldn't fall asleep and I got frustrated because of it. I realized I rely so heavily on my carefully calculated schedule to get through weeknights, that when my plans/schedules get disrupted, it causes me stress. But if I could just LET GO of my arbitrary rules about time, I'd be better off (and a better mom). Because all time is limited... and all time is also infinite. We have nothing but time. Sure, it HELPS me to get a full night's rest (I really like getting 7 hours exactly)... but if my lunchbox-prep gets pushed later than I'd like, for whatever reason, it's not going to kill me (unless it becomes a bad habit)... I should let time run, do what needs doing, in whatever time it takes, and just TRUST that God will give me what I need to get through being tired the next day. For example. I have more thinking to do about this, but it is a welcome insight.

Anyway, our time together over the weekend was much too short, but it was just what it was meant to be, and what we were given, and therefore it was perfect. :)

Love you, Mom. Happy birthday tomorrow.

Weekend Recap - So Much To Remember!

Morning/Magazines

Today's morning rush was a little bit XTREME, mostly because I made the conscious decision not to prep lunchboxes last night. First time this year! But also because it is time, once again, for the school's magazine drive bullshit, and I had not yet read any of the instructions (naturally, this year they've "changed it up!" meaning the procedures are slightly different than the last EIGHT years we've done it) nor placed any orders ...and today was the first turn-in day and don'tcha know, the kids want their plastic keychain prizes.

I am FINALLY WEARY of this particular fundraiser. WHY does it need to be so complicated?? Several turn-in-days, and prizes they can ONLY get - like an Out of Uniform Pass which everyone wants - if they turn in X orders on X day, and if you also order this SPECIAL item you get DOUBLE prize points, but it can't be ordered online like everything else, you have to turn in a form and money by hand... and also can anyone volunteer to donate magazine subscriptions to the Libary slash come in and help count orders?!

Can't we just have a box of chocolate bars? Those suckers seem to sell themselves.

Anyway, if any of you reading this is kind enough to place an order (MOM, thank you), my prize-obsessed kids and I thank you. I asked Alex last week if he was ready to be "over" the prizes yet. (I think last year it was plastic duck keychains, the kids all collect them and wear them around all week). He had a hard time answering and was willing to consider letting Kate take all the orders this year. But when it came down to it this morning, he waffled. I guess the lanyard is a bit of a status symbol, still. Maybe a maximum of one duck will be just ironic enough to be cool in 7th grade? Let's hope. Sigh.

The main reason I wanted to remember this morning, though, was that the kids HELPED OUT. They made their lunches (...ish. Kate put a sandwich in her lunchbox and when I asked her if she grabbed a drink or anything else, she made big eyes at me like, "I was supposed to do ALL of that?" but still...)! They (Kate) got ready on their own! Kate didn't require me to French braid her hair, for once! It was lovely and magical.

Earrings

Kate and I had a doozy of a time last night trying to replace her piercing earrings. Her 3 weeks (accelerated) probation period had ended and she was SUPER eager to put in new ones. But lo and behold, those ears are a little SORE. And finding the hole in the back was not easy. She cried and cried and I kept my cool (mostly), but when you start a process like this before 8, and are still not finished at 8:56, it's a LITTLE frustrating. She finally let me -- FINALLY -- touch the earring and I found the back hole with no problem. And with one side done (!) we called it a night. *wide eyes* We have to do it again tonight and I just can't wait.

Bless her heart.

Cousins

Ohhhhhh, but we had a fabulous weekend. The Cousins came to visit and we hosted a party Saturday night (meaning we prepped most of the day Saturday, when we weren't singing for a wedding (me) or taking the kids to Kennesaw Mountain, (thanks Shawn)!!), then went to Mass and a Braves game on Sunday. It was all awesome. For the party I made a triple recipe of chili, with white rice or egg noodles to choose from, a veggie tray with Ranch dip, cut watermelon for the kids, and one of the creamy corn dips you find on Pinterest, called "Crack Dip" (I hate the name). We also made Rice Krispie treats for dessert, and took a cue from my parents and had Bluebell ice cream cups for the kids, too. They were in hog heaven -- they ran around the backyard, mostly, and the adults drank a little wine and were able to have interesting conversations.

I was just so thrilled to have a party. I mean, yes it's a lot of work, but it just filled me up with happiness to have  family there. And to be a hostess - my inner Martha was content. I don't know if it's the act of serving I like, or subconsciously, the compliments I get about a nice dinner, pretty home, or what, but it satisfies me. I always go back to this concept, too, which stirred my heart when I first read about it. Simple meals, not-pristine homes, TIME TOGETHER with people we love. That's what I like my weekends to be about. (some weekends, I should clarify!)

Seeing the Braves play was icing on the cake. Especially because they won (and I had a new team t-shirt to wear, ha)! It wasn't hot outside, we had great seats, all the kids were sooo well-behaved, and I've loved that team (and that stadium) for a long time now. Because of a rain delay, we even got to watch a whole documentary on the big screen, about the 1990s when the Braves were on top! It was the best. Exhausting, and I fear Shawn's coming down with something, but so fun all around.

Tallies and Teams, and Terrible headlines for posts about just regular life ;)

Hey-oh. Friday again! I'm still working on the Product Catalog I mentioned 2 weeks ago. It is kicking my butt with its blah blah blah brand style intros and tone-of-voice subheads. (ooh, but Shan just said she thinks my most recent draft looks great, woot.) 

My tally for August was 21 days out of 30 walking. Achievable stats: More days than not, I did some exercise. Not counting calories burned, not really aiming for a certain number of minutes per week, just: more than not. This I can do. Just returned from my Friday lunchtime walk on the Office-Perk trail. It's not too hot in the shade, and most of the trail is shaded. :) I'm looking forward to an early morning 30 minutes tomorrow. Must wake up early!

Kate wants to do everything this year. She's newly signed up for Art Club and Basketball, on top of her already full schedule including choir, Girl Scouts and gymnastics. But I'm all for it. Try them on for size. Art Club is just after-school, and she's there anyway in Aftercare. In fact, why they don't offer MORE clubs during Aftercare is a question. Anyway, basketball was something I enjoyed, the years I had good coaches, even though I was pretty terrible at it. Team sports, thumbs up. The school has also started a Run Club, where you have to participate in a 5K Run or Walk each quarter. Families encouraged. I kinda like this idea and Kate brought it up, too, and Alex could earn service hours for it... so maybe. HA! See what I mean? Everything!

Alex is, meanwhile, paring down his activities. He decided against gymnastics, is barely attending  Scouts (but oh, we're hopeful he'll finish some rank advancements before December), and chose not to be in the fall Drama Club production. But it's okay. (Piano is going well and he works on his YouTube channel.) His homework-load is definitely increasing and he's handling it beautifully so far. He's my steady, instinctively organized kid.

(In fact, an aside: it's funny to contrast the two kids' bedrooms. Alex, much like his Daddy, keeps everything put away. Well, pajamas on the floor, but they're neatly piled on top of slippers, out of the way. He's an old man because he sometimes puts them on the minute he gets home from school. Kate's room is chock full with stuff taped on the walls and little "areas" everywhere; this doll's bed, that table for Art Stuff, pillows and of course, the outfits she sheds multiple times a day, and shoes, all over the floor. Sheets totally askew on the bed. Cracks me up. I just try not to care. It's not like anyone's seeing it. ...oh wait, next week we have cousins coming to town! I predict a straightening-up frenzy.)

Our new rule to limit screentime to homework, weekends, or selected family TV watching, after dinner, is working. No one's even really whined about it. Kate's snuck up to her room a few times and we've caught her playing iPhone games or watching YouTube, but I think we've managed to put a stop to it with Disappointment and also Warnings that weekend time could also be cancelled. So.

Even I was disappointed with this week's dinner menus, except Sunday. If I can recall:

S - burgers on the new grill, yummy, with baked beans and potato chips. We even ate outside.
M - Hibachi restaurant on Labor Day (i dunno)
T - sausage, spinach and parmesan pasta. Totally made up by me, and accepted by all, surprisingly.
W - chicken patty sandwiches
Th - fried chicken from the Publix deli, potato salad, fruit from a can
F - pretty sure it's going to be Brinner. Which is supposed to be easy, btw, but always seems to take me 3 pans and a lot of jumping around to make it happen all at the same time. Eggs, pancakes, bacon... jump, hop, turn, flip.

Merrily we roll along! Bummer that it's just a TWO-day weekend, but I'll take it.

I'm So Over These Words

If I never hear the words...

• content marketing
• promotion
• increase our database
• align our promotions
• markdown
• infographic
• push-to-pull strategy
• media guide
• editorial calendar
• brand strategy
• reach
• measurement/statistics
• analytics
• digital marketing
• integrated strategy
• social advertising
• budget
• merchandising
• thought-leaders
• influencer marketing
• growth

...again, it would BE TOO SOON.

I wish one of these days I could get myself a job that has nothing to do with those things. Something like:

• Ticket-taker/docent at a museum or botanical garden
• Cashier at Natural Body (a local massage/spa store)
• After School Supervisor
• Education Coordinator/Assistant at a church
• Registration Coordinator at a retreat center
• Mobile plant tender!!
• Volunteer coordinator for a non-profit

These are jobs that I think would not make my head hurt. I'm looking over at the green, green grass and knowing it isn't so green after you get there, but still wishing, at least for today. Too many dumb words that I've come to hate in my current job.

In the House, On my Feet

My back hurts this morning, and I figured out why while driving to work. I piddled around the house all weekend, doing Not Much Really, just things like decorating bookshelves, vacuuming hard-core, and laundry/ironing.... in bare feet. DUMB. Old ladies must wear supportive shoes, Self, even in the house! Otherwise backs will hurt.

I had a pretty nice weekend, though, in the house on my feet. I had bought some bookshelves for our living room, so I dusted them and put pretty things on them! Not too many. Trying to keep it classy. ;) Of course by the end of the weekend I noticed a plastic bucket with Dory on it had made its way onto a bottom shelf. That room gets a lot of toy action even though it's the "formal-ish" living room. I guess growing up, Jill and I used our parents' formal living room as a gymnasium. I don't feel like we left toys all over it, though. 

Kate spent the night with a friend Friday, and was picked up right after school by them, so Alex and Shawn and I enjoyed some quality time. We let him watch the first episode of Stranger Things, since Shawn and I loved it so much 3 weeks ago. I think Alex liked it, but didn't have the immediate '80s connection like we'd had, obviously. Still, it was fun letting him be a big kid (lots of language in that show, I hadn't realized!)... and he basically put himself to bed afterwards, around 10:30. Since Kate was gone, I also got to play a card game with Alex on Saturday. Not regular cards, but one of The Kids' games, with Attack points and Health points and Life points and oh my goodness, it was a lot to keep up with! It was an easy version of this type of game -- I'm not sure I could handle anything harder!

Saturday morning we met with a new piano teacher. She is going to be just great; I'm setting high expectations. She was delightful to talk with, so kind to Alex and I can tell, an excellent teacher. I bet I'm more excited than he is. I might have mentioned I would like if both my kiddos loved music, and I think the seed is IN THERE, it just needs some really good tending. I think this lady is the one to do it. I'm also starting to consider when we should get Kate into piano. Maybe next year. Her musical training happens in the church choir currently, but the excellent director is leaving. :( I don't know who will take his place. Watching the situation to see what happens next.

And Kate survived her 2 weeks of good behavior, and got her ears pierced yesterday! WOO-HOO! I was worried she'd chicken out, but she didn't. She cried, yes, which I knew would happen.... but in the end we got it done. She chose a pretty little purple birthstone and looks So Grown Up I can hardly believe it. This morning we French braided her hair so the newly acquired sparkle was most visible. :) 

This week's menu:
S - The Pepperocini Beef recipe that was so hot online 2 years ago. Finally tried it. I loved it, Alex tolerated it, Shawn thought it was okay I think, and Kate spit it out (too spicy). It WAS more spicy than I expected. Might or might not make it again. Also had veggies and ranch, and deviled eggs.
M - Dirty Rice with ground beef. Getting all our iron in, early in the week!
T - Tuna Casserole. Haven't made that in a while and everyone likes it.
W - Chicken Parmesan with garlic bread and salad. Yum.
TH - Fish Sticks and Popcorn Shrimp, I believe. My choir rehearsals begin again (mixed feelings), so Thursday has to be quick prep.
F - It's the first night of a 3-day weekend so we'll see! Might have to order pizza to celebrate. ;)

Don't Wanna

Work.... nope.

Not feeling it.

This week's dinners? Why, sure!

S - Leftovers bonanza. Actually a pasta bonanza, because that's what the leftovers happened to be. But no one complained (shockingly), and there's now room in the fridge.
M - Hamburger sliders baked in the oven. Easy and yummy. Probably with tater tots.
T -Smoked Sausage, mac-cheese and broccoli
W - Chicken, potatoes and green beans. Pinterest For The Win.
TH - Pasta with meat-ah-balls.
FR - Kate's going to a sleepover so we'll wing it (yay for winging it!)

[Alright, fine... I did some work in another Tab while I was writing this. I guess I still have some work ethic, and a desire to knock the quick, easy things off my looming to-do list... aren't Mondays just the worst?]

----------------

We had a school event last Friday night, an annual picnic/cookout that we've attended all 8 years we've been there. It was a good time, despite the sprinkling of rain going on throughout the evening. We came home with three dirty kids, I'll tell you that (one was a friend), but the burgers were good (and free), and there were lots of side dishes. You know I love the side dishes.

We mostly chatted with a couple we met at the very first one of these picnics, and with a family who's new to the school. I was happy to be able to help welcome the new family, since they have kids in both Alex's and Kate's homerooms. And the long-time friends are definitely some of my favorites; friends I know I could call on for help in time of trouble, or invite out for fun and expect an enthusiastic "yes." I'm so grateful. It's a wish that I wished long ago: to make friends.

But later in the weekend I caught myself thinking, all of this is temporary. One of these days, these friends will be part of the past, most likely. We'll move on to different high schools, our kids will make new friends, and, if I'm honest, my elementary and middle-school friends definitely aren't high on my list of "priority" friends anymore. My own parents DO keep up with parents of some  elementary school friends of mine, who lived across the street from us... but that's about it. Besides Facebook, of course. So that made me a little sad. The thoughts grew bigger, to, "Well, all of Life is temporary, actually...." and that made me feel really melancholy, mostly about these friends.


Unless, I guess, I dig deep into my faith and pray that I'll get to hang out with Ashley, Matt, Susan, Rick, Julie, Mike, Emily, John, Ellyn, Stephanie, Karen, Yvonne, and maybe newbies Wendy and Andy, in heaven. Not to mention all my other friends who, for now, aren't in my daily life but remain in my social media news feed. College friends, high school friends, work friends... and those of my kids whom I've yet to meet. Then we'll have a cookout for allllllll eternity. ;) It seems far away, of course. And it seems a little odd to think about, but perhaps it's something to hang some hope on.

Cheerful

Apparently expense reimbursement can only happen by Direct Deposit. And no one bothered to tell me this until today, so I am STILL not reimbursed the $380-something dollars they owe me for The Trip. Come ON, Company. This stuff is not that hard.

. . . . . . . .
I did not intend to start a blog post with negativity. It just happened. I mean, literally it just happened a few minutes ago, so I'm hot about it at the moment.

But most of all I am feeling SO, SO GOOD this morning. The children have been pleasant these past um, let me count... 22 and a half hours. 23 hours ago, maybe things were not so rosy, but no need to reminisce. ;) We're on the rosy side now, with high hopes to stay there firmly until two weeks from now, when a girl I know will have earned a very special privilege -- getting her ears pierced.

She's been adamantly against, in all the days leading up to yesterday morning. I would tease her every time we went into Claire's (which is often), saying, "Oooh, Kate, there's no one in the chair... I know you want to get your ears pierced today, right??" And it was always met with, "NO, no... doesn't it hurt?" and "Never! I am NOT doing that." But for some reason yesterday, she changed her mind.

She always announces things like this - big things or instances where I'm going to need to drive her somewhere - with, "Mommy. I have an IDEA." And she calls me to some corner where no one else will hear, or even SEE her ask me, and whispers. It's pretty cute (when I step back and take a minute to think about it... though sometimes in the moment, it's interruptive and I feel like it's a ploy, which it is).

SO, we're working on Maintaining Rosiness and Cheerfulness, through every schoolday morning and bedtime for 2 weeks, in order to earn this privilege. Habits are good to develop, especially if she's going to have to clean those ears and turn the earrings every night. (Oh, I just read the Claire's post-piercing instructions and they actually say to clean/turn them three times a day! Even better.) And this cheerfulness-at-certain-times-of-day THING is a habit she desperately needs to solidify. Perhaps it's hard transitioning back from the easy-breezy late-bedtime summer schedule. Perhaps.

Today was a good day.

I also feel pretty good because last Friday I asked for a raise and will probably get one. I'm terrible about doing that; it's long overdue. I've just gone along, la-la-la, accepting the piddly 1-2% yearly raises and being grateful for them -- being told that other departments weren't getting ANY raise or bonus, the past 2 or 3 years. But with significant changes to my role (before even telling me), it's time. And international travel? Ok, fine, but pay me accordingly. Anyway, I was told that my manager "absolutely" agrees with what I requested, and in fact she believes it was already added to our annual budget, so it's looking positive.

And finally, I walked this morning for 15 minutes before leaving for work. I'm trying to work this in to my morning routine. After Shawn and the kids leave, I put on my shoes and head out the door (thankfully the weather's allowing this. It should not be 80 degrees before 7:00 am, and finally it isn't. Bring on fall, though). Or, a couple of times I have done a "walking" video with Xfinity On Demand. It works, too. Whatever it takes to get moving. It's only fifiteen minutes but I know that's better than the zero minutes I've been doing for about 2 years. I really, really want to make it as "daily" a habit as possible. It does mean driving to work sweaty, but I have a 20-minute drive. It's long enough to cool down with the AC on high blast.

The kids are in school now full-time. I still have to schedule piano lessons and gymnastics, but we are Go for Launch and feeling good on a Monday.

Parenting-cation

Out of juice at 2:50 on a Friday afternoon. Can't bear the thought of opening up my Product Catalog Word doc. It would be false to pretend I have any good ideas for that project, anyway. There are only so many words -- only so many ways I can write/say the same thing over and over and make it feel new and fresh. I will try again on Monday, maybe. (Or after I let my fingers run here for a bit...)

We've had a really good week. It's such a gift to us, that Mom and Dad still want to host the kids for a week of Camp Grandmommy/Papa Joe. Jill asked me what were Shawn and I going to DO, with the kids gone a whole week?? So far the answer is: We're going to WATCH TV. Shows that WE want to watch. Ha, ha. First choice was the Netflix series "Stranger Things," and we both loved it. We watched 2 episodes a night. Lapped it up -- there were only 8 total. It's very sci-fi, very 80s, but also emotionally gratifying. (On the 80s topic, it reminded me of E.T., The Goonies, Tron, and A Wrinkle In Time, among plenty of other references.) One little character just tugged at my heartstrings. We hope they'll do a 2nd season.

We also watched Mockingjay Part 1, since we're behind on the Hunger Games movies. Excellent. And we've caught up on our Flipping Out recordings. What else? Oh, The EVENING NEWS, aren't we grown-up, and some politics (Libertarian Town Hall). It's a weird freedom, to have full HOURS of time we can fill up with media.

I've tried to do some reading, too. Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. It's excellent. The writing is unreal. I wish I could spin phrases like she does.

We ate out twice, I think, and plan to order Chinese tonight. (So we can watch something while we eat!!)

Oh, dear. All of a sudden I'm worried for us during retirement. That's something I think about regularly, actually -- when (if) we retire, what in the world are we going to do with ourselves? I guess I'll volunteer at the church or something. Help the choir director sort music. And we talk about how we'll take daily walks (...will we, really?). And sit on the porch. But what ELSE will we do, together? What are our common interests? (Um.) I suppose it'll work itself out, no need to panic. I do still have that 1,500 piece puzzle I bought the kids a year ago. ;)

Some pretty deep thoughts, here. School starts Monday/Wednesday.

Monday morning yapping

Our every-minute-planned summer, is nearing its end. I'm naturally finding it hard to believe, but at the same time, June also seems like eons ago.

Yesterday we bought school supplies. Those included a Swiss Army brand backpack for Alex, who hasn't had a new one in 3 years. He chose it himself, but we didn't realize until the cash register that it was a one-hundred-dollar backpack! Yipes. Still, a kid ought to have extremely nice things once in a while and not always the cheapest. So I bought it without another thought. ENJOY that backpack (until your sophomore year of high school at least), kiddo. ;)

Thankfully, and after an initial whine, Kate realized her Jansport from last year is still in FINE condition, and didn't bother me at the store about wanting a new one even though Alex was getting one. (And in the process she earned herself a Vera Bradley one for a Christmas gift, if I can remember. *goes to make a reminder note on the iPhone*)

We've had 1 week of well-received evening meals, and I have another one planned. Last week:
M- Bourbon Salmon (from the Publix seafood counter), wild rice, green beans
T- Chicken Tetrazini (I'd been wanting to make it for WEEKS) - with Alex away it was a good time, since he's not so much into the creamy casseroles. I think we made a Caesar salad to go with it.
W- BBQ sandwiches with Stouffer's Harvest Apples. Yes, they're both ready-made foods, but I whipped up a jalepeno cole slaw that Shawn really liked, so I felt quite accomplished indeed.
TH- Frozen Pizza (sorry not sorry) and salad, this time with tomatoes and cheese and croutons, you're welcome, Shawn
F- We went out to Bahama Breeze.

Okay, so it really wasn't that impressive, but at least I'd planned the days and we ate in every night but the one. ;) This week:

S- Spaghetti w/meatballs, garlic bread
M- Fish Tacos (just fish sticks for the kids), jalepeno cole slaw, and mac and cheese
T- Chicken Tortilla Soup (crockpot)
W- Sausage and potatoes (small pieces that are easier for Alex to eat with his braces)
TH- Chicken Patty sandwiches
F- (I think we're going out with some friends)

Why do I feel the need to record our daily suppers? I don't know! It's a weird quirk and a throwback to public mommy-blogging, I guess.

Over the weekend I did a LOT of cleaning out of clothes. Kate had received yet another giant 2 bags of hand-me-downs from our friends. Again, I'm so appreciative. But there are SO MANY things she either doesn't like or will never wear (15 pairs of athletic shorts, puffy-sleeved things, random event t-shirts...) so it always takes me a long time to sort through it all. For the moment, 3 of her 7 dresser drawers have been reorganized, and the closet emptied of things that were too small. (Some of which are going to Pensacola for the cousins, by the way, Mom and Dad.) Next round will be when it's time to switch over to fall. It's a full-time job, keeping up with the kids' clothes, I tell you! Reminds me of Grandmother, who rightly said it's real work to run a household.

Saturday the kids go to Mom and Dad's for their week of grandparents-and-cousins time. I think it's a nice way for them to end their break, with backyard pool parties and kitchen-table goodness. :) Wish I could go, but on the other hand, Shawn and I always enjoy our week's stay-cation from parenting, too.

Better get to work.

Zonked out

So far my jet lag is still showing. By 8:30 pm (2:30 am German time), I am simply DEAD TO THE WORLD. I mean, if I sit down, forget it. This happened again last night... not that I don't always fall asleep on the couch, because I do, but it has felt different. It's super-deep sleep. It huuuuuurts to wake from it. I hope last night was the last time and I'll feel better tonight (I have, during the days). Maybe I just won't let myself sit down. Coworkers who've made this trip laughed knowingly when I told them, so I guess it's normal.

Alex left for Scout camp yesterday. He did not seem in any way nervous about it. In fact, he was overheard talking with his friends: "I love how everyone's parked in the parking spaces and there's MY Dad's car, right in the middle of the lot...(sarcasm)". Haha! Such a tweenager-y thing to do, to disparage your OWN PARENTS. Hilarious (there weren't any more parking spots, as it happens). He didn't get to bunk with Brandon, like he'd requested, but he seems okay with it. Shawn and I are still bummed that he continues to place all his friendship stock in Brandon. When will he see that it isn't being fully reciprocated? I don't know. Maybe it is, and we just don't observe it. Anyway, he's with Charlie, and Brandon's nearby, and that's good - they're all friends. He barely had a second to tell us goodbye. Definitely didn't want Mom giving him any hugs in front of the guys. I tried to sneak one in anyway. ;)

Kate started a week-long Art camp today. She'll do drawing/painting/clay in the mornings and Musical Theater in the afternoons. She WAS excited about it, until the friend we signed up with didn't show this morning. I don't know what's going on with them - I had emailed and texted, everything short of picking up the phone, but I didn't want to be a nuisance - and gotten no response. They were the ones who wanted to set up a carpool for the week. I actually got concerned this morning. I texted a mutual friend, "Have you seen them? Is everything ok?" She replied, "oh they're fine, just busy." And OK, I get it -- busy is the default setting for most of us. But after hearing that, I'm perturbed. Courtesy, people. I was busy, going to Germany and back, and I still managed to email and text you. Whatever.

See, Self? You CAN travel abroad, and be fine. And even enjoy it a little bit

I survived. :)

I am so tired today. I didn't realize it when I was waking up in my own bedroom this morning, showering, getting ready... but as soon as I sat down at my regular desk, it hit me. Definitely feeling sluggish. Also, after 3 days of intense meetings, you forget what you're supposed to do on a "normal" day. And what is "normal," anymore? Our meetings were about a whole procedural and role shift, so that's fun. We left without feeling exactly, fully CLEAR about everything, and without really knowing whether the previous priorities are still priorities... or not.

One of my coworkers, whom I like very much, is more of a worrier than me. She would like to just continue wondering "what's next?" while I'm ready to just decide and move on. I'd rather get to the doing. We will, I guess. Dig in and start.

It's all just something to keep us busy for 8 hours and keep the paycheck coming, anyway. "We all work for the money," Jay told me long ago.

But let me tell you about traveling to Germany. (My worry and problem, I realize now, is that I'd rather not have to do it all by myself. Going through Passport Control? Not really scary. Getting off a plane in a foreign country where you don't speak the language? Okay, it's fine, and thankfully airports are all the same, and nicely Anglicized (is that a word?) so at least you can read the signs. Getting a taxi? Same in every country I guess. But still: all those things feel less stressful when you have a buddy. It didn't work out for me to have a buddy this time; everyone had to travel on different days. I made it, obviously -- I was given step-by-step instructions, down to the specifics of "Your can find an ATM to the left of baggage claim, and your cab ride to the hotel will probably cost you 60 Euros," and it was a relief and accomplishment to Make It, but next time I'd really rather not have to do all the thinking.

I may be 42, but I still prefer to feel taken care of. I was glad Malissa did the driving while we were there, or we could ask a hotel or restaurant person to call us a cab. The people speaking German could order our food for us. I never had to pay for meals past a certain point (company expense). And I was so much more comfortable having Shawn pick me up at the airport yesterday -- I could have parked my car there and driven myself home, but this way I was allowed to relax after a long day on the plane.)

There were beautiful parts, for sure. Driving by the cornfields. Seeing the foothills of the nearby Alps (very near Austria and Italy). The history and architecture in Munich. Sightseeing and crowds because there was a festival (Munich's Gay Pride as it turns out). No, wait, that wasn't actually a "favorite" part. Too crowded, too hot. I liked the Viktaulienmarkt. The classic Bavarian villages. The factory, at my company, and the people who work there -- having written about our company history/philosophy for so long, it was nice to see the actual "heartbeat." Being with the kind, good, fun people on my team. Having truly enjoyable, festive, celebratory meals. Having free time to read or do nothing in the evenings. (Blessed relief for a mom, no matter what!) Open windows at the hotel, even all night long, because it was SO HOT without AC. Seeing that little church around the corner. Our hotel itself, which was adorable. Bavaria, in general, and knowing now where it is, and what it is. I'm so grateful for all of that. And the chance to move around the world on someone else's dime is pretty sweet.

Returning on a Friday is also awesome.

First International Travel since 1999

I leave tomorrow for Germany. Am I ready? Not yet. I have bought a plug adapter, two luggage tags, and some new clothes; I have downloaded the airline app and made copies of my expedited passport (totally arrived in time, darn); and I have talked with the seasoned coworkers about where to find the ATM in the Munich airport. I've called AT&T and my debit and credit card companies to let them know where I'll be using their products. I even downloaded some podcasts to keep me busy during the long flights, and of course I'll take a book or two. I think I'm getting close to ready.

Work-wise, I'm also trying to prepare. Think smart. Sound professional. I have a need to impress, at this meeting, I think, which I'm not opposed to, but it's outside my comfort zone. Usually I am the attendee who sits quietly, listens, takes notes, and then I process and figure out what I think about things later. But I want to be on top of things for this one, and show 'em what I've got. Or at least, that's what I feel I'm expected to do. With the last few days of our manager's tenure remaining, maybe I'm starting to feel like I need to push harder, make a difference, be more leader-like, and make my career more meaningful. Or something. I'm wrestling with it because I really LIKE my "in the background" role and don't know if I want to give that up, exactly, but I also don't want to be seen as someone who needs another controlling manager. Lots of thoughts.

Tomorrow I'll be busy celebrating Alex's birthday in the morning (I took vacation time), while I pack my clothes and industrial-strength laptop bag. Tonight we'll go to dinner and maybe sing to him as a family. The week of the 25th, he'll finally get to have some semblance of a "party," which at 12, means just a friend coming to sleep over. Maybe a trip to the mall where I let them go off by themselves for a while (remember, Mom?). :)

I can't believe I haven't traveled abroad in so long. Since our family trip to Japan in 1999!

Vacation is better, and two book reviews

It's been another 19 days or so, fully packed with activities and summer fun.

We picked up Kate at summer camp. She was barely interested in seeing me when we entered her cabin on pick-up day. (No giant hug, can you believe that?! She asked, "Where's Daddy?") She hadn't yet transitioned back to the real world and admitted that she didn't want to leave. In short, she had an amazing time just like we knew she would, and even made a friend that she's keeping in touch with (in this day and age the moms exchange cell numbers and the kids text!).

The very next day we packed up and pointed the car toward the Gulf of Mexico. As always, it was a week in the sunshine, with pool time and family time (cousins!) and lots of reading.

I read this book that I am having SO MANY feelings about! Finished it 3 days ago, and I think I'm finally over it...mostly. It's a Philippa Gregory, but I'm so glad it wasn't the first one I read by her, because it was terrible. And yet, so compelling. The main character was a Downton-Abbey-Lady-Mary-like daughter who couldn't inherit, but unlike Mary she had no morals whatsoever. Although she did get her comeuppance by the end of the story, even that wasn't quite satisfactory. It was the first of the Wideacre trilogy. At first, I thought I would certainly want to read the second book, but I have since decided against it. Still, I devoured this one - truly spent ALL of my free time reading its 650 pages at the beach - and I can't figure out if Gregory's writing style was what intrigued me, or just the utter dislike of that character, or the time period, or what.

Before Wideacre, I read Celia Garth, which was MUCH better. Big fan of that one. Totally recommend you read it; it's about Charleston during/after the Revolutionary War and simply charming. Well, a little tedious during the actual wartime, but I think that was on purpose, to illustrate the tedium and hardship of war itself. Still: Lovable characters.

After THAT, we drove north to Virginia to wish Nanny a happy 90th birthday. We were tired, and tired of driving, but glad to celebrate such a sweet lady and see some of Shawn's numerous cousins that we never see.

We're back at work, and the kids are going to gymnastics camp in the mornings.

Last week was better, but so far this week's okay. 

...annnnnnd I'm going to Germany

Naturally, I failed to update my passport "just in case" so today I spent 2 hours at the Post Office waiting for my turn for a terrible photo, so they could stamp "EXPEDITE" on my envelope.

But I'm going to Germany, to company HQ, in July. My manager's parting "gift" to me as she resigns, to move herself into, as she described it, an "8 to 5" job where she doesn't have to travel, since she wants to start a family. (Only slightly ironic since she's making me, who already HAS a family, leave the country on Alex's birthday. But I digress. Or split hairs.)

I'm not bummed about the trip, actually, except for my hesitance toward international travel in general, and travel during European HOLIDAY season which I know from experience can be an airline nightmare. It will be fun to meet some of my colleagues in person and, I mean, Germany! Reinauer! I'm going home, haha! (ALSO: BEER!)

I AM really bummed about the timing/short notice, and that I had to shell out extra for my expedited passport. And about the birthday. I know Alex will not really care up front, and Kate will be okay too, and Shawn will be okay. I just never saw myself as a world-traveling-working mom, I guess. Domestic, mayyyyybe. What I hope is that They - the corporate They - won't see this as their gateway to making me travel regularly. I am not interested in going abroad as a frequent flyer, TYVM.

Sigh. I don't know. Sherry, remember when we traveled to SWU (ATL to Charlotte, woo!) when we both had babies at home? That sucked. Thankfully they're not babies anymore, but still.

Germany! Beer! (trying to be excited)

Health kick, and a quick summary of May

I had half-caff coffee this morning and am therefore a little slow to start today. Need to grease up the wheels and get going, but eh... Monday. The managers are away this morning at a photoshoot, so I SHOULD be using the time to be productive, uninterrupted. I can't seem to do that just yet.

It's been a while, no? A busy couple of weeks there, at the end of May. We closed out the school year, I attended a local 2-day conference for work, Shawn got strep, I left him that very day to visit Jill in Seattle for her birthday weekend, he took the kids to Nanny's anyway (wore a surgical mask!), we began our Summer of Fun with Carli the Super-Babysitter, this past weekend we had my birthday and then dropped Kate off at WinShape, and here we are!

That paragraph doesn't seem like enough to illustrate those 20 days, but like I said, I'm less than fully awake. Jill doesn't drink caffeine much, so I feel like I should drink less. I'm also trying to be low-carb this week, and I vaguely remember from one of the low-carb diets that limiting caffeine is part of the deal. I do get headaches pretty badly when I don't have ANY caffeine, so maybe half-caff will be the way to wean myself from the addiction a bit. But ugh, it sucks right in this moment where I can't stop yawning.

*flits off to read more low-carb info online for a minute because you know how I love "studying" diet/nutrition ideas/rabbit-holes*

I do have some feelings about some of the previous weeks' events. Mainly:

• Kate being away at camp. Yes, I got teary when we left. My baby, so big. She expressed some understandable nervousness in the 2 weeks leading up to her departure yesterday, which in turn made me nervous. However, after many discussions with my parents and Shawn, we're all still convinced (I knew this going in, but sometimes emotions get in the way) that it's going to be wonderful for her. I think the independence from ME, in particular, will serve her well. She noticed her name on a chores list, when we were unpacking her stuff, and she was assigned to Mop. HA! I love it. Yes, indeed, teach the girl to mop and do all the other chores, please!! I realized that she's getting a small taste of what it will be like to move away from home when she's grown, and this is an invaluable lesson. I was lucky enough to have camps like this to prepare me, and so will my kids. I'm happy about that.
• My 42nd birthday. Some talks with a coworker recently about her health and getting older in general, as well as some personal body signals, have motivated me to reconsider (again again again) how I'm eating and that I must exercise. So. Low-carb for a bit. Eat LESS. Water. Vitamins. I walked 30 minutes last night and brought my shoes to work today. Let's do this.  (But let's not obsess or count or any of that ultimately deflating nonsense.)
• Visiting Jilly was fun. She's keeping busy, I can tell, and kept me busy, too, but she's also doing remarkably WELL for someone in her situation right now, and she is surrounded with the QUALITY friends that she needs and deserves, to help her if she needs help. I'm very proud of her and happy for her, and I promise, Mom and Dad, that you'll hear the bulk of the backstory soon. I learned that she was waiting for the final conclusion of the process, and that has happened. She told me that every time she tells it, she thinks it's good (meaning cleansing and healing).
• It was also fun because we did hot yoga! I was pretty intimidated but handled the WHOLE class - I didn't have to step out, although I did have to get used to dripping with sweat, something I have NEVER enjoyed. ;) But I could do the poses, even better than some of the other women in there (I know I know, yoga isn't about being "the best" but it's good to feel at least average). Also in my 42nd year I am going to try another yoga studio here. I AM, HEAR ME.

Sunny springtime, 6 pm in the backyard

I've just got to capture, for future-me, the immensely happy feeling I had yesterday, and all the past weekend, before I forget it. It will fade away, guaranteed, with all the things that will happen between now and the future.

It wasn't any grand adventure or big event. It was just us. Just a very unplanned, no commitments weekend in spring - the kind I love best. In fact, I was SO spontaneous that late the week before, I texted the mom of a friend of Kate's, to ask if she could spend the night. And she could! So I drove her home with us after school on Friday and the two girls were very happy. They were so BUSY in Kate's room -- creating an "office" in her closet, and their "business," and asking me to come shop at their store, complete with pretend money. They drew/colored the paper money and cut it out themselves. They stayed up until nearly midnight. I let 'em. Kids love doing those kinds of "dangerous" things when it's a radical night like a sleepover, right? :) I was happy to let them. (Honestly, I snoozed on the couch while they watched multiple episodes of Disney sitcoms.)

Saturday I woke up and made just-add-milk-easy muffins for them, then left! Haircut and color. I hope Shawn wasn't upset with me for leaving him with the extra kid, but it had to be done. I have a feeling they played better without me there. Kate still tends to need me to be with her. We took Reese home Saturday afternoon and then went out for dinner at our new favorite BBQ place. So yummy. We played frisbee in the backyard afterwards, AND jumped on the trampoline. That's where the magic started -- our backyard. These spring nights have been just perfect. Low humidity, lots of sun, cool breeze, no pollen, no bugs. I mean... right?? We had to have dinner outside on Sunday,  because I couldn't be kept away from that weather. (Chicken fajitas, yum.) And we played more frisbee and then the kids trampolined some more while I sat, enjoying their giggles and the breeze. I called Mom and Dad.

Other little things making me happy:

• We bought outdoor pillows for the front porch bench and chairs and they're a lovely little touch I didn't realize we needed. I love them (red, of course).
• While we still haven't extended the back porch or fixed the fence, I think our backyard is looking great and inviting, thanks mostly to Shawn's hard work (with Alex's help) to plant some azaleas and lillies, and lay a brick border. And my firepit. :) All that it needs are four $20 chairs from Target.
• Monday, today, I have been able to hold onto this Filled-Up-With-Sunshine-&-Family-Time feeling. I've really really worked at staying filled up (still am). Not letting the office burst my bubble, no sir!
• One funny thing: I managed to do some yoga last night before the kids went to bed. However, while I was trying my new pose (Fish pose - not too hard, surprisingly, but in fact I AM rightly sore from it this afternoon)... in the living room next to me were three different soundtracks: Shawn's video game - gunshots mostly, rapid-fire; Kate's YouTube video - no headphones so I could hear the guy's British accent distinctly; and Alex's YouTube video he was watching -- same British YouTube gamer guy, different episode, also no headphones. I was trying to find my zen inside my head. [[big eyes of wonderment]]

Empty and blah

My tank is just EMPTY for work today. I am so over it. I know, I know, I say that all the time. I've actually been getting things done pretty well here lately -- digging deep and making progress on my big projects, and checking things off the list. But not today. I drafted something online and somehow hit the wrong key and it all disappeared, and there was no CTRL-Z UNDO to save me. So deflating. I just gave up after that, and it was only about 2:15.

The latest news is that we're moving our office. Only some of us. Only "sales and marketing." And they're planning to move us to midtown Atlanta. Which ISN'T GONNA WORK FOR ME and they know it. At least, I think they know it. I have done the hour-each-way commute before and I do not want to go back to that. I'm old enough to know better. My manager was very quick to try and laugh it off when the move was unceremoniously announced 2 weeks ago, and to assure me there would be flex-time options. I'll believe it when I see it, and yeah that would be great, but more than that I pray I won't be around to see it. In the meantime, though, before August, we're also supposed to squeeze into half the office space we're currently using. (Of course, my managers don't have to move. Very conveniently, they've managed to keep THEIR offices in the new floorplan, isn't that interesting?) But the marketing peons, myself and the graphic designer? We're being added to a block of cubicles with Accounting/Collections and next to Customer Service. Who are all on the phone 8 hours a day. Perfect for creative work, right? headdesk headdesk FML, get me my headphones and killmenow.

Besides all that, and this gets into some of the nitty-gritty of marketing (or at least marketing at our dumb company), but we're trying to roll out a New Brand Strategy and it's not easy. I was given this title of "Content Specialist," you know, but we're still trying to define the role. Last I heard, it means I'm going to have to work MORE closely with the Manager I dislike. I'm going to have to COME UP WITH the story ideas, plan them all out, including content for all the different "channels" like social media, articles online, brochures, newsletters, whatever... Oh, and also write it. All of it (the global English version). Oh, and if someone asks for a webinar on X subject? I probably will have to write -- or at least edit -- that, too, ensuring that it's in our New Brand Voice. President needs to send a letter to our customers? Welp, there's no Executive Assistant so Lee is tasked with that too. Customer Service needs a new script in the New Brand Voice? Where's Lee. She should do that.

I've already been getting bogged down in the details of the "Brand Voice." There are rules and intricacies, so even when I'm just trying to write a 25-character sub-headline, I can't just write it. It's like working a damn jigsaw puzzle to get every word exactly right. And then someone gets to veto it, if she feels like it. 

It's just too much, all the time, with no hope of ever having help (because budget - we still aren't making our sales numbers. I don't think we ever have, in all the years I've been here). Losing game, truly.

I'm sorry, I have been consciously trying not to feed my own negativity machine by writing about this here. I have done some real soul-searching about what's important to me, and really finding that I CAN focus just on those things, if I try. I've been having a better attitude, I promise. And I DO want to write about this past weekend, and our FAMILY busy-ness (=what's important to me), and moments of joy and Kate being sweet and Alex being sweet and growing up, and mine and Shawn's 15th anniversary. THAT life is perfect and full and wonderful.

But some days, I have to get it out of my head, about this job. I don't share it at home for a variety of reasons, and I don't share it with IRL friends because, I don't know, I don't want to be the one who's always complaining about her job. (So you're stuck reading it.)

Today I had a tiny idea, the briefest moment of inspiration, about what I MIGHT like to be writing - what I could give the world. It would cost me $8 to buy a domain name, and I might do that, just to see and make one small step toward DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. But meanwhile I do have to help put food on the table, and I'd rather stop doing that by being miserable here.

Schreiben

I've been writing in a little European booklet that was given to me by a coworker who'd been to Germany. It says, at the top, Schreiben ist nur eine Art des Sprechens, bei der man nicht unterbrochen wird." Which means, I think: Writing is just the art of speaking, without being interrupted.

Amen. Interruptions are for the birds. So I have been starting my workday mornings there, with bulleted gratitude and pleasantness. Counting blessings, without being interrupted. I start MY day -- my day belongs to ME, I've discovered, not to Am03na (or any other office), even as difficult as that sometimes is to believe. It's MY day, to begin with gratitude and whatever (coffee, stretching, meditation/prayer sometimes) makes it a GOOD day for me. It took me 41.5 years to learn this.

I haven't been writing much here, as a result. Something about that book feels a tiny bit more sacred to me. Maybe it's because the lights in the office aren't turned on yet, usually, when I write there. All's quiet so it feels more like mine.

The best thing I'm learning lately is that everything is so, so good -- that my life is the awesome big things, Family, Faith, HOME, peace, hope, and not the dumb little things like the workday to-do list or the associated drama. Sure, I have to DO those things, and function alongside them, but they're not my calling. Some big stuff. I've known it, but not been able to tap into it on a daily basis, because it takes work, to keep truth at the forefront of your mind. Especially today with falsehoods and untruths (and drama) coming at us from all directions in the palms of our hands and the Tweets of our feeds. But also because Jobs like to be loud and distracting, and if we don't fight against them, they'll dictate our lives. I'm fighting against that and thankful mine is a job that stays put in its box, in the office, after I leave. I pray never to have a job that WON'T stay in its box.

However, last Friday I had a small taste of what it might be like to work for myself as a freelance writer, at home. MAN, it was nice. I had some work to do -- I had played hooky from work, actually, much to my conscience's dismay -- so I did 30 full minutes of yoga and a lonnnnng savasana (because of the conscience, I was trying to calm myself down), then I sat down to work for an hour or so. I wrote and edited. I turned off the computer. Then I left the house with a bunch of errands to complete before spending the afternoon at school, volunteering until 5:00pm. And YEP, that is definitely how I would like to spend my days if I could. I love being at school, I've discovered, and would like to find more ways to be there, more often.

Post-Break: Feeling Relaxed, Planning Dinners

It's my first day back to work after Spring Break 2016, and it's nearly noon, so I'm just finishing my "Ease Back In" program, which consists of reading my emails, then reading my blogs and goofing around a bit while also checking various things like the company Facebook page and my calendars/to-do lists. I figure half a day is a good time limit, and allows me some hours to remember what it's like to sit here all day 5 days a week.

And to write down my FEELINGS about it. ;) Thusly:

I do really need a refresher, honestly, about work, because I took the week OFF. And I do mean, off, from ANY and ALL responsibilities. I didn't cook much, I didn't clean much, I didn't ever ONCE sit down at the computer or look at a Google calendar, and I certainly let go of my work stuff for the week. It was nice. I needed a break. I'm unsure if the kids really had fun, but they say they did. I felt a little social-media-inspired guilt, seeing everyone away at this or that beach, or London or California or a Caribbean cruise, like some of our acquaintances. WTH, everyone? Does no one value the STAYCATION? I do. I valued it a lot. Like I said, we didn't make a lot of plans. We hiked the mountain and picnicked, which has become our Spring Break Staycation Tradition (I didn't even feel sore the next day, I'll have you know), and we ordered Chinese food one night and played Table Tennis and 100-pin bowling on the Wii, which was fun. We saw a movie (Zootopia, CUTE), Kate had a long playdate, Alex went to a sleepover, and that's really about it. The kids stayed up 'til about 10 every night, as they are doing lately on the weekends, but that was fine I suppose. We used the excuse of "Daddy has to work tomorrow" to send them to bed at 10. It was too bad he didn't have the week off like the rest of us, but having that limit was a good thing.

I slept "in" every morning until about 7:30 -- Kate until about 8:00 (Alex still woke up early as is his norm). I read two whole books, both awesome. (Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, and then Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier.) We had a few lunches out (Subway, McDonald's) and several of leftovers or sandwiches. We got ice cream one afternoon. I went out for Mexican food and margaritas with some mom friends. We just took it easy. I had joked with a coworker that I was going to nap every day; unfortunately, that didn't quite happen, but still, the days felt luxuriously lazy.

I'm so grateful that I had enough vacation days this year to cover the week. I'm so grateful my kids were okay with doing basically nothing. I'm so sad it's over. But, sigh. It's time to come back to the real world, and be engaged and Do Things. ;)

I'm trying to rev back up to "normal routine" standards. Getting a cold late last week didn't help for motivation but I'm feeling better today than I did Friday/Saturday. Made a big list at work this morning. LOTS of big tasks that need breaking up into smaller tasks, this afternoon. Checked the family G-cal today and remembered a couple of events, like I'm responsible for snack for the Girl Scouts this Wednesday, whoops! Shawn has to chaperone a Drama Club rehearsal, AND take the kids to their dentist appointments this afternoon! Teamwork, it's how we roll.

AND I tried to put together a decent dinner menu for the week. I said over on Lagliv.blogspot.com, that I've been wholly uninspired lately, and really, really bored with trying to come up with dinners every night. Her blog is full of suggestions, so I'm excited to think about and plan a few new things. First, my menus for this week:

S - (last night) Maple-glazed salmon, buttered broccoli and wild rice [SO YUM. Everyone ate it, no leftovers.]
M - Pizza Casserole with sausage and pepperoni (if I can get it done quickly when we get home tonight), garlic toast
T - Frozen chicken tenders w/BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes and corn, and Stouffers Harvest apples
W - Burgers and tater tots! Everyone's favorite!
Th - "Whatever" night -- with gymnastics at 6:30 and then me leaving for choir, I do Spaghetti-Ohs or corn dogs or mac and cheese for the kids usually, and Shawn heats up a bachelorhood-nostalgia favorite like SOS or Salisbury Steak when he gets home. Lame, but it's working for us for now.
F - (Shake n Bake) Crispy Baked Chicken Breasts, green beans and maybe salad, crescent rolls

Bookmarking some of the things I think look interesting that LL has mentioned (she's a working mom slash weekday dinner inspiration!):
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/soups/cheeseburger-soup/
http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2012/03/black-bean-spinach-enchiladas.html
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13983/mexican-vegetable-rice/

Summer Schedule 2016

No more daycare camp for us! We shall have, I declare, an easy, breezy, FUN summer, thanks to the commitment of our dear, darling babysitter, Carli.

I love Carli. For $9/hour plus some gas money and meals, she's going to (I hope) be a game-changer.

Thankfully, the kids love her, too. I had my camp-panic a few weeks ago, and then I got busy. Without further ado, here's what the kids' summer looks like so far.

May 30-June 3 -- Memorial Day week, so we'll have Monday off, of course, but then T-F will be spent at home, and/or at the pool, with Carli at the helm. I'm hoping for 8 am to 5 pm. Still need to talk with Shawn (and he with his boss) about his and my schedules -- would be nice for me to leave by 7am so I can come home by 4:30pm, but that might mean Shawn needs to be home until 8am, which would be weird for him, I bet.

Jun 6-10 -- Kate will be at Winshape for the first time! Sleepaway camp! My baby. Say a prayer -- she wants to go -- is excited to go -- but is also a little nervous since Alex decided NOT to go. Still... if Alex could handle it, shy and reserved as he is, then surely strong-willed Kate can, too. This first week, I'm hoping I can convince Alex to do a swimming camp at the YMCA in the mornings.

Jun 13-17 -- Winshape week 2! I don't have anything planned for Alex but maybe that's okay. As long as he doesn't watch YouTube videos 8 hours a day, I'm cool. (Perhaps I will increase the Family Summer Reading Project from 4 books to 6 or 8, however.)

Jun 20-24 -- Beach Vacation. We already know how I feel about that!

Jun 27-July 1 -- This is a week I'm unsure about, but might include a mornings-only camp at the kids' gymnastics school. It's easy and Kate loved it last year. Alex might not be totally enthused, but it's air conditioned and has a trampoline and a foam pit - how could he complain?

Jul 4-8 -- Might be a "regular" Carli week. She's offered to take the kids to her pool (her parents' neighborhood?), and I've said she can use our pool, so I think we're covered. I say they go every day for a couple of hours. Why not?

Jul 11-15 -- Maybe to Savannah, maybe to Pensacola?

July 18-22 -- Alex's week at Boy Scout Camp in North Carolina. Kate is signed up, thanks to the excellent planning of another mom-friend, at Art Camp all day with her buddy, Siena. I think it's drawing/art in the mornings, and musical theater (squee!) in the afternoons.

Jul 25-29 -- Alex will have Video Game design class at the same Art Camp in the afternoons, 1:30 - 4:30. Kate will hang out with Carli and do some Summer reading of her own, I hope.

Aug 1-5 -- Maybe to Savannah, maybe to Pensacola?


So, still a few holes, but it's starting to shape up very nicely, I think.