So, there are only 351 days until everyone stops talking about the Mayan Calendar, and that reference to the end of the world. I believe no man knows the day or hour of the end of the world, so I can't trust that it will be on December 21, 2012. I do, however, feel like we should live each day to it's fullest, and never put off joy or family fun. My oldest daughter will turn 22 this year. My baby girls will turn 13, which means I will officially have teenagers, AGAIN! My days with my children are always numbered, and I plan to enjoy them as much as I can this year. But as you all know, I do that every year.
I will be turning 30-17 this year, which means I am living my 26th bonus year of life. I never thought I'd make it past 21. I figured an "end of the world" year is as good as any to do some bucket list stuff. I think this might be the year that I actually jump out of a perfectly fine airplane. The biggest event, so far, for me this year will be running the Cowtown Marathon, well the 5K, but that's a lot for me. I am not a runner. I needed a motivator to get into shape and lose weight, and it seemed reasonable. My husband, my oldest daughter, and one of the twins will be running the 5K, too. We've never participated in an event together where we all showed up and finished. I will begin trotting next week, and hopefully I will be jogging soon. The 5k will take place the end of February, so I should have enough time to get ready. I would like to lose 35 pounds, and maybe more. If I eat better, and exercise daily, I think I can achieve my goal in just a few months. Another thing I would like to do this summer is spend a week on the beach. I would like to do that without looking like a whale.
We will be having a Family Meeting this weekend to plan mini-trips, camps, vacations, camping trips, and other activities. I will also begin researching and planning meals that will enable us all to become more fit. I am looking forward to getting together with the family and planning our year. We haven't done that in a while, and I have high hopes that this year will be good, slimming, energetic, and memorable.
I hope you are having a great New Year, and that you take extra time to do something you would normally do, something out of your comfort zone, something that benefits you long after you do it, and you look back on it with pride.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Again, how does the time fly by?
I have been so busy since my last post in August. Of course, school started, and so did all of the activities that go with that. Soccer practice and games. Volleyball tryouts...Basketball tryouts. Cross country practices before school and meets after school. Dance class. Choir practice at church. Band rehearsals and Region Band tryouts, not to mention concerts. None of this includes the extra days and longer day hours that my husband seems to be applying to his job as well. I hate to admit it, but I am actually thankful that we don't have a family member on the volleyball or basketball team...I just don't want to do it.
In between the early mornings to school, and the practices after school, and the games on the weekends, there is homework to be done, chores to complain about, and time to enjoy what activities we can fit in the down time. We still manage to sit down to dinner a few nights a week. This year in particular, I have come to realize that we have quality conversations in the car now. Although there are still a lot of nonsense in the form of questions and statements, there are more and more teachable moments, and moments where we can explain our values to the kids. I guess it's always been that way, but maybe because they are getting older, I am noticing that the quality of the conversations are better.
Even though it sounds like we are so very busy all the time, I have also noticed that we are home a lot more than we used to be. Maybe that's because I am not running the PTA anymore. Maybe that's because the girls' school doesn't offer multiple clubs everyday after school, that they feel they must be a part of. Maybe it's because I asked the girls to choose just one music activity. I'm sure it is a combination of all. I know I have a lot less responsibility outside the house, and I am getting a lot projects done on the new home. I doubt that the girls have actually noticed, but I'm sure they would tell you they are enjoying being home more, too.
I read a blog the other day where a wife and mother was talking about families eating dinner together every night being the best way to raise good children. I believe that eating dinner with your family is important, but I also believe there is something to the time spent in the car as well. As I read the blog, I recalled the many, many hours spent in the car with my oldest daughter when I worked outside the house. I had an hour commute from home to work. It was just the two of us back then. I could have chosen a daycare near home, but I chose to spend that time in the car with her instead. She was so young, and she could be annoying at times, and I don't have to tell you that two hours a day in the car can get very long. Those moments enabled me to get to know her, since I was away from her all day. Most days, we ate together when we got home, but we talked more in the car than at the table. Being able to stay home with the next two kids gave me more time over the course of the day to get to know them well. Now that they are in school all day, and becoming teenagers, I get nuggets of who they are becoming little by little. I will continue to appreciate the conversations, whether they happen at home or in the car.
In between the early mornings to school, and the practices after school, and the games on the weekends, there is homework to be done, chores to complain about, and time to enjoy what activities we can fit in the down time. We still manage to sit down to dinner a few nights a week. This year in particular, I have come to realize that we have quality conversations in the car now. Although there are still a lot of nonsense in the form of questions and statements, there are more and more teachable moments, and moments where we can explain our values to the kids. I guess it's always been that way, but maybe because they are getting older, I am noticing that the quality of the conversations are better.
Even though it sounds like we are so very busy all the time, I have also noticed that we are home a lot more than we used to be. Maybe that's because I am not running the PTA anymore. Maybe that's because the girls' school doesn't offer multiple clubs everyday after school, that they feel they must be a part of. Maybe it's because I asked the girls to choose just one music activity. I'm sure it is a combination of all. I know I have a lot less responsibility outside the house, and I am getting a lot projects done on the new home. I doubt that the girls have actually noticed, but I'm sure they would tell you they are enjoying being home more, too.
I read a blog the other day where a wife and mother was talking about families eating dinner together every night being the best way to raise good children. I believe that eating dinner with your family is important, but I also believe there is something to the time spent in the car as well. As I read the blog, I recalled the many, many hours spent in the car with my oldest daughter when I worked outside the house. I had an hour commute from home to work. It was just the two of us back then. I could have chosen a daycare near home, but I chose to spend that time in the car with her instead. She was so young, and she could be annoying at times, and I don't have to tell you that two hours a day in the car can get very long. Those moments enabled me to get to know her, since I was away from her all day. Most days, we ate together when we got home, but we talked more in the car than at the table. Being able to stay home with the next two kids gave me more time over the course of the day to get to know them well. Now that they are in school all day, and becoming teenagers, I get nuggets of who they are becoming little by little. I will continue to appreciate the conversations, whether they happen at home or in the car.
Monday, August 22, 2011
School, fiscal years, and bottom lines
For businesses, the fiscal year is a big deal. Some run January to December, others run oddly from an autumn month to another. A Stay at Home Mother's fiscal year runs August to June. My job has gotten easier over the years. I used to work 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 (366) days a year. Now I am "on call" for some of those hours. "On call" is a fun place to be. It's a change I with which I am on board.
Donned in new clothing, and school supplies secured, the girls walked across the road to carpool with the neighbor to school for the first day of seventh grade. Unbelievable that my little girls are seventh graders! The drama of the morning was deciding what to take for classroom use on the first day of school. Pencils, pens, highlighters, eraser, pencil sharpener, scissors, paper, spiral notebook, binder...to backpack or not to backpack, that was the question. It was finally decided to backpack, along with a bag of gym clothes and band instruments. When it was all said and done, I was guilty of waking them up too early because they had to sit around for 20 minutes and wait to leave for school. I am in deed a terrible mother.
For the first time since 2000, I am not a member of the PTA, and that means I am not In Charge! PTA didn't take that much of my time, but there was always planning to be done. This year, there is still a lot of planning to be done, but it is all about me! We moved into this house in December. For three months, I spent two hours a day driving the girls to and from their old school 21 miles away. The last two months of school, the girls attended school in town, but I was busy finishing out the PTA school year at their old school, and just trying to keep up at home. I had grand plans to complete several projects over the summer, but the average temperature outside from June to today has been at least 100 degrees. It was too hot to even think about getting very much done. But, this is my year! Again, this a change I am behind.
I have a list a mile long, but I am very excited about it. First, I am going to inventory the refrigerators, freezers, and pantry to see what I actually need to use up, throw away, or stock up. Then, I am going to CLEAN this house from top to bottom. The previous homeowners were not the cleanest people and I really need to scrub some areas, like the baseboards. Then, I am going to clean out closets and the 3rd car garage, and donate everything we are not using. Then...I can start completing all of the projects. One of the first will be to paint the girls' bedrooms and the bathrooms. I think that will make them really feel like they are home.
It took us a little while to find a church home, but we feel that we have found it. This week we started attending a Sunday School class to, not only spend more time learning more from the bible but, meet more people at church. There are probably over 1300 people that attend that church, and a lot of them come from our neighborhood. My biggest commitment begins on Wednesday when I start going to choir practice. The choir sings every other Sunday for at least two of the three services. I have been putting off joining the choir because of the commitment, but it is time for this change, too.
I have enjoyed our swimming pool during this extremely HOT summer. We have three years to pay it off. We want to see that happen sooner. My husband is concerned about paying it off and attempting to pay off the mortgage ahead of time, too. He must retire from his current position in 10 years. This mandatory change does not in any way secure another position for him. He doesn't doubt that he will find another job, but he can't be sure of what it will pay or the absolute security of the position. He wants me to get a job to help pay off the house. I don't want to go back into engineering. I can't think of anything else I want to do, or am qualified to do, that pays as well. My biggest project this fall is to go over our household budget with a finetoothed comb, and then stick to it. I will explore my money-making options as I work to save as much money as possible. I need to change my "I want it and we have the money for it" attitude. That is the bottom line!
So, my fiscal year begins today. Change is good. My little girls are growing up. I have been poor and broke, so I know how to save money. I will be working on real projects by September 1.
Yee-haw, load 'em up, move 'em out.
Donned in new clothing, and school supplies secured, the girls walked across the road to carpool with the neighbor to school for the first day of seventh grade. Unbelievable that my little girls are seventh graders! The drama of the morning was deciding what to take for classroom use on the first day of school. Pencils, pens, highlighters, eraser, pencil sharpener, scissors, paper, spiral notebook, binder...to backpack or not to backpack, that was the question. It was finally decided to backpack, along with a bag of gym clothes and band instruments. When it was all said and done, I was guilty of waking them up too early because they had to sit around for 20 minutes and wait to leave for school. I am in deed a terrible mother.
For the first time since 2000, I am not a member of the PTA, and that means I am not In Charge! PTA didn't take that much of my time, but there was always planning to be done. This year, there is still a lot of planning to be done, but it is all about me! We moved into this house in December. For three months, I spent two hours a day driving the girls to and from their old school 21 miles away. The last two months of school, the girls attended school in town, but I was busy finishing out the PTA school year at their old school, and just trying to keep up at home. I had grand plans to complete several projects over the summer, but the average temperature outside from June to today has been at least 100 degrees. It was too hot to even think about getting very much done. But, this is my year! Again, this a change I am behind.
I have a list a mile long, but I am very excited about it. First, I am going to inventory the refrigerators, freezers, and pantry to see what I actually need to use up, throw away, or stock up. Then, I am going to CLEAN this house from top to bottom. The previous homeowners were not the cleanest people and I really need to scrub some areas, like the baseboards. Then, I am going to clean out closets and the 3rd car garage, and donate everything we are not using. Then...I can start completing all of the projects. One of the first will be to paint the girls' bedrooms and the bathrooms. I think that will make them really feel like they are home.
It took us a little while to find a church home, but we feel that we have found it. This week we started attending a Sunday School class to, not only spend more time learning more from the bible but, meet more people at church. There are probably over 1300 people that attend that church, and a lot of them come from our neighborhood. My biggest commitment begins on Wednesday when I start going to choir practice. The choir sings every other Sunday for at least two of the three services. I have been putting off joining the choir because of the commitment, but it is time for this change, too.
I have enjoyed our swimming pool during this extremely HOT summer. We have three years to pay it off. We want to see that happen sooner. My husband is concerned about paying it off and attempting to pay off the mortgage ahead of time, too. He must retire from his current position in 10 years. This mandatory change does not in any way secure another position for him. He doesn't doubt that he will find another job, but he can't be sure of what it will pay or the absolute security of the position. He wants me to get a job to help pay off the house. I don't want to go back into engineering. I can't think of anything else I want to do, or am qualified to do, that pays as well. My biggest project this fall is to go over our household budget with a finetoothed comb, and then stick to it. I will explore my money-making options as I work to save as much money as possible. I need to change my "I want it and we have the money for it" attitude. That is the bottom line!
So, my fiscal year begins today. Change is good. My little girls are growing up. I have been poor and broke, so I know how to save money. I will be working on real projects by September 1.
Yee-haw, load 'em up, move 'em out.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
How does the time just fly by?
I have a plaque on my kitchen counter that says, "Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." I love it for the play on words, but it is so true at my house. I am, at times, taken over by fruit flies in my kitchen. I have decided that they live in my houseplants. Good thing I only have two plants. Living out in the country, I seem to get more houseflies in the house now. I don't know why I have more of them out here either. I suppose they could be coming from the garage. We have three trash cans out there, as opposed to the one we had at our last house. I think they come in from the back and front doors, too. I do know for sure that I need to invest in a better fly swatter.
Bigger than the fly epidemic, this summer is just flying by. I had planned to paint the girls bedrooms by now. I have a cabinet and a dinette set that I planned to refinish in a darker stain in June. Our back door was repaired around February, and I still haven't painted the outer side of the door. I installed a cabinet in the laundry room, but the trim is still missing. The list just gets longer. It's not that I haven't actually had the time either. Yes, somethings have come up that stole my time away, like my mother being in the hospital, etc. The truth is that I spend time playing with my children, and my husband, more often. This week, I entertained friends playing a board game and swimming one afternoon. Every Sunday afternoon, I sit down to plan my menu, grocery list, and activities for the week. I list several things I would like to get done, on top of weekly chores. I only get the simple items accomplished. Maybe it's the extreme heat. Maybe it's because I know I will get interrupted so why start it.
I know for sure:
Bigger than the fly epidemic, this summer is just flying by. I had planned to paint the girls bedrooms by now. I have a cabinet and a dinette set that I planned to refinish in a darker stain in June. Our back door was repaired around February, and I still haven't painted the outer side of the door. I installed a cabinet in the laundry room, but the trim is still missing. The list just gets longer. It's not that I haven't actually had the time either. Yes, somethings have come up that stole my time away, like my mother being in the hospital, etc. The truth is that I spend time playing with my children, and my husband, more often. This week, I entertained friends playing a board game and swimming one afternoon. Every Sunday afternoon, I sit down to plan my menu, grocery list, and activities for the week. I list several things I would like to get done, on top of weekly chores. I only get the simple items accomplished. Maybe it's the extreme heat. Maybe it's because I know I will get interrupted so why start it.
I know for sure:
- the projects will not go away until I do them
- the girls will be starting school again in five weeks
- the girls will only be living here six more years before college (and even if they live here while attending college I'll never see them, I never see their sister)
- Texas is a lot cooler in October and November
- playing is a lot more fun than working
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Birthday, America
The 4th of July, ahh. Burn ban, boo. Having a pool, yay! What a great weekend.
We had a really good time on the 3rd, hanging out with friends, eating and swimming. The pool was a big hit for the girls. They all had friends over and swam all afternoon, and some into the dark. As usual for the 3rd, we had homemade ice cream, but the girls didn't have time to make the special holiday dessert. This year, they were going to make red velvet cupcakes with white icing and red and blue sugar sprinkles. Maybe they can make them and take them to the firemen in town. It turned out to be a pretty good birthday.
We were lucky to have a very lazy 4th of July. Early this morning, my mother called to tell me the rehabilitation center was ready to send her home. I drove the half-hour up there with one of the girls. She agreed to go hang out with me if I bought her breakfast, so we stopped at McDonald's on the way. I even let her sit in the front seat all the way there and back. She is only a couple of inches shorter than me and she'll be twelve in a month. I decided waiting for that month to go by will not make the trip any safer than today. She was thrilled. After I picked up my mother, I took her to grocery store where we helped her buy food for the week. We took her home and helped put the groceries away. She seems to be doing very well, and seems so much stronger now. We were back home by noon, and in the pool very shorter there after. We floated, talked, and splashed water at the dog while she tried to bite it. Before we knew it, it was late afternoon. We really had a good time just hanging out doing nothing together. Later, we grilled burgers and dogs, and ate dinner. Just a lazy summer day, but much needed nothingness. After dinner, and a few Twilight Zone episodes, we headed to the fireworks store to stock up while the vendors were still selling today. We will fire them in the fall, after we finally get some rain and the burn bans are lifted.
On Friday, NASA will launch the final Shuttle mission. The girls studied space travel and exploration in Science this past year. They are very interested in the Shuttle. I am pretty sure I will not be taking them to Florida this Friday. About 15 years ago, I took my oldest to Disney World. We drove over to Cape Canaveral, but the tours were closed because the Shuttle was on the launch pad. It was fun to see it anyway. A few years later, we took all the girls to Johnson Space Center. The girls were just toddlers, so they don't remember it at all. We do plan to take the girls to Johnson Space Center again, but I have a feeling this Friday will be pretty crowded there, too.
This week, I plan to submit a nomination form to be a board member for our Home owner's Association. I know I get myself into a mess volunteering. The girls' school doesn't have a PTA, and the HOA newsletter stated they were in dire need of volunteers. It requires a lot less of my time than PTA did, so it shouldn't be a hardship. The advantage will be knowing when something is going on in the neighborhood. There was a neighborhood parade this morning, and I never heard anything about it.
I am excited that our pool is completed, and the water is cool. It should be a great source of entertainment for years to come. I am also glad that my mother is finally home. It will be so wonderful when she is released to drive herself places. I am not excited that I am another year older, but I am glad to be alive and enjoy my family here at home. It beats the alternative.
We had a really good time on the 3rd, hanging out with friends, eating and swimming. The pool was a big hit for the girls. They all had friends over and swam all afternoon, and some into the dark. As usual for the 3rd, we had homemade ice cream, but the girls didn't have time to make the special holiday dessert. This year, they were going to make red velvet cupcakes with white icing and red and blue sugar sprinkles. Maybe they can make them and take them to the firemen in town. It turned out to be a pretty good birthday.
We were lucky to have a very lazy 4th of July. Early this morning, my mother called to tell me the rehabilitation center was ready to send her home. I drove the half-hour up there with one of the girls. She agreed to go hang out with me if I bought her breakfast, so we stopped at McDonald's on the way. I even let her sit in the front seat all the way there and back. She is only a couple of inches shorter than me and she'll be twelve in a month. I decided waiting for that month to go by will not make the trip any safer than today. She was thrilled. After I picked up my mother, I took her to grocery store where we helped her buy food for the week. We took her home and helped put the groceries away. She seems to be doing very well, and seems so much stronger now. We were back home by noon, and in the pool very shorter there after. We floated, talked, and splashed water at the dog while she tried to bite it. Before we knew it, it was late afternoon. We really had a good time just hanging out doing nothing together. Later, we grilled burgers and dogs, and ate dinner. Just a lazy summer day, but much needed nothingness. After dinner, and a few Twilight Zone episodes, we headed to the fireworks store to stock up while the vendors were still selling today. We will fire them in the fall, after we finally get some rain and the burn bans are lifted.
On Friday, NASA will launch the final Shuttle mission. The girls studied space travel and exploration in Science this past year. They are very interested in the Shuttle. I am pretty sure I will not be taking them to Florida this Friday. About 15 years ago, I took my oldest to Disney World. We drove over to Cape Canaveral, but the tours were closed because the Shuttle was on the launch pad. It was fun to see it anyway. A few years later, we took all the girls to Johnson Space Center. The girls were just toddlers, so they don't remember it at all. We do plan to take the girls to Johnson Space Center again, but I have a feeling this Friday will be pretty crowded there, too.
This week, I plan to submit a nomination form to be a board member for our Home owner's Association. I know I get myself into a mess volunteering. The girls' school doesn't have a PTA, and the HOA newsletter stated they were in dire need of volunteers. It requires a lot less of my time than PTA did, so it shouldn't be a hardship. The advantage will be knowing when something is going on in the neighborhood. There was a neighborhood parade this morning, and I never heard anything about it.
I am excited that our pool is completed, and the water is cool. It should be a great source of entertainment for years to come. I am also glad that my mother is finally home. It will be so wonderful when she is released to drive herself places. I am not excited that I am another year older, but I am glad to be alive and enjoy my family here at home. It beats the alternative.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Oh say can you see
Oh yeah, my favorite time of year is knocking at the door, my birthday and Independence Day. I am, of course, a big fan of Christmas because I have children and it is their favorite holiday. I also enjoy Halloween because I am still a kid at heart, and I enjoy creating "Spooky Food" for the girls and helping them get all dressed up in their costumes. After the age of 25, the excitement of having another birthday began to fade. As the years have passed, I can say I don't look forward to adding numbers to my age. No matter how many years have passed, I still look forward to fireworks and tributes to our great nation. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for any patriotic song, and I don't think I've ever watched a fireworks display that I absolutely hated.
Just like in years past, my husband and daughter will make several batches of homemade ice cream. We will enjoy yummy food, too. I hope to teach the girls some of the secrets behind my favorite dishes this year. The hardest part of teaching is that I rarely following an actual recipe for most of them. They ask occasionally to cook, but unless I have planned for it, my patience runs thin. They do not like grocery shopping, but it is impossible to cook if you don't have anything to prepare. I will force them to help me buy the food in order to cook the food. That may be the best birthday gift I get.
Today, a crew came to spread sand around the pool in preparation for pouring the deck tomorrow. Another crew came to set the equipment for the plumbing in place, but the equipment had been shipped to the main office. Hopefully, they will be able to accomplish that tomorrow as well. I talked to my pool contractor today, and he says we are still on the schedule for the pool to be plastered on Friday. If they are able to get it all done, and still plaster on Friday, that means the water starts going in on Friday night, and we could be swimming by Saturday night. At this point, I don't want to count on it, but it sure would be a great birthday present to myself. Even if they don't get it done until after the 4th, it will be so nice to have a big tub of water to play in next week!
My mother has been in a rehabilitation center since last Thursday night. She is getting depressed over how long it is taking for her to get back on her solid feet. Her roommate turns the A/C off at night and the food is over-cooked and starchy. She just wants to go home. After several conversations today with her and the administration at the center, she was moved to another room where the A/C can stay on at night. We can take some raw fruits and vegetables to her, which is more like her typical meals at home. But the greatest news is that her physical therapist thinks she may go home on Monday, the 4th. Hopefully, she will be cleared to drive and she will be as independent as before. So, currently I am planning to take part of my 4th of July to drive my mother home.
I realize the pool completion and my mother's return to home is only speculation...but what is life, really, without hope?!
Just like in years past, my husband and daughter will make several batches of homemade ice cream. We will enjoy yummy food, too. I hope to teach the girls some of the secrets behind my favorite dishes this year. The hardest part of teaching is that I rarely following an actual recipe for most of them. They ask occasionally to cook, but unless I have planned for it, my patience runs thin. They do not like grocery shopping, but it is impossible to cook if you don't have anything to prepare. I will force them to help me buy the food in order to cook the food. That may be the best birthday gift I get.
Today, a crew came to spread sand around the pool in preparation for pouring the deck tomorrow. Another crew came to set the equipment for the plumbing in place, but the equipment had been shipped to the main office. Hopefully, they will be able to accomplish that tomorrow as well. I talked to my pool contractor today, and he says we are still on the schedule for the pool to be plastered on Friday. If they are able to get it all done, and still plaster on Friday, that means the water starts going in on Friday night, and we could be swimming by Saturday night. At this point, I don't want to count on it, but it sure would be a great birthday present to myself. Even if they don't get it done until after the 4th, it will be so nice to have a big tub of water to play in next week!
My mother has been in a rehabilitation center since last Thursday night. She is getting depressed over how long it is taking for her to get back on her solid feet. Her roommate turns the A/C off at night and the food is over-cooked and starchy. She just wants to go home. After several conversations today with her and the administration at the center, she was moved to another room where the A/C can stay on at night. We can take some raw fruits and vegetables to her, which is more like her typical meals at home. But the greatest news is that her physical therapist thinks she may go home on Monday, the 4th. Hopefully, she will be cleared to drive and she will be as independent as before. So, currently I am planning to take part of my 4th of July to drive my mother home.
I realize the pool completion and my mother's return to home is only speculation...but what is life, really, without hope?!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Lucky 13, and many more!
On Monday, we celebrated 13 years of marriage. That probably doesn't sound like a lot, but this our second chance at it. Being married before, we decided that we were strong enough to work harder at staying together. We've had difficultly just like most couples, but we have managed to work through it for the better. Every year, we seem to find new things to appreciate about each other, and it gets better and better. We try to do a little something special for our anniversary every year, like go to a hotel for the night or go out for an expensive dinner together. This year, since the girls are away at camp for the week, we took a trip on Amtrak to San Antonio, Texas. It definitely takes longer to get there by train, but the fare is less than the cost of gasoline. They have a lounge/sightseeing car, dining car, and sleeper car. Traveling down to SA, we sat in the lounge car and enjoyed meeting other passengers. We didn't know we had to get a reservation for dinner in the dining car, so after we arrived in San Antonio, we headed to Mi Tierra for a very late dinner, where we ate breakfast. The next day, we had a couples massage. Later, we rode Segways around Hemisphere Park. On the way back home on the train, we had a Roomette. It's a very small room, but it converts to two beds and it's very quiet. I think it would be fun to take the kids, but we would need the bigger room for sure. We learned on the way back that all meals are included in the purchase of a room, and the food isn't bad.
We finally got some much needed rain this week. Being out of town, I didn't get to enjoy the temporary cooler temperatures. Our yard has cracks about two inches wide throughout. An inch and a half of rain isn't going to correct that, but we will definitely take it. Unfortunately, the rain means we are another week away from having our pool finished. That means most likely the pool will not be completed by my birthday on July 3rd. I will still do most of the annual traditions that go with celebrated the 4th of July, like several flavors of homemade ice cream. Because we live out in the county now, we can shoot fireworks at home, which is new for us. I am disappointed, but fortunately in Texas, we can swim well into October and begin again as early as March.
So, the girls are at camp for 2 and a half more days. My husband will go to work the next two days. I would like to get some of the projects on my very long to-do list done, but that will all depend on how my mother continues with her recovery. It still doesn't seem like her discharge from the hospital will be anytime soon, and when she is discharged, she needs to go to a rehabilitation center to gain more strength. We will have to fight with her Part D Medicare to drop her so that Medicare will cover her rehabilitation transfer. I'm sure it will all work out, it will just be a hassle getting it accomplished.
I can't believe that when the girls return from camp there are only 8 more weeks of school-less summer. We are going to Houston in two weeks so the girls can go to NASA and the location of the Battle of San Jacinto. Last year, they studied space and space travel and, this next year, they will study Texas history again. We are looking forward to another mini-sta-vation. Hopefully, the pool will be completed by the time we get back from Houston.
We finally got some much needed rain this week. Being out of town, I didn't get to enjoy the temporary cooler temperatures. Our yard has cracks about two inches wide throughout. An inch and a half of rain isn't going to correct that, but we will definitely take it. Unfortunately, the rain means we are another week away from having our pool finished. That means most likely the pool will not be completed by my birthday on July 3rd. I will still do most of the annual traditions that go with celebrated the 4th of July, like several flavors of homemade ice cream. Because we live out in the county now, we can shoot fireworks at home, which is new for us. I am disappointed, but fortunately in Texas, we can swim well into October and begin again as early as March.
So, the girls are at camp for 2 and a half more days. My husband will go to work the next two days. I would like to get some of the projects on my very long to-do list done, but that will all depend on how my mother continues with her recovery. It still doesn't seem like her discharge from the hospital will be anytime soon, and when she is discharged, she needs to go to a rehabilitation center to gain more strength. We will have to fight with her Part D Medicare to drop her so that Medicare will cover her rehabilitation transfer. I'm sure it will all work out, it will just be a hassle getting it accomplished.
I can't believe that when the girls return from camp there are only 8 more weeks of school-less summer. We are going to Houston in two weeks so the girls can go to NASA and the location of the Battle of San Jacinto. Last year, they studied space and space travel and, this next year, they will study Texas history again. We are looking forward to another mini-sta-vation. Hopefully, the pool will be completed by the time we get back from Houston.
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