My "Alone" Week/ The Girls' Grandparent Week

As I sit here trying to decide where to start, I’m listening to the two littles play sweetly in the other room. It’s hard to believe that they were even gone last week. It’s even HARDER to believe looking around, that just two days ago this house was SPOTLESS. Oh the HOURS I spent organizing and purging... not that I am a bit surprised. What do they say? Cleaning with kids is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos? So true. However, I will say that for all of the hours I spent trying to get organized, there are some major things that even after 48 hours of being home, the kids haven’t destroyed (yet). Systems in place, like the re-institution of the “official” chore chart (something that had fallen by the wayside with so many people in and out of the house as I traveled back and forth to Boston) and toy bins that actually match the label on the front. And we won’t mention the BAGS of toys I donated that no one has noticed yet. I’m still not 100% ready for school to start, but I feel a lot more organized than I did. (And yes, I do realize it may seem to make no sense that the house is a mess again, but the chore chart is back... these things take time. I'm hoping they will be close to mastering it as part of the normal routine by the start of school. A girl can dream, right?!) 

Last week was about more than cleaning and getting organized. I spent a lot of time working too. Many people have asked me if I plan to go back into the classroom next year, but I am happy to say that I am planning to stay home again. For those of you who don’t know, since Kaleigh was about 9 months old, I have been privileged enough to work with a team of amazing people writing Problem-Based Learning units for advanced academics students. If everything goes according to plan, I will get to continue doing this for the next couple of years. It has always been an incredible opportunity for me, and something that Bill was always so encouraging of. He was always my biggest cheerleader- often times changing his work schedule to accommodate meetings, trainings, etc… There are a lot of advantages to being able to work from home while the girls are still so young, not least of which is that on a teacher’s salary, paying for childcare for three kids would take most,  if not all of my earnings. Eventually, I will go back into the classroom. I’ve missed it a lot over the years, but I am really blessed to have the chance to work from home for right now.

Zoey touching her tiny fish!

Ok. Enough about me. Let’s talk about the incredible time the girls had with Granddaddy and Grandmama in SC! I know I’ve said it before, but these sweet peas are so blessed to have such wonderful family. Grandmama and Granddaddy kept them busy while they were there.  A Museum visit, the Minions movie, pool time (thanks, Mrs. La Rose!), visiting with cousins, hanging out with neighbor friends, and spending time with Great-Granddaddy filled their days. Grandaddy even helped fulfill one of their most important (and talked about) wish list items of the summer. They got to go FISHING! From what I understand, it was a big success. Leah loved catching the fish, but apparently freaked out once the fish was out of the water (sounds like her mama). And Kaleigh even put the live bait on the hooks (ewe- does not sound like her mama!) Zoey caught a teeny little fish and touched it- which she was very excited about.  All in all, it sounds like they had a fantastic time. (Special thanks to Ms. Marlene and Mr. Bobby for letting them fish on their lake. They have been so excited about it, they keep telling me how fun it was.)

  

Girls at EdVenture 

Fishing Kaleigh

With the Rekers Cousins

With Great-Granddaddy

This pic made me tear up. So sweet. 

It’s hard to believe we only have three weeks left til school starts. For those of you who continue to pray, please just lift us up in the same ways you have been. Transitions (so far this week has been pretty good), school starting, the new normal, and for my energy, stamina, and faith (more on that later).