Busy Days

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. We went to my dad's family's get together, which always feels like having a good meal with polite strangers. Granted, the only way to get to know them is to spend more time with them, but Karl is always ready to go and it is so far from home. If we stay too late, then we'd be driving home super-tired, which isn't very responsible. And so.

The younger males in the extended family like to play a little football after dinner.

We had Taryn, my sweet 16-year-old take some of our annual Thanksgiving shots to use on Christmas cards. I was rather disappointed to see the reality of my body in a sweater dress, but the close-ups of our face were nice, although Karl was making weird eye expressions.
                                     

Last night, Tierney and Jake came over. We went to K-mart to buy a game and visit Taryn, but unfortunately, she was working register and the line was just outrageous. So we waved and went on to Walgreens, where they bought Farkle and we took it home to play. Liam is old enough to understand it, so he played, too.

Today it is my turn to make a turkey lunch for Karl's parents. Which would be okay, except I still need to get groceries (assuming we don't want canned yams and Stove Top stuffing with our turkey (which sounds fine to me, but...)

It's raining. It is nice and Novembery, except I have to stand out to get the dog to do his business.

                                     
I am thankful for many things. Technically, aside from not being a homeschooling mom, I have everything I ever wanted. Interesting how your mind works to find more things to want, though.

:o).

Let's Talk about Relationships

Actually, let's not. I like romance. I like.....affection. I don't like talking about relationships. It's weird. It's uncomfortable. It's scary. It's (dare I say it?) unnecessary.

My husband is different than me. My husband contemplates relationships. Ours, the kids, even his step-kids. He thinks about people in a way that really puts self-centered me to shame.

So as one of my Christmas gifts to him, I have decided we will do the 30-Day Relationship Challenge!  I have had this on my Pinterest board, "Relationships, Ikes!" for a long time.  Now, I can hear my sweet-natured man groaning, because now I have taken something he likes and I don't know, made it a "thing". How fun will this be?

Stay tuned!

This darned blog

I can't figure out how to get the title inside the wreath. In photoshop, it wouldn't work, nor could I manage to change the font to the one I downloaded. Grr.
However, I do still like the clean look of it.

Just sitting around

Because Liam woke up at two. After Karl, who had fallen asleep in the family room, sent him back upstairs, I checked the clock and saw it was about two, and sent him back to bed. He continued to keep coming in a few more times, although now I think he is back in his room looking at books. Or maybe sleeping by now.

I am stressed.

First, this Lassie thing. I haven't received any sort of contract or paper to sign. I cannot continue to keep showing up without that. The sponsor said maybe the money just wasn't there. Fine, but shouldn't someone let me know so I don't continue to keep coming? And honestly, I don't think I am what they need anyway. They need someone who as experience with it or something similar to help out. I think they are hoping to get someone from the college or something. Again, fine, but um, let me know.
Anyway I emailed the assistant principal, because while it would be fun to get to know the girls, I need some pay, don't feel like I am much help, anyway, and there is all this drama involved (from grownups!) which I don't feel equipped to deal with. I am not socially sophisticated enough for such drama. I just wanted to help out when I was asked.
At the same time, it will sort of hurt my feelings if I am not needed, and it will tick me off if there isn't money, after putting in a month of time.

Anyway. Being home more would be nice, too. I had bad dreams. I had to figure out where to hide the dead bodies before we moved and some people came in or something. Now I don't know how they "got dead." All I know is my mom was one, and there was another, but I am not sure who. And I didn't want to get in trouble. I was so relieved to wake up from that and remember, "Oh right, I didn't kill anyone."

I feel pretty unsure of my next steps in life. I feel torn. It's the same old, same old. Not who I am supposed to be, not sure I want to make the sacrifices to be that person.

Tired.

If I hear one more darned thing about Starbucks cups I am going to scream. My facebook feed just keeps blowing up with people complaining about people complaining. I haven't witnessed anyone complaining. I am sure some are, but who cares? Why is Starbucks getting all this free publicity. Oh yeah, because we are all sheeple. I am also sick of the social issues people keep bringing up on Facebook. I just want to know what is up in people's lives, see their cute kid pics, talk about my life a bit, and move on. I don't need reeducation by the politically correct or non-politically correct. Just lighten up people!

I suppose I should go try and get another hour or two of sleep.

November

I used to dread November. The greyness, the brown. But I love it now. November is a changing. The brilliant, showy colors of fall, slowly fade to quietness. The last phase of youth in a lively middle-aged woman fading away into strength and comfort. Not yet in winter's delicate grasp, but more than beauty now. Stability, tradition. Maybe not pretty, anymore, but beautiful on the inside. Seasoned, dare I say. I like November.

Today promises to be busy. I am not sure I like  busy, but it's here for today. I am to march with the Lassies and the sponsor in a parade, and I am extremely worried about my poor feet. Hopefully, I can manage it. Then I will come home to prepare for a chilly hot dog cookout at a retired coworker's home. I need to pick up a side dish. I didn't plan well enough ahead to make anything.

Karl works until one; the cookout is at two.

Hopefully tonight will be peaceful, and I will be able to rest my feet!

I am not sure what I want to do with the night.

Liam got in trouble on the bus yesterday, so we have decided Pokemon and Minecraft are out until he can behave for two months. Only nonviolent, educational stuff. And Karl wants him off of Youtube, unless we are in the room monitoring it. I don't suppose it will hurt him to have less video-watching time. The kid needs to play. Kids don't run and play. I guess we all gravitate to what is easiest and passive watching is easy. Right now, Liam is going on about getting two fans and water buckets and making a homemade tornado. Who knows?

Well. I guess I Gabe will be down any minute. My dad is coming to watch the boys, so I can do the parade. It should be fun. I guess the hard part for me is not knowing what to do. I am not sure what role to fill. Should I say what I think, or am I just to provide adult supervision for when the sponsor needs a break? I guess I should just do what I think is best in the moment instead of thinking about it so much. Not really my style, though. I do have trouble breaking out of my head sometimes.



Enjoy your weekend!