What is this?????

A blog post!!!!  Really!!  It has been months!  I happened to be on the computer this morning working on Christmas cards and decided to quickly hop on here to put up a small post.

 In the middle of school winter concert series around here.  Last Thursday Miss Ainsley had her 3rd grade choir concert.  Monday Aidan had his 6th grade band and choir concert.  This fall hee also auditioned for the school stage band, which is like a jazz ensemble, and made it.  One of 2 6th graders in the bunch!  Since it is a blended group though we have to attend all 3 nights of concerts.  6th on Monday, 7th on Tuesday and 8th on Wednesday.  At least they are performing 2nd each night so tonight and tomorrow we will be able to leave after he performs.  Poor Ainsley is going to more concerts than she wanted to attend as hubby is out of town the rest of this week.

In case I do not make it on here again before the Christmas holiday, let me wish all my readers a most blessed and safe holiday season.  I know my readership has dwindled dramatically due to my lack or writing, but what can I say.  It has been a busy school year for us thus far.  I hope to get into a more regular blogging cycle in the new year, but it has kind of been a relief not to have to worry about posting something for a while.

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Summer update

Well, it has been a busy summer and a not busy summer at the same time.  Yes, I believe it is possible.  Moments of busy and moments of not busy.  We are just coming off a long weekend of busy.

Since our dogs passing, we had a few weeks of much needed nothing.  A few days to recover from our loss.  I think I felt it most as I dealt with her most.  I just noticed that the noise level was much lower.  Even with the racket that my children make with the other neighborhood kids, the house was just quiet.  I even confess that I was checking the local humane society webpage to see what dogs were available for adoption.  I came to my senses though.  I decided I was not going to seek out a new pet.  If The Lord intended us to have a new dog, it would happen in a natural way.  The same as happened when we came across our cat.  Anyway, I am no longer looking for a new dog and actually have gotten used to the house without her.  I hope not to sound heartless here, but I realize how much care our dog required in her later years.

Aidan had his soccer camp a few weeks ago and once again we were asked to host coaches.  I don't mind typically because we have a finished basement but we were asked to host 2 coaches this year, a male and female so I had to provide separate sleeping arrangements.  Thankfully I had an extra space I could provide, but it was not as comfortable as our basement.  I think they ended up having a good ice while they were here and I know we learned quite a lot about the cultural differences between the US and UK.

After turning over the basement our next round of guests came.  My sister and her husband brought the kids!  All 3 of them!  My nephew is 3 and the twins area just over a year.  They arrived Thursday evening.  Friday afternoon my cousin arrived with her husband and son who is 18 months.  All in all we had a house full.   It was so fun to have all the babies here, but we were all worn out.  My sister and cousin were thrilled with how well all the children got on.  They were especially thrilled with how well my older two managed with all the littles.  My two are really good with younger children.  I have always said that my Ainsley was meant to be an older sister.  Sadly if I were to have healthier pregnancies I would have been more willing to have another child.  Aidan, I have been told repeatedly by church leadership, is an excellent helper with the younger children in the children's wing.  They just love him and I am so pleased to to hear that as a parent.  So proud of him.

We are currently gearing up for fall soccer season.  Yes, I said fall soccer!  Aidan tried out for the local travel team and made it.  No football, much to my husbands dismay.  I swear though that I did not try to influence Aidan in any way.  He came to the decision to try for soccer all on his own.   Hoping for a good and safe season and an enjoyable group of parents as he will be on the same team this fall and as well in the spring.  Stuck with these folks for a year so hoping to develop some friendships.

Well, I am off for now.  I will post some pictures another time.  Working on my tablet at the moment so posting pictures is not the easiest for me.  This just doesn't work the way I want it to.  More later friends and h ave a wonderful weekend.

Saying goodbye...

We went on an actual vacation last week.  Just our family, to the beach.  We had so much fun!  My children had never experienced the ocean.  What a sight it was, and what an amazing thing are the tides.  Anyway, in taking this vacation, we boarded the dog as usual at the veterinary clinic.  I went to pick her up on Monday and they asked me to wait to speak to the Dr.  Apparently,  Alex had not had a good visit and he wanted to know how she was at home.  She struggles a bit, but can still get around on her own.  Well, something happened while at the vets.  She can no longer walk on her own and is having some other issues.  B is coming home from a trip today and he will be taking her to the vet one last time.  Aidan in particular is extremely upset.  He and the dog have never been close as she has been elderly most of his life, but she has always been around.  A constant in this house.  Time to say goodbye to the old lady.  She made it to 16 which is amazing for a dog her size (60 lbs).  I will post some pictures the kids took later.  I haven't taken any of her now because I truly don't want to remember her this way.  I want to remember the doggie of her youth.  The one who was spry and comfortable and would catch frisbees.  This is the dog I want to remember not the one with the problems of old age.  My only complaint is that I wish the vet would have called to explain what was going on.  I understand that he did not want to interrupt our vacation time, but if he would have talked to my husband I think we would have been more prepared for this and handled it differently.

Prayers for Oklahoma

I have chosen not to watch too much news for the next few days.  Praying for Oklahoma today.  It is times like these when I am grateful that I no longer live in tornado alley.

Feeling better...

I still feel a bit lousy about all this mess, but I feel better.  Thanks for the prayers.  I dealt with the insurance and will be taking my car in tomorrow.  Mine is mostly cosmetic, paint not even really dented, but I think I have a bit of an alignment issue as it seems my front tire took most of the impact.  At least this was fairly low speed as I had slowed to turn left.  As far as the neighbor front, they weren't a very friendly couple so no major loss there as they have lived next door for a year and when the hubby went over to introduce himself the introduction was not reciprocated.  My insurance is covering their damage so that is not an issue.  I had thought of taking a cake or some cookies over as a peace offering,  but after the initial attitude I received I am not sure how they would see the gesture.  Some people just are not very nice when a situation like this happens.  The neighbor did apologize for his behavior so I guess that should make me feel better.  Sometimes it is hard to shake first impressions, the fear and embarrassment I feel is not easy to overcome.  Oh well this will be the last post on the subject as I will try not to dwell on this any farther.  I take things so personally!

On a lighter note, Ainsley went on a field trip today to the local baseball stadium.  The class attended a weather class at the weather station there offered by one of the local news station meteorologists.  They also saw a bit of the baseball game being played today as well.  She had a really good time because she was assigned to a group with one of her favorite friends.  A friend if mine went and took some really cute pictures too.  Well, I am off.  Trying my hand at making macaroons for Aidan's gifted class island themed end of year party.  I will let you all know how they turn out.

Such and idiot...

I dislike using that word as it is so ugly.  I feel that way right now though.  I just had a minor accident with my car, and the car I hit belongs to my neighbor.  I was at fault, and I just feel stupid.  The accident as relatively minor.  What is most upsetting about the whole thing is the cursing out that I got from him.  I stopped and gave him all my information and apologized profusely, but still got the initial cursing out.  I did not intend to ruin his afternoon nor my own, but his language was really not necessary.  He did apologize after a bit though.  Everyone is fine and the damage to both cars is relatively minimal.  I apparently took the corner too sharply when turning into the neighborhood and I did not even see him as he was pulling up at the same time.  Please don't worry as we are all fine.  I am just upset with myself hence the blog post.  My apologies I know there are bigger problems in the world. I am a relatively careful driver so I guess that is why I am taking this so hard.  Just feeling stupid.

What a week..

I am having!  Really last week was more of the issue.  On top of the end of the school year wrap up beginning,  I had to get ready for guests.  My inlaws came in town Thursday evening stayed the weekend, left on Monday morning for Niagra falls.  They will come back Friday and stay until Monday at which point I have to drive them to the airport.  Last week became crazy because on Thursday evening I ended up having to be in three places at roughly the same time.  Needless to say my inlaws had to wait at the airport for me for about 45 minutes because of the schedule.  Hubby was originally supposed to have the pick up responsibility, but work commitments pulled him away.

Aside from the stress of my inlaws visit, I am so thankful I checked my on-line bank statement.  I discovered that hubby's ATM card had been compromised and about $500 worth of transactions were made at various gas stations most notably one at a Sam's Club in Florida.  He was in possession of his card so I am not sure when it was compromised, but all but one of the transactions were pending so it had to have been very recent.  So glad I checked!  His card has been canceled and we are not being held responsible for any of the transactions.

Mother's Day was very nice for the most part.  I had to share my day with my MIL which is not always easy.  I had made reservations at a nice italian place thinking they love italian food and eat it regularly.  Not where I would have gone if the choice were solely up to me, but they had been there before and liked it.  Well, I don't think they like it anymore.  They weren't terribly thrilled about the menu and the noise in the restaurant.  FAIL!  Hubby and I were a little annoyed.  Things just become a bit more difficult every visit.  It is especially hard because FIL does not respect a differing opinion on any subject.  If I hear one more time about how invalid my reasons for not wanting to take a cruise vacation I think I am going to scream.  I swear it comes up every time I see them.  I explain every time how I get extremely motion sick and all the medications knock me out cold.  They know this and still argue with me about it.  I get motion sick sitting in the back seat of a car so why would I put myself through the misery of an extended boat ride I do not know.  I also do not know why it offends him so.  Ahh well, please forgive me.  Years and years of frustration here.  I pray every we see them for the ability to change my attitude and how I deal with them.  After they leave and I replay things in my head is when I get frustrated.  I just try to smile and leave the room when necessary.  I hate being such a complainer!

Well, I was going to leave you with a picture of Aidan from his band and choir concert last week, but alas I can not find it.  It has not downloaded from my phone and I have already shut my phone away in the laundry room with my dog for the night.

Say some prayers for me if you would for this following weekend.  Friday, the hubs celebrates a big birthday.  MIL shares the same birthday.  We are planning a dinner out on Saturday night because Aidan has a soccer practice on Friday.  We will be having better than anything cake after practice.  What a crazy schedule we have!  Oh we just have to make it to Monday with sanity in tact.  I will try to get over here and get some pictures posted this week.  If not, then have a great week and weekend everyone.