Dancing with Daffodils

So I'm a few days behind but last week was pretty good. Monday I did laundry, cut the grass, helped with school and taught two piano lessons. I had hoped to run some errands but have learned that there is just no time. Either my kids have school stuff or I have piano lessons or they have other activities. It is so hard to get out of this house and run simple errands, but I am trying hard not to feel trapped or frustrated, succeeding sometimes more than others. It doesn't help that Josh is super stressed at work and working overtime so there is just no flexibility or give in my schedule.  Anyway, Tuesday was busy. We got Emma a new-to-her bike from a neighbor and had to pick up math manipulatives from school and then I did squeeze in a quick trip to Lowes for a gallon of paint before we had to get back for school work. I spent all week taping and getting ready to paint my hallway. We finally got the cracks in the foundation filled that day. The builder isn't doing anything s...

I wonder when I will stop labeling each blog post by week. When will life not be marked by the start of the pandemic? Anyway, it has been a pretty good week. Monday I did laundry, ironing, cut the grass, tried to can peaches and got six jars done before I decided to wait on the others because it was such a pain to peel them, helped the kids with school and then I taught the Wiests their piano lessons. I just started both girls and it is fun to teach kids I already like and it is fun to have a reason to see Leisa each week. We used to work out together and talk then, and hopefully we'll get back to that, but I like that we have scheduled time each week to at least see each other and catch up. We have even talked about doing dinner together some weeks so that will be fun. It was a really busy day and it felt good at the end of it to have accomplished a lot. Tuesday I read all day. I was off by a week and thought I still had another week to finish my book club book (Lucky Boy) but I d...

 Another week has gone by and it was a full of ups and downs. Monday was Labor Day and since we had had fun all day Saturday, we used Monday to rest at home and get some work done and then we had the Wiests over for dinner. Josh is still playing around with his new pizza oven and I am not loving the pizza he is making in it yet. I don't know why he had to change things but he insists I am going to love it so I am trying to be patient. Sam and Leisa were kind guinea pigs though and the kids had a lot of fun playing and it was a beautiful evening for eating outside.  Tuesday was a busy but good day with school work and I painted a wall that I am going to turn into a beach wall. I am going to print a picture or more from each year we've gone on a beach vacation and mark where we went and with whom. We have gone every year since 2009, except 2010, so that's 11 years so far. I have been looking for picture frames and going through all our beach pictures and it has been a good st...

September! Here we are. The first week of school went pretty well. It was kind of boring for the kids because a lot of it was learning how to use the platform for virtual learning and reviewing healthy practices and doing get to know you stuff, but I imagine this week is going to be busier. Brandon only did a 30 minute meeting and then one assignment so a pretty slow start to kindergarten for sure. He spent the rest of the day playing, having recess and lunch, listening to books on Epic and doing handwriting practice that I gave him. He is anxious to be independent and I am thrilled they announced this week that kindergarten kids can go back to school on Oct 5 for two days a week at least. It is going to be so good for him and then hopefully everything will go well and all the kids will start their hybrid learning on October 19. They will go two days a week and be home for three, which still isn't ideal but I feel like seeing their teachers and being able to turn things in and be a...