Over...

The last of my three days off is over. :( We really enjoyed them though. Ran errands and got some things done around the house during the day on Wednesday. Got to cook with the kids Wednesday night - we made a cake while Dad was at work, the kids decided it should be orange with purple frosting because it was so close to Halloween. Of course, it turned out really cute, and we all had fun. After baking we watched the Kit Kittredge movie together.

Thursday we had a field trip to the Spiro Mounds. I hadn't been there in years and it was kind of fun, but we had to cut it a little short. I hope we didn't miss anything.

Friday we got to have lunch - all four of us together - it's sad that I get so excited about one meal eaten all together! Later in the day we went to take some pictures of the kids. That was fun, too. Once we made it home the kids wanted to stay in and hand out candy in their costumes - we've never had trick-or-treaters before, we always lived too far out. Anyway, we got a few, so they were happy.

Oh, well, back to work tomorrow.....

So excited....

I am gearing up for 3 days off! No special reason, just kind of happened. I have a huge to-do list, but honestly can't say I care if I get to any of it! Not exactly true, but I really just want to relax and enjoy my family a little. The last few weeks have been crazier than the normal crazy we usually have going on and I feel like all we've done together is the absolute have-to stuff. I want to do something fun! Who knows what we'll come up with! We will miss bible study and co-op, but will use that time for some "us" time, and I'm looking forward to it!

Whew!

Its over! The corporate visit that was supposed to happen about a month ago - the one we spent weeks preparing for, and got cancelled at the last moment - happened today, with less than 2 full days notice. It all went well, thank God! We have a new regional manager - the reason the last visit didn't happen, they realigned the regions - she was great. We found that she was really easy to talk to, really interested in us and our store. I think thats a good thing.
On the MAJOR down side, I had this day on the calendar more than a month ago to take as a vacation day - DIDN'T HAPPEN. I wound up on the schedule to close, but didn't have to go in until 5:30, so it was cool. It was the last day of our bible study, we usually have a guest speaker and everyone brings food, sort of brunch I guess and right afterward a friend had a birthday/Halloween party for her daughter (Happy Birthday Brittney!) today, and I was SO looking forward to going. A day spent with friends, enjoying watching the kids enjoying themselves and enjoying being together - just really something I need from time to time. Anyway, all I can say is, at least its over. We shouldn't have another visit like this for 6 months to a year. I wound up having to open the store this morning, I was able to take the kids to bible study and drop them off, so at least they didn't have to miss the last day. I had to arrange for Daddy to get them to the party and help them get dressed in their costumes. I'm thankful that he was able to do it, but I really wanted to. I got to leave at 2:30 - so I missed the party completely :( - (I did see lots of great pictures though) - but had to go back at 5:30 to close. Bummer, but I guess I shouldn't complain, it doesn't happen that way too often. I guess I'm being a whiner at this point, just tired, it is so past my bedtime. Very wound up after a day like today! I may be ready to give sleep a try.
Tomorrow is the last day of coop, I always miss it when it is over, but I am ready for some downtime. (Like that ever really happens!) I am looking forward to presentation night, too. Its always fun to see what the kids have learned, and I love seeing how and what the other teachers teach. Its always good to get new ideas, things I can use even if I only use them with my kids.
Okay, I've rambled enough, my thoughts are all over the place and I think I hear my pillow calling my name......

Can't believe it

I can't believe its been two weeks since my last post. Still craziness at work - we have secret shoppers out and a vice president of the company traveling all month and popping into stores all over the country. Really seems stupid to me, but I guess I have to deal with it.
Three more weeks of Bible Study left and three more weeks of coop as well. I enjoy both so much, but right now I keep thinking I'm ready for things to slow down. But, honestly, even though these things will end, something else will come up and things will feel just as busy. And we miss Bible Study and coop until they start again anyway.
Everybody is starting to feel better at least, thats a relief. We have some fun things planned in the next few weeks that we're looking forward to, and that is helping I'm sure.
Wow, I guess not much to say, but it just felt wrong to let another day go by without posting anything.

Taking a deep breath...

The corporate visit we've been preparing for at work - supposed to be today. We've been working like crazy, getting everything ready, and found out at about noon Monday that nobody is coming. I guess the good news is that the store looks great. We were so ready! Feels like a big let down - I'm guessing thats why I can't sleep.
I am so much more ready for co-op this week than I was last week. I planned, shopped, planned some more - I was so ready for Green Eggs and Ham! But.....I got on the road to co-op and realized two things - I'd left home without ham. Not such a big deal - theres a grocery store between home and co-op, easy fix. We drive a little further and I realize - I've left the book at home! A little difficult to do an hour long class on Green Eggs and Ham without the book - leave it to me. I had to send Erich home for the book, and to stop at the grocery store for the ham. After he left, I realize something else. I have the eggs, the bowl, the whisk, the green food coloring....I forgot the electric skillet. Good thing he was already on the road - I couldn't see the look on his face, or all the lovely mumbling I'm sure he was doing as he went home to get all I'd forgotten and came running back to co-op - to my rescue. I'm sending up a prayer - again!!! - that this week I do better. On the bright side, I don't think I could do worse! All in all, I think the class went well. Everything came together, thanks to my many assistants. We laughed because the younger the kids are, the more of us it takes to make the class happen.
I need to catch up on this weeks bible study lessons. I am enjoying this study, its different than any other I've done. I wish I were doing better keeping up. Maybe I'll do better this week. Again, I don't think I could do much worse!
Well, now that I've gotten some of these thoughts down and out of my head, I'm going to give sleep another try.

Way behind!

Ever feel like you're running way behind - on everything - but can't seem to figure out how to fix it? We have a floor set this week at work, and there is a corporate visit next week. This has made scheduling really weird, and everything is really hectic. It seems that we can't do much right now to prepare for our visit, because most of it will have to be redone before then.
Not to mention this is the 3rd week for our bible study, and the first week of coop classes. I really look forward to both, and so do the kids. I feel like I haven't given either the attention I want to, but it will all pull together - it always does!
More prep for Kids Church. Enjoying it, but I am finding myself making an extra trip to the church during the week. Its much nicer to be prepared for the service on Sunday ahead of time. It seems that I always find myself distracted on Sunday mornings and I feel better if everything is done before then. Again, I'm sure everything will pull together.
Having alot of fun with the kids and school, too. I am always amazed at how much I learn along with them. So many things I don't think I ever knew, or maybe I just can't remember!
Well, trying to get to bed early tonight, hoping for a full nights sleep. When I got home from work, the kids were already in bed - some nights when I get home they're not! I was thrilled, to say the least.

What a week!

I was thrilled to finish work today! I'm not sure why, I felt like it was the end of the week or something, but I have to work tomorrow. Bummer! Anyway, this week is finished - that's about all I can say about it.
We are scheduled for a corporate visit in a couple of weeks - our district manager, a regional manger, and one of our company vice presidents. Talk about stressful! Not looking forward to it.
I'm hoping I am prepared for Kids Church in the morning. Last week proved to be a little more hectic than usual. We are adding our first grade kiddos tomorrow, and going back to the full fall schedule - Erich and I started during summer so I'm not entirely sure what "fall schedule" means. Should be interesting!