New Shoes.....

I have my homework done, and I am ready for the insanely busy week ahead, but what I really wanted to accomplish this weekend just didn't get done. New shoes and a pedicure aren't exactly accomplishments, but finding the time to fit them into my life seems to escape me. Just when I think, "today, definitely will have time today," something happens. This weekend it was all the little things that were too much fun to skip for a solo shopping trip.

Friday--Birthday dinner celebration for a good friend. Good sushi, good wine, good times! Kids even managed to con a new sitter into cupcakes without eating dinner and not making them go to bed.

Saturday--Sean had an invite to the Michigan vs EMU game (too bad the Eagles didn't make it more interesting). Kids and I went down to Eastern Market. If you are in the Detroit area and have never made a trip down on a Saturday morning, you must do it. Start with an appeal to your inner cheapskate, the prices on veggies and fruit can't be beat. If you are all about helping the little guy or keeping it local, you can check the signage and talk to the vendors to see where the produce comes from. My favorite part though is how kind people are to children. This weekend while I was buying celery, spinach, and cilantro the woman selling stooped down to help E & J check out a turnip and let them each take one home. The flower guy in the yellow tie-dyed lab coat always makes a comment to make the kids smile.

Sunday--Church was peaceful. I got my car cleaned up (it amazes me how much junk two kids can schlep out in a matter of a week). Decided on this year's Halloween theme (superheros). Sean's hockey game was eventful..... Daddy was in the penalty box once and then kicked out for fighting. Had dinner with good people, whom we have missed, and taught E & J to play skeeball.

So while I have to wear my old school shoes for another week, I am not going to complain. It was a great weekend.

First Week is in the Books

I survived, but it only seems right to include that I barely survived. I am grateful that I have a kind and patient husband (oooh and add understanding, definitely add understanding) who can roll with the punches, friends who are supportive, and administrators who put their money where their mouth is when they say family first. This week was the week that fought back.

So let's decode that first paragraph!
Sean gets the Superparent award for the week.

• Tuesday, he voluntarily took the kids Back-to-School clothes shopping. Where he discovered why I depend on my mother to do a lot of the clothes shopping for the kids. It isn't financial dependence, it's mildly therapeutic for her and it keeps me from having a mental breakdown. Moms simply know how hard it is to contain the wild (although seemingly less wild than other children) beasts and actually look at what is going into the cart. 
• Wednesday, he got to take E to her first day of kindergarten. I have yet to see the pictures, but I'm sure they were all adorable. He reports that she had a few tears going in, but was all smiles coming out. AND there have been no "I don't want to go to school," tears so we will consider it a successful start to the school years. 
• Thursday, my FIL gave us the biggest scare when he took an unexpected trip. Sean managed to call the police/EMS, think he was going find his dad dead, listen to the police call all the area hospitals for a John Doe that matched Dad's description, shed a few tears, AND keep a very intuitive 5 year old from knowing anything was wrong. Did I mention that all of those things happened before 8:00am and Sean still got her to school on time? Superdad.
• AND I have come home late every night, worked on the couch until all hours, and barely managed to hear the answer to, "How was your day?"
• I LOVE YOU!!!!

You can never praise your friends too often. Julie and Kelly this one's for you! I have been thinking of you.

As for my administrators, HOLY CRAP do I work with some great people! Although I am fairly certain that my insanity is forever going to be the new guy's impression of me. (See Thursday bullet point above and adjust for "I must get home, find this old man, and I am not ready for a sub on day 2 of the school year.") They simply said, "family first," and found someone to help me out.

I survived the first week, barely.