Sometimes the weekend is more work than the workweek

Like this upcoming weekend, while filled with fun things to do seems like we will have zero downtime. Friday night we are going to dinner at some friends of ours, the Saturday I have to work and then we will be dropping the kids off with my lovely SIL Michelle so that we can chaperone the local high school prom. And after prom. Which doesn't get over until three o'clock. In the morning. Ugh. Then it's up early enough on Sunday to get the kids and my niece Bella, go to church, attend the church kickball game and have Bella spend the night with us on Sunday. I'm hoping that such a full day will send them all to bed early as I am sure that Jacob and I will be tired!

It should be a lot of fun, but a lot of work too. I'm looking forward to Sunday and having the day to hang out with the kids more than anything else. Sophie wanted to spend the night with Momma once this week, and then they both had to stay on Wednesday night because I had a very early appointment on Thursday. I miss them when they are gone! It used to be more of a break than anything, but now that I am gone so much during the day with work I just want to be with them when I am home.

It seems that working so much has really changed a lot of priorities now as well. Before I would get stressed out if the floor wasn't swept and mopped and such, or if the bathroom wasn't cleaned frequently. Now I spend a lot less time cleaning and a lot more time playing in a somewhat dirty house, and you know what? The kids don't mind one bit and neither do I. This week we started learning letter sounds, how to work a zipper, Keegan learned a few new signs, we planted our tiny vegetable garden and I still managed to get chores done. Well, most of them anyway.

Bella and Ruth. And a little of Michelle and Keegan

Today was Bella's (my niece) Pre-School Graduation. Now, Pre-Mom Andi would have used this post to rail about why society today feels the need to celebrate everyday and sometimes mediocre achievements in order to cater to the delicate young minds of tomorrow, because by all means we don't want to hurt their precious, little self esteems. Notice that was Pre-Mom Andi. The new and hip Mom Andi knows in the back of her mind that things didn't use to be this way, but dangit- there is a function that my loved one is in and I will be there, camera in hand, cursing the fact that I left her graduation card on the counter like a doofus.

So I came to post pictures of the said graduation, only to find that speedy sister in law Ruth beat me to it. But that's okay, because I was going to link to her blog today anyway so you could see the blanket that she painstakingly made, with her own two hands, for Keegan. She also made a scarf for Sophie, which she wears all the time deespite the fact that it is 8o degrees outside. I also need to post the one that Vicki made for him, but it's being used right now so it will have to wait. So go HERE, check out my vivacious niece and the goin' hunting blanket and Ruth's blog in general. The lady smiling with Bella is my other sister in law, Michelle, Bella's momma. Michelle very graciously plans family dinner for us all every Tuesday. She cooks, we eat, then we visit. It is an awesome way to keep us all in touch and I'm glad she does it.

In closing...

Congratulations, Bella. Your songs were beautiful and I am proud of you for being you.

Thank you, Ruth. The blanket and scarf are both fantastic, you crafty crafterton you.

Thank you, Vicki A. The best part is the made with love part. You know what I mean.

Thank you, Michelle. Family Dinner is awesome. Always.

Thank you, Al Gore, for giving me someone to make fun of.

Thank you, Patricia, for being a fun loving Dem and not killing me for making fun of Al Gore.

Thank you, everyone. And goodnight.