Since posting last week, things have been a little busy around here. I've inadvertently entered into one of those patterns of non-stop 'go-go-go' that many families thrive on day in and day out. Us? We prefer a quieter pace - we depend on precious downtime in order to stay afloat. Beyond school and homework, a monthly Girl Scout meeting and piano lessons for the little ladybug plus club figure skating for both of them on winter Saturdays is about where we tap out as far what we're able to juggle.
But somehow this past week, my commitment to keep our schedule as uncommitted as possible has run amok. It's been the Perfect Storm of events that have all come up at the same time - and our cozy routine is being bent way out of shape. Repeatedly ...
- First of all, I took on a silly project that ended up being a much bigger deal than I intended. A simple switcheroo in our 1st floor half-bath. The plan was to remove the existing sink/cabinet vanity from the 70's (dreadful - why oh why did I never once take a picture?!) and put in an all-in-one replacement vanity I had purchased at Lowe's. I thought my handy Manbug could do it, but it turned out the plumbing needs updating in order to connect. And the plumber needs a carpenter to make a modification for the cabinet to fit ... and I didn't have time to schedule all that, so the only bathroom on the first floor looks like this in the meantime ...
- Big ladybug is in her middle school's production of Aladdin - dress rehearsals have taken place every day this week after school (out the door at 7:40am, not home 'til dinnertime) and show dates are tonight and tomorrow night (so much for a school night bedtime) ...
- Little ladybug's 4th grade class has a monthly soup kitchen project as a community service component. Our one assigned date in the entire year-long rotation of cooks and servers was also this week. Then our volunteer numbers dwindled due to illness. So those of us who remained needed to triple the recipe to make up the difference:
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| 7 lbs italian sausage + 4 lbs mushrooms + 5 lbs ribbon pasta + 7 lbs tomato puree + 2 lbs diced tomatos = .... |
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| 30 lbs of dinner! |
We cooked at home on Tuesday night, delivered Wednesday morning, and served Wednesday night - a wonderful and rewarding experience that we were grateful to be a part of. It took a bit of extra juggling due to big ladybug's conflicting dress rehearsal schedule, but by 7:00 last night she was just starting her homework. At a dining table in the soup kitchen. Talk about being out of your routine!
- Also on my calendar this past week? I was the 'snack mom' for big ladybug's drama group - all forty of them. One assigned date in a 3-month rotation and naturally it was also ... this week! Hey, at least it got me in the door - and I even got a sneak preview of the show while I set up ;-)
Up to this point, it really doesn't sound all that crazy - a busier week than normal, but still manageable. In fact, it would be perfect if after Friday night's final show of Aladdin, we could just close the doors and say hello to a nice lazy weekend ...
- But alas ... guess where we all need to be at 8:00 Saturday morning? At yet another dress rehearsal. At the ice rink. Brrr. Our figure skating season is wrapping up and the final weekend of club skating goes out with a bang: a full 2-hour recital on Sunday afternoon. Saturday morning will require about 3 hours at the rink: makeup, final dress rehearsals, professional photos, etc. Here are a couple of pictures from last year's recital to give you the flavor:
By Sunday night,
6 comments:
Your week sounds like last week for us. We, too, thrive on downtime. I have no idea how people do it all the time.
Same here! We need and love our downtime. It drives me crazy if I have too many appts., obligations, meetings, volunteering, etc. too many days in a row. I definately like little breaks in between the busyness! Our only free evening all winter has been on Wednesdays. I can't wait for this to change!
Have a great weekend! Looking forward to your pictures!
WOW Sloan. . .that is a crazy week!
We are the same way, we need down time and this week has been busy too, not quite as busy as yours, but something everynight.
So, when Leslie asked for a sleep-over tonight I said "ummm no!"
I think the soup kitchen idea for community project is so very cool!
Hang in there, all storms must end at sometime right?:)
and still you made time for a little lunch with me. :-) thank you, my friend.
I remember those crazy days and crazy weeks!
Being a great mother takes quite a bit of energy, and you'll miss it when you're my age!!
I love downtime too. I get really anxious when my calendar gets too full. I'd rather my calendar be a bunch of blank pages....dream on huh?! :) I hear ya though! I love that you are involved in the soup kitchen. That is a ton of food and lots of hard work! Your girls look adorable in their ice skating outfits. :)
Here's to a lazy, slow week for you!
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