Here We Go Again

Today is my last day of my Christmas vacation. I am not looking forward to returning to work. I really enjoyed my time off and would like just a few more days to enjoy no agenda. But a few more probably wouldn't be enough. At the end of those days I would be begging for just a few more, so I guess I'd better just suck it up and get on with it.

I left Cumming on December 23 and drove to Spartanburg to spend Christmas with Debbie, Michael, Garrett, Mom and Dad. I had a wonderful Christmas. Debbie made prime rib for dinner - OH MY! Garrett was so much fun to spend the day with.

Kate, EJ and Chloe arrived at Debbie's on Sunday, December 28. We had a nice evening together watching movies and playing games and just catching up. Monday morning the four of us loaded the van and headed for Manassas, VA and the Duvall's. We had a wonderful time just being together. We were treated to a steak dinner on the night of our arrival complete with cheesecake. Steve - Kate is still talking about that steak. YUM! We managed to make the trip north and return without having any weather issues. Yeah.

So today will be spent unpacking, putting away Christmas, a trip to the grocery store and savorying the last day of no agenda. I believe EJ has several essays to write and college applications to complete. (His back up plan in case a Letter of Appointment does not come through for Annapolis or West Point.) Chloe has some homework to complete. I think Kate is the only one that does not return to her 'regular' life until Wednesday and so she can spend the next couple of days doing nothing. We're all very envious!

Happy New Year.

My how Time Flies!

My time flies when you're busy. Thanksgiving has come and gone and it's almost Christmas! I'm not ready; and I'm not sure I'll be ready when it gets here.

We had a great Thanksgiving. The four of us went to Myrtle Beach. We went in two cars. That was a first. At midnight on Thanksgiving night, the four of us hit the outlets! That was also a first. I still can't believe how many people were doing the same thing. I truly thought we'd wander around almost empty stores and try and keep the help awake for a few minutes while we were in their store. The place was mobbed, parking was at a premium and the sales made it worth the trip. EJ was the first to make a purchase!

Around 1:30 AM we headed back to Mom and Daddy's. Chloe and I dropped of EJ and Kate and took the other car and headed out to the second outlet mall. I lucked out and was able to take the spot of someone leaving for the day so I didn't need to cirlce the parking lot looking for a place to park. Still can't believe how busy it was. Chloe and I went to bed about 4:50 AM Friday. I don't know that I need to make an annual event out of it, but it was fun.

Kate is wrapping up her semester. She was able to take two finals early. This weekend she is babysitting for her nanny family. Chloe is preparing for her District Honor band audition (12/13) and her Winter Concert (12/11). EJ is completing a Physics project, working at his senior project in AP Lit and getting ready for his interview with Representative Nathan Deal's Academy Selection Committee on 12/12. EJ and Chloe will also have mid-terms before the school holiday break. If we can all stay healthy, it will be a miracle. I think we are all ready for an extended break and looking forward to some down time.

It's Good to Have Choices!

This arrived yesterday and I wanted to share! EJ is still very much hoping for an appointment to Annapolis or West Point, but this a very nice option if neither of those work out.

Oh no, now I might have to do housework!

Friday night was Chloe's last football game/marching opportunity for the 2008/2009 school year. It was cold and it rained. But those kids are troopers and performed in the rain. They played in the stands with their ponchos and the rain beating down on them at several points of the evening. And they finally played "Hey Baby"; the band parents favorite stand music number.


Sunday evening, at 7 pm, was EJ's last league soccer game. Coach Chas, after 2 years, finally let EJ play defense again and he had a ball. I even heard a parent comment "Wow, having Eric back at defense on the right side has made a big difference." This comment was made by a new parent to the team so he didn't understand why I started laughing. EJ has played on the front line the past two seasons because the new coach decided he was big, fast and intimidating so that was where he needed to be. Never mind that EJ hadn't played offense in so long that he didn't really know what he was doing any more.


The team won 3-1 and it was a great way to end the season and, probably, EJ's HS soccer career. I don't think he has plans to try-out for the HS team this year. He may play on a rec league in the spring for fun.


So the question now is, what will I do with all my free time. I don't need to pick Chloe up at 7 Pm after marching band practice any more. EJ no longer has 8 - 10 PM practices two times a week. We can eat dinner together at a decent hour! Yeah. My Friday evenings are no longer booked and my Saturday and Sunday afternoons are no longer full with soccer games. And I no longer have a 'real' reason for not running the vacuum cleaner, dusting, mopping, or folding laundry on a regular basis. Yikes. Maybe it's time to rent a younger child?