Monday, August 31, 2009

First Day of Middle School

TL started middle school today and the girl in the picture is much to grown up to be my little girl. Where does the time go???

She loves middle school, loves her teachers, loves the choices in the cafeteria and loves being back with all her friends. She came home and did her homework right away (not much) and is busy making covers for her notebooks and getting organized. Again, she isn't a little girl anymore.

Here's to a great school year with more "straight A's" celebrations!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Middle School Orientation

Today was TL’s first taste of Middle School! She woke up bright and early so she could straighten her hair (with a smile no less) and was eager to catch the bus…unfortunately, the bus broke down and she ended up having to have her grandmother drive her to school (I’m sure there’s an 80’s teenage angst movie with that exact scenario somewhere). But when she got home I got a very very very excited phone call. All of her teachers are amazing, she loves middle school, she had classes with friends (but not her BFF) and life is great. In the afternoon parents were invited to visit the school and I got the grand tour. She does have a great team of teachers and every last one of them noted that she was the only one asking questions during the introduction classes she had today. Did anyone doubt that???

I’m looking forward to another amazing school year but also am a little sad that she has started a new phase in her life—I’m not going to be cool much longer… Luckily, as she said, “you never were cool mom” so I guess I have nothing to lose and not much will change.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Endings

Yesterday I signed the papers to begin the final process of ending my marriage. I’ve written more than once over the past year about my growth and the gamut of emotions I experienced all the way from devastation, to shock and horror, to anger, to happiness to finally completeness. A year ago I would have never imagined that the emotion I would feel when I sent along those papers was relief. Ted has become nearly a stranger to me and there is no reason for me to even want to stay married to him now. Along my journey I was lucky to have my TL next to my side along with some great friends (most especially the amazing E who baby sat me many nights while I cried, raged and finally laughed) and I most recently added another person to this list that has brought even more joy and love into my life. I am blessed in many ways.

So sorry, this post isn’t about another great adventure but just another sign of what water, sunshine and love can accomplish. Since I started writing this my anger has faded away and I’ve started counting my blessings again—number 1 is TL who has her middle school orientation tomorrow! Stay tuned, I’m now the parent of a pre-teen!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Back From Bristol

We're home after another weekend of traveling!

We had a great time in Bristol starting off with a girls road trip down (the men road separately, one coming down early the other coming up on Saturday after an evening of planes, trains and automobiles). We met up with a friend who was staying at a campground, had dinner out and were lucky to stay the weekend with friends(but, due to my ever changing cell phone number we missed the chance to see another friend Friday afternoon).

Race day dawned with a thunderstorm (luckily, TL was so tired she slept through it) but cloudy skies led to sunshine and a good time was had by all. My SC friend rode his bike up for his first NASCAR race and was amazed at all the campers, people and tailgaters. We had some great seats, a good race and the three of us had fun. My driver did great (other people's didn't do so hot...) so I was very happy. Ted very kindly lent us the head sets so we were able to have in race commentary by TL for a majority of the race (they have a microphone so you can talk to each other during the race). I think in the end she could always get a job with PRN radio if she wanted.

We spent this morning seeing friends and holding babies followed by lunch in an old post office in Marion, Virginia with my SC friend's brother and sister in law (I'm starting to think I need a new name for my SC friend though--too much to type...). We're home now, unpacking all our stuff and getting ready for the week ahead.

TL has middle school orientation on Thursday so the week ahead will be focused on her (like it isn't all the time before now) and we will finish up all our shopping, planning and getting ready for waking up at 6:00. In between we have to finish unpacking from the weekend and catch up on all the stuff we haven't done for the past few weeks.

Have a great week!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

New Blog to Follow

No, we’re not moving again so don’t go trying to find that favorites button… A friend of mine from grad school recently starting blogging and I enjoy following what she has to say. For her blogging is a way to discipline herself to get ready for that book she’s always wanted to write. Her posts are insightful discussions about current events and some are a little more politically motivated than what I post but… The joy in blogging is that you create stories, state opinions or make records of your life and the web allows you to share those with anyone who is interested. Some of you may not agree with her opinions (we all know my political leanings which is why I like her blog so much) but I firmly believe that open dialogues and hearing what both sides have to say never hurts anyone. And since I get to hear Fox News blaring from the basement every night (thanks Dad) her blog is welcome relief from their somewhat one sided opinions (oops sorry, news reporting).

If you’re interested: http://musthavemissedthepoint.blogspot.com

Of course, any other suggestions for blogs are always welcome!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Weekend Fun


So I started this post several times this weekend and never finished it... Either someone wanted the laptop, someone distracted me or finally, we needed to be somewhere. My apologies for posting this Monday night.

We had a very nice time in SC and all the kids had a good time (TL is very tired tonight but found some energy to clean out her closet so she can make room for new clothes). Our trip started out frazzled but ended up happy when we finally arrived and my friend met me at the door with a bottle of Killians (our beer of choice when we were at Stetson together). I interviewed someone for a position in my lab Friday morning and she arrived about 2 hours late (after changing the time in a late evening email the night before). Needless to say, she didn't earn any brownie points. Traffic was typical Friday afternoon traffic and when we got stuck in a huge back up in Charlotte I did just about start to cry. Luckily, I had TL with me who managed to cheer me up and keep me focused. She is the best travel companion out there by far!!! We spent the weekend watching softball and baseball games, shopping (just a little), hanging out and watching a Triple A ball game where my friend's daughter got to go out on the field with one of the players. The game was slow and we left during the 7th inning stretch (lucky choice, soon after the game was called due to rain). The picture I included in this post is my friend and I before we left for the game. A good time was had by all and we headed back early this morning so I could go into work this afternoon. I know, no rest for the wicked.

This week looks busy all ready. This coming weekend is our annual trip to Bristol for the NASCAR race!!!! Time to go racing again! It will be nice to see good friends and some good racing. Before then we TL is off to a friends house for a day at the pool, more back to school shopping and getting ready to go. I just need to catch up on all the stuff piled up on my desk (actually, it would be nice if I could find my desk...), tackle the thistles that have taken over my garden and clean up the basement from the slight flood my parents had to deal with over the weekend while I was off playing (ugh, I finally caved and called a plumber--the previous one didn't do a very good job and it'll be a huge job to fix all the pipes he patched together). But, I'm going racing this weekend!!!!

Have a great week...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Yippee She’s Finally Home

TL came home last night and we both admitted we were very happy she was home. She enjoyed her time in Iowa, enjoyed her time with family and enjoyed all the things she did but I guess it’s true that there’s no place like home. Unfortunately, I think she grew while she was gone…she looks so much more grown up!

We’ll post more from the road as the week progresses, just had to share the happy news!

Monday, August 10, 2009

It’s Monday Again

So, it’s Monday and tomorrow TL comes home!!!!!! I have really really really missed her and can hardly wait to see her again. She had a good weekend going to West Bend to see her great-grandma and Belmond for a bridal shower (combined with a trip to see where her dad grew up…). She is still a little homesick, but it’s usually right before bed which is our special mom-TL time. I’m happy she will be back (obviously) and we already have several things planned (all of them involve shopping of course….).

My weekend was busy even without TL around, sadly I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning Saturday to take my oldest nephew to the train station. I did learn one thing, getting out of the traffic circle in front of Union Station is challenging—after going around three times (can anyone say Family Vacation…?) I finally let a taxi pass me so I could follow him out. At 4:30 am I didn’t want to have to drive around in circles til more people showed up. I spent most of the afternoon working on my chair. I’m about done with the base and have made enough mistakes along the way that the first one will be ornamental or solely for small children to sit on! It’ll still look good on my deck. My friend from SC flew in Saturday night and we spent Sunday picking peaches, eating lunch and driving to Richmond where he is working this week (he was introduced to a real DC style traffic back up along the way). We met several friends for dinner and then I got up very very early this morning and drove back.

Our week ahead is already filling up with shopping, hair cut for me, a new cell phone for TL and a trip later this week to SC. I’m excited to be taking TL along with me (finally, she says) and my friend will also have his two younger children this weekend so it’ll be fun. I’m still not sure he is ready for the whirlwind that is TL but I guess he needs to know what he signed up for!

Have a great rest of the week.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Homesick

So, TL is in Iowa this week and has been away several times this summer. I've posted several times just how much I miss her and how empty my house seems when she's gone. I routinely get a "mom I miss you" call, especially at night which has always been our special time. Tonight I got the dreaded "mom, I want to come home" call. I don't think there is a parent out there that hasn't gotten one and there is a really helpless feeling that comes with that phone call. We want to immediately fix it by going and getting them but have to hold ourselves back which is never easy. Luckily, she is with someone who not only understands homesick kids, she's with someone that once TL realized that she wouldn't hurt grandma's feeling by saying she was homesick she got the best cure for homesickness there is--hugs. It also didn't hurt that her brother's father-in-law just happened to come over soon after with a whole bunch of clothes from her brother and sister-in-law. We all know that TL likes clothes! I just got off the phone with her and she is much better. She and grandma are working on a quilt (and from the hum of the sewing machine she's already way ahead of me and my sewing ability). She was back to her usual laughing self and having a great time with grandma (I wish I could be there to see it).

I think all of us hate it when our loved ones are away from us but as TL grows up I'll see less and less of her (not that I'm happy about that one bit!) and I'm glad to see that she is learning ways to handle and defeat being homesick! Of course, I'm counting the days til she gets home, she's already trying to figure out when she can go away again...I think she's cured.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Changes

Welcome to the new and improved blog. This will be a continuation of all our adventures along with maybe a few more opinions and thoughts along the way. The names will change slightly though and I am now just PT and my lovely daughter will now be TL--easier to type!

So, to continue in the same vein as the previous blog here's the usual recap of our past week.

TL spent last weekend with her father at the lake and had a good time--she came back tired on Monday morning. We started our back to school shopping that afternoon and luckily she has discovered Ross since she now is becoming a clothes fanatic. She recently had a drastic hair cut and I'll post a picture once I get a better one--the one I have she's crying in. She was home for one day and then I put her on a plane to Iowa to visit more family. It seems like I've barely even seen her this summer which just stinks! She is of course having a ball and enjoying being spoiled rotten by her grandmother...

I spent last weekend in SC with my friend. We spent Saturday morning on the softball field with his kids and the loaded up and rode the bike to NC for a late lunch. I'm starting to enjoy the bike but we are already starting to talk about buying either a bigger bike or a bigger seat! Our relationship is easy and we really enjoy each other's company. We are beginning the process of introducing our kids and doing things with all of us--although we also realize that neither one of us have a vehicle big enough for all 6 of us so we'll be doing alot of girl's car/boy's car for the foreseeable future.

My weekend ahead will be somewhat quiet. My summer students are finishing up this week which means I can focus on lab work again. My papers still aren't done but much closer to being there. My friend from SC is flying up on Saturday night since he will be working in Richmond for part of next week and it will be nice to see him again. TL is home on Tuesday (yippee)and has already mapped out the rest of the back to school shopping spree!

Hope everyone has a good rest of the week and welcome to our new page!