Small Success Thursday - Babysitting Edition

Hello everyone,

I am working from home today instead of going to the office as usual on Thursday because DS had a doctor's appt. (It went better than he expected) and then I have a cold. I decided not to subject my co-workers to my coughing and sneezing.

I survived the weekend with my grandson. His parents left early Friday morning on a 9 hour drive for her grandmother's funeral. Actually, my Mom, Grossmom (German for grandma) picked him up. Friday afternoon Hubby went to their house. It was me and him a good part of Saturday as Hubby and DS went to the High school football game. Then Sunday Hubby left about 2 PM for a business trip. Sunday night he spent with my parents and I picked him up after work and his parents picked him up Tuesday morning. Buy is a 21 month old busy. Lol! But I think he shared a cold with me before he left. He was good as gold in Church, he wants to see what is happening. He also knows we pray before meals and folds his hands.

I am ready for a quiet weekend. This Saturday is the band's fund-raiser, an Antique show. We sell concessions and charge an entry fee. I work and afternoon shift in the kitchen. Tonight I need to make some Pumpkin rolls.

Linking up with Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - Marathon Wedding Edition

Hello everyone,

We had a whirlwind weekend. Football game Friday night. It was a big rivalry and our team won. Then we were up early to drive 5 hours to Chicago for the wedding of Hubby's best friend from High school. Hubby and other friends took the Groom out to lunch and then had a boys afternoon out. I walked along Chicago's Magnificent mile people watching and windows shopping. I certainly got my steps in. My friend, wife of one of the guys Hubby was hanging out with, had prior commitment. Then up early ofr the Wedding. Did you see the story about the couple ho got married in the middle of running the Chicago Marathon? That was the wedding we attended. The story has gone viral. picked up by People and Runner's world.

After the vows at mile 8, 6 of us made our way to the 26 mile mark with a bouquet to hand off ot he bride to carry across the finish line. We killed some time withe lunch and some drinks in a bar near the finish line. Goodness was it fun to just kick back and enjoy the company. I think we were all ready for a weekend like this.

Here is a picture Hubby took:

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday - Birthday edition

Happy Thursday again,
I am joining up with Catholic Mom again for Small Success Thursday. As Moms there are so many things we do as part of our routine, on a daily basis  that we do not take the time to acknowledge. So Small Success Thursday was born.

I actually had a busy week. Friday was another rainy football game. I ended up filling in as a chaperon rather than equipment mover. Another chaperon met us there, but they like at least one parent to ride the bus with the kids. Then I spent a good chunk of the weekend at my sewing machine finishing up a quilt for a wedding gift. The bride and groom are both older, well-established enough that most gifts would hold little meaning, so I made a quilt in colors I saw in her home this summer. I completed it and got it mailed off Monday.

Last night I whipped put a quilt t-shirt baby quilt for a shower gift this weekend. And my birthday was Tuesday. Picture 1 is me and my Grandson at the football game, Then is the wedding quilt, finally the baby quilt.

Small Success Thursday - October 1

Happy Thursday,

Did you notice a couple of weeks ago I figured out how to create my post, send the link to my phone and use my phone to post my linky from the office. 

I've been walking a lot. Part of it is because Hubby is participating in a group at work recording activity in a competition. I need all the exercise I can get. With the free time freed up from not driving my teen to school, I wanted to exercise more. I did take a walk at lunchtime Monday. I don;t need to hoard my "Lunch Hour" To pick up the teen. 

I have the wedding quilt I have been working on on the machine for machine quilting. I want to send it off next Monday,

Have a great week.

Linking up with Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - 4 hours a week found

Welcome to my Small Success Thursday post. A time to stop and reflect on the little things we overlook in our roles as homemakers and caretakers.

My son passed is driver's test and is now a licensed driver. I am inordinately excited. Parents who have not been through this are shocked at my excitement. But 1) This is my second son 2) Our school district cut busing for high schoolers about 5 years ago and even if he attended the local public school, it is not walk-able/bike-able from my home. His parochial school is about a 25 minute drive. My current work schedule has me working form home MWF, going to my consulting company office on Tuesday when the school is not really out of my way and Th I go to the client office in the opposite direction of school. So MW is 4 round trips and Thursday is 5. Hubby can pick him up from band practice on Thursdays take him on Fridays,  So at a minimum that is 4 hours a week that have been freed up. I am very excited about that. I am hoping I will put this time to good use and exercise during my newly-found free time.

Have a great day,
Maggie

See Catholic Mom for more successes.

Small Success Thursday - This and that edition

Happy Thursday afternoon everybody,

I got sent home from the office due to Network issues. Glad I am not a part of that support team.

But Happy Thursday again.

We are still plodding along. It is t-7 days until I might be able to hand up my Chauffeur's hat. My son has an appointment at the BMV next Wednesday. My husband is heading overseas for the next week. I'd appreciate a prayer for a safe return home for him.

I guess my successes are keeping on the path. We've been cooking from home. I spent $27 on an at home steak dinner for Hubby (He is heading to India). I had thought about taking him out, but the meal for the three of us would have only fed one of us at a restaurant.

Last weekend I had my younger son drive downtown. The Older son said he wished he had done that. He came out of music hall once time and got turned around. So we parked there, walked a few blocks over to an up-and-coming neighborhood, had lunch at a fun restaurant. He loved it. He is my foodie. I need to show him other ways to get to the University as he will go every Sunday evening for his Outside band practice.

We had our married son and his family over for lunch Sunday and ate on the deck.

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Have a great week. 

Maggie

Small Success Thursday - Holiday edition

Happy Thursday everyone,

The past week seems to have been all about our kids and the things we do for them.

Our older son Bent the rim of one of the tires on his car and it took almost 2 weeks for it to get fixed. So he has had one of our cars since Aug 30. I came home form work and his car was no longer parked in front of the house and our mini van was left.

The younger participated in a marching band competition over the Holiday weekend. The High School band performed at a the football game Sunday afternoon. (Televised on ESPN). So early Saturday morning Hubby and I drove almost 500 miles in case they did not make finals so we could bring him back for the game. Well, they made finals, he stayed, we spent the night (Hubby got the hotel stay on his points), got up early and drove back home to still go to the football game with the band to be a part of the truck crew moving equipment. On our way, we through Buffalo New and made the side trip to Niagara Falls where we spent an hour hiking around and viewing the Falls from the top.

So I am ready for a quiet weekend. I hope to make a lot of progress on the wedding quilt. I have half of the squares complete. Hubby is playing golf and I want my son to drive in the city.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Labor day Weekend

Hello Folks,

It is that time of the week to chronicle the little thing we accomplish each week as Spouses, parents, homekeepers, etc. Those things that tend to get overlooked.

So mine start with writing this post. I love this meme, but Thursday's are hard as I go to work in the office and time and firewall prevent me from easily adding this to the Link-up. But I will do it on my phone.

I did more work on a quilt as a wedding gift. I am usually beat in the evenings, but I got myself out of my chair and spent about an hours cutting fabric. I need to finish it up this month.

Finally, all the things I am doing for my kids with a mostly positive attitude. Lending the oldest my car until he gets his bent tire rim fixed, taking my second son to school and picking him up on my "Lunch hour" at a time convenient for him. Taking my son to auditions for a "Youth Winds Ensemble" at the local University - He was selected Yea! (more fees), the road trip this weekend to the city where son's competition Marching core is in their final contest. IF they do not make finals, we will being him home in time to play with the High school band at a football game Sunday afternoon.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Summer winding down

Hello,
This week my son has been moaning that his freedom is waning. This week regular evening band practices have been occurring. He has a 1/2 day of school on Monday where they will take picture and have class meetings. Sophomores and Juniors go Monday, Freshman and Seniors on Tuesday. So then band is at 1 PM on Tuesday. Sigh. Hard for this Mom to get him there.

I am struggling to enumerate my small successes. It has been just life around here. We have not resorted to eating out (not counting my lunch on Tuesday).

Last night I helped get a splinter out of my Grandson's foot. We were on the deck and the poor boy was screaming so hard. Hubby arrived home form the airport, heard the screaming, left his suitcase on the driveway and came around the house just in time to comfort the boy once we got the splinter out.

That is about all I have got.
Everyone have a great week.

Join us at Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - On my own

Hello everyone,
It is Thursday again. I love participating in the Meme, it makes me think about the things I do in my sometimes- frenzied life of a wife, Mom and outside-the-home worker. But it has been a bit hard since work often gets in the way.

On Tuesday I dropped my son off at the High school where he boarded a bus for Band camp. The Hubby left from work for a few days. He will be home tonight after his golf league. So being home alone, I got a lot accomplished.

Before he left I told my son that I was going to clean his room and if there was anything he did not want me going through it has to be put away. He said he did not care. Ok. among the clothes strewn around I found 6 reusable water bottles, 4 umbrellas, 3 reusable ice packs, 2 packages of snack foods (Closed with clips). I discovered he does not need any more ties, He is set for clothing that meets the school's uniform code.

I played plumber  and cleared a clog (And the teen will hear about it).

Last night I got started on a new quilt that will be a Wedding present for Hubby's best freind form High School.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Oh yes, Thursday - Small Successes

Hello everyone,

My workdays are still swamped. I got out of the scheduling business but another task came up to claim my time. Fortunately, I am still enjoying it.

I am not sure what my success are. Hanging in there? Getting my 15 YO daily to and from the camp he is working. I got him to prepare dinner last night.

Right now it is about survival, one day at a time. I live close enough to Cincinnati to enjoy some of the All star game, but we did not and that makes me sad. But it just was not meant to be.

Oh yes, and my son, daughter in law and grandson had to move out of their apartment due to bug infestation. I they have been advised to get rid of all of their furniture. Poor kids.

But hey, I am only slightly stressed out, I am enjoying my job. I am planning on buying a bed for the grandson. I have a dresser for them also. We are all healthy.

And so the summer of survival goes.  

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - I've got quilts

Hello everyone,
It's Thursday, when followers of Catholicmom.com take a few minute to reflect on the little things we accomplished over the last week.

On Tuesday we laid my cousin to rest. She had been fighting a rare condition where her digestive system just stopped working. After almost a year on the transplant list organs became available. The surgery went well, she was conscious, harassing her Dad and then all of a sudden things were not good. Before she signed papers stating she would never drink alcohol again, she invited friends and family to party with her at a local bar. She was 36. I had made a quilt to send up to her when she got her transplant. It never made it to her, but I understand my Aunt and Uncle are treasuring it. They had is displayed at the funeral home. At the funeral Mass, almost of her cousins and their families participated in the Offertory. There could have been almost 20 more who were unable to attend. All but 2 of her 27 cousins from our side of the family attending her viewing. Three came in from out of town, Such a wonderful tribute to a person who loved her family. She will be missed.She was a big comic book fan. Thus the quilt I made.

Speaking of quilts, I finished one for my 18 mo old Grandson who decided he preferred the twin bed in his room to the toddler bed. I finished it last night and am looking forward to giving it to him. It is 2-sided, Little boy and big boy.

I hope my third success is getting this post into the linkup with CatholicMom

Small Success Thursday - Summer school comes to an end

Hello,
Here's hoping I can find the time to join the linky at Catholic Mom today.

My 15Yo finished his Freshman year on a Friday and started summer school the following Monday. He took Gym and Health so he can take band, a language and a second math. But transportation has been mostly on me. At least getting him to there and home. For the past 2 weeks gym has been at a different place around town and he needed picked up, gotten lunch and back to the high school for health class. We did get him a ride 2 days in exchange for buying the driver's lunch and my parents came down on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Having them move back to town has been such a blessing to me. I am grateful their health is still good and they are active. So my first success is that I survives and it doesn't seem to have affected my job.

Dinner has been put on the table at and from home the last 6 or 7 days. Hubby even planned and cooked 2 of those meals.

I have been sleeping better. I have no idea what was keeping me up prior to last week, but it seems to be conquered. Last night I stayed awake until almost 10 so I did not wake (for good) before the alarm.

Maggie

Small Success Thursday - Summer School edition

Hello,
We are almost through week 2 of the 3 week summer school session. Morning gym class is a various places around town, then my son needs to be picked up, lunch gotten and transported to the High school for Health class. Monday was a change in plans and I missed the email. Sigh. But we have been getting it done. I was really worried about Monday since it is on the other side of town. My son finally decides he figured out a classmate who drives and is in both classes and another classmate/bandmate who lives nearby that he might catch a ride to.

Meanwhile, at work, I have been busy. I am the master scheduler for the migration of email accounts. Talk about data overload. And teleconference after teleconference. So I have not been up to doing much when I sign up for the day.

So my successes,

1. Monday night I teed up Tuesday night's dinner. Since I work from the office Tuesdays (and Thursdays), I can rely on Hubby and son to get dinner on the table if they don't have to do too much heavy lifting. I had sloppy joes made up. a salad prepared.  
2. Made a batch of home baked cookies for the band picnic last night (no cooking dinner)
3. Mostly keeping my cool with bad directions to some gym class destinations and DS's driving. He's more confident behind the wheel but that is causing him to be a little less careful with things liek Right turns on red. Thank goodness for our Guardian Angels. 

Linking up with Catholic Mom to acknowledge those small accomplishments that tend to get lost in the minutia of day to day life. 

Why I remain Catholic -

The Anchoress has challenged any Catholic that has access to a platform to blog about why we stay Catholic in light of the recent pew study saying that Catholics are leaving in droves.

I am a cradle Catholic, educated in Catholic schools from Grade 4-High School. My older son was in Catholic Schools k-12. My Second son spent part of 4th - 8th in Public school as the Catholic school he was in was not the right place for him. He was and continues to e enthusiastic about his Catholic High School. Finding a Catholic spouse was important to me.

Not that we are perfect. far from it. We do attend Mass most weeks. We are not overly involved in the parish right now as our focus is more on the High School Band.

But I look at the church - the Roman Catholic organization, as a constant that I can count on in a chaotic, constantly changing society. I don;t always agree with everything, but I seek to understand the philosophy behind the teachings and am comforted by it. The church is not perfect, but it considers things and can change when necessary. There are parts of it that are dynamic and ground-breaking in spite of the public image. I actually like Pope Francis' current approach of shifting the focus of the first world church to more basic issues while not changing teachings. He also reminds us that I will always be welcome to come back into the fold not matter what.

Small Success Thursday - Pantry clean out

Happy Thursday. It's that time of the week where we reflect on the small things we do each week so as not to lose sight of the things we accomplish in our day to day lives.

I finally took the time to empty my lazy susan bottom cabinet and my pantry and an upper corner cupboard. The Toddler grandson likes to open the lazy susan and bring me the glass bottle of Olive Oil. I decided to find a new home. And my pantry has needed help for a while now. But I contemplated this project for weeks, but Sunday was the day. I emptied everything on the dining room table, discovered the upper shelf of the lazy susan was cracked. I was able to order a new one through Amazon and hubby installed it last night. True confessions, there are still items on the dining room table for which I need to find a home. Probably the cabinet above my fridge since it is colored sugar/sprinkles and other cake/cookie decorations.

I finished another step in my Quilt squares. I am making Flying Geese. It involves cutting and sewing squares of 2 different fabrics, cutting each in half and putting 2 haves together and sewing again. Then cutting in half again and them trimming. I did the first sewing and cutting (and ironing) and am ready to put the squares together for the second time. I sew in spurts.

I got to use the long burner bar on my new stove, twice. Once I used my oblong "Rachel Ray" skillet and the second time I used a double-burner cast iron griddle/grill pan. I love it. I made pork chops on the grill and even got complimented on them by my non-pork lover family members.

So Join up with Catholic Mom to reflect on your accomplishments in the midst of the "lather, rise, repeat" nature of our lives.  

Small Success Thursday - May 28th

Happy Thursday from a short week.

Hubby is due back from a business trip late tonight. And it is not him who is waking me up about 3:30 AM every morning.

This weekend we managed to complete a project of coating our wood desk together without getting upset at each other. Now Tuesday morning I went upstairs to pack up my computer at the same time he was getting ready to leave. I barked at him when he teased me about not wanting to kiss him goodbye. And I have been doing so well....

I made some progress on the quilt I have in progress.

I asked for help in picking up the teen from school at his early dismissal. Of course my parents have to come down for 30 miles north, but they are willing to do it so I can go to the office twice this week.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Last full week of School

This is my youngest's last week of classes. Next week he has exams (and early dismissals). However, neither of us gets a big break as he is taking summer school for Gym and Health so he can take Band and double up on math cases next year. I am looking forward to him being able to drive himself to the places he needs to go.

This week we got my older son, Daughter-in-law and Grandson moved. The new apartment was supposed to be ready Friday, but it was not. Fortunately we borrowed a trailer and were able to lock their stuff in there until the were assigned a new apartment on Monday. Of course Hubby sprained his wrist. The doctor at urgent care told him to allow his teenage/20 Yo sons to do the lifting.

I am amazed at how this current job, while high paced, is not stressing me out. It allows me to roll with the punches so much better. Case in Point this post where I reflect on a recent situation where Hubby and have often snipped at each other, but we were able to express our feelings calmrly and gently. LOL! I wish it could always be like this.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Wow, we got it right for once

I was reading an article and reflecting on my relationship with my husband. We have been married for over 22 years. During this time, we have both worked full time outside the home. Our division of chores tend to get divided close to the traditional line. But he does the yard work becaseu he is rather particular about it. He has a hard time turning it over to the teen age sons. (and the youngest takes advantage of it).  I cook more often because I enjoy it and I am a bit better about timing it so it all get's done at the same time. I'd say laundry is a shared task. He does most of the folding. I clean the bathrooms because I don't mind it as mush as him and I leave floors to him. but in general, he is happy to let me do a task when I start it.

That said, we had an incident the other night that we both handled well even though we did  not want to.  I was rushing around to get dinner on the table after a long day. Hubby comes in a sits in his recliner. I think "Really? I sure could use some help so we can all eat. I sooo want to sit and relax a bit too." Then I actually listened to the part of the brain that said "Getting dinner on the table is not his priority right now. But maybe if you asked him nicely, he'll come help."

So I said "Hey Honey, can you come and put together a salad while I work on the rest of dinner?"  So he eases out of his chair and comes in and starts to make the salad. After a few minutes he said "You know, when you first asked, I thought to myself "Really?""

Somewhere I found the grace to laugh and say "Yeah, I though the same thing as I was rushing around and you actually sat down. So tell me about your day."

This is not my typical posture. I admit to being a yeller. I don't like being wronged. I have to admit that this has a lot to do with my current job. I am enjoying my current job. I work form home half the time and feel like I can take care of my family by dropping off and picking up my son from school. No busing) and putting home-cooked meals on the table.

Our marriages are under so much pressure. I wish I could be more like this more often.

Small Success Thursday - May 14

We are coming up to the end of the school year. My teen son finished playing with the pit orchestra for the school spring musical, Tuesday was the band banquet. (He got the "Outstanding Freshman" award.) Tonight is a cookout and final band concert/recital. So it has been a busy week.

Sunday I had my folks, eldest son, his wife and my grandson over for a Mother's day brunch. I kept it simple and everyone said it was delicious. Thankfully Hubby was able to install my new range since the delivery guys would not do it since they would have had to take a fitting off the gas pipe. Sigh. Another team came to pick up the old range yesterday, asked why they had to come back and just shook their heads and said the first team was wrong. Ah well, they can take care of it.

Yesterday was a day where mt plans were blown to smithereens due to a miscommunication. Hubby forgot to tell me he had to take  a day trip for work. I had made appointments to have his car in the shop for ac repairs and to have my old range picked up. I work form home on Wed., but I was counting on Hubby to take the teen to school. Luckily the mechanic is a walk-able mile from home. so I took the teen to school, drive to the shop and walked home. at lunchtime I walked back over to the shop and brought the van home. So I handled that with a fair amount of grace.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.