We are still a couple
Keith and I had big plans to send the kids to my SILs house last weekend, while we spent some quality time up north (relatively) camping in the Jordan River Valley. It would have been our first weekend away together -- alone -- since Alina was born. Good thing we didn't pack our things. I got a call Thursday afternoon to come pick up Alina from school as she had a fever. It didn't let go until late Friday night, so we had to say goodbye to our camping plans.
On the other hand, since she was better Saturday morning, we were still able to pawn off the kids for a day and a night. We ended up heading over to a canoe livery a little over an hour's drive away from us, renting a canoe and spending a good portion of Saturday afternoon paddling the Chippewa. The weather was gorgeous and we got to see some fantastic wildlife, including a great blue heron spearing a fish (is the fish truly speared? or is the fish caught in it's beak?) Dinner was spent eating perch fish fry at our favorite local hang-out, then we rented The Bourne Ultimatum and the Spiderwick Chronicles to watch at home. Most importantly, we found we can still hold a decent conversation that is NOT about the kids! Don't get me wrong, I love the kids. It's just nice to know that we can actually be a couple, instead of just parents.
This week has been as hectic as the last few, although we really do try and limit our extracurricular activities. Most of the pressure I'm feeling has to do with the fact that I'm working extra hours trying to fill the gaps made by the fact that we still need to hire a full-time employee to replace my "old" position. It was nice, though, that the president of our organization called me in earlier this week to let me know he values my skills and hopes I'll stick around in some capacity, even with having more kids. I'm not planning on going anywhere. Our budget won't allow it; and I do find my work rewarding. I've fully shifted over to Web posting and cleaning/formatting news clips for republication to our constituents (versus doing database management), so things are different from, but just as good as, what they were before. I did almost have a breakdown when I first started making the transition -- feeling the whole, "My God there is no way I can learn all this!" But I have, and it's all good.
Keith has been in the midst of his busy season at work, too, making, on average, three high school visits per day to schools all over mid-Michigan, as well as heading to college fairs at nearby colleges. He comes home some nights so hoarse from talking that it's hard for him to speak at all. He is really good at what he does, though. For him, it's more than just getting numbers (and $$) in the door. It's a mission to help people improve their lives and think about their futures. Delta is lucky to have him.
Lastly, we got a McCain/Palin sign for the front yard, as well as a "say NO to Proposal 2" sign. I'm certainly not high on McCain being the perfect candidate, but the alternative is so much worse (among other things, I do NOT believe that higher taxes and bigger government are the answer, I have NO interest in a universal health care plan, and I DO NOT want a President that supports abortion!) that I just have to put it up. Proposal 2 has to do with a constitutional amendment that would tax Michigan citizens for funding stem cell research on human embryos (which private funders won't even touch because it doesn't work!). Okay -- I've already mention that I don't like taxes or abortion, so you can guess why I'm voting no, and want other people to do the same. Grrrr. Show me the ballot box.
On the other hand, since she was better Saturday morning, we were still able to pawn off the kids for a day and a night. We ended up heading over to a canoe livery a little over an hour's drive away from us, renting a canoe and spending a good portion of Saturday afternoon paddling the Chippewa. The weather was gorgeous and we got to see some fantastic wildlife, including a great blue heron spearing a fish (is the fish truly speared? or is the fish caught in it's beak?) Dinner was spent eating perch fish fry at our favorite local hang-out, then we rented The Bourne Ultimatum and the Spiderwick Chronicles to watch at home. Most importantly, we found we can still hold a decent conversation that is NOT about the kids! Don't get me wrong, I love the kids. It's just nice to know that we can actually be a couple, instead of just parents.
This week has been as hectic as the last few, although we really do try and limit our extracurricular activities. Most of the pressure I'm feeling has to do with the fact that I'm working extra hours trying to fill the gaps made by the fact that we still need to hire a full-time employee to replace my "old" position. It was nice, though, that the president of our organization called me in earlier this week to let me know he values my skills and hopes I'll stick around in some capacity, even with having more kids. I'm not planning on going anywhere. Our budget won't allow it; and I do find my work rewarding. I've fully shifted over to Web posting and cleaning/formatting news clips for republication to our constituents (versus doing database management), so things are different from, but just as good as, what they were before. I did almost have a breakdown when I first started making the transition -- feeling the whole, "My God there is no way I can learn all this!" But I have, and it's all good.
Keith has been in the midst of his busy season at work, too, making, on average, three high school visits per day to schools all over mid-Michigan, as well as heading to college fairs at nearby colleges. He comes home some nights so hoarse from talking that it's hard for him to speak at all. He is really good at what he does, though. For him, it's more than just getting numbers (and $$) in the door. It's a mission to help people improve their lives and think about their futures. Delta is lucky to have him.
Lastly, we got a McCain/Palin sign for the front yard, as well as a "say NO to Proposal 2" sign. I'm certainly not high on McCain being the perfect candidate, but the alternative is so much worse (among other things, I do NOT believe that higher taxes and bigger government are the answer, I have NO interest in a universal health care plan, and I DO NOT want a President that supports abortion!) that I just have to put it up. Proposal 2 has to do with a constitutional amendment that would tax Michigan citizens for funding stem cell research on human embryos (which private funders won't even touch because it doesn't work!). Okay -- I've already mention that I don't like taxes or abortion, so you can guess why I'm voting no, and want other people to do the same. Grrrr. Show me the ballot box.