Staying Home Ramblings

Ok, everyone asked me what I was going to do once the kids were in school all day and I had the day 'to myself'. I always told them that, the first thing I was doing is going back to bed and sleeping until my body woke me up! I was tired of waking up and going on someone else's body's schedule (it starts when you're pregnant, and never seems to end!). I kept thinking that it wouldn't be any problem to sleep for an hour or two (or three, or four), and be up and going by the time the kids got home. Well...it's incredibly hard to fall asleep when you actually WANT to fall asleep (and you have already been awake, and dressed, for at least 2 hours anyway)! Darn body gets going and doesn't think to shut down right away, I guess. So, have I gone back to sleep yet? Well, by mistake twice so far...the reason I woke up, then, is because we have the TV settings so that any show with a rating above PG has to have our code put in...and the TV went quiet! Funny how the quiet can wake me up now! So, what DO I do now that I'm home, alone, for 8 hours every day? Well, I already listed out a typical day for you, so let me tell you a bit about how I feel and react during the day.

Let this be fair warning to anyone who calls me during the day: I tend to keep people on the phone far longer than is needed as I don't have anyone to talk to all day. Once you finally hear another person's voice in the middle of the overwhelming quiet of a day alone, it triggers something. I always apologize to anyone who I chat with for too long, and they laugh it off with me. I could call to find out the time of a meeting, and end up on the phone for 45 minutes talking about school, kids, canning, or any number of other 'odd' topics!

I find myself thinking about my family a lot more. I don't just mean my husband and kids. I miss having my sisters around here quite a bit. We really get to enjoy each other now that we're 'older and wiser' (NO, girls, I'm NOT calling you old...that would mean I was old, and I am SO NOT old!). I laugh so much more with them here, we tell stories and talk about our lives now and just generally enjoy picking on each other. With Jennie here, we never lacked for GOOD homemade foods, and Leslie can do laundry like no one's business! She got mine caught up (after counting out 11 loads every day for a week, I think, she finally got to the end of it!); not to mention, she is probably the funniest of the 3 of us (she has an advantage with story telling 'cuz she teaches kindergarten--a never-ending supply of funny stuff happens there!). I completely enjoyed having my family here this summer, and wish we'd all been able to hang out longer. Next year I'm inviting everyone to our house for a big party at the end of June or beginning of July!! Yes, everyone who reads this is invited (assuming you're reading it 'cuz I invited you to!). I'll clear out more of the house so that there's more space to just sit around and visit and have fun. The reason for the get together: Ariel turns 16 next June, and DJ will turn 8, and will be baptized (literally fulfilling a dream of Don's). I want to just have a big open house type 'party' with the backyard open for kids and fun, and the inside of the house set up for easy chatting and enjoying each other's company.

I watch my kids growing up so fast and can't believe how the time has gone by! I'm sure that those of you who have older kids understand, and even those with younger kids get the idea. Time used to drag when I was single...now, I can't figure out where the days and weeks went, let alone than hours. I don't exactly miss having babies around to spit up on me and everything within 3 feet of them, or changing diapers, or picking up messes every few minutes. I don't exactly miss potty training, and car seats. I can't say that I miss teething all that much...though I'm absolutely NOT the one to come to when a tooth is loose, it makes me cringe! I find it hard to imagine that I'll someday miss the 'play-by-play' in 'real time' from the girls after school; but I suspect I will eventually. Do I look forward to DJ playing football (or whatever he chooses, 'cuz he's likely going to choose at least one sport with his build!)? No, after having been at a game where a kid was taken to the ER before I got there and another down with an obviously broken arm (I have to assume it was obvious 'cuz the ref was yelling that they had a broken arm on the field)...I'm not exactly excited about my kid being out there on that field. But, am I looking forward to shopping for wedding dresses, cake tastings and baby showers? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!! As much as I want my kids to grow up and be out of the house some days, I can't even imagine life without them here with me! They'd better go to college nearby!! Just kidding, they are free to make their own choices, I've always accepted that part. But, I do feel a bit more appreciation for my parents apprehension when I moved out to Utah when I was barely over 20? Absolutely.

Any thoughts from those of you out there who have felt time slipping away from them? Please, leave a comment so that we can share our experiences!