10-23-2014 From Fall Ball to Basketball

Fall ball is done and basketball has begun. The kids are both doing basketball and had their first clinic last Friday. They have another clinic tomorrow night and then I think it's two weeks each with three clinics. I'm hoping they both enjoy it, although as always, my main concern is that no one get hurt. Charlie has offered to coach wherever they need him and hasn't found out yet if he'll be with Luke or Lily.

I've gone in to work 3 weekdays in the past week. I'm doing a leadership training program that involves some webinars I need to attend at work with a group of other folks in management. Today I was at work for my annual education day. I had attended that back in August, but they pulled me to work on the floor that day.

It's been quite blustery and rainy the past few days. We've had our employees in the barn painting our house shutters. We've decided on Chester County white after being up in the air all summer about what color we were going to go with. Now we just need to decide on the door color. I think we may go with a green/black.

Next week is Halloween and then my birthday. I can not believe we are almost to November. It seems like the kids were just at the shore and then getting ready for back to school. Next we'll be talking about Christmas!

10-6-2014 Kids-free Weekend Bliss

Mom and Dad had the kids this past weekend and I took off both Saturday and Sunday from work for the first time since I started working every weekend back in June 2013. It was wonderful!

Charlie came with me and we met Mom and Dad 1/2 way between our houses Friday afternoon around  4:00ish. We then came home and relished in the peace and quiet for a while. Eventually we head upstairs to showers and relaxing in bed.

Saturday we slept until 7:30 am. I still can't believe I actually slept in that late! We got up eventually and did the 4 Centuries Historic Homes Tour as we do every year. It was in the Oley Valley this year and was quite enjoyable. We took along drinks and snacks and nibbled our way through the day. Charlie's upper respiratory issues persist, so he drank hot tea with honey and juice as well as coffee and water.

We ordered Bruno's stromboli for supper and stopped in a cute little shop a mile or so from Bruno's to kill a little time before picking up our take-out and heading home. Just being able to eat a quiet dinner without bickering or interruptions was quite lovely.

Sunday we slept in again then went to a local flea market and antique shops. Charlie bought some TIME magazine year in review books for $1 a piece and enjoyed looking through them in the afternoon.

The kids did a fall festival with P&J on Saturday afternoon after spending the morning decorating pumpkins from P&J's garden. They went to Tobias's Animal Farm on Sunday. They all agree they had a great time together.

It was absolutely wonderful to have a weekend just the two of us. I look forward to the next…hopefully it won't be a year from now!