We had such a good Easter this year. So much better than last year, but having wisdom teeth removed would be better than last Easter. We crocheted, we had a water balloon fight, Robin made this bunny cake, we played a new game called Chicken Butt, and we had a delicious ham dinner made by Billy. I have the best family. We missed Colleen and her crew, but hope to see them in a few weeks for Mother’s Day. My heart is full.
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April 19
It was a busy day. Gym for a run this morning, then food shopping, dyeing eggs (we tried the Cool Whip method this year with marginal success), and then I went out for pizza with Lauren and Monica. While I was out, Robin and Billy baked jelly bean sugar cookies that are actually quite tasty! I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening from here out.
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April 18
It was kind of a slow day. The kids were off for Good Friday and I didn’t have any meetings at work. Robin and I picked out a cake and some cookies to make tomorrow for Easter dinner. Could very well end up on an episode of “Nailed It” when we’re done, but we’re gonna give it our best shot. Long as it tastes good.
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April 17
I finished this sweater a few days ago, which I started sometime in 2023. There are so many things wrong with it, but through some miracle there are enough things right with it that I can wear it and it even looks presentable. And now I’m in the weird, uncomfortable position of having nothing to work on. I do have some machine sewing to do, but I can’t do that on a weeknight after everyone goes to bed. I’m sure I’ll come up with something.
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April 16
It is so annoying dealing with the pharmacy. I’m going on three days without a medication after being told for days, “It’ll be ready by 11.” I can barely function right now. I’m glad this medication works, but it is ALWAYS a pain in the ass to refill. I go through this every month and I’m getting tired of it. And also just tired.
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April 15
The plumber finally came today and all the work is finally done. I am so relieved to have two working toilets and a water heater from this century. For some reason, though, I am utterly exhausted, even though I didn’t really do much today. So goodnight to me!
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April 14
Finished this puzzle today. Putting together all the crowd sections was hard. All the pieces looked basically the same, and the pieces didn’t fit together intuitively. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. But I finished in time to go to cheer, where I also finished a sweater I’ve been working on for more than a year. I just have to block it now. Like the puzzle, it was a hard pattern to follow. I’m surprised it looks like a sweater at all, or that it fits. And then I came home from cheer, ate dinner, and fell asleep on the couch.
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April 13
Christina’s dance competition didn’t go as well today as yesterday. The team didn’t even place. It was fun watching her anyway. And, we have wisteria flowers for the first time since I planted it over ten years ago! So exciting.
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April 12
It was a long, busy day. Christina had a dance competition this morning, and her team swept their level, taking home at least three top prizes. They looked absolutely amazing. And then, although I really, really didn’t want to, I ran the Wine and Chocolate 5k. I was 9 seconds off my time for the last race, and about a minute and a half off the Santa race in December. Considering how little I wanted to run, and how often I stopped to walk, it’s a pretty good finishing time. With walking, I averaged about a 12:45 pace, which is about what I do on the treadmill. The weather was perfect, although my sunglasses kept falling off my face, and that was annoying. And there was wine at the end!
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April 11
Slowed down the pace a little today and it felt nice. Picked up materials for tomorrow’s wine and chocolate 5k. I’m a little bummed that I got this wine glass instead of a medal. I don’t drink much wine because no one else in the house drinks it and a bottle is no good on the second day. But, Robin was excited to drink her Coke out of it, so at least someone’s using it.
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April 10
Thursdays are the new bane of my existence. 4:45 – drop Christina off at dance. 6:00 – drop Robin off at cheer. 6:15 – pick up Christina from dance. 7:00 – pick up Robin from cheer. Cheer and dance are 20-25 minutes away from each other, depending on traffic, especially at that time of day. I’m pretty sure most people would not agree to this, but until now it hasn’t been a problem because Billy has been able to help out. But now he has clients from 5:30-6:30 on Thursdays and we’re on our own. I got home from cheer at 7:20 and then at 8:00, after a quick dinner, I had a Zoom meeting with my co-facilitator for the NAMI class I’m teaching. When all was said and done, it was 8:30pm. By the time I was done with my shower, it was 9:00. I keep telling myself that the schedule will ease when Christina’s dance season ends at the end of May. I don’t know how this keeps happening. Eventually I will simply be too old. I think 45 is already too old. I’d like to hope the kids will appreciate it someday, but probably not for a long, long time, if ever. Despite it all, it feels worth it to me. I like watching them grow. It’ll even out eventually.
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April 9
I finally had a minute to catch my breath today. Which isn’t to say it was an easy day, just that I had some time in between the madness to catch up on photos, look at my garden, look up some things on the internet that have been bugging me, work on the jigsaw puzzle… It was nice, but now I’m tired. I stay up too late, trying to get some time to myself. It never feels like enough.
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April 8
Tonight was NAMI class, and we had a pretty good class. Everyone showed up and participated, which always helps. I am grateful to have the opportunity to teach these classes, but giving up my only free night of the week is a hefty sacrifice. Still, I made a point to spend 30 minutes with my headphones on after everyone went to bed, doing nothing but listening to music. No crossword or jigsaw puzzles, no browsing on my phone, just me and my music. I forgot how wonderful that is, and all the incredible imagery I enjoy. It was inspiring. I want to try to do this at least three times a week, just to disconnect from everything else swirling around me. I barely know what’s going on anymore, and I don’t have the time to care. Couple more weeks and things should settle a bit.
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April 7
Robin’s cheer practice was cancelled tonight due to too many people out. Robin and I were both pretty happy to have the time back. I worked on a jigsaw puzzle and cooked dinner, and she did whatever she does in her room all day long. We even got to eat together as a family, which never happens on a Monday. Even Robin ate it, and she wouldn’t even touch the salmon burgers I made the other day because they had shallots in them. WTF. At least I got a decent lunch out of it.
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April 6
Robin had a marathon cheer practice today for 4+ hours, so Christina and I used the time to do some shopping. She bought herself some Judy Blume books and a Snoopy shirt at the mall, and I couldn’t resist buying myself a book, even though I’ve been reading Wicked for four months now and I’m still not done. Time just isn’t my friend. But, instead of reading Wicked today, I finished knitting a sweater that’s been sitting in a bag for more than a year. It was a challenging pattern, mostly because I had trouble understanding it. I was pleasantly surprised that I ended up with something that very clearly resembles a sweater that even fits me. I have to do the finishing (weaving in threads, blocking), but then it will finally be done. Just in time for summer. Today it was 91 degrees outside.
Year in Photos 