Camp, a Visit with a Friend, and Dinner

1. The boys went to camp this morning.

We took the boys to the Saegertown Park 'n' Ride to meet the bus, which would take them to camp. It was bittersweet for me, but I am still naming it as one of the best things of today. They were very excited to go. So. I am sure it was a "best thing" on their list for today. I was sad and nervous, and when I think about it, them being there and not here, I'm still a little sad. I miss them, but I know they are probably having such a good time, they aren't even thinking about me or of home. They've been away from home before, but each time, they've been at a relative's house. This time, they are at camp, without us. This morning, Curtis took pictures of them on the bus. We gave them extra hugs and kisses, but they were ready to go. They had found their friends on the bus, and were too busy to have us bothering them! They could hardly carry their bags, they were so heavy. But, the amount of things on the list to bring was extensive. I don't even know how they'll get the zippers closed when it comes time for them to return home! I am sure they have had a busy day of canoeing, swimming, and making new friends. What an exciting day!

2. Zoey and I had a visit from a high school friend and her two adorable children.

Julie and I have been friends since eighth grade, I think. We met at a youth retreat at the local Catholic high school. She smiled at me, and soon we were friends. We wrote letters to each other until ninth grade, when we would get to see each other daily in high school. She was someone who was completely unique, and incredibly smart. I always envied her ability to manipulate the English language. I always wanted to be more like her. I loved her independence and free spirit. Even her effortless ability to make "thrift store" finds look like a page out of a fashion magazine compelled me. She and her family are preparing to relocate to Seattle. Even now, I find myself somewhat jealous of her opportunity to move. I've longed for different scenery for quite some time now. I know my family is comfortable here, but each day I feel a little more secluded. We have a beautiful house out in the middle of the country. Our home has actually afforded us many opportunities, but the location is not ideal. I've always thought of myself as part gypsy, longing to see the world, and experience different environments. When Julie came to visit today, it brought back many memories, not only of the events surrounding our friendship, but also of the feelings associated with my life at that time. Julie and I actually went to London together through a drama club trip at our school. We've had so many treasured experiences together. It was such a nice treat to get to visit with my friend. Although we've spent so much time apart, our friendship never skips a beat.

3. We had a nice dinner at Big Moe's tonight.

Curtis had to go kayaking tonight after dinner instead of this morning before work. After all, this morning we were seeing the boys off to camp. Since Curtis puts in his kayak in Edinboro Lake, I asked him if we could meet for dinner at Big Moe's. Big Moe's is a little "mom and pop" type of diner. It has the best food. Every time we go out to eat in Edinboro, we go there. It's absolutely our favorite restaurant. I haven't had anything there that I didn't like.

Bags are Packed, Nail Art, and a Friend at Work

1. I got the boys all packed for camp.

Initially I was excited at the prospect of the boys going to camp for a week. When I was growing up, I always wanted to go to camp, but was never able to. When the opportunity arose for the boys to go, I jumped on it. I asked them if they wanted to go, and of course, they did. For the last three days, I've been labeling clothes, "EMPSON - CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS." And that actually took quite a while. For the amount of stuff we packed, I'm not sure they are going to be able to carry the bags. I just wanted to make sure they had everything they needed. I sure hope everything goes well. I know they will have a good time. And, this afternoon, I got every last item packed in their bags.

2. Zoey and I did nail art tonight.

While doing some last minute shopping for the boys' things for camp, I picked up some manicure stuff for Zoey and I to play with. After dinner tonight, I painted some cool designs on Zoey's nails. I also did my nails, but it was more difficult. It was especially difficult to do my right hand with my left hand. I'm thinking I'm going to have to remove all the polish anyway, so I'll just have to keep trying different things.

3. Holly was at work today.

Holly is a sub at work, so she isn't there every day. On the days she is there, however, it is a joy to be at work. I really enjoy her.

A Nice Work Environment, A Friend's Visit, and a Family Game

1. Bill, at work, is not ignoring me anymore.

I've previously mentioned that I work at the Post Office. The atmosphere there has been very uncomfortable at times, and can be very stressful to handle. One person in particular chooses to ignore people from time to time, and generally has an "I hate everyone" attitude. I thought he liked me. For a long time, he wouldn't speak to anyone, but would chit-chat with me and a couple other people. For the last few months, however, I have said, "Good Morning" to him only to get a grunt in reply, and then silence for the rest of the day. On Saturday, we had a long talk, and today he was back to teasing me. To be happy about someone teasing me doesn't sound quite right, but it makes me feel like things are getting back to normal. It was much more fun to be at work today.

2. My children got to go swimming at my friend Anne's house.

I've gotten to see my friend Anne two days in a row. Today, my children got to go swimming at their house while I was at my pre-surgery appointment at the hospital. They were happy, and I was happy. I definitely miss getting to see Anne on a day-to-day basis.

3. The family is playing a board game tonight.

It is so nice to play a nice game together as a family. And, to hear them playing nicely is even nicer. So often we hear the kids arguing about silly things, so to hear agreement is just music to my ears.

Waldameer, a Day With an Old Friend, and Quiet

1. We went to Waldameer today.

Waldameer Park is one of our favorite places to take the family in the summertime. It's a nice, small amusement park with a water park inside. The kids love it because they are allowed to ride most of the rides. It's got a lot of "little kid" rides, but also a few bigger rides. It has a roller coaster that stretches out over the Peninsula Drive. A lot of amusement parks don't allow you to bring in food, but you are allowed to bring in coolers, picnics, and really whatever you need for the day. We were lucky enough to have bought tickets through our school at a discounted price. Today just happened to be WQLN Kids Club Day at Waldameer, so we didn't even need the tickets for the kids because they got in for free. It was a nice day. We got rained on a couple times, but it was short-lived.

2. I got to spend a lot of time with one of my best friends, Anne.

Since we were at Waldameer for the WQLN Kids Club day, our friends were there. We don't get to see them a lot since we don't live in Erie anymore. Before Zoey was born, we lived in Erie, and saw Anne and her family almost daily. For most occasions, our families celebrated together. When we moved out of Erie, that changed a lot. We did not get to see them very much. Curtis works in Erie, so it's not that far away. But, realistically, we just don't get to see them that much. It was so nice to get to spend the day with them.

3. The kids were quiet the entire ride home.

After going to Waldameer, Curtis and I were so tired. On the way home, the kids at a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then rode very quietly. They each picked up a book and read. It was so nice to have a peaceful ride home.

A Nice Little Party, A House Cleaned for Me, and Grocery Shopping Alone

1. I had a nice little get together tonight with two new friends.

For some time now, I've been a jewelry salesperson for Jewels by Park Lane. Since January, however, I haven't had many parties. It seems like I've asked all my friends, and need to meet some new people to ask. I've also had many other things on my plate. I have recruited several people, but haven't had much jewelry business to do. Tonight I had a little party at my house, mainly for recruiting, but really just to get back into the swing of parties again. I'm not going to be able to do any shows for a while because of my surgery, but I've offered some good specials for people to make orders. Tonight, Sheila, an up-line manager came to talk about the "business" to two other fabulous ladies, Elaine and Kelly. They really didn't want to recruit, which is fine by me. I enjoyed just having a nice little get together with friends. From the food to the company, it was a nice little visit. I feel like I've gained two new friends, and that is priceless.

2. My family cleaned the house.

Ok, let me just say that again, "My family cleaned the house!" When I got home from work, my kids were so excited to show me the upstairs family room, that they came running when I came in the door. They had me walk up the stairs, then close my eyes, so they could lead me to the amazingly beautiful, "sparklingly" clean room. I was so proud of them. My husband worked hard all day to take care of the house, take care of the kids, and fix things. He made sure the kids stayed on task with their cleaning, and really made sure everything was just right for me. It was such a load off of me to have the house so clean when I got home.

3. I got to go grocery shopping all by myself today.

In many cases, I have to to go grocery shopping with children. And, when I'm trying to look at coupons or a list, trying to keep my angelic children from destroying the displays so neatly set on the ends of aisles, and keep track of my spending, it becomes a very stressful event. Usually what happens is I end up getting way too much stuff, and spending a lot more than we want to spend. and I end up forgetting several needed items. Going grocery shopping alone is sometimes a treasured experience. Today after work, I went right to the store so that I could get some groceries before I got home. It was nice to be able to get what I needed without having to play referee to my kids.

Extra Hours, Pizza, and Relaxing Time with Curtis

1. I got extra hours at work today.

When I got to work today, one of the other carriers had called out, and since our only sub is on her vacation, there was no one else to do the route. So, I cased that route, my route, carried some of that route, and carried my route. I'm pretty excited to get extra hours right now because I'm getting ready to go for surgery in another week. I am not a full time employee, so I don't get any benefits with my job, including sick pay. So, I will not have a paycheck for about six week. That will be rough!

2. I got to have Papa John's Pizza today.

Since I had to work extra, my husband got to have the kids at work with him. And, since he wasn't planning to have them at work, he didn't pack lunches for them. I suggested he get Papa John's since that would be a cheaper way to feed four kids than if he did fast food or something like that. And, since he was getting pizza for them, I had him order an extra one for me. What I love about Papa John's is that you can order a pizza without sauce! I can't have anything with tomatoes, including tomato sauce, so I love that feature. Until I knew that about PJ's, I would just do without having pizza. So, now I can have my pizza, and enjoy it, too.

3. I get to relax with Curtis tonight.

For the past couple of weeks, our children have fought, bickered, argued, and have been otherwise nasty to each other. It's a shame. We separate them, give them things to do, ask them to stop fighting, give them problem solving ideas so that they will stop fighting, but nothing seems to work. And, tonight, we had enough of it. Curtis sent them to bed. We gave them dinner, and sent them right to bed. It sounds harsh, but maybe they'll think about that next time they feel like fighting with each other. So, instead of dwelling on the fact that our children are little stinkers, we are enjoying the time together just relaxing.

A Compliment from my Husband, Dinner and a Movie, and a Plan for my Future

1. My husband posted a link to my blog on his Facebook page, referring to me as his "brilliant and beautiful wife."

Since he is my husband, it should be obvious that Curtis thinks highly of me. After all, he married me, right? In the day to day life, though, little things like that get forgotten, and many times left unsaid. I will say that Curtis has always said, "I love you," many times a day, and is never shy about saying that he thinks I might look nice, although he may not always notice when I get my hair cut. But, it helps to have his high regard for me reinforced in writing for the whole world of Facebook to see every now and then. Calling me brilliant and beautiful took me completely by surprise, especially since most of his posts and comments tend to be sarcastic in nature. I, for one, refuse to believe that this particular comment was completely sarcastic. There must have been some truth to it, or he wouldn't have married me nearly ten years ago. Thank you, Curtis, for making number one on my list for the day. Here's to another ten or so years!!!

2. It's "dinner and a movie" night at the Empson house.

In the short time since I've started blogging, I realize movies tend to be among the best things about my day quite frequently. I like movies. My children like movies. Upon my arrival home from work today, my children greeted me with open arms and, "Can we watch a movie, mom?" I was excited to see them, especially since they obviously missed me so much. Curtis rented the new "Alice in Wonderland" movie this morning on the way to work. I managed to stave the children off until dinner time, promising them dinner and a movie. We've done this a time or two before.

3. I met with my advisor today, hoping to firm up a game plan for school.

Almost a year ago, I resolved that it was time to go back to school. When I met Curtis, I fell in love immediately, and insisted we get married right away. I was attending Gannon University at the time, and before that, I had attended Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. As that had been my second attempt at college, and I had already changed my major many times, meeting Curtis was just the excuse I needed to quit school. It's been almost 11 years since then, and for the first time since then, I have the motivation to finish my degree. I still have the indecisiveness I was blessed with 11 years ago, and have already changed my major twice, even though I haven't taken a single class yet. Today, we were discussing my next couple of semesters. I have 18 credits in the fall, and will hopefully have 18 each semester following. But, it's going to be a challenge working around my work schedule. In fact, I will probably have to give up my job in order to take a lot of the classes I need. And, although I left the office feeling frustrated because of my job and scheduling, I feel better knowing I am moving forward. I am going to get my degree. And, when I do, we will celebrate. After all, it's been 11 years, and counting.

A Comforting Show, A Short Day at Work, and Another Comforting Show

1. Zoey and I got to watch a little bit of "Anne of Green Gables" tonight.

My daughter, Zoey, is five-years-old. I love that she loves the "Anne of Green Gables" movies. When I was growing up, our local public broadcasting station showed the "Anne of Green Gables" series, and I was hooked. I watched that story over and over, and loved it. I feel like Anne was a part of my childhood, one of my friends. Now that I have children, I have tried to brainwash them into watching and loving it, too. And, until this year, my children didn't really want to watch it. Then, one day, I wasn't feeling well, so I put it in. Pretty soon, I had all of my children watching it with me. Now, Zoey asks to watch it. In fact, she wants to watch it all the time! And, any time I'm feeling down and want to watch it, I know Zoey will want to watch it with me.

2.I finished work at 11:00am.

I shouldn't be happy when the mail is light. I should be worried about my job, right? Wrong! I've learned that I can't make my job any more secure by worrying about it. Worrying only makes me stressed out, which only adds to my acid reflux issues! So, when the mail is so light that I finish an hour, or so, early, I embrace it and love it.

3. I'm enjoying my evening watching TV with Curtis.

Sometimes it's nice to just sit and veg out. I don't do that nearly enough. And, we just happened to catch an episode of "The Middle" that I hadn't seen yet. So, I get to laugh and relax.

Sleep, the Bedroom (again), and a New Attitude

1. Max is sleeping in my bed tonight.

For the past couple of days, Max has been asking to sleep in my bed with me. We have a king-size bed, so it's not a problem at all. It's been really hot, though, and since we don't have air conditioning, it's not the most comfortable arrangement to have three people sharing body heat in an already hot room! But, tonight, Max asked again if he could sleep in my room, so I consented. He is so sweet. As I am working on the computer, he is slowly drifting off to sleep. Even at nine-years-old, it is still great to watch him sleep!

2. We are slowly chipping away at re-loading our bedroom.

Tonight, Curtis and I continued working on putting away clothes, and discarding the unwanted items. I'm getting better at it. I went through my closet and filled another garbage bag. I was so excited until I went to the other room where our items have been "living" during this time of repair, only to find several more baskets full of clothes. Do I secretly have a fear of being naked, or can I just not get rid of anything? Or, is it possible that I just love clothes and continually buy them? Whatever the case may be, I am slowly whittling away at the enormous, unending supply of out of date, out of fashion, un-fitting at this time, clothing. And, no, I'm not going to save a whole bag of clothes just in case I might need them later!

3. Even though I am tired, and don't feel great, I am writing my blog.

I started this blog to lift my spirits, to find the positive in every day. And, today, I'm not feeling especially positive, but I'm doing this anyway. I have several medical issues, and lately, I've been somewhat depressed about my condition. At one point, my husband kindly pointed out the fact that it was I who was formerly the perpetual optimist, and that recently we had switched roles. I am determined to find my glass half-full at the end of the day once again. Today wasn't bad at all, but I'm not feeling well. I actually had to stop and rest several times during the day. For me, it's hard to stop when there are things that need to be done around the house. But, I did it anyway. So, for a not too bad day, I am thankful for the air I am breathing. I am thankful for having a healthy, loving family. I am thankful for my home, my employment, and my husband's employment. I am thankful for my life.

1. We eliminated three garbage bags of clothing from our bedroom.

We are just beginning to re-load our bedroom from our recent renovations. We had to empty the room in order to have the floor leveled, and then painted. In carting out all our things, trip after trip after trip, we decided we really needed to get rid of a lot of things. Although we have a large bedroom, and a large house, we are trying to de-clutter, and simplify our lives . As a lifelong pack rat, this is no easy task. With my children, after I got home from work, we carried in the dressers, and I started sorting through clothing. This evening, Curtis and I were able to pack three large garbage bags full of clothes we didn't need or want. I feel great about it! And, I know I can actually pack a few more garbage bags before we are finished with the room.

2. I made a chiropractor appointment.

For several months, I've been driving by my chiropractor's office, thinking I should make an appointment. This morning, on my way to work, I thought for sure today I would definitely make an appointment. Luckily for me, they had an opening today. I feel great! And, my chiropractor had a lot of insight about all my health issues regarding digestion.

3. We had a nice family dinner tonight.

In the last couple of weeks, we've had t-ball, baseball, kids visiting grandparents, and a lot of other "busy-ness" preventing us from having a lot of family dinners. I love meals as a family, even though sometimes we take the time together for granted. And, tonight, it was nice to have nothing planned so that we could just sit as a family and eat dinner. Pass the milk, please.

Breakfast, Canoeing, and a Movie

1. We had a nice family breakfast.

Happy Father's Day! This morning, we tried to get up early enough to make a nice breakfast for Curtis and Curtis' dad. Curtis came down a little earlier than we had anticipated, so we had to make him go back upstairs. I wasn't exactly prepared for Father's Day this year. Usually, I have everything from the perfect greeting card to the perfect present all ready to go. So, while Curtis was upstairs playing video games, we made cards, wrapped presents, and made breakfast. It was a nice, simple breakfast. But, the best part was sitting down as a family to a nice meal. I love big breakfasts on Sunday mornings.

2. We went canoeing with my dad.

Last year for Father's Day, I bought Curtis a kayak at a yard sale. So, for the day, my dad brought up some canoes and we went out on the lake. My dad and Curtis enjoyed it so much we decided to make it a tradition. We all look forward to it because we have such busy lives that it really is difficult tot take the time to just slow down for an afternoon. So, this year, we went out on the lake for a little while, then sat down to a nice picnic lunch. It was sunny and warm, and made for a wonderful day.

3. We are sitting down to a movie.

Nothing finishes a busy day better than unwinding while watching a movie. We are watching, "The Princess and the Frog." The kids saw it before, but I only saw the beginning of it. So, we thought we would cuddle up for a nice movie night.

Children, Work, and Hot Air Balloons

1. Max and Alex came home today.

Every summer, Curtis' parents take our children, two at a time, for about a week. This year, Curtis' mother called me the week school was getting out to see when she could have some kids. She really looks forward to the quality time they get to have together. It's also nice for us because we get to spend some quality time with two we have here at home. The day Curtis' parents came out was our children's last day of school. They got the kids off the bus for us since we were going to Cleveland to see a concert. So, we got home from the concert late at night and had to go to work the next day. When I got home from work, Curtis' parents took Max and Alex and went home. So, I feel like I haven't gotten to experience summer vacation with Max and Alex yet. Since school has been out, I've done stuff with Gavin and Zoey, but not Max and Alex. And, today Max and Alex came home. I have to say, I really, really missed them. It's nice to have a break from them, but a week is long enough! Since we were so excited, it seemed to take forever for them to get here. We finally sat down to play some cards to pass the time when they finally got here. When the door swung open, and the boys ran in, it was awesome. Even Teya, our dog, ran to give them a hug. Alex even picked up Zoey with his hug! I don't know if it's my imagination, but it seems like the boys got a lot bigger this week. Even Curtis said, "Boy, they seem big." I'm so glad to have them home.

2. Work was fun today.

Having to work six days a week, even if it isn't a full eight hours, is exhausting. However, today was a little different. I work at the Saegertown Post Office as a rural mail carrier. I have the auxiliary route, so I am usually done in three and a half hours or less. It's great because in the summer, it's usually less than the three and a half hours. Today was Holly's birthday. She is an awesome person. There are a lot of great people in the world, but she is just a cut above the rest. I made a cake for her birthday, and we all signed a card for her. Alisha, another co-worker and friend had even gone to get ice cream. So, we sang, "Happy Birthday" to Holly and had cake and ice cream. I can't think of a better way to start the day!

3. We got to see the hot air balloons at the Thurston Classic in Meadville.

Every now and then we'll see a hot air balloon in the sky, usually in the direction of Meadville. Several years ago, we saw a lot of hot air balloons, and didn't quite know what the event was, or even where it took place, but thought we'd like to partake. This year, I had heard about the Thurston Classic on the radio, so I was all set to see the hot air balloons. When we drove to Meadville, however, we didn't see a single balloon in the sky. We didn't even know where they launched the balloons, but knew it was at Allegheny College. We decided to go to dinner in Meadville and try to catch the launch before we went home, figuring we would see some balloons in the sky. Driving around after dinner, we still didn't see any balloons in the sky, but were lucky enough to find a map of the college campus. Then, we heard the radio announcement, confirming the event was this weekend. (My husband was beginning to doubt me, and I was beginning to doubt myself.) When we got to the field and found a seat in the grass where we could see the balloons and their teams, we waited and waited and waited. It was over an hour that we waited before the balloons finally were blown up and then launched. Apparently they had to wait for the weather. The temperature was just not right, and there was a nearby storm. We finally got to see the balloons go up, and it was amazing! I want to make it a goal to at least get to ride in a hot air balloon sometime before I die!

The Beach, a Workout, and a Surprise

1. I took Gavin and Zoey to the beach.

Today was a beautiful day! It was sunny and warm, and absolutely perfect for a little beach visit. We like to go to Edinboro Lake because it is so close. We go to the beach and the playground, which is right across from the beach. I was able to sit and watch Gavin and Zoey play in the water. It was so nice to just sit and soak up the sun. They played in the water, and in the sand, and in the water again. What a nice treat!

2. I got on the treadmill before work.

Every day, at some point, I think to myself how nice it would be if I would get up early enough to work out a little bit. And, every morning when the alarm goes off, I snooze it for as long as possible, hanging on the every last minute of sleep. Today, I got up, before hitting the snooze button. I got up and went downstairs to walk on the treadmill. I feel like it was a huge accomplishment because I have been putting it off for so long. I felt great when I was done, too. The next step will be to get out the Wii Fit and do some Yoga and stuff. It's funny that it's such a chore to get started on something as fun as the Wii!

3. We are getting ready to go to an outdoor movie at Edinboro University tonight.

I hope this is one of the best things of today, and doesn't turn out to be a horrible thing! I told the kids earlier today that we were going to a "surprise" tonight, and won't tell them what we are doing. Curtis and I started doing that a long time ago, telling them we were going to a "surprise" rather than what we are actually doing. That way, if, for some reason, the thing we are going to do is not happening, we haven't told them anything, and can come up with something else. It's worked so far...

A Date, Shopping, and a Date

1. I got a date for my surgery.

Naming surgery, or a date for surgery, as a "best thing" of the day is crazy, right? Well, I've had a rough couple of months. I had two very minor surgeries about two months ago. One of the surgeries was to be diagnostic, and possibly resolve my problem. It didn't. The next step was to try medication. It didn't help either. In fact, it exacerbated my problem. So, for the past month, I've been on the phone with a nurse at my doctor's office every two to three days, "complaining" about my issues. The nurse allowed me to stop taking the pill two weeks ago, but the effects lasted. I feel a little better each day, but am still not feeling quite up to par. So, today, I was able to get a date for my surgery, answering my prayers. Knowing there is an end in sight makes me feel a million times better.

2. I went shopping for "stuff" for our room.

First of all, I am a woman who loves to shop. I especially love finding a good deal. I would shop for a living, if I were allowed. So, after my doctor's appointment, I went to Bed, Bath, & Beyond to look for some very useful storage solutions for our bedroom closet. I think I could spend hours at that store. I also think I could spend a LOT of money there. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of money, so I have to be very selective with my purchases. I bought a very nice little shelf, a shoe rack, and a little rolling cart with drawers. I am a happy camper. When I got home, Gavin and Zoey helped me assemble the new toys. And, as soon as my husband Curtis got home from work, I made him come upstairs so I could show off the little treasures.

3. I got to have lunch with Curtis.

Every now and then, I find myself in Erie, and hungry for lunch. When this happens, I usually call my hubby, Curtis, to see if he wants to have lunch with me. He works at WQLN, our local public broadcasting station, in Erie. It's so nice to be able to have a little "date" with him every now and then. The best part about lunch with Curtis today wasn't the food. It was Curtis' outfit. Now, Curtis doesn't normally dress very formally. In fact, he wears the same thing every day. Khaki's and a dress shirt. There's nothing terribly exciting about that, right? Well, today when I called him to see if he wanted to grab lunch, he said, "Sure. But, can we go somewhere casual?" Hm? Well, Curtis has been going out on his kayak before work in the mornings. And, this morning he forgot to bring his change of clothes for work. So, for work today, Curtis was wearing his blue, Hawaiian print swimming trunks, and a black Alice Cooper t-shirt. Could you imagine wearing that to work? I can only imagine how funny it would be to be one of his co-workers witnessing such a situation. How funny!!

The Floor, the Kids, and the Job

1. ) I got the floor painted.

Several months ago, we asked our Amish neighbor about fixing the floor in our bedroom. When we bought our house, the bedroom wasn't there. The master bedroom was supposed to be on the first floor, too far away from the other bedrooms. I was pregnant at the time of our move, and we already had three small children. I knew we could use a baby monitor, but I just felt I wanted to be upstairs with our children. We used one of the small bedrooms upstairs for a time, but my dad offered to finish some of the "storage space" to make us a "proper" master bedroom. My dad has the best of intentions, but the work isn't always what we have in mind. The bedroom is huge. The closet is the size of a small bedroom. The floor, however, just didn't turn out right It was very curvy, and floors shouldn't really be curvy. So, for the last four years, we've had various carpet remnants, laid in a mismatched, quilt-ish pattern. And, for a floor, that is not really a good look. So, last week, our Amish neighbor laid OSB board, to make a good sub-floor for our room. We have been living in the upstairs family room, on the futon while the updates are being made to our room.

I am getting ready to have surgery, so I would like to have the room put back together before I can't lift anything. So, today, I went to Lowe's and bought floor paint, and painted the sub-floor. It is beautiful! We really can't afford to put carpeting or any other flooring down right now, so this quick fix is awesome for us right now.

2.) Gavin and Zoey helped--without fighting

I didn't paint the floor all by myself. My son Gavin, and daughter, Zoey, helped. I have four children, Max and Alex (twins-age9), Gavin (age 7), and Zoey (age 5), and, Max and Alex are staying with my husband's parents' for the week. When you are accustomed to having four children, and take two out of the mix, it makes a huge difference in their behavior. And, when you have four children, they fight all the time! So, today, when I got home from Lowe's, I asked the kids if they wanted to help with a very important job. Of course, they did. Gavin did almost half the room! Zoey did a little bit of the room. But, they helped. And, they did not fight. So, I consider that a huge accomplishment.

3.) I was done with work in two and a half hours today

I am a rural carrier for the post office. My job is very strenuous at times, and during the winter, it is horrible. But, during the summer, the mail is a little bit lighter, and we can finish early at times. I happen to have the "short route" at our post office. It's called an auxilliary route, or "Auxi", in postal terms. I drive the "LLV", or the little white post office truck. It's not exactly a glamorous job, but on days like to day, you can't beat it.