Life got in the way

I took a three-year, unintentional break. Life got busy and Samantha hit 4th grade. And so here were are in 2017--Alyssa is heading into 4th grade and Samantha 7th.

In the last three years, Al has transitioned to a job he loves, working for a local elementary school. McGraw-Hill sold CTB in 2015. I spent the first year struggling with the unknown. I was one of the few "long-term" layoffs, which meant the new company could lay me off at any time or could decide to hire me. I spent the first six months turning my depression and anxiety into work. I learned how to be patient at I updated our crappy builder-grade kitchen from this into this.

Original cabinets and counter

Painted cabinets, new quartz, tile backsplash

In the last three years, Samantha has learned to play the flute. She's a natural with just about any instrument. In fact, she spent the last week playing about 10 hours of flute for fun. We had to tell her to give her mouth a break.  She stopped dancing last year, but played basketball with her 6th grade class. She also joined the inaugural robotics team at SHPS as the only girl. She loved it.

Harlequin dolls (Alyssa on right)

Alyssa is still dancing and has advanced two ballet levels in the last three years. She's got her eye on a pair of pointe shoes. She danced the Nutcracker in 2016 and had a prized role as a harlequin doll. Recently she's taken up the violin. 

I am now content with my new role with DRC, the company who bought CTB. I am working with a few folks that I've known for over 8 years, which makes things a bit easier. In August I'll be marking my 18th year in educational assessment. Yikes, I'm old!

Piling it on

I'm not a sit-back-and-watch kind of person. I'm a do-er. That often means I get in over my head.

Take this fall for instance. School started in August. I knew I was already going to be helping in the Library once a month and yet I still asked if I could help out in either of my girls' classes as a Room Parent. And what do you know, there was an opening for Second Grade. 

So you think I would stop there. 

Instead I asked if I could help out with the costumes for this year's Nutcracker production; i.e. I took on the role of coordinating the costumes for 200+ dancers. Duh! 

I really know how to pile it on, don't I?

I'm trying to make a point to coordinate and not dabble in the Nutcracker costuming thing at least. But I will need to be very hands-on with school. 

Truthfully I'm okay with my volunteering this year. I want to help improve and make both things better, more manageable, and enjoyable for other folks too. Most of all I want them to feel appreciated.

The only downside to my plan is that now I have to back burner my kitchen cabinet makeover until January. (Maybe it was self sabotage. I started doubting my color choices for the cabinets the other day. This will give me a little more time to think.)