Monday Again

I should be making dinner, but I am in front of the computer. We had a busy weekend and today seemed to go by in a blur. Monday's are always busy at work, but since I keep inheriting more responsibilities, Monday is even crazier. I left several things in limbo today, so that means tomorrow will be crazy as well.

Yesterday, we recovered the pool. The original tarp had a cool hole, so we started over. As you can see, the water still looks pretty clear. It had only been covered for a month, so I guess it shouldn't look too bad. I think the new tarp will be much better. It is a larger tarp and it actually has grommets all around that we can use to tie it down. We put anchors all around the deck, so we didn't have to use as many logs to weigh it down.

That means we now have a decent burn pile. I am sure we will be having a bonfire soon.

I had to include one crazy cat picture. One of the boys forgot to close their bathroom door. Our cat feels the need to attack the toilet paper when she finds it unattended. She used to just pull it off the roll and make a mess. Yesterday, she pulled the entire roll into the floor and proceeded to maul it. I hope she outgrows this habit.

Typical Saturday

Yes, there is smoke coming from the smoker. That must mean it's Saturday. John smoked some ham and sausage for dinner tonight. I know what we will be having for dinner this week. Our friends, Jeff and Tonya, and their daughters Julie and Alex came over for dinner. There son Josh didn't make it because he was hunting. We had a good visit. Julie has agreed to babysit for us the week of Thanksgiving. That is a huge relief for me. I was a bit worried about finding a sitter so I could work that week.

Most of our day was spent cleaning. The boys were enjoying trying to scoop the water off the pool tarp until I saw them and put an end to their fun. Joshua had seen his daddy scooping the water so he was just trying to be helpful and do it too.

Jacob spent quite a bit of time trying to clear the driveway. John just got on the mower and used it to blow the leaves off the drive. In the picture Jacob is running away mad because John ran over his pile of leaves. After John cleared the drive with the mower, he used the blower to clear it off a little better. He also used the blower to clear the leaves out of the flowerbeds. I am sure they will be covered again tomorrow, but they looked better for a few minutes.

I spent a great deal of time inside the house. Since I worked too much this past week, I neglected my house. Jacob had fun playing with the chairs in the office while I was mopping the dining room.

Joshua took a break from clearing leaves from the pool deck to enjoy swinging.

Tomorrow will be another busy day. After church we need to run by the mall and get the boys some new jeans. I am hoping that after this trip we can make it the rest of the year without buying more jeans. Since there are less than two months left in the year we might make it. Also, we have to pick up a new tarp to cover the pool. The one that is over it now got a rip in it. It was here when we bought the house so we don't even know how old it is. We weren't sure it would survive the season, but it was worth a try. We are planning to buy a little heavier tarp in the hope that it will last a few years.

TGIF

This has been a busy week. My part time job felt a bit like a full time job. I put in just under 40 hours this week. I think next week might be the same. They are making some changes at work and I am slowly taking on more responsibilities. I don't know if it is going to go anywhere, but for now I am still enjoying the work.

Last night when I got in bed my side of the bed fell a little. Apparently, where the side rail meets the headboard is broken. John said he can fix it, but for now the frame is in the office, and our mattress and box springs are on the floor in our room. I am not surprised that it broke. I don't think furniture is supposed to be moved as often as we have moved it. We bought the bed when we were living in Alvord. We have moved four times since then. I guess it has held up pretty well considering all it has been through.

Just in case you are wondering what the trees look like today. I took this picture early this afternoon. Our yard is covered with leaves. I can't believe the trees still have lots to lose. Right now it is pouring down rain. I hope it lets up before John gets home. We are having company for dinner tomorrow, so we have to go to the grocery store and get a ham to put on the smoker. I will spend the day tomorrow cleaning. It shouldn't be too bad. Luckily my wonderful husband cleaned some last night while I was having a girls night out with my prayer group. I am so blessed.

More Fall

I know I am posting way too many pictures of the leaves, but this is my life.

Today, it rained. That means there is water pooling on the tarp over the pool.

Also, the deck that John cleared off on Saturday is now covered in leaves again. I am not complaining, it is really quite beautiful to be surrounded by trees.

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today we set out from our home in Ohio to make a new life in Mississippi. It was not a planned move. In September, we were informed that John's job had been eliminated. We had never been through a downsizing, and we were a little uneasy about what lay ahead. Within a month, John had been offered a new job in Mississippi. It was nothing short of amazing the way things worked out. We put our house on the market and had an offer in less than a week. It was really a pretty easy move.
In addition, John's job has been great. Before we moved he traveled every week. He would fly out on Monday and home on Friday. It was getting old, and he really wasn't happy with the job. I was tired of feeling like a single parent. The lay off was really a blessing in disguise. Now he is home before six most evenings. He rarely gets calls at night to deal with problems and he works with some great people. I never dreamed that God would send us to Mississippi, but I am thankful he did. We are blessed.

Hair Cuts

We don't have much to report tonight. The boys got hair cuts today, and we went to cub scouts tonight. Fall has definitely arrived. It was overcast all day. The forecast calls for rain and cool temperatures most of the week. I have broken out the sweaters and jackets. I like this time of year. I think I may have to give up on keeping the leaves out of the flower beds. We have too many other projects to keep us busy. We finally got all the water off the pool tarp this past weekend. John put all our rafts in the pool to try to keep the tarp raised in the middle so the water won't pool as bad. I am almost certain that dealing with the tarp will be an ongoing project. I just hope the pool doesn't look too bad when we uncover it in the spring.

Saturday Recap

Last night when we went to the grocery store, I picked up a bag of powdered donuts for breakfast. I have a weakness for powdered donuts. This is what I found on the counter this morning. Apparently Socks thought they were for her. She has pretty much decided that it is okay to get on the counters. I spend quite a bit of time putting her back on the floor.

John went to the church men's breakfast this morning. After that he went to the planning meeting so he didn't get home until close to noon. While he was gone I got the bathrooms cleaned and did some laundry. The kids dressed up in their ninja costumes and battled. Once John got home, he put the ribs and roast on the smoker. After that he and the kids went to Harbor Freight and got a submersible pump to use on the pool tarp.

As you can see we really need to get the water off the tarp.

While the pump was working John tried to clear some of the leaves off of the deck. It is sort of like sweeping things under the carpet only he is blowing leaves under the decking.

The boys spent some time trying to clear the leaves from the breezeway. They spent most of their time complaining about the wind blowing the leaves. Once they were finished with this project they played with the neighbors grandson who was visiting. They played football for a while and then they rode the golf cart. I think they had fun.

We got to enjoy the ribs for dinner tonight. John cooked two slabs so we will have plenty left for lunch tomorrow. Since he also made pulled pork, I shouldn't have to cook for a few days. That sounds great to me.