A new phase

So much for keeping up a blog. Who has time for this anyway. I used to keep a diary too! Those days are long gone! We now are hopeful to get our big kids out of our space by 10pm so we can have 30 minutes of quiet time! I hardly have time to read anymore, and when I try, I just fall asleep. I took on a hospital job for the winter again. It was four days a week from December to April, and covered the crazy winter surge of extra patients (think flu/broken bones from ice). I loved being at the hospital and the change from my other job was nice. I returned to Bastion Place (the Pathways to Home rehab program) in the spring, so it was good to mix it up and have that ability to do so under the same employer. I don't have much of a social life these days as I'm usually shuffling kids around and keeping up with the house and continual grocery runs/cooking (after work). There are very hollow legs around this joint! We have had nearly a year of stress with family relationships and it has been very wearing mentally, spiritually and emotionally. It has altered our life quite a bit and made us question many things. There are times when we'd love to just run away from the stress of it, but we will not do that to our children. I am sure many families have their drama and I was hoping ours wouldn't, but alas. The hardest part is knowing that we can do nothing to "make it all better" and as a peacemaker/middle child, this does not sit well with me. Also, when you live in a small town, it is hard to avoid the situation and move on, as it's constantly in your face. Life is too short.

In other news, the kids are busy with their music, school work and sports. We went skiing every weekend over the winter. Now it's mountain biking season with provincials this coming weekend for Riley. He has also been working 3x a week at Panago, turned 16 and got his learners license. He is taller than dad now and filling out. School work seems to be low on his priority list, but we keep nagging! He's looking forward to working two jobs in the summer to save up money for a car!

Liam is still boxing 3x a week, he's taller than me and super strong. He has become a great baker and can whip up a batch of cookies or brownies without me. He is playing the sax and drums and performs at the BIG BAND DANCE this Thursday.

Shea is dragging his heels with piano practicing, but does just fine with it. He is performing "Pink Panther" and "Prelude in C" at his end concert. He did basketball and they won their final tournament. He's getting hyped up for his birthday party coming soon where we will take his friends bowling and have pizza. I'm bracing myself for June when he (my baby) will be graduating from elementary school and moving on to the middle school. Every occasion, like the Christmas program, was sentimental as I knew it was his last. He has a great teacher who understands him well and has helped him to make this a good year. Can't believe it's nearly over!