Back to Normal!?

What is "normal"? According to the dictionary, normal is an adjective that means: conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; regular. Hmmm... Well, in the last 14 weeks, my life if finally back to normal. I get up at 5:30 every morning, get myself ready, iron everyone's clothes, get the kids up, do their hair, take the boys to the babysitters and I get to go teach 20 second graders!!! After school, I rush home to get the kids to their various sports or scouts 4 days a week. We finally get dinner around 8:30 each night, before putting the kids to bed around 9:00. Once the kids are in bed, I can grade papers,finish lesson plans, watch an occasional show on tv, clean up and do laundry. We are most tired on Friday nights- this is the night we go to bed the earliest! Saturdays are spent at games and/or cheer competitions. Finally- Sunday comes- a day to rest and go to church! This is my normal and I LOVE it!!

I look back at my summer (and my last post) and realize that I was really very sad that someone took part of my normal life away. I am so glad to get it back. Teaching is my passion! I was so happy when football started. As much as I try to pretend that it is not my favorite sport, it really is. I love the twinkle it puts in Chad's eyes. His love for the sport has grown on me. Westin tried flag football. He didn't have the same twinkle, but he really enjoyed the games. Now that the season is over- he can't wait to play tackle football next year! Secretly- I can't wait either. Madalyn started with Pacific Coast Cheer (competitive cheer)this year. She practices 3 nights a week in the gym. She had her first competition today in Irvine. They took 2nd place. It was awesome. If you have never been to a cheer competition- you may want to try one. Now that football is over, the boys started basketball. They have practice 3 days a week until games start in December. It is Westin's first season. They both really enjoy it and they love their coach. They are are different teams but have the same coach.

Madalyn said to me the other night- "Mom- we eat out like every night." "I know," I said. "But- Mom, everyone knows that about us and we like have a reputation for eating out." To that I said, "First of all, I'm not real concerned with what people think, and second- not everyone has our life." "I'm okay with it. That is all that matters."

Our life calmed down a little now that football is over. Basketball is not quite as time consuming (or dangerous). I don't have to stay at all the practices. My goal is to make dinner more often. Things come up- like a week of parent/teacher conferences- when you want to do something easy. But- for the most part, I am doing better. You know- the bad thing about making dinner is the cleaning up part. It always takes longer than I anticipate. Don't get me wrong- I am not trying to ruin our reputation, but I do have to admit that a home cooked meal is nice once in awhile!

I am so happy with my "normal" life. I am happy that Steve has been able to help. Sometimes I think that we are crazy but I have come to realize that we are happy with crazy. I am thankful to have 3 great, healthy kids who are in on the craziness with us! I have a great life!!

By the way- Kenny won Entertainer of the Year--AGAIN!

P.S. Pictures to come! I am in a little dilemma- I got a video camera for my birthday- so many of our sporting pictures are on video. I hope to find some good football pictures. I filmed the entire cheer performance today- so I didn't take pictures!