Week 7

 February 11 - 

 Apparently there was some big game on today. LOL!

 I finished the book by Amanda Gorman today. It was somewhat thought provoking, though I’m not a big fan of poetry. However, I put it on my wish list for work, so I remember to order it for my students that do like poetry.

 I picked up the little one from his dad in Columbia this afternoon. Poor little guy is sick again. I put in a time off request for tomorrow so he can have a day to heal and not worry about trying to get to school and learn. Hopefully that will help and he won’t have another sick day. 

 I did manage to get some decluttering done this evening. It started while I was folding laundry from the dryer and looking at the shelves next to the laundry area. I realized that I haven’t used the bulk of them since Dad passed away and they were just taking up space. It’s so hard to let go of the things he left, but I pushed through and managed to consolidate some things, get rid of some things, and create a drawer of things that will go with the oldest when he moves out. Once the items in his drawer are put with things that will be leaving when he leaves, that makes two empty drawers on the shelves! That is quite the accomplishment, in my opinion. Between the stuff on the shelves and some totes that I went through, I have a full trash bag and two boxes of things to leave the house. While it doesn’t look like much to anyone who goes downstairs, I know that there are fewer things taking up space. Tomorrow is trash day, so I will be getting the trash bags out of the basement, along with a few other items that I no longer want, but are not able to be rehomed through our local thrift store.

February 12 - 

 Little guy is home today since he was not feeling great the day prior when I picked him up from his dad. I put in an emergency time off request and someone covered my shift for the day. Thank goodness! I did some stuff around the house, but really tried to finish what I could of his Valentine’s day card box so he could put the finishing touches on it. I would have let him do more, but since I was using hot glue to attach the fabric to the box and a saw (or box knife, depending) on the wooden sticks, I thought it smart to let him do smaller things. He finished it up and he is SO proud of it. I’m glad, because when I compare it to the ones I saw online, I felt it was lacking. However, it’s about his vision and happiness. He was so happy that I don’t even care that it doesn’t match up to those online. The kids in his class get to show off their boxes and explain them to the class before they pass out cards, so I think he will really enjoy that part, too.

 I spent some time in the basement working on my office supply area. I found a stack of papers that actually turned out to be past medical records and information about a workers comp suit that my Dad filed when I was like 12. I scanned through some of it, but since most, if not all, of the parties have passed on, I think it’s safe to let that paperwork go. I’ll run it through the shredder before I recycle it, but it is a pretty hefty pile that will no longer be taking up space in the house. I also came across some old magazines, photos, family history and newspaper articles that have (mostly) been sorted to their appropriate areas. My eventual goal with that space is to use a large piece of lumber that was left from Dad’s stuff to make a long table/desk, so I have a place to do a variety of activities like crafting, wrapping gifts, scanning photos onto my external hard drive, and other office-like activities. I’m actually kind of excited about it. 

February 13 - 

 I returned to work today and the little guy returned to school… or so I thought. I received a call before lunch that his tummy was hurting again. I left work and picked him up to head home. Once home he was sequestered to his room, like any other sick day, and I did a little reading.

 I did not do any decluttering today, but I did have a student stop by the MC and ask if I had any magazines that could be cut up for a lesson she was teaching to smaller kids. I guess those magazines of Dad’s that I found last night will be coming in handy. It’s hard to let them go, mostly because they were things he enjoyed reading and looking at, but I have a stack of other magazines I need to go through so I am making myself give them away.

February 14 - 

 Single Awareness Day. Yippee. *insert eye roll* We had a pep assembly at work today so I got to watch my oldest perform with the drumline for what is likely the last time in his high school career. And of all days, I failed to remember my phone, so I didn’t even get to record/photograph it. It’s okay, because I got to see it and that’s what really matters.

 When we got home from school and after school activities we all hung out for about an hour before the oldest went to work, then the youngest and I went out to dinner then to the store to get some pants for the oldest. It was so nice to only pick up one item at the store and hold true to only getting what was needed. It’s such a good feeling. 

February 15 - 

 Work today was pretty uneventful. I didn’t get to read or declutter today. I was exhausted, so I took it slow and watched a movie instead. The oldest kid had pep band and the youngest worked on his room then played a game on his tablet while I watched the movie. It was a very uneventful day.

February 16 - 

 A work day today. I wanted to be super productive while at work, but that didn’t happen quite in the way I had hoped. I always manage to be distracted on work days and never seem to get as much done as I had hoped. I finished scanning in the physicals for the girls and got them all uploaded to the respective student accounts. On Tuesday I’ll start with the boys’ physicals. I hope to be done by the end of the week.

 I didn’t read or get any decluttering done, but I did manage to spend some time with the boys when I got home after going out with some coworkers when our work day was finished. I really appreciate my oldest hanging out with his little brother on days like today. Oh! And my oldest had good enough grades that he is on the honor roll for the first time since entering high school! It took him 3.5 years to get there, but he got there! I am so incredibly proud of him.

February 17 - 

Today’s entry will be a short one as I have a movie “date” with my oldest. We’re going to watch Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, the extended cut today. Then I need to shower and get ready to go out with my friends this evening. No decluttering today, but I did manage to get some more reading done. Yay!!!!