Pep in my Step!

Dear Friends and Family,

After last weekend's excitement, Chris and I kept this weekend very low key! The kids worked on puzzles that my wonderful friend Tara sent them as a winter project, we cleaned and tidied rooms, we took naps, and we watched sports. It was wonderful!

Now that exciting events like the Holidays, Claire's birthday, and Sara's shower are over, I decided it's time to start thinking about what I want to do in 2019!  I recently called a fellow full time mom friend and she told me that she is loving substitute teaching. So of course that got the wheels turning in my head. I filled out the online application, attended an interview session, and was notified that they want me! (Woohoo!)  Not only that, but a local school's French program emailed me immediately to ask if I could please fill-in as a long term sub assignment. I was flattered, but unfortunately unable to accept.

The wonderful thing about substitute teaching is I can accept jobs right at my kids' school and still be there for them before and after school. I can also except some jobs that are just half-day assignments at other local schools. The flexibility is perfect!

Yesterday morning, as I walked into employee processing, I had such a pep in my step! I was thrilled to be in someone's payroll system again! It was exciting.

I love my husband! He has been so supportive about me applying for this job. Cheering me on too! It's truly a gift to have a husband to loves you so much and is interested and encouraging in the things you do.

This weekend while I was tidying, I realized something shocking...I realized...that I'm the slob in this relationship!  Not that I ever think of Chris as being a slob. He's really great about keeping his very few things in order. But as the kids and I went around the house - a house teeming with toys - books - sewing items - craft items - etc. I realized what a messy person I can be. My piles of papers and fabric and books...oh dear! The house is feeling bigger with things put away and the kids rediscovered toys to play with.

Will rediscovered perler beads!

My amazing husband installed a new Nest doorbell! It lets us see who is at the door, now that we have such a nice private door!

Our view of the porch from our phones!

The kids and I took a pre-dinner walk on a cold evening with our friends the Billings! Abby, Kate, Claire and Will. Abby had a delicious lollipop that she was happily devouring.

I'll close with this funny video. I was cleaning out the pantry and discovered a partially eaten can of wasabi/soy almonds that had gone stale. I decided to put them out on the deck to see if the squirrels would mind the flavor.

I think they loved it! It was like a little nature show on our back deck. We watched a few squirrels go back and forth to the pile, eating and then hiding the nuts.
https://youtu.be/zV_WnbX4gGE

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
Love,
Bethie