So last week was Spring Break at our house. That meant the little girls were home along with Dad, who was on vacation. And the big girl was in Europe. At least we kept our life-saving babysitter (God bless Candi) for Landry, so there was some sanity saved. (That and I went to work everyday :) Bob worked and worked and worked and worked on the house. Our house is over 30 years old, so there are many things always needing repair. Isn't home ownership wonderful? It's expensive, too! Seems that everything needing replaced is no longer available (i.e. the same wood is not available for the outside, they don't make that type of plumbing anymore, or light fixture replacement lens - so you have to replace the entire thing). It's very frustrating. Of course, there isn't enough time in the day (or week -- OR money) to get everything done we would have liked to... but it sure looks wonderful. A fresh coat of paint does wonders for a house. It's like a makeover for a woman (I need one badly).

And then there's Katy, whom was blessed enough to go to Europe with some classmates over Spring Break. She even got to see her Aunt Tiff while she was there. Talking to Katy about Europe is seeing life through the eyes of a (very smart) child for the first time. She is descriptive and intelligent in her explanations and stories. She's had a difficult time readjusting to American life so quickly, but if anyone can pull it off, she can. Now it's three days since her return and she's off to San Antonio for a National drill team competition. The Europe trip was planned and being paid on long before we knew of the San Antonio trip, so we were just unlucky in the way the days fell closely together. So my world traveling daughter is on the road again. She'll be back on Sunday, exhausted and with I'm certain, a butt-load of homework. Awww.... the joys of being a teenager.

Bob and I have endured many home makeovers in our 15 years together. Mostly little things, but they are always challenging because of the frustration level of 1) having a house full of kids (which causes...) 2) not having enough money or time to do all the things he wants to do. It's helpful to remind myself -- or you can remind me too -- that we don't (and shouldn't) always see eye-to-eye on every-single-little-thing or how it should be accomplished. ....Aren't the trials and tribulations of parenthood and marriage grand? I think I'm glad Spring Break has come and gone :)

Labels: drill team, Europe, home makeovers, teenagers