Sandwich week, fall stuff, etc.

The week/ weekend:

This is a bit of a weird week, as I have just one week home sandwiched in between 2 weeks away.

I was rather exhausted this past weekend after Nashville! I was glad to hear on a call yesterday that I was not alone. My boss said she took super long naps (like 12-5!) both Saturday and Sunday and basically did nothing besides a grocery run because she was just completely wiped out after the “constant-ness” of the week.

I didn’t nap, nor lay particularly low, but I did stick generally close to home and had no big plans. It felt adequately productive yet restorative.

Saturday morning Asher had volleyball practice; I blogged with a cup of tea during that time. Then at home I cleaned the house (kitchen, living room, sunroom) while Ivan did a DEEP clean of our bathroom. We went out for an early dinner at our Mexican place with Asher (Ethan was working) around 4 pm. (I wanted to be home early to just chill at night.) Ivan and I took Charlie for an evening walk, went in the hot tub, and then I basically lounged on the couch shopping for dress shoes for the quinceanera on my phone while Ivan watched a soccer game.

Sunday morning I did some household admin catch up and blog reading catch up in the sunroom. After picking up Asher + friend (who went out fishing at 7 am on his day off…) and stopping for breakfast with him, I did a fridge clean out/ meal list. We’re trying to avoid many groceries this week since we’ll be away soon. Then I spent a while putting up our outdoor Halloween decorations. I had debated if this was even worth it this year, but ultimately decided to just do it. It’s not that much stuff, anyway, and I like it.

During the 3:25 pm Packers game I unpacked my suitcase and somehow ended up on a “shoe rampage” in my closet, trying to better organize my shoes. I don’t have a big closet at all, and I have recently acquired a handful of new shoes (my new flats, plus between this time last year and now I’ve bought a couple new pair of sneakers…I subsequently removed a few things, too, but I’ll admit I have broken the cardinal rule of “clothing management” and have not exactly abided by the whole “one in, one out” rule…😬).

Anyway, things were just not really fitting, especially once I swapped out some sandals for boots (which had been stored in the basement). After some finagling, it’s moderately better now, but I really still wish I could just wave a wand and have a big, beautiful shoe closet. (And I’m honestly not even a “shoe person”! I just want a little more space. I don’t need Carrie’s closet in that one Sex in the City episode… anyone remember that? When Mr. Big gets that apartment with the enormous SHOE CLOSET and she about dies of happiness? lol.)

I made a cream of potato and bacon soup for dinner and Ivan’s sister stopped over to eat. Ivan and I walked Charlie again and I was so pleased with myself that I got to bed “early”! I turned off my light just before 10, which is early for me. (Usually more in the 10:30 range.)

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. I ended up waking up at 2:29 a.m. (precisely) and I never fell back to sleep. Arghhhhhh. I was SO MAD. Especially because this week is stuffed super full between:

• a heavy work load
• 2 volleyball games
• 2 soccer games
• volunteer concessions shifts (Ivan’s doing one today, I’m doing one Thursday)
• a dog grooming appt
• the Homecoming parade (Asher’s VB team is walking) on Wednesday night
• trip prep/ figuring out my shoes and jewelry
• Asher’s Homecoming dance + pictures on Saturday
• Ivan leaving Thurs for Mexico
• trying to make sure all laundry will be done + the boys packed up by Saturday…

I somehow didn’t feel too bad yesterday (until about ~8:30 pm when I started to totally crash), and I slept great last night… I woke up feeling surprisingly fresh this morning at 5:15, and am trying to not even think about the fact that usually when I sleep poorly, the tiredness/grogginess actually always catches up with me the following day, not the first day (so, today…). I’m going to just ignore that historical fact and pretend the 4 hour sleep night never happened and all will be well.

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A few fall-related things:

Not much to say here, really, but just a comment that our temps finally dropped yesterday. It was 39 degrees as I headed out to walk Charlie yesterday morning! I had to wear a JACKET! Like a real jacket, not just a hoodie.

It was a beautiful morning, though. I am sad to be away next week, which is when the leaf changes will really start picking up around here. There’s just a hint so far most places.

Here’s Charlie chilling on a pumpkin blanket:

This is hilarious…. in the sunroom…. hahaha.

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And finally, a few funny things I’ve accumulated lately:

Starting with a fall-themed one…. too cute and too funny!:

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for Asher’s VB games being HOME games this week. The season ends already basically after next week (and we’ll be gone….), so I’m really happy to get to see these last couple of games.