Happy New Year!

I use an academic year calendar instead of the "normal" calendar that 99% of the world uses. My routine for making the big switch each year goes something like this:

1. Gather my old and new calendars.
2. Fix myself a cold drink (normally ice water since I have to have a clear head).
3. Gather my beautiful colored pens.
4. Get comfortable either on the deck or in a chair inside.

I love the smell of the new, untouched pages.

I love the way the colored pens are sitting ready...waiting for me to decide the categories for using them. (this would have been a great time to snap a photo, but I failed to see the future)

I love the fresh lines and the peace that comes from looking at the new calendar with nothing written in it. (again...awesome photo op!)

Today, August 15, was the day I chose to start planning out my life for the new year. I gathered up my pens, calendars, laptop, and ice water, and got comfortable.

First, I had to look up Miles's football schedule. Black ink for games and practices.

Next, I wrote down Eben's work schedule (blue ink, bottom left corner of the boxes to mark each day scheduled and what shift).

Next, I tried to work on Dave's work schedule (black ink to keep Dave and Miles in the same color family ... color family is important because they are family, ya know?). Since Dave's schedule is still something I can't quite put my head around, I must wait for him to assist me.

Next, I took my red Sharpie pen (oh how I love Sharpie pens!) and recorded important dates for work and life itself...what week of the quarter it is (recorded numerically at the top of the Monday slot and circled), special birthdays (lots of them coming up in the family!), and then other commitments we already have (golf outings, nail appointments, meetings, etc.).

Next, I went online and looked at the schedule for Ella's dance. Here, this is where it happened. I realized that there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to be here and there and present for two activities on the same days at the same times for both kids. I feel like a gingerbread man about to be broken in two.

Ella can't do dance until Miles is done with football because we will either miss dance classes or miss football games because it is geographically impossible for me to be in Zanesville at 5 for dance and in Claymont (or elsewhere traipsing around the green earth because Miles plays in a league I have never even heard of...and that league includes some crazy schools I have never heard of, let alone know where they might be) at 5 for a football game.

This beast schedule of ours makes me appreciate my parents even more. I have no earthly idea how they had three kids, close in age, involved in dance, cheerleading, sports, etc., and held down full-time jobs.

It's a blessing, though, that our lives are busy. Aren't idle hands the devil's workshop?

All of these marks of ink in my calendar remind me how lucky I am...and to sleep now while I can before the crazy school year starts back up. Speaking of the school year, I have four more weeks without a set "work schedule." I am planning to enjoy the hell out of every minute I have left!