Post Visit Exhaustion

The past four days have been a whirlwind of activities with Virginia and Stephanie flying in on Friday.  Every minute of the last three days (four really if you count the prep time) has been scheduled and executed with almost military precision. 

Friday night we had family time with dinner out and just hanging at home talking before everyone crashed from exhaustion.  Saturday there was my niece’s graduation party that the girls put in an appearance for, plus Virginia’s godson’s birthday party, plus lunch out, plus our own party.  By the time I got to bed on Saturday I was nearly falling down with exhaustion. 

Sunday Ken, Virginia, Stephanie, Beth, Vicki and Alex went to the zoo.  They spent the day away.  I spent my time watching DVR stuff (warming up from sitting in front of the a/c vent) and submitting different writing items.  I got about fourteen items submitted and a few guidelines discarded because my work didn’t fit. 

After dropping off Beth (Alex drove himself) at home, Virginia, Ken and Vicki came home exhausted.  I enjoyed the quiet but would have preferred more time with those visiting.  It is hard because there are so many people they want to see and so many who want to see them.  Stephanie went to visit friends and didn’t get in until after 11.  She was exhausted. 

Today was a bit calmer but not as fun.  Ken and I took Virginia and Stephanie back to the airport.  My house, which was so clean last week, is trashed.  My energy level is about negative fifty and I need a vacation from my vacation…

Tomorrow I go back to work.  I am hoping it won’t be horrendous after being gone for five days.  I hope I can catch up fairly quickly and without too much stress.  It has to be calmer than the last five days, right? 

Slippage

How is it possible for an entire week to slip by so quickly?  I can’t even say it slipped by unnoticed but it just whizzed right by and left me gasping and wondering why I didn’t get enough stuff done.

Work was good. I got almost all the things done I wanted to before I left for vacation.  I even got organizational stuff for my desk and got it reorganized.  I left a list for my student workers, changed the voice mail, out of office message and got the tasks done I needed to. 

Yesterday was supposed to be super productive.  We were supposed to get all these errands run – which we did – and the house completely cleaned and a whole list of other things.  My cleaning person got a good chunk of my house clean but still there is more to do.  Why is it housework is so time consuming?

This afternoon the girls fly in.  We have to pick them up.  Then from that point on we are booked.  It will be a very busy weekend and I’m stressing a little about how much is going on. 

Taking a step back from the chaos of the weekend, I cannot wait to see the girls.  It will be nice to have my whole family together.  I just hope we aren’t so busy doing that we actually have time together to laugh and just be. 

Tomorrow is the big party.  Normally big events with lots of people make me nervous but this one isn’t.  I’m just looking forward to being around the people who are important.  I am hoping for good weather so it can be more an outside event than an inside event. 

Ken has gotten so many projects done in the house.  They are bigger projects which we thought would take more time and money but they didn’t.  I really like the changes in the house.  It makes me feel like we are claiming more of the house. 

On one hand I’m really glad that the week has slipped away since I’ll get to see Virginia and Stephanie this afternoon.  On the other hand I’d like another day or two to get ready.  Isn’t that always the case?

Hot House Flowers…

The girls arrived safely finally.  Their plane was delayed an hour and being goofy I watched online while they traveled north.  I kept bugging my sister giving her status updates…

Ken and I ran errands after work.  When we got home, there they were peeking around the edge of the door.  Almost the first thing they said was can we open gifts.  Reminded me of when they were little (or last year).  Patience has never been one of their stronger virtues…

Ken had to start a fire because they were cold and we spent the next two hours chatting and catching up.  It has been wonderful.  Now the girls and Ken have gone off to shop.  I’m home alone in the blissfuly quiet house.

Tomorrow will be busy.  Our Christmas stuff in the morning, traditional tacos for lunch.  Then bunches of people in the afternoon.  I have no idea how many are coming but it will be a good time with friends and family coming to see the girls and hang out. 

Sunday will be a quieter day, I think.  I’m not quite sure what we are doing yet.  I’m sure it will involve a lot of laughter and joy… and maybe a bit of grumbling.  There usually is in our household but it is all good because we just deal with it. 

It seems like such a short time but at least we are together and can enjoy each other no matter how long we have.  It is wonderful to have the whole family together….