I really didn't think we could possibly go through this again. Both Jack and Anna were still deciding at the last minute where to go to college, and here were are, again, with less than 36 hours left (because we HAVE to decide by midnight on 4/30...in case we lose power, etc.), and Timmy claims to have no idea where he wants to go to college.
It doesn't matter that he has three amazing choices. He really does. It doesn't matter that he "can't go wrong with any of those choices..." Because he can't. What matters is that he doesn't seem to have any idea where he wants to go.
At noon, or two hours ago, we throughly discussed choice X (I can't even list them as 1, 2, and 3, or A, B, or C, because those markers seem to indicate a certain preference. We like Choice X. But I think we thought perhaps it made sense to do choice Z. Then suddenly, I brought up Choice Y...which has always kind of been the compromise school, but now suddenly, it seems like the school he should be going to... Stay tuned. I really don't know what to tell you. I mean, really no choice.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
(Surgery) Game Day--April 17, 2018
This is what I woke up to today...So cute. Lily wasn't sure I should put this up...I think she is starting to care about this stuff.
Monday, April 16, 2018
Goodbye, Knees. You have been really good to me. But now it is time to say goodbye. April 16, 2018
My knees have been good to me.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Five Years ago today....I Love Mommy.. April 15, 2018!
I spent the last two weeks cleaning up/out as much as possible...for my upcoming surgery (more on that later.) But, as I did, I found this, from Lily:
This actually doesn't show that this says "I Love Mommy." And it is dated 4/15/13. It looks like it is an N, but it is just a little hard to see that it is an M. I am only saying this because she was a little concerned it looked like she didn't know how to spell when she was 6, which she did! But I am much more touched at how adorable this is!
I must say, I have approximately 4 million of these. From all of my kids. I have been getting rid of a few...and I mean a few....because I am trying to become a minimalist, which is not easy when you tend to keep everything ever associated with anyone in your family, or anything of ANY sentimental value. But I am getting a little better at throwing things out.
This actually doesn't show that this says "I Love Mommy." And it is dated 4/15/13. It looks like it is an N, but it is just a little hard to see that it is an M. I am only saying this because she was a little concerned it looked like she didn't know how to spell when she was 6, which she did! But I am much more touched at how adorable this is!
I must say, I have approximately 4 million of these. From all of my kids. I have been getting rid of a few...and I mean a few....because I am trying to become a minimalist, which is not easy when you tend to keep everything ever associated with anyone in your family, or anything of ANY sentimental value. But I am getting a little better at throwing things out.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
A special night with friends--mini Bucknell reunion!
Last October, our old friends, Katie and Dave O'Connor emailed me and asked if we wanted to go to their house for a mini Bucknell reunion, and to see their new barn. I didn't know what that meant, until I got there, and I saw that it is actually a barn. It was such a fun night, and so great to see some people I hadn't seen in 15-20 years? I am just now posting this, because I wanted to share how amazing this barn is. They had it built themselves, and it is amazing.
Dear Mayor Kenney....
Dear Mayor Kenney--
So, I took my son Matthew down for a Manny Flick on the Schuylkill River today. Okay, not the smartest thing I ever did, because downtown traffic is bad, especially when they close off Kelly Drive, which is where I wanted to be.
But it wasn't even the traffic that bothered me. It is the trash. My lord, Mayor Kenney--you really need to do something about the trash in Philadelphia. And specifically, you need to do something about providing the citizens of Philadelphia with trash cans. I drove down Broad Street, and the lack of trash cans on street corners is stunning. I want to pick up my trash, and I want to see the area cleaned up, but unless and until there are enough trash cans so that people on the street can put their trash safely in containers on the corner while they are waiting for buses, then the streets will be dirty.
Moreover, you need to send out crews to simply drive around and pick up trash that is littering corner lots, empty lots, etc, etc. This is your job. Do it right. Because nothing makes an individual feel bad about themselves than when he or she lives in a dirty environment. So help out the citizens of Philadelphia, and give them trash cans.
Very truly yours,
Leslie Gallagher
So, I took my son Matthew down for a Manny Flick on the Schuylkill River today. Okay, not the smartest thing I ever did, because downtown traffic is bad, especially when they close off Kelly Drive, which is where I wanted to be.
But it wasn't even the traffic that bothered me. It is the trash. My lord, Mayor Kenney--you really need to do something about the trash in Philadelphia. And specifically, you need to do something about providing the citizens of Philadelphia with trash cans. I drove down Broad Street, and the lack of trash cans on street corners is stunning. I want to pick up my trash, and I want to see the area cleaned up, but unless and until there are enough trash cans so that people on the street can put their trash safely in containers on the corner while they are waiting for buses, then the streets will be dirty.
Moreover, you need to send out crews to simply drive around and pick up trash that is littering corner lots, empty lots, etc, etc. This is your job. Do it right. Because nothing makes an individual feel bad about themselves than when he or she lives in a dirty environment. So help out the citizens of Philadelphia, and give them trash cans.
Very truly yours,
Leslie Gallagher
Mom Milestones...they just keep coming (From August 22, 2015)
And this is another post I never posted...I need to stop doing this. Some of these would have been good to have for my kids to read. This one was written on 8/22/15 but never posted. Here goes:
When my children were younger, I didn't have time to think (my messy house is a testament to that). Really, I think back to having five kids 11 and under, and I feel like I am now going through PTSD. That was a crazy time. People always said "wow, you sure are busy!" when they learned we had 5 children, and I would smile. I wasn't busy, I was insane. It was insane to have 5 kids, but having 5 children made me insanely busy. Just making it through the day without a broken bone, with all their bodies being nourished physically, spiritually, and emotionally, was all I could really do. Housekeeping had to wait.
Kelly Corrigan, who wrote The Middle Place, mentioned in her book that any woman who has over 3-4 children is really special. That was the first time I ever really thought what I did was anything other than...well, what I did. And let me point out, that some of my favorite women friends have 7, 8, and yes, 12 children. So my 5 children weren't something that I ever thought made me all that special. But now I think having this many children makes it worse when they grow up...the house will seem so much more quiet, and the absence of them will make it seem more lonely. As it is now, our house is dirty, loud, noisy, and fun.
In the last few months, I have had, or will have, the following milestones:
My oldest went overseas for the first time....
My daughter, Anna, is starting looking at colleges..,,
My son, Timmy, went to his first weekend away with friends....
Matthew became a teenager, and is starting at a new school, without Timmy to help him out...
and
Lily grew out of her booster seat (I thought she had to be 80 pounds, but everyone said I am wrong--she is only 68 pounds, and she didn't really complain about it, so I kept her in it), which she can now get herself in, and does not need any special seating...something that has not happened in my car for 20 years, and which is propelling her closer to growing up....
I know this is just normal stuff, but I don't like it. And, annoyingly, my children don't seem to mind these changes...they welcome them. And each one makes me a little more sad. Really. I am not going to be brave. This makes me sad.
When my children were younger, I didn't have time to think (my messy house is a testament to that). Really, I think back to having five kids 11 and under, and I feel like I am now going through PTSD. That was a crazy time. People always said "wow, you sure are busy!" when they learned we had 5 children, and I would smile. I wasn't busy, I was insane. It was insane to have 5 kids, but having 5 children made me insanely busy. Just making it through the day without a broken bone, with all their bodies being nourished physically, spiritually, and emotionally, was all I could really do. Housekeeping had to wait.
Kelly Corrigan, who wrote The Middle Place, mentioned in her book that any woman who has over 3-4 children is really special. That was the first time I ever really thought what I did was anything other than...well, what I did. And let me point out, that some of my favorite women friends have 7, 8, and yes, 12 children. So my 5 children weren't something that I ever thought made me all that special. But now I think having this many children makes it worse when they grow up...the house will seem so much more quiet, and the absence of them will make it seem more lonely. As it is now, our house is dirty, loud, noisy, and fun.
In the last few months, I have had, or will have, the following milestones:
My oldest went overseas for the first time....
My daughter, Anna, is starting looking at colleges..,,
My son, Timmy, went to his first weekend away with friends....
Matthew became a teenager, and is starting at a new school, without Timmy to help him out...
and
Lily grew out of her booster seat (I thought she had to be 80 pounds, but everyone said I am wrong--she is only 68 pounds, and she didn't really complain about it, so I kept her in it), which she can now get herself in, and does not need any special seating...something that has not happened in my car for 20 years, and which is propelling her closer to growing up....
I know this is just normal stuff, but I don't like it. And, annoyingly, my children don't seem to mind these changes...they welcome them. And each one makes me a little more sad. Really. I am not going to be brave. This makes me sad.
"What are you doing today, Mommy?" (A Post from 2015??)
This is a post I never posted from at least three years ago. For some reason, I never posted it. I think it is from 2015....because Timmy is in Junior High, and has AP Euro. It is amazing how different my life is, which is why I think I should post it now.
Today, one of my children asked me "what are you doing today, Mommy?" I was surprised, because I had to think about what I was going to do...I didn't really have specific plans, because what I thought I was going to do that day had just been re-scheduled with the person I was going to do it with.
But it got me thinking--what do I do? I am somewhat sensitive about this, I think. When I had children at home, it wasn't a big deal. I could say I was watching my kids, because I was watching my kids. But now, all of mine are in school. Which makes me wonder: what do I do? I also just heard one of my children say that his friend complained because his stay at home mom "does nothing" and "is on Facebook" all day. I find that hard to believe--the being on Facebook part. It just doesn't interest me. And besides, I think stay at home moms get the short end of the stick. No glory, no paycheck, and yet, when someone has to be home for a sick child, or a child who is off, or during the summer months, no one is particularly thankful to the stay at home mom for filling in....it is just kind of expected.
But that is what I do, a lot of the time. I wait. I don't mean I sit here (because I never sit down....I actually stand while I type/work on my computer), but my whole day revolves around the comings and goings of my children...being here when they get off the bus, or being at the bus in the case of the younger ones, or taking people to school, etc. My youngest child leaves for school at 8:45, and my first child gets home around 2:50, so I have about 6 "free" hours a day, which is then my job to fill. For years, I was incredibly active at my children's elementary school. But, to be honest, I have been not doing that as much as I probably could. Because, honestly, I need to use my time either at home cleaning, or out making money. So, this is kind of what I did for the last three days...you will get the gist of my days.
Monday:
Emails. Gym/Pool/Shower. Matthew was home from school, so we hung out. Then I went to Whole Foods to pick up a meal to drop off for a friend from church who just started going through chemotherapy. I had to be home to get Lily off the bus at 3:45. She had a friend over, so I had to be home.
Tuesday:
Art class. Then gym/shower. Home at 1. Spent two hours cleaning up this pile in my laundry room that has been bothering me. Then to Whole Foods (there is a lot of this going on in my life....). Take Lily to ballet. Then drive up to get Timmy from the Junior High, and drive his friend home from AP Euro practice. Then put on dinner. Then go get Lily.
Wednesday:
Before 9 am, I sent out 8 emails. Mostly covering stuff for my children. Arts class, rides to parties, etc. Go to Gym/Shower. Home. Make some phone calls. Go to Target to get bleach. Home by 3. Make dinner (spaghetti and meatballs). Pick up Lily from bus. Pick up Matthew from forensics practice at 4:30. Pick up Joey at 6, drive him and Matthew to Lacrosse practice. Stop by Whole Foods to make a return, and get a salad for Anna for dinner. Stop on the way home, and get ice cream for Lily.
Today, one of my children asked me "what are you doing today, Mommy?" I was surprised, because I had to think about what I was going to do...I didn't really have specific plans, because what I thought I was going to do that day had just been re-scheduled with the person I was going to do it with.
But it got me thinking--what do I do? I am somewhat sensitive about this, I think. When I had children at home, it wasn't a big deal. I could say I was watching my kids, because I was watching my kids. But now, all of mine are in school. Which makes me wonder: what do I do? I also just heard one of my children say that his friend complained because his stay at home mom "does nothing" and "is on Facebook" all day. I find that hard to believe--the being on Facebook part. It just doesn't interest me. And besides, I think stay at home moms get the short end of the stick. No glory, no paycheck, and yet, when someone has to be home for a sick child, or a child who is off, or during the summer months, no one is particularly thankful to the stay at home mom for filling in....it is just kind of expected.
But that is what I do, a lot of the time. I wait. I don't mean I sit here (because I never sit down....I actually stand while I type/work on my computer), but my whole day revolves around the comings and goings of my children...being here when they get off the bus, or being at the bus in the case of the younger ones, or taking people to school, etc. My youngest child leaves for school at 8:45, and my first child gets home around 2:50, so I have about 6 "free" hours a day, which is then my job to fill. For years, I was incredibly active at my children's elementary school. But, to be honest, I have been not doing that as much as I probably could. Because, honestly, I need to use my time either at home cleaning, or out making money. So, this is kind of what I did for the last three days...you will get the gist of my days.
Monday:
Emails. Gym/Pool/Shower. Matthew was home from school, so we hung out. Then I went to Whole Foods to pick up a meal to drop off for a friend from church who just started going through chemotherapy. I had to be home to get Lily off the bus at 3:45. She had a friend over, so I had to be home.
Tuesday:
Art class. Then gym/shower. Home at 1. Spent two hours cleaning up this pile in my laundry room that has been bothering me. Then to Whole Foods (there is a lot of this going on in my life....). Take Lily to ballet. Then drive up to get Timmy from the Junior High, and drive his friend home from AP Euro practice. Then put on dinner. Then go get Lily.
Wednesday:
Before 9 am, I sent out 8 emails. Mostly covering stuff for my children. Arts class, rides to parties, etc. Go to Gym/Shower. Home. Make some phone calls. Go to Target to get bleach. Home by 3. Make dinner (spaghetti and meatballs). Pick up Lily from bus. Pick up Matthew from forensics practice at 4:30. Pick up Joey at 6, drive him and Matthew to Lacrosse practice. Stop by Whole Foods to make a return, and get a salad for Anna for dinner. Stop on the way home, and get ice cream for Lily.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Happy Easter, 2018! April 1, 2018 (no fooling!)
This was a lovely Easter weekend, and a lovely Easter day. Anna came home on Thursday, and hung out with her siblings all weekend while I had to work. Chris and Lily drove up on Wednesday night to get her (right after we found out that Timmy got into Penn/Wharton, Duke and Notre Dame!), and they all came back on Thursday night. I had to work on Friday and Saturday, but I think they all had fun!
The Easter bunny did make it to our house today--and brought these four baskets for the four who were home--Jack stayed out at Notre Dame. I remember his freshman year we all drove out there to see him for Easter. It is not on our agenda for this year, unfortunately.
The Easter bunny did make it to our house today--and brought these four baskets for the four who were home--Jack stayed out at Notre Dame. I remember his freshman year we all drove out there to see him for Easter. It is not on our agenda for this year, unfortunately.
After church, it was such a nice day, we all went outside. I started to rake, because in two weeks, after my knee surgery, I won't be able to do so. And while I was raking, I saw something that may have been hiding under the brush for several years....a baseball. There were years and years when every opportunity the boys were outside playing baseball, or having a catch, but not so much anymore. It made me a little sad to see this hiding there...just a nice reminder of those days.
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