Catching Up

Wow.  It's been, like, half of FOREVER since I blogged. I guess that was kind of expected, given the thoughts I voiced in this post at the end of last year.  But unexpectedly, I haven't really missed it as much as I thought I might.  And given the busy-ness of the last couple of months, I didn't have much time to think about it either!

But now life is returning to normal (and, of course, I use that term quite loosely...), and I find myself with time to actually sit here once again.  From about the middle of February until just yesterday, I was working part-time at a local accountant's office, printing off tax returns and preparing tax return packages for all the clients.  It started out pretty light ~ just two or three 4-6 hour days a week ~ but rapidly turned into four days a week, often with one or two of those being full, 8-hour days.  Last week I worked SIX straight days, and then Monday and yesterday.  But now I'm done.  The Canadian income tax filing deadline is April 30, and while there are always stragglers, the office staff doesn't need additional help to keep on top of it anymore.

It was a good job.  I enjoyed it.  But I missed being a full-time mom, wife, and homemaker.  In fact, I think the job confirmed what I feel is my mandate as a Christian wife and mother and made me want to be better at my REAL job.  I was consistently behind in what I normally accomplish.  (I can't imagine how much WORSE it would have been had The Man not been around to reguarly wash dishes and vacuum!)  Or I was too tired to really care.  My fuse was shorter.  I forgot a lot of things I was supposed to do, even if I had them written down in my day-planning notebook.

Now, spring having finally reached the Canadian prairies, gardening and yardwork season is upon us.  I started the raking last Saturday and got most of the leaves taken care of, but I realized we hadn't raked after the hedge got trimmed last fall so there's tons of twigs and branches yet to clean up.  And the lawn will need mowing very soon.  Some patches could already use it, but most can wait, especially since this week is cool and damp.

The seeds and seedlings will be purchased this week or next, and I'm hoping to get most of them in the ground before next weekend.  I normally wait for the Victoria Day long weekend to seed my garden (which would be May 19-21 this year), but I'm hoping to have it all done earlier this year.  The plants won't go in before June.  You know, "risk of frost" and all that Canuck craziness.  (incidentally, there's snow in the forecast twice this week...  :P)

There are also some indoor projects I'd like to complete before school's out at the end of June, too, like finish organizing the girls' clothing (started in early April, but far from done), and a thorough cleaning of their room along with the front porch/playroom, including a toy and stuffed animal purge.  I did it almost exactly four years ago and it felt SO GOOD!  And the best part was, they didn't really even notice!!  (how's THAT for a sure sign that your kids have too much stuff?!)

The bookkeeping really needs some serious catching up and the office clutter hasn't been dealt with in so long that I don't even remember doing it.  I know I've tidied the desk and bookshelf, but I suspect the growing piles of paper behind the door and the closet have never actually been touched.

And then, before I know it, it will be summer holidays, woo-hoo!  :)  What have YOU been up to??