A Catch Up

This Year

Life has really speeded up for us over the past year. I think I was pretty naive going into this building project. I thought we'd sail through it with no problems and it'd all be over and done with in 6 months . I am pretty organised and resilient , but instead of this making the process easier I think it has made it harder to cope with. I have struggled with living in total disorganisation, not being able to plan ahead with meals , having people constantly in my house and the noise , the noise. I have often taken my little girl down to the park and sat with a cup of tea on a park bench whilst she played, just to escape the noise for an hour! In all of this though I have learnt to let things go a little more. To be more flexible and spontaneous. I have realised that the world will not end if the children eat pasta three nights in a row.
On top of all of this of course life goes on. My return to teaching continued and I am regularly in working two or three days a week. The half term break was meant to be a time to relax and rest, but all the children came down with bugs and my eldest is still recovering from a nasty stomach bug. I wont go into details, but I was a little worried for a bit there. It brings what is important into sharp focus when those close to you are suffering. Hence the lack of blog posts - again. I am learning priorities!
My middle boy had decided to sit the 11 exam to try and get into the school his eldest brother is in. It is a selective grammar school . They take 120 pupils each year and around 400 sit the exam. His grades are higher than his brothers were at school at the same point and he studied hard, but didn't get in. We were disappointed for him, but had always felt he would better suit the local school where he can continue with his tennis academy which is next door. I find the decision of secondary schooling a really difficult one, especially because the children now have strong opinions of their own! All his friends are going to the local school so he is now happy, although was disappointed at first.
My Dad continues to be settled and happy in his home. I could not have wished for anything better for him. I visit as often as I can and my Step Mum brings him home some weekends so we can take the children to visit him.
So , as we near the end of another year I am glad to see the back of the changes this year has brought. I am grateful to be the other side of the extension work ( or nearly) and having made the decision about schooling for son number two. I think 2014 will bring more change, but I have learnt about myself that I need my home to be settled and organised to be able to deal with the ups and downs that life throws at you.
I have another bit of news regarding a decision I have made that is a bit exciting, but I will wait until it is certain - fingers crossed!

I am taking pictures this weekend of the kitchen to reveal on the Blog next week. I just wanted to wait until we had doors in and it looked a little more finished!

So hopefully with the kids recovering and the house almost done I should get back to some more regular posting!

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