What I've been up to for the last 24 days since my last post.

Well my efforts to blog more regularly have clearly failed so here I am with a "what I've been up to for the last 24 days since my last post" post.

Dan was in Ireland for almost a month and was set to return home this past Saturday night but was stuck in Newark in the great airport debacle.  His flight was cancelled and it appeared that the next one out was not going to be until Monday night so he and a coworker rented a car and drove through the night and made it home on Sunday morning!  I was very very happy to see him.  

He was originally scheduled to be home for one week then head back to Ireland for a couple of weeks and then come home so we could go to the Cape for vacation.  But, the project is woefully behind schedule so he's going to be home for a couple of weeks (not sure exactly how long) and then will go back to Ireland and return home so we can (hopefully) go the Cape in early August.  I say "hopefully" because the way this program is going, there's not telling what is actually going to happen.  We are hoping really hard that it does work out for an early August Cape trip because if it doesn't, that means the kids won't be able to go to the Cape this summer as school for both of them starts on August 21. 

So, what was I up to while Dan was gone?  Hmmmm....the area behind the kitchen sink needed to be recaulked so I got out the caulk gun and got that done.  I also did the bathroom sinks as well. I got better the more I did it because practice really does make perfect. 

My brother remounted our flagpole which had been down for several many years because of various issues with it and I just love having our flag up again! (Thanks, Brad!)

And it's fixed just in time for the 4th of July!  And thanks to the issues Dan is having at work, he will be home for the 4th instead of in Ireland as originally scheduled.  (I'm trying hard to look for all the positives with his work situation right now.  He's very stressed out and it appears things keep going south.)

I enjoyed a delicious lunch with Jennifer at Mozelle's while Dan was gone.  It was so nice to eat, laugh, and catch up with my bestie.  We don't spend nearly enough time together these days.  I really do miss all the  afternoons we spent at each others houses while the kids were younger.  When the kids were in elementary school we were together almost every afternoon doing the week.  Those were such good times!

I am doing the best I can with our little garden while Dan is gone.  We got everything in late (and less plants than normal) because of his schedule.  And the weather here has been weird.  It has finally warmed up but early July was very cool for around here and our garden is not thriving.  We had a hail storm on Monday night and the tomato plants look a little worse for the wear.  I'm still hopeful that we can get some tomatoes by the end of summer but I'm not too confidant.  

This picture was from two weeks ago so the plants are bigger now.  But usually by this time of year they are three times the size of this. 

Peter came home for a few days while Dan was gone.  It was so nice to have both kids home at the same time. We watched a lot of baseball - college world series and Red Sox, the kids played a lot of Speed and I even did a little cooking.  I made homemade Chipotle bowls and have perfected the Chipotle vinaigrette.  This is the recipe I use if you want to make your own.  Pour it over the top of the bowls or mix it with sour cream to make a creamy sauce and it will definitely elevate your bowl and make it extra delicious.

Speaking of Peter, he is working at a restaurant in Raleigh and I think he is really enjoying it.  Several of his friends work there so that adds to the fun.  He is a food runner currently.  I'm not sure if he wants to work his way up to waiter or not (I think he would actually be a very good waiter) but right now he's enjoying running the food.  I think his current plan is to continue working during the school year so we will see how that goes.  

Sarah has applied to work as a life guard on campus in the fall.  She said she's heard that there's always a lot of people that apply and limited positions so hopefully she can get the job. 

And speaking of jobs...no, I still don't have one yet.  I continue to apply to jobs I see that might be a good fit and continue to hear absolutely nothing back.  But I am hoping that something comes up that would work for me that I would be good at.  Sarah's going to be back in school soon and it sounds like Dan will be gone most of the fall for work so I really need something to do to keep me occupied!

I hope everyone has a nice weekend and a happy 4th of July! My brother is putting on his fireworks show so check back next week (maybe) for some awesome phone photos of fireworks! :)