Lazy Summer Days Are Almost Over

I've been writing a lot of review-type posts lately, but I don't want you guys to forget that this is a personal blog. Time for an end-of-summer update!

The kids will be headed back to school in less than a month, and it feels like these last days are jam-packed. The funny thing is that most of the events going on don't have much to do with me, but I feel like they are on my calendar. ABM will be the one picking up band instruments and school supplies. M is the one who has to read books and go to band camp. I'm just a bystander, but I'm still stressing out a little about what they have to do.

As usual, I didn't do as much work with the younger kids during the summer as I had planned. This means that they will be doing cram sessions for the next few weeks with those $11 workbooks that I bought. I didn't press M to practice her instruments on a daily basis, either. Summer vacation is a break for me, too, so I don't always live up to the standards I set for myself.

ABM has taken some time off of work. Long-time readers know what that means. He has a long list of projects that he wants to cram into every second of his free time. He's made a good start so far (you should see our bedroom closet!) and even if he doesn't finish his list, I know that the house will be much improved. Having him underfoot this time isn't bothering me as much as it has in the past, mainly because I know that he needed to get away from his job for a while.

We have a big family trip coming up during the first week of September. We are going away with extended family and friends. ABM spearheaded the idea and has been driving himself nuts with the arrangements. I personally will be glad when the whole thing is over. You guys know how anxious I was last year when we took a vacation, and that was just with the two of us. This time it will be with the kids and our moms and siblings and cousins -- oh my! I'm trying not to imagine all the things that could go wrong.

As for me, I am still out of work. I've been doing ChaCha and writing a few sponsored posts here and there, and that has helped to cover expenses now that my unemployment benefits have been exhausted. My job prospects seem to be more limited than ever before, what with the rising rate of unemployment and my outdated skill set. After the trip, I'll either begin looking at retail jobs or talking with ABM about the possibility of taking some classes.