Relaxing day and preparing for the next semester

I start classes again next Tuesday, Monday we are all off for Martin Luther King day. Richard had the day off today, so it was kind of a nice relaxing day before the rush of classes, homework and tight schedules start again. We went out to lunch at Olive Garden. It was so delicious- we did the soup, salad, breadsticks deal and shared a dessert. The chicken gnocci soup was great.

I'm a little nervous about how next semester will work out. Fall semester I had some days when I'd be home by noon and could get some stuff done before the kids got home. This time the earliest my classes are done is 2:10, letting me get home just about when Jayna will be getting home. I'm going to have to be a lot more prepared and take advantage of the time I have between classes at school. For a class over winter break I had to spend 30 hours onsite somewhere that is not a traditional OT setting. I went to Amherst Adult Day Services which provides supervision and activities to mentally or physically impaired adults or those who may need socialization. It was a good experience and got me even more excited for the field I'm entering.

Reading now: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
To love what is: a marriage transformed by Alix Kates Shulman- this is a great ture book, it is about how a very independent woman becomes caregiver to her husband who has an accident and suffers brain injury. It's interesting because it relates a bit to me as I observe my own dad with dementia and my mom caring for him, but also as someone interested in Occupational Therapy. Also, to me the title of the book can be key to so much more, - to accept and love what is- even if it's not what you had planned. Another thing I appreciate is the fact that the author is so much different than me- atheist, strong feminist, adventurer, but I can really appreciate her in this book and I think that is something always to remember- we don't have to agree with or be like someone to learn from them.
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

And so it goes...

Snow Tubing

Tubers coming down the hill.
Richard, Andrew and Jayna with their tubes.
Whitney warming up
Andrew getting ready to ride up

Every month we plan a "family fun" activity- this month the activity that won the vote (yep, there's a process at this home!) was snow tubing. We had never gone before, it was fun to try something new. You get a tube and then ride up to the top- picking a chute (hill) to go down-various levels available, go down and then can ride back up to the top. You can go down as a big group too. My coordination made me think I was crazy to think that I could actually try skiing again someday! My first try: I fell off the tube as it was going up, then had difficulty getting off the tube at the top- there's a spot where you're suppose to get off- the man was yelling at me "bail, bail!" Then later a worker was helping Jayna and I get ready to go down together and he hit me in the mouth hitting my teeth! Anyhow it still was an overall fun experience. I was really surprised how fast even the smallest hill was. Jayna, Andrew, and Richard really loved the experience. Whitney got cold pretty fast and thought it was okay. Even the little hill made me a bit nausea, but I thought it was fun too. I always just like trying new things.

The Ashead Year in Review

Happy New Year Everyone! A brief blip of our year in Review:

Richard- Lost lots of weight and is off of medication for high cholesterol and blood pressure. Bought a motorcycle and loves it.

Sue- Lost weight, truthfully I've gained some back, but am still a good bit less than last year at this time. Started college, what a huge step. Have completed my first semester in my program to become a COTA (certified occupational therapist assistant) Also loves riding the motorcycle with Richard

Andrew- Last year in the middle school, started and continues a newspaper route delivering papers on Saturday, multiple girlfriends throughout the year, musical theater, bought a drum set

Whitney- Started middle school, spent tons of time with her friends, continues gymnastics

Jayna- 1st grade and started speech- Yay- she has really progressed, joined Brownies, continues gymnastics

Muffy- remains adored by many family members

Family Vacation- visited Hershey, PA and Philadelphia ( and our friends the Janes')

And so it goes..