Job challenges

I love my job. I love my job. I love my job. I thought I'd state that out front because I do love my job, but I need to vent for a moment.

It's just that I have been blessed to work in a large church with 3 other extremely talented musicians. An organist, a contemporary director, and the kids and bell choir director. Now I'm the only one for who the church is my only job. All of the rest have full time jobs and families. So, are extremely busy. This will be a surprise to those who know me, but I"m also the only one who is very organized and timely. The frustration is that I frequently am responisble for a lot of the organizational things that are needed for the pastors, church office, and other staff. I don't mind this, but it can be a problem sometimes.

For example sometimes people get possesive of what they view as their responsibilities. However, when they don't take care of things and it stretches out for a long time, then I get asked to step in and take over. Which of course doesn't make them very happy. Now, I don't mind picking things up when needed, because I see things very much as a team effort.

The challenge for me is that when I was hired I was specifically told that being the group organizer and go to person was not one of my responsiblities. Mostly because it was a part of the person before me's job and she tended to lord it over the others so it was decided that we didn't need someone to oversee everything to make things go smoothly. At the moment though I really wish I had some of that authority, because that would make taking over projects when needed, like now a little bit easier and maybe less contentious for everyone. Or maybe it won't be that big of a deal and I'm blowing it all out of proportion. Let's hope it'll be no big deal I'm not really in the mood to have people mad at me at work right now. Wish me luck!

Tackle it Tuesday #6

It seems like forever since I've managed to do a tackle. I'm so proud of myself that I got this one done finally. This project has been a major challenge for me. First because I DON'T quilt.

I've never tried and didn't enjoy this experience. If you were to look close you'd see all the places where the fabric got all bunched up.






Anyways, these quilts are pirate themed for Dylan's room. I originally was only going to make one for the top bunk to cover the blanket, however Dylan really wanted one for his bed, too. So, the really nice one on his bed is the good fabric and then I went to JoAnn and bought other pirate fabric to make the one for the top bunk.



It's not as nice, but it works.







Besides, Dylan loves it and that's really all that counts right?

NOt quite as nice as the other one, but it does what it needs to adn covers the bed.

Doesn't Dylan look all cosy under his new quilt.

Now all I have to do is make new curtains, since the space fabric doesn't quite match the pirates. Although curtains are much more my speed and I already have a plan.

Happy Tackle it Tuesday!

Weekend top 5 - nothing special

Well this weekend wasn't a very good week for a top 5, but it was a good weekend anyways.





5. The boys and Mark spent the evening wrestling in the family room. There was a lot of snorting going on from ALex and Dylan was frequently squished under daddy's legs.

These were the only pictures I took this weekend. The rest wasn't really picture worthy.

4. I had my concert last night. Our theme was A Night of Fantasy so we did music from all kinds of movies, star trek, star wars, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Harry Potter, The lord of the rings. The concert went well and was well attended.

3. Grocery shopping by myself. Need I say more.

2. Mark would say a major point of the weekend was getting most of the leaves raked and gathered up.

1. For me, I got a lot of sewing done this weekend. It was time well spent and I got a lot accomplished. All in all a boring weekend, but sometimes that's what you need, a quiet weekend.

Have a good week everyone.

Halloween, finally!

Dylan's halloween, strike that I mean fall party was a lot of fun. Here he is playing pin the nose on the pumpkin.

Dylan loved making cookies with lots of sprinkles. I do mean lots of sprinkles.

Here the kids are making a craft project. The "best" part of the party was the planned, yes the administration planned it, fire drill in the middle of the party. Oh well at least the 4K kids got to dress up. Alex's class didn't get to dress up for their fall party. And I forgot my camera so I don't have any pictures. We did have a good time though.

Here are pictures of my 2 sweet boys and their cousin Cole getting ready to trick or treat. Dylan is wearing his first ever store bought costume. To top that, it's a hand me down doggy costume and is worn frequently around the house. And Alex is wearing part of his costume, but within half an hour he was only wearing the cape. He couldn't see through the darth vader mask, the gloves were itchy and he couldn't handle the candy, bag and light saber. Not a good year for his costume. Cole on the other hand was the cutest little lion with absolutely the cutest roar.

ONly Alex could be pulled away from the candy long enough to pose for a picture.

Cole loved getting Candy and did not want any help carrying his pumpkin or putting the candy in. Since he walks slower and didn't want to be carried my boys took off way ahead to get as much candy as possible.

Cole was checking out all of his goodies. Although I don't think he even knows what's really in that pumpkin.

The best part of our Halloween was being in Chicago. We had pizza and other goodies out on the front lawn in between trick or treat trips. The boys made several trips around the neighborhood. After dark we took my boys over another block. They had tons of fun decorations. ONe of the houses had a ghost jump through the window. It scared the daylights out of Dylan, but Alex thought it was realy cool.

Cole thought it was pretty fun eating outside, although none of the boys ate much. It was too distracting having all the kids come around trick or treating.

After the boys went to bed the grownups all sat out and snacked on pumpkin cake and candy. Of course there was also a little matter of some wine and beer. All in all it was such a great time together. Thanks for a great time Brian and Marcella!

Weekend top 5 - Halloween

Wow what a fun weekend! I wish Halloween was on a Friday every year.

OUr top 5 has very few pictures because I was lousy about having my camera around. Too much busyness.

5. Halloween. I'll follow Deb's example at mom of 3 girls and do a separate hallween posting. But I have to include this way cute picture of the 3 boys ready to trick or treat.

4. Getting to play with little cousin Cole (the lion) at the park. This park was totally awesome, my sis in law took pics, but I don't have them and I didn't take my camera. I have to say it is the coolest park I"ve ever seen. Lots of climbing thingsthat are meant for bigger boys. Alex had a blast going up and down the curvy ladder's and a rope pyramid to climb. It was great to see Alex helping Cole try to climb and Dylan climb at least a little bit.

3. All Saints Sunday at church. The choir sang an anthem from the front (way uncomfortable for them) and did a good job. We also light candles for all the funerals done in the past year(18) and baptisms (53). Then everyone in the congregation is able to light candles for immediate family that died in the past year. Very powerful and emotional.

2. Getting a little work done outside on Saturday. We have lots of fall clean up and the warm weather helps.

1. A few uninterupted hours for a nap on Sunday, much needed it turned out since Dylan didn't sleep well last night so I was up most of the night with him and I think that nap is the only reason I'm able to function today.

Stay tuned for my halloween post tomorrow. I know I'm late, but I was too busy on 1 and 2 to blog this weekend.