End of an Ups and Downs Week

     I'll recap the week tomorrow- have been popping things in to remember as the week went along. I can say this week had a lot of ups and downs, and just "moments" that don't fit either place, but were "just life". 

Ups:

• The fence got completed!
• Mother's Day lunch was nice, though overwhelming a bit. It was a beautiful day and I saw all the kids because my daughter got an earlier flight home. 
• A project at work finally is able to move onto the next steps. It's been a major stress point and while a lot of work is ahead, there's a path finally. 

Downs 

• My older daughter either drove over, or something was already in her tire, but it went flat and couldn't be repaired. Another unplanned expense after she had a bit of a fender bender a few months ago. Not a great way to ease back after vacation.
• Speaking of her vacation, while Zion and the hiking were spectacular she shared the yoga retreat itself was a bust. No daily classes, four women in a bunk room, with a single bathroom for 8 people. Others who had been on previous retreats with same studio said this was not the norm, and were very dissatisfied considering the cost. 
• My younger daughter had a follow-up periodontic appointment and will need more oral surgery. The poor kid. It's just pure genetic bad luck, nothing that could have prevented her issues. 
• I should have known this. My husband should have known this, but we don't have house numbers right on our house and it's a code violation. The fence inspector from the city called it out immediately so I'm sure I'll get a letter to remedy ASAP. She's a former neighbor, wife of an old highschool friend, but loves, loves, loves, to ding people. My husband called her a want to be cop. My son will take care of this over the weekend, but still bothered me. The first thing she said- no good morning, no how are you, was "did you recently reside your house, because you don't have house numbers showing."  I know we can't control other people's behavior, but it was so cold. Her husband is one of the friendliest, good hearted persons I know. He checks in every so often and was one of the first people I heard from after my husband died. They are an odd pair; she never socializes with his close or extended friends. It made the whole morning a bit sour. 

Just Life

• Pup had his sedated groom with all his due vaccines plus annual and senior dog exams. Plus, he'll need some teeth cleaning and likely tooth extraction.I might need to take out a mortgage to cover all the fees and tests Overall, he's healthy, just getting old at 13. His breed/ mixed breed typically live past 16 so we've got more good years ahead with care. It's what we sign up for when bringing pets into our family. 
• I noticed either a wasp or hornet flailing about the back steps- neither appreciated. I was horrified to look up and see a nest was forming hanging from the doorway. I don't advocate killing things outside, but I can't have the entry to and from the house a hornets nest. My son dealt with it, and possibly to make me feel better, said he didn't really see any other insects. Now, I'm going to be on the look out to see where others form. 

     Life is just like this. I try to just listen and support my kids, and request the same. I feel like we're a team of four, and together we'll experience the ups and downs of life. Hopefully the ups will include expanding our little team with more caring people. I never thought at my age, my kids ages, we'd be such a small family still, but I have to appreciate how lucky I am, we are, to have each other.