Peaceful evenings?

I remember the evenings when the kids would go to bed early on school nights and I would fall asleep in front of the tv or reading a book. I think back at how peaceful our evenings were when the kids were younger and after they went to bed. I have been teasing Jason that I wanted him to go out-of-town for business so the kids and I could have cereal for dinner and I could have the house to myself in the evenings. WHAT?!
Jason left this afternoon for a few days. This entire day has been one thing after another....why would I think this evening would be any different. The second he left I started making dinner, then I had to leave to go get Cody from soccer practice. Came home, ate, cleaned up dinner and thought, I'm going to sit down for a few minutes. Yeah right! Not with an 8 year old in the house along with a new puppy! Sam kept begging me to do something or to watch a movie, the dog was running around yelping and chewing on anything and everything and the kids running after her yelling very loudly, "STOP" or "NO!". It is now 8:30. Peyton has Bella outside to go potty, Sam is upstairs reading and Cody is in his room doing homework. How long will the quiet last? Probably until Peyton comes back in with Bella, Sam is done with homework, or Cody decided he needs to come upstairs to chew on ice. I think I will go run a hot bath, put in some earplugs and let Calgon take me away!

Me time!

It's fall! Well, not yet, but kids are going back to school and that is how the saying goes, "the kids start school in the fall". We have had company for a week and they just left this morning. It's been a crazy few weeks with so much to get done, keeping up with housekeeping, errands, end-of-summer "stuff", concerts, company, etc.
I'm sitting here now, listening to my music, getting home-school stuff in order, invoices ready for work, but no one around to interrupt my thoughts and concentration. I only have one thing on the schedule today...Lunch with a great friend! Oh yeah, and early youth group tonight for the scavenger hunt. At least dinner is provided...one less thing I have to think about.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed having company, and I also enjoyed having the kids home for the summer, but it was time to get back into a routine. EVERY time I tried to have quiet time this summer, someone came downstairs to ask me a question, wanted breakfast, etc. I was feeling edgy and grumpy toward the end of summer and I finally realized last week that "things" were getting between me and my relationship with God. So, time to write down what I want in the next few months and really concentrate on them.
1. GOD first
2. Fitness (I really want to focus on feeling better).
The rest of the list I'll have to think on and write down for myself to review.
So, now to go work on these things!