More Hiking with Grandma and Grandpa!

So, last week James, Matthew and Grandma and Grandpa headed down to Big Sky for another falls hike while I headed off to work (more about that in a second I promise!)

Ousel Falls were apparently gorgeous

And Sky and June enjoyed their hike

Matthew and Grandpa stopped trailside for a little snack

But Matthew mostly enjoyed walking around with grandma and grandpa.

Grandma helping Matthew with his jacket after a morning walk with the dogs

Matthew's a very serious reader

Well, maybe not all the time :-)

It was great to have grandma and grandpa visit and we can't wait to see them again next weekend! It's been two crazy weeks at our house. I love staying at home with Matthew but as he's gotten older I've been struggling with my own professional identity. In an ideal world I'd pour myself into volunteering, but it's hard to volunteer with a mobile toddler and it's not exactly fiscally responsible for me to hire a babysitter while I volunteer. Because I do love being with Matthew so much and he's getting to be such a fun age, I also knew that if I were to take on a part-time job it had to be challenging to me professionally and intellectually to make it "worth" giving up those few hours a week with him.

So, after half-heartedly perusing part-time job postings for a while, I found one job that not only truly excited me, it excited me enough to brush off my resume and write a cover letter, which no other job had done. In a whirlwind Tuesday to Tuesday, I submitted my resume, interviewed, accepted and started work. I'll be the concert and event coordinator for the local symphony. It's very similar to the job I had at the music department at UVA which I loved.

I'm crushed that I'll be missing the symphony's first concert this coming weekend, but they were understanding when they hired me and it's all for a good cause as we head off for a whirlwind weekend soon to celebrate Bert's wedding . . . on a boat! I'll be working a bit this week and then when we get back I'll start with 2 1/2 days and 1 full day a week while little dude heads off to his first daycare/preschool. Yikes!