Weird

I don't often use the word weird, but it pretty much sums up how I am feeling this week. I'm excited to be going on vacation with my family, but I'm dreading the fire drill that will be our quick pivot from r&r to moving the kids back to Madison. I'll have 2 days to do laundry and shop and pack. I'd say we have, but I'm feeling like being completely honest. They mostly seem to think I over prepare and cannot be bothered to be a part of my crazy, yet I know they appreciate when I'm in mama bear mode. I like to leave them ready to slay the semester, but there are times I just about kill myself getting to that point. I know I'm not alone.

It's an oxymoron how much of a tizzy I can get myself into leading up to a vacation. The truth is that we are going to the North woods where we will live in bathing suits by day and sweatshirts by night. There is a very nice grocery store miles away. My cats and house will be in the very best of hands. There's nothing to lose any sleep over, and yet I've slept like crap all week. 

I think I'm ready for vacation. Yeah, I'm definitely ready.

Catching Up

I haven't left the house all weekend. By choice, I have stayed home. Happily at home. Today has been a bit broody and the temps hint of what's to come. The slider is open, but I'm sitting here wrapped in an afghan content with the peace and quiet and even the chill in the air because I know it's not here to stay yet.

Last weekend was very full celebrating our birthday girl. She had a blast at Windmill Beach with friends on Saturday. Lake Michigan was wavy and warm and they swam their hearts out. The water was not quite as inviting when we went for a gloaming family swim last week so we know to celebrate those random few and far between days that are perfect for swimming. I was up early Saturday putting together a picnic lunch. I made a mountain of wraps: buffalo chicken and chicken Caesar, cut a watermelon and an assortment of veggies for hummus. A duo of bars were better suited for the beach than a cake. Lil made sure to bring her birthday tiara. When we arrived to pick them up, they were all waiting outside and the tree house was spotless. They hauled the coolers up from the beach. Have I told you how much I love my daughter's friends? My son's peeps?

The party continued on Sunday. We hosted the fam for another celebration of our best girl. It had to be chicken again because...Lily so we did fajitas and threw an arrachera steak on the grill next to the bird. I made what my 3 claimed was THE Best ice cream cake yet. My girl requested real cream not whip cream, and she was right. She stocked up on flowers, cash and beauty products. Hey 19.

This week was a bit of a blur. We had a very sick kitty which made for a stressful few days. I am so grateful that Finn is back. He had some kind of infection and didn't eat for 6 days. He lost 3 pounds. He weighed 10. Things turned around in the nick of time after 2 vet visits, a couple sleepless nights and lots of prayers.

It's the main reason I have been happy to be home this weekend. I spent time getting things ready for our Northwood's vacation and Lil's apartment move in. Mike went to a reunion of all his high school buddies, Lils was saying goodbye to the first wave of friends back to school, and Ted is in Ohio for a wedding. He finished his last day at Anderson Saturday, received a nice job offer for after his year long masters program, left Thursday for Lakeside and I don't expect to see much of him until Webb Lake.

hello August

On this the first day of what is officially the last month of summer living, I promise to make the most of all thirty-one days. After a week plus of sickness and sloth, I had an epiphany...not otherworldly or uncommon, but striking all the same: summer is ebbing. Soon I will miss the long, hot days and the full, messy house.

Last night Ted was looking for a swim buddy or a tennis partner. Lily said not today and Mike said another night so I offered to hit some balls with him. Sure it was soon to be dusk and, of course, I had no plan for dinner, but I knew this was more important. We weren't out for long, but I'm glad we did it and I think we had some competitive volleys.

Since our match was cut short, we decided to take a walk. The whole fam joined and it was so nice to walk and talk while the fireflies buzzed about. Lils and I finished a game of Egyptian Rat Screw and we scrounged up fixings for late night sammies. I was the last one up. I soaked in the silence and the gratitude of a darn good night.

Tonight is movie night. It's Lily's birthday week so it's her choice. We're going to see a new thriller. It's her genre, and also one we all enjoy. We'll probably have popcorn for dinner and maybe the ice cream cake I made last Saturday for dessert. It's my new thing.

So in 7 days my daughter turns 19 and before month's end I'll be 54. We have a week planned in the Northwoods before we move the kids back to Madison at the end of August. It's going to be a full month. A good full month.