A new phase

Tonight, Thomas is sleeping in his new apartment for the very first time.  Last evening he FaceTimed us after he had gotten the keys and gave us a quick tour.  I think he is sleeping on an air mattress and living out of his suitcase, but still he's sleeping there tonight.  I'm excited him, but it still made my heart happy to hear him say he'd be "home" this weekend to spend some more time packing things in his room.  I know we will see him lots, and he's already been off to college for a year, but this is certainly more permanent.

Yesterday was also the day that Joey Votto retired.  I won't lie, it made me a little sad, but I'm glad he went out on his own terms.  We were at his last home game last year, and it was so very special.  I didn't realize it was also the game where he had his last Major League hit.  I am so, so grateful for all of the memories he helped to create for my family, including last year's game.  He was a great role model for kids, and I hope that his days in the public eye aren't yet over.

Life brings changes, but I'm grateful to be a part of them!

The last one for a very long time

I didn't sleep well at all Sunday night.  However, the weather turned very fall-like beginning yesterday, and the weather for sleeping last night could not have been more perfect.  It was chilly but not cold, and I was exhausted and looking forward to a great night of sleeping.

As I crawled into bed, I couldn't help but think to myself how happy I was to have all four of us sleeping at home under my roof.  Neither of the kids had to work today and it all just felt so peaceful.  And suddenly it dawned on my, how very, very few of those nights are left.  In fact, tonight might very well be the last one.  Although Thomas will still be here tomorrow, Catherine will be heading back to her apartment in the evening.  I can't deny that that I am looking forward to some very quiet evenings in the future with just Andrew and myself, but I also can't deny that I have loved, absolutely loved, all the evenings our little family has shared.  We have made great memories together, and I'm so thankful.  I know there are still so many fun times ahead, but I also know that things are changing, and things will be different.

Sunday evening we had a lovely dinner together as a family, and Thomas brought along his girlfriend.  We ate at the lodge out at the state park and then we took some pictures in front of the lake.  I knew someone else there, and they kindly helped us out with the pictures.  We even went for ice cream after, and we had fun sharing the evening with our adult kiddos.

I'm so grateful for these days!

A first day we will remember

Today, both Andrew and I had students for the first day of school.  I was exhausted and drained by 9am, but I am glad that the students have returned.  I was also ready to leave by 2, but that wasn't an option today.  I'm gonna miss those summer hours, but I'll enjoy the school-year paychecks.

My little neighbor attends our preschool, and oh she makes me laugh.  My favorite part of the day was walking over and visiting the preschool classroom.  The little ones are so cute.

The best part of the day happened after school though.  Thomas was approved for renting his own apartment.  He'll be living about an hour away, but it's near all of our friends so I'm not worried.  This is a move he really NEEDED to make, as his job requires him being there between 5 & 5:30am, and it's over an hour drive from our house.  I'm excited for him, and although I know this is a big end of an era, I'm really proud of him.  When he found out he was approved, he ran into the kitchen and grabbed me in a big hug.  It makes my heart full!  I'll always remember this special part of today! 

French Lick Resort

Earlier in the year, Andrew and I had decided we weren't going to take a family vacation.  We had to purchase new windows due to a homeowner's insurance inspection, and then we agreed to help Thomas by paying for his new engine that he needed this spring.  Either expenditure would've been more than we would spend on a vacation, let along both of them occurring in the same year.  On top of that, Andrew was taking his 50th birthday trip with his high school friends to Montana.  I had decided we would just take a bunch of overnight trips and enjoy a day here and there.  However, as the summer began, I realized I was really sad that I wasn't taking a trip.  I had always wanted to visit this resort in Indiana.  I love vacations where we can park when we arrive and not have to leave again.  The best part (as far as I was concerned)?  It was less than a four hour drive.  Andrew would tell you the best part was that we could bring Abby.  I had planned to stay two nights, but Andrew convinced me we should stay a third night...and I'm so, so glad we did!

When we arrived we literally parked the car and didn't see it again until Wednesday.  The place was enormous, and absolutely gorgeous.  Dinner our first night was at this amazing steak restaurant right down the hall from our room.  The waitress chuckled when we ordered chocolate martinis as our dessert, but that was exactly what we wanted.  We spent the evening walking around locating things throughout the hotel and walked to the casino.  We were fish out of water there!

Monday morning we got up and had the buffet that was really good.  We then decided to go back to the room and take a nap, because that is what vacation is about!  After a couple of hours we headed to the adult pool and the poolside bar where we spent another couple of hours until it was time to catch the shuttle to dinner at a golf course.  To be honest, it wasn't the greatest meal.  We decided to spend the evening at the Casino, where we laughed a lot because we didn't have a clue what we were doing!  We ended up spending about $12 there, but then we realized the Reds were on the giant screen and decided to have a drink and watch some of the game, then we headed back to the room and ordered a bottle of wine from room service.

Tuesday morning we started with coffee, then we took the shuttle over to the other hotel named the West Badin.  It was just as amazing as the French Lick hotel but very different architecture.  We had a lovely lunch in the atrium and walked the grounds.  The gardens at West Badin were really beautiful.  We took the shuttle back to our hotel, and decided it was nap time again!  We didn't have specific dinner plans, but we decided we'd grab something small, then head to the casino.  We really didn't plan to gamble, but our plan was to have some drinks and watch the Reds game again.  Unfortunately, it ended up being postponed, so we went back to the room and ordered another bottle of wine from room service.

It was a perfect little trip with just the right amount of time.  I felt relaxed, and I appreciated that the kids were at home to handle the cats.  While we splurged on meals and desserts and drinks, I was grateful that we didn't spend a lot on gas, and since we were able to go Sunday-Wednesday, the lodging wasn't overly expensive.  I'm so, so grateful that we took a few days to get away, just the two of us (and Abby too)!  And I'm also very grateful that we already made reservations for an ocean vacation next year!

And now it's been another three weeks

With the passage of another three weeks, we are here at the last weekend of summer.  I'm looking forward to having a regular routine again.  I can't lie though, I do wish that my regular routine didn't have me getting up quite so early.  And as I told Andrew, those Friday afternoons are going to be really rough.  I worked very few Fridays this summer, and most Thursdays I was out of there no later than 2pm.  I appreciate the more laid-back and flexible schedule of the summer, but I will also appreciate the nicer paychecks of the school year!

Andrew and I had a wonderful trip three weeks ago, but I'll write about that in a different post.  There have been a few other things happening as well, like the Olympics, but again, other posts.

I can write though, that this last weekend in summer has been very fall-like, and I'll happily take that!