Single digits in June

My favorite part of the summer is the single digits in June.  The summer feels so expansive and open and way out in front of us.  I like it that way!  Catherine and Thomas don't go back to school for almost 10 weeks, and for Robert (attending a vo-tech school this year) it is nearly nine weeks.  Love, love, love.

I know that reality is this summer, just like all of time, is going to fly.  The reality is that after this summer, we only have one more summer with all three kiddos here at home.  With Robert wanting to join the military, there is no guarantee what the summer after his graduation will bring.  It just seems so hard to believe how quickly this time has flown by.

Problem Solving

Yesterday Catherine informed me of a "crisis" in her room involving a large "icky" spider.  I asked if she needed help (suspecting that she did given her word choices) and Thomas volunteered to come to the rescue.  I walked away to do other things, and was informed later that the "crisis" had been handled.  I walked past her room and asked her to put away the flashlight and masking tape.  I'll be honest, I was confused about how the masking tape had been used in dealing with the spider, but thought I might not want to know.  It turns out that Thomas realized he was going to have to smash the spider with his shoe, and didn't want spider guts all over his shoe.  He decided to "rig" his shoe by taping masking tape to it.  Problem solved!  Andrew and I were very amused!  It's the best problem solving he's done in a long time!

Back at home and to reality

We arrived home from our vacation about 10:00 Sunday night.  We had gotten a later start that morning than I wanted to, and there was some rain along the way that added time.  We unloaded the vehicle, and while everyone was still a little wound up, I told the kids they needed to get to bed.  Swim practice began bright and early yesterday morning.  Andrew is taking the kids and then goes on a bike ride, and I enjoy some quiet time in the morning.  And what absolutely gorgeous mornings they are!  It could not be more beautiful, and in fact should be fabulous all day.

The other reality we had to deal with upon returning yesterday was that our TV had stopped working.  Just three weeks ago we had purchased a stove because our other one was on its last leg, and in April it was our washing machine.  This is getting to be ridiculous.  Again though, we are grateful that we are able to fix these things, although it would be nice if the money could stay in savings.  Such is life, and we are still blessed to have that savings!  Anyway, Andrew went and purchased our new TV yesterday afternoon.  Because we are "low-tech, not fancy" people, we were able to buy a very basic model at a reasonable price.  Nice to be able to watch TV again!

I know our summer is going to be busy and life isn't going to be "peachy-keen" every day, but I'm still grateful for a slower pace of life!

Last week's vacation

This might be a long post that no one wants to read.  And that's okay, because really, it is just for our memories!

Last week's vacation was amazingly relaxing.  Andrew and I both commented on how much our family needed it, and we are so grateful that we were able and had the opportunity to make it happen.  The kids all got along, Robert laughed along with us, and it just felt as though we were all working together, instead of against each other.  The kids all really enjoyed it as well.

We stayed further north than we've ever stayed before, and it had some pros and cons.  Everything was pretty newly built where we were, and it also gave us the opportunity to try some restaurants we'd never tried before.  Sadly, we weren't overly thrilled with any of them, but none of them were awful...just overpriced.  I know many do vacation on a budget by staying in and cooking dinner at the rental house, but that's not our style.  For Andrew and I (especially me who doesn't like to cook) the best part of vacation is eating out.  Our favorite meal was Thursday evening at a place called Owen's.  It was recommended to us before we made our first trip to the Outer Banks (this is our fifth), and it is the only restaurant we've eaten at every time we've been there.  It is truly fabulous, and has enough selections that we could probably eat there more than once during the week...we just can't afford to do so!  Everyone loved that meal.  We also found a cute little cafe in Rodanthe.  We were going to make the trek down to Hatteras, the roads were flooding and with more rain the forecast it was making me nervous (the downside to being on the island while a tropical depression is in the area).  We turned around and found this little roadside restaurant.  I had a fabulous hot dog (nothing fancy, but SO good) and Andrew had the best fish tacos ever.  He even said that was his favorite thing he ate all week.  We had ice cream a couple of times, and discovered a soundside boardwalk had been built in the five years since we'd been there.  That was awesome for our shopping on Wednesday.  We were all at the beach together Tuesday morning, and Andrew took the kids back again on Saturday.  We took our bikes down, and Andrew got up and rode many days.  Robert went with him in the rain on Monday, and Thomas rode with him to breakfast on Saturday.  Thomas also had his first road crash that morning as he came too close to a trashcan, but fortunately the car he was trying to get out of the way for gave him a very wide berth.  The tiny pool at our rental house was too cold for us, but the bigger community pool was a little warmer and Thomas especially enjoyed spending some time there.  Friday morning Robert and Andrew rented kayaks and spent some time out on the sound.  We all spent lots of time in the rental house's hot tub, and the kids enjoyed the xbox and watching TV.  We visited two lighthouses, and all-in-all, just really enjoyed our time together.  There truly are not words to express our gratitude for this blessing!

Last night at the ocean

We are leaving tomorrow to head home.  I won't lie...I'm ready to be in my own bed again.  I have absolutely loved being here this week, but I am ready to be home.  It's raining this evening (again) and I don't mind, but I'm ready to head out and to get home.

Next week I'll write about all of the fabulous memories we made on this trip.  This has been, hands down, my favorite vacation we've ever taken.  It has been so amazingly relaxing.  Part of it is the fact that my kids are older, part of it is that we've been completely on our own schedule and it's just been us to worry about, and part of it is that we just NEEDED this time away.  Robert seems to recognize that as well, and he's treasured the week as well.

Robert's work will start back up, and twice daily swim practices begin for our family on Monday.  I have financial reports due this week for my job, and Robert has rehab as well as another doctor appointment, and needs to work on his summer school.  We are back to "normal" this week, although our summer normal is still better more relaxed than school year normal.  I am so absolutely thrilled that we have begun our summer this way.  It's been awesome!

The Cardinal

This vacation has been one of many firsts.  It is the first vacation we've taken completely on our own, it was the first vacation we've taken of this length since we've moved to our new town, and it is the first vacation we've taken since my dad died...which makes it the first vacation we've taken without worrying about an ill parent at home.  In fact our last beach vacation three years ago was one where I wasn't even sure he would be around when we returned, and as we were close to home my mom let me know Dad was being hospitalized.  I miss him so, so much.  Just as when I'm home, there have been so many things happen that I want to pick up the phone and tell him something, but I can't do that.

Every morning this week, there has been a red cardinal that has been here on the top deck and has been trying to get into the house.  It has been such a constant that it has been comforting, although I am a little worried that it keeps flying into the windows!  I know it is said that a cardinal is the spirit of a deceased loved one, and Thomas mentioned that as well.  I think it might be my dad, reminding us that he is always with us no matter where we are.  It's been very comforting.

It's been a great week

This has been such a fabulous week for our family.  We've had two very, very rainy days with Tropical Storm Bonnie, but they were early and then in the middle of the week.  Yesterday was a pretty miserable day though, but we got out and had the best dinner of the entire week.  Owen's is our favorite restaurant and is the only place we've eaten every time we've been here.  I refuse to eat there early in the week because I'm always afraid the rest of the food will be downhill after that!  We've had lots of hot tub time, and pool time, and shopping, and it's just been fabulous.  I am so grateful our family has had this opportunity!