The end of another July

As relaxed and laid back as June felt, July felt equally speedy.  In just twelve days, Andrew will be back at work and the kids will begin the following Monday.  While I am kind of ready for a routine and definitely ready for some quiet alone time, I am not ready for the rigorous routine that the fall will bring.  In addition to the craziness of last year, we will now have Robert's work schedule to work around as well.  I don't look forward to him getting off work at 10:00 in the evening on school nights, but there will undoubtedly be some of those.  We will make it all work. 

Catherine decided not to run cross country this fall.  She simply refused to run during the school year, and when pressed she announced that she didn't enjoy running the distance.  She enjoyed track, but not this.  I announced that if she didn't enjoy it then it seemed ridiculous for me to pay $100 for her to participate, and she informed us it was about being with her friends.  I pointed out to her that there were many after school activities that are FREE with which she could be involved that would allow her to still spend time with friends, and I also pointed out that because her best friend (who happens to live right here in the neighborhood) didn't run cross country, they pretty much never saw each other last fall.  Ultimately the decision was hers, and she decided not to run.

We are hosting a family reunion on Sunday...lots to get done!

Living amongst the wildlife

I am not sure that I am really cut out to live in the woods.  I have seen several raccoons this summer trying to eat the outdoor cats' food.  Robert, Thomas, and our dear friend Madelyn also told me about the skunk that was in our back yard one evening when Andrew and I were out to dinner.  We currently have fruit flies thanks to some bananas I had forgotten about, and we have the tiny sugar ants on a daily basis.  So regularly in fact, that we basically have just come to accept that nothing seems to work and they live here.  We've had a frog visit our back patio.  We've also had a flying ant infestation this summer for some unknown reason (and yes, I am certain they are NOT termites) and frankly, I am just absolutely sick of it all!!!!!  I was beginning to think that I am REALLY not cut out to live amongst the wildlife, but nearly two weeks ago an incident changed my mind.  Robert was in Detroit on a church trip, and Andrew had taken the other two to go visit his parents.  It was around dinner time, and I happened to look out into the back yard, and there was a doe and her baby.  It was so awesome!  I ran to get the camera, but they were more interested in getting into the woods, where I'm sure they felt it was safer.  They are such beautiful creatures!

One night away

Several weeks ago, some friends of ours from our former town suggested we take a night and get away together.  Since it was only one night it would have to be close, and they even agreed to cash in points they had earned in order to help pay for our room.  The 24-hour window they chose even meshed with our schedule!  We made arrangements for my cousin's fiance (who lives here in town) to stay overnight with the kids, and my mom was willing to be a back up in case she had to work during part of the time.  Every thing worked out perfectly though, and Sunday afternoon (right after the band buses pulled away) we were on the road for our hour drive.  Honestly, the timing could not have been more perfect!  It has been forever since we've laughed that much, and all-in-all, it was just great to get away.  We came home yesterday afternoon, retrieved the younger two from my aunt's house (my cousin had taken them there to swim), picked Robert up from work, and then had no where to be for the rest of the day.  It was nice to just relax and enjoy the rest of the day before we start gearing up for a family reunion we are hosting this week!

One of those things your mind forgets so you are willing to do it again

On Sunday afternoon, nearly 80 high school students loaded three buses and headed south to band camp.  The week leading up to that, well, GRRRR.  I had forgotten from the previous summer how crazy the week leading up to camp had been for me, and because of that I agreed to some additional responsibilities making it even crazier!  I got to the point that I was actually counting down the hours until the kids were on their way.  I am so very grateful that  is done for another year!

Our Most Improved Swimmer

Last evening was the year end banquet for the summer swim team.  I wasn't able to be there because it was also the family potluck picnic for the marching band, so it was an evening of divide and conquer.  Andrew went with the younger two, and shortly after I arrived home I received a text that Catherine had been named "Most Improved Swimmer" for her age group!  I was so excited and so proud of her!  She was especially determined the last couple of weeks, and the head coach told Andrew last evening that she was a unanimous decision...the coaches didn't even discuss anyone else.  We are so excited for her, and very proud!

Wisdom teeth gone

Robert had his wisdom teeth removed Monday.  Overall it went well, although I don't think he was prepared for the discomfort he would feel.  He has not been in a great deal of pain, but he's pretty much been uncomfortable ever since.  He's not bouncing back as he wanted to, but overall it wasn't a horrible experience.  One down, two to go!

Summer swim season wrap up

We have been BUSY around here...and I'm ready for it to slow down.  Seeing as how school starts in about three weeks, that probably isn't going to happen though.

This week brought the end of swim season.  Our league allows everyone to participate in the championships as long as they participated in at least two meets during the season.  Both Catherine and Thomas wanted to do this, so we signed them up.  The week prior, Catherine had cut 26 seconds off the time for one of her strokes, and we knew they were heading in to championships swimming as well as they ever had.  They were each entered in three events, and in their final swim meet of the season, they each had an event where they managed to beat someone.  In fact, Catherine managed to win her heat in her final event.  It was the "JV" heat so it was against other traditionally slow swimmers, but she got to touch the wall before anyone else in the pool.  What a great way to finish the season!