Summer Vacation 2009

I'm never good at posting pictures, but I'm going to try.






This is where we've been and what we've been up to. Pictures from top to bottom:
The Lodge from the front. Dad sleeping. Paul and Robyn doing a puzzle. Sunset over the lake. A boat ride (one of the few). Paul and Jackson reading. Emma making s'mores (notice her marshmallow is on fire). Sitting on the steps down to the lake - I asked for a good picture.

We had a good time and good weather most of the week. Sad to be home and back in the groove.

Entitlement

I hope I spelled the title right. It's late and I should really go to bed but I needed to write this before we left for vacation.

Last night I volunteered at Paul's work for their 4th of July Art Bash. The theme this year was "Surf's Up" and I was in charge of the Sugar Shack. It was a very creative job (ha!). I handed kids bags and they filled them with candy. I must add that Paul's work is in a very elite area not too far from here. The people who live there tend to have WAY too much money and believe that entitles them to anything and everything. I was appalled at the number of parents who kept coming back to take more and more candy -- three and four of each item and then were disgusted when the candy was gone and they couldn't get more. Really, how could that be?

The event was a ton of fun. They did tye dye, made necklaces with sea glass, did prints with shells and many other art things. The food was amazing -- chowder that was so rich and creamy, s'mores and so much else that I should have avoided eating all day today. Then we watched the fireworks. When they were over we had popcorn and watched Beach Blanket Bingo. Okay, I helped Paul clean up but others watched. Paul had started work at 9 a.m. so at 11:00 p.m. when the fireworks were ending, I felt that he needed some assistance. Many hands make light work, right? We got home around 12:30. A long day for Paul.

On that note, we're packing and organzing and gathering our stuff in order to go up north this week. We're so excited to be full of s'mores, campfires, trips on the boat and hopefully warm weather and sun.

Talk to you when we return.

Happy Birthday & Anniversary

(Paul & Bob many years ago)

Sending lots of love to my darling husband on his birthday! Happy Birthday honey!

This is also the third anniversary of our first "date." It was three years ago today that Paul and I went out with a group of my friends to play pool and hang out. Paul arrived at my houses after I sent him a text to wish him a happy birthday. Emma was gone, it was a Friday, and I was going out. I couldn't exactly leave him alone on his birthday so I invited him to go along with me. He announced somewhere in the course of the evening that he'd given up smoking and drinking for his birthday. It made the whole bar scene a little tricky but we had a good time playing pool. It was the first of many nights to come. I just didn't know it yet.

It happened overnight

My child has turned into a teenager. I thought I had a few more months until she turned 13 apparently not. Yesterday she was grouchy and unreasonable and (as usual) everything had to be on her time frame. She was snarky and disrespectful and (wait for it) bitchy. Yikes! And then last night after spending much of the day at a birthday party and then at dinner with the fam she took to her room with the door closed to talk on the phone. Ugh!

My baby is a teenager. And I'm not tremendously happy about it.

Coversations in the night

Now that Emma’s out of school it’s frequent that the only time we have alone to chat is when we go to bed. Last night Paul worked until 11:30 but we still had to chat a bit when he came in. After chatting for about ten minutes and realizing I was falling asleep on him, the following exchange occurred:

P: I’m turning over. Sometimes I just like sleeping on my left side. Don’t worry I’m not mad at you.
J: (Pause) I didn’t think you were.
P: Sometimes you ask if I am when I turn over.
J: I only think that if I already suspect you’re mad at me and aren’t saying anything
P: I’m rarely mad at you. Except when I am but it’s not often. I mean, I’m almost never mad at you. Except occasionally. I mean, I’m never mad at you.
I couldn’t help myself, I had to add:
J: Except when you are.

And then I gently reminded him that it’s okay to tell me when he’s mad at me. It’s hard for me to really know if he doesn’t tell me.

The story of my life these days!

In my past life I was a stickler for time. I hated to be late. Now, while I still hate it, it's becoming something that happens frequently. And it still drives me a little bit batty but I can't seem to overcome it.

Yesterday was take your child to work day. It's Emma's last year and she had a good time. Honestly, I think she was bored during parts of it but it was better than hanging out at home watching television (which I reminded her today she would NOT be doing all summer). They had a comedy group coming in from Second City and do some improv, a bakery come in and do cupcake decorating and many other fun activities. I now have a sunflower growing in a pot on my desk. Good fun.

When we got home, I was exhausted. I demanded pizza for dinner (those $5 aren't always what they're cracked up to be) and wanted to collapse. Emma needed to be driven to a friend's house so after a brief reprieve I drove her. When I returned I had all the energy in the world (or so you would have thought). I finally planted my flowers which have in turn responded with joy at no longer baking on the front law in their pots from the store, weeded four different patched of land, marvelled at a large toad and gave some much needed water and attention to my vegetable garden. I'm a bit ashamed that it was June 23 and I was just finally planted my flower gardens but what can I say? It's the story of my life these days.

Almost there

Tomorrow is Emma's last day of school. I know, some of you have been out for weeks but we do things a little differently in Michigan. I took the day off. Honestly, I have been feeling a lot burnt out lately and just needed a day at home with my family to recover but I also wanted to spend some time with my girl. Of course, as my tween does, she has had a better offer. She did agree to have lunch with me but then she's off to play. I'm actually good with it. I'll get her off to school, pick her up and have lunch and still have some me time. Or some us time (with Paul). It's truly amazing to me how fast this school year has gone. My baby is almost a 7th grader. I can't believe it. She's changed a lot in the past nine months. She's really grown up. She made the honor roll every quarter and is really taking a liking to school. And boys. :)
The picture above is from her first day of school. The last day of school picture is to come.

So, think of me as it rains in MI. I'm actually hoping to get my flowers planted. I'm a lot slow this year (and I feel like I've said that before). for now, I'm off to bed.