Gut check on the end of summer
Tomorrow is the big day. The kids return to school, and until I'm actually in the classroom, I have the days to myself. I've grabbed a small glass of merlot, and I'm reviewing what I wanted to do, and what we accomplished, and what we did even when we didn't expect it. I've come to realize, this has been the best summer of my life.
What we planned to do:
What we planned to do:
- Go to North Dakota and Canada to see Pattie and her family
- Ride the train for an overnight in St. Louis
- Spend many, many days at Worlds and Oceans of Fun
- Go to the library a lot
- Swim in the pool a lot
- Invite lots of people over for cookouts
- Reconnect as a family
- Well, we didn't get to North Dakota. We got gun shy when the gas prices rose. But Pattie and her family came to our house, and Pattie and I, and our friend Victoria, visited this wonderful "home away from home" for me on the square!
- We ran out of time to ride the train, but we still plan on doing this. I was going to surprise the kids, but time just ran out, so we are saving this for another trip.
- We went to one of the parks at least once a week. And the fun doesn't end just because summer's ending! Wednesday, Donna and I are going to Oceans of Fun WITHOUT KIDS, and Darren and I are doing an adults only Haunted House trip with Scott and Christina when it opens.
- We went to the library at least once a week. In fact, Darren came home from work early one day, and caught us running out the door with our bag o' books, and he joined us. He was kind of shocked how organized we are when we go to the library.
- We have, and will continue to, spend hours in the pool. This kind of solidifies our belief that we need a "real" pool. Hopefully next year!
- I can't count the cookouts! In the last 2 weeks, we've had Darren's parents and Kevin, Victoria, Pattie, her hubby, Darren's sister, and the 8 kids between us. Our grill has gotten a workout, and we couldn't be happier!
- Most importantly, we have reconnected. I have daily alone time with each child and have really reconnected with them. I wasn't shushing them when I was on the phone. We did things TOGETHER, instead of me just plopping them in front of the tv while I worked. We got silly, had fun, and yes, disagreed at times. But all in all, it was the best summer of our lives.
- Darren's estranged sister reconnected with us, and along with her twins, came to our house for a week.
- I would really miss Emily when she repeatedly went to camp.
- Emily would awaken at 5:30 every morning to run Cross Country, and LOVE IT. Nor that I would enjoy sitting in my beloved car reading books and sipping frapucccino while she did it.
- That I would make LOTS of new friends. Christina, Kelley (I know you're reading this! I read yours!), Marley, Becky. It's kind of cool coming out of your shell.
- That I would get a job that I'm excited about.
- That Matt would love piano as much as he does.
- That I would enjoy life this much again
Glad you had such a good summer! I still wish you could've come up here but it's not as exciting as where you are...
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