#MicroblogMonday: Clinging to Summer...

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Well, there is no more denying it...the end of summer is upon us.  I have gotten most of Willow's school supplies and need to go through her clothing for the inevitable back to school updates/additions.

Last week I got Michael's "materials list" -- you become a junior in high school and the school supply list gets a new name!  (Oh, and we got his accommodations letter for PSATs and SATs...sigh...)

But...this weekend, we spent time enjoying summer...because it is still summer yet, damn it!!

We went to Cape Cod for a long weekend and it was so relaxing and fun.  We stayed here.  We were very impressed and hope to stay there again next year.  It was right on top of some of our favorite things, so we enjoyed beach time and pool time and some wonderful food too!

The weather was a bit gray at times, but it was perfect for us and we were able to get our little list of favorite things done in our three day mini-vacation!

Friday evening--time for a well deserved MudSlide!

This was very yummy--curried scallops!

That evening--beach preview.

Michael used his arcade tickets well!

Father and son walk on the beach--dad is carrying rocks that Willow found along the walk...she is in the distance...still gathering rocks and stones.

Some rocks that did not make the cut...

still looking for pretty stones, shells

Mini-golf on Sunday

Lots of lobster was eaten.  With Dignity...always Dignity!

The motel had a nice play set and an outdoor pool!

Not all food we craved was seafood!  Yum!

Until next year!!

Feeling Limbo-ish

Waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Stuck in Limbo...

Not sure the next steps...


I spent the weekend in a funk, especially Sunday.  Monday was 20 years since Chewy's dad passed away unexpectedly.  20 years since my Grammie almost came to visit me in my new life, before she had the first of many strokes.

Twenty years and so much has changed, yet stayed the same.  Sometimes I just feel alone...and the losses make me feel even more alone.  Sometimes I feel like I am so overwhelmed and I wish I had someone to carry the burden...and then I realize that the someone who is carrying the burden for others...is me.

Sometimes we just need to catch a break.  Sometimes we do not.  Sometimes we do and we don't know it.

The roller coaster of life...I sometimes love it.  And sometimes I want to get off of it.

(I wonder if I need to be medicated; then I tell myself I do not)

Maybe its seasonal or generational.  I definitely can tell I am having "feeling old" moments, and yet I am young.

I am out of shape, but I am working on getting back my exercise routine.  I am happy but weary.

Things are good...but not great...things could be getting worse.

We have our health (for now, I think)  

We have each other.

The summer is spinning out of control and most of the things I love to do I have not done yet.  (Really, do I have to have a list, must things always be the same/different?)

Well, you know what...there is always time (until there isn't)...

I want to read more, but there seems to be no time...its almost a year since Robin Williams died...is everything going to be all right...why are there so many Republican candidates...why is Elizabeth Warren not running...maybe she will...where is my license plate that I ordered...I am so sick of packing lunches for summer camp.

You know what--she is back in from playing outside.  Her cheeks are red and she is happy and she makes me forget my fears and worries.  There is just now with my little girl...

and it is enough.

Weird Summer

Having vacation right at the start of summer already makes for a strange summer, especially since part of summer is anticipation...but this summer just has been all kinds of weird...

Michael is going to school, as his school is year round.  He has a summer elective and they get 1/2 days on Friday, but it still means that his morning routine is the same.  Which means our routine is the same, really.  He is not the only one eagerly awaiting his two weeks vacation at the end of August!

Willow has been to two different summer camps.

The first one ended last week...it was more of a "Tiger Mom" type camp, where the kids had workshops and classes throughout the day.  Last Friday was Family Day and we got to see what she had been doing for the last 3 weeks.  She had explored science and things that fly...and been part of an actors studio and dance.  For the acting--the kids put on a play.  In the auditorium of the middle school where the camp was held.  On the stage, my bubbly little girl became the shy,stage-frighty girl...she ran crying from the stage.  We comforted her and told her all the actors who have stage-fright, etc.  She ended up going up on stage with the rest of the class and taking her bow.  The bubbly-girl came back in the dance class---she put on her "costume" (they had tie dyed shirts earlier in the class curriculum) and she twisted and twirled and smiled.

For the rest of the summer, Willow will be going to a more "traditional" camp--swimming, field trips, running, jumping, crafts, etc.  Already I can see this is more her speed.  (Monday, her first day, they went on a hike in the woods, ate their lunches and she met a new friend and they found a tree who spoke to them in a tree language that they made up)

Chewy is working from home, which makes it weird too.

Add in our "normal" mix of anxieties from Aspergers/Teen issues, work issues, home and car repair...it just makes for a strange time.

Not to mention, of course, the fact that I cannot wrap my head around the fact that more than 1/2 of this year is over...that my son is almost 16 1/2, my daughter will be in second grade in September...

I need more beach time!  [sigh]

Cape Cod 2015

It wasn't perfect (weather was tricky the first couple of days, almost got killed on the highway when my trunk opened unexpectedly, our first hotel room was impossible for us to stay in, teen angst, etc...)...but our vacation on Cape Cod did indeed pick up and there were some wonderful highlights...

as usual, it was over too fast--and on top of it all, add an unusual July 4th and Chewy's birthday today (July 5th) and Chewy's mother leaving to go back to Michigan after her visiting...we are a bit bittersweet feeling today.

But, we have our memories to look back on!

On a beach in Hyannis--waiting for the weather to be better!

Cape Cod National Seashore Visitors Center.

At Red Barn Pizza in Eastham.

Beach time in Eastham!

Looking at art in Provincetown!

Hanging out with Nonnie in Provincetown.

Finding snails, shrimp and hermit crabs in Provincetown.

Singing to a snail.

Highfield Hall in Falmouth had Fairy Houses!

This fairy house in a tree and has little lobster traps!

Willow looking picture perfect.

Willow and Nonnie looking at a fairy house.

Mini-golf!

Rite of Passage - Stitches!

Willow had a bit of an adventure late afternoon yesterday.  She was playing with a child in her after-school program and was being swung around--and fell to the the floor hard.  On her chin.  With a big gash.

I left work early, expecting to see just a small cut--but...emergency room, three hours and SEVEN Stitches later we were home!

She was a brave girl and now she has survived another Rite of Passage!

Pictures below:

Waiting for the Doctor.

This one is a bit gruesome  (if you want to skip over it, there are more nice pictures):

Owwww!!

The results:

Seven stitches for the Seven Year Old!

Good Job, Willow!

Strawberry Popsicle Reward

Glad it was not too serious and proud of my little girl!

#MicroblogMonday - Camping!

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I took Willow for her first ever camping trip...me and her in a tent, our friend in her camper.  There were campfires, s'mores, late nights, visitors and a little rain.  There was running around playing with dogs, hot dogs on the fire, fishing and watermelon, strawberries, bagels and ice cream.  (All while camping in our friend's woodsy, rural, wonderful backyard)

First Night, S'mores and visitors!

First Morning after spending the night in the tent!

The "Campsite" (another camper came the next night)

Fishing for the first time!

Fascinated by fish

#MicroblogMonday - "Super Mom"

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Accomplishments this weekend -- helping Michael use Nail Polish Remover to remove paint off an old plastic model.

Michael then did the harder part, he took this model apart, removed the paint, then re-painted and reassembled--this is the finished product.

(Who knew that I would use Nail Polish Remover so much after I was an adult and was not forced to wear nail polish--I wait, I am forced occasionally to wear nail polish by my 7 year old!)

Helping Willow with her "popcorn biography" project for her 1st Grade Class (I helped glue the hair):

Its Christa McAullife - spitting image!

The "Super Mom" part came that night--when we had to figure out how to put popped popcorn into the brown paper bag that she is glued to...in a way that the popped corn would not ruin it.  (I thought all I had to do was have her bring in a microwave bag to be popped, but last night (past her bedtime) she informed me that they needed the popcorn already popped!  So, a grocery bag jammed into the small brown bag, cooled popcorn...and a tired mommy (not so tired 7 year old--needs to go to sleep earlier!)

Microblog Monday (On Tuesday)

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Being Social.  Being Social.  It is not my thing usually.  Which is not to say I do not want to spend time with people.  Or that there are times when I lament feeling lonely.  Or that there are times when I have great times with my friends.

But.  Being Social for the sake of doing so--because our son needs help dealing with social situations.  Because our daughter needs to have play dates with other kids her age.  Because we are expected to be there.

I love new experiences, do not really love meeting new people--although I have been pushing myself and my family to be more social.  

It was successful this weekend.  We met with new people, and Michael found someone he "clicked" with - so much so that we met with them again on Monday.  We met up with some not-so-new friends that we have started really enjoying hanging out with and that was fun!  We went to a BBQ on Sunday.

That was what this long weekend was about.  Being Social.  And it was exhausting!!

I need a break from being social now...the introvert in me needs to just be on the couch and read.  

Mother's Day Recap

This is what Michael gave me for Mother's Day.  For a teenage boy, who doesn't always know how to express his emotions--he did so especially well!

Willow also gave me a wonderful gift, a wonderful essay on how I was a Super Mom.  ;-)

Ice cream for breakfast, Chewy's wonderful Hallah French Toast!

Then, Japanese Steakhouse for dinner!

It was relaxing and very much appreciated!

(Next time Laser Tag, though!)

Time Traveling

Tonight we watched the Spongebob Movie (the original).  It was Willow's first time watching.

We haven't watched this movie in years.  In fact, it has been years since we have watched a Spongebob episode.  Until recently.  For some reason, Willow has become interested in it.  And she has the best archive to watch it from....Michael LOVED Spongebob.  He watched every episode he could when he was younger.  He has almost every DVD.  

So, here we are, 11 years later...all watching a movie that most of us have seen multiple times.  And it is wonderful.  And nostalgic.  We remember the time we went took five year old Michael to see it.  We remember the soundtrack being played through out the next year (its actually a great soundtrack).  

Back there in time...and there was our young man there remembering with us, explaining his perspectives.  And then we are brought back to the present...with Willow's peels of laughter.  

I was getting kinda tired of the Spongebob marathons lately....but now....oh, heck...I don't mind.  They are only young once...

Thanks, Spongebob!

On your Birthday...Seven years

Aside: Right now you and your brother are playing an old x-box Spongebob game--being silly and cute and I could not have any more clearer reason why I so wanted/needed you in our lives--the sibling that you are being right now...what you bring out in your brother that is especially needed in him...I cannot express how much I love that.

Yesterday you turned Seven Years Old.  I took the day off and you and I had a mother/daughter day.  It was wonderful to spend time with you and listen to your ideas and thoughts on the world you know.  We went out for breakfast with your brother, you got a mani/pedi, we went and bought you clothes at the mall, we went shopping and hung out.  We finished the day up by picking up daddy and going to see the new Cinderella movie.

Today was your birthday party.  We went to a jumping/bouncing gym.  We had pizza, snacks and Cake.

Within the past 48 hours, you have asked me about adoption, death, American Girl dolls and their comparative ages.  You have read and re-read cards and books and laughed and giggled.  You have bounced and eaten enough sugar to continue bouncing.  You have played with friends large and small at the party, then went to the playground, then came home and played with the neighbor kids...and now you are playing a video game long after you should be to bed.


You have also shown your wonderful, selfless side to me.  Last night, we picked up your cake...and one of the cats squished parts of it.  As I was ready to panic, ready to take it back to the bakery to get fixed...you calmly said that you did not really care about the cake anyway--that the party the next day was more about playing with your friends and that was all that mattered.  It was a very mature and wise thing to say.  And I was all the more happy to bring this cake to the party.

No cats were harmed, although I was thinking about it....Luckily, there was a centerpiece that covered up the worst parts.

Willow, you show this side more often than not.  You are such a kind and generous soul.  You love and are loved.  You are dramatic, you are silly, you are anxious and you are wonderful. I love hugging the stuffing out of you.  The amount of growth I have seen in you amazes me and I am so proud of the little girl you are becoming, so grateful to have you in our lives.

Achievements

Michael went to a birthday party this weekend.  With other kids his age.  Dare I say, friends.  This is huge.  After almost two years of suck...it is great to see him making friends again!

Willow is reading and writing and has been singing songs from Annie.  She also has ambitions, which she shared with her teacher..

Proud of my kiddos!