the weekend ramble (it’s back)

There’s been nothing ordinary or routine about this summer so it’s probably to be expected that my writing has been hit or miss too.

And like all of us, I’m actually missing the structures my life normally has – its natural parameters.

In fact, that might be why we parents are going a little crazy as we think and plan for some semblance of school this fall. Of course it’s also the wild unknown and the constant shifting of decisions and game plans by the people we have put in charge of those sort of decisions.

Anyway, I think I’m looking forward to a sort of routine for our family and our days. This teenager business of late nights and late sleeping has me half annoyed all day long. (Never do you feel more like a parent then when you find yourself tempted to say phrases like “Day’s a-wastin'” or “Rise and shine” or “Early bird gets the worm”.)

We are starting our homeschool classes the beginning of August. Lord willing (but for real – LORD WILLING) we will be adding in co op classes and dual enrollment classes and a host of other assorted opportunities after Labor Day or somewhere in between that time.

I feel ready for routine and also I feel completely unprepared – have I even ordered all of this year’s books? Who can know???

This past week was spent living the birthday life. London turned 17. I turned 47. SEVENTEEN. That just feels impossible. But it’s all true – both of those numbers.

On my birthday I invited some friends to join me for Zen Tubing down the French Broad River. The perfect outdoor birthday celebration for this bizarre-o season and its rules and regulations. How have I never done this before? It was seriously so much fun. Despite the rainstorm that pelted us about halfway through the slooooowwwwww float.

The dessert options are out of control at our house right now. Two birthdays back to back will do that to you. We’ve had HenDough donuts, Yogurt Mountain, birthday cakes, peanut butter pie, cupcakes. It’s all entirely too much. Please come take some of the leftovers away from us.

We went roller skating one afternoon to celebrate London. I’m officially too old for these sort of “sports”. I have the bruises on my hand to prove it.

I made myself an appointment for a massage as a birthday gift to me – I didn’t even realize how clever I was to set the appointment after roller skating but I’m grateful for the timing.

Yesterday we drove to Tennessee to meet my brother and his wife so Mosely could spend some time with them this week. And we stopped at the always incredible Max Patch on the drive home.

I’ll never get over how gorgeous that spot is. It’s a goal to camp there. I want to wake up to those views.

We watched the movie Dumplin’. If you haven’t seen it – you really should. I think it’s pretty fantastic. (I think there’s one completely unnecessary F bomb in there – guess they wanted that PG-13 rating. But I really think it’s a great movie.)

I hope you guys had a stellar weekend and that something good is coming your way this week.

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