My kids are out of school, at long last; this year was a killer. Not because it was a bad year, really, but just because it was hard. Third grade homework nearly did me in me, you all. Truly.
Also I am totally over making lunches. By last week, I was letting Charlie pack his own lunchbox, which meant that he was pretty much going to school with a juice box, some CheezeIts, and a Luna Bar every day. Whatever. At least it was a Luna Bar and not a PopTart (although at the end there, I would have let him do that if he had wanted).
(I promise we’re going to eat healthy this summer. Somehow it’s having to actually make the lunches at 6 am that squashes both my creativity and my will to live. Making lunch at a decent hour, like noon? Not a problem!)
This summer, I am going to have flowers on my desk all the time.
Yesterday was our first full day of summer. We met Rita and the kids for donuts and then played at the bookstore for a while; Rita wasn’t feeling well so Will came home with us (and rode in the third seat of my car which is apparently the Most Awesome Thing EVER) and entertained the boys while I worked. After lunch (made by my children, thankyouverymuch) we watched the first Harry Potter movie, which we haven’t seen in so long that both boys had forgotten the plot, so it was like a whole new movie. Then the boys jumped on the trampoline with Will while Rita and I lounged on the porch and laughed at the baby, and then the boys and I came home and had dinner and baths while Wade went riding. Then the boys read together in bed for a while and we all fell asleep at a decent hour.
Not a bad first day of summer.
This is the part of summer I like the most, these first two weeks; we’re excited to be out of school, the weather is still relatively good, the kids are happy to hang out at home or at the pool, and we’re not on each other’s nerves yet. YET. Of course, in two weeks, when we’ve had enough together time, camp will start and save us all.
I ran three miles this morning, in the rain (ok actually, I didn’t run the entire way, I did what Chris calls “walunning,” which is a Couch to 5K thing where you run some/walk some — either way, I covered three miles in 33 minutes, IN THE RAIN, so go me). I’m using an iPhone app called RunKeeper to track my time and distance, and while I love it, it means that I can’t mess with my iPod while I run — I have to start the music and then start the app and then leave the whole thing alone until I’m done walunning.
So I’m kind of at the mercy of the shuffle function on my iPhone to keep me moving for that three miles. I finally got around to actually creating a playlist for my runs, because the iPhone kept trying to make me run to “Hallelujah,” which is a beautiful song (especially the KD Lang version) but not exactly what you want to hear when you’re slogging up that last big hill. Ironically, of course, my running music is almost all songs from 20 years ago, which was the last time I ran regularly (although back then I was carrying a WalkMan with a cassette tape in it, which really makes me feel old, I’ll tell you what).
This morning, I was tired and it was raining and the whole process of getting the kids ready for school nearly did me in (SIX MORE MORNINGS AND THEN IT’S SUMMER THANK YOU JESUS). So when I left to run, I wasn’t really hoping for much.
But today, my iPod totally came through, choosing the perfect balance of inspirational rainy day music with a runnable beat. Thank god.
1. “Closer to Fine,” Indigo Girls
2. “Call Me Al,” Paul Simon
3. “Bad,” U2 (the live version, of course)
4. “Summer of Love,” B52s (”Orange popsicles and lemonade …”)
5. “Waterloo,” Abba
What’s on your personal playlist today? You know, other than “Waterloo,” because there’s no way you’re getting that out of your head now. You’re welcome!
Thanksgiving seems like the perfect day for a Grace in Small Things post, doesn’t it?
Today I am thankful for my family and friends (of course), for snow, for turkey, for fast WiFi, for comfortable shoes and a warm sweater dress. I’m thankful to be starting my day at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, and thankful that I will end it at home with my babies.
Your turn — what are you thankful for this year?
Want to see what I’ve been up to this morning? Check out the Butterball blog for live updates and photos!
