headliners from the missing 8 days

1. So it was "the summer of the clean house" after all.
Last Wednesday we officially took our house off the market. If I had known the amount of realtors that would call me begging to take over my listing I may have made a different decision...except it wasn't mine. I could have gone either way, even though I did have a preference, so I finally just told Adam to do what he thought was best. We are here for now, but I know my time is limited. Speaking of which, the thought of packing up my house was so overwhelming that I am determined to simplify. All last week (this is where I've been) I spent decluttering my house. I still have a ways to go, I only got a few rooms done, but purging has felt so good and therapeutic.

2. leaving on a jet plane


Tess flew on a plane, she thinks for the first time, this morning with my parents to visit her "best" cousin Alan and attend his baptism. It was weird saying goodbye to her knowing she'd be taking this adventure without the rest of us (I've never had a child go without me), but I was excited for her. You could tell she felt all grown up, and a little cool, to be going alone. When I spoke to her this afternoon all she said was, "it was awesome". I guess she's having a good time, but she's too busy to talk to me about it.

3. Do over


Megan started kindergarten Monday afternoon. She started asking me at 8:15am when her sisters walked out the door when it was her turn. I told her all morning "in few hours", "in a couple hours", "in one hour", "in 30 minutes", and then when the time came we were late. $%#@! We ran up the hill (missed the line up), but luckily met up with her classmates hanging up their backpacks...and then she was gone. She didn't even look back to say good-bye. Is this what I have to look forward to? I wondered. I saw several moms crying, but there wasn't time for that. Thank goodness for do overs.

4. Seeking motivation
Boot camp is officially over and I'm trying to figure out what to do next. I think I took for granted how easy it was to get a workout in when it was at 6am, especially when someone was counting on me. I am finding it more difficult now that I have to motivate myself. It's not that I haven't done it before, but it's certainly easier said than done.

5. next generation


Monday night I meet up with some high school friends for a BBQ at my friend Christie's home. It was good to see them again...it always is. I don't know what it is about that time in your life, but I will always feel connected to them. Perhaps it has something to do with figuring out who you are and they are the ones going through it with you. Anyway, it has been fun for me to a) see my friends as parents, and b) see our kids interacting together. It's like little versions of us living it all over again. Thanks for hosting Christie and getting us together.

6. lost and found


Found this drawing outside this morning while picking up shoes my girls had left out the night before that they were bound to tell me they couldn't find. I couldn't help, but smile when I saw it. It was exactly what I need to start my day off right.

thursday night classic

My last two years of high school were some of the roughest years of my life, but I don't think a lot of people knew that. I kept myself busy with school activities and tried to pretend that everything was ok, but deep down inside I was struggling to keep myself afloat. I've often wondered why I was so eager to get to collage (I started the summer I graduated) and have since realized I subconsciously needed to get away from everyone and everything that reminded me of those times. I've been disappointed with myself that I let so many good friendships dissolve because I think I really needed them I just didn't know how to ask for help.

With the revolution of Facebook I have recently been able to reconnect with some of my oldest dearest friends. It's been so good to hear what they've been up to and see where their roads have led. A couple weeks ago my friend Jeremy found me. After adding him I told him how I was just driving by Classic Skating and couldn't help, but think of all those Thursday nights we spent there with Christie and Scott. Apparently it struck a chord because the next thing I knew we had made plans and the four of us met at classic skating with our families. We decided it was the first time we had seen each other in about 10 years, although I've seen Scott randomly around town, and it was like nothing had changed. They looked the same, talked the same, and it felt like no time had passed except the fact that they had spouses and children.



It was a crazy night with so many people there, I guess going during dollar night is not the way to do it, but I had such a good time. Our kids even hit if off. Tess is already asking to have a play date with Christie's daughter which thrilled me because Christie is one of my oldest friends (we've been friends since kindergarten & she has a scar on her head to prove it). We left promising to each other we would keep our tradition alive so if I have anything to do with it we will definitely meet up at classic again.

It wasn't until I left that I realized how much those Thursday nights meant to me during those difficult years. So to the three of you...thanks for keeping me from going completely under.


edited to add: I totally forgot to remind all of you who wanted to do the 12of12 challenge to take photos on the 12th because I totally forgot myself until now. I'm just going to use my photos from today and mention in the journaling that it was actually the 13th. I think I need a really big note to remind me next month.