Thursday, August 13, 2009

Back to Normal. Sort of.


The oldest, she is gone back to her city of schooling and once again there is routine trying to work itself back into my days. Well, as much routine as summer months will allow. As as much as my missing her incredibly will allow. As much as my wanting her back here will allow.
I must say I am exhausted! LOL. Mental note for next year, she and I have to try much harder to work out our holidays so that I can have the time off for when she is here. Between trying to keep dayhome kids fairly quiet and yet amused for a bit longer in the mornings to cooking all her favorite meals to doing extra activities all bunched into a few days to staying up way too late each night trying to cram in every minute of visiting that we could, I am t-i-r-e-d!

Oh but we had some fun. We got her caught up on all the Amazing Race episodes that she has missed. I was reminded how much we enjoyed watching those together. She visited with all the grandparents and got some good time in with them. Friday night, because the boyfriend had come with her, I called a girls night out and took her and her sister to see "Julie and Julia", which was a delightful film, btw, all about food and blogging, no less. It did have the Hollywood requisite of one unforseen f-bomb and a crude joke, which by today's standards for anything coming out of Hollywood is fairly clean. Took me by surprise though as here in Canada it is rated PG. And I hear it is way tamed down in the language compared to the book and the blog from which the story is taken. Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia Child. The film was sweet, and amusing with many, many laugh out loud moments, shows marriage in a wonderful light (for once, thank you Hollywood) and is an inspiring story. My girls enjoyed it too, even though at first they were probably humoring me in going as my oldest is a bit more into the action kind of movies. The fellas went to GI Joe about which they had mixed reviews.

Saturday found us in the middle of the river. In tubes. Yes, me too. None of us had ever done this before and it was quite enjoyable. Lazily floating, being carried with the current, sun shining down on you and once we were past the busy park where we start the ride it was soooo peaceful. Sorry no pics. I didn't want to risk dropping the camera in the river. You'll just have to use your imagination from this pic I took of others enjoying the same activity. Just insert 5 yellow and orange tubes with me and my kids in them into the river on this picture:

The only part of the whole experience that was not quite so enjoyable was the part where I had to get out of the tube. And try to do it with some grace. That was an interesting, and according to my sweet children, laughable amusing moment.

Sunday after church and a lunch of requested bbq'd cheeseburgers, we took off for an afternoon at the lake. What is it about sitting on uncomfortable camp chairs with family, munching junk food, swatting at bugs, while the kids enjoy the lake, that is so darn worth the drive out to a little lake with a pretend beach. I'm not sure but whatever it is I can do it every week over the summer.


After all the fresh air, sunshine, activity and late nights, after she left I'm so glad I was blessed with a super slow day on Wednesday with the dayhome. I actually was able to putz around picking up and cleaning up. The 7 loads of laundry from the week not so much fun, but it is what it is. The family does appreciate clean clothes once in a while. Dinner was super simple. Spaghetti with meatballs. The meatballs I already had in the freezer from when I had smart moment a couple months ago and made a double batch so I could freeze some. I think I may be onto something and am going to start doubling up on some meals. That was just way too convenient and I could pat myself on the back because the meal didn't come out of a cardboard box or come by way of the front door with a stranger requesting much moola before he hands it over.

Today will be more of the same. Recuperating and getting back to normal. Whatever normal is around here. See you tomorrow for Friday's Fave Five.

11 comments:

Lisa notes... said...

Wow--it sounds like you had an amazing visit and are treasuring those moments! I got to spend time with my college daughter a few weeks ago and I cherished it too. She's back at Auburn now, but hopefully I'll get to visit her in a few weeks. I still can't get used to the fact that I'm in this phase of life. :-)

Thanks for sharing your week.

Barbara H. said...

Sounds like a wonderful time all the way around! We're re-finding normal, too, after the wedding trip -- it will be even more normal when school starts for my youngest next week. Although we'll have to figure out a new normal with a married son and daughter-in-law now in the equation, but it will be fun.

Sounds like it would be good to coordinate days off with your daughter's visit if possible. Hope you can recuperate soon.

nikkipolani said...

Lovely shot of you and your girl! The week has felt full and busy and tiring for me as well, but full of good things. And thanks for the review of J&J. I might see it at some point, but I think I'd be more inclined to see the Julia part and skip the Julie part. But that's not the movie they made! Ah well.

Islandsparrow said...

Holy smokes Suzanne - that was almost a Friday fave! I'm admiring your blogging energy after such a busy week! I'm glad you had such a sweet time with your girl - and thanks for the review of J and J - it looks like my kind of movie. River tubing - fun fun fun!! No it's not pretty getting out - I do it in the deep water - sort of slip through it, then hang on and push it into shore. It worked for me.

Jientje said...

That's what I wanted to say!! What are you going to post for a fave Five then? Lovely picture!

Karen said...

The picture of the two of you is just lovely. It's so nice hearing all about your daughter's visit! I enjoyed J&J -- both parts. Yes, the real blog is a bit more rough than the sweet girl in the movie. I laughed (WITH you) about getting out of the tube! Been there, done that!

PastormacsAnn said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed her visit, that it was full and fun.

ellen b. said...

I know exactly what you mean about trying to get out of that tube with some grace! LOL!!

Marg said...

Oh Susanne, I can hear your heart...
There is pain in letting go, but it sounds like you did the best you could to enjoy your wonderful daughter. I would of done the same..

But I sure know what you are referring to saying NORMAL.
I am feeling the same. There's not much of me left anymore to go around...

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

you are such a fun Mama:)! Floating down the river sounds like complete bliss to me:)..

Hen Jen said...

wow, what a wonderful time! Floating on a river sounds really, really nice! I want to go see the Julia and Julie movie, I don't know how I am going to get hubby to go with me tho..!