Week Thirty-nine

Saturday I told Austin about a local monarch festival and asked if he'd like to go. He loves butterflies and drops random facts about them occasionally so I assumed it would be a perfect outing. I left mid morning to run an errand and returned to the house as Austin was announcing he would not be going to the festival because his mommy told him he needed to make better choices if he wanted to go. Apparently the appeal of butterflies was not quite enough. 

As it turns out, Lauren drove near the festival that afternoon and was held up in so much traffic getting into the event, we elected to skip it altogether anyway. Austin, who had turned his behavior around, was pretty disappointed and took a minute to be sad with Mimi before we implemented plan B. Our back up outing was a trip to the local Berry Shed for pumpkins and a cute little accessory kit. Austin had a blast and we likely saved not only our sanity but also a significant amount of money. 

He located leftover sparklers from the Fourth of July and had to play. His fascination with what he could burn with them was only slightly concerning. His mouth can't keep up with his brain; both never stop. Listening to him reason what could burn quickly, once again demonstrated his intelligence. 

Sunday Greg and I hiked the festival grounds to see if we could find any remaining butterflies. We did see a few but they were either in flight or injured. The hike was beautiful none the less.

The cup collection around here is ridiculous. These are just the ones the girls packed to take with them. 

Life is never settles around here. Ever. Lauren and Kate were moving out as Erin announced she would be moving in. We were shocked by both decisions. Lauren was ready to have her own space again and took Kate with her to also spread her wings a bit. I didn't love this and had to navigate withholding my reservations. Isn't this the way of motherhood? And then Erin listed her condo so she and Evan can buy a house before his lease expires in January. We offered a guest room in the event moving dates didn't align. Her realtor convinced her to sell the condo empty and wanted to list right away. So here we are, exchanging a dog, two daughters and a grandson for another daughter and a cat. 

I can't have nice things 

His mom set the box on the table to pack it and he immediately turned it into a car. Of course he did.

The girls moved out on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday, we stopped by to deliver some additional items. Austin was excited to show us his new bed and we waited a few minutes for Kate who had run to the grocery store so she could make dinner for Lauren and friends. 

Thursday, Erin took the day off to store large items at Evan's and move her closet into our guest room. The dust may never fully settle around here. 

Week Thirty-eight

We attended the wedding of our friends, Laura and Ronnie on Saturday; me as the reluctant photographer and Greg as my favorite date. Amanda and Ren drove down for the event. We gave Mike a ride since Lana was already there, assisting Laura. The Bible study gang was back together with hubbies in tow. It was a gorgeous afternoon for a wedding and time to laugh together again. I love these people. 

He grabbed his mom's massage gun to give me a back rub. I was afraid. Very afraid. 

Diesel was in time out at this point for chewing on my comforter. There is nothing like a quiet start to the day, reading in bed. Or so I'm told.

They were fighting over me.

Evan arrived and Austin was pumped......

It was time to look through Pokemon cards. He thinks he needs more. 

Once upon a time in Clover Castle, a leprechaun decided he loved clover so much, he planted it in Mimi's landscaping. Austin's mimi kept pulling the clover and the tricky leprechaun kept planting it again and again. So Austin and Mimi worked together to make a trap for that sneaky, silly leprechaun. Austin knew that if he caught him and scared him by yelling, "boo!" he would run out of clover power and Mimi's yard would be weed-free at last.

One night they made a trap to catch the leprechaun. They used a box, a stick, tape, magic dirt and gold to distract the leprechaun. The leprechaun knocked the trap over and left the gold! Austin was shocked! So he made another trap with clover and tried to trap him again.

In the morning, Austin discovered a message in the trap. It said, "Ha! You can't trick me!" The gold was missing! Austin worried he may have given the leprechaun more powers with all the clover and set to creating a more serious trap after school. Shew! Leprechaun trapping is hard work. Mimi never would have suspected she'd have to worry about those tricky little things in September! Now she has weeds and traps in her landscaping.

He took his note to school and obsessed about future plans for more traps.

We are working on kitchen manners.

Week Thirty-seven

 

Austin spent the week fighting a nasty virus and missed all but one day of school. Fortunately Pops was able to stay home with him because his mom had just started working last week. I was in bed immediately after school two days this week and battled extreme fatigue anyway. It was not our best week. It also wasn't our worst. We redeemed it a bit this evening with dinner on the patio and a bonfire. Thank goodness for beautiful weather and simple pleasures.

Week Thirty-six

 

Someone shook down his Gigi for a costume, three toys and Pokemon cards. While he was out, Mimi and Mommy took a nap.

We are reading Mr. Poppers Penguins together and plan to rent the movie for a popcorn party this weekend. He is enjoying the larger book and is following the storyline well.

He had a Labor Day vibe.

There is an artist in this picture.

Ty often sends me photos from home while I'm at work. This one was pretty sweet.

This beloved basketball keeps making it's way into the house. Diesel, like Ty, cannot believe I don't want them inside.

A rainbow over the school should be a good sign.

The sky before bus duty Wednesday. 

Austin got to bring his mommy to school this week. Lauren is the new building substitute. For those keeping track, this means I have two daughters and one grandson in the same building. I assume I will either be paying the principal child support or being recruited soon.

Our favorite kindergartener had hat day today and was thrilled to locate Uncle Ty's old Darth Vader winter hat.

Someone poured his own Chick-fil-A sauce.

Week Thirty-five

Saturday I delivered Austin to Erin so she and Evan could take him to the zoo. Austin is very focused on Evan becoming his uncle and can't wait for the wedding to give him the title. They bought him ice cream, a donut and a stuffed Eagle. He says it was the best day ever. They've spoiled future trips where the zoo is the outing. Lauren and I appreciate that. Insert eye roll here.

While they were out, I spent the day alone in Louisville. It had been so long since I was last in a mall, I had no idea Sears was now Top Golf. Things change every where, I guess. But I wandered and touched things I didn't buy and ultimately ended up at Trader Joe's for veggies and grain free snacks. It was a beautiful morning of solitude. 

The week exposed some feelings of frustration toward coworkers who fail to extend grace. It's tough for me to see people unable to tolerate the most vulnerable among us. But I was there to hug a tearful new friend in a moment of exhaustion and got to bond with a child believed most difficult. I think we might be buddies now. And in the end, despite the chaos of my both my personal life and work world, there is hope and light. 

Coworkers gifted fresh tomatoes and both Lauren and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Greg and I slipped out to Costco after work one night and I'm grateful he drove. Rush hour traffic isn't for the anxious. And then this evening, we finished our errands for the weekend so we can rest a bit this Labor Day. 

Austin saw the doctor for a giant blister covering the top half of his thumb. The school nurse called after it burst in her office to report obvious infection and concern it would need drained. He came home in a bandaid and with sticker for being brave. The doctor opted to start antibiotics and watching it rather than subject him to a painful procedure.  We have no idea what started the blister in the first place. However, as Austin described the moment it burst, my eyes filled with tears so it was determined that Mimi is not tough enough to assist with the appointment. I handle this stuff better as a mom than I do as a Mimi. 

I battled two migraines this week and the second one left me depleted and sad. I've had a pretty good run of pain free weeks so the sudden change is discouraging. 

Greg advertised pulled pork on Instagram....

We dined on the patio several times this week and opened windows to freshen the air in our home. The cool front was not only welcomed, but celebrated.

This dog and his drool are both insane. To his credit, the steak was that good.

Lauren and Kate signed a lease on a home in the area. They are moving in a couple of weeks. I'm having some feelings. Today I wore my, "It's fine. I'm fine. Everything is fine" tee shirt. It was a wardrobe toss up between it and the, "Nope. Not today." tee shirt. Some weeks just need wrapped up with humor. This was absolutely one of them.