Just when we started to get our new routine down, the four-day weekend threw a wrench in it! We had a great few days off, though.
On Friday, Don’s mom came and watched R for the day so we could take the girls on the boat one last time. It looked like it was going to be chilly, but once the sun came out, it was spectacular…one of the clearest days on the water this year! My parents and aunt, uncle, and cousin met us out there, too. I even threw the frisbee around with my dad a little…something that rarely happens until the warm September water hits. I felt like this day out was very much against Jen Hatmaker’s first week of school advice, but listen…we are from MICHIGAN, Jen. We take advantage of good weather (and a rare babysitter!) WHENEVER we can get it.
Saturday was quieter. A whole lot of NOTHING in the morning, followed by the removal of B’s training wheels in the afternoon. She is such a cautious kid, and she is just not riding QUITE fast enough to keep her balance yet. Don and I both worked with her through fall after fall after fall (thank god for kneepads!) She was so brave even through a few good bangups, some scraped hands, and a handlebar bruise on the belly. (No success yet, so if you have any tips, let us know!) We finished the day off with our annual dinner at a Harrison Township summer institution…Eddie’s Drive In. The girls had dessert first…M&M avalanches and then corndogs FTW.
Sunday we checked an item off our summer bucket list before it closed for the season…I *finally* took the girls to the Splash Pad at Lake St. Clair Metropark. It’s funny how when something is close and easy, you just don’t get to it. We’ve been to the Tot Lot there a hundred times this year, but never hit the Splash Pad until this weekend. Don went out for his fantasy draft in the afternoon, so I had all three kids for bedtime…and I am THRILLED to report that it is getting SO much better. (Earlier this summer putting all three to bed was a three-hour affair that inevitably ended with me in tears EVERY TIME. I absolutely DREADED Don’s Friday happy hours all week longf. Thank God nothing lasts forever.)
Monday was quiet, too. I wanted to let Don sleep in, so I snuck over to my parent’s house with all three kids and some iced mochas to make up for the early hour. We had peach pie for a second breakfast and it was fabulous.
Tuesday was back to school for B, but the weather was beautiful…so we went to the Miller’s after school to use their pool, and were SO glad to see they were already in it when we got there. It was such a happy way to start of the week. We swam until the girls were exhausted and R was asleep on Don’s chest because he missed his late afternoon nap.
So the *grind* starts today, I guess? I think that’s my September goal right now: NEVER let the grind start. ALWAYS find a way to squeeze in some joy, big or small. Do you do this? How do you make it happen? Share some tips!