By Tracy M
As for me and my house, we are in recovery mode- which means mom is a big blob on the couch while the kids play Wii. What am I recovering from? My first quarter back in college in 17 years just wrapped on Friday, and all I’ve wanted to do is sleep since I turned in my last of three finals on Friday. Sleep sleep sleep… and maybe watch stupid summer TV. Then sleep some more.
All of my summer was swallowed up by school- my kids said they had never seen so much homework. Frankly, neither had I. Last time I was serious about school, I was at art school. Art school homework is not writing papers on Kant and convection uplift of advancing fronts.
In the middle of finals week, I ran to Salt Lake City for a quick engagement, and miracle of miracles, was able to catch up with two of my MMW co-bloggers. It was completely random that three of us ended up in town on the same day, as none of us even live in Utah. I’m happy to report that Heather survived Haiti and looks tanned and healthy, and that The Wiz is holding her own also looked ravishing.
Back home now, I am counting the days before school starts for the kids. It seems an awful lot of kids start school in August in other places, but around here we don’t start until after Labor Day. Twenty-two days, 14 hours and 29 minutes… Then, there is a little miracle, as I don’t start my text term at the University until the 20th of September. Oooooh, divine mercy! I will have days- DAYS I SAY!- where my children will be in school, and I will not. I am going to savor those days like fine pearls.
How do you make it through the last, wilted, draggy days of summer? I’m so ready for fall, coolness, and the divine change in light that comes with the advent of the ‘bers.
“last, wilted, draggy days of summer” — never encountered such a thing! Glad you’re getting a break now.
Comment #1 by Susan MAugust 16th, 2010 at 8:42 pmWe have a lot of dinners at the park. (Beside it being freaking hot here right now, I’m 38wks pregnant, so I avoid any heating of the kitchen.) Sandwiches, cheese & crackers, grapes, smoothies…Whatever is easy to grab and go with. We pick up Dad after work and head to a local park, skip the bath and tuck them into bed (usually late). It gets hairy in the evenings sometimes when little people don’t want to go to bed (or it’s just too hot in their room) but enjoying the Seattle Sun is worth it. Every time.
And we bought two goldfish yesterday to go with all of the (now sanitized) rocks and shells we’ve collected this summer.
My 5yo, after chatting about her new “pets”, said, “I’m just having so much fun these days!”
Comment #2 by ErinAnnAugust 17th, 2010 at 9:20 amIf only summer could lose its love of heat, I would live in it forever. I always dread the start of school–back to the daily grind. But since the ‘bers eat up the heat and bring me cool, crisp air, I’ll take school starting as a fair exchange.
Comment #3 by TaniAugust 17th, 2010 at 9:24 amHow do I make it through these last wretched days of August before my four oldest go back to school? (Also after Labor Day- ugh.)
Comment #4 by StephanieAugust 17th, 2010 at 9:43 amLow expectations and lots of ice cream.
This has been our first real bonafide summer as a family. Every other summer we’ve had year round school so we got our breaks in dribs and drabs throughout the year and “summer break” was a short thing, which isn’t necessarily bad when summer is also 115 at its height and 89 at 5am for its low. But this summer, as our first after a traditional nine-month schedule, we’ve taken full advantage of the free movies, some free days at the children’s museum, lots of time in the pool and had a lovely reunion in the mountains with my family and now my oldest will begin her orientation to middle school in the morning and next week we begin to move the teachers into the brand new elementary school around the corner. I never thought a whole real summer would fly so very fast. I wish it were already cooler, but I know that in these parts, it won’t truly be cooler until November, so I shouldn’t get too anxious just yet. Until then, we make full use of every flavor of popsicle and drumstick and try to stay cool.
Comment #5 by angie fAugust 17th, 2010 at 10:06 amYou could go volunteer for the PTA during your hiatus??!!
We start in 48 hours — praise be to God.
Wish I could have made the worlds collide so I could have been in SLC too. No fair!
Comment #6 by Melissa McAugust 17th, 2010 at 3:18 pmAnd I am happy to report that Tracy M. looks ravishing as well! Melissa - next time, baby. Next time.
Comment #7 by The WizAugust 18th, 2010 at 12:05 pmLast year we lived in another state and started after Labor Day. Where we are now, they start next week. Less than a week, actually. Not looking forward to getting up early but ready to have most of them busy.
The kids know that t.v. scarcity will begin soon so they are hogging up as much as they can get now.
Comment #8 by mormonhermitmomAugust 18th, 2010 at 7:00 pm