Goodbye May-nxiety, Hello Summer!

I feel like we need to catch up, don’t you?

Spring was a blur (understatement of the year). Besides the fact that I wrote and published my first e-book, Spring was wrought with activity, beginning in March and reaching a screaming crescendo in May. If you have school-aged children, you understand the craziness that is May. It is a miracle that I didn’t misplace a kid or burn down the house. And my kids actually finished all their end-of-the-year projects and attended all their end-of-the-year functions.

I think.

At one point a few weeks ago, I was cooking dinner, recalling a dream I had where I was supposed to pick up one of Elijah’s friends after school and bring him to our house. When, suddenly, I looked at my phone and realized IT WASN’T A DREAM. I actually had a texting convo with his mother and had filed it into my long-term memory as “dream.” Fortunately for everyone, the dream recall was the day BEFORE I was supposed to pick him up, so I didn’t leave another kid stranded. Lucky me.

The photos tell the rest of the highlights. Speaking of highlights…
I got bangs. This is noteworthy because hair is important to me, especially when stress is high.

Next, in March, I accompanied Jon on a business trip to Chicago. Though there have been many business trips over the years, I have never gone with him. This is mainly because we don’t live near family (free childcare). But this time, my friend, Valerie, agreed to stay at my house and cart my kids back and forth to school and activities. This is a true friend, having neither blood relation to my children, nor payment from me.

Anyway, for 3 days, I got to sit alone in my hotel room and drink coffee and write and workout and meander around The Windy City to window shop for clothing I can’t afford. In addition, I got to finally meet in person a long-time blog friend, Mindy. You may recognize her from the comments. She’s as beautiful and wonderful in person as she is on The Internets.  We talked constantly and left with a list of things we need to talk about next time. (BTW, it’s really hard for me to warn my kids about the dangers of on-line friendships, when I meet people like Mindy. She’s not creepy at all.)

This one turned 17. That’s 18 – 1. As in 1 (one) year to adulthood/college. I can’t even begin to describe the urgency of the “clock ticking” on childhood right now. This makes me want to drop everything and Carpe every flipping Diem.

She also went to Junior Prom. Look at how incredibly stunning. You guys, I can’t even with these pictures. Also, a shout out to the current prom dress trend: elegant and modest. Thank you, Jesus.

(Please note, I’ve already jumped from March to May, because it’s all jumbled in my memory. Just go with it, okay?)

Jon and I attended annual Kentucky Derby festivities. I know it looks all glamorous. But picture 8 hours of 100,000 people smoking cigars and getting progressively intoxicated on Mint Julips. I know this is practically heresy to say as a Louisvillian, but *whispers* I don’t really “get” the hoopla surrounding this event. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone I said that.

Elliana ran two races with her cross-country team this spring. This one was for families, in the rain at the zoo. I’m so glad her father likes to run with her, because I was standing under an umbrella the entire time, drinking coffee. I was in running shoes and yoga pants, though. That counts for something.

Despite running cross-country for the last 2 years, Elliana doesn’t really like running. She much prefers our Last Day of School Donut tradition.

I can’t even look at this next one without crying. This upcoming school year, I will have a Senior, a Freshman and a 4th-grader. CARPE FLIPPING DIEM, SANDY! CARPE FLIPPING DIEM!!!!

One of the best parts of my Crazy Spring was meeting every Thursday morning with these ladies. They bring excessive joy and laughter to my life. This is my bible study. We call ourselves Bible Study Babes. Because, we are.

And lastly, but not leastly, we pulled Elliana out of school a day early and hit the road to the beach for our annual vacation. It took me exactly 5 days to stop feeling the twinge of urgency in my stomach that I needed to be somewhere or do something important. That day, I read an entire book by the ocean, from cover to cover. I also ate ice cream every night. And gained 4 pounds.

Normally, in summer, I take a break from blogging. But since I’ve been breaking from blogging all spring, I’m doing the opposite. So, now that we are all caught up, I’ll see you in a few days with another post!

Happy Summer, everyone!