Summer’s still going strong


August is shaping up to be a busy month for our wee clan. We spent a weekend out of town with friends to start it off. This weekend I’m working at a pet expo on Saturday afternoon and then the three of us are headed to a party (hosted by some friends from church) after that. This is the same party at which I was generously over-served last year (yes, I was serving myself, but I need you to play along here) and actually sang karaoke. In front of other people. So, we’ll see how it goes. The kid will have friends there as well, so it should be a good time for all. Next weekend, we are headed to the state fair (held a couple hours away). We always make a weekend of it, and freeload with some friends of ours. As an added bonus, we are going to visit our former foster dog Fritz. I am very much looking forward to seeing the ol' guy.

The week after that, we are taking a vacation. It’s nothing terribly elaborate or exotic – a friend of mine lets us use his cabin every summer and we definitely take him up on the offer. It’s the most relaxation we get in an entire year . . . even while screaming, “Close the door!” to Short Stuff every time she accidentally (or not) lets the dogs out. It’s nice to just hang out and read, and to have a view of a beautiful lake while we’re at it. We never know what the weather will hold. We’ve encountered sweltering heat and summer days so cold we had to light a fire in the fireplace. I love those late summer days where it’s hot enough to swim in the lake during the day but chilly enough to sleep well at night.

Once all of the trips and vacations are out of the way, I guess it’ll be time to get the kid ready for school. Unlike some moms, I’m not feeling all weepy about it. I remember my mom saying that her three favorite words were “Back to School.” The good news is that our daycare bill will drop by over $50 a week once school starts. We’ll still have to pay for before and after school care (about an hour before and less than an hour after), but it’s better than paying for full-time. I am sure that the start of Kindergarten would make me all verklempt except that she was in 4K last year. So, I worked out all of my “my baby’s going to school!” angst at that time.

In preparation for the new school year, I printed the Kindergarten supply list off the district’s website. Holy glue sticks, Batman! Looks like it will be another long year of trying to find spots to display paint and glitter-encrusted objets d’art. The other part of school preparation includes, of course, the new wardrobe. I’ve been picking up fall/winter dresses here and there. I bid on a few on eBay, but some whore always outbids me at the last second. The other day, the kid pulled out her magnadoodle and sketched for me the dress she wants me to buy (oh, and the matching shoes). I was actually pretty impressed with the sketch – maybe she’ll be on Project Runway someday. In any case, she’s once again laid down the “dresses only!” edict so that is what I will buy. It is not worth the grief of trying to wrestle her into a pair of pants, even on days when pants would make far, far more sense (such as a planned trip to the park). I guess that “pick your battles” stands as the first rule of parenthood. I'll save my energy for the piercing/tattooing type discussions that are sure to arise in the coming years.

Now, if you will excuse me, we are headed to a festibul downtown. Woot!

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