Well summer got off to a quick start, and then came to a screeching stop around midday on Memorial Day when I started feeling the effects of a terrible cold/sinus infection and then a rough bit of heartburn.
The great news was that Michael was grilling burgers for
dinner that night and there was minimal work for me to do!
Before that, the weekend was great. Our sitter spent Friday
with the kids and even took them to the pool. We went to the mountains for the
day on Saturday. Matthew and Libby played, explored and ate to their hearts’
content. We had a great time catching up with friends and enjoyed a relaxing
and cool day. Diddy took Libby out for two canoe trips and I got to participate
in one of them, too.
On Sunday, we did the church thing and Matthew spent a good
portion of the time in the nursery, since he just had too much to tell everyone
during the sermon. I spent the rest of the service in the nursery too, as he
wasn’t thrilled for me to leave this time.
Later in the afternoon, Amanda and Beatrice came for a
visit! That sweet little girl was so cute, polite and tiny. Also, she was
fearless! Flinging herself in the pool with virtually no warning to Amanda,
just knowing her mommy would be there to catch her. Reminded me of another
fearless little girl. And Matthew has lost his fears, too. We played at the
pool and back at the house we enjoyed a good old barbecue dinner for our
now-Western friend. Amanda likes to get all of her favorite southern items at
home, you know, like Chick-fil-A and white Mexican queso dip!
We had a nice time catching up and enjoying nearly perfect
weather. And our kids were silly together! As Beatrice left, she told us, "Good-bye, friends!"
The rest of last week was sort of a blur, due to my being
sick. Gigi came on Tuesday and I went to work. On Wednesday, Sarah thankfully
came to play with the kids. They had a ball, and I have no photos. Then there
was Mimi for fun times on Thursday. Both days the extra help was truly a
blessing.
But Thursday night, it was time for Libby’s first swim meet!
She was a bit nervous and she had her regular practice that morning. I tried to
get her to nap, and while she was of course, too excited and nervous for that,
she did at least lie down for a bit in her room. And Matthew was just not quite
himself all day either, so he didn’t get much napping in. I also got to draw Libby's meet assignments on her arm like a real swim teamer!
These factors, plus rain, is how we prepped for our first
swim meet. I was a volunteer lane timer, too. A nerve-wracking endeavor, but I
got the job done with just a few hiccups that were out of my control. And I
learned some good tips to ensure these don’t occur again in the future.
The kids were so cute, and of course could care less about
the rain. Libby had to do a couple of laps for warm-up – one backstroke – so
shoot, she had to be tired before the meet even began.
Matthew was tired, and just sad about the entire experience.
Fortunately, mom was there and Michael arrived early – before the meet began.
And boy we needed them both. Matthew evidently cried for about 20 minutes
before falling asleep on Michael’s shoulder for a few minutes. They stayed
until after Libby’s first race and then headed out due to Matthew’s condition.
As they arrived in our driveway at home, it was even sadder than before as he
yakked. Michael filled me in via text to make sure his next efforts were
correct. Matthew got his bath, wolfed down applesauce and saltines for dinner
and hit the sack. He was much better the next morning.
But back to Libby -- she was psyched for the meet and eager
for it all day. Her first event, the 25-meter freestyle was event 11, heat 2.
And the ribbon she earned and received the next day was for 3rd
place! Her second race was a 100-meter freestyle relay and she was the third
leg of the race. She and her team received a 2nd place ribbon for
that one. (I seriously thought those ribbons were opposite for the events, but
my state on Thursday night may not be trust-worthy.)
Mimi made sure Libby had pizza (two slices!) after her race
and got a giant pixy stick for her efforts while I finished up timing events in
lane three for the first half of the meet. Libby swam both of her events in my
lane, which was neat, though she ended on the opposite side during both. She
also loved cheering on her teammates and watching her coaches swim in the meet,
too. She really wanted to stay for the entire meet, but with the rain, my being
sick and Matthew’s state, combined with her Kindergarten assessment the next
day, it was really time to go.
We got in the car and she checked on the clock: 8:02 p.m.
and piped up with, “Mama, you let me stay out too late, I should be in bed
now!” Well, excuse me.
She did get right in to bed when we got home without so much
as a shower and promptly drifted off to dream land.
Michael got to take her to her school assessment on Friday
morning, where she evidently did well, though had a little trouble remembering
her birthday. And then, she went to “swim practice.” On Fridays after a meet,
they have a big pool party, eat donuts and get their ribbons. SUCH fun. No
wonder Libby loves swim team.
She’s actually lamenting the fact that she won’t get to swim
tomorrow night because she’ll be at the Barry Manilow concert instead.
The last few days, Commissioner, Libby and Matthew have been
living it up with grandparents! While Michael and I were at the annual
conference we’ve attended for the last five years, they had “Camp
Grandparents.” They have played at the pool, in fountains, gone to baseball
games, visited parks, played in streams, visited great-grandparents, baked
cookies, eaten favorite foods and treats, watched movies, walked golf courses,
seen snakes and turtles and even gone for a ride in a truck (Matthew). They
will both need a vacation from their vacation (and I suspect the grandparents
will, also!)
Michael and I have had time to recover from our illnesses
(he got the cold version, too.) We did the receptions and he did the official
convention program. His team also won the golf tournament again. I read an
entire book, some magazines, got plenty of sun at the beach and the pool and
did a bit of shopping. We had fun at the closing reception last night with a
tasty dinner and some great beach music dancing. And on Monday night ate one of
our favorite meals ever at Red Fish on the island. The first night we ate at
the Old Oyster Factory, with his coworker’s family, which was good and fun,
with a beautiful view of the marsh. But Monday night, wow, he had their famous
scallop dish and I had the blackened grouper special. AND we had dessert – a
chocolate martini and the best key lime pie I’ve ever tasted, tart and sweet
and just delicious – and Michael appreciated the generous portion of real
whipped cream. We also found a great new wine that we both enjoyed, especially
with the seafood: St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc.
The kids actually left us on Saturday and we were pretty
tired and not feeling great. But being at the house for long without them was
rather quite a bummer, so we rallied ourselves and went to the Atlanta History
Center, where we always talk about going, but never seem to manage. We really
enjoyed our several hours there and they had to kick us out to close up. We
stopped at Moxie Burger on the way back home and it was good as always. And
Michael tried out a new beer that we both liked, which led us to look it up and
find out that there is a big beer event going on while we are scheduled to be
in Denver this fall! So something was just added to that agenda (we really need
to start planning it.)
Tomorrow is back to reality, swim team photo, and of course the big concert!
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