The Right Place at the Right Time

 On Saturday, we were headed home from the week at Boy's Camp when Daddy-o got a phone call from work. He tends to get a lot of calls from work, even though he has tried to help his employee understand the difference between an emergency and general business that can wait until Monday, but this time, it was an actual emergency. The chain on the gate at his outdoor lot had broken and a customer was stuck inside with the gate closed.

Daddy-o was able to give him a few instructions and between the employee and the customer, they were able to get the gate open, but the gate was now stuck open which meant we got to make a detour and 3 hours later, we were at the facility for Daddy-o to access the situation and decide what type of fix was needed. He ended up having to replace the whole chain, which took 4.5 hours in 101 degree heat and meant that we didn't get home until almost 10 p.m. 

This was following a long week of physical work and late nights and early mornings for both of us. We were exhausted and even the 4.5-hour drive home before we could take showers and collapse had felt daunting when we started the day. If only we had known how long it would really be. . .

Obviously, it would have been easiest if this hadn't happened at all. He has never had a chain break, and right now, as we're prepping for the busiest summer of our lives with a move, a house getting finished, and too many back-to-back camping trips, it feels like really bad timing. But as we were coming to grips with the serious detour our day was taking, we couldn't help recognizing how lucky we really were. This gate issue could have happened during the past week when Daddy-o would have had to try to figure out someone who could get out there to fix the gate quickly. It could have happened later that night, when we'd already made it home and a sleep-deprived Daddy-o would have tried to make the drive out there by himself, which could have been dangerous with how tired he was. Or it could have happened while we were traveling later this summer which would have been another massive challenge. When Daddy-o was working on the chain, he realized how many links had cracks in them, so it was inevitable that this was going to happen.

And, while Daddy-o was working on the gate, I went to the office. I couldn't do anything to help him, and I was barely staying awake, so I opted for waiting where there was air conditioning. It was about 4:45 and our employee leaves around 5, so I was really hoping for a nap when we could close up. Only, right after I got in there, one of the customers came in because his radiator had just burst. He was parked in front of the office and calling AAA to have it towed and had stepped inside to get out of the heat. We talked for a few minutes and then he noted that we were going to close soon. And as much as I wanted to take a nap, I knew there was no way I could ask him to wait out in the heat. So, I offered to keep the office open until his car was picked up, which ended up taking over an hour, but I got to hear Brian's stories about cruises and drag racing and workmen's comp issues and he got to stay out of the heat, which honestly might have killed him. And I once again felt lucky that if the gate had to break, it did it right then when I could be in the right place at the right time.

Now, we could really use some smooth sailing for a little while. Life is chaotic enough at the moment.

Weekend Review

This week has been a hodge-podge of typical and not so typical activities. Mostly small stuff, but it has kept us busy. Kids had a half day on Thursday and no school on Friday, so our normal  routine was a bit off, and I'll admit I've had trouble remembering what day it was when I first wake up in the morning.

But since Monday, I've been to a couple parent-teacher conferences (I always love these--I know I'm lucky, but my kids are way better in school than at home, so their teachers always love them and other than talking to much (Bean) and occasionally having trouble transitioning because of being hyper-focused (Bug), their teachers don't have much else to correct--I'll take it.)

I've spent a lot of hours writing and editing, including hanging out at Panera with Bean and Bug Friday morning while Peanut was in school. They've been dying to come with me, especially so they could get the insanely large hot chocolate.

Kids have gone to Activity Days (Bean) and Cub Scouts (Bug) and Storytime (Peanut). There's been lots of jumping on the trampoline, guinea pig playing, backyard exploring, dog walking, laundry folding, Lego building, cooking, baking and vacuuming.

Poor Peanut has also had some vomiting going on this weekend. We've been so lucky this winter avoiding all the illnesses that have gone around, but I guess we couldn't escape forever. We'll see how many of us come down with this stomach bug. It may only be the power of suggestion, but no one was feeling quite right last night.

The Final Count Down

 

Before we submit to packing lunches, crazy mornings, school-dictated schedules, homework, and early bedtimes, we had one last week to try to pack in the last few things from our Summer Fun List. (I'm telling you, lists are my friends.) We did pretty good this summer with a couple turning out impossible, one park the kids told me they didn't actually want to visit, and only a couple things that we haven't managed to fit in but I'm planning to still try in the upcoming weeks. But this week:

 

Tuesday was Rio 2 at the $1 movie & Free Night at the Schiele Museum.

Peanut was both entranced and slightly terrified of the "elephant" (AKA mastodon).

 

He actually channeled some new found bravery and kept running off and following random strangers around the museum. He hung out with this nice man for a few minutes, but he also ran off where I couldn't find him for a couple minutes. I'm all for confidence, but I wish he'd find slightly less open public places to try it out.

Followed by a short hike on their nature trail to see the grist mill.

 

And the stone age heritage site.

Kids had a great time revisiting favorite spots and I was pleasantly surprised at the small crowds.

 

Wednesday morning was less of a fun day, and more school focused. Bean got to check out her new classroom at the temporary location for the 5th graders (temporary is relative--she'll be there all this year, we're hoping not for 6th, but that is yet to be determined when the figure out where the actual middle school will be located) and then we went shoe shopping and picked up the last couple school supplies. But that afternoon, we got to spend a few hours at the pool with friends from swim team and the neighborhood. The pool closing is one of the saddest things for me as Labor Day approaches.

 

And Wednesday evening brought our newest family member home. Meet Tumtum:

 

 

After swearing that we weren't going to keep one, and even finding homes for three of the babies at the kids' school, the kids wore me down. He's sweet and cute and the kids really did a great job taking care of 3 cages, so I figured only having one would feel easy. And be less stinky.

 

Thursday was our stay at home day. Lazy morning, a little work done, and then an afternoon spent crafting. I think we were all ready for some down time and it was a great way to use up some of the craft kits the kids have received for birthdays.

   

We made "tie-dye" soap.

 

 

And then made a mess of the craft room scrapbooking and building dinosaur skeletons. I haven't figured out how to fit in "clean up the house" before everyone goes back to school. It's not as bad as most summers, but we have some messy build-up in a few less visible corners/rooms.

 

Then, we got to go to the "midnight" swim for swim team, again. This is the third one they have scheduled, with the first one being cut short when someone couldn't keep their dinner down (this is the problem with doing the swim right after the potluck dinner), and the second one was stormed out. But this one actually happened. Kids stayed up way too late, giving us only 4 nights to get back on track before the brutal 7 a.m. wake up calls begin. I hope Bean survives the transition.

 

This morning was more back-to-school stuff--conferences with both teachers while the kids played at a friends' house. More on all the school stuff later, but I'm very excited about this coming year!

  

And then a quick trip to The Last Word to cash in on the final week of their summer reading program (seriously such a great program--for every 10 books they read, they get a $5 credit to the store, and they can do it 4 times. $20 at the used book store goes a long way!)

 

And now, as we enter the final weekend before school, Daddy-o gets to take the kids to a birthday party and to play tomorrow while I'm heading off to cash in on my birthday present: a night away at a local hotel. Sleeping in, reading by the pool and only getting in if I want to, eating meals in peace. I'm kind of excited.