Robin made thirteen pillows today. While Robin was sewing, Christina and I went through the girls’ baby boxes. I unexpectedly found a note that Barbara wrote to Robin before she was born and I couldn’t keep back the tears. I’m so grateful to have had that memory with her tonight. I so wish I could see her again, and thank her. I so wish that Christina had any idea who Barbara actually is. I’ve tried to keep these memories alive for the girls, but they’ll never really know the beauty of these very real relationships. That is a whole loss in itself. I’m glad that at least I have those memories. It will have to be enough.
Author: peanut7312
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June 23
I ran two miles today, which feels as significant an accomplishment to me as climbing to the top of a mountain with no shoes on. It’s not like I haven’t run two miles before, but I haven’t run two miles and felt good about it when I was done. I’m not saying it was EASY, or that I loved every minute of it, or even that I WANTED to run the whole way, but I felt good about my effort the whole time. I enjoyed the run I got, even though it wasn’t perfect. I hit the reset button a few weeks ago, tried something new, and it’s paying off. It feels so good to run for the joy of it and not because I HAVE to hit a target or die trying. And I am consequently achieving more than I was before. It’s the first time I can ever remember enjoying a workout. I can’t wait for the next run.
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June 22
It’s embarrassing how infrequently we go to the beach when it is as close to us as it is. But we made it today for a record-setting hour and a half. Too much longer than that and the sand would have been scalding to walk back to the car on. Next time we go, I will have to suck it up and go earlier before the sun tries to murder my feet. It was so refreshing in the ocean. I kinda can’t wait to go back.
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June 21
There was a lot of dance today… dance classes and then a dance team orientation meeting. In between all that, I completed the last bit of sewing for the advent calendar. It just needs rods and a hanger and then it will be done! There is one little piece of sewing that I want to redo eventually. I’m too frustrated with it right now to look at it. Other than that one little corner, I’m so happy with it. I can’t believe it came together the way I’d imagined it, especially since I’ve never really sewn anything before, AND I had no pattern to work from. I can’t wait to use it this Christmas. Photo to come when it is 100% completed.
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June 20
Robin made dinner again tonight, and it was GOOD. It was a chicken chili with a Mexican flair… so good. Otherwise today was just an average day. Christina says she got her back walkover, which is exciting, but I haven’t been able to see it. The studio is too small for me to go in and watch. Hopefully I’ll get to see it before too long!
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June 19
We went to make a new mug for Billy to replace the one Robin broke yesterday. Christina was NOT interested in helping, but she did finally add a few touches to it. Robin went to her first tumbling class at the new gym, taught by her old coach. He was great with her. I’m glad she has this.
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June 18
It was a pretty good day. Robin worked out with me this morning, even though her feet hurt. Robin broke one of Billy’s mugs, which we made for him one Father’s Day when the kids were little, and she told him about it herself even though she was terrified to do it. She made up for it by baking a giant chocolate chip cookie. Made fish sticks for dinner before taking Christina to dance. Watched the Yankees lose ANOTHER game tonight. And now I’m ready for bed.
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June 17
Today was an exhausting day. Things are in flux at work and it’s been both an opportunity and a challenge for me (as most opportunities are). I tried to shut out the world for 15 minutes after logging off by putting on the noise canceling headphones with some good music, but Jackson was having none of it. One may not rest when it’s time to feed the dog. Only it WASN’T time to feed the dog. Try telling Jackson that, though. In the end I managed to cobble together 15 non-consecutive minutes of quiet so I could focus on cooking dinner, and it was delicious. Lemon ricotta pancakes with raspberries, bacon, and eggs. Sometimes cooking can be relaxing. In fact, it’s often relaxing. I was very happy for the distraction. But now I am very happy to have a bed. Good night.
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June 16
It thundered and the sky turned black and green and all the stormy colors the sky can turn, but it never rained a drop and the sun stayed out the whole time. This is summer in Florida, and I love it.
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June 15
It was a weird Father’s Day. Billy’s been sick, so he didn’t even get out of bed until noon. It was mostly just a day to get chores done while he laid on the couch. Laundry, food shopping, house cleaning. Christina and I did bake cannoli cookies for him, but somehow I completely forgot one of the most important ingredients and never added the pistachios. How disappointing! We’ll have to have a do-over, maybe next weekend.
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June 14
We scratched off another adventure card and found ourselves on a private flight tour over Jacksonville. It’s something I didn’t even know you could do, and it was awesome! The pilot took us over our house, but I had a hard time getting oriented from the sky, so I couldn’t find it. Billy saw it, though! It was cool seeing landmarks from above, but it was also cool to hear the conversations the pilot had with flight control. At one point they were telling the pilots to steer clear of the “humans falling from the sky.” Apparently there were skydivers in the area. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that I feel so lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to do with my family. And that we are. I have to remember to pay some of that back into the universe.
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June 13
Robin’s beach volleyball camp is over. I forced her to do a tumbling evaluation at a new gym even though she said she didn’t want to. Christina had acro tonight and is THIS CLOSE to a back walkover. We learned that frozen broccoli doesn’t do well in a blender. We suspect Pinot may have eaten a bag of sour patch candies, but we can’t find the evidence. And so goes Friday.
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June 12
We didn’t have any activities today, or at least I hope we didn’t, because we didn’t do any. I probably should have at least peeked at the calendar. If we missed something, oh well, too late now. Otherwise it was a pretty good day. I’ve been getting up at 5:30am all week to get into the gym before I drop the kids off at their respective camps. I’ll be glad when we’re back down to just one camp and one drop off and I can go to the gym in daylight again. But now it’s 9:45pm and I am ready for bed!
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June 11
I learned about some organizational changes at work that will impact me and my team and I am processing. No one’s roles were eliminated, but reporting lines and responsibilities are shifting and in flux. It is an opportunity for all of us, but like all good opportunities, it comes with significant challenges. Trying to get my head in the right place to take it on.
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June 10
Robin prepared the slow cooker Thai chicken we had for dinner tonight. We all remarked that the chicken must have dissolved into the sauce because it was cut too small before she cooked it, but then she said no, she didn’t put any chicken in it. She said she thought I was going to add it before I turned the crock pot on. So we had slow cooker Thai… sauce. It was tasty even without the chicken.
