May June July August September

That went fast. Is it bad that I have been stopping by my own blog a few times each month to click through links to see other blogs, without actually posting?

Small update: since my last post about the nasty caterpillars, the bushes have filled in nicely. Let's not talk about the weeds that need to be pulled again, ok? Thanks.

The girls FINALLY escaped school in mid-June. Through the summer they each took several art classes between the Art Center and the home of the former elementary school Art teacher. We still have the lovely artwork everywhere, and Natasha discovered ceramics. Sarah and Mira took swim lessons. All attended Vacation Bible School as participants or helpers and Sarah attended a second VBS at a friends church. There were math sessions (sorry) and weekly trips to the library. Natasha turned 13 and of all crazy ideas we let her have a cell phone. I now am an expert at texting. More on that tomorrow*.

We swam, planted gardens at church and home, rode bikes, had sleepovers, purchased some cool old office furniture for my new scrap corner. I went out with friends several times, had a friend visit for a few days, and watched lots and lots of rain. Sad fact: with 5 sequential dry days this week, we have just experienced the longest dry spell in our area since April. Hmmm.

We also did a fair amount of traveling:

• a week in Chicago with Oma and Grandpa, with a stop at Witty Kitties (remember Eddie/Alastor?), and a visit to Brookfield Zoo.
• a week and a half in Georgia visiting my sister Missy and her family.
• a long weekend in Northern Illinois with my cousin Karen and the rest of her immediate family. We were celebrating a milestone birthday that will occur later this year. Wait - aren't they all milestones?
  
• as always, my holiday weekend camping in Wisconsin with my parents. Technically Labor day weekend, also known as Michelle/Mom's yearly birthday campout. Yes, I got lucky with my birthday, and I usually chose to spend it in a tent.
  

In between all the traveling, we visited the State Fair to see two of Natasha's drawings that were accepted for display, as well as her friend Michaela's incredible chalk dragon. Then everyone went back to school. Well, by that I mean the girls, not me. Mira is in Kindergarten, she loves it and I miss her. Still, I am managing to fill my days and the hours fly by.

It has been a wonderful 5 months, and I don't regret a minute of it.

* Did I say Tomorrow? This time I'm making plans, not promises. Plans for me, to satisfy my reasons for blogging, so we'll just see how it goes. In the meantime, the chauffeur had better go to sleep. She has lunches to make in a few hours.