A Little Busy

Not much posting going on lately.  Feeling a bit like the proverbial headless chicken, but - I hope - slightly more purposeful.


There's good news, and bad news.

Good news - Kerry has some work!

Bad news - it's a bit of an adjustment, getting back to work, after what seems like a 6-month vacation.  Not that we're complaining.

Good news - family vacation to Oregon next week!

Bad news - Kerry will be home, working.

Good news - Kerry has some work!


Does that make sense?  Trying to look on the bright side.  We've planned a camping trip next month with some friends from church and Kerry felt (and I agree) that with this new project, it wasn't reasonable for him to be gone for two weeks.  So he'll miss Oregon, but come camping.

So this week we've been having a "school week" (very part time), doing our pre-packing shopping and organizing, and having a birthday party.

Someone in this house just turned forty-seven.  Forty-seven!  Doesn't that sound close to fifty?  A half-century?!?!

We had a small-ish birthday dinner, here at the house, with Kerry's brother and sister-in-law, cousin and cousin-in-law (?), some of my family,  and his most favorite Fiesta Cake.  And - once again - I failed to get a photo of the cake.  Which is probably just as well, because Fiesta Cake doesn't look nearly as appetizing as it really, truly is.

In fact, the only photos of the party were taken by one of the boys and I haven't seen any of them yet.  They are probably about as wonderful as the photos from Father's Day, so I'll have to see if there are any I can post.

In the mean time... he's usually behind the camera, but here's one from the Sauk Mountain hike.

Of course, not only was I busily making food for the party (including TWO cakes, because the first angel food cake came out of the oven, fell out of the pan when I inverted it to cool, and was one inch tall and gummy... why?) but I was a wee bit distracted because my mom was having a little medical adventure which involved a trip to the ER and a bunch of testing.  She's home and fine, but I was - yes - a bit distracted!

And the best part of the party?  The adults visiting around the table, after dinner, and hearing the crashing tinkling sound of Tate, in the kitchen, doing the dishes, unasked.  Go, Tate!


And now the packing... oh the packing...

I have a master list, that really saves my bacon.  As I scan through them I realize they need to be updated.  Because, really, I no longer have to bring...

• a big plastic tub of toys which doubles as a great, kiddy bath-tub
• the high chair that clips onto the picnic table
• copious amounts of anti-bacterial wipes
• bibs
• everyone's favorite blankies

My Beach House master list has gone from a full, two-column page to about 20  items.

* Happy sigh *