Friday, August 20, 2010

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 *

5 comments:

The dB family said...

A very Happy Birthday to Kerry!! I'm so glad he has work. It's sad he has to miss some of the vacation time, but understandable too.

Happy packing and wishing you a blessed weekend! Enjoy!

Deborah

Ruby said...

Yes, happy birthday to Kerry! It is great to hear he has work. May it continue long.
Is this holiday the last hoorah before you guys get back the grind of school for the year?

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Ruby -

This is a family vacation. And almost-every-summer tradition :D

Most folks are back to school around the beginning of September. We'll be starting up F/T school then, too, but we're also taking a week off mid-September to go camping, because everyone else will be back in school!

Fun times :D

Kristen@nosmallthing said...

Taking a little break from my work to read...glad Kerry found work! YAY!

Now, aren't you just slightly misty-eyed that your packing list has shrunk?

I packed a suitcase for our weekend last night (Kate ended up getting sick this morning so we didn't leave) and I didn't pack diapers...I was NOT slightly misty-eyed about that. :)

Jena Webber said...

Happy Birthday kerry. Actually 47 or even 50 is starting to sound young. Shows you how old we're all getting. Yeah for work!!

"up ere" up here? whaaa?