…things keeping me sane this week.
If you’ve been following along this week, you know we’ve been starring in our own Primetime Drama titled “Where the hell is Riley’s passport and please, God, let the passport agency give us an appointment to get him a replacement for his lost-in-the-mail passport ASAP,” and it’s been a lot of fun. Add five nights of Vacation Bible School for Charlotte, hours upon hours of volunteering at the middle school for the twins and Ava, golf lessons, and orthodontist appointments (having a kid with braces is a real joy), and a calendar that laughs in the face of free time, and it’s been a hectic week.
The good news is that this kind of chaos is nothing in comparison to the kind of chaos we are thrown into during sports’ seasons with four kids, so I’m good. And on a bright note, I’ve had plenty this week that’s kept me sane in the midst of all the chaos, and for that I’m appreciative.
- Midweek Dinner with Friends
Summer is actually really slow for us in terms of being social. Our group of friends loves to travel, and we always seem to plan our trips on different weeks. If we are gone, they’re home. If they’re gone, we’re home. We see less of our friends during the summer when we all allegedly have free time than during the school year when all of our calendars are filled to overflowing with sports and school activities.
But this week, we were home at the same time for the first time in a few weeks, and we managed to squeeze in a midweek dinner with our closest friends. And nothing cures the “things that are out of my control” anxiety like wearing my comfy clothes, sitting on my best friend’s couch while the husbands make cocktails, and enjoying a delicious meal and great conversation (and dessert).
- A Weekend at Home with Great Friends
While our kids are still on summer vacation for another month, this is kind of it in terms of weekends at home to enjoy our beautiful home, our pool, and some downtime. And, frankly, sometimes the best weekends are the ones when no one has to pack their luggage.
We’re spending the weekend by our pool with friends and a whole bunch of kids as well as on the river, celebrating one of our littlest friends and her birthday. There’s nothing like a day spent at Mia’s house jumping off the dock, paddling across the water to Three Sisters Springs, and playing outside in the sun, and the kids are very much looking forward to it.
All in all, it’s exactly the kind of weekend reset we knew we’d need before diving into another week of possibly making a trip to who even knows where to make sure that the passport situation is resolved.
- Vacation Deliveries
At the end of the day, I’m materialistic. Love me a new package. Love me a new outfit (or 15). Is there anything better than opening all the packages that arrive and trying everything on? No, there’s not.
Swimsuits and cover-ups and dresses and accessories that will live their best life on our upcoming vacation and likely not ever see the light of day again. No, that’s not true. If I love it, I re-wear it (and buy it in every available color). And I’ve linked most (not all because time is not exactly on my side this week) of my recent purchases for anyone who wants to know what I’m packing and what my travel essentials are.
- Having My Husband Home Again
Ah, yes. Now we get to the good part. The thing that’s been keeping me sane all week is having Craig home after being away for three nights last weekend. While I survived his absence just fine, I definitely prefer having my favorite person home with me. And not just because solo parenting four kids is an Olympic sport (I’m sure there’s a trophy or medal for that), but because he’s still my favorite person after 25 years.
Sure, he may drive me nuts on occasion – who wouldn’t when you literally spend 24 hours a day together? I think we’ve spent a grand total of maybe 15 nights apart in 25 years. While we always have fun when we partake in a girls’ trip or a guys’ trip, it’s always so good to be back home and together. And that’s really what’s been keeping me sane this week.
Happy Friday!
Tiffany Raiford 