Schooool!

Kitty has been a first grader for about 7 weeks now.  How do I feel about it?

I HATE BEING AWAY FROM MY BABY!

You'd think that full-day Kindergarten last year cured me of my school blues.  Well...it didn't.  Even now, I feel a spasm of sadness in my heart when I watch Kitty run into the school in the morning.  Every dang day.

I just don't like it.

But, I am grateful that at least my Kitty isn't a teenager.  That would be worse.

It was an adjustment going from Kinder to first grade.  Her teacher is less lovey-dovey, none of her friends are in her class, there's no drawer of construction paper to draw on anytime you want, you have to be quiet on the rug during lesson times, it's all very mature now.  We had a rocky few weeks at the beginning, but Kitty has settled in nicely.  Resilient feline, that one.

We went out for ice cream after the first day of school because - well - you just should.

 Here's to a great first grade year!

'Fraid

I am unashamed to admit that I have a few fears; a few completely rational and not ridiculous fears.

Like spiders.

Or small spaces.

Or Michael dying on his daily commute.

Or drowning - specifically being trapped beneath the water's surface by a log, boat, someone sitting on my head, etc.

Here's the thing: I'm turning 40 next month.  I'm not afraid of 40, mostly I'm just baffled that I'm actually turning 40.  I decided that I should do something big, face a fear and accomplish a colossally scary task to mark my nearly 40 years of life.  What should I choose...

I'm not making friends with spiders.

I'm not shoving my body into a cramped space.

I'm not letting Michael die on his commute.

Darn. That leaves drowning.

So look what I did:

That's me in the purple shirt.  I look pretty happy don't I?  It was a nervous smile, the kind where you chuckle aloud and force your lips into a curve, but inside you are desperately trying not to vomit.  Or scream out, "We're all going to die!"

I spent the first 20 minutes of the rafting trip with a stomach ache, gripping my oar with enough force to form a blister.  I also had my feet shoved so tightly under the seat in front of me that I nearly lost 6 toenails.

I WAS TRYING NOT TO DROWN! Can you imagine falling out of the raft and getting trapped underneath?!  I can and it makes my spine shudder.

After I realized I probably wasn't going to die, I loosened my grip ever so slightly and began to enjoy myself.  But I kept my feet tightly under the seat in front of me.  My toes were tender for a few days.

There I am in the swirling abyss!  And I lived!  My ear canal took on about a gallon of water, but I didn't fall out of the raft, I didn't drown, and I think I even had a good time.

There was a raft behind us that didn't have a river guide and every person but one was ejected from their boat while going over the big rapid.  Our guide had us maneuver up the rushing water to rescue them.  It took a lot of difficult rowing but we did it.  Not only did I face a fear, I was a hero as well.

Am I still afraid of drowning?  A little.

What?  You didn't expect one little rafting trip to cure me did you?

Summer Wrap-up

I know summer's flame is nearly extinguished when it's time to go camping with our friends again.  Going camping is a great experience for Mykey and Kitty - they hop in the car one morning and go camping.  Going camping is a much different experience for Booney - Booney spends days and days organizing, shopping, meal prepping, and loading the car.

Booney is tired on the morning Mykey and Kitty hop in the car to go camping.

I always have a bad attitude about our annual camping trip.  I have a bad attitude right up until camp is completely set up and we're lighting our first fire. Then I'm happy to be camping.

But only for 2 nights.  2 nights and not one second more.

We went to Tumalo State Park again this year.  I wished we had gone someplace new just for a change of scenery.  I also wished that Mykey had not hurt his back days before our departure.  It was a painful trip for him and I had to do all the things he usually does.  Like getting in the FREEZING cold river with Kitty.  She's one cat who does not hate water.  Booney hates water.

Despite our little setbacks, we had a nice camping trip.  It's fun to get away for a few days and just be together. 

Farewell Summer!  You were good to us this year!

Traadition! Traadition!

I've been going to my sissy's house every summer for many moons.  I went for many moons before I had Kitty, and now Kitty gets to come along.  Actually, Kitty ditches me for a few days and goes on her own, and then I get to come along later. 

Someone is invading my territory.

Who can blame her really?  My sissy's house is the best. 

Kayaking and paddle boarding!

Silverwood amusement park!

Indoor camping! (My nephew graciously slept in the tent with her and read The Hobbit aloud)

Mini golf!

Yummy Boba drinks! (My first Boba experience)

Rock wall!

A whole box of Zotz!  A whole box!

Watching my sissy race in a triathlon! (I spectated with my brother-in-law while eating popcorn and drinking a soda.  We didn't want to be mistaken for athletes.)

We also sit around and talk and eat. It's wonderful. No wonder I go every year.

Traadition! Traadition!

Normal?

I thought it would be a good idea to read some child-development books so I can better understand my child.  Here's what I learned:

Cats are supreme tree-climbing hunters, with strongly muscled backs and hindquarters that give them tremendous power to jump - either horizontally or vertically.  It's normal for cats to jump and climb to high places as they explore their environment.

There's nothing to be concerned about; Kitty is perfectly normal.

Come back!

It was beautifully sunny and nearly too hot outside a few days ago.  The next day, Summer tipped his hat and exclaimed, "See ya later, suckers!" and hopped a flight to Florida.

What a jerk.

But...we made the most of Summer while he was around.  It was a gorgeous and eventful few months around our place.  It was truly a joy having my Kitty home with me again and I savored our days together.

This summer we had lots of adventures.  "Like what," you ask?  Well, like:

The beach!

The zoo!

Playdates!

The State Fair!

The library!

Super Mario World!

Morning exercise!

 And taking hundreds of selfies!

It was a fantastic summer indeed.  I still need to tell you about our trip to Idaho and camping in Bend.

I know you just can't wait!

It's Time

I always know when summer has officially arrived - my niece comes to visit!  This year marked her 7th summer in a row.  I made it very clear this year that even though she is graduating from high school in the spring, she is not excused from summer visits.  In fact, I expect her to still be here every summer in the future with her 5 kids in tow.

It's just how it is.

I love it when Britta comes.  Kitty loves it when Britta comes.  Mykey loves it when Britta comes.  Aika loves it when Britta comes.  You know who doesn't love it when Britta comes?  Britta's mom - because then her house is quiet.  Too bad for her.

It's just how it is.

When Britta comes, we talk and laugh and lay in bed and eat and laugh and talk and she teaches me teenager lingo.  Life seems less stressful with her around.  It's one of my favorite times of the entire year.  Here are some of the things that we did this time around.

We ate sushi.  LOTS of sushi.

We fulfilled Britta's lifelong dream and went to Chuck E. Cheese's.  She earned fifty million tickets on the Barrel of Monkeys game and spent them all on cotton candy - which she shared with Kitty.

We climbed the steps to the top of the state capitol building.  It was hot up there.

We went bowling.  Thank goodness for lane bumpers.

We went hiking and Britta made Kitty a flower crown and Kitty drew Britta a picture.

And we laid around in bed and ate crepes, of course.

Sheesh.  Just think of the number of crepes I'll have to make when she comes with her 5 kids.  No worry, I will happily make them because we always have crepes.

It's just how it is.