Unexpectedly, I decided to just drive it all out to the lake after loading it all into my truck. Then, randomly, I just decided to stay the night. And drive back to work in the morning IN THE SAME CLOTHES I WORE THE DAY BEFORE.
No one died, no one lost an eye. You can wear re-runs without the sky falling in.
And even though I still worked on Thursday and Friday, my head was in staycation mode.
Thursday after work, I joined Jenn, her daugher Yaunna and her friend, Leslie in watching The King Arthur movie.
I had this to say about the experience (posted to Facebook):
So tonight I saw the King Arthur movie with Jenn, her daughter, and her writing friend, Lesley, whom I'd never met before. Jenn is cool and I haven't seen her since last summer and I wanted to not be a dork tonight but I was a bit nervous because I haven't seen her since last August. And her daughter and friend were along and you know how it is. I was the last to arrive, the previews were playing, and the server asked if he could get me anything. (We were in a VIP theatre.) I placed my order. He asked for my scene card, and wondered how I'd be paying. I pulled open my purse (I am not a purse person; this one was a gift, it is a black purse with black lining, and I'm sitting in a dark theatre. (I usually leave my purse and keys in the truck (keyless entry) and tuck my phone (which has my Visa and driver's license inside the case) into my bra. (I may look lumpy but it's safe from pickpockets there.) My Scene card number is recordered in the note section of my phone, so I don't have to carry the card. I tell him I just need to get my phone, but I can't find it in that bloody black bag. I am pulling crap out of All The Pockets; things are falling off my lap and into the abyss. Jenn gives him her scene card, and I keep searching. Time is ticking. I am sweating. Jenn just offers to pay. I know my phone is in there, but my fingers are not feeling it. I am embarrassed. I am feeling like an idiot. And then. Then I pull out a hard boiled egg. From my purse. No one saw that coming.The server looks at it and says, "I'm gonna have to confiscate that, no outside food allowed." Jenn suggests he better be Employee of The Month for bringing that gem back to his boss. I have become *that lady who rummages around in her oversized handbag and pulls out old hairnets, used kleenex's and boiled eggs. It's all downhill from here.
Moral of the story: If you just can't pull off 'being normal' - dazzle them with eccentricity. That egg diffused the situation nicely.
Thursday was also my dad's birthday. He woulda been 81. It was also his twin sister (Margaret)'s birthday, Val's husband's (John's) birthday, and it was the Birth Day of John and Val's 8th grandchild ... Kaitlynn Carly! (And according to Facebook, it was the wedding anniversary of about a million people.)
So Friday after work I was the 13th wheel at John's birthday evening:
And from there, I drove to the lake.
I spent Saturday reading (a library book, that I started and finished) (and puttering and cleaning) until the kids arrived around 9 pm, starving. We BBQ'ed, ate a late dinner, then sat around the table and played a new-to-us game that Drew brought up: Dixit.
So fun.
Amy won.
Yes, I recommend this game.
Much fun. Easy to play. One round is quick... like half an hour or so.
I was the first person to head upstairs, at midnight. My three boys were all sitting at the table, playing a game online, together, each on their own laptop, talking furiously and laughing. Dani had made herself a fluffy nest in the papsan chair and was reading and Amy was stretched out on the couch, studying. These are my people, all together, all relaxed, all home. Awesomeness x 1000.
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When I came downstairs the next morning, just before noon, I was greeted by 5 kids giving me my Mother's Day gift; they were cleaning and setting up the lawn furniture and getting the cabin ready for SUMMER:
Once everything was set out, the boys played Frisbee. Danica and Amy read.
Girls are unfazed by the activity around them.
Then it was time to try out the new toys. Clint had taken one for a test ride on Sat evening when he arrived, and sent us this pic from the other shore:
So Dani gave er a spin on Sunday afternoon...
Followed by Max and Drew who decided to race them:
Clint had tools in his hands most of the day ...
His gift to the cabin was a pair of security cameras/motion detector lights THAT CAN BE OPERATED FROM/VIEWED FROM AN APP ON MY PHONE. I love technology.
My mom joined us for dinner on Sunday evening which we ate on the deck. And it was just the most perfect evening. We sat around the table and talked for hours and the weather was awesome and the food was a delicious collaborative effort and the conversation meandered all over the place and my heart just kept smiling.
While I did dishes, Clint started a fire to burn odd wood pieces and IT FELT LIKE SUMMER.
Oh, what would we do without wifi?
After it got dark, we all ended up inside for another rousing round of Dixit. Amy won again. The kids then watched Second Hand Lions, and I went to bed to read. It's the richest, most excellent sound in the world, listening to people you love talk and laugh in the room directly beneath you.
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I was up and out of the house by 9; I had a list of things we needed, so I drove into Sardis and spent another paycheck. I got back at 11, then made cheese biscuits for those who were up. At noon I made French Toast for brunch, and shortly after that, the exodus began.
First Drew and Dani left, followed shortly by Max and Amy.
Clint stuck around. After he kayaked all the way around the lake, he helped me store the toys and furniture, deal with the garbage, eat some of the leftovers before leaving at 11 pm.
And because I s t r e t c h things out so that they last til forever, I took Tuesday off work and stayed another night.
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Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Friends that help you check things off of your massive 101 Things to do in 1,001 Days List. I have a library card! And I checked one DVD and 3 books out of the library. Plus I bought a book from their sale for $1. Last Tuesday was a good evening. :)
2. Kids who show up. I love how they're 'all in' when they get together. Which we don't do more than once a month, for dinner. And other than twice a year at the lake, (Maylong and Augustlong), we don't just 'hang out'... but I love how when we all gather, they bring their A game and good attitudes.
3. I'm so thankful for the good weather. This weekend's sunshine was such a welcome gift.
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