I love me some summer

It is finally beginning to feel like summer, both weatherwise and schedule wise. I love the flexibility of summer. Yesterday I did two of my summer transdisciplinary play based assessments in the morning, then met Sally for her trial run for her hair for the wedding day. Once back home, she and I were working on our to-do list when Christy stopped by. We ended up all going out for a quick dinner together! So much fun.
Today, I was able to sleep in a bit later, then had a great therapeutic walk. I have been feeling so anxious lately. Not about wedding details at all, but more about life. This whole "our baby is getting married" thing is far more emotional than I anticipated! I always feel better after my walk with my "therapist", who more than anything, just listens and doesn't judge. Jean gets it. After 17 years of walking together, she has no choice :).
I did private speech at 11, then went to pick up Jack at the airport. He had been in Boston the past few days. We were shocked that he did not get stuck in another city...because he has 4 times already this year, including last week when he was "weathered in" in Columbus OH. It was good timing, because it started storming on the way home from the airport. We had a couple of wedding errands to run, including dropping off the marriage license and $ for the church and finalizing wedding cake plans at the bakery. We got those errands done, then went out for a lunch in a cozy dark restaurant. This afternoon had vacation written all over it. So relaxing.
Two weeks from tomorrow!

Quality family time

It was such a great weekend. Jack and I had tons of worky work (that means things we had to do for work), but we were able to balance that with tons of great family time.
On Saturday, we had a visit from Lauren. She came over after stopping by the cemetery to spend time at Mike's grave. Father's Day takes on a whole new meaning when your dad is gone. Lauren, Sally, Jack and I spent an hour just sitting in our living room, talking and processing life, then went out for a quick lunch. It was a special time. Love her.
We had offered

learning how to give Bella a treat from Auntie Karen

Nina in Susie's living room

to watch Abbie and Nina Saturday late afternoon so that Beth could take Arne out for an early Father's Day dinner. I took the girls out to Susie's for a visit and we had a blast. The girls loved looking for Sue's cat, Joseph, who smart and stayed hidden. Bella, Sue's Newfoundland, was left as the focus of the girls' attention, lucky dog! The girls and I got back to our house around 8 and Arne and Beth came to visit a bit (Arne watched the Blackhawks, too, of course) before taking the girls home. We practiced some flower girl moves and made a book on the iPad and tried on some of Sally's old dresses (because, yes, we still have some of them!) and had a lovely time together.
On Sunday, Jack and I went to 7am mass. If we are up at that time, it is a great mass to go to. Our parish calls it the "golfers mass" because it is short and sweet... no music, a short homily and you are out in 35 minutes or so. We were home before 8, back to work on our worky work stuff (after my walk with Jean, of course). We worked until 3 when we left for Father's Day dinner at Lauren's new condo in the city.
Ok. Wow. What a great time! Lauren's condo is amazing and she did an awesome job hostessing Father's Day for the first time. It was a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, since Downtown Sue usually hosts this event. The younger generation is stepping up. We had so much fun and the food was delicious!
Afterwards, Jack, Wayne, Julie, Sally, Matt and I went to see Book of Mormon. It was a Christmas present from Wayne to all of us. It was so funny! Of course, we cannot stop singing the most inappropriate songs from it!
I loved loved loved my family time this weekend.

check out Lauren's view!

Grandma brought a cool housewarming gift for Laur

we are family

Summer Schedule

How lovely it is to have a job in education this time of year. I just am loving this change of pace. I am still working, but doing my summer work with a much different schedule. June is busy, but then July quiets down, especially after July 6 :). I have two private speech therapy clients this summer and am doing group play-based assessments again this year (but less than 10 this year which is the equivalent of 10 days of work). In addition, I am teaching my iPad class again. Instead of seven 90 minute sessions, it is going to be all day on Monday and Tuesday (June 17 and 18). I had to rework my handouts and update some information because of the different format and there have been a few significant updates/changes since last fall. It has taken more time than I thought it would, but I am excited to facilitate this class next week. There are 20 educators signed up; it will be a combination of general education teachers, special education teachers, OTs, PTs, school psychologists and one SLP, who serve students from 3 to 14 years of age. It's a challenge to make sure I have content that will benefit all of these professionals. I am excited and a little bit nervous.
With my lovely summer schedule, I was able to meet Jenny, Beth, Abbie and Nina at Nordstrom this morning to buy flower girl shoes. Grammy and Pappy (aka Jenny and Jay) were springing for the shoes. It took less than 20 minutes to make the purchase. Abbie was interested in some black shoes with heels (yes, they have some in her size!), but Beth told her Sally really wanted the girls to get Toms. Beth explained that since Sally was the bride, it was Sally's choice and when Abbie was the bride, Abbie could decide.  Sally could not join us due to a dentist appointment, so it was good that we had Beth there representing Sally's wishes. Because I was ready to vote for the mini high heels for the girls! I should point out that there was absolutely no whining or protesting...at least by Abbie or Nina. Good thing I had to scoot out of there to go do some speech therapy :) Just kidding. The sparkly silver Toms are adorable!
Tonight Jack and I went for an early dinner (that is the only kind of dinner out we have any more...kinda like my grandmother and the Windjammer in Sarasota) to a newly opened restaurant in our town. It is a beautiful summer night and it is feeling like vacation.
I will get up early tomorrow and get cracking on the two reports I need to write before Wednesday.

hashtagthrowbackthursday

...or as I like to call it, flashback Thursday.
Facebook has this thing they like to call #tbt (short for throwbackthursday). Folks post pictures from the olden days.
I have just discovered this #tbt.
And I am operating at such an advantage, given the hundreds of pictures that I have taken over the years. Where do I begin?
Are we flashing throwing back 5 years? 10? 30? because I have all of those years covered. Pretty much. I am trying to figure out how I am going to manage all the pictures that I want to scan and post.
It'll become clear.
For now, here is one

and here is another one

Licensed to Wed!

I just received a text and a picture from Sally. She and Matt are officially licensed to wed. 

One more step in the process. Earlier today Sally and I ordered cocktail napkins and place cards for the reception.  

23 more days. 

Transitioning

Transitions are never easy for me, no matter how positive the transition is. I always need to process everything by talking it out and also by napping. Frequent naps help.
There are two major transitions happening right now.
The first one is school year into summer. It should be seamless, but it never is. Most of the time I grind to a halt and get nothing done for a few days. This summer I have been a bit more productive. Today was my first totally official day of summer vacation.  I started it out by driving Jack to the airport, then met Cath and Christy for breakfast. Loved spending time with them. Nothing says vacation day like time with girlfriends. I also did a speech therapy session and worked on plans for the iPad class that I am teaching next Monday and Tuesday. I did manage to fit in two naps today as well. Sally and I went out for some sushi for dinner and are now all settled in, watching The Bachelorette.
The second transition is the ongoing transition of ....our baby getting married! We are down to 25 days til the big day. It helps to process it all with Sally. Lots and lots of details, but it will all be good.
The biggest thing is that in a few weeks I will have to change the name of this blog. I will be back to empty nesting. Waaaaaaaa.

Last lunch of SY 12-13

Today is my last full day of work for this school year. I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to my lunch at work. Pretty much every Monday-Thursday for oh, about 10 years now, I have had my melted cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread,  usually with some cucumber, lettuce and tomato on it, with a little Lawry's seasoned salt sprinkled on for a finishing touch. For the last several years, I have added "broccoli for one", zapped in the microwave. Yummmm. I love my work lunch. I am going to miss it until the fall. It just doesn't taste as good in other settings!