Family Time

Started my long holiday weekend at noon yesterday and celebrated with a nap in the recliner on a gloomy, VERY rainy afternoon :) The good news is that the rain has cleared out and the sun is shining on what promises to be a lovely Friday.

Dan is returning home after several weeks working for the Navy in Hawaii (a shorter trip for him than usual) and we're pretty damned excited. Tyler comes home tonight so it will be a full house this weekend. I don't have a lot of hard and fast plans, other than cooking for my crew ;) A few things on my list:

1. Heading down to Phenomenal Woman in Zumbrota this afternoon to peruse and freshen up my summer wardrobe.

2. Bonfire tonight - first one of the year for the whole fam.

3. Coffee with Nancy on Saturday morning - due to changes in Nancy's schedule we've been unable to get to Caribou on a regular basis, so looking forward to our visit tomorrow.

4. Walking time and reading time - I need to dive into our book club book but I'm currently distracted by David McCullough's 'The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris'. I had picked up this book in Chicago last summer and have been enjoying it immensely - this is the first non-Kindle book that I've read in a long, long time.

5. We'll be down to the Memorial Day service at Bay Point Park on Monday morning with Scouts and Band (Grant will play in the Concert Band). Always moving, always well-attended, it's something we look forward to every year.


I guess there is a lot going on, after all. Oh well, there should be plenty of time for R & R with my guys, just the thing to feed the soul :D

In the Season

Well, we've officially hit the end of the school year sprint - last night was the final band concert for Jazz, Symphonic, and Concert bands, one of my fave concerts of the year because it's a great chance for the seniors to play together and celebrate their final concert before graduation. Grant did the senior slideshow presentation (featuring baby photos and grad photos) and set the slide show to Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' (AWESOME!) One more year of band with Grant, and I plan to enjoy each and every one :)

Other late spring/early summer shenanigans:

1. Multitudinous grad parties - I always joke that between weddings, showers and grad parties you never have to cook in June.

2. Grant's Eagle Scout Project on Sand Hill is happening on June 2nd - he's hoping to get final project approval tonight, go Grant!!

3. Garage sale madness with the fam in Rochester on the 9th - hoping to earn a little pin money ;)

4. We're invited to the wedding of friend Mark & Caryn's daughter Kirsten in St. Paul on the 16th - this will be a first for our old mom's group, definitely looking forward to seeing the young people pledge their faith to one another.

5. Sending Grant off to American Legion Boy's State as a delegate sometime in mid-June - I was a Girl's State delegate in 1984 so it's cool that Grant is carrying forward the family tradition.


Gosh, today is just so full of win - sun, low humidity, breezy and warm. Perfect for porch time :)

Update

Feeling a little sore today after the epic cleaning of the basement project - even with my two helpers I'm pretty worn out but happy to say we got through ninety percent of the project (a few bins of books and other sundries remain to be sorted through at a later date). We took two full loads to the incinerator and hauled a load down to my folk's house in Rochester in preparation for the June 9th garage sale so now I feel like my basement grew by half again ;) We topped off the trip to Roch by going to see 'Battleship' (U.S. Navy blowing up alien invaders, hell yeah I was entertained!) and burgers at Newts (yummy!!)

It didn't help that the weather was REALLY hot the last few days (93 on Saturday and 90 yesterday). Not terribly humid but still made the work harder. But hey, it's done and now I can plan the next Project Friday (Grant's closet, here I come!)

Regrouping today: sifting through the usual Sunday chore list, and then I'm doing some research for a potential Great River client. I've been slowly pulling together details for my business plan, I feel like I want to take my time to network and see what's happening in the industry outside the local government box and really listen to people's business needs.

Busy week ahead, so glad I have one more day at home. Viva la weekend!!

Project Friday - May 19

Today's Project Friday will feature a little bit of Indiana Jones (the archeology part, not the crazy adventure part) as Austin and I will attempt to dig out our basement. I'm married to a packrat/hoarder and things have gotten WAY out of control, and since I have my helper home for the next month we are going to hit it hard and dig our way through layers of stuff (my methodology comprises of three piles: Goodwill, garage sale, and garbage). I know it will be a lot of work but I'm pretty excited and I know we will get a lot done today :)

Great guns, it's beautiful outside this morning - sun is shining, birds singing, a breeze rustling the trees. TGIF!!!

Master's Program

Today I took a big step forward in investing in my professional future by enrolling in the St. Mary's University Master in GIS (MGIS) program beginning in fall 2011 - let's see some victory arms!
\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/

(BTW, just a wee bit excited, haha!)

This is something I've been contemplating for the last few years and finally feel ready to attempt - I am, and always will be, a lifelong learner. Bring it on!!!

Favorite Month

This last weekend pretty much proved once again why May is my favorite month of the year - skies were a clear, deep blue with wispy clouds, low humidity, light breeze, birds singing, and the heady scent of things that grow. I put out all my flower baskets and took a little side trip down to Stockholm Gardens on Saturday to pick out some new hostas for my side yard garden. I ADORE Stockholm Gardens, it's set on an old farm site with gorgeous gardens and an old barn to display planters and such. Definitely a worthy Mother's Day weekend destination!

I spent most of Sunday afternoon reading on my patio surrounded by all my blooming plants, and I realized how much they feel like happy little children to me. I know that sounds dorky but I enjoy seeing everything thrive and fill up the space around the patio. My patio is such a wonderfully quiet and private place for me, it's my own special corner of the world :D

Mother's Day Weekend 2012

Much fun will abound on this Mother's Day weekend - looks like we might just get a warm and sunny Saturday for a change as well :D Here's my list o' goodness:

1. Picking up my annuals and flower baskets at Sargent's Nursery later this morning - I pay a little more but their product is gorgeous and it feels good supporting a local business.

2. Helping Austin unpack and move in to our household - not fun but necessary. Happy to have him home :)

3. Don and Nancy are meeting us to go see the RWHS spring musical 'All Shook Up' tonight at the Sheldon Theater - TOTALLY excited, Sean Dowse and the kids always put on an amazing show!

4. Saturday I've been invited to a potluck supper with my old mom's group in St. Paul. Julie and I have been friends since 1987, I can't wait to see her and all the other gals - much love to Julie, Donna, Laurie, Caryn, and Amy.

5. My guys are taking me to a movie and supper on Mother's Day :) Not sure yet what we're going to see, but it's mom's choice.


Slept SO good last night - feeling pretty Zen with the world, looking forward to a busy and productive Friday!