Skipping Town

 Friday, September 12 End of the week. We went to the pool for dinner in the evening. It was slightly too chilly to swim, though Andrew did get in. Saturday, September 13 Greta had her first race of the season this morning, way out at Youthtowne. She did great, coming in 24 out of 76 and getting a PR. Afterward, she rode the team bus home and hung out on Walnut Street with two teammate friends.  Later in the afternoon, we went to the pool for a nice swim. And we were back to the club Saturday evening for the annual Clam Bake. We met at our house first for prom-style photos and then had a fun night talking and dancing. Though we did dance in the baby pool, we did not, this year, go down the waterslide fully clothed into the main pool. I wore a dress with embroidered swans. Everyone was pretty amenable to going along with my absurd swan dance. Beth and Nate are used to my shenanigans but even the other friends with us didn't seem (too) alarmed. Sunday, September 14 Greta and I h...

Wednesday was an ordinary day of school, work, and XC. Thursday, Lucia went to XC and then out for bubble tea for her team. Greta had her audition for the middle school musical, and then she and Andrew ran in Schenley while I walked with Farrah in Panther Hollow. After dinner, Lucia and I shopped online for homecoming dresses--it's that time of year--and ordered a few to try on. Then, in a brilliant alignment of stars, both girls agreed to go up to the club for a night swim with me and Andrew. It was a beautiful night for it, and the water was very warm. It was a perfect end to the day.

Another week begins, with XC on Monday and then piano and tutoring on Tuesday. Lucia came home sick on Tuesday afternoon; a cold is taking kids down rapidly at school. Luckily for her, XC was cancelled because a fire in Squirrel Hill had degraded the air quality too much to run.  Andrew and I are nearly done with season 4 of The Bear. The cleaners came Tuesday and our house is sparkling. Getting the house ready for cleaning, including relocating Nutmeg to the attic for the day and then relocating her back to Greta's room in the evening, is a huge pain. Greta is often successful at catching Nutmeg and getting her into a carrier, but sometimes Nutmeg is just absolutely determined not to be caught. It's a circus.  We have booked a fabulous vacation over Thanksgiving this year--Tulum. Molly and I have talked for years about taking a family trip to an all-inclusive over Thanksgiving, and we're finally making it happen. We are all very very excited. 

A nice relaxing Sunday. Andrew and I ran errands in the morning (farmer's market, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe's, Target, Staples for return dropoff) and then were home for the rest of the day. We took Farrah on a walk so I could pick up some library books. I read on the porch. I made potato salad to have along with Andrew's fried chicken sandwiches for dinner. The girls and I watched an episode of This Is Us while I worked on another crocheted pear. I wish we had another day to this weekend. Not ready for it to end.

A whole week of blogging missed. The only excuse is that it was a week full of intense CT scan-ziety, and then a reassuring appointment with my surgeon/oncologist: everything stable, a win. Huge sigh of relief. I had such an amazing summer, feeling back to myself (well, myself with short hair), and now--now I will get an amazing fall, too. Didn't want to bury the lede after such a long absence, so I'm giving the health update up front. Now, the past week's recap: Sunday, August 31 - Greta had a birthday party to go to, and Lucia had plans with friends, so Andrew and I went up to the pool in the afternoon and had a lovely swim. The water was so warm, though we were freezing once we got out.  Monday, September 1 - Labor Day - We had a super fun day with Mom and Dad in Connellsville. We arrived in the morning and went to Gabe's, where we all found a few things. We went to IHOP for lunch (I'd found a cache of gift cards in a pouch!), and then spent the afternoon at home...

Thursday was a regular day, the kids still plowing through their first week, XC after school. No piano lessons--so strange--after having piano lessons on Thursday for the past eight years.  Friday I worked from home, and had early dismissal for the holiday weekend. Greta had a friend over after school to finish bedazzling her spikes. Lucia went to Starbucks with a friend. Friday night the four of us went out to dinner at Kujira, an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant in Shadyside, and had a fun meal. Then we played a game of Splendor, and the girls and I watched an episode of This Is Us. Saturday, Andrew went golfing and I took the girls to XC practice. Farrah and I walked 1.4 miles. We dropped Farrah off at home afterward and went to lunch at T-Swirl Crepe, then stopped at Ebisu so Greta could get a birthday gift for a party on Sunday.  The most exciting errand of the day--Orr's Jewelers, where I finally picked up my newly resized wedding and engagement rings. I haven't been abl...