Summer Came Early

Wow. I love it. I turned in my last assignment and said goodbye to my co-workers on Friday to bring to close a semester, well, really two semesters plus a month of grad school, to welcome in summer - practically two months early for what most consider to be "summer." It's awesome and so strange, though. I kept waiting for something to feel more final or triumphant or, I don't know, something more than every other Friday.

But then the weekend came, and I kept running into these gentle reminders of the sense of freedom that stands before me now - almost undeserved in a way. But getting ready for a wedding and really just needing a break (and living up what might be my last un-career summer) seem to be perfect excuses for babysitting every other day and having the freedom to do what I want (more babysitting, shopping, sleeping in, baking, oh glory!) I love not having something looming in the distance, either - like assignments. I mean, sure, eighty-one days from now the biggest event I've ever worked on planning in my whole life will take place but I've got plenty of time and help to get it done, I'm not so much feeling it burdensome.

Anyways, I'm excited about a change from the routine because by the time it rolls around again I'll be excited about that. Lord knows what I'm going to do with myself next year this time...

The past few days have been awesome and sunny, both literally and figuratively (the sun-shaped "bib" - as Cliff put it - on my chest is evidence of that). Cliff and I cleaned our cars on Saturday afternoon and GARSH my car is clean - like - HAWT clean. Seriously. And then we packed up the kayaks and gear and headed out west to Burns (about 30 minutes away?) to paddle a portion of the Harpeth called the Narrows of the Harpeth. It was our first time doing something besides still-water and it was fantastic - we could do it seriously or just lounge depending on our varying moods during the 5.5 mile (2-3 hour) trip. It was a gorgeous day and we saw beavers and copperheads and turtles, oh my! Later in the evening we went over to Casey and Sara's for some of Casey's famous grilling (this time it was steak!) and good company.

Sunday was the usual, which of course includes a stop at Starbucks before going to Sunday School class where a couple brought in Munchkin Donuts from Dunkin' Donuts, making that the fourth time in a row the last few weeks. (It's a tradition in our class for expecting couples to bring in Munchkins and then everyone has to guess who's having a baby - fortunately with Cliff and I in the class, they have a little easier time narrowing down options, haha). After church we met up with Casey and Sara (and Aaron who had joined us for service) at the annual Franklin Main Street Festival where we partook in festival food and walked in and out of booths that lined the streets as far as the eye could see - pottery, light switch plates, electric-wire jewelry, you name it! I love stuff like that - it made me miss the Neptune Festival and how much there was to do over the course of days... sand soccer tournaments, arts and crafts booths that Grammie and Grandpa sometimes participated in, and sand sculptures.

Got a great start to the week today with Jakey who was feeling much better this week than he was last and therefore not nearly as fussy! We spent the afternoon at Dragon Park where he sat in the swing most of the time and then we took a jaunt around the neighborhood in his supped up jogging stroller. I think I'm going to be a great mom, one day. I don't know, I just take a lot of pride in the relationships I've been able to have with children over time and how much it really is a joy for me to learn them from infancy on up. Last Wednesday I had this semi-rough day with Jake and today was the complete opposite, and I know that not every day is as bright and sunshiney as some often are and that sometimes the glamour is lost when the kids are actually your own. But I really do just want to be a mom, and it doesn't at all feel like a cop out to me.

So in my own little perfect ending to a day where I get to pretend to be mom, I was on my way home and called Cliff and changed our plans for going out to eat tonight to me cooking for him, so I could pretend to play wife as well. I ran by the grocery store and picked up ingredients (rotelli, check - cherry tomatoes, check - chicken breast tenderloins, check - asiago and parmigiano reggiano cheese, check - baby spinach, check - something for dessert, check... I had everything else) for a recipe I had seen on the Food Network today and memorized (and of course added my own personal flair, using the rotelli instead of the fusilli, adding crushed red pepper and the chicken because Cliff likes his protein). I came home and fixed dinner, set the table and turned on some Sinatra and we had a nice dinner "at home." (By the way, since I put so much effort into dinner I got these for dessert and they were awesome.)

So what does tomorrow hold? Who knows?! And I like it that way!