in reality....

 ....I could tell you that yesterday afternoon, it was blissful as we floated in the pool for the first time of the season...and that would be true.  The water was refreshingly cool, a nice break from the humidity and the blazing sun.  

But, we were talking about the future.  It made my tummy hurt.  Charlotte Claire is leaving in five weeks for a year in Germany, although she is coming home in August for Sonja's wedding.  Camille is taking her end of the year test now, and is going to attempt to take the GED, HSE, New York State Equivalency test soon, even though she hasn't completed her senior year of homeschooling...so maybe starting college next year...oh dear.  

You know when you have kids that they are going to grow up and move out.  Then some of them actually do, and it's like peeling off a bandaid each and every time.  Then, you kind of get used to them being gone, get settled in with the smaller family, then another up and leaves.  Stop it right now, you guys!  This family is getting too small!  

Four kids at home has been nice and comfortable.  When they're all here at the same time, it's quite fun.  I knew it wasn't permanent, they're all just passing through, but dang.  Camille, in college?  Sonja getting married, Char leaving for a year...

Again, it's the goal, isn't it?  To raise them up, get them on their feet, so they can walk away.  Success!  They're on their own!  Tax-paying citizens, we did it!  But shh, it hurts.  I am not one of those exuberant Empty Nesters, who can finally buy low sugar yogurts without anyone eating them.  I NEED all those shoes by the door!  

Random:  Jonathan and Sunny...Jon bought a "new" truck.  It's a manual transmission, and it sounds like a tank.

Rhys...I went with Kathryn for her dr. appt. yesterday, and we had to stop at Aldi on the way home...she was such a good girl, I had a treat for her in my purse...two miniature Reese's cups, her favorite.  We also went into the thrift store, just quickly, and I bought one of those little trains that sets up the dominos, so you can knock them down again.  Lydia and Ophelia came here for a bit before Activity Club, and had lots of fun with it...$3.74, and it came with working batteries.  

Our camping plans...well, the forecast is SO terrible at this point, rain and storms and cooler weather...we're going to take a good look at it, then decide whether we really want to go camp in it...I rather do, but we'll see.  

Activity club was great fun last evening.  We had a campfire, roasted marshmallows, had a birthday party for one of the little girls, gave out prize bags, and had cookies with candles in them.  I was supposed to make cupcakes, but had complications with the oven.  Paul figured it out and fixed it, but I had already bought those cute little frosted cookies...

Today, I think we're going strawberry picking...not sure how many I'll be able to pick, as leaning over isn't my back's favorite thing, and my knees absolutely scream when I try to squat...:).    Have a really good day!