"Summer in the City" ~ Joe Cocker

School is out. Summer is here. Texas is hot.
It's only been a week but it has reminded me I need to be much more organized. Here's the problem. I have a pre-teen, a blind girl, and a rambuncious toddler, none of them like the same things. One wants to go bowling - the other two aren't as into bowling One wants to go shopping and go out to eat - now I could easily talk them into going out to eat daily it's not exactly in the budget and let's not forget she wants to go shopping before eating (have I raised her right or what?!) The other one wants to tear up my house, somehow he seems to win out more often than the other two. Thank heavens for pools! We try to go in the morning come home to a nice lunch and then we have what I call "quiet time". Quiet time means reading for the older one, music for the middle one, and nap for the little one. If all the stars and planets are perfectly aligned they ALL eventually fall asleep. That is when I put on my ballet slippers and tutu and dance around the house in silent leaps of joy. Well, in my mind I do. In my mind I look REALLY hot in a tutu too.
I tried to talk the kids into going to Sea World but none of them wanted to. What is up with that?! So, I'm going to try the water park with them. I am certain the oldest will love it, I am sure the middle will be done with it in 20mins, and I'm positive I will end up chasing the toddler around places he shouldn't be. I know... you envy my life.
CC finally got a pick up. It was a long time coming. The final straw came when he decided to let me use his car since I would just be in town doing my VTing while he took the van to work. Well, about half way there the car jugged and lugged and started smoking. I ran 2 stop signs at 20mph (the max the car would go) to die in front of my friends house (thanks Heather) where it stayed until the donation company came and hauled it off to be made into a planter or something. Now we have a black pick-up that is a great date night ride.
I spent last Saturday at Austin Photo Expo taking class after class from some amazing photographers. I felt so lucky to get to sit in on a class by John Isaac it was inspiring. Will Crockett and Kirk Tuck were among my other favorites. It was a great day and I could have spent hours just absorbing their information.
I am in the preplanning phase with "The Girls" for our beach trip. This year it seems we are going to a TX beach. I'm not really sure which one yet since time is a factor but it will be great. Although, I have to admit I am a little sad about not getting back to my NW beaches this year. I crave them. CC and I were looking just the other day at real estate out there. We will be back home eventually. I am sure of it.
I also got tickets to go see Mama Mia and Wicked with "The Texas Girls". I am so excited for it. I am going to take Em to a matinee of Mama Mia because she totally loves the music and loves going to musicals. I am seriously considering season tickets for next year.
The garden is bursting! We have already picked some zucchini and okra. We have watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes and tons of herbs just growing like crazy. I need to teach Coop that tomato and melon plants are not ball plants he can pick and play ball with.