Saturday, August 22, 2015

Last Days Of Summer And Other Thankfuls

I had a busy, busy week, this last one before I return to work, and I was not only embarrassingly late with my Six Sentence Story this week, but I'm also running behind on Ten Things of Thankful; however, an endlessly rainy, thunderstormy day will make for a delightful writing atmosphere, so here goes it:

1. Last weekend, we let Emma take a friend with her to the lake house. We didn't leave town until AFTER the football jamboree at a neighboring town, but that turned out to be a thankful in itself, because the girls were wound up tighter than springs and chattered the entire way there. Now that Emma drives, I don't get the pleasure of driving her and her friends places anymore and hearing them talk, and I miss that. This was two hours of teen girl chatter, and my husband and I enjoyed every funny, shocking, silly minute of it.

2. We spent Saturday at Whitewater theme park; the girls rode every ride, flirted with lifeguards, ate, giggled, and enjoyed the last weekend before school starts. My husband and I mostly just enjoyed the girls, plus played my favorite game, Fat or Pregnant, and a new one we developed, called What Were You Thinking When You Chose THAT Tattoo? 




3. We went out to dinner that night with my parents and no one fell down.

4. After shopping all morning at the outlet malls and finding NOTHING TO WEAR ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, we stopped at Mecca, i.e., Forever 21, on our way home and Emma and her friend both found cute clothes to start the school year. Whew! Crisis averted!

5. Monday night, my husband, daughter and I went to a movie as a last hurrah before school started. A late movie, like at 10:00 p.m. AND an entirely inappropriate movie, as it turned out, because it was much, MUCH more graphic than I realized but funny as all get out. Okay, Trainwreck. We took our daughter to see Trainwreck. I KNOW, you don't have to say it.


Pretty much the only ones left in the entire theater.

6. We took the College Boy back last week, but, naturally, he forgot stuff, so on Tuesday, I rode to work with my husband, who was working that day in the same town where our son goes to school (he works several days a week in Springfield and the others here in Joplin). After Kyle and I had breakfast together in a cute little diner downtown, I spent the morning buying stuff he needed or forgot or wanted, dropped it all off at his new apartment, helped him clean his floors really well, then he and I went to a late lunch and went shoe shopping, AND WE FOUND A PAIR OF SIZE 15 NIKES THAT HE LIKED AND WERE ON SAAAAALE!

7. The whole shoe thing was worth two thankfuls.

8. My husband and I left Springfield and drove to a town between it and home where Emma was participating in a volleyball jamboree with her team. It was just exhibition, and nothing really COUNTED, but we ALL know it "counts, especially when you beat one of your biggest rivals. TWICE. Good job, Lady Eagles!

9. The previous weekend, while we were at the lake house with my parents, I was talking about how much I would like to go to the state fair, not having gone to it in 30 years. I've wanted to go for a long time, but school keeps starting earlier and earlier, making it impossible to go during the week, when there are less crowds. But since our school year is starting a week later than usual, there was actually time to go this week. My dad said, "Take me! Take me!" And I did. And no one fell down. And there will be a follow up post soon.


As if it weren't a bad enough picture of me,
my dad made a goofy face EVERY TIME I
took a picture. EVERY TIME.


10. And Thursday, my daughter started her junior year of high school, which is completely surreal. She's going to have a tough year, with one AP class, three dual credit classes, two weighted classes, plus volleyball this fall, show choir all year, student council vice president, theater, and a social life. Here's to hoping we BOTH survive it!




And now it's the weekend, my last before going back to work on Monday (meetings, cleaning the room, preparing for classes, but no kids yet). Be thankful with me and link up, below. 


Ten Things of Thankful


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30 comments:

  1. WOW! I love the photo of you and your dad! What a week and what a school year ahead... I have no idea what a weighted class is... but it sounds ominous... sss is never late unless its after Tuesday! No worries!

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    1. AP classes, an A is worth 5 points on a 4 point scale, dual credit is 4.5 points and weighted is 4.25. Very complicated math.

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  2. OK, that's NOT a bad picture of you.
    I KNEW it was going to be Trainwreck. Like the time my mother and my niece saw Bridesmaids together.
    Three, I want to play inappropriate games with you at a water park.

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    1. Meh, but thanks :)
      It was very awkward at times, and if you've seen it you'll know why.
      ANY TIME! I love to people watch!

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  3. Hi--your daughter is stunning and so are YOU. Your dad is adorable and your husband is hot.I went to school in MO for my first year of college--I was at Stephens in Columbia and my "boyfriend" was originally from Springfield!
    I love your very naughty and really funny games I quote here : " played my favorite game, Fat or Pregnant, and a new one we developed, called What Were You Thinking When You Chose THAT Tattoo? " Those are a total crack up! Hush about the tattoos though or I will show you mine, and NO I am Not pregnant :::huffily! :)
    love, jean

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    1. Thank you, Jean! That's probably the first time my husband's picture has been in my blog, except for a wedding picture.
      Wow, you went to Stephens?! I'm impressed! Was your boyfriend at Mizzou?
      When people are in bathing suits, you see most of their tattoos. One man had maybe an 8' ninja turtle on his rib cage. I can't imagine the thought process that would make you want (a) a ninja turtle tattoo AT ALL, especially as an adult and (b) such a big one.
      I told my husband we could up the game and actually ASK the woman whether she were fat or pregnant after we placed our bets, but he declined :)
      Now you HAVE to show me your tattoo, or at least tell me where and what!

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  4. Love Emma's dress!!! So funny you got to take your Dad to the fair! When I was 19, I took my mom to the big, local fair in Erlangen where she had wanted to go ever since she was little and never got to go. And afterward she came to the pub I worked at and I got to embarrass her properly by getting the entire pub sing "Happy Birthday" to her :-) The day you got to spend with Kyle sounds wonderful.

    Since I don't want to be the subject of the "Fat or Pregnant" game, I started to wear tanks over my bikini at the pool. Also because Calvin loves to pull my top down ;-)

    Hope you have a great weekend, Dyanne!

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    1. Isn't that a cute dress? Forever 21! Plus, it was cheap :) It was really fun to go to the fair with my dad! It wore him out, but it was worth it. Nice to know you had a fair experience, too!
      Most of the women who are subjects of our game could be about 8 months pregnant. A little post-baby pooch is not worthy of the game :) But wearing a tank is good insurance when you've got Calvin yanking on your top!
      Have a wonderful week, Stephanie!

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  5. Enjoy your last weekend of "freedom" before school starts.

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    1. I've got that "Sunday night feeling" for the first time since the middle of May....

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  6. Young girl chatter. Ah, to be young again.
    :-)
    Not sure I want to go back, but it is fun to imagine.
    Yay for shoes on sale.
    :-)
    I don't know how kids do it honestly, have all the school and homework, activities, and socializing. It makes me tired just thinking about it.
    Have a good week back after such a fun one. Unfortunately, the fun must come to an end sometime.
    :-)

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    1. I love that chatter! You learn a lot.
      Yay for shoes on sale AND in a size 15! That almost NEVER happens!
      We weren't that busy when I was in school. I wasn't in a sport, but I was in speech and theater and was busy with that a lot, but that was still nothing compared to all the stuff my daughter does. And she keeps track of it all herself!
      And thanks. It's hard to go back after a whole summer off!

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  7. I happen to love that shot of you and your dad. Am thinking the apple didn't fall far from the tree!
    Your daughter is adorable. Again with the apples falling not far from the trees!
    Size 15 shoes....I just don't know what to say!

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    1. Thank you! Yeah, I take after my dad's side of the family. I have a picture of my dad when he was on R&R in Tokyo when he was just a couple of years older than my son and they look so much alike!
      Size 15. 15. His feet look like bed slats.

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  8. Dyanne, it looks like it has been a hugely busy week! Hey to the college boy and the young lady in Junior High! Tell them that they're looking good!

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  9. OMG we are getting the Mecca of clothing stores here in Canada and my niece is practically dying of anticipation. I bet she's camping out there right now and it doesn't open until AFTER school starts. What a travesty.
    I never even thought of missing that chatter once they start driving themselves...sigh....I better start tuning into his tales of Minecraft then. Take notes.
    I think it's effing awesome that you and your dad went to the fair. My husband hates going to the one here and I hate that the hates it. Jerk. No fun. I'll take your dad!!
    I think you look great by the way and that photo is awesome!!! It's fun and so full of happy :)

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    1. I call if Forever and ever and ever 21, because once we go in there, it can take hours before we emerge! Everything is pretty inexpensive, too, but it's chaotic.
      I never thought about missing the chatter, either, until it happened! I didn't notice it that much with my son, either, because, well, boys, but with Emma? Oh, yes. She used to start talking the minute she got in the car, telling me about her day, and it would continue until after we got home. Now I have to wait until she finally GETS home to talk to me. And there really is nothing much more fun than listening to a couple of teenage girls talk about other teenage girls. And boys :)
      It was great to go with him. He is 80 and I don't know how many chances I will get to do things like that with him. My husband isn't that big on fairs, either. Maybe you and I should go to one together?
      And thank you! My face looks weird to me, maybe because of the angle of the camera (phone), and my dad making that goofball face! But it was fun!

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  10. Gorgeous daughter, lovely family. All your thankfuls are great . I can't imagine the day my kids are able to drive and have lives without me yet, we are only just starting the whole girly gossip in the back street. I do love listening to it though. Amazing how much you find out about the kids (and their families) at school from listening to the 9 years olds in the car.

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    1. Thanks, Piper! That growing up thing happens FAST. And you definitely learn a LOT listening to kids talk in the car, especially when they forget you are two feet away from them and can hear every word!

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  11. But a wonderful busy week! A fun week - movies, sales, the state fair! Prepping the "juniors" for school...
    Excellent pics of everyone Dyanne but tell me, what WERE you thinking?! lol

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    1. It was pretty great! I watched near-porn with my 16 year old and walked around the state fairgrounds with Mr. Staggerpants and got kids sent off to their junior years.
      I KNEW I SHOULDN'T POST THAT AWFUL PICTURE! Should have cropped myself out :)

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  12. 1) heck of a family unit ya got there
    2) nice joie de vivreing with the Summer
    3) you just plain killin them Six Sentence Stories, yo

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    1. 1) Thanks!
      2) Thanks again!
      3) And you make me blush! For reals! Thank you!

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  13. I saw Trainwreck with my 24-year-old daughter (not as harrowing as with a high schooler, for sure). Before we went, we debated whether or not we should sit together, because there is nothing more embarrassing than watching hysterical raunch next to your mother (except for watching hysterical raunch next to your daughter). We did sit together as it turns out--my daughter suggested that we just pretend not to know one another. We both loved it!

    Also, I, too, love your inappropriate water park games.

    Lorrie at www.shrinkrapped.com

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    1. Emma sat between us, so it was hard to ignore that we knew her :) If movies weren't pitch dark inside, it would have been much more mortifying for all involved. HILARIOUS movie.
      I make fun everywhere I go....

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  14. Can't wait for next week's post to hear how many bats and/or lizards you chased out of the school!

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    1. Day one down and no lizards or bats, although there was one in the gym all weekend, apparently.

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  15. What a great weekend!! Size 15 Nikes?? WOWZA. I love the photos of you and your family! You and your daughter are gorgeous and your dad making funny faces seems perfectly appropriate to me! AND! Nobody fell down is always worth a few thankfuls, I think :) And now, I want to see Trainwreck.

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    1. When he's barefoot, they don't look that big. Actually, if you cut off his big toe, I think he could wear a 13.
      I kept taking pictures of the two of us, and my dad made a face every single time without fail. And no falling is definitely worth probably a dozen thankfuls.
      GO SEE TRAINWRECK! Watch for the washcloth scene ;)

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