There's only one day left in Summer 2012 and we have milked it for all it was worth (thus explaining my absence from all things internet, including this blog). The last 10 weeks have been cherished family time with Joel, Charli and I doing every budget friendly summer event we could think of. We did several road trips which were not budget friendly when gas is $4.15 a gallon but good for our hearts and mental state as we saw family and friends in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Indiana. We had our share of car trouble which is also not budget friendly but not something we chose. And then there was the week long staycation we spent doing day trips to the surrounding areas. I finally made it to Boston, despite having lived so close for so long and the day was a full one starting with the Haymarket and ending with Mike's Pastry back at home after supper. I was surprised at how small the city was but soaked up the rich historical places mixed in among everyday life.
We took Charli on her first beach trip. After lugging every possible amenity from our car to the beachfront, covering her with more sunblock than even I needed and then strapping a HUGE hat to her head, I let her have free range on the surrounding area. She promptly grabbed a handful of sand, stuck it in her mouth and clapped for herself as she looked at me. I didn't see her swallow it but it did disappear so I'm assuming her digestive tract had adequate fiber intake that day. Yes, I did use the word 'amenity' before. I used to pride myself in packing light when going to the beach with only a towel, sunblock and a Coke. Suddenly, when my baby girl's skin and comfort was involved I found that I was not satisfied with those few things. We needed snacks and back-up bottles, an umbrella, chairs to put under that umbrella, a sheet and a grass mat to go on the ground in case the towels weren't enough and so the list went on. I'm thankful that my husband is a strong man who is as supportive as he is in helping with Charli, otherwise I might still be lugging beach swag back to our car.
We also celebrated our 4th anniversary that week and left Charli overnight for the first time with her uncle and aunt.
Charli and I watched Joel's softball team work their way from 8th to 3rd in the league this year, we did some day trips to parks nearby and hung out by her paddle pool that Ouma and Papisahn gave her. All 3 of us took regular walks around the yard at sunset, enjoying fresh tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and herbs from the garden. Grilling has allowed some great meals with friends and we have truly felt spoiled by an extravagant God.
This week Charli and I did a 600 mile road trip together while Joel stayed home with our two teen boys. We were in New Jersey for a friend's wedding and then went on to move my younger sister Julie to Philadelphia. My older sister Lindsey got to come do the move with us too but we ended up each having to drive our own cars. We set out early Monday morning following Julie to her new flat and it was something out of a movie. We were a caravan of three red cars: one convertible, one SUV and one... well, mine. All of us were ready to go, sunglasses on, phones on hand. Somewhere between blasting my front speakers with my summer favorites and playing follow-the-leader through city traffic in an effort to all stay together, I realized we should have our own theme music and maybe even some high tech gear... and let's be honest, with a blonde, a redhead and a brunette all being in the mix, we should be called something sassy like Charli's Angels. I laughed at such a silly thought because it seems like I should have grown out of those notions a long time ago and that my overactive imagination should have quieted now that I'm a mom. But it hasn't. And anyway, it didn't take long for me to turn it into a corny 'mom' thought too: in many ways, my sisters are some of Charli's many, many angels. They may not technically be heavenly beings but they are people who protect and bless my little girl by the way they care for and love on her. She has many people like that in her life. I am so thankful for the family and friends who are surrounding us and her, whether we saw you this summer or not, you are a part of making our lives richer and fuller and for that I will call you by whatever sassy title you want me to.
