I'm still in beach withdrawal. Last week was the first beach trip
since Margaret was born that I actually found time to relax. It was
glorious! I read an ENTIRE book!! It was chick-lit, but still a
WHOLE BOOK, in 4 days!!!! I haven't done that since my pre-kid days.
It's much easier to take them to the beach now. Fewer diaper changes,
fewer nursing needs, no naps, less complicated snack needs, etc. And
so many of our wonderful friends volunteer (unprovoked) to take the
kids for a few minutes. This was the first year we went on the week of
Memorial Day instead of the week before, because of Margaret's school
schedule. But it worked out perfectly as the week before Memorial Day,
it rained 20 inches! We had perfectly pleasant sunshiny weather,
except for the daily afternoon thundershower when we needed to be going
in and getting dinner anyway. It wasn't even too hot.
So now summer has started, and we've had a slow start. We did go to the
Botanical Garden today, which was fun, although hot. The kids played
in the fountain a lot. I took way too much stuff, which wore me out.
Last year I managed to streamline my stuff for outings like this, but
it's the beginning of summer and I can't remember what I was packing
last year. I need to write it down. Still, it seems like if I leave
something out, I'll need it. Today I had lunch, water, towels and
water clothes for the fountain, band-aids (which came in handy when H
fell and hurt his knee), wallet, Palm (which I consulted while the kids
played) phone, ICAN cards (I try to always have some in case I need to
refer someone), diapers (still), Epi-pen. I also had my GPS, which I
need to keep with me all the time otherwise I find myself going
somewhere new and forgetting it at home. I think I just need a
personal butler to carry around all my stuff.
Tomorrow we're going to the library. Our goal this summer is to read 100 new books.
