8/31 Ahhhh, the roof is finally getting done! Had to sneak this shot, as it feels REALLY lazy to be putting your feet up and playing around with a camera when people are working hard ON YOUR HOUSE, but I managed. Looking great so far, and should be done on Wednesday.

Monday, August 31.

Went in to school to see what awaited me in my classroom. As usual, 50 some odd boxes of art stuff. Having ordered it all last November, I had that feeling I get every year of, WHAT IS THIS, WHY DID I ORDER IT, and WHAT WAS I ...THINKING? Got it all unpacked and some of it situated and then stopped at Cheryl's for a quick lunch, beer and gripe exchange. Home and settled out in the sun to look at my new art books and get some kind of direction for next Tuesday!

Sunday, August 30.

Another dark, rainy day. Ran some errands, took J to McDs for lunch then settled in at home and made stuffed peppers for dinner. Enjoying one of my last late nights...up till after midnight finishing a book, FBing, ebaying, and ...late night snacking. Peeked in to see if E had brushed his teeth and turned off his TV and this is what I found. Oh no! In the crate you go, Zoey dog!

8/30 So, last night was a great dinner out, and tonight was a great dinner in. Not so great for the lobster, but such is life, and death, when you're a crustacean. Thanks to Sue for the poster Gwynn made in art class at the end of the school year professing what she wanted to do over the summer. One of her desires was to "Eat Lobster." The whole family benefited! (again, not so much the lobster)

-Cheryl

8/29 Fun day out shopping, to get school stuff, and to avoid the rain. Carousel was not too crowded, and we did find all the stuff we needed, along with retrieving my camera case which I left behind when Tim and I went to see "Julie and Julia." (damn foot pictures!) Then we took the kids to Dinousar BBQ for the first time. Devin took a while to warm up to the 45 minute wait in the bar area...Gwynn of course was fine with it...yikes...but when we started to eat, Devin "got" it. His quote..."OH, I get it, so you TALK while you wait, because the food comes and then YOU JUST EAT!!!!!" Love that boy!

8/21-8/28

CANNOT BELIEVE I haven't posted here for that many days! It is kind of neat to see all the pics in a strip though. It is a real photo story of life. Summer is winding down in a big way, and I could look back at this blog, for several years, and see the same feelings I am having right now in black and white of another time. It is such a needed thing, the return to school and regularity of schedule, but I dread it and mourn summer's loss so much as well.

Top to bottom...

Party at Mary's - Ashlyn loved the ice

Party at Marnie's - sang with Sandy and Marnie

Started to paint Devin's room

Summer Writing Institute - heard EM Crane speak

Bookclub dinner out

Finished Devin's room

Lia party at Jill's

Family movie and living room picnic

Such ordinary variety, but all things of my CHOOSING. That is what I miss in the structure of the school year too...having to CRAM IN what you want to do, because of what you have to do. Still, not much I can do about it, and although I am low, it has been a wonderful summer just the same.

-Cheryl

Friday, August 28.
Hanging at the garage sale with Margie and Johnna. Trying to clear the last of the baby equipment from our lives.

Thursday, August 27.
Another really needed Girls Night Out! A Lia party at Jill's. Had a great time and discovered that Jill and I have been wearing the same OPI nail color, CHA-CHING CHERRY! Hey...great minds think alike! Now, about that jewelry armoir, Jill....

Wednesday, August 26.
Jillian practicing piano. I always wonder what her great grandma Letty thinks about her namesake, Jillian Letty, playing her piano?

Tuesday, August 25.

Many needs met today. Haircut in the early afternoon, quiet time in the pool, book club for dinner with all 7 of us present. Finished the night by restocking some MK needs at Yvette's.

Monday, August 24.

Another Monday, another Dr. visit. Someone in our family has had some kind of appt. every Monday so far this month.

Sunday, August 23.
Time's a flyin'! Only two more weeks and a day left of summer vacation (NOT counting that one day teachers have to go back on 9/2...NOT doin' it!).

Saturday, August 22. Honeybear Extravaganza at the Meddaugh's. Cheryl was my date. Lots of fun even though we began apprehensively at first.

Friday, August 21. Was in the house the entire day. By 7pm NEEDED to get away from everyone so I called on Calgon to TAKE ME AWAY!!!

8/17-8/19 (aka the first three images) are from our camp in the St. Lawrence, and the bottom one, 8/20 might be appropriately titled "Post Traumatic Camp Therapy" at Sue's!

Thursday afternoon at 3, August 20.
Cheryl (and kids) came over for a pool afternoon. It was another one of those perfect summer days that became even better with the wine Cheryl brought called, how fittingly, THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 3 !!! By 3 the ...kids went off to do non- pool activities and Cheryl and I got in, catching up on topics covering EVERYTHING under the sun, literally.

Wednesday, August 19.

Another night where the pool temperature is more than 10 degrees warmer than the night air. Dave and the kids are swimming while I am watching from the chair.

Tuesday, August 18.

Perfect summer day. Taking time out to "smell the flowers." A gorgeous fuchsia gerbera daisy from the Meddaugh's on the last day of school in full bloom!

Monday, August 17.
Too hot to do anything today. Sat around until 5 when I managed to take Ethan to my parents and run to the Chopper. After dinner and everyone else was in for the night, I got in the pool at 10, all by myself. It was wonderful!

8/15 Crap Sale...and it amazes me every time the stuff people will buy, AND the amounts of money people try to talk you down from. "Would you take less than a dollar for this?" The real show, though, is when you put the leftover crap at the end of the driveway with a "Free" sign and it is scarfed up in less than an hour.

8/16 HOT HOT HOT so we had lunch out (aka in air-conditioning), filled the doggie pool, and finally, went out on the boat. The lake was like GLASS.

Sunday, August 16.

Good old fashioned summer fun on a hot summer's day. BBQ with friends, and a little rope swing into the pond. The fun for me was NOT doing it and just watching everyone else who did!

Saturday, August 15.

HOT all day...perfect pool weather into the night. 11pm...air temp 70, pool temp 83. Took a little skinny dip!!!

Friday, August 14.
Family trip to Alexandria Bay. Toured the 1,000 Islands and Boldt Castle. One of my favorite love stories of all times. Sitting outside the indoor pool area here....thinking about how cool it would be to live here, just for a week...or 2...

8/14 Just a simple day at home, but CHECK OUT the picture that just sort of APPEARED before my eyes? Summer, relaxation, and creativity...LOVE IT ALL!

Thursday, August 13.
In all fairness, should log today's ONE HOUR alone with my husband in my total of 10 waking hours alone with my husband this summer. Kids marched in the Hannibal parade for some friend of the in-laws who is running for some political office in Oswego Co.

8/9-8/12

Wine toured to mom and dad's and then reunited with the kids by the pool...oh to have a pool at home. Of course, dad always used to say we had a pool right outside, Cayuga Lake. AND, as you can see by the final photo we have the good 'ol bay, but ya can't beat a nice, clean pool!

Wednesday, August 12
Forced to put on a smile...and try to be normal...meeting others' needs once again as friends came over to visit and enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon.

Monday, August 10
Tuesday, August 11
Very sad, dark, alone days. Usually hit this point somewhere in my summer. Just as June insanity hits at school every year and we are shocked and surprised, even though we know it's coming....mid August hits here and knocks me to my knees, shocked and surprised. After spending the entire summer meeting everyone's needs, I realize that the needs of my marriage have not been met in any way, shape, or form and I am devastated and jealous of everyone around me enjoying a fun life with their spouse or mate. It eats me from the inside until I am a miserable, hormonal mess who hates everyone around me even though it is no one's fault. I do eventually come out of it...and just come to accept what I've got...and realize that it's the same as I've always had...I just don't usually have as much time to feel it.

Sunday, August 9.
A dark day. Had no picture of the day till now, at 11:50pm. Up with popcorn, diet coke and the web. Because I can.

8/7 and 8/8

We have a two day update again, but hey, I got 'em in order this time! WooHoo! Friday was our anniversary, so you have the movie "Julie and Julia" post lunch at Red Lobster. Then Saturday was dinner out at Blue Moon Grille mostly because I had done my nails and had a new Ann Taylor Loft dress I wanted to wear! Ahhh, days without kids...it all ends tomorrow, but it has been GOOD:)

Saturday, August 8.

To have the life of a cat. To seek out your buddy for the sole reason of being close and liking each other. ***Sigh*** At that point of the summer where I am jealous of anyone (or animal) who has that closeness. Oh well.

Friday, August 7.
A bittersweet day. Jillian's last day of the Sheldon Institute. Spent the day with her seeing what she has done, having a luncheon, and then seeing the Sheldon Showcase. Haven't really walked around the campus since I was a student and kind of miss it. But not enough to go back! The memories were just nice to visit. Jillian says she will really miss it. A definite for next summer!

Thursday, August 6.
Day of shopping. The fun kind of shopping. School supplies for the kids and some other random non essentials...like $80 Born sandals for me, for only $20!

8/6 Tonight, it was dinner out at Pleasant Beach in Fair Haven...we actually went by boat...it is anniversary eve.