pa-jammy
Posted on time! Woot!
It’s been a hell of a week – George got robbed half a block from our house at 8:45 in the evening last weekend (he’s okay, just battered and bruised – nothing broken), plus lots of other random crap. I’m happy to say that I’ll be on a cruise ship with a friend for the next week. The boys only have one week of school before spring break, and I think we all just need a break.
This year, Mardi Gras fell on the fourth. Mardi Gras Day starts early, so we took this on our way to take the ferry across the river at about 8:30am. However, once we got there, the boys learned their friend wasn’t coming, so they went home. Just as well. I’m pretty sure I would have embarrassed them if they’d come along.
(I was Sally O’Malley because I’M FIFTY. Somehow I managed not to throw my back out stretching and kicking.)
Again, taken on the right day, posted late. I had to get the pic first thing in the morning, because they had a soccer game 3.5 hours away and didn’t get home until after midnight. But they won the game! Now onto round 3 of the playoffs. This is very stressful.
I kind of like the light crocs/dark pants and dark crocs/light pants symmetry going on here.
My birthday celebrations started this weekend, so I’m a little late posting, even though I took it on the right day!
I am in Istanbul right now, so George had to take the picture, which is why you can’t see their feet. I can’t believe my tiny babies are 17! SEVENTEEN. I can’t wait to give them hugs tomorrow night!
Gah! 17 in a month? 17 sounds so old! Blah.
And I’ll be on a work trip for their birthday, which makes me sad. Oh well.
I will not say the past three months flew by, because they didn’t. They passed at a reasonable speed. I feel like I’ve been away for a long time, and I’m actually ready to go back. Or, at least, I’m not sad to be going back. No matter how much one might love one’s job, not working is still infinitely better. Especially if you’re still getting paid.
(Background: we get 3 months off paid every five years. My last sabbatical was Dec 2018-March 2019.)
First, we went to Baton Rouge where I discovered how good I am at golf and we had dinner with my aunt.
Then, I took a short trip to Canada to hang out with friends. We went to Schitt’s Creek!
My flights were all forked up getting home, but I got to spend a night with Kiki in Virginia!
Which made me a bit late taking the boys’ 200th monthly pic, but we got there.
Then I spent some time getting the boys’ car from their grandparents. (They very generously gave it to them.) I had to transfer the title, get it towed to a mechanic, etc etc.) And now I don’t have to drive to school to pick them up every afternoon! Yay!
I got another tattoo.
I spent some time with Kiki in Virginia. We went to a little town called Sperryville and went on a foggy hike and ate at a fancy restaurant.
Then we went on a quick trip to Chicago to see Pulp (again.)
There was a hurricane threat, and then I went to Florida with my mom and stepdad. I drove a U-Haul. I got to experience The Villages as well as see their new house. And sit on a lot of sofas.
I organized and got rid of stuff and did other random things around the house.
I made things. I got an iPad so I could learn to draw. Still working on that, but there are lots of fun Procreate tutorials out there.
I took the boys to an LSU game for an early birthday present (courtesy of Grandee and Larry)
I saw Johnny Marr in concert with friends.
I snuggled my friend’s new baby.
The boys started in another vaccine trial. I saw friends. I went on walks. Ziggy was cute. I made ice cream. Got a heated jacket for soccer. I sent 200 postcards. I early voted.
So. I can comfortably say I packed my sabbatical with fun things, but I also didn’t stress about much and relaxed quite a lot. Now. Back to work!
It was a gross, rainy, gray day on the 4th so the picture quality isn’t the best, but here it is!
Miles got a haircut the next day, and now I keep calling him Oliver. Oops.
At least this month it’s on time!
Miles does have eyes, I’m pretty sure.
The penultimate first day of school picture. I’m fine. Totally fine.
Last year:
Freshman year:
And, of course, the very first year:
But the best part was this:
Miles in the driver’s seat.
I have to thank my children, sincerely, for putting up with me. The 100th picture wasn’t so bad; eight year olds are a lot more tolerant than 16 year olds, and rightly so. But they did it, they took the picture with little complaining, only calling it “corny” seven hundred and sixty two times. Fair enough.
Yes, thanks to American Airlines, this photo is three days late. I wonder if I can get compensation for this?
Now, just for fun, the 100th. I think I’m most proud that they all have fairly clean socks on this time.
Since I’m on sabbatical now, I have plenty of time to make a montage of all 200 pics so far. Sorry boys!
Do you know why I hate July?
Well, the heat, obviously. But also because it means the boys are closer to their next birthday than to their last birthday, and that means they will be 17 in five months and THAT IS NOT OKAY.
But also…when did Linus get taller than Oliver? By like, a lot? I don’t think the backyard is sloped, but maybe it is?!? I need to measure them again.
By the way, this is picture 199. Thank goodness I’ll be on sabbatical next month, because number 200 has to be something good. (Do I still have the gold sparkly backdrop from 100? I’ll have to look.) (Note to self: no dirty, mismatched socks this time.)
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