Is anyone else panicking about school starting in one week?! I sure am. And whenever I feel overwhelmed, I immediately browse the archives of this here blog. I mean, if there’s anything positive about having a blog and being a chronic oversharer, it’s the ability to go back and look at what your life was like a few years ago and think, “Whoa! What the what?”
I went school shopping for Lulu the other day, and of course I found myself watching this video afterward. This silly little video we made with my point and shoot camera when she was a sweet five-year-old who was so, so excited for school to start. For those of you fighting the back to school crowds today, I hope this makes you smile.
Also, five-year-old Lu? You are adorable.
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-08-05 08:00:412013-07-31 15:48:07Back to School Rewind
It’s August 1st, and I’m pretty excited about it. I’ll be honest, this year, for my annual July hiatus (aka Digital Sabbatical), I took this thing pretty darn seriously. Usually I spend my hiatus frantically trying to complete a list of goals that I set for myself prior to my break (read 5 books, learn Latin, whatever) so I can come back here on August 1st and be all amazing to you guys.
This year, I pretty much threw that plan out the window.
It’s been a weird year thus far, in ways I’m not quite ready to share yet and in ways I already have shared here. There have been some big changes in my life, and while they have been overwhelmingly positive, change is freaking hard. It’s not only hard for the person who is changing, but for everyone around them as well. When one person changes, there is a ripple effect that rolls throughout their family and friends, and all of that can be exhausting. For the first six months of 2013 I felt a bit like a hamster stuck in it’s wheel, just running and running, but never really going anywhere.
So this year when I decided to participate in my annual hiatus (which I skipped last year, I might add), I made the active choice to slow the heck down. To really take a hiatus. I don’t think I’d even touched my desktop computer until yesterday, when I figured I should probably check my email (For the 1,000+ that I missed in July…sorry about that! I’m sure I’ll catch up soon and you’ll be getting a reply. Or maybe you should just resend…). I really and truly stopped working, which is against every fiber of my natural being, but you know what? After the first week or so, it started to feel so very good. Here is what I accomplished this July:
– I read zero books cover to cover, but I did read at least one People Magazine dedicated to the Royal Baby.
– I ran a mile every day…except for those couple of days when I didn’t.
– I watched the first two seasons of Sherlock and many episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
– I rewatched a lot of shows I love, like the Mindy Project and Parks and Rec.
– I went on a couple of dates with my husband.
– I went to a county fair and rode two rides with my daughter that made her scream with joy and made me want to throw up.
– I took a few pictures. But mostly, I didn’t.
– I posted on Instagram.
– I ate ice cream. I also ate ice cream cake.
– I spent many days at the pool with the kids.
– I worked for my husband’s business, organizing quarterly meetings and other boring corporate stuff like that.
– I finally finished Lucy’s room remodel. Photos coming soon!
– I listened to records on my “new to me” record player.
– I took an obscene amount of naps. I NEVER nap. So this July I figured I should make up for lost time.
– I went to bed early.
– I woke up early…Tate and his bedtime routine are still killing me slowly.
– I spent a lot of time with family.
– I was the mediator for several friendly and not so friendly disagreements between siblings.
– I learned to meditate and actually did it. (I know, I can’t believe it either! Begone, hamster wheel brain!)
I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but the main point is, I actually took a hiatus. I took a break. It was the best idea I’ve ever had.
Tomorrow we are heading out of town for one last summer road trip (look out Tennessee, here we come!) and then we have a few more days of freedom before school starts. I can’t believe summer is almost over. It makes me want to cry. This has been the best summer of my life so far, and it’s bittersweet to watch it come to a close.
Happy August, everybody! I’m glad to be back. Because really, although my break was fantastic, I sorta missed you guys.
——–
(First photo taken with the Canon 60D, second photo via the iPhone, edited in Afterlight)
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-08-01 08:00:592013-07-31 15:22:35Re-Entering the Not So Real World
It’s really summer now, isn’t it? Today is actually quite cool for a Kansas summer (65 degrees on my run this morning, what?!), but last week was scalding. We spent most of our time at the pool or in sprinklers, searching for relief from the heat. This weekend was our first annual neighborhood block party, and have I mentioned how much I’m loving our street lately? When we first moved here almost five years ago, I was so blah blah about living in suburbia, but in the last year our little nook of the city has become a pretty fun place to be. Lucy spends her days and evenings running back and forth to the neighbors’ homes, making grand plans and catching fireflies. Little Tate runs behind them, trying desperately to be part of the crew. It’s hard being the littlest sometimes, but he does pretty well for himself. This is the kind of life I envisioned for my kids when we moved out here. Running from house to house, eating popsicles and pushing each other on tree swings. Having a secret walkie talkie code with the neighbor boys and spending all day selling lemonade from their homemade stand.
This weekend was the debut of the big lemonade stand that Trent and Lulu made together. It took them about a week, two weekends really, but it really is the cutest thing you’ll ever see. Trent made it out of an old desk painted with leftovers from Lucy’s room remodel. He got all the neighborhood kids involved and everyone had a piece in making the stand a success. They served three kinds of drinks (regular lemonade, strawberry lemonade and Kool-aide…or a mix of the three if you wanted to get crazy!) and even came up with a bottomless cup system, where you’d pay a base price, then you’d get a temporary tattoo to wear, which you’d show to get your refill for free. I was so proud to see them work on this together and to see how happy Lucy was to show off what they’d built.
The lemonade stand’s first day was at our block party, which was also a huge success! It was so awesome to see all of our neighbors come out and spend the day together. One of our neighbor’s used to own his own BBQ restaurant, so he smoked ribs and grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone, while the rest of us brought sides and desserts. The fire department came with a shiny red truck for the kids to climb all over and explore. Sidenote: This was seriously the best looking fire brigade in history. They looked like they belonged in one of those hot firemen (and women!) calendar. Tate was especially enamored with a firewoman aptly named Megan, who he flirted with the whole time. There was a bouncy house, karaoke and a fire pit with s’mores. At around 10 p.m. I finally made Lulu come inside, covered in dirt and with a Kool-aide mustache, exclaiming, “This was the best day ever.”
————————————————–
As you can probably tell if you have seen a calendar today, it’s the first day of July! And if you’re a long time reader, you know July is when I take some time off from the blog to refuel my creative engine and go on a little Internet hiatus. I have lots of fun plans for July, and I will definitely share our adventures when I’m back in August, but if you miss me too much, you can always come visit me on Instagram, where I will be posting daily. I am participating in the July Photo-A-Day Challenge and have set a goal to run a mile each day, which I will be documenting over there under the hashtag #mileadayjuly. I will also be over on my Crazybananas Facebook and Twitter pages sharing bite-sized updates and photos when I just can’t help myself. I hope you all have a fantastic July! I will miss you like crazy!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-07-01 09:12:272013-07-01 09:22:47Lemonade Stands and Block Parties
Back to School Rewind
/2 Comments/in Fun, Happiness, Lucy, Videos /by MeganIs anyone else panicking about school starting in one week?! I sure am. And whenever I feel overwhelmed, I immediately browse the archives of this here blog. I mean, if there’s anything positive about having a blog and being a chronic oversharer, it’s the ability to go back and look at what your life was like a few years ago and think, “Whoa! What the what?”
I went school shopping for Lulu the other day, and of course I found myself watching this video afterward. This silly little video we made with my point and shoot camera when she was a sweet five-year-old who was so, so excited for school to start. For those of you fighting the back to school crowds today, I hope this makes you smile.
Also, five-year-old Lu? You are adorable.
Re-Entering the Not So Real World
/1 Comment/in bloglife, Blond, Finding My Path, Happiness /by MeganIt’s August 1st, and I’m pretty excited about it. I’ll be honest, this year, for my annual July hiatus (aka Digital Sabbatical), I took this thing pretty darn seriously. Usually I spend my hiatus frantically trying to complete a list of goals that I set for myself prior to my break (read 5 books, learn Latin, whatever) so I can come back here on August 1st and be all amazing to you guys.
This year, I pretty much threw that plan out the window.
It’s been a weird year thus far, in ways I’m not quite ready to share yet and in ways I already have shared here. There have been some big changes in my life, and while they have been overwhelmingly positive, change is freaking hard. It’s not only hard for the person who is changing, but for everyone around them as well. When one person changes, there is a ripple effect that rolls throughout their family and friends, and all of that can be exhausting. For the first six months of 2013 I felt a bit like a hamster stuck in it’s wheel, just running and running, but never really going anywhere.
So this year when I decided to participate in my annual hiatus (which I skipped last year, I might add), I made the active choice to slow the heck down. To really take a hiatus. I don’t think I’d even touched my desktop computer until yesterday, when I figured I should probably check my email (For the 1,000+ that I missed in July…sorry about that! I’m sure I’ll catch up soon and you’ll be getting a reply. Or maybe you should just resend…). I really and truly stopped working, which is against every fiber of my natural being, but you know what? After the first week or so, it started to feel so very good. Here is what I accomplished this July:
I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but the main point is, I actually took a hiatus. I took a break. It was the best idea I’ve ever had.
Tomorrow we are heading out of town for one last summer road trip (look out Tennessee, here we come!) and then we have a few more days of freedom before school starts. I can’t believe summer is almost over. It makes me want to cry. This has been the best summer of my life so far, and it’s bittersweet to watch it come to a close.
Happy August, everybody! I’m glad to be back. Because really, although my break was fantastic, I sorta missed you guys.
——–
(First photo taken with the Canon 60D, second photo via the iPhone, edited in Afterlight)
Lemonade Stands and Block Parties
/4 Comments/in Fun, Happiness, Photos, Trent /by MeganIt’s really summer now, isn’t it? Today is actually quite cool for a Kansas summer (65 degrees on my run this morning, what?!), but last week was scalding. We spent most of our time at the pool or in sprinklers, searching for relief from the heat. This weekend was our first annual neighborhood block party, and have I mentioned how much I’m loving our street lately? When we first moved here almost five years ago, I was so blah blah about living in suburbia, but in the last year our little nook of the city has become a pretty fun place to be. Lucy spends her days and evenings running back and forth to the neighbors’ homes, making grand plans and catching fireflies. Little Tate runs behind them, trying desperately to be part of the crew. It’s hard being the littlest sometimes, but he does pretty well for himself. This is the kind of life I envisioned for my kids when we moved out here. Running from house to house, eating popsicles and pushing each other on tree swings. Having a secret walkie talkie code with the neighbor boys and spending all day selling lemonade from their homemade stand.
This weekend was the debut of the big lemonade stand that Trent and Lulu made together. It took them about a week, two weekends really, but it really is the cutest thing you’ll ever see. Trent made it out of an old desk painted with leftovers from Lucy’s room remodel. He got all the neighborhood kids involved and everyone had a piece in making the stand a success. They served three kinds of drinks (regular lemonade, strawberry lemonade and Kool-aide…or a mix of the three if you wanted to get crazy!) and even came up with a bottomless cup system, where you’d pay a base price, then you’d get a temporary tattoo to wear, which you’d show to get your refill for free. I was so proud to see them work on this together and to see how happy Lucy was to show off what they’d built.
The lemonade stand’s first day was at our block party, which was also a huge success! It was so awesome to see all of our neighbors come out and spend the day together. One of our neighbor’s used to own his own BBQ restaurant, so he smoked ribs and grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone, while the rest of us brought sides and desserts. The fire department came with a shiny red truck for the kids to climb all over and explore. Sidenote: This was seriously the best looking fire brigade in history. They looked like they belonged in one of those hot firemen (and women!) calendar. Tate was especially enamored with a firewoman aptly named Megan, who he flirted with the whole time. There was a bouncy house, karaoke and a fire pit with s’mores. At around 10 p.m. I finally made Lulu come inside, covered in dirt and with a Kool-aide mustache, exclaiming, “This was the best day ever.”
————————————————–
As you can probably tell if you have seen a calendar today, it’s the first day of July! And if you’re a long time reader, you know July is when I take some time off from the blog to refuel my creative engine and go on a little Internet hiatus. I have lots of fun plans for July, and I will definitely share our adventures when I’m back in August, but if you miss me too much, you can always come visit me on Instagram, where I will be posting daily. I am participating in the July Photo-A-Day Challenge and have set a goal to run a mile each day, which I will be documenting over there under the hashtag #mileadayjuly. I will also be over on my Crazybananas Facebook and Twitter pages sharing bite-sized updates and photos when I just can’t help myself. I hope you all have a fantastic July! I will miss you like crazy!