Well we’re down to two weeks left of summer. Which is kind of a downer because I’m not really ready to get back to the grind.
But it’s probably about time since we’ve reached new levels of relaxation and sleeping late. When you can no longer make it out of your pajamas or your house before noon, it might be time for an intervention.
Last Thursday, in an attempt to make sure we’ve sufficiently milked this summer for every bit of fun, Gulley and I told the kids we were taking them to swim at Barton Springs in Austin. We went there last summer but it was a rainy day and the water was way too cold when there was no sunshine that allowed them to warm themselves like lizards on the rocks. So we’d told them all summer that we’d go back. But then it turns out that Barton Springs isn’t open during the day on Thursdays and we had to come up with a Plan B.
After a little discussion we decided on Blue Hole in Wimberley. We’ve been talking about going for years and have always heard great things about it. So we loaded up a cooler with drinks along with some Oreos and a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos and made the hour drive. And I’m sad to report that it wasn’t our favorite activity.
The park was beautiful, the water was gorgeous and the kids were thrilled about the two different rope swings available. But there were some teenage boys there who totally monopolized the swings and jumped in front of the younger kids several times causing more near collisions than I can count. So instead of a relaxing day watching our kids swim and swing in a Texas swimming hole, Gulley and I spent our time wishing for a nerve pill and stress-eating Oreos.
We mentioned it to the staff several times but were told it’s a “swim at your own risk” facility. And I get that. We knew there were no lifeguards on duty but it seems foolish to allow such risky and potentially dangerous behavior to be tolerated, especially by rude boys who had no regard for the safety of other swimmers.
And so next time we’ll stick to Barton Springs.
On the upside, we used the experience to illustrate all manner of teachable moments to our kids. I’m sure that was their favorite part of the day, if not the whole summer. Nothing says HOORAY FOR SUMMER like your stressed out moms giving lectures on social niceties and swimming hole etiquette.
Friday was designated as school supply shopping day. I’m not sure why. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But then I remembered that it was tax-free shopping weekend here in Texas this past weekend and stores are my sworn enemy during those three days.
I nearly backed out and told Caroline we could do it another day, but the part of me that wanted to get it over with ended up winning out. And in an unprecedented move, I decided to completely skip Target and head straight to Office Max. This turned out to be the best thing ever. School supply shopping was totally and completely painless. We found everything we needed in one stop and I even had a coupon which is like a Christmas miracle because I am the worst about using coupons. I always have great intentions and then find them folded up in my purse months after the expiration date has passed.
We even found the perfect Mead Five Star 2 inch binder which was rumored to be completely out of stock everywhere. Granted, we only heard this from one person but Caroline had been warning me for a week that you couldn’t find them ANYWHERE, not even on Amazon or Ebay. Which makes it even more amazing that there were about fifty to choose from at Office Max. Or maybe it just confirms that 6th grade girls have a flair for drama.
And truth be told, I don’t even know that she needs a 2 inch binder. But if not, I guess we can take advantage of the Mead Five Star 2 inch binder famine and sell it on Ebay.
I was feeling so optimistic after our shopping trip that I threw caution and good sense to the wind and drove us to The Container Store in search of locker wallpaper. Apparently this is a thing now. All manner of decorative things for your locker. My mother-in-law bought Caroline a chandelier for her locker for her birthday and we found a couple of other decorative items to go along with it. Based on the current state of Caroline’s room and her basic organization skills, I feel strongly it will all be trashed by Columbus Day.
P left to go fishing on Friday afternoon so it was just Caroline and me that night. We went to eat Mexican food with Mimi and Bops and then came home and watched the original Karate Kid. It was every bit as good as I remembered but I didn’t have the same enthusiasm for Elisabeth Shue’s hair and wardrobe that I felt back in the 80’s.
And then Saturday Caroline spent the day with a friend and I spent the day all by myself. It was blissful. I went to the grocery store and then spent the rest of the day watching movies and reading. In the quiet. By myself.
I may have even eaten a frozen Tombstone pepperoni pizza for lunch and chocolate ice cream for dinner and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it because in two weeks summer will be over and I’ll have to be a responsible adult again.
But not yet.