My legs are in a tremendous amount of pain, they are on fire
The reason? Not 100% sure! but a summer of nonstop photography may have something to do with it. The fact I turned 45 2 weeks ago might have some thing to do with it. The ninja moves I have been making trying to lose weight via Jillian and painting, remodeling fixing the studio up May have a bit more to do with it. Here I sit, I was feeling a bit fried so in a way, despite the horrible thought I will be disappointing many, I need to keep these legs up until they feel better, and I feel better. It's peak week here, and I have seniors and families booked all over.
So what to do? I guess blog!
Let's catch up yet again with the family.....
In march, Mikki moved out and into her own apartment. She broke up with a boyfriend she hadn't dated long and began dating the guy she had had a cruch on since the first week of school, Jalen. She did also flunk out of school, and although appealed successfully to get back in this fall, she is paying for it herself. Financial aid told her free ride was over, as did I.
Happily though she and the guys moved in to a house in ironwood together, and appear to be finally, happily figuring it all out. She works full time at the bell, has her own phone line and has managed to set up a long overdue surgery for a root canal all on her own. She loves her bf and us, she comes to visit her pugs and we are happy to see her independent and thriving. She's taking a cad class and if she successfully passes, her financial aid resumes.
In May, Gianna had her 8th grade banquet, and finished her junior high year a 4.0, she began babysitting and plotting and planning her convergence trip with Pete, my brother, in the cities.
We also finally bought a camper!!!!YES!!!!!
We had our first camping trip Memorial Day weekend, and have been to subsequently, Upson falls, Madeline island, weber lake twice, iron county youth camp and with any luck. We hope to get in one more trip to either Minnesota or lake of the falls the first weekend in October with either jerry and Tamra, or Laura and Tony.....fingers crossed!
In June, I went to spend the week at Madeline island school of the arts for an adobe Lightroom course! and I LOVED it. I saw the most amazing sunrises and sunsets, sea caves and so much more. I will cherish it! Tabitha turned 12 and my dad in Duluth turned 70. We celebrated by taking him geocaching to find his gifts. Haven't seen too much of Linda, her health seems to be okay, but we are grateful when everyone's healthy enough to visit for sure!
July brought Gianna's much awaited convergence and the camp we so love. Gianna and granny Bertha were camp cooks and I again enjoyed photography. Hard to believe it's already been 2 years since we bought the house this August.... Dave had tirelessly worked on the yard, finished the siding, transplanted his beloved grandmothers peonies, planted many a sunflower, dug switches and built his greenhouse and made a lot of progress. Inside we're unpacking the very last boxes of trinkets and since Mikki moved out, Tabbi has reclaimed her bedroom and gotten a large new bunk bed, while Gianna has transformed her old room into a gamers paradise complete with chalkboard wall and sci fi posters from convergence. Definately the highlight of her life! A trip to the cities for back to school shopping and the Minnesota state fair with Pete and Sarah brought our summer to a quick and happy ending.
September 1st saw the girls back to school, one a freshman, the other a junior high student. I quietly jumped off the sub list, and also the pto. Too busy with photography and defiantly onto a new chapter for all of us. Weird to be a core family of 4 , but also less stressful for me, and more room to roam here. I am enjoying the decorating and finally feeling like a know this house. It's funny, it seriously takes a while. Sounds weird but I'm actually excited to be doing the yard up for Halloween, even though there'll be no trick or treaters this year....Gianna started aikido and auditioned for silver express. She didn't get in, but she's in que for next year. She's also loving babysitting and has began pining away for her first car, a jeep of course.
Tabltha is enjoying school, and her friends. It was a great thing to see her and Riley playing with the American girl dolls and dollhouses when she was here last weekend. They have dusted them off and e laughter was wonderful to hear. She's still my little girl. She didn't join basketball and I didn't force her to do anything, she's contented to just be Tabbi, and that's fine by me. No rush, no stress, band and choir and her studies are quite enough!
Projects left to do now this fall are installing the new fireplace, getting gutters, heat tape, refinancing for a mound system (septic), roof and installing the free jet tub Dave acquired this summer from the days in remodeling. I'm also couch surfing with the girls, time for a new sectional. The huge game/family room will be complete. The studio set for people for the winter, and the girls enjoying bigger spaces, the garage emptier so we can park in it, Dave's brewery and office downstairs is taking shape, and gnome depot....yes, gnome depot, will be opening for business.
While I am not looking forward to winter, I am looking forward to having less of a overloaded schedule in my work. While addictive, I have to take a break. The money and the overwhelming success is phenomenol and surpassed all my expectations, but I am paying for it daily right now. I've created a monster? Yes.....that's the best way to explain it! I am taking off December 15-January 15 for myself and for Dave as he will finally be getting His hands and nose surgeries done.
There you are! Hopefully I don't wait another 6 months to blog!
