What a great weekend! Busy, but great.
It started off actually on a frustrating foot, because we realized something is wrong with the clutch on the Jeep. So Skip and I had to do some coordinating on how to get us each back and forth for work, considering he drives all around the city all day (his new job is going splendidly, by the way!). We managed to figure it out, and in the middle of the day were able to get a loaner from the shop, so problems were relatively solved. Thursday night was quiet, as Skip rested up for work that night (his holiday shift at Elmbrook for the year), and the kids and I took it easy watching the Jeep get towed away...
Friday, we were lucky to have my parents come up to watch the kids while Skip slept again and I went to my parade. I've been doing this parade for I think 5 years now? It's a little parade and celebration coordinated through a couple of schools and community organizations in Sherman Park - a diverse neighborhood in the middle of the city. It's just our little band (10-12 of us) and the neighborhood kids/families follow behind with their bikes decorated. Once we get to the park, the kids have games and races while we play marches off to the side. It's really a great event for a neighborhood that is often underserved when it comes to things like this.
I got home from the morning's activities, and my parents took me and the kids to lunch, then we met Skip back at home to head down to Racine. We had been down to the Yacht Club in the past for the 4th, but never stayed for the fireworks. This year, we packed to spend the afternoon and evening there, then sleep on Mannings' boat. The kids had a great and exhausting time playing in the sand, riding paddleboats, kayaks, and even a speedboat trip out to see a shipwreck in the lake. We cooked out and visited while we waited for the fireworks to start. The fireworks display was awesome - we couldn't have asked for a better view! Rose zonked out in the middle of them. By the time we finally all fell asleep, it was almost midnight - so it was a late night for all. Though the boat was comfortable, it was a new place for the kids, so they were up with the sun on Saturday morning. After some coffee on the RYC patio and breakfast at Cliff's Boathouse, we headed home - the kids were back asleep in the car by about 10 minutes into our drive. The rest of the day was spent just working in the yard and taking it easy. Skip cooked a delicious dinner out on the grill, then we crashed early.
Sunday we got up and searched for a farmer's market to find veggies for dinner. When we came home, we had lunch then got our house ready for some visitors. So, here's a story: When I was pregnant with Preston, I joined the "October 2009" birth club on BabyCenter.com. From there, a smaller group spun off as a "drama free" group, then has had a couple various other spinoffs to become what it is now. At this point, it's a group of about 40 of us moms, who all have in common an October '09 baby (most of us now have other kids, or had a couple beforehand). We're all over the country, and keep in touch mostly via Facebook. It's really a unique community to be part of, though I had never had an opportunity to meet any of these wonderful ladies in person - until now! My friend Corinne from Madison and her family happened to be at the zoo, so we invited them over for a very impromptu dinner. It was a crazy couple of hours, but it was so great to finally meet and have the kids meet as well. I think everyone was pretty exhausted at the end of the day, but we look forward to being able to meet again soon!
Rose crashed at 7:15, Preston had a meltdown at 8, then Skip and I were asleep by 10. Lol, the end.