WIP Stands for "Work In Progress"

As two full months have already ended in 2018, I'm already taking notes and assessing my progress.  Am I following my New Year's Resolutions?  Am I making time for me?  Am I finding balance?

Strangely enough when I mentioned the phrase "work in progress," my son already knew what I was talking about.  "Mommy, you mean WIP."

"WIP?" I asked.

"Yes, Work In Progress," he answered.

The phrase, admittedly, didn't enter my vocabulary until I was well into adulthood, but somehow it's part of my son's everyday lingo.  In fact, he assuredly let me know that pretty much everything is "a work in progress."  How did my son become so wise?

As I look at my resolutions for 2018, I'm realizing that they, too, are a work in progress.  I've done well in assuring that I find some time for my son, my friends, and my husband each month, but as work responsibilities increased around mid-February, my blog writing (once per week) took a toll.  The walking, hiking, and exercising in general also stopped.  When those stop, the daydreaming stops, and then my carefree attitude of silliness, wonder, and excitement turn to worry, fear, anxiety, and frustration.  Last week, I felt the symptoms of a cold resurfacing along with my neck, shoulder, and back pain.  If I was looking for a sign to see if my life was in balance, I surely got my answer: NO!!

At work, there were papers to correct, emails to send, reports to analyze, and difficult decisions to be made.  At home, there were mounds of laundry to be done, clutter to be organized, mail to be sorted, and unexpected bills to be paid.  In Cub Scouts, there were den and pack meetings to plan and a fundraising project to implement. And then, out of nowhere, there was a death in my husband's family, an accident (his mom fractured her arm after slipping on ice), and an unwelcome realization that my in-laws may need to move out of financial necessity.

Then, there was one more tipping point.  Lewie's beloved camp director called to tell me that Lewie's summer camp would be closing--permanently.  I cried.  How could this be?  I had already filled out the registration form and put down my deposit!  Lewie was already counting down the days to camp, for it had become his second home!

The last of my free time was spent researching new camps, speaking with directors, and even visiting one.  We "think" we made the right choice to experiment between two different camps this summer, but there are still registration forms to complete and deposits to be made before March 1!

This week, I'm trying to reset my priorities and get back on track.  I won't lie.  I still feel totally overwhelmed, but I'm taking a step back to breathe.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  (That has to be my new mantra.)

This is my happy place.  Thinking about hiking with my little boy.

I'm blogging tonight instead of filling out Lewie's new camp registration forms.  I still have papers to correct, too.  I have to shift the balance, and the balance starts back to finding time for me.  It's all a WIP.

The End of Summer?

This week, Lewie will begin school, and last week, the college I work for started up too.   Although Autumn doesn't begin until September 22nd, it always feels like the season is over right about now.  Maybe it's the cooler nights; maybe it's the leaves that are starting to change on some trees; or maybe it's just the fact that summer camp is over, and now's the time to be serious--early bedtimes, homework, parent-teacher conferences, PTO meetings...

I'm not mentally ready for the change; I'm not ready for the fall fairs that replace days at the beach, but here we are...  This post is my last tribute to summer.  It's been a busy one, so I'm combining some of my favorite pics from multiple weekend and weekday adventures.  All in all, I think we were able to cross off most if not everything I included on my summer bucket list.  Here were the most important ones:

1. Swim lessons.

Lewie took swim lessons at a wedding venue called the Colonial Tavern.  They own an outside swimming pool, and just through sheer luck, I learned that they offer very affordable, private, swim lessons for kids.  The pool is not heated, so they state that the swim season lasts for six weeks during the summer, but we were lucky and able to squeeze in eight lessons.

Lewie w/ his teacher, Miss Alexis.  (She's a nursing major in her junior year of college.)

2.  The Beach!

I love going to lakes the best, but there is something to be said for going to the beach and admiring the vast, beautiful, all-encompassing sea right in front of you.  This year we had a chance to see the beach in Tampa, FL and Rehoboth, DE.  In Connecticut, we went to Hammonasset and Rocky Neck State Parks.  Flying kites and enjoying yummy beach food, to us, is just as important as the actual beach experience.

Hubby getting his new hyper-kite ready...

These clouds don't even look real!!!

Waiting to eat at Rocky Neck State Park...  My kid is such a ham!

Friends!!!

The boys finishing up their ice-cream treats!

Pretending to sunbathe.

3.  Unique Eateries.

During the summer, anytime that we decide to eat out, I'm always looking for cool places where we can sit outside.  Simply put...if a restaurant doesn't have a patio or deck, then I'm not interested (at least not when the weather's beautiful).  This year, we tried a unique eatery called "The Place."  They cook everything--from corn on the cob, to hot dogs, to steak, to lobster, to clams--all over an open fire pit, and their guests sit under a tent on tree stumps.  The food was delicious, and the restaurant was quite "the place."  It felt like we were invited to someone's backyard barbeque. 

4.  Amusement Parks!

This year we had the joy of going to LEGOLAND in Tampa, FL; Jungle Jim's in Rehoboth, DE; and our very own Lake Quassy Amusement Park here in Connecticut.  Lake Quassy has become an annual tradition for us, and each year it's fun to see what rides Lewie has outgrown and what ones are his favorite.  This year, the train ride and the Pirate Swing were his hands down favorite (going on each seven times in a row).  He liked others too, but with those, he was content to ride them just once.

All aboard the Quassy Express!

All aboard the Quassy Queen.

The Pirate Swing...AGAIN???

After taking a dip in Lake Quassy...

Yes, school starts tomorrow for Little Lewie...  I guess it's time to start making a fall bucket list; although, I'll still be daydreaming about the carefree days of summer!

Kissed by the Bluebird of Happiness

When I was about eight years-old, my mom bought me a bluebird of happiness that graced my windowsill.  We saw it together at a card store, and when she purchased it, she said she wanted it to be a reminder that if she could have one wish, it would be that my life was a happy one. 

Well, almost twenty five years later, I've passed down the bluebird of happiness to my son.  It now graces his windowsill, and everytime I lift the shade, I take the bluebird out, and he swoops down to Little Lewie (yeah, I have a pretty good imagination) and kisses him.  Little Lewie, of course, loves and expects this daily routine.  He always cringes a little when the bird first "kisses" him because the glass is cold from sitting in the window overnight.  Still, I want it to be a reminder that, like my mom, I want all the happiness in the world for him.  No matter what challenges a day brings, I want him to know that happiness is just around the corner (or in this case, sitting in his windowsill) to be reclaimed.  For now, my one goal everyday is to make sure Little Lewie's mornings and days are happy ones that begin with the promise of a special morning kiss.