This was a memorable week, for sure! It ended with a project that will last the next few posts.
July 21
Kids camp pictures from the week were sent along sparingly, though I did catch a few on IG
Once my scans came back that I'd be on another 2-month break, I agreed to do respite for B, since her "permanent" placement home was going on vacation for a couple weeks. After picking her up (and being disheartened after meeting her foster mom), our first stop was the grocery store, to get the foods that made her comfortable and to start inching my food agenda over to her (fruits! vegetables! protein!).
July 22
Happy camper. :)
This is exactly how old my dad is in his head.
July 23
Early in the morning, I had a helper for my 10-minute workout.
Dakota and B got along really well. which was super sweet.
This was mostly a formality call with my oncologist because I'd already seen the results in the portal, still...it was nice to have a conversation with her that didn't involve major news or decisions. I can always count on her competence...and tardiness!
While sitting on the porch talking with Nana, Dakota curled up on my lap and fell asleep. Oh the sweetness!
July 24
A beautiful photo at dawn on the golf course, what would be the last time for a while. I think about "lasts" often. The ones we dread or look forward to, the ones we celebrate or grieve, the ones we worked hard for or made no effort for, the ones we knew were coming or the ones we had no way of knowing. I don't know...just things I ponder.
Colombo took great photos throughout the week and was sweet to arrange a picture with all of our family members present at kids camp. What an absolute gift that they all get to be there together!
My aunt and uncle are retiring from being kayak owners and gifted us their three. My dad and nephew spent the day retrieving them for us from New York. Such a sacrifice!
July 25
Finally! Closing day arrived!!
Instead of golfing and our usual morning things, Shaun and I headed out to HD to get supplies ahead of the lake house closing. We had sworn off big reno projects because we're old and tired and have lots of other things going on. But, similar to the office reno a few years back, this is just different. And we know its the right thing now and for the future. I guess taking things and people that need some help is a big part of who we are and what we do.
For years, decades really, we have dreamed of owning a lake house in our town. Over the years we've looked at dozens of places and it just never happened.
But one came on the market recently, bigger and crazier than we were looking for, but so much of it was amazing.
When Shaun's grandfather passed away eight years ago, he left a small sum to his grandkids and great grandkids. Shaun was the custodian of the accounts and grew them from a small amount to a much larger amount. As the executor, he had a dream and a vision that the money would be used for his grandfather's legacy and things that would have lasting meaning.
He approached the parents and the parents talked to their kids and everyone agreed they wanted to be a part of the lake house, in the town that meant so much to Grampy and in his honor. So Shaun and Nathan worked the numbers for making an offer, paying taxes, forming a partnership, etc. Our offer was accepted! And then we waited and waited for the paperwork to get done.
We were anxious to use it while it was still summer, but more importantly, we needed to have it ready to rent when the academic year started. (The house is minutes from UCONN, so we plan to rent it to college students from September to May and then it will be vacant during the summer months for our family to use.) But with each day that slipped away, our window to have it ready for the start of school grew shorter.
With great relief, we closed! The four siblings and their kids came from all over (like straight from a week of camp and on Facetime from Cape Cod) to gather for a celebration and kickoff of sorts. Shaun really wanted to make sure everyone understood what we were doing, that it was because of the hard work Great Grandpa did, coupled with wise investing and that it's a partnership...the kids are all co-owners.
We made a toast with bubbly cider and then Shaun brought every one out to the garage for a surprise. Somehow, in the midst of the madness of the day, he was able to finish up a boat deal, pick it up and have it hidden in the garage.
And then he stopped to pray a blessing over it all. Most do not truly know this man's heart, but I can tell you its gold. He constantly amazes me with his selflessness and generous spirit. He's one of the good ones. (and he will huff a little about me saying nice stuff :))
In no time, the boat was in the water and there were many happy kids.
July 26
And so began four weeks of intensity. I'm not kidding, Shaun worked about 120 hours a week...way early in the morning until too late at night, seven days a week for four weeks straight. I'm not sure how its possible, but I witnessed it.
To varying degrees of time, skill and enthusiasm, the whole family worked. It was fun to see people jumping on projects, often with a partner or three.
July 26
I was really proud of our kids. They sacrificed so much over the course of a month, for instance, Avery took more than three weeks off of work so she could put in long hours, Amanda cut vacation time short and was up early, Aiden was up before 7 AM nearly every day of the summer and then at the house all day long. And on and on. They worked without much complaint and understood the mission and were just rock stars.
