This was one of those weekends that involved making a lot of puzzle pieces fit together. The good news is that they mostly did — and we got some beautiful fall weather too.
One big thing: J came home to visit! He needed to pick up a few winter things he hadn’t packed (Boston is getting cold), plus new contact lenses, and he wanted to get a hair cut, and (I think) see us. So he took the train down on Friday night. I picked him up at 30th St. Station after the dress rehearsal for my concert, and we made it home at 10 p.m. He immediately made himself a home-made (mostly) pizza, which I imagine he hasn’t done in 6 weeks and which he was missing.
It was nice to have him home for the weekend, and to have all five kids under one roof briefly. But it was brief — he was home 10 p.m. Friday and left on a 12:30 p.m. train Sunday to get back to Boston in the evening. He requested something vaguely seasonal, so we had brunch as a family at Founding Farmers in King of Prussia on Saturday. I know a crew of them watched a Harry Potter movie on Saturday night. He and I also went to a coffee shop for a while Sunday morning before he left.
Another big development: We now have a 14-year-old! R celebrated her birthday this weekend. We did pasta for her birthday dinner on Saturday night (her favorite) and then had cake and presents. She now has some very cute new PJs, and I got her a Kendra Scott necklace and bracelet she had her eye on. I also took her shopping at Hollister on Sunday afternoon and she picked out a few things. I was very fortunate that because some other families were out of town it didn’t work out to have a party with her friends this weekend — she’ll be doing something with friends in two weeks. I’m not sure it would have fit!
The other big anchor event was my concert with Choral Arts Philadelphia. We had a dress rehearsal Friday night that was coming after a Monday night rehearsal that had been not that good. I mean basic errors. But everyone must have hunkered down with the music during the week because we got through things fairly well on Friday and the music felt far more comfortable. Then I had to be back downtown Saturday at 2:30 for another hour of practice, and then the concert at 4 p.m. It was intense — the music (Victoria’s Requiem, and the Howells’ Requiem) is just hard. But we made it. It sounded good. Even the toughest sections of the Victoria. I was in a little heap afterwards. I guess it’s good to have a hobby that’s a challenge…
Anyway, there were lots of other things to fit in too — a little time in the pool (since it was 80 degrees!) and the hot tub, everyone doing their Flu Mist vaccines (you can get them shipped to you now!), supervising a playdate, the 16-year-old going to the homecoming game and homecoming dance (he looked very handsome), working on my puzzle, supervising music practice, and reading one of the books I got at the library last Wednesday. I did not manage to run, but my husband got his long run in on Sunday so he was happy about that. I will just run some other time…
Wow! That is one packed weekend, Laura.
How fun your oldest made it home. I can’t believe I’ve been following along long enough that one of your kids is in college!
And another 14-year-old. I don’t think I realized our daughters were the same age; mine turned 14 back in March and, so far, I feel like 14 has been a bit easier in terms of teenage angst than 13. Fingers crossed for 15!
@Elisabeth – I have loved the teen years so far. Here’s hoping they stay good for both of us!