A pack-it-in April weekend

It is that time of year…lots going on. But this was a good weekend — lots of puzzle pieces fitting together.

Friday night the two big boys were gone with their tech competition. The 5-year-old was with a sitter at her house. My husband and I originally talked about doing a date night to Longwood Gardens, but then thought better of it when we remembered that it was only the 13-year-old and 10-year-old at home, without their older siblings, so we didn’t want to go so far. So we wound up going to the Y together — we’d work out, come check on the kids, then go to dinner nearby.

At some point while I was lifting weights, my husband came over to me, talking on the phone and said “OK, I’ll tell her to call you.” I looked down on my phone and there were three missed calls from my eldest. I called him back from the lobby and found out that he’d just heard from one of his top choice colleges that he’d gotten in on off the wait list. And had been put in the honors college too! [Note: I have not been cleared to announce publicly where he is going yet so apologies for the vagueness.]

Needless to say, this was pretty exciting. He talked to some people from his high school who had gone there and has decided to go for it, so we just had a total switch in mental model of where the kid is going to be next year.

So that was the start to the weekend. We checked on the kids, then went to a Greek place for dinner. We came home and took the 13-year-old and 10-year-old into the hot tub, which is now open for the summer. It kind of took a while to warm up but then it was nice and toasty.

Saturday I got something of a long run (6.5 miles) in in the morning before I needed to take the 10-year-old to ninja class. I did some work there, though not efficiently. We stopped at Wawa after, I got home, and immediately turned around to go with the 13-year-old to pick up the 17-year-old’s flowers for prom (he wasn’t getting home until later). Why was she willing to go on this errand? Because it was in the same direction as Brandy Melville, where I had agreed to take her.

Yes, I had the full on teen girl shopping experience. For those who aren’t familiar with it, Brandy Melville has gained a big following — they make very trendy clothes and they also make only one size, if I understand correctly. Something like a small. We found a few items, then stopped by Lululemon (struck out there) and then Urban Outfitters (found two pairs of shorts). Then Starbucks. Then we got caught in a rain storm on the way to the car!

Meanwhile, my husband had gone to Costco, so I arrived home to find that he’d put most things away but had gotten overwhelmed at some point. So I finished the job, then went to go pick up the 17-year-old. He was riding back with a group of seniors from the tech competition in western PA so they could make it back for prom. Unfortunately they got stuck behind some huge traffic issue about 20 minutes from the house so I wound up waiting for a while. But I got him, took him home, and he got into his tux. He was very handsome!

His date and two other friends came to the house and we took photos — and had snacks and did a toast with sparkling cider. Sadly, my husband didn’t get to see all this as he was picking up the 15-year-old, who had just gotten back from the tech competition on the bus. Many logistics! The kids headed downtown, and then I got in the car with the 13-year-old to go to a mini reunion for the crew we went to Paris with last year.

One of the women lives with her kids on a farm in West Chester, so it was very pretty and pastoral. We hung out, ate dinner, and left with three dozen fresh eggs. I have enjoyed eating them for breakfast!

Sunday — more things. Church, then various administrative things like registering the 17-year-old for an orientation for his new college this summer. Then I took the 5-year-old to two birthday parties in a row. By the end he had face paint, was eating a ring pop in the car and was just generally happy and exhausted.

Was the weekend over at that point? No it was not. While my husband supervised trumpet and trombone lessons at home I went to the 17-year-old’s vocal recital. He sang in a quartet with some other kids and it was fun to hear it come together as I’d only heard his part before. I made it home around 8:30 p.m. to help get the little guy in bed. And then everyone else.

However, with all that running around I was still able to read in bed for an hour before I went to sleep. So there was some relaxing time too. If not that much. 🙂

Now I am marching toward my book deadline mid-week. The good news is that it is mostly done. Phew!

Photo: Redbud at Stoneleigh. I rewarded myself with a stop there after going to the dermatologist on Friday and getting two moles taken off. Fun times.