Illinois Calling

So we went out for his last meal at home in a while before he left in the morning for college - Chili's at his request!

We fed him well and all tried to not get too maudlin about the whole situation. It's a good thing after all. Just because we all won't see each other every day it's not the end of the world right? Sigh.

As adults we see the big picture. We know that maybe they will stay friends with their high school buddies (I did!) and maybe they will make closer friends with college buddies. We know that they won't think about us that much because they will have many other good things to distract them. We know that we will not be there for every achievement or able to help them over every hurdle. And most of all we know we will miss them more than they will miss us.

So from the school bus to the airplane, the wing and the wheel, off he goes to the next journey. All I hope for is that he makes many friends and that his bed is comfortable! Gosh, now I really do need a tissue.

Last Hurrah

Brady had said that he would like to have a college-send-off party before he left and so we granted permission and of course, I love any excuse to make my yard look like a Mexican cantina! Sweet! He avoids sentimentality at all costs so while he was at work I took the opportunity to make the food table a little shrine ; )

This is the chilled out period right after dusk but just before 8pm, which is when his party started. He had to work until 7pm...his last day of work before he leaves for Illinois...and so we did all of the prep work, food, etc. I made 5 chocolate trifles. That's right - 5! He said everyone wanted "a lot" and we always run out, so we whipped cream, stirred pudding and baked chocolate cakes all night long last night and today put them all together. They made it through 2 1/2 giant bowls of trifle. The others I am sure I can find a good home for!

You won't need it, dear son, but good luck in your new adventure so far away from home!!!

Best buddies. Stay forever young. These are the days to remember. The best is yet to come. Your mothers and fathers love you. Somebody hand me a tissue.

The time of their lives

I remember these pictures of me and my friends on almost the same summer night 30 (plus) years ago. I remember the feeling of being on the brink of something really cool. In my case, I was the one who stayed and commuted to school (mistake) and felt pretty bad about waving goodbye to everyone as they headed off to Vermont, Indiana and Washington, D.C.

These last few precious nights of the summer between high school graduation and college. Going from being the on the top of the heap where all is certain - into the great unknown. But how exciting!

So take these hours on this perfect of summer nights and keep your promises to stay in touch with each other.

Seriously? Smiling? Seriously, great.

raspberries and chocolate chips

11 a.m. breakfast. Still sorta on beach time. The teenagers slept all morning on vacation, which made Ronan and momma very antsy. We only had one car until dad came up on Wednesday night, so it was either leave them in the house to be totally lazy or wait for them to rouse and drag their behinds to the beach.

Anyway...back at home...this waffle maker owes me nada. It is stupendous. I think we paid $100 bucks at Williams-Sonoma but let me tell you it was worth every single penny. You can't make a mistake. It whistles when it's hot enough and it whistles when the waffle is ready. This morning I just threw out combo suggestions from what I had around. Raspberries and chocolate chips for two of them, plain choco chips for...well, I'll just say it...Brady. He's not a big "take chances on food" kind of kid.

But as we countdown to the August 17th college departure date, I for one cherish these unrushed mornings where the boys can just goof off and relax over waffles, even if breakfast smushes over to lunchtime.

Butterfly Bush

Merely two years ago, we planted these grasses and butterfly bushes. They were in small quart size pots, I kid you not!! Obviously I'd love to give my gardening skills all the credit, but more credit goes to putting them in exactly the right spot where they pretty much get screaming sun all day. Where the direct sun sends me ducking for cover under an awning or parasol, these guys absolutely love it.

I do water almost every day...but still. Crazy!

Kennebunkport Summer

We always try to remember the cottages and how many years we have rented a cottage by the sea for a week. We try and count them all up. A couple of times we went for two weeks but never were able to rent the same cottage for two weeks in a row, so we would have to pack up and move down the street to the next place.

This is St. Ann's church in Kennebunkport. Just so pretty, so Maine. One of the reasons we see license plates from Texas, Minnesota, Maryland and Quebec. It's just that pretty and like homing pigeons we find ourselves returning year after year.

For the first time we ate at Mabel's Lobster Claw on Ocean Ave. I think the picture speaks for itself ; ) I had an iced tea and a Bloody Mary. That's right. Two drinks. Vacation. Who's gonna stop me? The iced tea was just straight up. I mean, I'm not that wild.

Afterwards we headed back to the beach to play a little game of paddle ball - just stretching out a lovely summer afternoon.

He's Gettin' Ready

One foot out the door, counting down the days until college life begins as an engineering student at the University of Illinois. Life is humming along at such a rate that right now I don't even have time to look back, ponder, ruminate or be bummed out. That's ok. It's all good.