I find myself already forgetting what we’ve done and when so far this summer, so I am going to take a moment to summarize before it’s a complete blur.

Week 1

I had all four kids home with me. I can’t recall much else other than that. Dex worked at home one day and of course had Friday (Independence Day) off. He and Edward went to see one of the local fireworks displays one evening (not on the 4th as, strangely, very few 4th of July celebrations are held on the actual holiday around here, a fact I never fail to find disturbing). I dragged all the kids to Davey’s new school for a quick visit before his summer session.

Week 2

Davey started his extended year summer session at the new school. He is being transported by our school district still but has a new morning driver. Despite my concern, his first week seems to go smoothly. Dex’s parents arrive for a visit. We’re thrilled to see them. During the week, we play with the kids, go swimming at the hotel and a local pond, go to the classic car show at Kimball’s, go see Wall-E, take in another fireworks display, and Dex and I are finally able to have our romantic splurge evening in Boston. Before the grandparent’s leave, we have an early birthday celebration for the girls.  

Week 3

Edward has Scout day camp all week. Davey has school all week. I have to drive Edward to and from the camp bus drop-off, and on Monday I have to drive Davey to and from school, and I have to pick him up from school on Tuesday. I put several hundred miles on the minivan just driving kids around to where they need to go. The 32 miles round-trip to Davey’s school takes me just under an hour. Two of my four precious kid-free days this summer fall during this week. I get almost nothing done. Dex has two late nights, one for business in NY, one for dinner with his far-flung boss. I can’t even remember what the girls and I did for fun on our days together. Surely something? Probably it involved Target.

Week 4

Davey third week of school. I have two days with just Edward and three days with Edward and the girls. Dex is out of town all week on a business trip to the west coast. He leaves Monday and returns Friday morning on the red-eye, which means he really gets home Friday afternoon when he wakes up. On Monday, Edward and I do a lemonade stand - something he has asked to do since last summer. We get a single customer - our neighbor from across the street - and play cards and Yahtzee. Next time we might try an iced coffee stand. On Tuesday, we all go berry picking then I take the kids candlepin bowling. They all have a blast and Edward even wins a stuffed Luigi from the claw machine in the bowling alley arcade. I never knew one could actually win something from the claw. Wednesday I take Edward for a long overdue haircut and we run a few errands. Thursday he, the girls and I venture out in the torrential rain to an indoor playground. I let them play for hours, climbing and running, until they are all exhausted. On Friday I pack a picnic lunch and we head to the playground and the library. I’d originally planned on riding our bikes but between my slipping chain, threatening clouds, and sheer exhaustion, we drive instead.

Week 5

Heading into this week, Davey is at school, Edward is at day camp again, and I have my second set of two kid-free days. Today is one of them and in about 10 minutes Davey and I will head over to pick up the girls. They took cupcakes today for their birthday celebration. Their new Build-A-Bear bears also went along with them today. I have gotten some work done today but not as much as I’d hoped. It’s never enough time…especially when it takes me two hours to wake up enough to have a coherent thought.