big sigh

I have a thousand posts half-written in my head, but I can't seem to get here to this space very easily any more. If I am not working, I am soaking up every last drop of time with my boys before this delicious summer comes to a close in just a couple of short days. So much happens all at once this time of year, with school starting and birthdays and anniversaries and so many memories rising up amid it all. I hope to get some of my thoughts and stories down, but tonight, after working and going for a run and having dinner and playing with the kids and snuggling them into bed; instead of writing, I looked through my photos from our camping trip a week ago (last one of the summer... :sob:) and my heart, once again, is full to bursting with joy and riches.

Look at these people. Would you look at my gorgeous little people?
















I love them so.



And by the way, I love Madison with all my heart, but I do believe the shores of Lake Michigan will always be my home.

:Big sigh:

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because you asked...

I'm usually not quite this self-indulgent on here, but hey. It was a pretty self-indulgent weekend.



So, for all you sweet friends near and far who have been asking how the rare kid-free weekend in a party dress turned out,






highlights include:

• Friday night dim sum and cocktails at a hip little place in a low-lit back room (Nat Spil)
• Watching the thunder clouds billow and the full moon rise over Lake Monona from the roof of the terrace.
• Indulging in beers and the dankiest dark chocolate cake for dessert at our favorite pub (the Weary)
• Meeting up with old friends and new for late night drinks on the patio on a gorgeous summer night (Great Dane, downtown)
• Sleeping in and lounging in bed for the whole morning with my man. (no link for that one! *wink wink*)
• A gorgeous wedding at our beautiful State Capitol building.
• A chance to wear my yellow dress!!!
• Dancing and dancing and dancing the night away, song after song after song. Hubs and I ruled the dancefloor.
• Hilarity with college friends, in town for the festivities.
• Sunday morning table for 8, bloody mary's, and the best brunch in town (Sardine)
• Reaffirmation that we are not only kick ass partners in parenting, but we're a kick ass couple.

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

• Tightly wrapped hugs from dirty little boys who missed their mama, watching them play in the waves on a summer Sunday evening, and a drive back from Grandma and Grandpa's campsite with a pink-latte sky that looked like Mother Nature dipped her finger right in and gave it swirl.

It was a good weekend, friends.


And now... (because you were sweet enough to ask)

... the yellow dress.







Now when do I get another chance to wear it?

(thank you to my social media friendlies for helping me figure out shoes and accessories that work with banana bright!)

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and i bought a new yellow dress

It is 3:00 on a Friday afternoon and my husband is coming home from camping with the three boys for two days while I stayed home to work, except he has dropped them off with my parents for two more days and he will be home in two hours and we will have the whole weekend to ourselves in our own home and we have college friends heading into town for the wedding of an old friend and we will stay out late and sleep in and go out for breakfast and get dressed up, which is so fun to do, and I bought a new yellow dress to wear just because it has been too long.

Source: christytomlinson.typepad.com via Jessica on Pinterest

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here, there

I'm curled up on the couch with the window open behind my head, dog sprawled out on the rug in front of me, listening to the cicadas and the whoosh and drone of traffic in the distance. I can hear the muffled sounds from the baseball stadium a quarter mile away; a car door slams and a dog barks once, but mostly it's cicadas and cars.

John and the boys took a spontaneous camping trip - his first time taking them camping on his own. They've never gone without me before. But I am here because I need to work, and they are there because we only have a few weeks left of summer freedom, and these boys need all the time -- outdoors, free-running and unscheduled -- as we can give them.

I imagine right now they are all three snug in their sleeping bags, lined up in a row of red, orange and gray. They took the little tent - the one we got when we were first married - because it's just the four of them - one big and three littles. I'm sure John's sitting around the fire right now, probably missing me. And Wilson. But I needed Wilson here, my pal and protector.

I'm glad they went. I'm glad they're there. But I'm feeling a little lonesome right now, wishing I had a way to peek at them right here in this moment.

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there's just something about a river

Summer Sundays on the Wisconsin River. No better way to beat the heat. 

If you live in Madison, the river is only a half hour away and a great alternative to swimming in the lakes.

(You should really get out there.) 

We had the beach to ourselves on our sandbar of choice, and the water was the perfect temperature. 

I love the lakes, but there's just something about a river.

Sandy and sunkissed... the perfect way to top off a lovely July.

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