How is it August already? Actually, we’re flying right through August! It really is true that the days go slow but the years go fast, wouldn’t you agree? It’s wild that we’re in the final month of summer. It has been exhausting in many ways, as nice as it is to have this time at home one on one with my son. He does best with a schedule, knowing what’s coming, and you know what? I might too! The forced slow down of the fall, the upcoming school year and the so-called “grind” is something I tend to enjoy once it arrives. None the less we’ve been up to some stuff. Read on to see what’s been crack-a-lackin’ over the last couple of months since I last checked in:
JUNE
I had a birthday in early June which called for a slightly longer coast trip than our usual. We didn’t take many photos of our time and nothing extraordinary happened. Outside of our usual beach experiences, we saw some deer meander past our property. The place we rented was up on a hillside overlooking the ocean. It’s always a nice surprise when wildlife shows up. The place also had a giant spa tub in the primary room so one day we all took a super ridiculous out of control bubble bath. It’s totally normal to take a family bath, no?!
When we returned it was the last few days of school for my son (and last few days of work for me.) I had taken a week or so off (including those days at the beach) but was ready to finish strong and say my goodbyes to both staff and students. While I had earned that time I took off, I really respected my coworkers and decided to lose whatever time I had left. This school year was special to me. I was sad that I wouldn’t be coming back for another year. I was pleasantly surprised by the reception upon my return. It was clear that I’d made some connections and people had been worried while I was out that they weren’t going to see me again. It was such a craveable feeling. Everything about this job is conflicting and it is so confusing. It is hard and exhausting and pays like garbage. There are days where I feel crazy for choosing to do it. But is also fun and rewarding, every day is different and I can tell that I am good at it. It was bittersweet walking out the school doors that last day. Having such warm feelings for what I was walking away from, against my will, unsure if I would be able to come back. It is a time in my life I will never forget.
At the end of the month my brother-in-law passed away. My sister is private so I won’t share details but it was world shattering for her. She’s not even 50 and had been with her husband since she was 19. They shared a lifetime together. Now she has to learn how to live life without him, can you imagine the heartbreak? They didn’t have children together so she is now navigating life just her and her pets, which, to be honest, may be easier in some cases than if children were in the picture. Hmm… What do you all think about that? I could be wrong making that statement. I’m curious to know your thoughts.
I had tried, leading up to this moment, to be there for her as much as I could over the phone. She lives in Idaho and I live in Oregon. I now knew I would have to make a trip to be with her in person. So that became the plan for July.
JULY
4th of July was a good ole fashioned independence day. We went to a Portland Pickles baseball games then lit up some fireworks at home. The Portland Pickles are a local collegiate wood-bat league that hosts fun, silly and sometimes inappropriate themed home games. It’s a very “Keep Portland Weird” vibe. There mascot is, yes, a pickle. It was crazy hot and we bought bleacher seats that were in the sun. We spent a lot of time walking around until we found picnic table seats in the shade. Lesson learned next time we go. The picnic tables were packed, for obvious reasons… The game was pretty boring overall but they ended up winning the game at the very end. Woohoo!
It is amazing how much you can spend on fireworks. Legal fireworks I might add. These don’t go wild in the sky. They’re nothing spectacular. The boys bought a couple hundred dollars worth and when they were all gone it felt like we could have easily spent more! It was a great day all in all.
Next came our trip to Idaho to support my sister. We hadn’t been back home since Lincoln was born so we made it a whole vacation vibe. It was nice, actually, going back! Enough time passed apparently because there had not been much desire to return prior to this tragic event. Coeur d’ Alene really is amazing during the summer… and Christmas time actually. It’s a Hallmark Christmas movie dream. We loved the rental house we chose. We stayed on Avondale Lake which I didn’t even know existed all these years. It’s a private lake in Hayden exclusively for those that live on the golf course. Similar to our stay at the coast, we saw wildlife every day. It was very relaxing and exactly what we were wanting for this trip.
I got to see my sister a ton, more than I ever have in my life possibly? We spent only one morning (to my disappointment) down at the dock and on the lake right off the property. That was the thing I was looking forward to most, I think. We ate at the restaurants we missed greatly (thank you The Porch Public House for not changing a thing!) We drove around to see all the growth that occurred over the last decade. People in a small town so often hate change but I must say, I was happy about much of what I saw. The downtown Coeur d’ Alene tourist area had made improvements in all the right ways, in my opinion. Then came the last day of the trip and highlight, if you ask my son. We devoted this day to Silverwood Theme Park.
I have a lot of memories of my own of time spent when I was young at Silverwood. At that time, there was not a waterpark. I have been to the waterpark as an adult but was really excited to share the place with my son. He is a water lover. We spent most of the day in the waterpark, maybe 6 hours or more. By the time we left to head over to the theme park, multiple applications of sunscreen was not enough to keep our skin protected. We took full advantage and then some! At the theme park, my husband was able to go on one of the wooden rollercoasters. I managed to capture him in a photo below. You can find him in a white shirt in car #5. That thing flew by so it was exciting to see I actually got him! Lincoln enjoyed quite a few of the kiddie rides but the three of us went on the log ride and the water rapids together. That was what I was most excited about because we haven’t been to a park like that as a family and I wasn’t sure what we’d all be brave enough to do. Nick grew up in Southern California so he loves rollercoasters and the more exhilarating rides. I grew up with the local fair so I like smaller things that spin. Lincoln is still little but tall enough for most rides so it was unknown what we’d be able to encourage him to do. He didn’t have the patience for long lines but I was happy with how brave he was. It was an awesome but exhausting day. Lincoln will hopefully remember it for the rest of his life!
August has been very smoky in the Portland area. The Pacific Northwest is on fire and it is effecting us all (some more severely than others.) The air quality has improved in my area but was very unhealthy last week when the heat was around 100 degrees. One of the wildfires burning nearby has broken a record for largest in history.
I’ve been painting my sons bedroom. I have not painted a wall in this house since I bought it 3 years ago. The walls are white so it seems balanced, though boring, to leave things as is until I am able to commit to a color. I know that paint is not permanent but it feels like an important decision to me so I want to make the right choice. We chose a grey for his room, with his input, and it is beautiful. It’s so satisfying trying multiple colors and feeling empowered that you made the right decision once you see an entire wall completed. He’s obsessed with The Legend of Zelda right now which I love because it is different than what is common for kids his age. I’ll get to redecorate his room after I’m done painting which I also love but, also, how do you decorate a room with a Zelda theme? We’ve also begun staining our fence that we had installed last year and had a bathroom exhaust fan installed that was due for close to 2 years now when we originally put in the HVAC. Improving our home is always a priority and there is no end in sight.
Finally, and dare I say most importantly, I received a call yesterday from the school district inviting me back!!! My position was eliminated in May but, as many of you told me would happen, there is magically a need for me now that the school year is about to start. I am so grateful. I do not know if I will be back at my sons school yet but I made it very clear that is the only place I want to be. So much damn drama for no reason in the end. Regardless, it really showed me how good this job is during this season in my families life. It allows me to share the same hours and most of the same days off as my son, saving us thousands of dollars in childcare. Being at my sons school last year, and fingers crossed again this year, I get to see that side of his life that I wouldn’t otherwise. It is a job I hope to be able to continue all throughout Lincoln’s education and who knows how I will progress along the way. Education is an underpaid/underappreciated profession but one I would be able to look back on and be proud of myself for committing to. Please say your prayers, send out your positive energy and your sincerest hopes that I get assigned to my sons school again. I should find out in the next week or two. I will appreciate you forever.
Until next time,
Katie 🤍
Katieannabanana 