August! Summer Forever!

What We Did - 

We all went school shopping for Norah and miraculously found shoes for every child. (if you've ever glimpsed the shoe section of Target in August you know what a feat this is.) Went swimming. Tried a new sno-cone place. I did a solo trip to Malad for my cousin's baby shower. (and listen, I won one of the games and felt more proud about it than I should have.) I volunteered at one of the branch BBQs. Norah started 1st grade and we all dropped her off. RIP to me when she no longer wants a full family affair for the first day of school. There were some rainy days and I took the kids on a puddle walk. More swimming. We popped in to Back to School night, which was held, inexplicably, during the second week of school. I had dinner with Syd and Em and Sara at Slackwater where we got our meal comped because the ticket got lost in the kitchen. We watched a bit of the Tony Hawk Vert Alert which was held for free at the fairgrounds. Brian set up the tent outside and then the kids and their friends played campout for the afternoon. Even more swimming. Norah got her covid booster and Ev and June got their first dose! I went to the South Jordan AND Daybreak farmer's markets with Sara. Had brunch at Oquirrh for Ashley's birthday. 

Inspired by - 

Incoming fall weather. All the art I have saved and want to buy someday. Interior design TikTok. 

Watching -

Finished the new season of Never Have I Ever. Glow Up. 101 Places to Party Before You Die (I love Gabrus forever), started the new seasons of Reservation Dogs and Only Murders in the Building. And most important of all, the new season of Bluey!!

Reading - 

I read two books and completely loved both of them. This Time Tomorrow (I guess I'm an official Emma Straub stan now) and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. (it was unintentional that the titles matched)

Thinking about - 

Nostalgia. The last couple months of all my pregnancies. Fall clothes I want to buy. 

Listening to - 

Maggie Rogers, new singles from Marcus Mumford and Santigold, and boygenius. 

Researching - 

A new crockpot lid because maybe I accidentally threw ours away in a fit of decluttering. Pottery classes. Crocheting. 

Organizing - 

Nothing and everything at the same time. 

Cooking + Eating + Drinking - 

Please don't talk to me about cooking. 

Grateful for - 

I have been living in a moment of extreme love and appreciation for my kids. Which, obviously, one would hope is generally occurring, and it is! But lately I've just felt so so lucky to have them and overwhelmed by how sweet and smart and funny they all are. They take most of my time and all of my energy, but what a wonderful problem to have. Seeing June's face of pride after showing Brian something she drew, having Norah read her to do list to me (it included coming up with a name for her recess drawing club and playing a full game with June without them fighting), and hearing Ev gleefully say "hello!" when we walk into a room are all moments I'm trying to hang on to.

What the girls are into - 

Playing animal hospital. Putting on "concerts" in the living room. Being annoyed when I try to get them excited to clean up their room. SWIMMING FOREVER TALK TO THEM ABOUT NOTHING BUT SWIMMING.

What Everett is doing - 

Being the cutest. Sleeping with his baby doll. Copying everything the big kids do. Somehow always finding a marker.

Magic - 

When the kids trail in our room in the morning in a little parade. Hearing the details of their morning games. A recent one was where they all had color element powers. June's was purple so she controlled anything purple and gemstones. Norah's was blue so she controlled everything blue and THE WHOLE EARTH. A big power imbalance, I think.

Missing - 

The moments with my kids I'm currently existing in. This is normal right??!

Looking forward to - 

Do I even need to say? Fall! Halloween! Fall things! Kids in costumes! Birthday season!

Finally, this quote that felt like it came right out of my heart.

Taking care of children may feel like drudgery — and, fair, it often is — but I know that the repetitive circle we walk every morning wears a groove into their consciousness, their souls. It is precisely this intimate, bodily knowledge — specific to each child, cultivated day by day — that gives them a sense of security, safety, and love. We feel like we are going nowhere, but time marches forward whether we notice or not, so imperceptibly that it can feel like a betrayal.

The Morning Rush Is Mothering At Its Most Essential (romper.com)