Summer is winding down

Great week here for the Carrolls. I started back to work, Joe's at work and we've slowly started having my mom back to help with the kids. Routine. It can be a really good thing! Jackson and Jules went to golf camp. They really liked it. They played with tennis balls so everyone would be successful. They tell me they had to wear "helmets" though because balls were flying everywhere. Annalyse went to craft camp where she made a scarf, a book, and many drawings. She also went to work with me on Friday where she attended a Microsoft One Notebook training from 7-9 a.m. She was quite the trooper. Later, she set up her "office" in the half of my office that used to be my job share partners. She set up her own files, drawers, and desk. It was so cute! She told me she wanted to be called Miss Carroll while there. :) Joe made a one hour presentation of our trip to Alaska to show to his group at work. In usual fashion, he made it "engineer" like with many tips on Alaska that he knew as well as some found on Wikipedia. When looking for a door prize, I told him to bring in a six pack of Alaskan beer.... Joe decided he didn't want to get fired so he bought a five dollar coffee coupon. Not Tullys comes from AK.

Went to an outdoor movie last night. Should have reviewed it first. It said it was G rated but in my opinion, it was not. Princess Bride. Definitely good for 10 and above audience but pretending all was ok, we sat through the show with tons of other families camped out in sleeping bags and lawn chairs. Oh parenting!

This weekend is our first weekend on our own. My sister and Brad are fully into their new home and busily sanding down the hardwood floors and tearing down wall paper (only to find plaster and lath behind it). My mom is in Oregon helping her best friend who just had eye surgery and we are "committed" to doing home projects that we have let go all summer. I'm not talking big things, just basics like laundry, clean bathrooms, and rooms. :) Joe may powerwash the deck and prepare it for staining but it's almost 11 and he's drinking coffee and enjoying reading the paper. This project started last summer so we'll see if gets moved into the next summer......time will tell.

I'm moving into my last week in the 30's and heading into the big 40! Hard to believe. At this time in my mom's life, I was 19 and my sister was 16. Big difference. She also got to retire at 55. I'll be propped up at my desk at 75 with my retirement plan. :) Fun times!