June 20, 2021

Empty Nest!

This week is going to feel SO strange. Noah and Eli left early this morning to go on a road trip up to the upper peninsula, to stay at my sister's property until Friday. Two of Noah's friends went along, so it was just the four of them making the 10-hour drive up there.

When Noah got his license last year, he asked if he could go up north with his friends in the summer of 2021. I said sure--honestly, I didn't think he'd ever bring it up again. So when he kept talking about it, and making real plans for it, I got pretty nervous that it was actually going to happen.

Noah will be 17 in a couple of weeks, and Eli is 15. Noah is a FANTASTIC driver--if he wasn't, I never would have agreed to let him drive up there. When his friends asked their parents if they could go, one of the "pro" arguments used was, "Noah's mom is really strict! We'll be fine!" Hahaha, I have NO idea what Noah has told them to make them think I'm super strict. Maybe because I didn't let Noah go to parties and stuff like that during the COVID-19 lockdown? I don't know--I always thought I was a "fun" mom! It was funny, though, when I heard how strict I am ;)

Noah's friends came over at 5:45 this morning so that they could hit the road by 6:00 or so. I planned on staying incredibly busy all day so that I wouldn't worry the whole time and keep refreshing the "Find Friends" app on my phone (where I can see Noah's location).


I was so relieved when I got a text from the kids saying they arrived safely at Jeanie's. They are going to spend the week fishing, sitting by the campfire, playing corn hole, riding four-wheelers, and just having a fun time with their "cool" aunt (and leaving their strict mom at home!).

Jerry was off of work today, so we had the day to ourselves--and it felt so weird! We decided to look through the cookbook and make some dinners this week that we don't normally make (because the kids don't like it).

I baked my dad a pecan pie, per Father's Day tradition (I bake him a pecan pie on Father's Day and on his birthday every year). When I brought it over there, I also brought an empty pie plate that I covered in plastic wrap--my dad has to have heart surgery on Wednesday, and I told him I baked a special pie that is sugar-free, salt-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, and carb-free. (Yes, it was a total dad joke, but appropriate for Father's Day!) Then I handed him the real pie.

In other news, today is the summer solstice! At 11:32 PM ET, it will officially change from spring to summer (in the northern hemisphere). And THAT means that it's time to start the Cookies' Summer Challenge!

If you haven't seen the post about it, it's not too late to start--you can find all the details here. The summer challenge is something I've been hosting since summer of 2016. There is a checklist for runners and/or walkers to complete between the summer solstice and the fall equinox in September. The list has 50 items on it to do while running or walking.

The challenge is just meant to make exercise a little more fun in the summer heat. Every year, I say that I'm going to complete the entire list, but I've never done it. This year, I make the same goal--I want to complete the list! And since I'm doing the Couch to 5K plan right now, I have no reason not to work on it.

Anyway, all of the information can be found on this post, including the checklist to download and the link to the Facebook group.

It's almost 10:00 PM right now, and I'm ready to start the summer challenge by literally running from spring into summer--I'll start my run before 11:32 and finish it after 11:32. I'm super tired, but I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, due to the quiet house!

5 comments:

  1. Will be thinking about your dad and your family on Wednesday


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  2. Enjoy your time with Jerry this week! Sending good vibes your dad's way for his surgery.❤️

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  3. So strange, I have been reading your blog for so long the fact that your kids are old enough to go away on their own and drive to it is so crazy! LOL

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  4. Best wishes for your dad. Amazing what they can do now days in medicine. As for your kids driving to the U.P., my daughter went to NMU in Marquette. That's about a six hour drive from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I never let her drive back and forth. You're a brave mom. :)

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  5. I'm just reading this. Sending all the good vibes to your dad!!

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