these days.

When you’ve got a son with a cast in August, it feels like a constant stream of “fear of missing out” is running through my head. We pulled up to a park today, a park recommended to me by not one but two of my friends (thus, a really great park), on a Sunday no less, to complete emptiness. One other solitary parked car but its inhabitants were off on a hike or some other grand adventure because they were nowhere to be seen. The things on my “summer bucket list” that really had water as the cornerstone attraction (beach, beach, and more beach mostly; a couple splash pads thrown in for good measure) will have to wait until 2018, I’m afraid. Ah well. The casted boy is faring well aside from being driven crazy a few times a day by itching. We’ve discovered, thanks to a nurse-friend, that wrapping it in a cold pack seems to help the itching subside better than anything else we’ve tried.

We’ve already begun searching for a Lake Winnipesaukee rental for next year. It begins that early. Years past, we always booked by September or October. The wait was long, but the promise of sweet sunsets and a warm breeze on that lake kept the worst of winter’s blues at bay. We didn’t even unwrap the boat this year. Being a boat owner–hardly, Steve has pretty much 100% boat responsibilities (I don’t even like driving it.)–has made me realize that they are really expensive. If you’re not going to make good use of it, don’t even bother unwrapping (only to winterize it again at the end of the summer). With his abroad class and such, we wouldn’t have made good use and so we skipped it entirely. We all miss it. Something about a boat can bring out the best in people. You’re on a floating island in the water. No computers, no wifi, each other’s company interrupted only by tubing or water skiing. Next summer will be William’s last summer with us before he goes to college, assuming all goes as (loosely) planned. First, that is insane. Second, let’s make the summer count. Winnipesaukee is the perfect choice. Our time in New Jersey was so special. I have so few pictures of it, though. I planned on taking more than I did, but once there it felt really good to unplug. I barely checked into Instagram, and there’ll be no Jersey shore video this year like I’ve always done in year’s past. Instead, I spent a lot of time just hanging out, and–one of my favorite parts, as it turns out–having more one-on-one with Quinn and Nora (my sister Kate’s kids). Before, I always had my own little one to look after, so I just didn’t get to spend serious time with them, but this year Anders (turning 3 this winter!!) was fairly self-sufficient. No, he didn’t scramble his own eggs or change his own diaper, but he did play independently long enough for me to read library books to Quinn and cuddle with Nora. Add to that, Parker and Anders playing with them, and it makes me the happiest. Kate’s pretty much my best friend, so watching our little ones play? It’s the best. My cousins were down too and a bunch of the girls even managed to get away for drinks for Kate’s birthday at the Watering Hull in Stone Harbor. What fun. When was the last time I was out with my Mom, sisters, and cousins at a bar past midnight? Perhaps never. We rounded out the night at Fred’s Tavern, and got home around 2 am. Who are we? One of the favorite days: we stayed late and ordered pizza to the beach. Kids covered themselves in sand, boogie-boarded, dug holes. By the end, we were exhausted and happy.Boston with these boys last week, with my friend Rachael as unofficial tour guide. She’s always informed of Boston’s latest and greatest so I’m more than happy to follow her lead all over the city. Her girls are similar ages to these guys, so we’ve got the same interests anyway. It was a Greenway-inspired day, bopping from one fountain to the next art installation, kids running and giggling, until we, mostly happenstance, were at the beer garden at the magic hour of 3:30, just before their opening. Stoked Pizza truck was parked outside so I grabbed a half veggie half cheese, and Rachael grabbed cheese and pepperoni. We sat down, had some beer and rose, and went on our merry way. We ended up outside the aquarium where you can view the seals without admission. “The free aquarium,” as Rachael said. That made me laugh. Then a 40-minute 3D Imax on Great Whites. It was a perfect day and the cast remained dry. Success. (above top and shorts and shoes; Parker’s shoes after his Tevas ripped! Waterproof. Love ’em.)