Maybe a fabulous outdoor cookout is in order for you Americans out there celebrating the long holiday weekend?
We had planned on taking our pop-up out camping, but after a rough week of me being sick (fall allergy season is already in full swing here in Atlanta.. ugh!), Ethan being away on a business trip, and me dealing with two little terrors boys alone, we are all just exhausted. I know, we just can't hack it can we?
Taking a camper camping is actually a lot of work. Ha! Who knew? It's supposed to be all fun and relaxation right? ; )
So, I think we might drive up to our Alma Mater, Auburn, for the day.
We haven't been back to school in a really, really long time. Going back there is always a bit of a paradox - an overhwhelming feeling of nostalgia and good memories mixed with that overwhelming feeling of, i'm-gonna-be-sick-this-is-just-too-much-nostalgia.
Do you know what I mean? You go back to a place, to the people you were, that was SO different compared to who/where you are now. I think Tara conveyed those similar feelings in this post recently (I love this girl. Just.love.her. I'm also very VERY much relating to her most recent post. I'm definitely in that headspace these days. And it's time to "thin the herd" myself.)
Anyways, back to college. It really was one of the BEST times of my life. I can divide up the best times of my life into 3 things: 1. college (sorry high school and before, you were just kind of... painful), 2. spending 3 months in Europe just Ethan and I, 3. you know, everything else post-kids. ; )
Not that my childhood wasn't good, I had a fantastic childhood! And that should definitely be included. I just had a hard time of things growing up. Awkward. Shy. Painfully shy. I just could never find a place to "fit in". It wasn't until college that I realized "fitting in" wasn't important and I found people like me. (I think a lot of us experience things this way?)
Anyway, Auburn is where I met Ethan and we were each other's first loves, and it was intense and just awesome. We spent most of our college years together. It was just that complete freedom that made everything feel like bliss, you know? No one to answer to. The only thing in our world was us.
Then we got married and it was fun, too! More challenging because of you know, the money thing. (haha) Mom and Dad weren't saving my butt when I'd bounce a check. ;)
But then the kiddos came along and they really do change the way your relationship works. Having kids has definitely not been easy. Our boys are WAY high strung. WAY WAY high strung. They have been difficult from day one. The past almost 8 years of kiddos has definitely been a challenge for us! As I think it is with anyone! In all honesty, I feel like I've aged A LOT in just these past 8 years. Ha. There's some extra poundage and wrinkles and gray hairs as the result of Motherhood.
My point is: it's hard to go back "to that place" when everything was just easier. It's extremely satisfying to visit all of those old haunts. We both have such LOVE for that school for so many reasons. It will be LOVELY to go back. And emotional. And yeh, those sicky butterflies might come just thinking about it all, but it will be a good thing. And we get to show the boys where Mommy and Daddy use to hang out! If it weren't for that school, these gorgeous boys of our's wouldn't even exist.
That just makes the whole experience even more profound.
And now that I've talked your ear off, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
I'll share my find that I picked up today with my trusty 'ole Home Depot rental. You must think "is this all this girl does is buy things off Craigslist and eat bonbons all day while sitting in said finds?"
Well, no. I would say I've had a lucky streak the past few months. I'm not looking forward to when that lucky streak runs out. But my pocketbook (and Ethan) will be. This vintage sofa will be replacing the FUGLY futon we've had for the past 15 years. I would say it's about time.
The man said he remembered when his Mother bought this in the '60's. He said it sat in their formal living room, so it was rarely used. It's in crazy good condition and so lovely. Now, to cover it in bubble wrap so my boys won't ruin the 50+ years streak of it being in such good condition. ; )
