Way to Water Ski

Because we didn't make it to the lake until our final day in Madison (we'd aimed for earlier that week, but the boat needed a repair), I wasn't able to include our adventures on the lake in my last Wisconsin post. If the outing had been like any other, I would just share the pictures in a HFFF post and move on, but since a long-time goal was reached, I decided waterskiing deserved it's own post this time around.

Though I know how to waterski (or I did know how to waterski when I was younger, braver, and less fragile), I've never been particularly good at the sport. My dad, however, is an awesome skier as well as an excellent teacher; he taught Will a few years ago, and since then Will has been able to get up and get a few good runs in each summer. Hallie gave it a quick try two years ago, but she wasn't successful, partly because she wasn't quite strong enough yet but also because she was too scared. 

This year, however, it all clicked. She got up four times, and while none were long skis (I blame that partly on her trainer skis, which while easier to control at the start and therefore stand up on, are virtually impossible to stay up on for any length of time), she was so proud. So were we.

Will made it up a few times as well, and earned his first (of which he was secretly proud) waterskiing battle wound:

My dad also started teaching both kids how to drive, work, and maintain the boat, and then Will - in true Ferris fashion (like his father before him, and his grandmother before that) - took a nap in a strange place. 

Days on the lake are some of my most memorable - as a child both with my family and with my dad and his best friend, as a teenager with my friends, and then as a mom with my kids. I hope these days are the lake are some of Will and Hallie's most memorable as well.

High Five for Friday (8.6.21)

 

One

The mom with eyes that have been surgically "fixed" and hasn't yet needed readers (even though she's well into her 40s)...still has eyes that get the job done on both fronts. The girl with lousy eyes...still has lousy eyes but they didn't get any worse. And the boy with bionic eyes...still has bionic eyes. So grateful I didn't have to buy any new pairs of glasses and can put off buying new contacts for a bit because Hallie only wore about half of her year's supply last year - not too shabby for a trip to the eye doctor! 

Two

After a week of camp/rehearsals, last Friday afternoon Hallie performed as Noah's Wife in our church's Camp Narnia production of Anchored in Faith. She and her bestie, Avery, were both surprisingly nervous - more so than when they played Dorothy and the Lion in the Wizard of Oz two summers ago - but they did an amazing job. 

She got to wear a microphone, which was one
of the most exciting things to ever happen to her.

Three

I mentioned last week that we have new kittens: Larry, Curly, and Moe. I can tell you with absolute certainty that Larry is the sweetest, most personable, and most loving (and one of the softest) kittens I have had the privilege to care for. He's a lover of all adults and children; a cheerful and enthusiastic playmate; an Olympic caliber snuggler (see below for photographic evidence); and an all-around delight. If you're looking for a kitten to join your family, let me know - Larry is truly one of a kind in the best possible way.

Curly has been a little slower to come out of his shell, so while I can't tell you quite as much about him yet (nor do I have many pictures of him yet), I do know that he has a sweet heart and is working hard to completely trust us. He startles easily, so our house - which is bustling with kids and other animals - isn't his perfect environment, at least not yet. 😂 Moe is already adopted!

Larry is in the back, Curly is in the front.

Four

This week I started using my new - and OH so beautiful - Emily Ley Simplified Planner. For the last two or three years I've gone with one of her watercolor florals, but this year I felt a strong pull to mix it up and therefore chose a gorgeous green with a white and gold geometric pattern and little gold bees accents for good luck. Opening and starting a new planner feels amazing, doesn't it?! 

Five

Happiness Highlights

When we have foster kittens, Tux will
sometimes find refuge with Hallie. She loves it.

Wine (and sparkling water) in our red neck swimming pool.

A beautiful sunrise while out pounding the pavement.

As much as I hated to pull them back out, at least
our masks are washed, sorted, and organized again.

Tom and Will spent last Sunday in Austin playing disc golf.
It was nearly 100 degrees and 1,000% humidity, but the course
was mostly shaded, they stayed hydrated with gallons of water,
and they ended up having a great time. 

Happy weekend, friend!

Monthly Medley: July 2021

Writing

I finished a couple of articles this month, both of which for different reasons took me outside of my comfort zone. Working and stretching my creative muscles feels good, even though doing so always scares me a little. Both articles also had a holiday theme, so they'll be available come November/December!

Reading

I tend toward suspenseful mysteries and true crime dramas, but this month's read - while full of interesting twists and turns - fell squarely in the fiction genre. That said, I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos kept my interest as if it were a mystery, which is probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Watching

Since July 21st, the only thing I've watched is Olympic coverage. I LOVE the Olympics, and I stay tuned to Olympic coverage from the moment I wake up until right before I go to bed. I enjoy the opportunity to watch sports less frequently shown on television, like archery and synchronized swimming, along with my favorites like soccer, gymnastics, and swimming. 

Prior to the Olympics, we made our way through an eclectic mix of interesting movies. In the new(er) category, we thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend - for VERY different reasons - Reya and the Last Dragon and Fantastic Fungi. (I know, I know...a movie about mushrooms? But it really was fantastic.) In the classic category, we watched Toy Story 4 for the first time and held our annual Lodge summer screening of Failure to Launch, one of my all-time favorite romantic comedies. 

Listening To

After listening to Missing on 9/11 last month, this month I listened to - or started listening to (I'm about halfway through the podcast) - Missing in Alaska. This tale is longer and more complicated than I expected, and while I can't weigh in on the ending just yet, I can say that the journey to get to the ending has been interesting.

Following

Though my kiddos aren't leaving the nest, head off to college, and/or joining the workforce just yet, Grown & Flown (@grownandflown) has helped me to start preparing for that eventual day. "Because parenting never ends"...this account shares plenty of valuable information but also feel-good stories about kids who are successful in a wide variety of ways.

Trying/Using

When my mom was visiting (and once we finished all of our projects), we popped into a local home and women's clothing and accessories boutique I'd been wanting to check out for a while. Thanks to a 50% off sale, we (I) ended up with this gorgeous wreath. Somehow it feels right for spring, summer, and fall, and the yellow flowers perfectly match my yellow door!

For those of you in BCS, the boutique was Couterie, at the intersection of Rock Prairie and Hwy 6 by Scott and White.

An Instagram ad for the Doodle Institute - specifically a Doodle Institute project called the Paper Doodle House - came across my feed and I had to check it out. From the site I downloaded the project's free printable PDF, and then after I'd printed the pages, Hallie watched the video tutorial before getting to work. This was such a fun project, especially for these dog days of summer when everything feels a little less fun because it's so hot outside and we're somehow both a little tired of vacation but also not ready for school to start. Here's the finished product! 

Each of the four rooms were colored and folded on their own first. Then they were attached to each other, one at a time, creating a 3D house. Finally, the 3D house was attached to an exterior that can either stand open or close around the house to make it like a book. 

Wearing

I'd been wanting this shirt from the Human Rights Campaign for a while, but I finally ordered it prior to our trip. I love the message, but it's also incredibly soft and cozy.

I know a lot of people who only buy Brooks athletic shoes, but they've never really been my jam. In Madison I found a pair I loved the color of though, and while I'm not necessarily a Brooks convert (I LOVE my Mizunos and have a pair of Asics that get the job done), this pair is a winner!

I also bought another pair of my favorite Athleta shorts (in the color "Make A Splash Cool"). 😂 They really are the absolute best - worth every penny!

Eating/Drinking

I didn't tackle too many new recipes this month, what with being on the road for most of it, but before we left for Wisconsin, Hallie and I made our first cheesecake. We followed this recipe EXACTLY, and while it was amazingly delicious, ours wasn't quite cooked through all the way to the center. The funny thing was, the slightly soft center was without a doubt my favorite part of the cheesecake. We plan to give this recipe another go sometime soon, and I'll let you know if we're able to get it right! 

It maybe been a little soft in the middle, but it sure was pretty!

Feeling Good About

• One of my favorite groups singing one of my favorite songs.
• I may have shared this story before, but in honor of the Olympics I'm sharing it again. 
• Apparently us Elder Millenials, while we have a less-than-lovely moniker, are super resilient. I'll take it. 
• This rapper left the music industry to save cats. 😍

Farewell, July!