Just thought I'd record what's going on right now.
Becky is busy reading the Artemis Fowl series (among other books). She got an idea from her friends on google plus. She took a jar and decorated it and each time she finishes a book, she writes the title on a piece of paper and puts it in the jar. At the end of the year she'll be able to go back and see all the books she read. I had nothing to do with it! She's also getting ready for her voice recital this Friday. And she starts Theater Camp tomorrow; that's three weeks long and ends in several performances of Peter Pan. She's a mermaid. Other than those things she's been having a pretty quiet couple of weeks. She just finished her last math lesson with the math tutor yesterday morning. She won't start that up again until after Labor day, though we promised the tutor that during the last couple of weeks of August, Becky would do a little review to jump start next year's journey into Algebra. Becky's also been watching lots of Dr. Who, mostly with Rick in the evenings. She's also been helping around the house, hanging with Sean, doing a little baking and cooking, etc.
Sean was so lost yesterday. It was his first day of summer vacation and he, who is not good at transitions, was already afraid of having free time. He said, "Mom, I have that same feeling I had when we were homeschooling!" Uh oh. So I tried to explain it was just the first day and that he could plan his summer so that he had stuff to do and he wouldn't have long stretches of time, which as I expressed it, always makes him feel droopy (but really is a depression trigger). We brainstormed stuff he was going to do this summer. Then I said let's go out for the afternoon, so we went shopping, to the library and then to get ice cream. That seemed to satisfy him. He decided that I should get him up by 9 (if he isn't up earlier) and that he would shower every morning and get completely dressed so that he'd feel like he was ready for the day. That was his idea! Today he's got his physical trainer coming at noon and the speech therapist coming at 4:30. Plus, he's supposed to get a new yo-yo from Amazon today. He's excited about that. He has gotten really into yo-yoing of late. I, as a result, am learning so much about yo-yos! It is amazing! Did you know there are responsive and un-responsive yo-yos? There are looping yo-yos and 'off-string' yo-yos? Sean is teaching himself all kinds of tricks and spends lots of time practicing. He also spends a lot of time learning, talking and thinking about the new Super Smash Bros game coming out. He is really fixated on it.
Josh continues working at the marina. He gets himself up and off to work. He is very tanned. He comes home and tells us stories of rescuing people who don't know how to sail and wind up capsizing. Apparently the Potomac River isn't really the best sailing area. It is too shallow in many places so one of his jobs is to go out and rescue people who get stuck in the mud. He also mows grass, weed-whacks, takes care of trash and recycling, power washes boats, paints boats, re-rigs boats (don't know what that means) and watches the dock to make sure the boat rentals are going right. He works now with a few other guys. There's one guy who is a retired software engineer whose wife told him he needs to get out of the house, so he works at the marina just because he enjoys it. He's a character apparently. Josh really likes him. Then there are three other summer helpers, like Josh, two are about Josh's age and one is 27. They are new, so he doesn't really know them yet. Besides that Josh just comes home and stays in his room, except for meals. Hannah got him to play Ticket to Ride on Saturday night though. He's been going to the 8:00 p.m. Mass on Sunday nights at GMU and that same GMU ministry group has a meeting on Thursday nights and Josh mentioned he might start going. Josh's days off are Thursdays and Fridays.
Will is up in Boston. He's got tons going on. He just interviewed with guy who runs an experimental Bible theater in Boston and who needs a composer for a production (probably in a year and half). Will sent him some of his stuff, but he has no idea if he'll get the job. He has no real portfolio and no experience. He's got to work on developing all that. He's also decided to put on concert series. He's done this once before. The musicians play some of his music but then also play other pieces too. The musicians don't get paid much (pass the hat) but Will is pretty ingenious at finding free places. He's got a frat house at MIT willing to put on his next concert. Will goes out and buys cheese and crackers and wine from Trader Joe's and some of the other guests bring some too. He put one on a couple months ago and now he's planning one for his birthday weekend. One thing is he needs to allow more time to plan it and advertise it. It takes more planning than he thinks. He's learning as he goes. He is also very involved in his soup kitchen work and also in the MIT Catholic club (or whatever it is called). And he's also taking classes this summer! Plus he is writing music and practicing. And he's looking for a permanent part time job somewhere just to earn a little cash. He's really kind of overwhelmed himself. He's taken to asking me to call him at 6:00 a.m. so he'll be sure to get up and get going. And on top of all this, he's coming home this weekend. He's going to accompany Becky during her voice recital. Also, we will celebrate his birthday a week early, while he's here. He'll be 22 (but not until the 29th)!
Hannah is also very busy. She's working at Starbucks with Peter. She's also taking two classes at NOVA. And she is busy planning to get married. We went for a fitting for her wedding dress which is beautiful, way too expensive and the Russian lady who runs the store is scary as hell. She is going to get as much money as possible out of us. I should have gone with Hannah the first time when she got the dress. Anyway, she also got her invitations from the printer this week. Really, really pretty! I think she said she had to take a PRAXIS exam today. . . she's got all sort of things like that going on. I can't keep track of it all. She's been really helpful with Sean who really leans on her emotionally.
As for me, I am trying to wind up Aquinas Learning stuff (hopefully today), focus on my kids and the house for a change. Also, I just started volunteering for an organization that tries to prevent homelessness in our area. They put me on the communications committee which means I write stuff to help fundraising. I have two little assignments, one which is due by July 1st. I am not sure what I am doing, so it will be interesting. I am excited and shy at the same time.
Rick's work has really heated up so he's been traveling a lot recently to California and New Jersey. No travel this week though.
Other stuff: my nephew got married over the weekend. Another nephew (who is a drummer and owns a studio) took an old recording that my mom made for my dad, of her singing Always. I've got it now as a download. I should put it on here, if I can. She had such a nice voice. Hannah says she sounds like Judy Garland. Last night I kept dreaming about Jackie as I fell asleep. I'd start to fall asleep and then Jackie would be there talking about something and I'd startle awake. It kept happening. Gosh, I miss my parents. I think I will go visit the cemetery soon.
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