Family Weekend

This past weekend was Family Weekend at Katie's college. It was so great to see her again so soon! We are really lucky that we are able to ease into this new chapter in our family's journey. We ended up spending the weekend mainly just relaxing with Katie and we didn't participate in any of the activities scheduled by the school. We didn't really plan it that way, but it was clear that Katie really just wanted to relax with us. The first thing she asked us when we called her from the hotel was did our room have two beds. She really just wanted to sleep in a comfortable bed and shower in a "big" shower. It was nice to have her "under our roof" for two nights and I could tell she was enjoying the "comforts of home". As great as it was to see Katie, I still felt a little unsettled since Madeleine decided to stay behind and spend the weekend with my Dad and Sandy. I wasn't expecting to feel that way. But I think subconsciously I must have been looking forward to Family Weekend as a time to put our family back together. Just another emotional response I wasn't expecting regarding this whole college experience. In any case, it was nice to focus our attention solely on Katie and we did have a nice weekend.

Geoff and I stumbled upon a very cool diner Friday night on our way to Katie's school. And we ended up back there for lunch on Saturday with Katie. Geoff was beside himself with joy! He has yet to meet a diner he doesn't like!

We also took Katie shopping at a nearby outlet mall. Unlike the diner, this was not all that joyful for Geoff. But he was a good sport and indulged us.

Saturday night we met up with some friends of ours who coincidentally also have a freshman at Katie's school. It was great catching up with them and being able to introduce Katie to their son. He is a very friendly guy and it's nice for each of them to have another friendly face on campus.

On Sunday, Geoff's parents drove up and we spent the morning showing them around campus and the town and getting brunch in the student union. By early afternoon, we all said goodbye amidst a few moist eyes and lots of long hugs. As great as it is to see each other, saying goodbye each time makes it a little bittersweet. As of right now Katie is talking about coming home in a couple of weekends. We'll see if that all pans out. In the meantime, I have my fingers crossed.

Sorry I have no pictures to share. The weekend was just so relaxed and casual, I didn't want to upset the "normal family time" by constantly taking and posing for pictures.

Labor Day Tradition

For the past 4 years we have spent Labor Day weekend at rented house in NH with my Dad and Sandy and my brother, Paul's, family. It's become one of my favorite things about summer. We stay in the house of friends' of my Dad and Sandy. It's a great house with an open floor plan and a terrific screened in porch not too far from New Found Lake.








It's a very low key weekend. We play games, read, eat, watch a little TV, sit by the lake, walk the dogs around the block and we usually make one excursion to explore the area.


This year we visited a gorgeous little waterfall on a stream that ran through the woods. It was nature at its best. The kids had a great time climbing up the side of the waterfall and rockhopping back and forth across the stream. The adults enjoyed it too. And so did Rosey. Everyone was in their glory.

Of course, the trip always ends with a Labor Day visit to Shackett's Ice Cream stand for free ice cream. Shackett's begins giving away their ice cream at 11:00 am and continues until it's all gone. This year we got there early and had our pick of flavors. I got pistachio, which they had run out of last year.

But the best part of the weekend was that Katie was able to come with us. Fortunately, the college she attends is not too far out of the way. We picked her up on Friday night (after her job at the Dining Hall ended at 8:30 pm. Ugh!) and had to drop her off fairly early on Monday so that she could take a swim test for the crew team. Crew? Can you believe it? The girl never ceases to amaze me.

Anyway, it was so great to be able to see Katie only one week after dropping her off at college. She was full of excitement and enthusiasm as we drove to the house. She is enjoying all aspects of college and is very comfortable there. She really feels as though she made the right decision in choosing that school. What a relief! It was great to spend those three days with her, but saying goodbye the second time was not as easy I had thought it would be. It was actually a little bit harder than the first time around. We all held it together, but it was definitely a little wistful. The good news is that Family Weekend is at the end of the month. Apparently, we are going to be able to make this separation slowly. No complaints here.

Here are a few favorite photos from our trip: