Well, here we are, Friday the 13th.  I like to go against normal thinking (um, always).  I consider Friday the 13th a lucky day.  Gotta play the lottery today.

Life is coming along just fine here.  The kids found out who their teachers are, and they’re both happy with who they got.  They’re super excited about starting.  And to coincide with the whole “two kids in school” thing, the house really is starting to look a little more grown up.  The deck is almost done, (YAY!) the air conditioner is getting fixed as we speak, and we’re gearing up for some grown up time.

I would love to say that I have some cute or funny story about the kids.  But right now, we’re all just pretty much done.  We slept without air conditioning last night, which wasn’t really all that bad, but it gave the kids something to complain about.  Chloe has forgotten how to do anything by herself, and is getting upset if Becca won’t play with her.  Becca, who NEVER really figured out how to entertain herself, is just telling Chloe that she’s not going to play with her so she gets upset.

Me?  I’m thinking about diving into a big bottle of Pinot Noir.

So, they are definitely ready for school.  They need the structure.  The socialization.  And they need to start going to bed earlier!  The one good thing (or bad, depending on how you look at it) that happened this summer is that they learned how to sleep in!!!!  I know that I complained previously about the early risers.  No more.

So, as I enjoy this last week of my thirties, I may not be posting a bunch.  I’m going to be living it up, having fun.

…..or swimming in that bottle of Pinot Noir and then curling up into the fetal position because I’m going to be 40.

One of those.

Yea!  Have I told you that we’re finally getting a deck?  I can’t remember if I blogged about it or not.  Anywho, we’re on day 4 of construction, and the floor of the deck is almost done!  SQUEE!

We’ve lived in our house for seven years, and have finally gotten around to this.  I mean, the restaurant took a lot of our time, money and patience.  (Wow, the restaurant sure does sound like a kid.).  Most the other neighbors did their decks years ago.  But hey…we’re doing it now.  And it’s not half-ass, either.  It’s going to be covered, too!  The back of our house gets sun, well, whenever the sun is out.  The roof is definitely a necessity.

We went and got some furniture, too.  Yes, a bit premature.  But I wanted to get something decent before all the patio furniture was gone for the season.  And we only spent $1000 on a table with six chairs, and a cushioned set with a love seat, two chairs and an ottoman.

I can see it now…..picture this

******It’s a fall morning…maybe early October.  After I peacefully get the kids on the school bus, I trot home and have a steaming cup of coffee.  I gather the laptop and the coffee, and head out to the deck.  The leaves are starting to turn.  Awesome.  Do you know what I hear?  Just some birds.  All the kids?  They’re at school and pre-school.  Aaaaahhhhh.  *****

I’m so ready.  If I even get ONE morning like that, I will feel complete!  But right now?  I’m sucking up the last two weeks of summer.  My kids start school on August 23rd, so we’re in the home stretch.  I’m thinking there may be ice cream in the picture for tonight….

I’ll post some pictures of the deck’s progress a little later!!!

Today is August 1st.

Which would normally be just fine.

I turn 40 this month, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I mean, so what?  40.  I really have been fine with the whole thing.  But it just smacked me in the face this morning.  My brain has been thinking about what I’ve done with my life, what I still want to do, and the fact that I’m probably half way to death (at least).  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done lots of things that have made me happy.

Married a great guy, have great kids, live in a big house, I’m happy with who I am.  That’s all good.  Oh, and we did that whole “open a restaurant” thing.  Which is cool.  There are still some days when I walk into that place and my brain goes “Holy crap, we did it. I can’t believe this place is ours.”  It is STILL very surreal.  In a (mostly) good way.

But, to quote the Holy Grail, “I’m not dead yet.  But I don’t want to get on the cart.”  Lots more to do.  Hence the Bucket List.  There are some other things that aren’t on the public Bucket List.  But I’m keeping those private.  I have set a mini goal, though.  To reach before my birthday.  Which is to lose 8 pounds.  Which would put me at 140.  Which means that I probably have to not only watch what I’m eating, but exercise, too. Ick.

So, Happy August!  The kids and I bought a bunch of school supplies, and I bought them a TON of school clothes.  Two of my favorite August activities.  They’re excited to start school.  I’m excited for them to start, too.  40 years old and two kids in school?  I’ll take it