Just Another Manic (or Migraine) Monday

My plan today (before weekend plans changed) was to take today off in order to sleep in if we went to see our nephew race in Slinger last night. While we didn't end up going, I still looked forward to a restful night and day off.

Then 7:36 a.m. happened.

I was abruptly awakened by what sounded like a jackhammer outside my bedroom window. Though I know in reality that wouldn't be the case for a construction crew ready to prep our house for new siding. Needless to say, there was no sleep happening after that.

Though I did try so very hard! 

But today was destined to be the day they removed all the nails and trim that we could not reach – and wrap our home in love. Or whatever "HomeWrap" is.

I forgot they have to start with the soffit before they get into the siding. I realize every day I know less and less about construction and home improvement projects. Definitely just pay the experts!

The Dumpster keeps filling up with totally legal stuff. We haven't had time to declutter our home with suspicious items we can live without.

And at the end of the day we were pretty much surrounded by HomeWrap. This view of our garage's west side is encouraging. We had terrible windows that let in all the frigid air. We hope that by siding over that (and the addition of a new, snug door in the back), we actually will retain some heat this winter. I'll keep you posted.

Just a few spots left in the back for them to move onto step 2 – which of course I have no idea what that is.

Today, I'm just glad they not only uncovered one more bees nest (with Jim still in the house) and laid the foundation, so to speak, for our home makeover. 

Tomorrow through Thursday, I'll be on the road to the office in Point before they arrive. Looking forward to a week of pleasant surprises. Without the noise.

Creatively Escaping the Heat

Saturday was another super hot and humid day. I do love the heat, but I'll admit I don't have the stamina to handle it like I used to. So the first highlight of the day was driving in the A/C to an air-conditioned book fair at Lake Arrowhead. Found three must-have reads because of course that's what they were selling!

Got home and had a surprise Amazon package delivered. Who needs a neon ice cream sign?? THIS birthday girl! I texted Jim, Carter and my twin to see who was responsible for this cool moment of joy on a hot day... and my twin did not disappoint!

I had hoped to photograph the water ski show later, but we got hit by some pretty hard and steady rain in the late afternoon.

Quite a bit in a short amount of time. So I stayed home and turned my attention elsewhere. To Shutterfly, in fact, and their recent text that they had a screaming deal for the weekend. Unlimited free pages AND free shipping.

So look at me finally finishing a vacation album from 10+ years ago!  

I mean I could also make some headway on a Maui vacation from 2016, but I don't think the 5 hours between now and midnight is enough. On the plus side, they do often extend the "unlimited free pages" coupon another day after the holiday. So there's a chance I can start it tonight and have all of tomorrow to scrap away. 

But let's not forget, this was a 5-day weekend with all intentions of "relaxing." Ahhh, decisions... decisions...

Hope you had a relaxing and SAFE holiday weekend!

The Anni-Birth-ery Palooza Wrap

All July 4th means to us is that our personal celebrations of two birthdays and one anniversary are over – and America takes over the spotlight.

I took a mini-getaway Up North on Wednesday so I could do a post-birthday celebration with my twin. First, I had lunch with 4 of my sisters (who I've always called the Older Girls) and 2 brothers-in-law.

Good lunch and visit and then they surprised me with some birthday ice cream.

If you ever wonder how I feel about getting birthday attention or a treat of any kind, it's pretty evident by the huge smile on my face!

After lunch, I connected with my twin and we opened some appropriate ice cream-related gifts from our sister Romey. The "cones" are actually ceramic candles. Just twist off the top and light for a yummy vanilla sugar smell!

From there, went to Lene's house and changed clothes and then headed out on Mudhen lake to kayak and eventually swim – on purpose. No kayak flips, honest.

Our cousin loaned me a kayak so I didn't have to haul one up (and drive Jim's big truck). Thanks, Candy.

The weather was perfectly warm with a light breeze – and the presence of 3 eagles! Oh how I wished I had my "real" camera and not just my smartphone to rely on. I guess since this was my first time out on the water this season, I was definitely out of practice.

After our paddle and swim, we headed back to Raylene's to change into dry clothes and exchange gifts. The "car coaster" above, which is meant to absorb water and condensation in the cup holder, is something I got at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville in April! When Raylene and I were singing on the wedding shower circuit in adolescence, "Bushel and a Peck" was always a song we sang!

I also got my lovely red-tractors-only farm girl a wind chime that is allegedly solar so perhaps lights up the tractor headlights? I'll be curious to learn more.

We continued our birthday adventures at Adventures restaurant in Siren. So excited they had my favorite – coconut shrimp – on the menu. Happy birthday to me again!

It was just so nice to have some one-on-one time with my twin to catch up on all things "secret sisterhood."

From there, I headed south to Luck, to spend the night at my sister Rachel's house.

Somehow, it's always the Golden Hour in Luck, Wisconsin. Am I right or am I right? So nice to catch up with her and see her amazing progress since her last surgery. She can't put weight on her left leg yet, but when she can, she'll resume her title as a "walking miracle" again!

Headed back to Rapids about mid-morning yesterday so I could spend Jim's birthday with him. We later went to a new venue called the Lake House at the River Ridge campground to hear some live music with friends.

The entertainment was Tanner Gomes, who was on Team Kelly on The Voice in season 19 (2020). He happens to date or is engaged to someone we know. Somewhat. He was very good and very entertaining. Great to see several friends too!

Today was just a "weekend" day of cleaning and vacuuming (me) and removing more nails from the siding (not me). Carter and Mamie were going to come home for the weekend but an unexpected family emergency on her part has them postponing their visit 'til hopefully just next weekend.

So we'll just celebrate our "freedom" tonight by doing nothing. Since that's our right.

Be safe and careful out there!

23 Years of Mr. and Mrs. Awesome

When you break down 23 years of marriage in a chart like this, it can seem a bit overwhelming. But when you wake up next to Mr. Awesome (or Austin, if you prefer) it seems like the blink of an eye.

We both had to work today so our only plan together was having Jim join me for 9 holes at SentryWorld.

Hey, it was golf league night. I couldn't promise or give him anything more than that. I definitely forget how spoiled we are to have this course for our work golf league. Glad he got to experience some of it!

The only ones trying to spoil our good time were those darn Canadian geese!

When people think of Canada, they always think hockey. I beg to differ. 

We had a fun round. Of course, Jim knows one of our golfers (Tom who we golfed with at Bullseye on Friday) and the other (Patrick) is so easy going that Ms. Overthinker Me didn't have anything to worry about.

When I got home, I realized Jim had a much more productive day than me. Looks like he and brother-in-law Baird pretty much finished ripping off the siding. As it happens, I am officially on vacation right now and leaving town in the morning, so maybe someone else can sign up for nail-removal duty!

We'll see how that plays out. For now, I'm just going to watch some baseball I don't care about on TV because that's what my favorite person is doing. You don't get to 23 years without some compromise. 💜 

Physical Labor for the Win

Last week, our Dumpster arrived. With hopes of us filling it with all of our siding. And maybe a few extra things we definitely could live without.

As luck and our schedules would have it, we got very little done while Mother Nature did not let up on the rain. Today was finally our full day home and brother-in-law Baird was available, too.

They worked outside my corner office windows and I didn't care. It was the sound of progress!

There was only one bee incident for hubby. The west side of the house/garage when they moved the kayaks out of the way. Uh-oh! Glad they spotted it before the bees found Jim!

Today after work I did my part, trying to pull as many nails as I could from the old siding, etc. I got a few rows of my height level but there is more to be done. I honestly didn't want to venture out on ladders with nobody home. 

Dang. You are so not used to mature Robyn making adult decisions, are you? Me neither! :)

Birthday Weekend Sandwich

For this birthday girl, I couldn't ask for a better celebratory weekend than having my bday sandwiched between two rounds of golf – and celebrating actual birthday with tons of friends!

After a fun round on Friday, we headed out by noon Saturday to Delafield and a cathedral on the grounds of the St. John's Military Academy just outside Milwaukee.

What a glorious and historic venue! 

All of the stained-glass windows were gorgeous.

But none could compare to the bride of course. Claire is always beautiful!

So honored to be a part of Claire and Joe's official Gotcha Day! It was so nice.

I managed to snag a hot birthday date with hubby. The reception was at The Commodore, right on the shores of Lake Nagawicki (or something close to that). What a gorgeous venue!

We each had our assigned tables, but then they went one step further.

At each of our place settings we got a personalized card. And I think to an individual, we all shed a tear at this heartfelt sentiment. Wow. Very special.

Of course I was thrilled to have perfectly delicious "birthday" cake. Yum!

And a made-to-order sunset. God knows me and my birthday wishes, that's for sure!

After a fun evening of a ton of dancing – including a few with hubby – we were spent! This morning, though, we hit the road from Milwaukee-dom to get home by noon. 

I got some shopping done and Jim visited his dad – and then (after multiple rain showers) it was time for golf!

Today was our final week of Couples League, which meant we were doing a scramble format, then dinner. Except the rain was not done. So we switched up the plans and ate our year-end dinner food first, then headed out. But it was still a soggy several holes before it quit.

We were lucky to have our friends Sean and Michelle be part of our foursome! One, they're awesome people. And two, they're awesome golfers! This is our Eagle Selfie on the par 5 4th hole. That was all Sean. Great drive, great second shot to land it close to the hole, then we gave him honors to knock it in a few feet for eagle.

Needless to say, we finished 8-under par for our 9-hole round. And won the scramble. I have a lot of wet stuff to dry out in the sun tomorrow. But with a little prize cash in my pocket, I can say it was worth it!

What a fun weekend! Maybe aging isn't so bad after all.