They say all good things must end, someday...

For all intents and purposes, summer vacation is over. *sad face*

The girls came home today after being in Tifton for almost two weeks. I'm pretty sure they were gone more than they were here this summer. We checked the mail and found postcards from the school with their teacher assignments on it. If that's not a sign that summer is over, then I don't know what is.

Technically school doesn't start for them until the 12th, but there's already a shift in the winds. Earlier bedtimes (for me especially!), sorting of school supplies, back-to-school haircuts and picking out back-to-school clothes; all rituals that tell you that the long lazy days are over.

I'm pretty sure this is the fastest summer on record. It was busy, but not in a really-great-we-had-so-much-fun way. We've had TWO car accidents to contend with (did I forget to mention here that a window in my van was broken the same week James wrecked his car?), which meant a lot of hurry-up-and-wait-ing all summer long. We purchased two vehicles to replace James' car (it's a long story). It seems ridiculous that we now own four vehicles for two drivers. (Two and a half of those vehicles work, but that's another long story.) People keep telling me that having four cars around is a good thing because Madeline will be driving in just three years.

Three years?!!??

It seems like a long way off *now*, but if this summer is any indication on the passage of time, then it will be here before I know it.

P.S.- Could this post HAVE anymore parenthesis?? I think not.

Anxiety in a Nutshell

Tonight is the premiere of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I love Harry Potter- the books, the movies, the websites, all of it. My family also love Harry Potter. It's something we share and has created a lifetime of memories for us. For the first time, we have tickets to see a HP premiere at midnight. We are SUPER DOOPER EXCITED!!!

However, I am also scared out of mind.

The crowds, will we get good seats, will I be able to stay awake, what happens if our car is broken into in the theatre parking lot, will the bathrooms run out of toilet paper, do I have enough time to help the girls get their costumes together AND go grocery shopping, will I be able to sit through the Deathly Hallows 1 and Deathly Hallows 2 double feature, maybe I should just stay home and go see it later when the crowds are smaller.

This is what it's like to have General Anxiety and Panic Disorder.

Worrying CONTINUOUSLY about something you are both looking forward to and dreading more than anything in the world. It makes no sense, isn't logical, is a pain in the arse and you know this, but there absolutely nothing you can do about it but breathe deeply (over and over), pray, meditate, take your medicine, and refuse to deny yourself a fun and meaningful experience with your family.

The Things We Do

I'm sitting at the library using a public computer because Bella wants to go to the Anime/Manga program starting in a little bit. The lady two seats down can't hear that her phone with the world's most annoying ringtone has been ringing for a solid minute because she has headphones on. I'm still trying to get past a migraine that hit me with a vengeance yesterday afternoon. Madeline wants to make a robe for the Harry Potter premiere on Friday and begged me to take her to Hobby Lobby to buy some black fabric. I'm just as interested to see how this project turns out because 1) I don't sew and 2) she doesn't have a pattern. She's ambitious and confident, though. More power to her.

So while I'd like to be home in a semi-dark room with a hot rice bag over my eyes, instead I'm being a mom.

GAH! The cell phone just went off AGAIN. I may commit murder and plead temporary insanity and show the judge this blog post as proof of the duress I was under.

I *Heart* My Family

Everyone minus Mallory

Yesterday, my entire family was together for the first time since May 2010. Oh, we've almost all been together a few times since then, but usually one or two people were missing.

I love my family, but I don't feel the need to celebrate Every.Single.Life.Event with them. I don't like being around a large group of people socially for an extended amount of time. It's a flaw, I know, but that's just how I roll. But at any rate, we were all together yesterday for MASSIVE FIREWORKS.

We are a loud bunch. I mean REALLY loud. You'd think all of us were deaf, and not just Dad, Jaws and Mom. But how can you complain with half of the shreiks are because small children are being happily entertained by Uncle Matthew pretending to eat their ribs? Only a monster would be annoyed by that. ;)

In addition to the family being there, there were at least five people who I didn't know. That's the way it is at the compound; someone is always inviting a friend along for the fun. And in this case, an invited friend invited someone else to come along, too! My parents just roll with it, though. (Me? I prefer to have a person's complete dossier before they come through the door. How have I ever made any friends? It boggles the mind.)

In addition to being loud and way too friendly, we also like to eat. Yesterday it was a variety of random but tasty foods. Evidently Mom was cooking French Toast for the masses today. My mom's French Toast is TO DIE FOR. If I was ever about to be executed (for a crime I didn't commit, naturally) I'd probably request that French Toast as my last meal. Along with some Zaxby's, a good salad and a chocolate chip cheesecake. Just in case you were wondering!

Being around my family can be exhausting, but they are pretty awesome.

And I Am Telling Yooooooouuuuu.....

....I'm not ready for it to be July. No no no noooooo.....

I think I would really like some spaghetti for dinner tonight. With meatballs. But i think I might be too lazy to make it. I know, I know: how hard is it? Boil water, cook pasta, heat jar of Prego with frozen meatballs. Woe is me and my first world problems.

Tomorrow Jaws and I are headed over to Tifton to party like it's 1999. Actually, we're pikcing up the girls and the dog, grilling out and shooting off a massive amount of fireworks. Woo-hoo! If you hear of crazy wildfires in south Georgia, you'll know why. Given that a whole generation of grandchildren were almost wiped out the *last* time we did massive fireworks, it should be a good time.