Meanwhile, back in Dallas (and DC)

(I posted Day 8 of our South Africa trip yesterday. Today's realtime update brought to you by Claire's 5:30 am morning practice which had James-and therefore me- up at 5 and I couldn't go back to sleep.)

So! Real life: now that school has started (we're on week 4 already!), life rushes ahead, seemingly faster with every year our kids get older.

Maggie can't keep up.

But she's not really trying to.

I always wondered how I'd handle blogging as the kids got older and existed increasingly separate from me. Turns out, the transition is pretty natural. I generally blog based on whatever photos are in my phone and these days it's all pets and selfies of my outfits. The kids are busy and gone a lot and living their lives. I'm too busy for regular updates that might ever get into the weeds of things. I enjoy capturing the high level, because snapshots in time are important ot me, but they all read the blog occasionally and seem fine with what I put out. Landon is significantly more annoyed at my outfit posts on Instagram ("Do you have to do one EVERY DAY. They're just clothes mom.") than anything I've ever written about him. I don't know that I always get it right, but I know that re-reading posts about my children fills my heart and takes me perfectly back to moments in time that I treasure. I also think they'll appreciate them one day too. They definitely love the photo books I make out of the memories I save and stories I tell.

Anyway, this is one of only two pictures I have with a child in it from the past 10 days. We're trying to convince Murphy he loves to cuddle.

Jury's still out.

Another pet pic! I worked from home all day Monday and Maggie was very helpful.

Also I'm obsessed with this movie and soundtrack. Cora and I have watched it twice together and "Golden" is my current theme song.

(Also also I'm SO happy for my emotional support billionaire, Taylor Swift, and her engagement to the football boy who seems to be her #1 hype man and I'm here for it. Everyone deserves to be loved out loud.)

I had my executive physical about 10 days ago. I was so glad that my new firm also covers those for partners. Last year I left my physical assured of my heart health, but with an order to see a surgeon immediately about a "gallbladder packed with gall stones," borderline concerning bone density scans, and some blood work cholesterol results my doctor did not like at all.

This year I am pleased to report that I don't need any surgeries, my bone density has improved, AND my blood work results were all in the normal range for all the things!! Being diagnosed with Celiac and going gluten-free over the summer has definitely affected my eating habits for the better. They weren't bad before, but I can't really have any fried foods now (we never make them at home, so they were always a restaurant item and most restaurants use the same fryer for gluten-containing items) and I eat mainly whole foods because they're easiest. I'd say 80% of my meals are unchanged, but that 20% is different in a better way.

So that was exciting! I have my mammogram later this week, so once that's checked off I'm good on preventative health things for about a year- yay!

Which is good because I've been busy - super busy - at work, which has been fantastic. I feel so needed and my experience is so valued, it's been a really great transition, and my associate has felt the same. I go to the office almost every day and I enjoy dressing up and being in my new space.

I spent 20 hours last week in Washington, DC.

I arrived in the evening on Thursday and took a walk around my hotel, looping around The White House, while pretending President Barlet was inside.

Friday morning I woke up early and did a 3.5 mile walk to the Jefferson Memorial and back. It really is a beautiful city.

I've walked every day in August since returning from our trip. Often on the treadmill, but increasingly outside now that the mornings have cooled off every so slightly.

I had a meeting at my former employer Friday afternoon and then I was back on a plane headed home to my crew.

Saturday morning found Maggie once again lost in the shower (she uses her big head to open the door to get in and then can't remember how to get out so she just stands there silently until someone finds her) and James and I packing for a very quick staycation in Dallas to celebrate our anniversary. That will be its own post, but it was absolutely lovely.

While I was in DC my anniversary present arrived at home! I've been contemplating a new purse for about a year. Something blue, because it's my favorite color and I don't have a blue purse. My new firm has a different login system for our digital desktops, so I don't need to lug my laptop to and from work every day. My work one stays on my desk and I use my personal one at home, so my purse can be a little smaller, but still needs to fit my daily things.

Enter this absolutely stunning pre-owned find from The Real Real! Exquisite condition, a fraction of the price. I love her so much.

I spent yesterday working most of the day, but received visits from all my children to my home office at various times.

Landon spent the afternoon and evening surfing behind a boat on the lake with friends, but I still got nearly an hour of Landon-chat, from details of his upcoming swimming recruiting trip to Ohio State and the aquarium (with snail and one fish) he bought of Facebook marketplace. He's an "aquariumist" now (the marketplace purchase brings his total to 2 aquariums, 2 snails, several tiny shrimps, and 2 small fish) and can talk to you abuot aquascaping and water preparation for many hours.

I took my walk outdoors yesterday morning since the temperatures dropped just enough to not make it miserable.

I've missed my lake.

It was pretty humid though.

Bring it on September, this is the start of my favorite few months!