It's Still July

I'm sick. Which seems to be a thing I am a lot this summer (maybe every summer the last couple years? as I look back there seems to be a theme), but when I'm sick it means I can't concentrate long enough to do the legal work I need to do so I'm turning my attention to my personal laptop and blogger. I have a fever, cough, stuffy nose, sinus pressure, and a need to be napping almost all the time. Let's see where this goes!

When we last left off we were headed to beautiful Silver Lake to celebrate the 4th of July and honor my grandfather.

It was a long journey but a perfect trip. I have been going to Silver Lake since I was a baby (and since my babies were babies) and I really think it's the only place on earth that remains as wonderful in reality as it sparkles in my memories.

My whole family was there, so it was a reunion of all the Rice cousins, plus most of my own Nordin cousins!

#TeamNordin

We had a really wonderful time and it was very special to remember my sweet Grandpa at his most favorite place on earth. I really truly believe he was there with us, especially on the 4th as we shared stories about him and heard stories from my mom's cousins (my grandpa's nieces and nephews) who had wonderful tales we'd never heard before but captured his joyful, loving, generous, inquisitive, and wonderful self.

It was a really lovely few days.

We came back and dove into work (me), one last try at qualifying for Olympic Trials (James; just missed it!), more swimming (Landon), babysitting, room decorating, and swimming (Claire), and swimming and missing the one week of a sports camp we signed her up for because she got sick (Cora).

This is how I start my day each morning at work. I get to my office, plug in my laptop, get my Ember mug from its charging pad and the special tea that I have delivered to work because the kitchen tea is subpar, and go to the kitchen to fill up a firm mug with a strong straight Super Irish Breakast tea and then my Ember mug with my delicately flavored Breakfast in Paris black tea. I drink the Irish tea first and the Ember mug keeps the Paris tea warm until I'm ready. It is the way.

Claire's new built-in shelves look amazing. I love them so much and can't believe they ever weren't there. She loves them too.

I got 6 inches of hair cut off.

It felt very scary but it's the very best thing. I can go from the shower to completely dried and styled hair in about 8 minutes.

Short hair is a life hack.

Landon turned 17 on Monday. My little law school baby is nearly a legal adult. I cannot even.

He picked a local Mexican restaurant for dinner so he could get his chicken chimichanga.

And then we opened presents. He got a laptop from us (we realized he was writing his college recruiting letters on his phone and when I asked if he'd like something with a bigger screen and keyboard his face lit up like I'd just invented something amazing), hat from my brother, cool computer accessories from my parents, a swimming t-shirt from Amanda, Colorado tees from my sister, and sweet cards and treats from the girls.

I really can't believe he's in his last year as a minor, but I know we are enjoying every minute of these last few years with him at home. He is so fun and SO funny, so smart and responsible, and so dedicated to his swimming. The hours he spends draped across my office couch or bed, chatting about nothing and everything, generally only when I’m really busy with something else (“Mom, you need to lock in”), are everything I hoped being a mom would be.

He does all his own meal-prepping, college-planning, and AP studying, but he still sometimes forgets to close the refrigerator door. This is 17 and we’re here for it.

Speaking of children being older than they should be, the girls got their hairs cut today at the salon I usually go to. We go on our big national park hiking trip in a week and when we come back school will be days away from starting (!!), so we're getting all our ducks in a row now. We've got shoes, school uniforms, books, backpacks, and now hair cuts!

Cora loves hers and felt so confident afterward! Gotta love a new 'do.

I am counting down the seconds until we leave for our hiking trip in Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons National Parks. I just need to kick this cold and do about 100 hours of legal work in the next week and we're off!