Summer festivities and fun (7 Quick Takes)

~1~

Late on the afternoon of Father’s Day, I said, “I wonder whether I should make cupcakes for….”

“Yes,” said the father in the house.

So, I did.

~2~

When the pandemic is just a memory, can we still have graduations livestreamed for the out-of-town relatives and people who aren’t able to attend?

Congratulations to our nieces who graduated this week—one from eighth grade and one from high school. I am just bursting with pride over all the children in my world achieved during such a challenging time.

~3~

Our littlest niece celebrated her second birthday this week. We gave her a Mary-with-Baby-Jesus doll and a purple ball. I was choosing sunscreens at the pharmacy when my brother-in-law—her father—FaceTimed me so I could see her opening our gift.

There’s nothing like technology. But there’s really nothing like watching a 2-year-old dig her way through her gifts with a little help from her siblings.

Aunthood is so much fun.

~4~

On my way home from an in-person work meeting the other day, I stopped to pick up slushies for our sons. They were sloppy and sticky, and I wasn’t sure I could get them home without making a huge mess in my car.

I found myself thinking of the times my father would drop off McDonald’s food at school for me and my siblings for lunch. He probably only did it a few times, but those are the lunches I remember, and I know how special I felt.

I made it home, and the slushies were popular. It made me think of how the little things are really the big things.

We’re overdue for some Baltimore-style snowballs, but I’m not sure I could transport them home.

~5~

Before I boil corn on the cob, I break it into smaller cobs so we can serve the leftovers to our pet finches.

I was explaining to our younger son why I do that and I realized he didn’t know that other people eat corn off long cobs.

The finches have taken over our lives. I’m not complaining, and neither are they. We have plenty of corn for them to enjoy.

~6~

We are nearing the end of the cicadas’ visit. I’m ready to say goodbye, especially because I really want our children to spend more time outside. But it’s a hard to believe that the next time they come, 17 years will have passed. So much will have changed.

I won’t miss finding them unexpectedly indoors or in our car. But we have some fun cicada-related memories, and I think seeing them in 17 years will bring me right back to this special time in our lives with our children.

~7~

My friend Katie invited us to come swim at their pool this week, and we were so excited to go. She served pizza and wings (chicken, not cicada) and made a beautiful donut cake to celebrate our son’s fifth-grade graduation.

Hours passed as we chatted and completely lost track of time. It was magnificent.

Summer is off to a great start.

Find more quick takes on Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum, and have a wonderful weekend!

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