Ragbrai 2009

So, Ragbrai 2009 has come and gone. Everyone had a good time with our respective vacations, although they varied in their levels of relaxation. My sister got to bike the first day of Ragbrai, which she really enjoyed even though she had to borrow my bike for the day. Hers decided to try to stay in Michigan by falling off the roof rack of her minivan in Kalamazoo. Even though it landed in the interstate at 70mph, it bounced into the median without hitting a car or getting run over - fortunately. It just needs new handlebars and a new seat, so she lucked out on that one.

The girls and I had a really good time on Saturday and Sunday while everyone else biked. Emily loves, loves, loves her cousins. :) She jumped into the party right away, and by the end of the week she was starting to stand up for herself a little more, although she's also picked up on a few bad habits too. I know those girls are going through a lot of stress, and they're acting out by doing things they wouldn't normally do, like fussing instead of talking, screaming at each other, and jumping off furniture and stairs. But I made it clear that the rules at my house are the same as the rules at home, and they got into a groove here. After Jenny came back from biking, we went up to Rockford, and started all over again. Grandma was a tad more lenient in allowing fussing at first, but she got into the swing of it too. I felt bad for Amanda today, though, since Emily seems to be needing to relearn the rules at her house. It was weird to pick up Emily and have anything to report - she's been such a good little girl!!! Today she was on the stairs and standing on furniture, among other "displays of independence". It was kind of embarassing, actually, because I was starting to feel good about having passed my weeklong Parenting Bootcamp where my beginner parenting skills were continually put to the test, and here my own kid is out of line. The week did get to be frustrating, but I could tell that Jenny was frustrated too and I know that that degree of misbehavior was out of character for the girls. And of course, for the most part they were delightful and hilarious and wonderful to be around. We just set the bar high, I guess!!

The guys had a good time biking, too. I've seen lots of photos on facebook and heard lots of stories, but I guess I'm getting old because I wasn't that bummed to miss out on all of it. Some of it, yes, totally bummed, but not all of it. I guess this is when I get insecure and figure I would've either been in the wrong place at the wrong time to be part of the fun, or I would've been too tired or feeling like I should've been somewhere else, taking care of someone or whatever. I asked Trav when my weeklong break would come, and he asked when I wanted one... I don't think it's possible for me to get a break. My work travels with me wherever I go. This pregnancy is exhausting!! I'm so big and uncomfortable already - it's depressing that I have so far to go. I guess I don't handle being this shape very well. The baby is moving around SO MUCH that it's distracting and getting to be very uncomfortable. If only I could have some ribs removed...

Travis scheduled the installation of the new kitchen cabinets for Aug 31. If anyone is going to rob us, they should do it before then because I do NOT want to deal with this again!! He's going to have his dad (and maybe my dad?) come help gut the old kitchen, move appliances, etc. on the weekend beforehand, and then spend a few days that week installing the new floor. I am so excited!!!

I need to get started on Emily's room. I thought maybe I'd go to a fabric store or Penney's or something to find curtains and/or a bedroom set that I like for her, and then try to find paint to complement. We have a good start on what we want for furniture, and it's just a matter of whether to go with the cheaper chinese-made stuff or the slightly better slovenian made stuff. I'm so tired of cheap crappy chinese garbage, it might be worth the money.

I guess that's the news here. Happy summer, everyone!